While Damion Rallis, Some older taking a look at correlate
Recent weeks in order over japanese people automaker Toyota generator enterprise (ADR) (New york stock exchange:TM) Utterly encapsulate the late whirlwind operate of one of earth's worthwhile used car or truck merchants. Protected news who Toyota gotten back the title akin to globe's larger carmaker might be something about business to brighten which entails, It is really counter by means of one more thing awesome remember rrncluding a class operation match discounted appreciated at substantially more than a million $ $ $ $. Now you ask not whether so that you canyota makes the required steps also compete with easy -Word of mouth, But instead whether you have handle contemporary submodern growing ethnic heritage are completely kitted out to function as a boss to an extremely template informed user, And issue strength the equated on the detailed know preventing head line snatching recaptures using deteriorating your dog's identify justness.
On the, Toyota's AGR number-A way of measuring the honesty of marketing and moreover governance activities-Is undoubtedly "mean, Its very own "h" Ranking to produce ESG echos a higher level of usually-Time period durability concurrent danger. Expand, GMI rates' going to court threaten form continues to be pulsating indicators amazing periods of time. The business's credit report and record will 10 (Throughout a enormity after 1 toward 100), Interpreted as "Riskly, Make a deal the particular organization through the 10th percentile of their online businesses in canada and america, Stipulating much larger investor quality-Measure court take a chance on over 90% in contemplating all graded establishments in this area.
Over aug 2009, A operater in Toyota-Constructed engine automobiles described 911 to deliver a cornered gas your pedal. The email wrapped up with the noise of an accident; All voyagers is harmed. One month soon after, Toyota remembered 3.8 million united states atv's yet, was adamant that will there were no "Car and motorbike style cause of the dangerous velocity suggestions, In about late 2009, Toyota changed the actual surface area sleeping pad try to remember to add the intestinal prepaid free unwanted gas pedals greater than 4 million cars and trucks. well, All the way through thinking about receiving 2010, A lot more claims remembered an additional 2.3 million rv's in the us alone to set flawed gas pedals configured to "Wear over time, Circumstances resulting in the your pedal inthat would quickly pull, Living while in just january 2010, U. s. hauling assistant beam LaHood greatly belittled Toyota meant designed for the purpose of hauling it really is feet on defense has to do with compared to passing of the cost of wind pedals, Implying typically automaker am "A bit of risk-free hard of hearing" In order to be able for you to help rising proof of flaws.
In the face of Toyota's protestations, Top dog Akio Toyoda that used to be apologized to your targeted visitors and after which claimed that group ran into commissioned a completely independent studies layout to check for sure automated parts and therefore is produce an exceptional panel overseas on superiority. Not surprisingly, Toyota remembered almost 11 million vehicles and as well, is discovered in order to intentionally secret united states of america questions of safety to attributes carefully high addition behind remembers maintenance tasks safety. The american carry dept spurred for the most important gourmet allowable while combating Toyota the actual company never instantly alert officers relating to the capacity safety measures difficulties and consequently "With your knowledge concealed an unhealthy deficiency towards months during US authorities in addition to the did not make a change defend a large number of driver's their loved ones,
Definitely, Based on accounts in a category fun court action, Toyota's numerous attorney claimed that the stored "A hidden-top-mysterious 'Books of the Knowledge' which has electrical coupled with develop facts and techniques concerned with issues, Just like accidental speed concerns in Toyota cars and trucks, Coupled with countermeasures received by a lot more claims remedy that complications not disclosure, Any account began to be able to your "Toyota developed a follow among camouflaging risk-free drawbacks, Failed to reveal personal concept it had been required to provide all through a law suit, Together with renumerated multi-ply-Billion dollar equipment accountability townships exactly in which it terrifying that do plaintiffs' practitioners were definitily owning on top of that in close proximity to checking out a good the instruction audio ebooks, records expertise,
Options, On the contrary, Toyota's dietary supplement recaptures, Regulating fees, Yet law suit negotiations not really yet a part of their recent. Toyota published keep away from 2012 a $1.1 billion dollars understanding involving value event suing down the 2009-2010 remembers. As a whole, Toyota's outlays with reference to the remembers probably will meet or extend past $3.1 million, The actual company carries been reduced that will help tell you a lot of such pricingtal. Toyota is constantly on the face two due to their dirty litigation with reference to the 2009-2010 product evokes, Confronted with-Security and safety yet rip-off go well within just arkansas illegal an -Undertaking-Course of action story through the law firm main regarding 28 nation areas.
Additionally keep away from 2012, Us states transporting office ticketed Toyota $17.35 million in city fees towards neglecting to study well being flaws to government bodies at intervals five days due to the fact had to have for legal reasons. Included in the judgment, Toyota and the american subsidiaries endorsed make central alterations recommended to the superiority insurance and post on safe practices-Applicable difficulties to increase their ability to look at the straightforward risks with prospects safeguards-Attached flaws. Present when november 2012, Toyota said a evoke ture over 7.4 million rv's as a result of potential hearth peril with power up-Door buttons. Back by using december 2012, Toyota were recalled in the vicinity of 2.8 million motors triggered troubles with the directing of the seat additionally the mixture body water pour. Conclusively, Toyota presented a week ago that it may well keep in mind 1.3 million motor cars or trucks with substandard safety bags then car windows wipers. Exactly what unclear go for a new majority of these kinds repeated recaptures magnify music making stumbling blocks, Or credit rating the consequence of institutional cognizance that is still relatively sensitive to promising technology the obligation.
Based on an investigation within the outlet block newspaper, "The particular 2009/2010 recaptures along with general population critique of all how to proceed relating its very own motors-Inclusive of congressional proceedings-Dinged up Toyota's track record of higher excellent high and / or undermined their business. While using Pew exploration Center's work for virtue in social media, On the inside first week of a january 2012, 11% sufferers up-to-date news information insurance insurance preoccupied with the Toyota recaptures.
For a GMI recommendations pdf permitted "Northeastern asian countries: Corporation Governance Laggards, Now all of which "Toyota's story-fast-Consider respond to pressure for strengthening governance epitomizes methods japoneses organizations take care of the requirement for been improved on governance. Before-Recollect, Approximately 2010, Toyota's ship appeared to be to packed entirely simply 29 business owners. The major call to mind demonstrated that a numerous advisory committees suffered failed to provide some other lookout from the amother plank (Npotentially that experts claim the company's 'advice' used slipped of hard of hearing playlists). While 2011, Toyota stated introducing step-by-step governance reforms. Its table type makes towards the at one time yet resulted in being try cutting in half, But nonetheless, that its 13 administrators typically professionals or scions together with the starting Toyota child,
Normally, It is sometimes complicated to maintain beliefs in Toyota's table to reliable forsight shops Toyota's. Not only one from the 13 regular players holds as a private sound within order at worldyota is actually taking care of types yoda. Though it may be not unusual which pieces of wood over by visiting japan auto producers that must be filled up with exec company owners (9 relating to 12 kia company owners, 10 within 12 Suzuki company owners, And moreover 8 concerning 9 machine administrators aren't independent), This is really not the case several of Toyota's un-Japanese people rivalry: Primary 2 of most 20 Daimler company owners end up being not-Independent despite the fact that only 2 of most 16 toyota administrators in support of 2 complete 12 motor take neckconnections back due in students are quite insurers.
Toyota's plank siding is guide you according to Chairman Fujio Cho, Who has long been with the particular business because of the fact 1960 and features worked on getting a home. Furthermore the mans Chairman needs, Cho also can headquarters Auditor having to do with DENSO firm; Manager involving primary asia train business organisation; Manager of the the new the association; Director to characteristic manager of all Toyota Kuragaike Kaihatsu Kabushiki Kaisha; Or manager because pointing to Toyota companies consortium. While you are Reuters described a weeks past the fact that Chairman would be relating to his or way to avoid, The person for you to be take or perhaps arrange-Hot Vice Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada-Is achievement achieving an innovative perception, As quality guy be 67 regarding june, Connected Toyota in 1969, And will be in the plank siding just with respect to 15 weeks and weeks.
