Guitar Player articles from December 2004

Guitar Player archives from December 2004

Noise from the editor.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
December 1, 2004... Well, we've got one humdinger of a presidential election crashing towards its imminent conclusion, and all should be decided within days after most of you receive this issue. And no matter who you voted for--and you did vote, didn't...

Letter of the month!(Feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... I had to write after reading the October issue. I will start by saying that I love the magazine, and that the "50 Greatest Guitar Tones of All Time" cover story was pretty accurate--except that you forgot Neat Schon! I feel that including...

50 greatest tones.(Feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... There was a certain strange genius about last month's issue celebrating the "50 Greatest Guitar Tones of All Time." After years of reading guitar magazines, this is the first time I've seen an issue devoted to not merely the tools of the...

On Cloud 9.(Feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... I was entertained by Jude Gold's review of Gibson's Cloud 9 '59 Les Paul with the hollowed-out sound chamber, because it reminded of my Guild Bluesbird--one of the greatest-sounding, most versatile, and most overlooked guitars in the past 30...

Rusty Cooley.(Feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... I just wanted to express an opinion. I am 21, and I have been playing guitar since I was 11.1 am seriously into metal and lead playing, but I have always had difficulty with that staple of shred guitar: the sweep arpeggio. I've had numerous...

Feedback feedback.(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... While reading your review of the new Rush CD Feedback in the October '04 issue, you started to get a rise out me. I couldn't believe what I was reading. There you were, making fun of the lyrics, the singing, and their playing. I was all ready...

Oops!(Feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... In our Exclusive Sneak Peak at the Peavey Jack Daniels line in the October '04 issue, we listed the power amp tubes in the JD combo amp as EL34s. The tubes are actually EL84s. Also in the October issue, we mis-credited the photo of the...

On August 16, 650 Minneapolis-area Metallica fans got their lucky chance to meet the metal legends at a book-signing at the First Avenue nightclub.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... On August 16, 650 Minneapolis-area Metallica fans got their lucky chance to meet the metal legends at a book-signing at the First Avenue nightclub, Did you even know Metallica had a book to sign? So What! The Good, the Mad, and the Ugly...

Doing their part to help fight the genocide happening in the Sudan, Waxploitation Records--a leading label for hip-hop and electronic music--will release Genocide in Sudan in late November.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Doing their part to help fight the genocide happening in the Sudan, Waxploitation Records--a leading label for hip-hop and electronic music--will release Genocide in Sudan in late November. The album features cuts by many respected electronic...

Ernie Ball/Music man factory tour.(Industry Insider)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Launched in the late '60s by a pedal-steel player with dead-on instincts--as well as the balls to follow them--California's Ernie Ball company transformed the string industry with its "rock and roll" Slinkys (gauged .010-.046), and ultimately...

Guild/Benedetto honors Johnny Smith.(Industry Insider)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Jazz legend Johnny Smith signs one of 18 limited-edition Guild/Benedetto Johnny Smith Award archtops. Originally produced from 1956-1960, the JS Award has been revived by Guild with a European spruce top, a flamed European maple back, a...

William Shatner explores new musical worlds.(Songwriting)
December 1, 2004... William Shatner's first album in 36 years, Has Been [Shout Factory], successfully proves he's anything but that. Co-written and produced by pianist/singer Ben Folds--and including appearances by Adrian Belew, Joe Jackson, Aimee Mann, and Henry...

If legend can also be measured by the price one's guitar goes for in an auction then Johnny Cash is right up there with Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... If legend can also be measured by the price one's guitar goes for in an auction, then Johnny Cash is right up there with Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. Cash's custom-made acoustic--built by Billy Grammer in the '60s--fetched a mighty $131,200...

Richie Havens' intuitive grace.(Songwriting)
December 1, 2004... Richie Havens had already established himself as a skilled interpreter of Dylan and other folk luminaries by the time he opened Woodstock in 1969. Since the '60s, Havens' career has taken many twists and turns--including commercial voiceovers...

