Snark SN-2 Chromatic Clip-On Tuner

I’m always looking for good pieces of music equipment that will make my life easier playing in my live band. I’ve never been a fan of having to plug a tuner into my signal chain with my guitar. I also get tired of unplugging my guitar and then plugging it into a tuner over and over through a gig. Enter the Snark SN-2 digital clip-on tuner. This convenient tuner solves both of these problems easily.

The Snark SN-2 tuner clips directly onto your electric guitar or bass and senses the vibrations from the strings to give it an accurate reading of your instruments tuning. The Snark SN-2 will also clip onto any acoustic instrument including guitars, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, oboe or anything that vibrates. The Snark SN-2 also has a built-in microphone so you can tune keyboards with it as well. It’s a chromatic tuner with extended frequency range so it will read any note on the scale and tell you whether you are in tune or not.  

When using the vibration sensing feature of the Snark SN-2 it is very resistant to external noise. You can easily tune your instrument on a noisy stage. Another really nice feature on the SN-2 is the colorful, brightly lit LED readout. The display makes it very easy to see and read the tuning meter in any lighting condition.

I also love how the display is on a 360° swivel which allows you to point the display in any direction. This makes it very easy to clip the tuner onto any instrument or headstock and point the display in the best direction possible for easy viewing.

Another great feature of the Snark SN-2 is the built-in metronome. The metronome is a tap-tempo metronome which makes it easy to set it to a beat by tapping at the speed you desire. One flaw in this is that you can’t set it to an exact tempo very easily. You’re stuck tapping until you get it close to the tempo that you want.

Overall the Snark SN-2 chromatic tuner is an excellent and accurate tuner. I’ve been impressed with how well it tunes my guitar and I just love the convenience. I leave it clipped to the headstock most of the time while I play. It stays securely in place and is always at arms length ready to help me tune my instrument. It’s a great deal too so pick one up today!

SNARK® Clip-On Chromatic ALL Instrument TUNER METRONOME MIC Guitar Brass RED New US $16.39 Auction Ends: Thursday Feb-09-2012 8:09:37 PST   | Watch this Item

SNARK SN2 CLIP ON CHROMATIC TUNER FOR ALL INSTRUMENTS US $14.95 Auction Ends: Thursday Feb-09-2012 13:45:04 PST   | Watch this Item

Snark SN-2 All-Instrument Chromatic Tuner US $11.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Feb-09-2012 14:29:33 PST   | Watch this Item

*Brand NEW* Snark sn-2 Clip-On Chromatic Tuner sn2 US $9.95 Auction Ends: Thursday Feb-09-2012 14:31:38 PST   | Watch this Item

NEW SNARK SN-2 ALL INSTRUMENT CLIP ON CHROMATIC TUNER US $3.76 (3 Bids) Auction Ends: Thursday Feb-09-2012 16:45:37 PST   | Watch this Item

SNARK SN-2 ALL INSTRUMENT TUNER & METRONOME NEW ! US $12.95 Auction Ends: Thursday Feb-09-2012 19:25:19 PST   | Watch this Item

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Snark SN-2 Clip On Tuner Review

Line 6 X2 XDS95 Wireless Guitar System

   I’ve recently been playing in a live band with my Son’s called Bonne Nuit and they were quite envious of my Shure wireless guitar system. I decided to get them their own wireless guitar systems and decided on the Line 6 X2 XDS95 Wireless Guitar System. I got two XDS95′s, one for my bass player and one for my rhythm guitar player. My choice was based mainly on the low price and the fact that this is a full digital wireless guitar system. I have been extremely pleased with this wireless guitar system in terms of reliability and especially in terms of sound quality. It’s one purchase I have never regretted. The following review was written by my son Erik Rushton.  

   “I own a lot of Line 6 gear and have always been amazed by how well it works and sounds. Especially for what I paid for it. The X2 XDS95 digital wireless receiver is no exception to my past experiences with Line 6 equipment.

    On the box of the X2 XDS95, Line 6 states “Wired tone. Wireless freedom.” I practice wired and when I switch to my X2 XDS95 either on stage or in practice, I can tell no difference in sound quality. The X2 XDS95 is a digital 24 bit system which really makes your tone sound a lot better than analog systems. Plus, the digital signal gives you a great wireless freedom. When I first bought my receiver I wanted to test it’s range out. I got about 50 feet and two brick walls between my transmitter and receiver before my sound cut out. On stage I have never had a problem with my signal dropping out.

    Another great thing about having a digital signal over an analog one is there is no loss of sound quality as you get farther away from your receiver. If you happen to get out of range, your sound will just abruptly stop rather than changing to static or distorting. Also, if you run out of battery power your sound will just cut off without any noticeable noise.