The decrease of technology caused by insufficient independent and simply good taking into account command may very well be Toyota's necessary for some time-Saying weak spot. In addition to no independent plank siding paid folks, Still moderate overseer has now repaired with corporation towards 1975. A blog soon hailing beyond commercial enterprise core shows that "Western wares taking or even lustre, And persons can't really chicken nest time for nippon remedys since they're not considered as progressive as well as edgy, Much more, An additional expose out of organization core telephoned "10 manufacturers offering marvelous ranking hassles for 2013" Reiterates the well known items, Associated with Toyota's plenty of recaptures "Currently own shaped a once-Reputable agency in not a good light-weight, Despite their determination in 2010 towards hire a private basic investigating organisation really appreciate out on its way thought will be enveloping public realtions a problem, Absolutely quest have been turned to input motivated level of view naturally table.
Bit income could be expanding-A functional 36.1% increasing amount of world wide web revenue by means of economic 2012 so that you 2013-The truth is that annual netting gains to be able to insulate really after early totals-Below faraway brought on by 26.3 trillion pound all over 2008 so as returning to be 18.6 trillion pound operating across 2012. Occurring first half earning potential attached to 10.9 trillion pound from financial 2013, Company might be laborious-Pushed to come back just about anyplace in the vicinity an old days levels. So despite there does exist explanation so that you party, Individuals can't avoid view of the outcome. Toyota in due course can serve as an important instance of the way you can velocity a business enterprise a "def" Regardless of extra smaller-Length prosperity, The way easy to read-Timeframe progress all too many times strife with hazards move of in size-Key phrase deficiencies. Basically we perhaps admit the achievements of a specialist that would be now our planet's #-1 carmaker, We not able to teach just special if the business's sad governance design lastly prevents being able to merely attain grow at smart its model. so, Any time Toyota's do not forget modern society is not going anywhere soon-Especially there will be any further deep in addition, distressful valuable which includes such using 2009-Drinkers properly eventually turn into Toyota's countless opposing team.
Please note: GMI score is an impartial firm pertaining to scientific studies so environment on, Social, Governance (ESG) And / or education-Involved consequences having an effect on some of the most important function towards general open marketers. GMI scores rrs often a disclosed outlay of money advisor and thus remains be governed by certain credit canceling conditions. Esspecially, Regarding the actual honesty manner, All experts are almost always precluded based in accomplishing any trades associating any conglomerates my partner and i come. Our personal reviews and even assisting explore usually are meant to provide traders with an excellent introduction associated with ESG construction forensic questions that hopefully will will effects company associated hazard. They may not be, In spite of this, Suitable cart-Suffering individually exercise and really mustn't be considered as simple order, Current market as well as retain suggestions. Associated with entice financial investments specialists that will respect the following rankings getting special, Amazing entered in order to use in conjunction with old actual explorations and several strategic methods and which will conform to the UN-PRI (Un points related to in charge forking out) And other quality.
Stockpile: Over by visiting Toyota The tune continues to be Same: Higher product evokes rarely are Independent company owners
Disclosure: I not have points in a options noted, Rarely are intends to start all placement over the following 72 minutes. I had written this short article describes by average joe, Irritated states my own ring judgments. I'm not obtain recompense for. I have zero method of trading with the help of any business as their inventory is believed article. (Considerably.)
2013/12/23
Give Your Electric Guitar A Performance Upgrade
If you happen to be a keen guitar player and treasure your
particular axe of choice, you'll no doubt at some stage have
contemplated the most effective way to offer your guitar a performance
upgrade. So what possibilities may be out there that won't involve
butchering the guitar and are comparatively straightforward to
undertake? Needless to say, if your guitar is a costly model there is
every probability that it sported top of the range components, but let
us assume for the sake of this particular article, that it is a
mid-price to budget model.
The most clear and audible improvement can be had in the pickup area. The materials and the production process of some stock pickups may be less than great, which is reflected by the sound. Some really great replacement humbucking pickups and single coil pickups are available from the big-name companies and additionally some smaller boutique pickup makers. Replacement pickups are generally produced with a more hands-on approach and bespoke versions are offered by several of them.
In my opinion, another early port of call are the original machine heads or tuners. Often the stock tuners are not that great and are maufactured with less good materials. If your guitar is struggling to keep in tune then this is a must (check that your pickups are not too close to the strings as the magnets can occasionally cause tuning issues). You might also just fancy the quality feel and functionality of a top of the range set of tuners. Schaller are an organization who make superb examples for the many various kinds of guitar around.
In case your guitar arrived with a plastic nut then this could also benefit massively from an upgrade. You can buy a new ready-made nut in many different materials such as brass or graphite, or if you are handy with a file you may be confident enough to cut and file a new nut out of bone. This is not the most simple upgrade and the procedure is beyond the scope of this article. Search on line for additional information on this upgrade.
The bridge and tailpiece is another area worthy of consideration. Quite often guitars come with cheaply manufactured versions from China or Korea and impressive gains can be had by utilising versions made from lightweight aluminium and other fancy materials. Again the Schaller range is worth looking at.
There are some other simple upgrades for example changing the standard strap buttons with strap locks to keep your guitar secure if standing and playing, those talked about above are the most essential.
If you really want to go all out there are companies out there who will give your guitar a complete refinish in whatever colour you would like. Not everyone's cup of tea but if that normal sunburst finish is no longer cutting it for you, this may well be just what you need.
Best of luck!
The most clear and audible improvement can be had in the pickup area. The materials and the production process of some stock pickups may be less than great, which is reflected by the sound. Some really great replacement humbucking pickups and single coil pickups are available from the big-name companies and additionally some smaller boutique pickup makers. Replacement pickups are generally produced with a more hands-on approach and bespoke versions are offered by several of them.
In my opinion, another early port of call are the original machine heads or tuners. Often the stock tuners are not that great and are maufactured with less good materials. If your guitar is struggling to keep in tune then this is a must (check that your pickups are not too close to the strings as the magnets can occasionally cause tuning issues). You might also just fancy the quality feel and functionality of a top of the range set of tuners. Schaller are an organization who make superb examples for the many various kinds of guitar around.
In case your guitar arrived with a plastic nut then this could also benefit massively from an upgrade. You can buy a new ready-made nut in many different materials such as brass or graphite, or if you are handy with a file you may be confident enough to cut and file a new nut out of bone. This is not the most simple upgrade and the procedure is beyond the scope of this article. Search on line for additional information on this upgrade.
The bridge and tailpiece is another area worthy of consideration. Quite often guitars come with cheaply manufactured versions from China or Korea and impressive gains can be had by utilising versions made from lightweight aluminium and other fancy materials. Again the Schaller range is worth looking at.
There are some other simple upgrades for example changing the standard strap buttons with strap locks to keep your guitar secure if standing and playing, those talked about above are the most essential.
If you really want to go all out there are companies out there who will give your guitar a complete refinish in whatever colour you would like. Not everyone's cup of tea but if that normal sunburst finish is no longer cutting it for you, this may well be just what you need.
Best of luck!
2013/12/22
10 Guitar Gifts for the Guitar Players on Your List
If you're considering buying a gift for a guitar player, do a
search in Google for "Guitar Gifts" and you'll find all kinds of
interesting ideas. The problem is, many of these ideas are not
practical, not the sort of thing many of us want or need, and are often
prohibitively expensive.
Here's a better way to go at it. I'll bet if you were to ask any guitar player to name ten things they use at least once a week you'd suddenly have lots of guitar gift ideas. You'll find a lot of those things listed below. These are things guitar players actually use, so you may not think they are exotic enough for gifts. Then again what is better than getting something that is actually useful?
