That Was The Year... 1995 700 WTO, DVD, X and P*U*L*S*E

A FIRST FOR EGGLE GUITARS

is the signature Tony Iommi Artist model that naturally draws its inspiration from Tony’s famous Gibson SG. Although the body shape is slightly offset and the trademark Eggle headstock is employed this black beast of a guitar really looks the part. Whether you go for the standard dotted ebony fretboard or the ‘cross’ inlaid version (at extra cost) the weight of the Brazilian mahogany neck and body makes it feel a very substantial ‘beast’.

THE BBC BEGINS REGULAR Digital Audio

Broadcasting (DAB); the Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) format is announced; Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station is now supplying energy to the National Grid; Yahoo! is founded; eBay comes into existence and Windows 95 is released by Microsoft.

IN THE MIDST OF THE BRITPOP REVOLUTION

with Oasis and Blur vying for domination in both the singles and album charts, the ambassador of pop, Cliff Richard is knighted and guitarist Richey Edwards of the Manic Street Preachers disappears from a hotel in Bayswater. New albums include Paul Weller – Stanley Road, Queen – Made In Heaven, Take That – Nobody Else, Simply Red – Life and P*U*L*S*E from Pink Floyd.

THE CONTROL PANEL OF LANEY’S NEW VC50

combo positively bristles with chicken-head knobs but multiple options are what you need to bring out the best of this two-channel, 50-watt amp. It’s designed to supply both British and American sonic abilities from a pair of 12-inch HH Premiere Vintage 60 speakers, and it certainly lives up to the promise. The channels are independent yet both offer effects loop, switchable boost, presence and resonance controls. There’s an awful lot of sounds here just waiting to be unleashed.

US PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON

extends a $20 billion loan to help Mexico avert financial collapse; British forces are sent to the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina to help relieve the siege of Sarajevo; the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is established; and Sweden, Austria and Finland join the European Union.

ACKNOWLEDGING ITS HERITAGE, GUILD

introduces the X700 archtop jazz guitar in all its glitzy glory with a bound, solid hand-carved spruce top, curly maple back and sides and maple neck. In contrast the bound fingerboard is ebony with attractive pearl block and abalone wedge inlays. The hardware is gold plated including the pair of Guild humbuckers and Grover tuners. The volume and tone controls are enhanced by a pickup selector switch and, uncharacteristically, an additional master volume fitted with a downsized knob. Sunburst and blonde finishes are available.