Archive for the ‘Maintenance’ Category
Sunday, January 10th, 2010
Paul Reed Smith has released a new iPhone app that combines a guitar amp simulator, an accurate tuner, and a song practice tool which lets you upload your original ideas, jam along to hits, and slow down riffs and solos for easier learning. The new iPhone app is called the PRS Jam Amp and is on sale now in the iTunes store for $9.99.
Before you buy make sure you’ve read this review. There are some considerations to think about before buying the app.
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Tags: iphone, iphone app, PRS, PRS Jam Amp
Posted in Maintenance, News, Reviews, Technology | 1 Comment »
Saturday, November 28th, 2009
It’s never the wrong time to start thinking about a good gift for that special guitar player in your life. With unemployment still being pretty high, we’ll assume you aren’t planning on getting your favorite guitar player a 1959 Gibson Les Paul and accordingly we’ll focus on some more cost-friendly options.
We have wracked our brains to come up with some good suggestions at a variety of prices to help you make sure that Santa Claus (or Hannukah Harry) brings the best item for that special guitarist. Here is our list for 2009. We hope you find it helpful. Read on for the entire list.
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Posted in Accessories, Instruction, Maintenance | 1 Comment »
Thursday, April 9th, 2009
We reported earlier this year about the release of the first new Martin hardcover book, “Martin Guitars: A History.” Well, the second book in this new edition was also just released. Entitled “Martin Guitars: A Technical Reference,” the book includes a boatload of information about Martins including information on “guitar bodies, necks, headstocks, bridges, woods, as well as other chapters covering Models by Style, the Custom Shop and limited editions.” The book even includes information on Martin’s lesser known instruments like archtops, electrics and ukuleles. Written by Richard Johnston (co-owner of Gryphon Stringed Instruments) and Dick Boak (long time employee of the Martin Guitar company). Full Story…
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Tags: acoustic, books, Martin
Posted in Guitars, Maintenance | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
Update: Here are the results from our own build of a fuzz pedal. Come check out the pictures and hear a sound clip.
Lately I’ve been looking into a few do-it-yourself projects that might be a good starting point for someone who is trying to build some of their own gear. So what are the options? I’m pretty sure building my own guitar is a little beyond my 8th grade shop class education. I looked into a couple of package kits for building my own amp but fear of electrocution is a strong deterrent. How about building an Fuzz pedal? I did a some research on the web and found a few options for the beginner DIY’er out there who wants to construct their own fuzz pedal. Full story…
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Tags: DIY, electronics, ESV Fuzz, fuzz pedal, pedal effects
Posted in Accessories, Instruction, Maintenance | 7 Comments »
Monday, February 16th, 2009
Scientists have yet to discover exactly why a harmonica sounds so good with a guitar, but it does. And it isn’t just the folkies and former folkies like Bob Dylan and Neil Young that use the harmonica for accompaniment, even serious guitar-based rock bands like U2, Led Zeppelin and The Who have been known to pull out a harp on occasion (a “harp” is the more hip name for a harmonica). But if you wanted to get started with the harmonica, where would you start? We have some suggestions for you and you’ll be excited to learn how far you can get for under $50 (including instruction book). Full Story…
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Tags: Harmonica, hohner, lee oskar
Posted in Accessories, Maintenance | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009
We just noticed that you can get “relic” effects pedals now. Fender, at the recent winter NAMM show, announced a new line up of “Road Worn” Strats, Teles and bass guitars for the masses. For years the Fender Custom Shop has offered pricey relic’d models. A man named Tom Murphy, who works with Gibson, has perfected a technique to make your brand new guitar look 20 years old and it only costs an extra grand. If you’re the DIY-type, just search the web and you’ll find tons of tips, suggestions and techniques to age your guitar. Full Story.
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Tags: aging, Fender, Gibson, relic, Road Worn, tom murphy
Posted in Guitars, Maintenance | 7 Comments »
Sunday, January 25th, 2009
Anyone who’s ever sweated while playing guitar (is there anyone who hasn’t?) knows that nothing ages a plain steel string (i.e., the first and second strings) faster than rust. Until now, only wound strings (3rd through 6th) were protected. Now, Elixir Strings pioneer of long-life strings, has come to the rescue by broadening its Anti-Rust string product line at Winter NAMM 2009. For the first time, a ll Elixir Strings acoustic sets will feature Anti-Rust Plain Steel strings, using Elixir’s proprietary alloy plating. These strings will feel and sound the same as ordinary strings but will last three to five times longer, according to Elixir. Anyone complaining?
Buy @ American Music Supply: Elixir NanoWeb Acoustic Guitar Strings
Tags: anti-rust, Elixir, Strings
Posted in Accessories, Maintenance, News | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, January 6th, 2009
There is nothing we love more than guitars here at Fretbase. The only thing that comes close, however, is new technology. So this morning we’re riveted by the liveblogs of Apple’s keynote presentation at MacWorld. Little did we know how much our two worlds would collide.
During the presentation, Apple announced that in the newest version of GarageBand video guitar lessons would be made available for $4.99. And we’re not talking about guitar lessons from the guy who works in your local guitar store. We’re talking about lessons from major artists like Sting and John Fogerty.
In the words of the editors at Engadget, “My prediction: This feature alone is going to sell hundreds of thousands of Macintoshes.”
Photo courtesy of Engadget
Macworld Keynote Liveblog (Engadget)
Tags: garageband, John Fogerty, Mac, Sting
Posted in Maintenance, Video | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, December 16th, 2008
Quick little tip we’re going to share with you. When connecting your amp head to the cab make sure you use a speaker cable to connect the two. Just because a 1/4″ guitar cable fits and even may work doesn’t mean you should use it for the connection.
Why you ask? Guitar cables are “signal” cables and designed to carry very small currents - like the current that gets generated by your magnetic pickups. These cables are also shielded to prevent external signals from interefering. While speaker cables are designed to carry larger currents and don’t require any shielding.
Using a guitar cable for connecting a head and cab can eventually destroy the guitar cable since it can’t handle the higher currents. Your guitar cable could eventually melt and short out. It’s also a risk to your amp too since the shielding in guitar cables can interfere with the correct loading of the amp.
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Tags: guitar cable, speaker cable, tips and tricks
Posted in Amps, Maintenance | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, there is nothing like putting on a new set of strings to really make your guitar sing. However, unless you have a roady, you don’t really want to spend the time to do this on a daily basis. Accordingly, do the next best thing: clean ‘em.
A Brooklyn-based company called ToneGear has recently released a product called “The String Cleaner,” which makes it a lot easier to clean your strings. The product has a portion that slides between the fingerboard and strings to enable a thorough cleaning from the top and bottom of the strings. Bottom line: your strings sound better and you get to re-string less. The product one a “Best in Show” award during NAMM ‘08 in Nashville and will be distributed by D’Addario to music stores everywhere.
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Tags: guitar, guitar string cleaning, guitar strings, Strings
Posted in Accessories, Maintenance | 2 Comments »