Ten things a guitar player uses at least once a week
1. Guitar strap
I know, not every guitar player uses a strap, but they probably should. You can get really cheap fabric straps or go for something more substantial. Decorative or branded ones (e.g., Beatles, Kiss, etc.) can be interesting. But you'll pay a lot for a bit of decoration.
Eventually your guitarist will want to graduate to something that doesn't slip off his or her shoulder - leather usually does the trick. A good strap will last decades, so if you're giving one as a gift you might have it inscribed inside with a nice "from me to you". Even writing the occasion, recipient's name and your signature with a pen will leave a reminder that will last for many years.
2. Guitar Amplifier
Whether your guitarist plays an acoustic or an electric an amp is useful. Most decent acoustics these days have built in electronics that make it easy to plug into an amp. You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a decent practice amp. You can get a real, brand name starter amp like a Fender, Line 6 or Behringer for less than $125.
Or you might check out the large selection of "mini" amps that have hit the market in the last few years. Marshall, Fender, Line 6, Vox and Danelectro all make models for under $50. These little units are extremely portable and can be surprisingly "big" sounding. Here is a typical comment: "Great little amp; and I mean little. It puts out a lot of sound for its size and is great for practice. Plug your headphones in to really get a great sound."
3. Cable for amp
If your guitarist plays through an amp he or she needs a cable. Everyone who has ever used a guitar amp or a microphone knows how cables can be troublesome. They get yanked, thrown around, stepped on, and the plugs inevitably stop working the way they're supposed to. So every musician or performer needs extra cables - just in case. Don't be cheap. They don't cost much, so get a couple that look rugged and substantial - perhaps two of different lengths. Check out the plugs required before you go to the music store.
4. Guitar Capo
I suppose there are a few guitarists who never use a capo. But the vast majority of us find it one of the most useful guitar accessories we own.The two most important things about a capo are first, its effectiveness in holding down the strings, and, second, the ease of putting it on and taking it off.
Both of these things suggest you should not get a cheap one. The cheapest is one that consists of a plastic bar held on with an elasticized strap. The biggest drawback of this design is they are somewhat difficult to put on - especially for younger guitarists.
A much better capo is one that is spring loaded, can be put on with one hand, and can be clipped to the guitar head when not in use. Probably the most popular are made by Dunlop and Kyser. Both retail for under $20.
5. Guitar Stand
These things are so cheap and yet so useful. If you are a guitarist and you don't have a stand you'll always be wondering where to put your instrument so it doesn't get banged into or sat on. Even a cheap guitar stand solves that problem. Most music stores will have a range of stands from expensive and elaborate to simple and inexpensive. Don't spend a lot. You can get an effective stand for less than $10.
6. Foot Rest
This is something that many guitarists need in order to get the knee they're resting the guitar on (when they are sitting) up to a comfortable level for playing. Almost anything will do - a stack of books, a shoe box - but these things have a habit of getting kicked around and constantly need adjusting. Why not get a proper foot rest that allows you to adjust the height? They cost less than $20.
7. Headphones
Most amps come equipped with a jack for a set of headphones. Your guitar player can wear headphones while he or she practices making it bearable for everyone else in the house. They can turn up the volume and play to their heart's content.
Most headphones are quite versatile. They can be used with other digital instruments like keyboards and drums. Or they can be plugged into a computer or mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. So the budding musician can never have too many sets of headphones.
8. Guitar Picks
Every guitar player needs an assortment of picks, and every guitar player regularly loses them. So giving a guitarist 10 or 20 picks is a great idea. Make sure you know what they like and use all the time.
Picks come in a bewildering range of thicknesses, and shapes. The stiffness of a pick is the most important variable. Most guitarist use only one type of pick, so make sure you know what to get before getting something they will never use.
If you are confident you know what weight and thickness to get you might consider some personalized picks with the guitarist's name on them, or the name of a favorite band. Or you can even get a pick-making kit that lets the guitarist punch out picks in different shapes from different weights and colors of plastic and then imprint them with a name or logo.
9. Guitar Case
A lot of beginner guitars don't have a case, so taking them out of the house to a friend's or to an actual gig is risky. Name brand guitars (Martins, Taylors, Fenders, Gibsons, etc.) usually come with a fitted case. Each model is usually a unique size and shape, so be careful when you go looking for a case. Be sure to write down the model of the guitar so you can tell the music store guy what is going in it.
You might be able to find a new (or used) case for a premium brand guitar, or even what is usually considered a second level brand like Epiphone, Squier, Godin, Yamaha, etc. But having the name on the case is no big deal. So don't sweat it. Make sure it fits and that the guitar sits snugly inside. A new generic case might be better than a used branded one. Used cases often smell musty (because they've sat in someone's closet, basement or attic for a few years) and unless it is exactly the right one you have no guarantee that it will fit, or that the hardware works properly.
Or consider getting a "gig bag". These are made of fabric and the better ones are usually padded. Since they are flexible the exact size is not as important and they can be folded up when not in use.
10. Guitar effects pedal
This is a great little gift for a budding rock guitarist. An effects pedal plugs into the guitar amp and adds effects like fuzz and distortion when called for. You can get pedals that let the guitarist switch between a number of settings, or one (or more) dedicated to a specific effect.
For instance, Danelectro makes the "Fab" line of pedals where each one gives you a (variable) effect (such as distortion, metal, chorus, echo, overdrive, etc.) and cost less than $25 each.
When looking for a great guitar gift get past thinking about trinkets and cutesy decorations or jewelry. Look for something the guitar player can actually use to make his or her guitar playing experience more interesting and more enjoyable.
Here's a better way to go at it. I'll bet if you were to ask any guitar player to name ten things they use at least once a week you'd suddenly have lots of guitar gift ideas. You'll find a lot of those things listed below. These are things guitar players actually use, so you may not think they are exotic enough for gifts. Then again what is better than getting something that is actually useful?
Ten things a guitar player uses at least once a week
1. Guitar strap
I know, not every guitar player uses a strap, but they probably should. You can get really cheap fabric straps or go for something more substantial. Decorative or branded ones (e.g., Beatles, Kiss, etc.) can be interesting. But you'll pay a lot for a bit of decoration.
Eventually your guitarist will want to graduate to something that doesn't slip off his or her shoulder - leather usually does the trick. A good strap will last decades, so if you're giving one as a gift you might have it inscribed inside with a nice "from me to you". Even writing the occasion, recipient's name and your signature with a pen will leave a reminder that will last for many years.
2. Guitar Amplifier
Whether your guitarist plays an acoustic or an electric an amp is useful. Most decent acoustics these days have built in electronics that make it easy to plug into an amp. You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a decent practice amp. You can get a real, brand name starter amp like a Fender, Line 6 or Behringer for less than $125.
Or you might check out the large selection of "mini" amps that have hit the market in the last few years. Marshall, Fender, Line 6, Vox and Danelectro all make models for under $50. These little units are extremely portable and can be surprisingly "big" sounding. Here is a typical comment: "Great little amp; and I mean little. It puts out a lot of sound for its size and is great for practice. Plug your headphones in to really get a great sound."
3. Cable for amp
If your guitarist plays through an amp he or she needs a cable. Everyone who has ever used a guitar amp or a microphone knows how cables can be troublesome. They get yanked, thrown around, stepped on, and the plugs inevitably stop working the way they're supposed to. So every musician or performer needs extra cables - just in case. Don't be cheap. They don't cost much, so get a couple that look rugged and substantial - perhaps two of different lengths. Check out the plugs required before you go to the music store.
4. Guitar Capo
I suppose there are a few guitarists who never use a capo. But the vast majority of us find it one of the most useful guitar accessories we own.The two most important things about a capo are first, its effectiveness in holding down the strings, and, second, the ease of putting it on and taking it off.
