Epiphone Jeff Waters “Annihilation-V"

Epiphone says any metal machine is only as good as its pickups, and the Jeff Waters “Annihilation-V” carries a pair that are primed for this artist’s superlative tastes in tone.

anked an impressive #3 in Joel McCiver’s 2009 book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists, Waters also lays down the band’s bass parts (hiring pros to cover touring duties), is the band’s chief producer, and covered lead vocal duties between 1994–97. In short, Waters, lives, breathes and eats metal—and when he really wants to rock, he straps on an Epiphone, namely the new Jeff Waters “Annihilation-V” signature model, a guitar primed for total destruction.

It all starts with the wood, and the Jeff Waters “Annihilation-V” is born out of select mahogany, long tonewood of choice of countless metal players. Its body is made from solid mahogany in the radical Flying V shape that Jeff prefers, while its neck is carved from another piece of solid mahogany and glued in with a deep-set Flying V neck joint for unparalleled upper fret access. A “D” profiled SlimTaper™ neck combines comfort with the lightning fast speed, while a 24-fret phenolic fingerboard offers an ultra smooth, resonant and durable surface for all your shredding action.

Designed specifically for Jeff by Epiphone engineers and made by Gibson USA’s pickup division, the guitar features a “JWT” (Jeff Waters Treble) and “JWR” (Jeff Waters Rhythm) in the bridge and neck positions respectively.

Both humbuckers feature 4-conductor wire, and the JWT bridge pickup features a Ceramic-8 magnet for a combination of crunch and growl without losing its enhanced lows and crystal clear highs. The JWR neck pickup features an Alnico-II magnet designed to provide vintage tone with sustain and clarity along with the right combination of power and warmth.

Controlling this power is an array of a single volume control with push-pull switch for coil splitting, tapping noise free single-coil tones from both pickups, a three-way toggle selector, and a momentary “kill button” for creating your own playing effects.

Epiphone’s new LockTone Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbard tailpiece are designed to form a tight and resonant string-to-body coupling at the tail end, while 14:1 Grovers at the other end keep it all tightly in tune.

Epiphone StrapLocks are designed to ensure this baby isn’t taking a dive, too.

Available in a choice of Pitch Black satin or Annihilation Red gloss, it includes custom red or silver (depending on finish) “Annihilation Devil” fingerboard graphics, Jeff Waters’s signature at the back of the headstock, and black plated hardware.

It comes with a plush-lined hardshell case, Epiphone’s Limited Lifetime warranty and 24/7/365 Gibson Customer Service.

Pricing
MSRP $1,165.

For more information, visit www.epiphone.com.