Category: Guitar Gear

Guitars, Effects, Accessories, Amps and more

Snark SN-2 Clip On Tuner Review

The Snark-SN2 chromatic tuner makes tuning any instrument quick and easy. Tune guitars, bass, saxophone, trumpets, oboes, violins and more!

Snark SN-2 Chromatic Clip-On Tuner
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.   Continue reading “Snark SN-2 Clip On Tuner Review”

Line 6 X2 XDS95 Wireless Guitar System Review

The Line 6 X2 XSS95 has fantastic sound quality, good reliability and is very inexpensive. Here’s the review.

Line 6 X2 XDS95 Wireless Instrument System
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.   Continue reading “Line 6 X2 XDS95 Wireless Guitar System Review”

Planet Waves Auto-Trim Locking Tuners For Gibson Les Paul

Planet Waves locking tuning machines replace the stock tuners on a Gibson Les Paul with no modifications necessary.

Planet Waves Locking Tuning Machines With Auto Trimming
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.   Continue reading “Planet Waves Auto-Trim Locking Tuners For Gibson Les Paul”

Fishman FT-1 Digital Clip-On Guitar Tuner Review

The Fishman FT-1 clip-on digital guitar tuner makes tuning your guitar fast, easy and convenient.

Fisman FT-1 Digital Guitar Tuner
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.    Continue reading “Fishman FT-1 Digital Clip-On Guitar Tuner Review”

Turn Your iPhone, iPod Or iPad Into A Guitar Amplifier

You can easily turn your iPad, iPod or iPhone into a guitar amplifier using the iRig interface from IK Multimedia and the Amplitube App.

iRig for iPhone, iPod and iPad
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.    Continue reading “Turn Your iPhone, iPod Or iPad Into A Guitar Amplifier”

Fender Slow To Ship 2010 American Deluxe Stratocaster

Fender has had a very hard time filling orders in a timely manner for the 2010 American Deluxe Stratocaster.

Fender American Deluxe Ash Strat Wine Transparent
2010 Fender American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster - Wine Transparent

   I’ve been doing some asking around and have had many reports of people waiting months to get ahold of the new 2010 American Deluxe Stratocaster. There are certain colors available right now but some colors and options are out of stock and have been for months. I ordered a Wine Transparent American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster on April 2, 2010 and it just came in on September 22, 2010. It was almost a 6 month wait. Needless to say, I did not pick it up or pay for it and told the store they can keep it. It’s ridiculous to wait that long for a guitar and I will not play that game. Now that doesn’t mean I won’t get one. I will still be getting my 2010 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster, just not right now. Since Fender forced me to wait for 6 months for a new one, I’ve lost that “must have it now!” attitude and will patiently shop for a used one. It may take me another year to get it, but I’m sure I’ll save some money and in the meantime I’m $1649 richer.    Continue reading “Fender Slow To Ship 2010 American Deluxe Stratocaster”

Danelectro FAB Chorus Pedal Review

The Danelectro FAB Chorus is one of the best sounding mono chorus pedals I have ever heard, and it’s dirt cheap too.

Danelectro Fab Chorus
Danelectro FAB Chorus - Excellent Sound, Incredible Price

   I’ve been playing guitar in a live band for a lot of years now and I’ve come to rely on some basic guitar effects to help shape my sound. One of the most important effects you can add to your guitar effects collection is the Chorus effect. If you don’t know how a chorus works its quite simple. Chorusing makes your guitar sound like multiple guitars being played, hence the name Chorus. It accomplishes this effect by putting a slight delay and modulating the original signal then mixing the modulated signal with the original.

   Today I’m going to talk about an incredibly affordable chorus pedal called the FAB Chorus by Danelectro. The FAB Chorus is a colored a metallic blue, has an on/off indicator light, an on/off button and 3 knobs that control Mix, Speed and Depth. The FAB Chorus is a mono chorus as opposed to more expensive stereo chorus effects. As you know, a stereo chorus effect will yield a wider and more ambient chorus effect split between two stereo channels. The FAB Chorus is made to be used with a mono guitar amplifier.     Continue reading “Danelectro FAB Chorus Pedal Review”

Line 6 POD Studio KB37 USB Audio Interface Review Update

Line 6 POD Studio KB37
Line 6 POD Studio KB37

   A while ago I wrote a review on the Line 6 Toneport KB37 Audio Interface and MIDI Controller. I really love this little audio interface and it’s been an invaluable tool for my music recordings. I have a larger setup in my main studio but the KB37 goes with me when I need to work on my recordings while on the road. That being said, I have to admit that I use the KB37 in my big studio a lot of the time because it’s so simple to use.

   When I got my KB37 it was called a Toneport and came with basic Line 6 amp simulation software. I had to purchase Reason 4.o and Sony Acid separately to get my portable recording setup running with the KB37. That added up to quite a few dollars to get a decent mobile audio workstation going.   Continue reading “Line 6 POD Studio KB37 USB Audio Interface Review Update”

A Bridge Pin Puller Is A Perfect Acoustic Guitar Gift Accessory

A bridge pin puller is an excellent gift to go along with that brand new acoustic guitar.

Dunlop Bridge Pin Puller - Bottle Opener
Dunlop Bridge Pin Puller - Bottle Opener

  I’m sure a lot of you are asking for or giving an acoustic guitar as a gift for Christmas this year. I still remember when I was 13 years old and I got my very first acoustic guitar. I loved it and it brought a whole new dimension in music to my life. Getting my acoustic guitar as a Christmas present was literally what launched my career as a musician playing in live bands.

   I remember learning how to play on that acoustic guitar and playing it until I broke a string. That brought me to my first string change on an acoustic guitar. Let me tell you, it was a learning experience and I learned a hard lesson. Acoustic guitar bridge pins are a real pain in ass to get out of the bridge! Naturally I grabbed a flat blade screwdriver and began prying against my beautiful wood bridge mount which I immediately chipped by prying on it.   Continue reading “A Bridge Pin Puller Is A Perfect Acoustic Guitar Gift Accessory”

Musician Gift Suggestions – Swirlygig Chrome Mic Stand Drink Holder

The Swirlygig drink holder can mount on your mic stand and keep your drink within easy reach.

Swirlygig Chrome Drink Holder
Swirlygig Chrome Drink Holder

   How many times have you reached for your drink at a gig only to find it kicked over on the floor? I’ve spilled so many drinks over the years it’s amazing I haven’t been electrocuted! That’s why today I’m suggesting the Swirlygig Chrome Mic Stand Drink Holder for yourself or as a gift for anyone who plays in a live band.

   I’ve spilled drinks down my amplifier and I’ve spilled them right into plug bars. Let me tell you the light show from the exploding plug bar was cool but it sucked when the power went out because of a spilled drink. The Swirlygig drink holder will hang right on your mic stand keeping your drink within easy reach while keeping it away from your valuable amplifier and electrical outlets.   Continue reading “Musician Gift Suggestions – Swirlygig Chrome Mic Stand Drink Holder”

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