musical instruments

The Bass Guitar And Why It Rocks!

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:37:00 +0000

This post will introduce you to the bass guitar, touch on its history, its evolution and mention some of the amazing bass players that have graced the instrument. Read on to learn more about the bass guitar.

Welcome to the world of the bass guitar; if you’re reading this then you’ve taken an interest in the electric bass and have decided to pursue it further. Maybe this post will reaffirms your decision to play bass guitar, or perhaps it will be the final argument for you to start playing the bass yourself.

The bass guitar is a pretty cool instrument. It may not be as flashy as a drum kit, or command as much attention as a pimped out electric guitar, but it has a subdued, laid-back vibe all its own. A standard bass guitar has four strings and is tuned E-A-D-G; an octave below the lowest strings on a guitar to provide a sonic foundation for the melody to build upon.

While you may give up the fame and glory of the spotlight when you choose to become a bass player, you gain full control of the key of the music, and full dominion over the bass frequencies.

Bass Guitar Frequencies Move People

This is almost a mystical power that most people won’t even realize that you have. Many won’t even realize that it is the bass player and the way he chooses to play certain notes, leave others out, and the space and rhythms in between these that are hypnotizing them into dancing. It is a great responsibility that you take on – called the groove – without it; any music you play will be lame.

So besides this, why take on the bass guitar? What is it about the bass guitar that is cool, or should be attractive to someone just starting out that just wants to play SOMETHING? Well, getting up and running with a bass guitar is much easier than most other instruments. You don’t have to have four-way independence as with drums, you don’t have to memorize all the chord fingering patterns like you would with a guitar, and you don’t have to spend years to get a sound that doesn’t sound like a cat being tortured as you would with a violin. You can pick up a bass guitar and start playing bass lines almost immediately – the good news is that the easier it is to play an instrument along to music you like when you’re starting out, the more likely you’ll stay with the instrument for good.

Another great reason why the bass guitar is cool is that EVERYONE needs a bass player. You make the other band members sound good, and there are many styles of music out there that use the bass guitar. That means that if you’re a good bass player, you’re willing to work hard, learn and you have a great attitude –you’re going to have many more job opportunities than many other musicians would have.

Being a bassist is as much a state of mind as it is a position in the band. You need to put the song and the other musicians before yourself. You are the glue between the rhythm and the melody – you straddle the line between the drummer and the guitarist, giving the music that third dimension that makes music so exciting. If you’re willing to put your ego on the back burner, you can become a truly great bassist that is in demand.

Is playing the bass guitar easier? Yes it is. But to master any instrument is virtually impossible. Playing bass guitar is initially much easier than guitar; you can outline chords one finger at a time as opposed to learning the fingerings for each chord. You also have fewer strings to change than the guitarist, but keep in mind that bass guitar strings are thicker – so in some ways, playing the bass guitar is more difficult because you need to play just as fast as the guitarists but with thicker strings. This means that you’re moving more mass in the same amount of time or energy.

What you may not know about the bass guitar is:

There is something to be said for a simple bass line that does what it’s supposed to do, get some asses out of the chairs at the bar.

Bass guitars can be beautiful and expensive, they can break your heart and if you get used to playing them – playing bass guitar can indeed be habit forming!

The electric bass guitar was responsible for making rock n’ roll music come to life in the fifties – the bass could now be heard (as well as felt!) and helped to drive the new-fangled rock n roll bands mercilessly into the spotlight.

The electric bass guitar started out with 4 strings and remained that way for several decades, before evolving to 5, 6, 8 and even 12 stringed versions beginning in the mid-70s. These multi-stringed basses owe a large debt of thanks to Anthony Jackson who helped open the door to more than 4 string basses by commissioning the first six string bass guitar to be built in the 1970s!
Some famous bass guitarists include Paul McCartney, Sting, Geddy Lee, Jaco Pastorius, James Jamerson, Flea, Les Claypool, Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan, Stanley Clarke and John Entwistle.

You can get started with a bass guitar kit that includes a bass guitar, a bass amp, a guitar strap, an bass guitar instrument cable and a tuner for around $250 or you can even rent a bass guitar from many major music instrument retailers. Even if you don’t know of any teachers in your town, you can surf Youtube and find plenty of lessons for free that can get you started. There’s no good reason to sit on the fence anymore, playing bass guitar can be an affordable hobby that can actually make you some extra money if you choose to play out in bands.

