Ciari Guitars introduces the Steve Stevens Signature Ascender, a groundbreaking travel guitar merging folding technology with elite performance features. Designed for musicians on the go, this innovative model offers premium materials, custom pickups, and unique design elements. Ciari Guitars, the pioneering brand behind the world’s most innovative travel guitars, proudly announces its first-ever Signature Series model in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning songwriter, guitarist, and rock legend Steve Stevens. Best known for his work with Billy Idol and contributions to music icons like Michael Jackson, as well as culture-defining films such as Top Gun, Stevens brings his unparalleled tone and artistry to Ciari’s revolutionary platform.The Steve Stevens Signature Ascender™ merges Ciari’s patented folding technology with the high-performance features demanded by elite touring musicians. Designed for tone, portability, and stage-ready aesthetics, the Signature model offers a new benchmark in travel guitar innovation – perfect for stage, studio, and everywhere in between.“Imagine flying with a truly professional, high-quality guitar and not having to worry about an airline damaging it,” says Stevens. “With my signature Ciari guitar, you just fold it up, stick it in its included backpack, and slide it under your seat. Ciari has changed the game, and I’m proud to put my name on this instrument.”Crafted with premium materials and custom features handpicked by Stevens himself, the guitar is built for musicians who refuse to choose between convenience and performance. The Signature Ascender features a custom neck profile, premium pickups, and striking visual elements that reflect Steve’s iconic style. The Signature Series includes two models: the Steve Stevens Signature Ascender Platinum, available in Jet Black Glass and Olympic White Gloss, and the Steve Stevens Signature Ascender Premier, available in Jet Black Glass, Olympic White Gloss, and Josie Pink.The Steve Stevens Signature Ascender boasts the following key features:Bare Knuckle Ray Gun pickups for dynamic, precise tone.Coil-splitting functionality for versatile sound options.LED Selector Switch with Red, Green, and Blue position indicators on the Ray Gun Logo.Bezel tuners for effortless, accurate tuning.Premium electronics with stacked pots for seamless control.Trapezoid inlays and Ray Gun-inspired design elementsCiari’s patented foldable neck system allows for “Personal Item” convenience on planes.“Partnering with Steve Stevens for our first Signature Series is a dream,” said Jonathan Spangler, Founder & CEO of Ciari Guitars. “He embodies everything we value — innovation, excellence, and fearless artistry. This guitar is the culmination of that shared vision.”The Steve Stevens Signature Ascender is available for pre-order exclusively on the Ciari Guitars website. For more information, visit ciariguitars.com. Steve Stevens is currently on a worldwide tour with Billy Idol, supporting the duo’s chart-topping new album Dream Into It.

With switches that add germanium transistors and a bass boost to the classic Klon formula, Keeley delivers a more flexible and often more potent overdrive.The Keeley Manis uniquely combines both germanium NOS transistors and diodes for more compression and saturation. This evolution is unlike any other mythical Klone! Keeley writes the next chapter in the legend of the mythical Klone pedal with several storied upgrades and features. First up is the germanium diode switch. The essential germanium diodes are at the heart of the myth. By transposing germanium diodes with germanium transistors (Cold War-era devices), we increase the sustain and saturation in the pedal. The Manis can give you a softer attack that sounds more like a tube amp. Less mid-forward, more tube-amp like. This feels incredible under your fingertips. Wouldn’t you like to hear a little more of the natural low end from your guitar? The bass boost switch pushes the lower half of the mid-focused response by one octave and increases the output by +3dB. It’s the perfect low end recovery for single coil guitars. You can choose True Bypass or Buffered Silent Switching on the fly. The Manis is built like a tank and is the first Klone you can power with 18 volts for increased headroom. The Manis is an evolution of the original circuit.The Manis isn’t just a mod: it’s an evolution of the mythical overdrive mid-boost pedal. Ge-Trans Switch offers a welcome difference in feel of the circuit with more of a tube-like saturation and compression. The Bass+ Switch – Lowers the frequency response by one octave and then pushes 3dB harder True-Bypass or Silent Switching – Whichever works and sounds best in your rig Power Protection up to 18 volts for increased headroom – without damaging the charge pump. Germanium TransistorsCentral to the superior tone from the Manis Overdrive is the germanium transistors we select for increased saturation, compression, and sustain. Each transistor is tested for noise and accuracy ensuring you have an incredible tone.Switchable Low Frequency CutoffThe Manis Overdrive gives you just the perfect lift in bass response so that your tone is not as mid-focused. Perfect for making single coils fatter, fuller, and more powerful.Buffered Bypass or True BypassThe Keeley Manis Overdrive allows you to quickly switch between either mode. Having a great buffer will make your rig sound strong and clear even when the pedal is off. Buffered switching prevents the pops and clicks of true-bypass switching. If you want to turn on true-bypass, simply press and hold the foot switch for two seconds. Holding the switch for two seconds toggle between modes. True Bypass is great if a buffer might affect the tone of a vintage pedal. Enjoy truly silent switching and a better sounding rig with Keeley’s buffered switching mode.