After struggling with prostate cancer for some time.(Passing Notes)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... PASSING NOTES: After struggling with prostate cancer for some time, Ramones guitarist, Johnny Ramona, succumbed to the disease on September 15. Johnny--the third founding member of the group to pass away in the last four years--virtually...

On September 9, Ernie Ball--founder of the Ernie Ball Company--passed away at the age of 74.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... On September 9, Ernie Ball--founder of the Ernie Ball Company--passed away at the age of 74. In 1958, Ball opened a small guitar shop in Tarzana, California, and started making his "slinky" strings in the early '60s. By 1967, demand for the...

In July, bassist Don Shipps and guitarist Bill Brown--members of the Springfield, Missouri group Titanic Blues Band--were killed in a house fire.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... In July, bassist Don Shipps and guitarist Bill Brown--members of the Springfield, Missouri group Titanic Blues Band--were killed in a house fire. Brown had recently joined Shipps' group, previously working with the Ozark Mountain Daredevils,...

Tony Mottola--guitarist for Frank Sinatra and NBC's Tonight Show from 1958 to 1972, among other things--passed away in August at the age of 86.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Tony Mottola--guitarist for Frank Sinatra and NBC's Tonight Show from 1958 to 1972, among other things--passed away in August at the age of 86. Additionally, Mottola was the music director for CBS 1950s drama Donger, and he won an Emmy for his...

Triple-O Stratocaster.(History)
December 1, 2004... Original triple-O Stratocasters are plenty rare. This one--serial number 0006--is certainly not the sixth Strat off the line, but it dates to July 1954, the model's premier year. It was made during the first few months of production of any...

Orthrelm's hyperspace transmissions.(Lunatic Fringe)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... It's almost too much to take--a wankfest of hyper-fast ejaculations of eccentric and bizarre licks that seem to have no foundation, no structure, and no mercy. But while Orthrelm's music is an alien hybrid of death metal and avant jazz often...

Dennis Miles, guitarist for the band Body Count passed away in August from lymphoma.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Dennis Miles, guitarist for the band Body Count passed away in August from lymphoma. He was 45. Miles, whose stage name was D-Roc, was the third member of the original line-up to die. Bandleader Ice-T told Billboard: "Words cannot express how...

Captured by robots.(Lunatic Fringe)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... When Jbot (a.k.a. Jay Vance) couldn't find a band, he built his own. "The robots are powered by pneumatics, and controlled by three computers using a proprietary OS," explains the madman, whose "science project" can be viewed at...

Moving units.(Buzz)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... "There are points in your life when you look back and cringe at your influences," says Blake Miller of funky post-punk revivalists Moving Units. "In my case, my teenage years were spent completely obsessed with guitar virtuosos. I really...

Breather resist.(Buzz)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Evan Patterson, guitarist for Breather Resist, has some advice for those who might be turned off by the brutally anguished hardcore metal of the band's Charmer [Jade Tree]. "We're not the easiest band to take at first, because our sound can be...

Music man: Benji Madden signature guitar.(Out Now!)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... * Designed specifically for the Good Charlotte guitarist * Alder body; choice of high-gloss green metallic finish with maple neck, textured black with rosewood neck, or textured white with maple neck * 22 high-profile, medium-width...

Dunlop: cash signature capo.(Out Now!)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... * Inspired by the Man in Black's Victor capo * Solid cast-bronze construction * Precise wormgear adjustment for even pressure * Buzz-free locking grip * (707) 745-2722; jimdunlop.com * $24 retail [ILLUSTRATION...

Sonic machine factory: SIB pro wrestler series effects.(Out Now!)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... * Three new analog pedals: Mr. Vibromatic (vibrato with Vibromesh control), Mr. Fazeadelic (phase shifter with Feedback control), and the Treminator (tremolo with Tone control) * Depth and two Rate controls per pedal * Photocell with...

Double treble: guitar straps.(Out Now!)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... * Hand made from garment-quality calf skin * Front-and-back folded edge design * Can be embroidered with your choice of thread color, typestyle, text alignment, and logo * Rhinestone, rivet, Celtic concho, and embossed "croc"...