Choosing to play the bass guitar has given me plenty of opportunity to learn and grow as a human being. It’s allowed me to experience the thrill of performing in front of large audiences while sharing the stage with some amazing bands and meet terrific people. Playing bass guitar is a great way to be creative, relieve stress and have fun!

Free Online Guitar Lessons For Beginners - part 2

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:36:00 +0000

Umpteen sites on the internet have free guitar lessons for beginners. It's just a matter of looking for them. Type in "free online guitar lessons" and you will be rewarded with numerous sites to explore. If you stay with the thought of getting your guitar lessons from YouTube, all you want to do is pick the lessons you most want and the lessons you most like and save them in your bookmarks. For instance, if you are a raw beginner, you will be looking for a video showing you how to tune your guitar, and maybe a lesson showing you how to change your guitar strings. If you are an electric guitar player you will want someone to show you how to set up your guitar.

As for actually learning how to play. If you don't have any idea of the variety of songs you want to play, start with fooling around with some of the entertaining stuff you find on YouTube like power chords or fingerpicking. You will find plenty of lessons for these areas of guitar playing and seeing easy chords and fingerpicking patterns will set off your interest in guitar playing.

Even if you do find some free online guitar lessons, any beginner would be well advised to seek out his local guitar teacher and get a few examples from a live person. A teacher sitting in the same room as you are can see your mistakes and correct how you are picking or how you are holding the guitar. These are the basic things that you really should get right from the beginning. You could also look for lessons on HOW to practice and on PLANNING your daily practice. Most guitar players advise beginners to practice for shorter periods at first, with plenty of rests rather than slog it out for long, boring sessions.

Free Online Guitar Lessons For Beginners

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:35:00 +0000

Free online guitar lessons are a popular item at the moment. Maybe it's a symptom of the post-Christmas period. There's a whole other school of commencing guitar players out there who just received free guitars, and today they desire free online guitar lessons. If you possess no thoughts on how to begin to play your new guitar, you will be searching about the internet for info on what you will need to discover how to play your guitar. Maybe you've even paid a visit to your local guitar teacher, and not been smitten by their charisma and virtuosity. So now you're back online, searching for free guitar lessons.

One of the problems for beginners is when you start looking at online guitar lessons the terminology can be a little scary. Learning what all the strings are called, finding out how many notes you have to learn. This is where online guitar lessons excel. On video sites like YouTube every facet of guitar playing is explained to you by experienced guitar players. The printed word does not give us information as effectively as someone looking at us from our computer screen and talking us through matters.

cheap guitar amps

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:57:00 +0000

When you have purchased a guitar, next thing you want to do is to buy cheap guitar amps. Guitar amplifiers come in all shapes and sizes: practice, pre, mini, full and half stacked amps etc. Some amplifiers can do well in many departments, while some others are designed to produce specific tonal qualities. The most popular companies known for producing amps are: Marshall, Yamaha, VOX, Fender, Mesa, Line 6 etc.

While looking for cheap guitar amplifiers, you will have to choose between the tube amps solid state amps and hybrid amps You will also have to decide whether you want a combo or separate head and speaker cabinet. Of these amps tube based amps use the vacuum tubes to produce sound. They are very loud and generate lots of heat when operated. Many musicians prefer tube amps as they produce warm tones and if pushed hard they can produce a natural distortion which adds more impact to the music.

The solid state variety use transistors and integrated circuits instead of tubes. Although they can't match the sound quality of the natural, smooth distortion produced by tube amplifiers, still they are versatile, maintenance free and economical. They use a broader range of tones as compared to tube amps If you are looking for cheap guitar amps you should go for solid state amps they provide reasonably good quality sound in a small budget.

Since the advent of microprocessors and digital technology, digital amplifiers have come in the market. They can simulate the sounds of a variety of tube amps without using actual tubes. They are cheap guitar amps which combine the latest technology with traditional sound quality. You can't make out the difference unless you are very sensitive to the notes.

A hybrid guitar amplifier combines the power of the solid state amps while tone comes from the tube amps technology. This way you get cheaper guitar amplifiers as compared to tube amps with similar quality, it's easier to carry and maintain.

Other Considerations

Combos: They consist of a single unit to house the electronics and the speakers. Thus, they are easier to transport and are quite handy. They are also not very expensive and give you full value for money.

