(Source: Yamaha Europe)

Jools Holland, one of the UK’s most popular pianists, has put his tour piano, a Yamaha GT7 digital piano, on auction. It’ll be auctioned at the Bonhams’ Autumn sale of Fine Pianos without reserve, and all proceeds will go towards the Drake Music Project.

FYI, production of this particular Yamaha GT7 model has been discontinued, so you’ll be getting a potential antique as well. On a related note, Holland has announced that he will be replacing this piano with a “similar upgraded model”.

[News via Yamaha Europe]

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No, this isn’t a competition for the Guitar Hero video game. We’re talking about real guitars in a competition at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco that is to be judged by six celebrity judges, i.e. Joe Satriani, Steve Lukather, Ritchie Kotzen, Rafael Moreira, Shredmistress Rynata and Steve Read.

The 10 finalists are:

• David Powers (Brewster, New York)
• Sergei Roudzinski (Russia)
• Patrick Woods (Winona Lake, Indiana)
• Joe Cefalu (Boise, Idaho)
• Ed DeGenaro (Seattle, Washington)
• Trey Alexander (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
• Josh Karickhoff (New York, New York)
• Anton Tsygankov (St. Peters, Missouri)
• Ron LoCurto (Kenmore, New York)
• Nathan Hahn, (Waxahachie, Texas)

If you’re interested in watching the event, you might want to book tickets online.

[News via Guitar Player]

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(Source: GuitarGearHeads)

As a diversion from the ornate guitar-track into a more natural style, the Samick Remington OM13-CE does a great job. At least, according to GuitarGearHeads in their review of the acoustic guitar.

Construction was deemed solid, with clear tones and balanced sound - though only for light and medium strumming. Like most orchestra model guitars, higher tones were overly accentuated during aggressive strumming.

Overall, the sub-US$500 cedar top guitar was touted as a “great intermediate guitar”, and was awarded GGH’s Rig Ready and Approved Awards for 2006.

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