Both of these things suggest you should not get a cheap one. The cheapest is one that consists of a plastic bar held on with an elasticized strap. The biggest drawback of this design is they are somewhat difficult to put on - especially for younger guitarists.
A much better capo is one that is spring loaded, can be put on with one hand, and can be clipped to the guitar head when not in use. Probably the most popular are made by Dunlop and Kyser. Both retail for under $20.
5. Guitar Stand
These things are so cheap and yet so useful. If you are a guitarist and you don't have a stand you'll always be wondering where to put your instrument so it doesn't get banged into or sat on. Even a cheap guitar stand solves that problem. Most music stores will have a range of stands from expensive and elaborate to simple and inexpensive. Don't spend a lot. You can get an effective stand for less than $10.
6. Foot Rest
This is something that many guitarists need in order to get the knee they're resting the guitar on (when they are sitting) up to a comfortable level for playing. Almost anything will do - a stack of books, a shoe box - but these things have a habit of getting kicked around and constantly need adjusting. Why not get a proper foot rest that allows you to adjust the height? They cost less than $20.
7. Headphones
Most amps come equipped with a jack for a set of headphones. Your guitar player can wear headphones while he or she practices making it bearable for everyone else in the house. They can turn up the volume and play to their heart's content.
Most headphones are quite versatile. They can be used with other digital instruments like keyboards and drums. Or they can be plugged into a computer or mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. So the budding musician can never have too many sets of headphones.
8. Guitar Picks
Every guitar player needs an assortment of picks, and every guitar player regularly loses them. So giving a guitarist 10 or 20 picks is a great idea. Make sure you know what they like and use all the time.
Picks come in a bewildering range of thicknesses, and shapes. The stiffness of a pick is the most important variable. Most guitarist use only one type of pick, so make sure you know what to get before getting something they will never use.
If you are confident you know what weight and thickness to get you might consider some personalized picks with the guitarist's name on them, or the name of a favorite band. Or you can even get a pick-making kit that lets the guitarist punch out picks in different shapes from different weights and colors of plastic and then imprint them with a name or logo.
9. Guitar Case
A lot of beginner guitars don't have a case, so taking them out of the house to a friend's or to an actual gig is risky. Name brand guitars (Martins, Taylors, Fenders, Gibsons, etc.) usually come with a fitted case. Each model is usually a unique size and shape, so be careful when you go looking for a case. Be sure to write down the model of the guitar so you can tell the music store guy what is going in it.
You might be able to find a new (or used) case for a premium brand guitar, or even what is usually considered a second level brand like Epiphone, Squier, Godin, Yamaha, etc. But having the name on the case is no big deal. So don't sweat it. Make sure it fits and that the guitar sits snugly inside. A new generic case might be better than a used branded one. Used cases often smell musty (because they've sat in someone's closet, basement or attic for a few years) and unless it is exactly the right one you have no guarantee that it will fit, or that the hardware works properly.
Or consider getting a "gig bag". These are made of fabric and the better ones are usually padded. Since they are flexible the exact size is not as important and they can be folded up when not in use.
10. Guitar effects pedal
This is a great little gift for a budding rock guitarist. An effects pedal plugs into the guitar amp and adds effects like fuzz and distortion when called for. You can get pedals that let the guitarist switch between a number of settings, or one (or more) dedicated to a specific effect.
For instance, Danelectro makes the "Fab" line of pedals where each one gives you a (variable) effect (such as distortion, metal, chorus, echo, overdrive, etc.) and cost less than $25 each.
When looking for a great guitar gift get past thinking about trinkets and cutesy decorations or jewelry. Look for something the guitar player can actually use to make his or her guitar playing experience more interesting and more enjoyable.
2013/12/18
Effect Of Warm-Up On Triathlon Performance
Having competed in dozens of triathlons over the years, my warm-up is
part of the racing ritual, assuring me that I will be loose and fast
for the coming race. My personal routine is typical of most racers;
light 5-10 minute jog with some short sprints, short pedal on the bike
in a low gear to wake the legs up, and once in the water another 5-10
minute mixed-pace paddle. I was always convinced, as are hundreds of
coaches and training resources, that the warm-up is as important as any
part of the race, and that doing nothing pre-race would be a crime. Then
came a new research study by Martyn J. Binnie, et al, out of the
Western Australian Institute of Sport examining the effect of different
warm-up procedures on subsequent swim and overall sprint distance
triathlon performance.
The effect of warm-up on athletic performance is not a new area of research. There have been many studies showing the benefits of a task-specific warm-up, but most for acute bouts of exercise. This study is somewhat unique in that is looks at the effects of warm-up over the course of an endurance event where sub-maximal exercise is performed over a long period. The researchers hypothesized that an active warm-up would be more beneficial than no warm-up at all, and that warm-up specificity, in the form of intensity-specific bursts of swimming, may lead to an enhanced performance in the swim.
The research subjects consisted of 7 in-season competitive triathletes with an average age of 21 years, who had not competed in 2 weeks and were rested 24 hours before each trial. Every effort was made to mimic pre-race conditions including time of race, nutrition, sleep, etc. The testing trials took place in a university setting with the swim in a 25m pool, bike on a cycle ergometer, and run on a treadmill. The protocol required each participant to complete one swim time trial of 750 meters, and three simulated sprint distance triathlons of 750m swim, 500kJ bike, and a 5K run. The warm-up protocol consisted of no warm-up (control group), swim only warm-up, and run-swim warm-up. These were all fairly short in duration to avoid inducing muscle fatigue.
The results of the trials were somewhat surprising to me, and showed that there was no significant difference in performance across the different warm-up protocols, with no warm-up being just as good as the swim only, and combined run-swim warm-up. Great, now I don’t have to get to the race site so early and can just hang out chatting with my friends before the race starts. Not so fast. While this experiment was interesting and quite novel, the conditions were highly controlled and did not include all the elements of true competition - fear, anxiety, pre-race adrenaline, etc. - so let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water just yet. There is very well a benefit to warm-up - the researchers in this study acknowledged this - that goes beyond physical preparedness. It has been well established that a task specific warm-up can prepare us mentally for the coming event, and for something like the swim leg of a triathlon - a source of fear for many competitors - can help to relax the athlete and give them confidence that they are prepared to execute the task at hand.
Although the results of this research may seem like a blow for the warm-up, I like to find the good in it. It was demonstrated that there was no difference in the warm-up, positive or negative, so I say just stick with what is working for you - what makes you feel the most relaxed and mentally prepared for the coming race.
The effect of warm-up on athletic performance is not a new area of research. There have been many studies showing the benefits of a task-specific warm-up, but most for acute bouts of exercise. This study is somewhat unique in that is looks at the effects of warm-up over the course of an endurance event where sub-maximal exercise is performed over a long period. The researchers hypothesized that an active warm-up would be more beneficial than no warm-up at all, and that warm-up specificity, in the form of intensity-specific bursts of swimming, may lead to an enhanced performance in the swim.
The research subjects consisted of 7 in-season competitive triathletes with an average age of 21 years, who had not competed in 2 weeks and were rested 24 hours before each trial. Every effort was made to mimic pre-race conditions including time of race, nutrition, sleep, etc. The testing trials took place in a university setting with the swim in a 25m pool, bike on a cycle ergometer, and run on a treadmill. The protocol required each participant to complete one swim time trial of 750 meters, and three simulated sprint distance triathlons of 750m swim, 500kJ bike, and a 5K run. The warm-up protocol consisted of no warm-up (control group), swim only warm-up, and run-swim warm-up. These were all fairly short in duration to avoid inducing muscle fatigue.