   The X2 XDS95 has five different channels to choose from which makes it so five people can be using their own X2 XDS95 at the same time. So when you’re bass player sees how awesome your wireless is, you can tell him to get one too!

   One complaint with the X2 XDS95 is it’s actual battery life. Line 6 claims that the transmitter will operate for 11 hours and the receiver for 8 hours each on just a single 9V battery. In actuality I usually get around 6 hours on the transmitter and 5-6 on the receiver. Luckily, you can operate the receiver  on a standard 9V power adapter. I recommend forking out the extra cash to just get the power adapter. It makes playing that much easier and enjoyable. 

    Another problem I have with the X2 XDS95 is the cable that is provided for the guitar to transmitter connection. It plugs into the guitar with a ¼” plug but plugs into the transmitter with a 1/8” plug. Cables like that are hard to find if you need a replacement and the generally don’t come cheap. I have had no problems with mine so far but I do recommend being extra careful with it.

    What really amazed me about this wireless system, and pretty much all Line 6 gear, is how relatively cheap it was. Great digital wireless receivers from a top of the line company like Shure can cost anywhere from $400 – $600 dollars.  Guitar Center lists the X2 XDS95 at $299.  That pricing difference keeps me coming back to Line 6 over and over again 

   I recommend the Line 6 X2 XDS95 wireless receiver for all musicians wanting wireless freedom for a cheap price. Once you go wireless on stage you’ll never want to go back to wired. And for all the musicians running analog wireless systems, once you go digital you’ll never want to go back.”

   The Line 6 X2 XDS95 is getting harder to find online. The best alternative the X2 XDS95 is the Line 6 Relay G30 Digital Wireless Guitar System. I’m sure you’ll be very happy with either system.

Line 6 X2 XDS-95 24-BIT WIRELESS INSTRUMENT SYSTEM StandardWired tone, wireless freedom, stompbox size.

Line 6 Relay G90 Rackmount Digital Wireless Guitar Sys US $599.00 Auction Ends: Thursday Feb-09-2012 9:39:11 PST   | Watch this Item

LINE 6 G50 G-50 RELAY DIGITAL WIRELESS GUITAR SYSTEM US $329.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Feb-09-2012 13:19:15 PST   | Watch this Item

Line 6 Relay G50 Digital Wireless Guitar System PROAUDIOSTAR US $349.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Feb-09-2012 15:48:04 PST   | Watch this Item

line 6 x2 xds-plus digital wireless guitar system free shipping with BIN only US $160.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Friday Feb-10-2012 16:28:31 PST   | Watch this Item

New Line 6 Relay G50 Digital Wireless Guitar System US $399.99 Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-11-2012 9:56:42 PST   | Watch this Item

Line 6 Relay G30 Digital Guitar Wireless System G-30 US $299.00 Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-11-2012 12:37:22 PST   | Watch this Item

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Line 6 X2 XDS95 Wireless Guitar System Review

Behringer EP4000 Stereo Power Amplifier

   Everyone that plays in a live band knows that you need a good mixer at the heart of your P.A. system. Many musicians who are building their first PA system spend a lot of time researching and choosing a mixer and completely forget that they will need a good power amplifier to power that mixer. Today I’m going to talk about an excellent, affordable power amplifier that will work with any mixer. I’d like to introduce you to the Behringer Europower EP4000 stereo power amplifier.  

   The Behringer EP4000 stereo amplifier delivers 2000 Watts per channel into a 2-Ohm load when used in stereo mode or 4000 Watts into a 4-ohm load when running in bridged-mono mode. You’ll want to note your speaker load when pairing your speakers with a power amplifier. Most speakers are rated at either a 4-ohm or 8-ohm nominal impedance. This is important because every time you double the ohm load on your speakers the power from your power amp drops. For instance, the Behringer EP4000 hooked up to a 4-ohm stereo load produces 1400 Watts per channel and when it’s hooked up to an 8-ohm load the power drops to 750 Watts per channel. That’s why it’s so important to match your amplifiers power output ratings with the nominal impedance of your speakers.

Behringer EP4000 Stereo Power Amplifier Rear Panel

 I use the Behringer EP4000 to amplify my Behringer Xenyx X2442USB mixer and my JBL JRX125 speakers and it’s an excellent combination. The JBL JRX125 speakers run at a 4-ohm nominal impedance and the 1400 Watts per channel from the Behringer Power Amplifier really crank out the volume. The Behringer EP4000 amplifier has both Speakon and Terminal output connections and connecting my JBL speakers is quick and easy with the Speakon cables. I connect my Behringer Xynyx x2442USB mixer to the EP4000 amplifier inputs with XLR cables. The EP4000 amplifier will also accept 1/4″ TRS balanced connectors or 1/4″ unbalanced connectors as well. The amp has every available connector type for hooking the amp up except for 1/4″ output jacks.