Separate amps: These amps give you more flexibility in terms of speaker size and type. The speaker is away from the electronics, thus electronics are shielded from vibrations, which increases life and reliability of the electronic components.

There are cheap guitar amps available in the market, known as practice or mini amps For beginners they provide good support and are easy on the pocket. They are small in size, and the quality of sound produced by them is reasonably ok. You can use then as practice amps at home or in small gatherings. What kind of amp you choose depends solely on your usage, style, budget and personal choice.

The bigger idea is that an amplifier is an integral part of playing a guitar. Even the costliest best quality guitar won't sound as good if it is not attached to a suitable amplifier. So don't just go in for the cheap guitar amps go for amps that provide you with desired sound effects. An amplifier is a long term investment, you won't buy it every month, and so do not compromise on quality, your style and actual needs.

guitar amps

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:53:00 +0000

what are guitar amps? These are amplifiers that amplify the sound coming from the guitar and passing through them. The amps drive the guitar loudspeaker. When a guitar is played some sound waves are generated. These waves are then converted into an electrical signal, and fed into the guitar amplifier. Sometimes the input of the guitar amp is not compatible with the minute signal emanating from the guitar; in such a case the signal is first sent to a pre-amplifier. From the pre-amplifier the output is fed into the guitar amp.

Stages Of Work

The guitar amp works in four stages. These stages are the input stage, signal modulation stage, signal amplification stage, and the output stage.

Input

In this stage the signal from the guitar or the guitar pre-amp is fed into the guitar amp. The amplifier has some input female jacks; the signal cable is attached into these jacks. Sometimes the guitar signal is very weak, and cannot be fed into the guitar amp directly. In such situations the signal is made to pass through the guitar pre-amp before reaching the main amplifier. The impedance match between the available input signal impedance and the particular guitar amp's input signal impedance must be ensured. If there is any such impedance imbalance, it invariably causes distorted guitar sound on the loudspeaker.

Most amplifiers come with a pre-amp stage incorporated in to them. It removes the hassle of passing the guitar signal through a separate pre-amp. With such amplifiers the signal from the guitar can directly be routed through the amp itself.

Signal Modulation

The electric guitarists do not like the idea of plain music coming out of the loud speakers. They are happy if the guitar sounds can be jazzed up. The twangy, the funky, and the heavily distorted sounds are well liked by them. For example if a guitarist wants to incorporate the heavy metal rock sound into his guitar sounds, the input signal will need to go through the required heavy distortion. Similarly to produce wa-wa sounds or reverb etc., the input signal must undergo modulation before the sounds are finally amplified. The equalizers and tone control knobs too need to undergo the signal modulation stage.

Signal Amplification

It is at this stage that the actual amplification happens. That is why this stage is known as the business stage of a guitar amp. The outgoing signal at this stage is the same as the incoming signal from the modulation stage. The only difference is that the output is of much greater amplitude. In short, the signal amplifier simply and faithfully amplifies the incoming signal.

Output

Output stage is the last stage of a guitar amp. In some amp there is a sub-stage of output driver stage, but some have just a simple output stage. If your guitar amp is not of a good quality, it will just feed the outgoing signal from the amplification stage directly into the loudspeaker. The good quality guitar amps ensure that there is a signal conditioning output stage that matches the output signal to the input specifications of the loud speaker.

A serious guitarist is supposed to have a good working knowledge of guitar amps. If you are knowledgeable, you will always go for a good guitar amp. A good guitar amp makes all the difference to the reliability and predictability of the musical sounds that finally come out of the loudspeaker, when you play your guitar.

All about amplifiers

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:47:00 +0000

an amplifier is a gadget that transfers an increasing sound of an instrument. Amplifiers are widely used in radios, television sets, microcomputers, guitars and other instruments of music. There are different kinds of amplifiers.

An amplifier is a gadget that transfers the increasing sound of an instrument. Amplifiers are widely used in radios, television sets, microcomputers, guitars and other instruments of music. There are many types of amplifiers which include the following: electronic, power vacuum or valve tube, video, music and many more.

Moreover, amplifiers have certain features that are important to consider. These features are gain, bandwidth, efficiency, linearity, noise, output dynamic range, slew rate, rise time, settling time and ringing, overshoot and lastly the stability factor. Nowadays, amplifiers normally refer to an ‘electronic amplifier’ that has an audio. Amplifiers also have an input frequency known as the ‘transfer function’. Amplifiers also have magnitudes of the transfer function that are called ‘gain’. An amplifier is a device that highlights the sound of any instrument.