Hear Swedish occult rock combo Skräcken spin their mystical, ’70s-influenced tales from the darkside on their debut full-length Echoes From the Void.
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Keeley Electronics has unveiled the new Manis overdrive, a uniquely versatile take on the iconic “transparent overdrive” pedal that has infatuated guitarists for three decades. Unlike any other “Klone”, the Keeley Manis combines both germanium NOS transistors and diodes, allowing guitarists an option for more compression and saturation in their sound.In addition to delivering a right-on-the-money version of the classic transparent overdrive – shaped by the familiar 3-knob set of “Tone,” “Drive” and “Level” controls – the Manis provides two great new tone-shaping options – each controlled by dedicated toggle switches – that vastly expand the pedal’s sonic range.The first of these upgrades is a two-position toggle switch for selecting either germanium diodes (an essential part of the classic transparent overdrive tone) or Keeley’s carefully selected germanium transistors in the pedal’s circuitry. The two settings provide dramatically different sound and feel, adding a wonderful versatility that is missing in other Klones. Select the germanium diodes (labeled GE Diode below the toggle switch) and you’ll get the iconic Klone sound. When you flip the toggle switch up and transpose germanium diodes with germanium transistors (labeled GE Trans), you’ll instantly get increased sustain and saturation in the pedal. In this mode the Manis provides a softer attack that sounds more like a tube amp. It’s less mid-forward, more organic, and feels incredible under your fingertips. The second major upgrade allows you to tailor your bass response with a two-position toggle switch to select either “stock” voicing or enhanced bass voicing. Wouldn’t you like to hear a little more of the natural low end from your guitar? The Manis’ bass boost switch (labeled Bass+ above the toggle switch) pushes the lower half of pedal’s response by one octave and increases the output by +3dB. It’s perfect for making single coils sound fatter, fuller, and more powerful, and addresses an age-old complaint from some Klone users who feel the original pedal is too light on low-end brawn. If you wish to stick with the traditional voicing, simply use the toggle’s lower position (labeled Stock) for a more mid-focused tone.Keeley’s Manis allows you to choose True Bypass or Buffered Silent Switching on the fly. Having a great buffer will make your rig sound strong and clear even when the pedal is off. Buffered switching prevents the pops and clicks of true-bypass switching. You can easily access quick, hands-free switching between either mode. To turn on true-bypass, simply press and hold the foot switch for two seconds. Press and hold the switch again for two seconds and you’ll return to buffered mode. True Bypass is great if a buffer might affect the tone of a vintage pedal further down in your signal chain. Enjoy truly silent switching and a better sounding rig with Keeley’s buffered switching mode.The Manis is made in the USA and built like a tank. And it’s the first Klone you can power with 18 volts for increased headroom.Manis highlights:The Manis isn’t just a mod: it’s an evolution of the mythical overdrive mid-boost pedal.Ge-Trans Switch offers a welcome difference in feel of the circuit with more of a tube-like saturation and compression.The Bass+ Switch – Lowers the frequency response by one octave and then pushes 3dB harder for bigger, fuller low-end tone.True-Bypass or Silent Switching – Whichever works and sounds best in your rigPower Protection up to 18 volts for increased headroom – without damaging the charge pump.Manis is made in the USA in Keeley’s state-of-the-art Oklahoma City shop. From the meticulously built circuit boards to the newly fabricated aluminum enclosure, Keeley makes guitar effect pedals like finely crafted musical instruments.The Keeley Manis Overdrive carries a street price of $199 USD. For more information visit rkfx.com.