   Another feature I really love about this amp are the mode switches on the back of the amplifier. These switches allow you to easily turn on or off some of the amplifiers features. You can turn on or off the clip limiter or the low cut filter as well as selecting your low cut filter to cutoff at either 50Hz or 30Hz. You can also use the switches to select either Stereo Mode or Bridge Mode.

   The front panel of the amplifier is simple and clean looking. There’s a power switch, two gain knobs, clip LED, signal LED and a power LED. The amplifier also features fan forced air cooling with a variable speed fan that changes speeds with the amplifiers cooling requirements. The EP4000 weighs in at 37 pounds so it’s not a lightweight amplifier but it’s not outrageously heavy either.

   The Behringer Europower EP4000 Stereo Power Amplifier is a very good amplifier and worth more than you’ll pay for it. I am always cautious when recommending Behringer equipment because of their notorious build quality. I have spoken to several people who own this amplifier and have not heard of any reliability issues which is rare for a Behringer product. These amplifiers seem to be extremely reliable and I haven’t had any trouble with mine.

   As for sound quality, I think the amplifier sounds excellent and I’ve been very happy with how it sounds pushing my JBL JRX125 speakers. I really don’t think you can go wrong using the Behringer Europower EP4000 to power your P.A. system. If you have any more questions about this amplifer, here’s a link to download the user manual:
Download Behringer Europower EP4000 Stereo Power Amplifier User Manual

   Musician’s Friend also has an excellent speaker and amplifier package that combines the EP4000 amplifier with a pair of Behringer B1220 speakers. See the links below to purchase these items.

Behringer EP4000 EUROPOWER Power AmpThe rackmount EP4000 EUROPOWER power amp from Behringer delivers up to 2 x 2,000W at 2 ohms, 2 x 1400W at 4 ohms, and 4,000W at 4 ohms in bridge mode. Its Precise Power, Signal, and Clip LEDs let you monitor performance, and its XLR and 1/4″ TRS jacks allow for compatibility with any source. Selectable low-frequency filters let you remove distracting infra-sound frequencies, and its independent DC and thermal overload protection on each channel automatically protects your amp and speakers without stopping the show. The Behringer EUROPOWER’s professional speaker connectors and “touch-proof” binding posts support most speaker wiring systems.

Behringer B1220 / EP4000 Speaker & Amp PackageThis B1220/EP4000 Speaker & Amp Package includes two B1220 PA Speakers, one EP4000 EUROPOWER Power Amp, and two Speakon Speaker Cables.Eurolive Professional B1220 Pro 12″ 2-Way Speaker The Behringer Eurolive B1220 Pro 2-way speaker from the Professional Series features a powerful 12″ long-excursion woofer and a rotatable, asymmetrical, 1-3/4″ titanium diaphragm compression driver. Handles 400W/800W program/peak power while dishing out high SPLs. A wide 55Hz-18kHz frequency range ensures solid bottom end and brilliant, natural highs. Wide 50° x 50° sound dispersion. Crossover frequency of 2.5kHz. Rugged construction with steel grille. The versatile Behringer Eurolive speaker design makes it useful as either a main or floor monitor. Includes a 35mm socket for polemounting, and Neutrik Speakon connectors. EP4000 EUROPOWER Power Amp The rackmount EP4000 EUROPOWER power amp from Behringer delivers up to 2 x 2,000W at 2 ohms, 2 x 1400W at 4 ohms, and 4,000W at 4 ohms in bridge mode. Its Precise Power, Signal, and Clip LEDs let you monitor performance, and its XLR and 1/4″ TRS jacks allow for compatibility with any source. Selectable low-frequency filters let you remove distracting infra-sound frequencies, and its independent DC and thermal overload protection on each channel automatically protects your amp and speakers without stopping the show. The Behringer EUROPOWER’s professional speaker connectors and “touch-proof” binding posts support most speaker wiring systems.Speakon to 1/4-Inch Speaker Cable This 16-gauge speaker cable is 25 feet in length and features a Speakon connector on one end and a 1/4″ connector on the other.