Listed below are the features of an amplifier:

• Gain: The gain of an amplifier is the ratio of the output to the input power and is basically measured by the volume.

• Bandwidth: Bandwidths give the amplifier a ‘satisfactory performance’. This feature can also be defined as “the dissimilarity between the lower and upper half power points”. The half power points are located where the power goes down by half its peak value.

• Efficiency: This amplifier feature is measured by how much input power is usefully applied to the amplifier. The limit of an ordinary amplifier is that the amplifier has up to 50 percent efficiency. Class A amplifiers are useless. This is because the efficiency of this kind of gadget ranges from 20 up to 30 percent with a maximum percentage of 45. Class B amplifiers have extremely high efficiency.

• Noise: The noise is measured by the amount of noise the amplifier had launched. The noise is also measured by its volume and also known as the “peak output power” that is created by the amplifier.

• Output dynamic range: The output dynamic range that is frequently specified in amplifiers is between the minimum and prime functional output levels. The lowest functional level is limited by the output noise while the prime is limited by distortion.

• Slew rate: The rate modifies the output variable. Slew rates are usually quoted in volts per second. A lot of amplifiers are only limited to its slew rate. Thus, they are typically the impedance of a drive current having to overcome the capacitive effects. The slew rate may limit the full power of the bandwidth.

• Rise time: The rise time of an amplifier is the time taken for the output to change from 20 percent up to 90 percent on its final level by driving a step input.

• Settling time and ringing: The settling time and ringing is the time taken for the output to settle to a certain percentage of the final value. This is generally precise for oscilloscope vertical amplifiers and has a high accuracy measurement system. Ringing refers to an output that cycle its final value while its final value had been delayed.

• Overshoot: It is the amount of output exceeded to its final and steady-state value.

• Stability factor: Stability factors are a main concern in RF and microwave amplifiers. The stability degree of an amplifier can be regarded by a so-called stability factor.

Listed below are several types of Amplifiers.

• Electronic amplifier: This type of amplifier is a gadget that is normally used in radios, televisions, guitars, microcomputers and other instruments. An electronic amplifier may be considered as a device used for modulating the output of a power supply.

• Power amplifier: This particular kind of amplifier is used in taking a signal from a source gadget and making it appropriate for a powerful loudspeaker. The purpose of this power amplifier is to take a weak signal and make it a strong one, which should be enough to drive a powerful speaker. The units of power amplifiers are known as watts. Power amplifiers also have a power rating. The power rating is present in various types of amplifiers. Power amplifiers are the ones that typically need the most attention towards the power.

• Vacuum Amplifier: This type of amplifier is also called a valve tube amplifier. It is a gadget that is used to create an electrical signal by controlling the function of electrons in a low-pressure space. A vacuum or valve amplifier is much more cost efficient in a high power application such as ‘radar’ counter measures equipment or communication equipment. A vacuum or valve tube amplifier also has an application of pre-dated electronics. Electronics is determined as a mechanical computer like slide that rules to the peak of obsolescence.

• Operational amplifier: operational amplifiers are also called “Op-amps”. This kind of amplifier has a solid state of integrated circuit amplifiers that is used in order to control any outside feedback. Operational amplifiers must contain a high-gain electronic voltage amplifier with a degree of difference in its inputs and a normally single output. Usually, the output of this kind of amplifier is controlled by a negative feedback that has a large verified degree of its output voltage. Op-amps have the most widely used electronic gadget. This kind of amplifier is also the most used by consumers. Operational amplifiers are used as an industrial and scientific gadget.

guitar amplifier

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:40:00 +0000

A guitar amplifier (or guitar amp) is an electronic amplifier designed to make the signal of anelectric guitar or an acoustic guitar louder and modify the tone by emphasizing or de-emphasizing certain frequencies and/or by adding electronic effects. There are two types of guitar amplifiers: combination ("combo") amplifiers, which include an amplifier and one, two, or four speakers in a wooden cabinet; and the standalone amplifier (often called a "head" or "amp head"), which does notcome with a speaker. The amplifier components in combo amplifiers and amp heads include both preamplifier, which boosts the signal coming out of the guitar to prepare it for the next amplifier stage, and a power amplifier, which provides the higher current which causes the speaker to produce sound. The simplest guitar amplifiers have only a power switch, a volume knob, and one or two tone control knobs. Guitar amplifiers may also have one or more electronic effects such as distortion, chorus, and additional controls such as a graphic equalizer. There are two main classes of amplifiers used with electric guitars: tube (or valve) amplifiers, which use vacuum tubes; and solid state(transistor) amplifiers.

