CARVIN The Carvin SH400 Head. To supply that power, you could do a lot worse than go with Carvin’s new SX400 amp head, the latest model in Carvin's innovative SX line. The distortion circuit on an amp is of prime importance to the kind of guitarist who reads Hit Parader, and this 400-watt, dual-channel monster has most impressive tube-like distortion, thanks to its acclaimed tube simulator circuit. Its built-in MOSFET power amp provides an exceptionally clean tone, as well as that killer-grunge distortion, and there's more than enough output to drive multiple cabinet setups — a good thing if your band is going places, like wp, as in bigger venues to play. Each channel also has its own active bass/mid/treble EQ for great tonal flexibility. The head enclosure is made of solid-core wood, covered in durable Ozite for roadworthiness. Ideally suited in tone and power to be the central component in a high-output amp stack, the SX400 lists for $499. For more info on how to play with Carvin’s kind of POWER, write Carvin, 1155 Industrial Ave., Escondido, CA 92025. Gasia's PMP-300 “Tone Bank’ professional keyboard with MIDL Casio's PMP-406 “Tone Bank” protessionai keyboard with MIDI. CASIO KEYBOARDS Casio’s new PMP-300 and PMP-400 “Tone Bank” keyboards generate up to 210 different, highly realistic instrument tones, thanks to Casio's new “Casio Dynamic” CD sound source, which is based on 12-bit PCM technology. MIDI multi-timbral capabilities allow simultaneous access to three preset tones, with a total of 12-note polyphony. The PMP-300 is a 49-key, 10-note polyphonic keyboard with 20 different preset instrument tones, 49 percussion sounds, 20 PCM autorhythms and a one-finger auto-accompaniment feature that backs up melodies with full chords, bass lines, accent notes and harmonies. The PMP-300 lists for $269. The PMP-400 is a 61-key, 10-note polyphonic version, which also comes with sustain and foot volume jacks. It lists for $379. For more info, write Casio Inc., 570 Mt. Pleasant Ave., P.O. Box 7000, Dover, NJ 07801. WESTONE PYTHON GUITARS If snakes give you the creeps, you'd better steer clear of Westone’s new Python-covered guitars. This is rea/ snakeskin from rea/ pythons, from leading snakeskin importer EMSTAR, who have entered into an exclusive agreement with Westone to supply and cover the guitar bodies. The snakeskin can cover the entire guitar body or just the top, or even just the headstock. A full bodywrap with genuine snakeskin adds $450 to the retail cost of a guitar; top-only adds $400 and headstock-only adds $75. For more info, write Westone c/o St. Louis Music Supply Co., 1400 Ferguson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63133. HAMER GUITAR Hamer introduces the Californian Custom 89, a limited edition (only 150 of ‘em will ever be made) special version of one of its most popular axes. It features a reverse headstock, ebony fretboard with mother-of-pearl “boomerang” inlays and black-chrome hardware. The high-output OBL pickups — a slanted singlecoil at the neck and a double-coil at the bridge — have blade-style magnets for an extra highpowered, cutting sound. Added tonal versatility is provided by a unique “tone contour” control, which does more than the usual treble-cutting. The tone contour also functions as a push-pull switch to alter the wiring of the pickups from series to parallel, offering an even wider range of tonal possibilities. Each Californian Custom 89 is finished in a unique purple pearl metalflake lacquer with matching paint job on the peghead. These soon-to-be collectors’ items list for $1,7770 and are available on a first come first served basis. For more info, write Hamer Guitars USA, 835 W. University, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. TASCAM GUITAR AMP SIMULATOR Tascam’s new GS-30 Guitar Amp Simulator is designed for recording simulated big-amp sounds onto tape with ease, even for guitarists who don’t have the budget or the room to use a This “peripheral recording device” operates much like a dual-channel amp, with a pregain control for overall volume and a drive control to set overdrive. There's also a comprehensive EQ section with high, mid and low controls, plus a presence control for added midrange oomph. And with its two outputs, the GS-30 conveniently offers signal-routing options, like splitting the signal to different effects banks, recording different EQ settings on separate guitar tracks or using one output for a powered monitor speaker. The GS-30 lists for $225. For more info, write Tascam c/o TEAC, 7733 Telegraph Road, Montebello, CA 90640. HIT PARADER 97