Behringer EP4000 Professional 4000-watt Power Amplifier US $369.99 Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 20:54:01 PST   | Watch this Item

Behringer EP4000 EUROPOWER Power Amp US $369.99 Auction Ends: Friday Feb-10-2012 13:29:56 PST   | Watch this Item

Behringer B1520 / EP4000 Speaker & Amp Package US $1,079.95 Auction Ends: Friday Feb-10-2012 14:21:35 PST   | Watch this Item

Behringer B1220 / EP4000 Speaker & Amp Package US $879.95 Auction Ends: Friday Feb-10-2012 14:21:39 PST   | Watch this Item

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Amplify Your Mixer With The Behringer Europower EP4000 Stereo Power Amplifier

Behringer Xenyx X2442USB Mixer

   If you’re looking for an extremely versatile mixer and you have a limited budget then look no further than the Behringer Xenyx X2442USB Mixing Console. This mixer is ideal for use with your live band or even in your home studio. If you have a band with four or five members then this is the ideal mixing solution for you simply because of the excellent selection of input and routing options.

   The Xenyx X2442USB is the upgrade to the Behringer Eurorack UB2442FX Pro mixer. The mixers are very similar in capability and channel availability and I suggest you read the Behringer Euorack UB2442FX Pro Review to get more of an idea of these mixer’s capabilities. The Xenyx X2442USB has two very important upgrades. First, it has built in compression! This is a major advantage for mixing live vocals as well as live drums. It saves you from having to hook up an outboard compression unit to the mixer. The downside is, it’s only available on channel’s 1-8. Still, that’s generally enough channels for your vocal mics and basic drum mics.    

   The second very important upgrade found on the Xenyx X2442USB is the USB capability of the mixer. You can now hook the X2442USB directly to your computer and have the main mix routed to the computer through the USB. You can also choose to route a two-channel mix from your computer to the X2442USB. This gives you some nice capabilities such as the ability to record your live show directly to a laptop or computer through the USB connection. It also gives you the option to patch in loops or sequences from a computer to the X2442USB and amplify them through the main P.A. system.

   The downside of the USB connectivity is the fact that it’s only a 2-channel send/receive. Upside of course is it’s bi-directional capability. The mixer also ships with some free software to use with your computer and the mixer’s USB abilities. You’ll get Audacity, Podifier, Juice, Podnova and Golden Ear software to use with your mixer. You’ll also get more than 100 virtual instruments and 50 Effect plugins for the software.

   The Xenyx X2442USB is called a 16-channel mixer and sure enough, it has 16 channels worth of inputs. But that being said, not all inputs are created equal. The Xenyx X2442USB has a total of 16 inputs on the channel input section. This doesn’t  mean you have 16 independent mixable channels. The way the inputs are split up are as follows: Channels 1 through 8 contain 8 mono input channels complete with their own separate mic preamp and compression control. Each of these 8 channels is routed through it’s own EQ section, Auxiliary bus, Effects bus, Panning knob and then a master volume fader. On channels 9 through 16 you have four stereo input channels with channels being grouped in stereo sets. For example, channel 9/10 is grouped together with it’s own unbalanced 1/4″ Left and Right input. Inputs 9/10 are then routed together through an EQ section, Auxiliary bus, effects section, L/R Balance section and then through a stereo volume fader which controls both channels simultaneously.  Any of these channels can be used as a mono channel or a stereo channel. Channel’s 9/10 and 11/12 each have their own mic pre-amp as well if you would like to use these channels for microphone inputs. These channels DO NOT have their own compression setting. Channels 13/14 and 15/16 are also grouped together in stereo configuration.

   As you can see, the Xenyx X2442USB does not have 16 identical input channels. The mixer still has plenty of versatility and is just big enough to mix a 4 or 5 person group. Here’s an example of how you can hook up a 4 person group with a guitarist, keyboard player, bass player and drummer in which everyone sings. Channels 1-4 will contain everybody’s vocal microphones. Channel 4-7 will contain bass drum, snare drum, drumset left and drumset right microphones. Channel 8 and 9/10 will contain the left and right stereo guitar microphone inputs. Channel 11/12 will contain the bass guitar input. Channel 13/14 will be the stereo keyboard input. With this setup the singer and drum mics will all be connected to channels with built-in compression for better dynamic control. As you can see, the mixer has more than enough inputs when mixing this type of group. If you use an electronic drum set you will only need a stereo input for the drums which will then free up two more channels for you to hook up whatever you want.

   Another strong feature found on the Xenyx X2442USB is the built in 24-bit dual engine FX processor. This gives you all the standard studio effects for use in either recording or your live mixing. You’ll get all the standard effects such as reverb, delay and chorus. You’ll also get some lesser known effects such as a pitch shifter and detuning. There are some nice combination effects such as Delay + Reverb and Chorus + Reverb. The effects are decent although you’ll want to use good plugins if you’re using the mixer for recording. The built-in effects work plenty well for most live situations.