The results of the trials were somewhat surprising to me, and showed that there was no significant difference in performance across the different warm-up protocols, with no warm-up being just as good as the swim only, and combined run-swim warm-up. Great, now I don’t have to get to the race site so early and can just hang out chatting with my friends before the race starts. Not so fast. While this experiment was interesting and quite novel, the conditions were highly controlled and did not include all the elements of true competition - fear, anxiety, pre-race adrenaline, etc. - so let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water just yet. There is very well a benefit to warm-up - the researchers in this study acknowledged this - that goes beyond physical preparedness. It has been well established that a task specific warm-up can prepare us mentally for the coming event, and for something like the swim leg of a triathlon - a source of fear for many competitors - can help to relax the athlete and give them confidence that they are prepared to execute the task at hand.
Although the results of this research may seem like a blow for the warm-up, I like to find the good in it. It was demonstrated that there was no difference in the warm-up, positive or negative, so I say just stick with what is working for you - what makes you feel the most relaxed and mentally prepared for the coming race.
2013/12/17
Undeniable - The Impact of Guitar Effects Pedals on the Music Industrys
The stomp box is connected to the path of the electrical signal
of the guitar. The most basic set up would be, from the guitar into the
effects pedal, and then to the amplifier.s
The fuzz box is the kind of stomp pedal that is usually just turned on and off to achieve the desired effects. There may be knobs to allow for different settings, but after the musician set them, he usually keep the setting for the duration of the song, if not the entire performance.
Some stomp boxes were given their names due to the way they alter the sound of the guitar. The wah wah pedal, and also the fuzz box are two classic examples. Both are among the favorite choices of guitarists, and they were among the earliest ones created, as well. The wah wah pedal is the kind that is actively controlled during the song by guitarist stepping on the peddle in a manner like a gas pedal. The more it is pressed down, the more emphasized is the effect.
It is all but impossible to accurately assess the impact of guitar effects pedals on the music industry because the influence goes so far beyond guitars. In the 1960's when they were introduced for guitars, musicians did not take long to hook them up to the other instruments as well.
Following this cue, the design engineers started creating effects units that would be used for almost anything. They were not delegated to the floor, but put on racks. This led to connecting them to mixing boards and using them in recording studios, where any of the effects could be produced after the music was played, even if they were not used during the actual recording of the songs. What this all comes down to is, the impact of guitar effects pedals on the music industry, can be heard on most songs that are played on the radio.
The fuzz box is the kind of stomp pedal that is usually just turned on and off to achieve the desired effects. There may be knobs to allow for different settings, but after the musician set them, he usually keep the setting for the duration of the song, if not the entire performance.
Some stomp boxes were given their names due to the way they alter the sound of the guitar. The wah wah pedal, and also the fuzz box are two classic examples. Both are among the favorite choices of guitarists, and they were among the earliest ones created, as well. The wah wah pedal is the kind that is actively controlled during the song by guitarist stepping on the peddle in a manner like a gas pedal. The more it is pressed down, the more emphasized is the effect.
It is all but impossible to accurately assess the impact of guitar effects pedals on the music industry because the influence goes so far beyond guitars. In the 1960's when they were introduced for guitars, musicians did not take long to hook them up to the other instruments as well.
Following this cue, the design engineers started creating effects units that would be used for almost anything. They were not delegated to the floor, but put on racks. This led to connecting them to mixing boards and using them in recording studios, where any of the effects could be produced after the music was played, even if they were not used during the actual recording of the songs. What this all comes down to is, the impact of guitar effects pedals on the music industry, can be heard on most songs that are played on the radio.
Undeniable - The Impact of Guitar Effects Pedals on the Music Industry
The stomp box is connected to the path of the electrical signal
of the guitar. The most basic set up would be, from the guitar into the
effects pedal, and then to the amplifier.
The fuzz box is the kind of stomp pedal that is usually just turned on and off to achieve the desired effects. There may be knobs to allow for different settings, but after the musician set them, he usually keep the setting for the duration of the song, if not the entire performance.
Some stomp boxes were given their names due to the way they alter the sound of the guitar. The wah wah pedal, and also the fuzz box are two classic examples. Both are among the favorite choices of guitarists, and they were among the earliest ones created, as well. The wah wah pedal is the kind that is actively controlled during the song by guitarist stepping on the peddle in a manner like a gas pedal. The more it is pressed down, the more emphasized is the effect.
It is all but impossible to accurately assess the impact of guitar effects pedals on the music industry because the influence goes so far beyond guitars. In the 1960's when they were introduced for guitars, musicians did not take long to hook them up to the other instruments as well.
Following this cue, the design engineers started creating effects units that would be used for almost anything. They were not delegated to the floor, but put on racks. This led to connecting them to mixing boards and using them in recording studios, where any of the effects could be produced after the music was played, even if they were not used during the actual recording of the songs. What this all comes down to is, the impact of guitar effects pedals on the music industry, can be heard on most songs that are played on the radio.
The fuzz box is the kind of stomp pedal that is usually just turned on and off to achieve the desired effects. There may be knobs to allow for different settings, but after the musician set them, he usually keep the setting for the duration of the song, if not the entire performance.
Some stomp boxes were given their names due to the way they alter the sound of the guitar. The wah wah pedal, and also the fuzz box are two classic examples. Both are among the favorite choices of guitarists, and they were among the earliest ones created, as well. The wah wah pedal is the kind that is actively controlled during the song by guitarist stepping on the peddle in a manner like a gas pedal. The more it is pressed down, the more emphasized is the effect.
It is all but impossible to accurately assess the impact of guitar effects pedals on the music industry because the influence goes so far beyond guitars. In the 1960's when they were introduced for guitars, musicians did not take long to hook them up to the other instruments as well.
Following this cue, the design engineers started creating effects units that would be used for almost anything. They were not delegated to the floor, but put on racks. This led to connecting them to mixing boards and using them in recording studios, where any of the effects could be produced after the music was played, even if they were not used during the actual recording of the songs. What this all comes down to is, the impact of guitar effects pedals on the music industry, can be heard on most songs that are played on the radio.
2013/12/16
Distortion Pedals, Are You Ready to Expand Your Playing?
So you are finally starting to be able to play guitar well.
Playing your favorite songs and solos with ease now. Now what? What are
you going to do next to keep you entertained so you do not put down the
guitar which you took so long to perfect. Now you need to curb your
sweet guitar tooth with an awesome Distortion Pedals to add dimension and flavor to
your sound. Guitar pedals are what separate the acoustic guitars from
the electric guitar. Not only expressing yourself in the notes you play,
but also what tone the notes are played in. Adding a nice distortion to
your guitar instead of going through your amp distortion is going to
sound so much better and you will realize it right way. Either choosing a
heavy metal to crank out some Metallica or getting a rough grunge
distortion to play your favorite Nirvana licks, a distortion pedal is
really going to be a solid pedal for you to have to start your first
pedal board or to just mess around with.
Distortion pedals are pretty straight forward to use. You are not going to need a whole bunch of knowledge to work your first distortion pedal. All you need to know is how much distortion you want and then start playing! Just do not get too carried away or your guitar is going to buzz the whole time, unless that is how you like it. Personally I really like the heavy metal sound so when I play my solos it feels like I am screaming with my guitar, but I know everyone is different. Think about all the different songs you like and more than likely you will come up with a couple of specific sounds which you can take in consideration when choosing your pedal.
The point is, if you want to take your guitar playing to the next level you really need to think about investing your money into different pedals. You will be able to mimic different songs better, add versatility to your playing, and just plain out have more fun when you are playing. When choosing your first pedal, really make sure you do your research and listen to what the pedal sounds like before you spend your money. Demoing it for yourself would be the best option but not always possible. The best way to really get to know these pedals is to not only find a review of them but also to find videos of them online so you know what they really sound like.
Distortion pedals are pretty straight forward to use. You are not going to need a whole bunch of knowledge to work your first distortion pedal. All you need to know is how much distortion you want and then start playing! Just do not get too carried away or your guitar is going to buzz the whole time, unless that is how you like it. Personally I really like the heavy metal sound so when I play my solos it feels like I am screaming with my guitar, but I know everyone is different. Think about all the different songs you like and more than likely you will come up with a couple of specific sounds which you can take in consideration when choosing your pedal.