by Adrianne Stone Each month, Star Talk brings you personal stories from some of your favorite rock stars. Do you lose sleep at night wondering how Nikki Sixx maintains his muscular physique? Do you daydream about what Mike Tramp misses most when he’s on the road? Do you spend hours pondering what sport Rob Halford indulges in during his spare time? You might be spending too much time with your headphones blasting at “10”... or you might have a valid reason for asking Star Talk for help. Here’s your chance to ask your favorite metal -mashers those mindboggling questions. Star Talk will hunt down your favorite rockers (to the & ; % 98. HIT PARADER Ratt’s Stephen Pearcy: “Success has made me more relaxed and confident.” ends of the earth... or at least to Brooklyn!) to answer you. Just send your questions to: STAR TALK, c/o Hit Parader Magazine, Charlton Building, Derby, CT 06418. This month's question: What changes have you had to make because of your success? (Question asked by Thomas Millman, Jersey City, New Jersey) JON BON JOVI; ‘Well, | grew up in the public eye, you know? | mean, | was 20 when | got signed. I'm 26 now. In six years, you better change some, you know? Or you're dead! (laughs) But seriously, I've grown up a lot. I've Leafe Bob had to take my own garbage out at night and clean the house or whatever — | mean, | don't live with my mom anymore. So there's a lot_of responsibilities and I've learned to really take care of myself.” JACK RUSSELL (Great White): “| can order two Big Macs now instead of just one. That's as far as my lifestyle’s really changed. | can pay my bills on time now, instead of getting all of those fuckin’ overdue notices and threats from billing companies. But I’m not rich. The money doesn't make the man. I'm not in rock and roll to make money. I'm in it because | love music.” RICHIE SAMBORA (Bon Jovi): “| can't even go to the supermarket, for God’s sake! But thank God that that happens! (laughs) I’m grateful that the kids want our autographs and that they wanna come and hang out with Bon Jovi. It's cool. But there's just not enough time in the day anymore. But I’m having a lot of fun and I'm really happy. We feel real lucky to have the privilege to make records and go out there and play for the kids, so I'm not complaining a bit!” PETER BALTES (Accept): “| have to do more interviews now than when we first started out. When we went to Japan, they treated us like we were the Beatles. It was unexpected and we have to deal with things like that, but | don't think that stuff really can change me. We have our feet on the ground and we know what it really means to be a rock and roll star — it means nothing, actually. To be honest, I'm very proud of the band and that the audiences are happy buying our album. It's great that people like us, but | never, ever preferred to be treated like a ‘rock star’. | really need my privacy to do what | do.” STEPHEN PEARCY (Ratt): “It really didn't change me a lot. I'm still doing the same things that | used to do. The only thing that’s different is it's made me more relaxed and confident. But it's not out of hand — | mean, I'm not into it to be foolish or anything.” LARS ULRICH (Metallica): ‘We've never listened to all the people who tell us how great — we are. The only people we listen to are ourselves and our managers. That's why any success we have won't change us at all. We still like hanging out with the kids and enjoying a few beers after the show. Nothing else matters, right?” GEOFF TATE (Queensryche): “So far, we haven't been successful enough to merit changing our lifestyle. In fact, there have been times in our career that have been very difficult — both financially and emotionally. But | think we've turned the corner now. None of us can wait until success starts to change us.” ’ ec ‘a
shins NNER a FROM THE fo UP England’s newest uU rt, Thomas McRe Klin, working ‘out in his “home studio’2.on the new JEM TTTVBK.. For a full color 3 Thomas’ wall) send $5.00 to Ibanez, dept. SVPHP1, P.0. Box 886, Bensalem, P A 1302. 33 prenene 91768-3916 e P.O. Box 2009, Idaho , Falls, 1D 83403. oP eG sata ah ee fn Bie a Pc | ae é For a new, full co 199 ian vita i ‘eatsiog, send $2 } Pomona; Ch 91766-3916- ba Box St. Laurent, Que Uy ss a 1V8. a ihe: rely a. “" ae
INIA? ' STATE OF EUPHORIA STATE OF EUPHORIA ViOHdNa 4O Alvis WIHOHdNA 4O AVIS Ww XVIKINE 4/3 Seattle, WA* 4/4 Portland, OR*4/6 Salt Lake City, UT * 4/8 Oakland, CA * 4/9 Long Beach, CA ° 4/10 Phoenix, AZ * 4/13. San Antonio, TX * 4/14 Dallas, TX * 4/15 Houston, TX'* 4/16 New Orleans, LA * 4/18 Miami, FL*4/19_ Tampa, FL*4/20 Atlanta,GA+*4/21 Memphis, TN*4/22 Louisville, KY *4/24 Dayton, OH* 4/25 Danville, IL * 4/26 Milwaukee, WI * 4/28 Chicago, IL * 4/29 Detroit, MI * 4/30 Cleveland, OH »° 5/1 Pittsburgh, PA*5/3_ Upper Darby, PA*5/4_ Boston, MA*5/5-6 New York,NY*5/8 Troy, NY*5/10 Baltimore, MD : °S5/11 Springfield, MA*5/12 Poughkeepsie, NY n 1 + t t t t t t t t t