Gibson: L-55 reissue.(Out Now!)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... * Updated and improved version of the 1970s model * Single-cutaway solidbody with mahogany back, maple cap * Three-piece maple neck with ebony fretboard * Single humbucker design (a la Keith Richards) * Pearl block inlays,...

DV forge: jamplug personal amplifier.(Out Now!)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... * Works on any instrument with a 1/4" jack * Compatible with any earbuds or headphones (l/8") * Can be overdriven into distortion * AAA battery-powered (6-12 hours of operation per battery) * LED power indicator * (615)...

Strum-n-comfort: sharktooth "cross over" pick.(Out Now!)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... * Hybrid flatpick and thumbpick * Helps increase picking speed, accuracy, and confidence * Reduces muscle fatigue * Adjustable; fits most thumbs comfortably * Works with any pick (small and medium sizes recommended) *...

Pigtronix: EP-1 envelope phaser.(Out Now!)
December 1, 2004... * Opto-electronic analog phase circuitry * Invert switch for subtractive/additive phase shifting * Side-chain "trigger" input * Switchable envelope follower/low frequency oscillator (LFO) * Expression pedal jack * (917)...

Standing at the cross-roads: Kenny Wayne Shepherd steps up to the vocal mic and rocks out.(Interview)(Cover Story)
December 1, 2004... "My guitar approach is pretty aggressive, so it's only appropriate that the sound of my voice or what I'm singing about has that same kind of aggression." says Kenny Wayne Shepherd, commenting on his recent and rather amazing transformation...

Jolly Meanies: the Heavils forge bizarre and imprudent sounds with homemade guitars and lots of laughter.(Interview)
December 1, 2004... It's not easy to make "light-hearted" and "heavy" coexist as descriptors of something as violently dense and cacophonous as the racket cooked up by the Heavils. But that's the challenge, because the band is very much a combination of bombast...

Disneyland to Djangofest: John Jorgenson's polyglot musical adventures.(Interview)
December 1, 2004... John Jorgenson is one of those guys who routinely leave mortal musicians in a quandary. It would he bad enough if he was simply one of the world's most versatile and accomplished guitarists, but add to that his mastery of mandolin, mandocello,...

Intensity: Keith Urban has chops, but he won't use them.(Humble)(Interview)
December 1, 2004... "When I first arrived in Nashville, I was still used to playing the Australian pub-rock scene," says new-country cover boy, Keith urban. "And those ratty clubs require you to play with a certain ferocity. But in Nashville, that level of...

It's alive! Charvel creates a monster with it EVH Art Series.
December 1, 2004... One of the biggest industry announcements of 2004 occurred when Charvel struck a deal with Edward Van Halen to produce a limited number of guitars based on his original Charvel-bodied "Frankenstein." Available at evh-guitars.com--an on-line...

What's spinning in the editors' heads this month?(Rants And Raves)
December 1, 2004... BARRY CLEVELAND Fripp & Eno, The Equatorial Stars David Jacobs-Strain, Ocean or a Teardrop Forastiere, Rag Tap Boom ANDY ELLIS Tony Joe White, The Heroines Tony Rico, The Bluegrass Guitar Collection Jim Ferguson, Cedar & Silver...

Adrian Legg: Inheritance.(Audio)(Brief Article)(Sound Recording Review)
December 1, 2004... Melding snappy chicken pickin', Travis-style alternating bass, swing-band voicings, real-time retuning, bagpipe-like drones, and pedal steel-inspired bends, Adrian Legg pushes the boundaries of solo guitar like no one else. His broad sonic...

The Derek Trucks Band: Live at Georgia Theatre.(Audio)(Brief Article)(Sound Recording Review)
December 1, 2004... The first live album from 10-year road veterans the Derek Trucks Band reflects a group that has evolved into something wholly unique and exciting. DTB separates itself by reflecting inspirations from Eastern music, classic jazz, and world beat,...

Eric Ambel: Knucklehead.(Audio)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Known for providing edgy lead guitar for Joan Jett's Blackhearts and Steve Earle's Dukes, Eric "Roscoe" Ambel is also an acclaimed producer. For this collection of swampy, gritty rockers, he dips deep into his library of orphaned tracks...