   The Behringer Xenyx X2442USB has a lot of input/output options as well as sub-mixing capabilities. There is a built-in Phantom power supply so you can use your good condenser mics as well. The mixer has too many mixing options to list in this post so here are links to download both the owner’s manual and the Xenyx series sales brochure. You can get a good idea about the mixers capabilities from these documents:
Download Behringer Xenyx X2442USB Mixer User Manual
Download Behringer Xenyx X2442USB Mixer Brochure

   As with all Behringer equipment I remind you that it is a budget line. I have heard complaints of channels failing on Behringer mixers. I have had a channel fail on my Behringer mixer but was able to fix it by opening the mixer and soldering the input circuit board. If you can purchase this mixer with an extended warranty then I recommend that you do that. I have found that if the channels are going to fail they do fail within the first year. After that they seem to last forever.

   The Behringer Xenyx X2442USB is a fine mixer with excellent mixing capabilities. When you look at how affordable the mixer is it’s really hard not to recommend buying this mixer. I feel like it’s an unbelievable bargain for a mixer with this much capability.

Behringer XENYX X2442USB USB Mixer with Effects The Behringer X2442USB mixing console takes the 2442FX up a notch, providing all the same great features, plus Behringer’s 24-bit, dual engine FX processor, with 16 editable, studio-grade presets including reverb, chorus, flanger, delay, pitch shifter and multi-effects. User-definable parameters include reverb time and brilliance, delay room size and repetitions, modulation depth and speed, and much more. The audio mixer’s time-based functions can be addressed via a handy Tap button. The most recent parameter settings are always stored in memory. The USB mixer also features 8 studio-grade compressors with super-easy one-knob functionality and a control LED, so you can take your vocals and instruments to a professional level.

BEHRINGER XENYX X2442 USB 24 INPUT PRO AUDIO MIXER W MULTI FX & USB INTERFACE US $349.95 Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 1:06:07 PST   | Watch this Item

Behringer XENYX X2442USB 24 Channel 4/2 Bus Mixer w/XENYX US $380.99 Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 11:58:07 PST   | Watch this Item

Behringer XENYX x2442USB US $249.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 19:26:52 PST   | Watch this Item

Behringer XENYX X2442USB USB Mixer with Effects US $380.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Feb-09-2012 14:27:57 PST   | Watch this Item

Behringer XENYX X2442USB USB Mixer with Effects US $380.99 Auction Ends: Friday Feb-10-2012 11:52:47 PST   | Watch this Item

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Behringer Xenyx X2442USB Mixer Review

Planet Waves Locking Tuners For Gibson Les Paul

   One of my favorite guitars is my Gibson Les Paul BFG and I use it in my live band regularly. It sounds great and has very unique tones for a Gibson. It’s also got fairly cheap parts on it thanks to Gibson building it as more of a budget Les Paul. Recently I was stringing it up and as I was putting on the low E-String the string windings lifted the post right out of the tuning machine! I couldn’t believe it because I had never had a problem with Grover Tuners before. Let’s  just say I’m less than impressed with the Grover Tuners build quality.  

   So I immediately contacted Gibson to see if I could purchase a replacement Tuner from them. The answer from Gibson was “We don’t supply replacement tuners for our instruments, you’ll  have to purchase them from somewhere else.” Well I was pretty let down because I wanted a tuner to match the rest of the tuning machines that still worked on the guitar. They are a lovely distressed black chrome color. So here’s a big thumbs-down to Gibson support for their instruments.

   That put me on a search for a replacement tuning machine for my Gibson Les Paul BFG. Well, nobody had any distressed black chrome tuning machines so I decided that it was time to make the guitar better and install locking tuners on the guitar. I checked out the standard Sperzels and a few others and finally decided on the Planet Waves Locking Tuners with built-in string trimmers. I had to go with solid Black or Chrome tuning machines so I went with the black to match the overall color scheme of my Les Paul BFG.

   These are really fascinating tuners because of their built-in string trimming capability. They function just like most of the locking tuners out there. You simply pull the string through a hole in the middle of the tuner, pull the string tight and lock the string in place by turning a knob on the bottom of the tuner. At this point the guitar is about ½ to ¾ of a turn on the tuner from being in tune.

   As you tune your guitar the loose end of the string comes into contact with the built-in trimming mechanism and it clips the string off flush with the tuning post as you turn the string. It’s really amazing and has worked flawlessly for me! There are no sharp edges to cut your fingers on this trimming mechanism. After the string is clipped there are no hanging pieces of string to poke and cut your fingers either. It’s a really great feature on these locking tuners.