Combo amplifiers range from small practice amplifiers with one 6" or 8" speaker and a 10 to 15 watt amplifier, to mid-sized combo amps with a 12" speaker and a 50 watt amplifier (suitable for rehearsals or performances in small venues), to large combo amplifiers with four 10" speakers and 100 or more watts of power, which can be used for shows in large clubs or halls. Amp heads are used with one or more speaker cabinets, creating what is nicknamed a "stack". Some guitarists who use amp heads and separate speaker cabinets use a single 4 X 10" speaker cabinet with the amp head. In some styles of music, such as heavy metal and blues rock, guitarists may connect the guitar amp head to a number of 4 X 10" cabinets. Guitar amplifiers range in price and quality from small, low-powered practice amplifier designed for students which sell for less than $50 USD to expensive "boutique" amplifiers which are custom made for professional musicians, and which can cost thousands of dollars.

Bass guitars, which are a type of guitar that can play notes an octave or more below a regular guitar, are typically amplified with a bass amplifier which is designed to handle the low frequency range. Acoustic guitar amplifiers differ from electric guitar amplifiers in that while electric guitar amplifiers are typically designed to modify the tone of the instrument--either by "rolling off" high frequencies or adding the warmth of tube overdrive--acoustic guitar amplifiers are generally designed to reproduce the natural sound of the acoustic instrument fairly accurately, without adding coloration or overdrive.

left handed guitar

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:37:00 +0000

If you are left-handed and looking for a guitar, then this is the site for YOU and its all in one place!

We sell ONLY left-handed guitars and have done so since 1995. The most successful supplier selling some of the world's leading brands to thousands of happy left-handed customers world-wide.

Quality service to all our left-handed friends is our number one priority.

most expensive guitar-Gibson Les Paul Studio

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 09:10:00 +0000

The Les Paul Studio enhances the solid, proven design of the world’s most famous guitar with a wide choice of finishes, a sleek, no-frills look. The Les Paul Studio is the favorite of guitarists who demand traditional Les Paul performance with a modern attitude.

About the Les Paul Series
No matter where Gibson Les Paul is seen - in the hands of a star performer, silhouetted in a guitar dealer’s ad, or cast in brass and incorporated into the architecture of a restaurant - it is universally recognized as the symbol of rock and roll music. From the basic no-frills guitars to elegant showpieces, the guitars of Les Paul are the standard-bearers of Gibson’s excellence. More Details!

Feature:
The tune-o-matic bridge feels good! Great features are the 2 controls for each pickup!!! 2 volumes, 2 tune, 3 way switch. The tuners are high grade as is the finish. The features on the guitar itself are exactly what one expects when one purchases a Gibson. Nice warranty. Even the case that comes with this guitar is fantastic, sturdy, and very well made-nice on the inside to protect the guitar along with a ‘top sheet’.
The tone and volume knobs are easy to use, the pick-ups are fantastic, and the toggle switch gave you no problems at all. When you buy this guitar, it is no need to change because it is already a A+ in your book.

Quality:
It came with a few small cosmetic blemishes in odd places, like near the strap bolt by the neck. The frets were pretty good. The intonation and almost perfect intonation (like a 9.9 out of 10). It’s pretty good considering the horror stories.

Gibson has been great with quality and is good about fixing any problems. Other than that the materials used, the finish, fit and feel are top notch.

Sound:
The tone of this guitar is classic. That means it will never go out of style and in fact had a large part in inventing the style. It is full and inspiring. Sounds the way a Les Paul should: great sound, nice, very smooth, warm tone, goes great with each channels (clean and overdrive), can get blues or hell anything out of it like acdc, or some aerosmith and etc. There are guitars out there that sound like this, though they are hard to find. There is no other way to describe this sound. Perfect for you indie-lock and alternative fans and classic rock. Just add reverb to this thing and it sounds amazing! Playable to jazz and this thing can sound very lovely clean. This thing is meant to rock out.

