Guitar Journal: Tak Matsumoto 1955 Goldtop
Goldtops, Impulse Responses and Fuzz!
3,2 / 5,0 | 
This week, we check out the recently announced Epiphone Tak Matsumoto limited-run 1955 Goldtop Les Paul and the new free Origin Effects IR Cab Library, which contains everything you need for a great guitar cabinet tone. Finally, we look at the newly revamped Silktone Fuzz+ pedal.
Guitar Journal
Tak Matsumoto
Epiphone has once again outdone themselves with their Inspired By Gibson series, collaborating with Japanese guitar icon Takahiro “Tak” Matsumoto to create a stunning replica of his 1955 Les Paul Goldtop.
This more affordable model follows the Gibson Custom Shop version released in 2022, which I wrote about then.
Epiphone
The Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard is now available in Japan and at select Gibson Garages.
This isn’t just a gold top, though. The entire guitar, from the body to the neck, is adorned in a luxurious antique gold finish. The headstock sports a black finish and the iconic Gibson-style open-book design.
The collaboration with the Gibson Custom Shop has resulted in a guitar that blurs the lines between high-end Epiphone and entry-level Gibson models.
Gibson USA Burstbuckers
This guitar delivers a powerful and versatile tone and is equipped with a pair of Gibson USA Burstbucker Pro Alnico V humbuckers. The ’50s-style wiring, featuring CTS pots and Luxe Grey Tiger paper in oil capacitors, provides precise control over your sound.
The build quality is impeccable, with a long neck tenon, a one-piece mahogany neck carved into a custom Custom Tak ’59 profile, and vintage details like a Historic wraparound bridge and a ‘59 replica cream pickguard. It has a solid mahogany body and a maple top, offering a rich and resonant tone. While it doesn’t feature a rosewood fingerboard, the 12″ laurel fretboard provides excellent playability and a classic look.
These will be hard to find outside Japan, especially if you don’t live near a Gibson Garage store. However, the specifications are very nice, so they will be worth hunting down.
IR Cab Library
Elevate your Origin Effects Amp Recreation pedals with the carefully curated IR Cab Library. This free collection of impulse responses complements the diverse tones available from the entire Origin Effects lineup.
The Cabinets
Users can choose from the Magnatone 213, Fender Brown Deluxe, Marshall 1960B G12H55, Bogner V30, Fender Twin JBL D120F, and Vox AC30 Silver Alnico.
This is a great curated set of classic guitar cabs that also nicely complement Origin Effects pedals.
Each cab offers three unique mic mixes and individual mic options, providing unparalleled control over your sound. This excellent freebie makes recording guitars a lot simpler, and it can be used with any hardware or software that uses IRs.
Silktone’s Fuzz+: A Fuzz Pedal That Rocks
Silktone just dropped the Fuzz+, a revamped version of their killer Fuzz pedal. This bad boy has more tone controls and a second footswitch to give you even more fuzz tone options.
What’s new?
You can now tweak the bass and treble to dial in your perfect sound, and the Raw mode lets you bypass the Cleanup knob for a full-on fuzz blast. The Cleanup control is smoother than ever, and the Fuzz control works better with the Raw mode.
Want a pure, unadulterated fuzz sound? Hit the Raw footswitch. Need more control over your tone? Tweak the Bass and Treble knobs. The Fuzz+ has covered you if you want to get dirty.
Bias Tweaking & More
The Bias feature lets you fine-tune the transistor voltage for your ideal distortion. The Fuzz+ also has a built-in pickup simulator to stop those annoying squeals, a higher output, and runs on 9V.
If you’re looking for a fuzz pedal that can do it all, the Silktone Fuzz+ is the one. It is available to order now in two finishes: Classic Black and Turquoise.
MSRP – USD 269
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