   What I really love about them is the fact that I can have my Les Paul’s strings completely changed and in tune in about 4 minutes flat. I am so glad my tuner broke so I could replace the entire set with these sweet Planet Waves Locking Tuners!

   Installation of the tuners themselves was also a breeze. They fit the Les Pauls tuning machine holes perfectly with absolutely no drilling or routing of any kind. The tuners were as easy to install as unscrewing the original set of tuning machines, sliding the old machines out and sliding the new tuning machines into the holes in the headstock. The screws lined up perfectly and I had the entire set installed in 15 minutes.

   My Gibson Les Paul BFG stays in tune better than ever and changing the strings is actually fun now. I still us a little Big Bends Nut Sauce in the nut string slots and on the bridge pieces to keep the tuning even more stable. I highly recommend the Planet Waves Locking Tuners with Built-In String trimmer as an easy and important upgrade to any Gibson Les Paul guitar.

Planet Waves Auto-Trim Tuning Machines/3 Per Side ChromeThe Planet Waves Auto-Trim Tuning Machines automatically cut off excess string while you tune up your guitar. An individual string clamp holds the string tightly in the tuner, so there’s no need for multiple wraps around the tuning post. A precision 18:1 gear ratio provides smooth, exact tuning, while virtually eliminating backlash and slippage. The rugged, die-cast outer casing houses precision 18:1 bevel and worm gears, a string clamp, and a hardened-steel wire cutter. Restringing has never been easier: simply insert the string, tighten the clamp, and tune up. The Auto-Trim Tuning Machine does the rest.

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Planet Waves Auto-Trim Locking Tuners For Gibson Les Paul

Fishman FT-1 Digital Clip-On Guitar Tuner

          One thing I’m always looking for is a way to make things more convenient in my live band. The Fishman FT-1 Digital tuner is a great tuner to use if you want a quick, easy and fast tune. While not as accurate as some other tuners such as my Peterson 490-ST Strobe Tuner, the FT-1 is a great tuner to use if you need a quick tune on the fly. It’s great for tuning before practice or mid-song at a gig and is easily clipped on and off the guitar. You can also use this tuner on both your acoustic guitar and your electric guitar.   

            The FT-1 has four different tuning modes. It features a full twelve note chromatic mode along with specific modes for guitar, bass and ukulele. I stick mostly to the chromatic mode when I play because it allows you to drop tune the guitar if needed.  In addition to these four modes, the FT-1 also allows you to change the reference pitch to anywhere from 435Hz to 445Hz when needed.

            What good is a tuner if it’s complicated and hard to read? The FT-1 features a bright LCD display with a layout that is very easy to read. The display lights green when a note is in tune and lights red when it is either sharp or flat. It also features a meter-style sharp and flat display that tracks the guitar very well.

            The tuner comes with both a built in microphone and a clip on sensor. The microphone works well but I stick mainly to the clip on sensor because it is not affected by noisy environments. The clip on sensor tracks the guitar almost immediately so you’re not stuck waiting for a response. Neither the microphone or the clip on tuner are as accurate as my Korg Pandora PX4D but the Fishman FT-1 is a lot faster to pull out and easier to use than the Pandora. I actually leave it clipped onto my guitar the entire gig so it’s ready if I need to make a quick tuning tweak.

            Overall I have been very satisfied and impressed with the Fishman FT-1. Although not as precise as other, more expensive, plug in and clip on tuners, the FT-1’s price tag can’t be beat for the functionality it provides. I recommend every musician have one on hand at all times.

Fishman FT-1 Digital Clip-On TunerThe Fishman FT-1 Digital Tuner is an ideal companion for any acoustic instrument. The clip-on fully chromatic Fishman tuner quickly and accurately finds the note being played and indicates if you’re in tune, sharp, or flat. The FT-1 tuner’s adjustable clip sensor is easily secured to the instrument and ensures great results, even in noisy environments.The Fishman FT-1 tuner’s bright, backlit LCD display is equipped with a meter-style pitch indicator with a large readout that turns from red to green when the note is in tune. Powered by a single coin battery, Fishman FT-1 clip-on digital tuner is lightweight and packed with value.

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Fishman FT-1 Digital Clip-On Guitar Tuner Review

Top 10 Posts Of 2010 On Live Musician Central

   Well it’s that time to reflect on the past year and start making our top ten lists. For all you musician’s out there playing in a live band I hope you’ve found Live Musician Central useful. I’ve had more traffic than ever to the site this past year and there have been some very popular posts. So I’ve put together a list of the top ten posts of 2010 on Live Musician Central. I wasn’t too surprised that the Fender Cyber-Twin SE Amplifier preset downloads were so popular. I’ve had a lot of good feedback on those. I was surprised that my post on the Musician’s Friend Stupid Deal Of The Day got so much traffic though. Without further ado, here’s your top ten posts of 2010!    