Value:
You get what you pay for-a great guitar. These guitars have kept their value and you will notice that they go up in value after years. It is a benchmark sort of thing and this represents an excellent investment. Check latest price!

Ease of Use:
Everything is easy to use. All depends on how you play. If you’re a blues bender, you’d love it. But if you want to unleash some shredding fury, look elsewhere. The neck is thick comfartable and you can get around it easily, especially on the high frets, and you find it hard to believe that so many of the world’s greatest shredders actually used it.

Desirability:
Pretty guitar, great sound, feels lighter than the standard which is nice for the shoulder. Give many positive reviews on the looks of the guitar. This is because Gibson is known very well for paying attention to detail on aesthetics.

Overall:
You’ll be happy with this for the rest of your life that you continue to make and play music.

Technical Info:
Manufactured in: Nashville, TN
Top Species: Carved Maple top
Back Species: Mahogany
Neck Species: Mahogany
Profile: ‘59 Les Paul Rounded
Peghead Pitch: 17 degrees
Thickness at 1st Fret: 0.818 in.
Thickness at 12th Fret: 0.963 in.
Heel Length: 0.625 in.
Neck Joint Location: 16th fret
Fingerboard Species: Rosewood; Ebony on Classic/Alpine White and Platinum
Scale Length: 24-3/4 in.
Total Length: 18.062 in.
Number of Frets: 22
Nut Width: 1-11/16 in.
Width at 12th Fret: 2.062 in.
Inlays: Pearloid trapezoid, none on Platinum
Hardware Plating Finish: Chrome or Gold ; Brushed Chrome on Platinum
Tailpiece: Stopbar
Bridge: Tune-o-matic
Knobs: Black Speed
Tuners: Green Key
Neck Pickup: 490R Alnico magnet humbucker
Bridge Pickup: 498T Alnico magnet humbucker
Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way switch
Case Interior: Dark Grey Plush with Black Shroud
Case Exterior: Black Reptile Pattern Hardshell
Case Silkscreen: Silver ‘Gibson USA’ logo
Strings: Brite Wires .010-.046
Buy Now!

M-16 Style Electric Guitar

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:52:00 +0000

Product Information

Featuring and alloy satin finished bridge, tuners, whammy and controls, this M16 style electric needs to be seen and played to be fully appreciated.

Featuring a solid wood body with a high gloss paint finish.
Made by KarreraMusic.com , outstanding performance and looks in one!

Rich dark rosewood fingerboard
Alloy satin finished tuners and bridge
Fully adjustable bridge
Tremolo (Whammy) bar supplied
Truss rod and bridge keys supplied

Our Price: $245.00
RRP: $699.00
Flat rate shipping: $19.00

Great Guitar Jam Tracks… I’ll Show You Mine If You’ll Show Me Yours

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:49:00 +0000

I don’t know about you, but being a full-time wage slave, husband, blogger, cancer caregiver, and general all-around nice guy, I don’t get time to jam with my friends nearly as often as I’d like––I do, however, find time as often as possible to sneak into the back room for some quality time with one of my favorite jam tracks.

No, it’s nowhere near as rewarding as jamming with my best buds, but there are some solid benefits––with a decent quality jam track you can be relatively sure your rhythm section will always be tight, your horn player won’t hammer down too many Singapore Slings, and your bass player will actually show up to practice on time (with his gear!)

Of course, there are as many styles of jam tracks as there are styles of music, but as a long time blues & old-school R&B player, I suffer from what I’ve come to call CPS (Chronic Pentatonic Syndrome.)

Yeah––you know what I’m talkin’ about.

I admit it, I’m a solid 12-bar junky, and while I tend to avoid the blues like the plague when I’m actually writing my own stuff, when it comes time to let loose with some wailin’ & screechin’ I always return to the blues. I guess it’s in my veins.

Anyway, I recently happened onto a truly high-quality source for Blues Jam Tracks (at bluesjamtracks.com. duh.) And while they aren’t free, you really do get what you pay for. These guys know their stuff, and the backing band here is just plain solid as a rock––not to mention a pleasure to solo over.

Gibson’s “Robot Guitar” Now Available In Sixteen Different Styles

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:47:00 +0000

Just when I thought it was safe to pull out my pocketbook again, Gibson announces a full range of new “Robot Guitars,” including both a Les Paul and an SG in what may be the single most popular finish produced in recent years (if searches on this site are any indication,)… Silverburst.