The who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970.(DVD)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Who's explosive 85-minute Isle of Wight performance at 2 a.m. on August 30, 1970 roared into legend almost immediately after Pete Townshend's last power chord dissipated over the festival crowd of 600,000. And for good reason. This is the...

Nudie: The Rodeo Tailor: by Jamie Lee Nudie & Mary Lynn Cabrall.(Print)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2004... Fancy embroidered suits have been an integral part of country music since the early 1940s, and the man who practically invented "rhinestone cowboy" apparel was non other than Russian born tailor Nuta Kotlyarenko--better known as Nudie. Anyone...

Tap, crackle, pop! Regi Wooten's tantalizing two-handed tapping tactics.(Master Class)
December 1, 2004... "I get people doing amazing two-handed riffs by the end of their first lesson, even if they've never played guitar before," claims Regi Wooten, who teaches upwards of 100 loyal students per week. "They go home and amaze their morns. It's a...

Woodshed: jazzing up the blues with drop-twos.(Intermediate)
December 1, 2004... You may not realize it, but drop-two chords offer a slick way to liven up ordinary blues changes with rich, jazzy colors. They're also handy for creating masterfully smooth chord transitions. And don't worry: If you're wondering what the heck a...

Metal guru Rusty Cooley: single-string triads.(Advanced)
December 1, 2004... Single-string triads--their name sounds a bit technical and boring, but these feisty three-note groupings sound amazing when played psychotically fast over a vicious shred metal groove--which is not to imply they're only of use to metalheads....

Acoustic guru Peter Huttlinger: cross-string melodies.(Intermediate)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... As a solo guitarist, I'm always looking for ways to coax more chime and sustain from my 6-string. By weaving open strings into a melody line, I can keep several tones ringing--and create intriguing harmony--even as I navigate a single-note...

Rock guru Greg Koch: the devil's interval.(Beginner)
December 1, 2004... I'm deep behind the cheddar curtain on a storm-riddled day here in Wisconsin, and, while taking a break from the many gigs and guitar clinics I do to maintain the thousandaire financial status I so enjoy, I'm here to tell you about the Devil's...

Ez street: how to fingerpick alternating bass patterns.(Beginner)
December 1, 2004... Popularized by Merle Travis and refined by Chet Atkins and Doc Watson, the "alternating bass" fingerpicking style plays a key role in folk, country, and acoustic blues. Mastering this technique takes time, but it's easy to explore the...

"Minor Swing" as performed by John Jorgenson.(Full Song Transcription)
December 1, 2004... "Minor Swing" is probably the most popular of the many wonderful compositions by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli--so popular, in fact, that Reinhardt recorded the song several times during his lifetime. What follows is my transcription...

Techniques: Les Claypool on the making of The Big Eyeball in the Sky.(Recording)
December 1, 2004... A savvy music journalist always knows when to shut up and let the artist do the talking. And describing the demento-rock aggregate known as Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains--the outfit responsible for The Big Eyeball in the Sky [Prawn...

Hardware: Motu 828MKII.
December 1, 2004... The MOTU 828mkII ($795 retail/$749 street) is a feature-packed, multipurpose audio interface that connects directly to your Mac or PC with a standard FireWire cable. You get 20 channels of simultaneous analog and digital I/O in addition to...

Software: Mackie Tracktion.(Recording)
December 1, 2004... Tracktion ($80 retail/street N/A), by Raw Material Software and distributed by Mackie, has a premise: Current digital audio/MIDI software is too bloated, too expensive, and too complex. Tracktion offers a completely different take on the user...

Mic test: AKG C 414-XL II.
December 1, 2004... The AKG C 414 has been a studio standard for more than 30 years. Now the company has created new versions of the last-generation C 414: the C 414B-XLS and the C 414B-XL II. We'll focus on the XL II ($1,099 retail/$899 street), as the...

Series II power conditioners.(Studio Product Spotlight)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Furman Sound, Inc. Now Available Furman Sound's Series II Power Conditioners feature Series Mode Protection and Linear Filtering Technology to deliver pure, filtered power and advanced protection to your connected equipment. Automatic...