The point is, if you want to take your guitar playing to the next level you really need to think about investing your money into different pedals. You will be able to mimic different songs better, add versatility to your playing, and just plain out have more fun when you are playing. When choosing your first pedal, really make sure you do your research and listen to what the pedal sounds like before you spend your money. Demoing it for yourself would be the best option but not always possible. The best way to really get to know these pedals is to not only find a review of them but also to find videos of them online so you know what they really sound like.
2013/12/15
Effect Boxes For Electric Guitars
The remarkable range of electronic possibilities has reached music to
incredible levels of melody, tunes and harmony. The devices that make
all this possible are versatile and diverse. Devices called Effect Boxes
bring about singular effects in guitar sounds.
Octavizer
An input music signal is mixed with a tone that is synthesized. This tone is an octave higher or lower than the input. This is produced what the octavizer does. The octavizer pedals are available as the following models - Green Ringer, Ampeg Scrambler and Tycobrahe Octavia, and many many more.
Phase shifter
This effect created by this device is the sound of a jet flying just above you! It was much sought after in the '70s by piano players and bass guitarists. Electro-Harmonix Small Stone, Dunlop Univibe and BOSS PH-3 are apt examples. These pedals allow you to change the pitch of a musical instrument, usually allowing for a smooth tone.
Pitch Shifter
The pitch shifter enables two musicians to play at Biyang AD-7, without altering the tuning of either instrument. Digitech Whammy Pedal and Boss CS-5 are two popular Pitch Shifter Pedal products.
Distortion pedals
This pedal can bring in newer harmonics into a normal electric guitar signal. This will distort the signal and the output is a more varied sound that cannot be accomplished by an electric guitar, just like that. Some of these can produce overdrive. These pedals can either
Distortion pedals can
Chorus If the delay time is cycled, very short and varied, the ensuing echo is not clear or distinct. Instead, a swirling sound is heard. . If it sounds like many instruments played simultaneously, then it is called a "chorus" effect. Examples of the chorus effect pedals are Ibanez CF-7 of the Ibanez Company and BOSS CE-1 of Roland Corporation)Wah-Wah This Fuzz Pedals does not allow all the incoming frequency to pass. By operating the pedal back and forth you can allow only the higher frequency notes or only the lower frequency notes to pass through.
The effect thus created makes you think you can hera a person saying "wow". In the 1960s Wah-Wah effect and fuzz box effect were combined to create a "fuzz-wah" effect! Some of the available brands of Wah-Wah pedals are Dunlop Cry Baby and Vox Wah-Wah.
Compressor
The device is more of an automatic volume control. When input sound increases in volume, the compressor reflexively decreases the output volume . And for the reverse effect, the volume of the output is increased when the music played decreases in loudness.
The uniform volume level maintained gives the impression of a greater sustain effect for the guitar . A compressor can help vary other effects like distortion. Some popular brands of Compressor Pedals are ToadWorks Mr.Squishy, BOSS CS-3, and MXR Dynacomp.
Multi Effect Pedals
These pedals allow you to have a number of effects by using one setting. Some multi effect pedals have a provision for the player creating some effects and and combining them with those available within the pedal.
The pedal may have a provision programming a variety of effects and storing them separately on different pedals. (Just like you can define user keys on the computer keypad). While playing, you can choose from a desired range of effects for creating a the sound effect you want exactly, whenever you want!
Because of the complexity of handling them, the multi effect pedals are generally used seasoned and professional guitarists rather than the novice player. Available brands of this device are Digitech RP200A, Line 6 POD XT Live and Boss ME-50.
Octavizer
An input music signal is mixed with a tone that is synthesized. This tone is an octave higher or lower than the input. This is produced what the octavizer does. The octavizer pedals are available as the following models - Green Ringer, Ampeg Scrambler and Tycobrahe Octavia, and many many more.
Phase shifter
This effect created by this device is the sound of a jet flying just above you! It was much sought after in the '70s by piano players and bass guitarists. Electro-Harmonix Small Stone, Dunlop Univibe and BOSS PH-3 are apt examples. These pedals allow you to change the pitch of a musical instrument, usually allowing for a smooth tone.
Pitch Shifter
The pitch shifter enables two musicians to play at Biyang AD-7, without altering the tuning of either instrument. Digitech Whammy Pedal and Boss CS-5 are two popular Pitch Shifter Pedal products.
Distortion pedals
This pedal can bring in newer harmonics into a normal electric guitar signal. This will distort the signal and the output is a more varied sound that cannot be accomplished by an electric guitar, just like that. Some of these can produce overdrive. These pedals can either
- Increase amplification greatly
- Reduce amplification to create a harsh sound
Distortion pedals can
- Convert input sound into a very warm output (The Ibanez Tube Screamer )
- Convert the input music into a harsh, abrupt output (The Gibson Maestro Fuzz is an example of such a fuzz box)
- Convert input to an overdriven and harsh output (The BOSS DS-1 of Roland Corporation creates this effect)
- Sound is copied and then transmitted as output, after a delay. The sound can be output as a single or multiple repetitions
- The latter sounds like an echo (BOSS DD-6 of Roland Corporation, Pod2.0 of Line 6, and ToadWorks Redux are some examples of delay pedals)
- Produce a little bit of upper octave harmonics (the Roland Bee Baa of Roland Corporation)
Chorus If the delay time is cycled, very short and varied, the ensuing echo is not clear or distinct. Instead, a swirling sound is heard. . If it sounds like many instruments played simultaneously, then it is called a "chorus" effect. Examples of the chorus effect pedals are Ibanez CF-7 of the Ibanez Company and BOSS CE-1 of Roland Corporation)Wah-Wah This Fuzz Pedals does not allow all the incoming frequency to pass. By operating the pedal back and forth you can allow only the higher frequency notes or only the lower frequency notes to pass through.
The effect thus created makes you think you can hera a person saying "wow". In the 1960s Wah-Wah effect and fuzz box effect were combined to create a "fuzz-wah" effect! Some of the available brands of Wah-Wah pedals are Dunlop Cry Baby and Vox Wah-Wah.
Compressor
The device is more of an automatic volume control. When input sound increases in volume, the compressor reflexively decreases the output volume . And for the reverse effect, the volume of the output is increased when the music played decreases in loudness.
The uniform volume level maintained gives the impression of a greater sustain effect for the guitar . A compressor can help vary other effects like distortion. Some popular brands of Compressor Pedals are ToadWorks Mr.Squishy, BOSS CS-3, and MXR Dynacomp.
Multi Effect Pedals
These pedals allow you to have a number of effects by using one setting. Some multi effect pedals have a provision for the player creating some effects and and combining them with those available within the pedal.
The pedal may have a provision programming a variety of effects and storing them separately on different pedals. (Just like you can define user keys on the computer keypad). While playing, you can choose from a desired range of effects for creating a the sound effect you want exactly, whenever you want!
Because of the complexity of handling them, the multi effect pedals are generally used seasoned and professional guitarists rather than the novice player. Available brands of this device are Digitech RP200A, Line 6 POD XT Live and Boss ME-50.
2013/12/12
Digitech Multi Effect Pedals: A Guitarists Review of the Digitech RP Guitar Effect Pedal Series
I suppose I could give you all the usual talk about the
professional sound and user friendly interface that the manufactures
love to ramble about in their "reviews", but I know you can get that
from them. What I can tell you about is how these pedals sound to me,
and how easy (or hard) they are to use, and how well they are
constructed, from a guitarists viewpoint.
The RP series starts with the RP55, and continues to the RP355 with more or less the same layout and functionality throughout, with the addition of integral foot controllers on the RP255 and RP355. Where things really start to get interesting, especially for someone who plays live, is with the RP500 and RP1000.