Self-tuning robotics aside, guitar freaks have been jonesing for some new Silverburst options for quite some time, and I have no doubt these things will fly off the shelves––even with an MSRP well into the mid $3000s.

It’s Official: Gibson Announces Robot Flying V & Robot X-Plorer

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:43:00 +0000

Well, we knew it was only a matter of time, but now it’s official––it looks like Gibson’s self-tuning “Robot” technology is finally trickling down into the rest of their model line, with the introduction of both a Robot Flying V, and a Robot X-Plorer.

According to Gibson, both guitars will feature one-piece mahogany necks, ebony fretboards with 22 frets, a hybrid ’50s rounded contour/’60s slim-taper neck profile, topless 500T/496R humbuckers, and of course the Robot Tuning System.

The guitars will be available in a single Red Metallic finish for the time being, but provided they sell I think it’s a fair bet that more colors will be available in the future. They ship with a charger, power plug, battery pack and a hardshell case. MSRP is set at $2599.

Visually Loud Stratocaster

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:34:00 +0000

A Visually Loud Stratocaster

Quick, grab your sunglasses!

This handpainted Strat-type

Double Bass!

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:33:00 +0000

WowSome eBay sellers SERIOUSLY need to do a little homework!

The seller ofthis guitardescribes it as having a "Very unique shape".

I doubt very much that it is "custom made" either.

Oh, also it supposedly has a "Floyd Ross" bridge too.

Gene Simmons autographed Westone Warlock bass

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:30:00 +0000

This Gene Simmons autographed Westone Warlock bass is quite neat, as apparently he won't sign guitars any more. Being a Westone it ought to be a nice quality instrument too. I had a Westone Thunder I-A fretless bass years back and it was a fantastic bass. I always regret getting rid of that one.

Pictured below is another bass that looks like it should (or could) be played by the Kiss bassmeister himself. Apparently it's a Toshiya bass (never heard of them) and to my eyes it looks as if the design has been based on a left-handed Rickenbacker.

ESP LTD Alexi-600 Electric Guitar

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:45:00 +0000

Item# ESP-ALEXI-600

Factory List Price: $1,569.00

Bill's Discount Price: $1,179.00

Description

Black & White Finish /Neck-thru-body construction/ EMG Pickups/ Grover Tuners/ black hardware/ Alder Body

more information

ESP MW-600 LTD MW600 MICHAEL WILTON

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:43:00 +0000

Description

Features: Bolt-On Construction, 25.5" Scale Length, Alder Body, Maple Neck w/ Maple Fingerboard, Floyd Rose Locking Nut, 42mm Nut Width, Thin U Neck Shape, Diamond Inlays, 22 XJ Frets, Chrome Hardware, Grover Tuners, Floyd Rose Tremolo System, Seymour Duncan JB (B) & Duncan Designed SC-101 (N&M) Pickups, 1 Volume, 1 Tone & 5-Way Switch.

Item# ESPMW-600

Factory List Price: $1,469.00

Bill's Discount Price: $1,099.00

click here

ESP GUSG GUS G SIG SERIES W/ HARDSHELL CASE

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:40:00 +0000

Description

Features: Set-Thru Construction, 25.5" Scale Length, Alder Body w/ Flamed Maple Top, Maple Neck w/ Rosewood Fingerboard, Floyd Rose Locking Nut, 42mm Nut Width, Thin U Neck Shape, Flame Inlays, 22 XJ Frets, White Binding on Body, Neck & Headstock, Black Hardware, Gotoh Tuners, Floyd Rose Tremolo System, Seymour Duncan Distortion (B) / '59 (N) Pickups, 1 Volume, 1 Tone & Coil Split Mini-Switch.

click here

DEAN Hardtail Double-Neck Limited Run Electric Guitar

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:36:00 +0000

Description

Modeled after the $3300 USA beauty, the new Hardtail Standard and Selects have a ‘set’ neck with molded heel, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, Grover tuners, nickel hardware and two special design humbuckers. The HardTail Select has a solid flame maple top and is available in Trans Amber, Tiger Eye, Trans Red, Trans Blue and Trans Braziliaburst while the more affordable Standards come in Flip Pearl, Classic Black and Copper Orange.