1. Fender Cyber-Twin SE Amplifier Preset Downloads
2. Rush Time Machine Tour At USANA Ampitheatre Concert Review
3. Behringer Eurorack UB2442FX-Pro Mixer Review
4. Sennheiser HD 380 Pro Headphones Review
5. Foot Control Pedal For Fender Cyber-Twin – Behringer FCB1010 MIDI Foot Controller
6. Complete Portable P.A. System Yamaha EMX512SC/S115V
7. My Stage Amp – The Fender Cyber-Twin SE
8. The Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster – My Favorite Guitar
9. You Need A P.A. System To Play A Gig
10. Musicians Friend Stupid Deal Of The Day

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Live Musician Central Top Posts Of 2010

iRig for iPhone, iPod and iPad

   I’m always looking out for tools to help me practice or to help me out in my live band.  One of the coolest things I’ve seen lately is the new Amplitube offering from IK Multimedia for the Apple iPhone, iPod and iPad. In a nutshell it will give you the ablility to plug your guitar into your iPhone, iPod or iPad and use it as a guitar amplifier. You’ll be able to make your guitar sound like a multitude of famous guitar amplifiers.

   If you’re unfamiliar with Amplitube it’s basically a software based guitar amplifier simulation that takes your guitar signal and processes it to sound like one of many different famous guitar amplifiers. Your guitar will sound like it’s being played through a Fender blackface amplifier and with the press of a button your guitar can sound like it’s being played through a full Marshall stack. You’ll get bluesy tones, metal tones, country tones and jazz tones using Amplitube’s guitar processing.   

   IK Multimedia has released an iTunes App featuring Amplitube that you can run on either your iPhone, iPod or iPad turning it into a guitar signal processor. The only additional piece of hardware you’ll need is the Ik Multimedia iRig audio interface adapter so you can plug your guitar into your Apple device. That’s it, with just the App from the iStore and the iRig adapter you’ll be able to use your iPhone, iPod or iPad as a guitar amplifier!

   This App is incredibly full featured and has a lot to offer any guitarist. For practicing your guitar it has a speed trainer which allows you to speed up or slow down imported songs from %50-%200 without affecting the pitch of the song. It’s a great way to learn how to play tough guitar parts and solo’s. You can also import backing tracks for you to play along with on your guitar. The Amplitube app is filled with excellent guitar effects as well such as Chorus, Delay, Compression and Distortion. You are free to mix and match effects and amplifiers at will to create your own custom sounds.

   There is also a built-in single track recorder for recording your musical ideas. You can also buy an add-in app that will give you a full featured 8-track recorder as well. You can use the iRig interface to record vocals as well as guitar using Amplitube as an effects processor.

   So, if you’ve been searching for an excellent way to make practicing your guitar more enjoyable then the iRig and Amplitube app may be perfect for you! In a pinch at a live gig, you could probably make it through a gig with just your iPhone if your amplifier dies. It would be incredibly handy to have an iRig interface and Amplitube along for emergencies at any live show.

IK Multimedia iRig – Audio Interface Adapater for iPhone, iPod, iPadThe IK Multimedia AmpliTube iRig combines an easy-to-use instrument interface adapter with guitar and bass tone software for your favorite Apple mobile device. With AmpliTube iRig, you can plug your guitar into your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad and jam anywhere with top-notch guitar and bass tone right in the palm of your hand. Plug iRig into your mobile device; plug in your instrument; add headphones, amp or powered speakers; install the AmpliTube app; and start rocking.The IK Multimedia iRig is the ideal companion not only to the mobile AmpliTube app, but it also works with any other recording, processing, or tuning app. Plus, you can also use the iRig adapter with line level signal sources such as synthesizers, keyboards, or mixers.AmpliTube for iPhone At the core of the AmpliTube iRig System is AmpliTube—a leader in gear modeling software for professional recording studios. AmpliTube for iPhone gives you the same incredible ultra-realistic sound and modeling accuracy of its Mac/PC applications in a convenient mobile platform app.With AmpliTube for iPhone, you’ll have an entire guitar/bass rig at your fingertips, comprised of 3 recombinable simultaneous stompbox effects, an amp-head plus cabinet and a microphone. With AmpliTube for iPhone fully loaded, you will be able to choose between 5 amps (clean, crunch, lead, metal, bass) with full controls, 10 stompbox effects (delay, flanger, phaser, overdrive, distortion, filter, wah, fuzz, octaver, chorus), 5 cabinets and 2 microphones (dynamic and condenser).Plus, AmpliTube for iPhone features a chromatic digital tuner and a metronome. You can also import and play with songs or backing tracks with realtime effects; and create, save and recall up to 36 presets on the fly.