Studio monitors--SM series (SM-120 and SM250A).(Studio Product Spotlight)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Nady Systems Now Available Offering exceptional quality and unparalleled affordability. The SM 120 (passive rated 120W peak) and SM-250A (active--100W bi-amped) are both full range, 2-way nearfield monitors with 6 1/2" shielded...

Sonar 4.(Studio Product Spotlight)(Calkwalk)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Calkwalk Launch Date: Late September, 2004 Version 4 adds powerful recording, editing, comping and navigation tools that optimize workflow for today's professional. Version 4 also combines innovative surround/AV capabilities along with...

UAD-1 project pak.(Studio Product Spotlight)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Universal Audio Inc. Now Available The Project Pak is the ultimate upgrade for Native DAW's and brings UA's revolutionary combination of super-computing DSP hardware and highly prized "powered" software plug-ins within reach of Mac/PC...

Max-Wall[TM].(Studio Product Spotlight)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Auralex Acoustics, Inc. Now Available MAX-Wall is our patented mobile, acoustical environment designed to provide you with absorptive capabilities wherever your needs dictate. MAX-Wall is available in many different sizes and colors...

Carvin CT6M: California carved top.(Gear)
December 1, 2004... For decades, scientists have been exploring theories about the possible existence of parallel universes. For proof, they only need to look as far as Southern California, where Carvin has been occupying a parallel universe in the guitar...

Marshall 1974X and 2061X: Handwired amps.(Gear)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... In the summer of 1965, Marshall introduced three 18-watt combos at the British Music Fair, which were somewhat confusingly called the model 1974 (1x12), the model 1958 (2x10), and the model 1973 (2x12). Considered by Marshall aficionados to be...

PRS Custom 22/12.(Gear)
December 1, 2004... From Harrison to McGuinn to McLaughlin to Petty, some of modern music's most memorable moments have come courtesy of the electric 12-string. The Stratosphere Guitar Company introduced the first electric 12--1954's Twin doubleneck--but by the...

Line 6 Spider II 15 and Spider II 30.(Gear)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... With its introduction of the AxSys 212 amplifier in 1996, Southern California-based Line 6 spawned a movement that has made the term "modeling" as common in the amp biz as, say "preamp tube." Now known for producing some of the most...

Huber Dolphin II.(Gear)
December 1, 2004... Founded by Nik Huber in 1996, Huber Guitars turns out around 120 handcrafted instruments a year at a state-of-the-art workshop in Rodgau, Germany. The mission of Huber and his team of four highly skilled specialists is to create superb guitars...

Roland GR-20 guitar synthesizer.(Gear)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... Your keyboard-playing friends aren't going to like this, but the truth is, guitars can wring expression from synths that keyboards simply can't approach. Cases in point: try DADGAD tuning from a keyboard, or see if your pitch-bend wheel will...

Dipinto Galaxie 4 and Minarik Inferno.(Gear)
December 1, 2004... Having trouble getting noticed on stage lately? The old '59 flame top not getting the oohs and aahs it used to? These two guitars from DiPinto and Minarik not only offer stunningly different looks, but also stellar tones that could be just what...

THD Flexi-50.(Gear)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... Founded in 1987, THD was years ahead of the pack as guitar players began to embrace the tube-amp renaissance that would spawn dozens of boutique amp manufacturers in the 1990s. THD's first amp--a thoughtful redesign of the venerable '59 Fender...

Pawnshop prize Peavey classic.(Gear)
December 1, 2004... With the launch of its Classic series in 1973, Peavey aimed at delivering a compact, 50-watt tube amplifier for less than anyone else was charging for a similarly powered combo. Peavey may have also been the first to bring back tweed covering,...

New sensor Svetlana 6L6GC.(Accessory File)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Designed and developed nearly ten years ago at the Svetlana factory in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Svetlana 6L6GC ($43 retail/$32 street, per matched pair) quickly became a favorite output tube of many tone connoisseurs. New York-based New...

Old dog road warrior.(Accessory File)(electric-guitar stand)(Brief Article)(Column)
December 1, 2004... I typically avoid most guitar stands and all wire clothes hangers, because these allegedly simple and serviceable necessities of life are far from docile helpmates. No. They are devil spawn. Place your trust in the wrong guitar stand, and the...