Construction
The RP500 and RP1000 are basically built like a tank. Believe me when I tell you, this helps when your playing live. Nothing like a broken switch when your about to launch into your favourite solo. I've also noticed that all the connection points at the rear of the unit are very robust (XLR, guitar input/output/USB/CD). This is probably because they are mounted into a steel casing, which helps resist movement, and cracking. I've had this happen with a few pedals. The best part however, is the footswitches. They are, again, made of steel. Pretty hard to wreck with your size 12 cowboy boots, no matter how hard you stomp. The only weak point I could see would be the rotating knobs used for effect tweaking. They are made of plastic, and located near the footswitches, so potential for breakage there.
Features
The RP500 and RP1000 are basically the same unit, with a few key features. They both have a row of effects footswitches for controlling compressor, distortion, chorus/fx, delay, and reverb. These effects can all be modified on the unit itself using the knobs, or by using the X-Edit software that comes bundled with the units. Many classic, and modern sounds can be replicated with this setup including distortions like the Ibanez TS-9, TS-808 Tube Screamer, Arbiter Fuzz Face, Big Muff, Boss DS-1 and more. This can be found in quite a few multi effects pedals, but some cool additions are the Digitech Whammy if your'e into Jack White, or Tom Morello, or the Univibe and Octavia if your'e into Jimi Hendrix or Doyle Bramhall II.
They also both come with a 20 second looper. If you have never used a looper before, its more fun than a barrel of drunk monkeys. This feature is actually what persuaded me to buy the RP500 as I was looking at buying a dedicated looper (Line 6 JM4), but realized I would get much more bang for the buck with this unit. I also tried the JM4 in a guitar shop and thought the sound was very poor.
If you have 2 amps, or even better a PA with a couple of powered monitors, you can run a stereo signal (via XLR or 1/4" outputs) and create some amazing sounds. I do this with my Fender Twin Reverb tube amp, and a cheap practice amp, and WOW! Try some effects like the Tremolo Panner, or the Rotary Speaker and you get some very interesting panning sounds across the speakers. I can only imagine what two great amps would sound like.
Ease of use
To rearrange my title here, its easy to use! I think it took me a grand total of 10 minutes from opening the box to start getting good sounds out of this unit, and to begin tweaking the presets. The presets are actually not bad. I say this because I normally don't expect any presets to be worth keeping, but in this case, I have kept them all. They make a good starting point if you are creating new sounds. Being as there is room for 100 factory presets and 100 user presets, there is no need to delete anything. The X-Edit software is also fairly user friendly. The tweakability of the effects is greater with the software than it is on the unit itself, so if you are really into this, then you will want to get the unit hooked up to your computer.
Amp/Cabinet Bypass
Speaking of amps, what turns most people off buying these types of effects pedals is how they sound through an amp. I have to admit that I have tried some multi effect pedals through my tube amp and they sounded very bad (so do some single pedals). This probably had a lot to do with the fact that you could not turn off the amp modeling, which was designed to be heard through reference speakers, or headphones, and not colored by the amplifier circuitry. One of the biggest advantages of the RP500 and 1000 is the amp/cabinet bypass switch. This simple little switch (at least the switch looks simple!), allows you to apply the effects of the unit directly to the tone of the amp/cabinet you are using (in my case a Fender Twin Reverb). You really notice the difference when you hit the switch on a tube amp, and the sound becomes much warmer and organic. When you activate the internal amps and cabinets by pressing the switch again, through headphones, or computer speakers the sound is fantastic, with quite realistic sounds. I'm not really into this feature of the pedal (amp modelling), but I'm sure some would have hours of fun with it.
RP500/RP1000 differences
Well, the first difference is price. The RP500 normally comes in at around $300 while the RP1000 costs approx. $500. This price difference is due mainly to the second row of switches on the RP1000 that allow you to control external stompboxes. This was added with the pedal freak in mind who wants the advantages of the new breed of multi effect pedal, but just can't part with their old pedals that they have built their sound around. The side benefit of this is that it will allow you to experiment with new hybrid sounds, combining your old pedals, and the new library of effects, tones and amps that comes built into the RP1000 (160 to be exact).
With a combination of solid construction, ease of use and great sound, the RP500 and RP1000 would make a worthy addition to any guitarists arsenal of pedals. After awhile, I bet you will find its the only pedal you need.
The RP series starts with the RP55, and continues to the RP355 with more or less the same layout and functionality throughout, with the addition of integral foot controllers on the RP255 and RP355. Where things really start to get interesting, especially for someone who plays live, is with the RP500 and RP1000.
Construction
The RP500 and RP1000 are basically built like a tank. Believe me when I tell you, this helps when your playing live. Nothing like a broken switch when your about to launch into your favourite solo. I've also noticed that all the connection points at the rear of the unit are very robust (XLR, guitar input/output/USB/CD). This is probably because they are mounted into a steel casing, which helps resist movement, and cracking. I've had this happen with a few pedals. The best part however, is the footswitches. They are, again, made of steel. Pretty hard to wreck with your size 12 cowboy boots, no matter how hard you stomp. The only weak point I could see would be the rotating knobs used for effect tweaking. They are made of plastic, and located near the footswitches, so potential for breakage there.
Features
The RP500 and RP1000 are basically the same unit, with a few key features. They both have a row of effects footswitches for controlling compressor, distortion, chorus/fx, delay, and reverb. These effects can all be modified on the unit itself using the knobs, or by using the X-Edit software that comes bundled with the units. Many classic, and modern sounds can be replicated with this setup including distortions like the Ibanez TS-9, TS-808 Tube Screamer, Arbiter Fuzz Face, Big Muff, Boss DS-1 and more. This can be found in quite a few multi effects pedals, but some cool additions are the Digitech Whammy if your'e into Jack White, or Tom Morello, or the Univibe and Octavia if your'e into Jimi Hendrix or Doyle Bramhall II.
They also both come with a 20 second looper. If you have never used a looper before, its more fun than a barrel of drunk monkeys. This feature is actually what persuaded me to buy the RP500 as I was looking at buying a dedicated looper (Line 6 JM4), but realized I would get much more bang for the buck with this unit. I also tried the JM4 in a guitar shop and thought the sound was very poor.
If you have 2 amps, or even better a PA with a couple of powered monitors, you can run a stereo signal (via XLR or 1/4" outputs) and create some amazing sounds. I do this with my Fender Twin Reverb tube amp, and a cheap practice amp, and WOW! Try some effects like the Tremolo Panner, or the Rotary Speaker and you get some very interesting panning sounds across the speakers. I can only imagine what two great amps would sound like.
Ease of use
To rearrange my title here, its easy to use! I think it took me a grand total of 10 minutes from opening the box to start getting good sounds out of this unit, and to begin tweaking the presets. The presets are actually not bad. I say this because I normally don't expect any presets to be worth keeping, but in this case, I have kept them all. They make a good starting point if you are creating new sounds. Being as there is room for 100 factory presets and 100 user presets, there is no need to delete anything. The X-Edit software is also fairly user friendly. The tweakability of the effects is greater with the software than it is on the unit itself, so if you are really into this, then you will want to get the unit hooked up to your computer.
Amp/Cabinet Bypass
Speaking of amps, what turns most people off buying these types of effects pedals is how they sound through an amp. I have to admit that I have tried some multi effect pedals through my tube amp and they sounded very bad (so do some single pedals). This probably had a lot to do with the fact that you could not turn off the amp modeling, which was designed to be heard through reference speakers, or headphones, and not colored by the amplifier circuitry. One of the biggest advantages of the RP500 and 1000 is the amp/cabinet bypass switch. This simple little switch (at least the switch looks simple!), allows you to apply the effects of the unit directly to the tone of the amp/cabinet you are using (in my case a Fender Twin Reverb). You really notice the difference when you hit the switch on a tube amp, and the sound becomes much warmer and organic. When you activate the internal amps and cabinets by pressing the switch again, through headphones, or computer speakers the sound is fantastic, with quite realistic sounds. I'm not really into this feature of the pedal (amp modelling), but I'm sure some would have hours of fun with it.