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Turn Your iPhone, iPod Or iPad Into A Guitar Amplifier

Musician Gift Certificate

Every year at Christmas my friends that know I play in a live band shower me with music related gifts. I really appreciate the thought but I have to admit that a lot of those presents get put into the equipment bin going unused simply because they’re not exactly what I would have chosen for myself. How many of you have received a guitar strap that just wasn’t cool enough to wear onstage? Or how many of you have had a spouse buy you a brand new guitar without knowing what to look for in a quality guitar? That’s why I’m telling you that Musician’s Gift Certificates are the best gifts you can give to your musician friends.  

I know a lot of musician’s whose girlfriends or wives (or both) want to get their musician a new guitar. The problem is, the person giving the gift doesn’t play guitar themself so they just buy an instrument based on looks or based on the recommendation of the 18-year old guitar salesman. I’ve seen some upset couples over gifted guitars on Christmas morning. The problem can be solved simply by buying a gift certificate to your favorite music equipment retailer and giving that to your favorite musician with a nice note that says “Use this gift certificate to buy your favorite guitar!” Let me tell you, everyone will be saved a lot of disappointment if you just give the gift certificate and let your musician friends pick out their own equipment. You’ll save yourself time and you’ll save your musician friend from having to act excited over a gift they really don’t want.

Musician’s Friend has a couple of excellent gift certificate options. The first one I’d like to tell you about is the E-Certificate. E-Certificates are extremely easy to purchase and use. You simply enter the recipients name in a form, enter a dollar amount, write a short personal message and enter the recipients e-mail address. You pay for the E-Certificate using Musician’s Friend’s online checkout system. The E-Certificate is then e-mailed to the recipients inbox and they are able to shop online at Musician’s Friend and spend the amount you sent them. It’s fast, easy and will make your musician friends very happy when they receive them!

The next option is the traditional Musician’s Friend Gift Certificate. All you do is enter the amount you want on the gift certificate and you will be sent a paper certificate in that amount. You can then present this paper certificate to your musician friend and they will be able to use it on all phone orders to Musician’s Friend. They work great and you can put them under the tree along with all the other presents.

So this year make it easy on yourself while you spread some holiday cheer to all your musician buddies. Give them a high (VERY high) dollar amount gift certificate!

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The Best Gift For Musicians – Gift Certificates

   Another fantastic online music retailer is Music123. I have had the best customer service from Music123 than any other onine retailer that I’ve used. They’ve always been excellent about answering any questions I have and instantly fixing any problems with orders that I have placed with them. Music123 has put together an area on their site with great gift suggestions for musicians. You can check it out here: Music123 Holiday Gift Center

   If you’re looking for gift ideas for your musician friends the best thing to do is shop for accessories. Every musician needs accessories and you can get some deals and find great values right now.

   Another great gift idea for any musician is a gift certificate to their favorite online retailer. It’s convenient to give a gift certificate and it’s easy for the recipient to use an online gift certificate as well. Just follow this link for some deals on gift certificates: Give the Gift that Rocks with Gift Certificates from MusiciansFriend.com

   You’ll also want to keep an eye on the Musican’s Friend Stupid Deal Of The Day. They have all sorts of interesting products for musicians at fantastic savings. You have to keep an eye on the Stupid Deal Of The Day everyday because it changes daily. If it’s an exceptionally good deal then it will sell out quickly so you want to check it as early in the morning as you can.

   There are tons of bargains to be found on eBay around the holiday season as well. The best way to shop for musician’s gifts on eBay is to find the exact item you want to purchase and then search for it by name on eBay. You won’t get good results if you simply search for Musician’s Gifts on eBay. But if you’re looking for a Fender Stratocaster guitar you can enter those search terms to look for bargains. Just be very specific and type in terms such as “electronic guitar tuner”, “guitar strap” or “Gibson Les Paul Guitar” into the search box. You can try it out here:



   Don’t forget to keep an eye on Live Musician Central as the holiday season approaches. There will be some great gift ideas posted up in the coming weeks that you will want to check out. Remember to check out our Live Band Equipment category for gift ideas at every position in a live band. There are reviews and recommendations for keyboard, guitar, drums, vocals and live sound. Just click the drop-down menu at the top of this page or in the sidebar to start browsing for great gift ideas today!

Get the full experience at www.livemusiciancentral.com

Christmas Presents and Gifts For Musicians