Wedgie picks.(Accessory File)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Ask most people if they'd like a wedgie and they're likely to eye you warily and ease back a few paces. But, the fact is that Wedgie has created several innovative products, including three types of picks. The Derlin FX is named after the...

Speedster turbo charger.(Stompbox Fever)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Machined from a solid billet of aircraft-grade aluminum, the Turbo Charger ($240 retail/street price N/A) is finished with scratch-resistant swirly-blue anodizing and sports a separate 1/8"-thick top that's secured by six large chrome box-head...

Ulbrick Megalodon super solo.(Stompbox Fever)(Brief Article)(Column)
December 1, 2004... Hailing from Australia, the land of big beers and baby-munching dingus, the Megalodon Super Solo (price t.b.d.) offers up decidedly old-school boost and distortion. Housed in a seriously durable brushed-aluminum enclosure, the Megalodon sports...

Dunlop EVH Phase 90.(Stompbox Fever)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Offering four-stage phasing and a variable Speed control, the EVH Phase 90 ($189 retail/street price N/A) might appear to be merely a Van Halen-inspired version of the school-bus orange Phase 90 that Dunlop has been producing for years. But...

Nu-Sonic.(Product Spotlight)(Burns USA)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Burns USA Launch Date: Fall '04 The Nu-Sonic is the second guitar in Bums' Player Series. Two pickup configurations are available- two Bums Tri Sonic[R] pickups, with one Burns Humbucker, or a pair of Burns Humbuckers. SRP: $399...

Guitarists who shaped the '80s.(Product Spotlight)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Riff Interactive Now Available A month's worth of licks on ED-ROM from the daily free "Guitar Lick of the Day" on the Rift Interactive web site, Each lick comes with a jam track, video clip and tab notation synchronized to an actual...

Complete 7-string guitar method (999886CD).(Product Spotlight)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Mel Bay Publications, Inc. Now Available This comprehensive method book is best suited for an intermediate to advanced six string guitarist who is learning the seven string guitar. Presented in standard notation and tablature. 144 book...

Guitar theme neckties.(Product Spotlight)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... GuitarsNTies Now Available What a great girl for the guitarist in your life. Our ties are 100% luxurious silk of the highest quality. Great for any occasion from gigs to the office. SRP: $19.95 www.GuitarsNTies.com ...

SansAmp acoustic DI.(Product Spotlight)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Tech 21 Now Available Provides natural warmth and presence, as if professionally talking your acoustic instrument via Tech 21's proprietary, 100% analog circuitry. Record direct or use with an amp. Removes feedback and eliminates...

Fretlight[R] FG-421 electric guitar.(Product Spotlight)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Optek Music Systems, Inc. Now Available Optek's NEW FG 421 Fretlight[R] Guitar boasts a new Advanced Polymer Fretboard (pat. pend.) which hides 132 LED lights when not in use, increases tone, and substantially reduces fret migration....

UHF wireless microphone system/UHF-3.(Product Spotlight)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Nady Systems Now Available Breakthrough, affordable single-channel UHF wireless. Half rack receiver design, DigiTru Diversity[TM], and Nady's proprietary circuitry for 120 dB dynamic range. Available with handheld, instrument or...

Guitar backsaver.(Product Spotlight)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Leathers-n-Feathers Now Available Tired of scratched-up electric guitar and bass backs? The patented Guitar Backsaver protects your instrument from belt buckles and buttons, The leather pad slips on/off in seconds with elastic straps....

Solstice.(Product Spotlight)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... D-TAR Now Available Solstice is a high quality two-channel preamp mixer for live and studio use. Mix up to four sources such as piezo or magnetic pickups, standard or high output condenser mics. SRP: $469 www.d-tar.com ...

Custom embroidered leather guitar strap.(Product Spotlight)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Double Treble Custom Guitar Straps Now Available Stand out in the crowd, Personalize your very own guitar strap online with words, custom graphics or choose from over 14,000 designs. Handcrafted and finished using the finest leather....