Specs:
# Limited Run of 200 Instruments
# First Dean production double-neck ever
# Set-neck construction 6/12 string
# Rosewood Fingerboard
# Grover Tuners
# Tiger Eye Finish Only
# Case Included

click here

DEAN Dimebag Blade Tribute Electric Guitar

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:32:00 +0000

Description

Specs:
* Basswood Body
* Maple Neck with Rosewood Fingerboard
* Custom Dimebag Darrel Graphics
* Bolt-on Construction
* String Through Body Tailpiece
* Black Hardware

Item# DEA-DIB

Factory List Price: $499.99

Bill's Discount Price: $299.00

click here

BC RICH Exotic Classic Bich Electric Guitar Item# BCRGTR-XCBGSM

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:29:00 +0000

Description

These Classic Bich guitars feature the BC Rich neck through design, Nato body and contrasting wood stringers. In addition to their eye appeal, these instruments are designed for function. The neck is a comfortable 24 5/8” scale, with a 24 jumbo fret Ebony fingerboard and special Rockfield humbucker pickups. These very exceptional Bich guitars are available in Spalted Maple with Ebony stringers.

Specs:

Construction: neck through

Body wood: nato

Headstock style: traditional 3 to a side

Headstock color: matching veneer and color

Headstock binding: single ply cream

Tuners: B.C. Rich die cast

Neck wood: maple

Neck binding: single ply cream

Fretboard: ebony

Inlay: white pearloid cloud

Frets: 24 jumbo 2.7mm

Scale: 24 5/8”

Bridge type: Tune O Matic

String termination: string through

Pickups: 2 Rockfield zebra mafia humbuckers

Controls: two volumes, one tone and one 3 way toggle

Hardware: chrome

Finish: natural

Colors: spalted maple veneer with ebony stringers

BC RICH Dark Arts Warlock Electric Guitar Item# BCRGTR-DAWGB

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:26:00 +0000

Description

This warlock offers a unique Arched Top, neck through construction. There is black hardware, string through body construction over a tune-o-matic style bridge, and 2 high output direct mounted humbucker pickups. This Dark Arts Warlock is offered in Blood Red and Onyx Glossy Black.

Specs:

Construction: neck through

Body wood: agathis

Body binding: black binding on blood guitar and white binding on onyx guitar

Headstock style: Widow

Tuners: diecast

Neck wood: maple

Back of neck: paint to match

Fretboard: rosewood

Inlay: large white pearloid diamonds

Frets: 24 jumbo 2.7mm

Scale: 25 1/2”

Bridge: Tune o matic

Pickups: 2 black humbuckers (direct mounted)

Controls: 1 volume, 1 three-way toggle and 1 tone

Hardware: black

Finish: painted glossy

Color: onyx or blood

BC RICH Avenge SOB Electric Guitar

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:20:00 +0000

description:At 10% smaller than his cousin the Beast, this SOB is designed to rock! This SOB features rosewood fingerboad, red edged Beast style headstock, a single high output humbucker pickup with a single volume, bolt on neck, black hardware, blood red bevels and beast wing inlay!

Specs:

Construction: bolt on

Body wood: basswood

Headstock style: SOB Beast

Headstock color: onyx with red painted edge

Tuners: B.C. Rich diecast

Neck wood: maple

Back of neck: natural satin

Fretboard: rosewood

Inlay: red beast wing

Frets: 24 jumbo 2.7mm

Scale: 25 1/2”

Bridge: Tune o matic

Pickups: 1 black B.C. Rich B.D.S.M. humbucker

Controls: 1 volume

Hardware: black

Finish: painted glossy

Color: onyx with painted red bevels

Rickenbacker 360/12 12-String Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar (With Case)

noreply@blogger.com (jony) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:11:00 +0000

"The only 12 string you will ever want once you play one and here that Rickenbacker sound."

Feature:
What can I say? It has the standard volume and tone controls plus a blend knob that I can't see makes any change in sound.

Quality:
Mine came shipped set up just the way I like it. No string rattle and low string action. The finish is very glossy and the wood grain shows through nicely.

Value:
A little high priced but they only gain in value over the years.

Desirability:
The best looking hollow body made.

Sound:
Ric 12 strings have a sound all there own. I owned a gibson es335 12-string back in the 60s but the ric has more of a chime that I was looking for.

Support:
Haven't had a problem yet.

Overall:
I also own a fender tele,a les paul,and an Ibanez hollowbody that I love