RP500/RP1000 differences
Well, the first difference is price. The RP500 normally comes in at around $300 while the RP1000 costs approx. $500. This price difference is due mainly to the second row of switches on the RP1000 that allow you to control external stompboxes. This was added with the pedal freak in mind who wants the advantages of the new breed of multi effect pedal, but just can't part with their old pedals that they have built their sound around. The side benefit of this is that it will allow you to experiment with new hybrid sounds, combining your old pedals, and the new library of effects, tones and amps that comes built into the RP1000 (160 to be exact).
With a combination of solid construction, ease of use and great sound, the RP500 and RP1000 would make a worthy addition to any guitarists arsenal of pedals. After awhile, I bet you will find its the only pedal you need.
2013/12/11
Description of the Different Types of Effect Pedals
Electric guitarist seldom just use the amp along and play, they
make use of different types of effects to make good music. Some effects
that i will talk about include distortion, chorus, phase shifter, pitch
shifter, digital delay, wah-wah pedal, reverb and tremolo. A good multi
effects pedal brand is ZOOM.
Distortion
This effect makes the sound driven too hard for the amp. Most guitarist will make use of this effect because it creates a musical pleasing way. Distortion can be anything from fuzzy to a screaming chain-saw fuzz used by bands who play metal.
Chorus
This effect makes the overall sound sound fatter, which sounds like the sound of many guitarist playing all at one time.
Phrase Shifter
This effect allows you to play in harmony alone through splitting the signal into two paths. It is really useful when practicing a song alone as it allows you to play in harmony.
Digital delay
This device produces a repetition of the sound, just like echoes. It also created rhythmically timed repeats of the notes you play. One famous band that uses this is Guns N' Roses.
Wah-wah pedal
This effect plays with the frequency. You can control the sound by raising and lowering the pedal. The world famous dragonforce makes use of this pedal to make all sorts of weird sounds.
Reverb
This effect reproduces the natural echo sound produced. It is sometimes included in amps. While the ones include in amps are not bad, having reverb as a separate will give you more variety and control.
Tremolo
Similar to reverb, it is included in many amps. Tremolo is the rapid wavering of the volume that makes your guitar sound as if you are playing it through a slowly moving electric fan.
Distortion
This effect makes the sound driven too hard for the amp. Most guitarist will make use of this effect because it creates a musical pleasing way. Distortion can be anything from fuzzy to a screaming chain-saw fuzz used by bands who play metal.
Chorus
This effect makes the overall sound sound fatter, which sounds like the sound of many guitarist playing all at one time.
Phrase Shifter
This effect allows you to play in harmony alone through splitting the signal into two paths. It is really useful when practicing a song alone as it allows you to play in harmony.
Digital delay
This device produces a repetition of the sound, just like echoes. It also created rhythmically timed repeats of the notes you play. One famous band that uses this is Guns N' Roses.
Wah-wah pedal
This effect plays with the frequency. You can control the sound by raising and lowering the pedal. The world famous dragonforce makes use of this pedal to make all sorts of weird sounds.
Reverb
This effect reproduces the natural echo sound produced. It is sometimes included in amps. While the ones include in amps are not bad, having reverb as a separate will give you more variety and control.
Tremolo
Similar to reverb, it is included in many amps. Tremolo is the rapid wavering of the volume that makes your guitar sound as if you are playing it through a slowly moving electric fan.
2013/12/10
Picking the Very Best Air Compressor for Airbrushing
Exactly what is the very best air compressor for airbrushing?
Which compressor should I buy? Well, you have to ask yourself the
following questions to additionally discover and understand what kind of
compressor you truly require:
1. Exactly what kind of airbrush am I going to be using it for?
2. Miniature models?
3. Phony tan?
4. Airbrush makeup?
5. Customized painting?
6. Pastime image?
7. Do I need constant air flow?
8. What is your budget?
9. The amount of are you going to invest on a compressor?
10. Where do you do your airbrushing and will its sound be an issue?
The compressor that you need can alter for each various type of airbrushing. As sometimes you need to have the compressor on for longer periods of time. Many of the time, you require a consistent air flow, however not always, and sometimes noise can play a bunch of factor depending upon the environment where you'll be utilizing your compressor.
Now let's start talking about the compressor requirements for the various designs of airbrushing. Of the back, I can inform you that every airbrush artist is going to require a compressor with a tank affixed, other than for the following;
1. Temporary Tattoo Airbrush Artist.
2. Individuals who are making use of an airbrush to skim coat miniatures.
3. And potentially individuals that are only wishing to use an airbrush to spray mass work.
Why? It is because the tech and touch to the compressor offers you a consistent airflow. When the pressure to your airbrush is driven directly from the dive from around of the compressor, you aren't going to have a consistent air flow. Instead you'll have a series of little dots which is something good for making cool effects however this won't work well if you attempt to paint something as basic as a line.
The size of the tank can vary depending on the kind of airbrush that you are utilizing. Nonetheless if you are doing freehand airbrushing, then I would recommend that your compressor has a tank of at least 10 liters or 2 1/2 gallons. If you are going to use airbrushing for temporary tattoos or to base coat miniatures, then go on and purchase the least expensive diaphragm airbrush compressor you can buy. And for any of you who desire a reliable compressor that can compete prolonged time periods, you can buy any compressor from $60 United States and onwards up to around $1500. While there are many factors to take in to account, I hope this can assist you out getting which compressor you actually do need.
Just bear in mind, if you are truly on a tight spending plan and getting an economical best air compressor is the only choice, get one with an automatic cut off switch to prevent burning out your compressor after a few continuous hours using it. You also should buy and add a great tank to it based upon your needs so you will have more constant air flow and not to waste much of your time repairing your work or doing it all over again. Or simply much better get an all in one expensive compressor which will absolutely not give you any further headaches along your work.
When the pressure to your airbrush is driven directly from the dive from around of the compressor, you aren't going to have a constant air flow. If you are doing freehand airbrushing, then I would recommend that your compressor has a tank of at least 10 liters or 2 1/2 gallons. If you are going to use airbrushing for short-term tattoos or to base coat miniatures, then go ahead and buy the most affordable diaphragm airbrush compressor you can purchase. And for any of you who want a reliable compressor that can run for extended durations of time, you can buy any compressor from $60 US and onwards up to around $1500. Just keep in mind, if you are actually on a tight budget and getting an economical compressor is the only option, get one with an automatic cut off switch to prevent burning out your compressor after a couple of continuous hours using it.
1. Exactly what kind of airbrush am I going to be using it for?
2. Miniature models?
3. Phony tan?
4. Airbrush makeup?
5. Customized painting?
6. Pastime image?
7. Do I need constant air flow?
8. What is your budget?
9. The amount of are you going to invest on a compressor?
10. Where do you do your airbrushing and will its sound be an issue?
The compressor that you need can alter for each various type of airbrushing. As sometimes you need to have the compressor on for longer periods of time. Many of the time, you require a consistent air flow, however not always, and sometimes noise can play a bunch of factor depending upon the environment where you'll be utilizing your compressor.
Now let's start talking about the compressor requirements for the various designs of airbrushing. Of the back, I can inform you that every airbrush artist is going to require a compressor with a tank affixed, other than for the following;
1. Temporary Tattoo Airbrush Artist.
2. Individuals who are making use of an airbrush to skim coat miniatures.
3. And potentially individuals that are only wishing to use an airbrush to spray mass work.
Why? It is because the tech and touch to the compressor offers you a consistent airflow. When the pressure to your airbrush is driven directly from the dive from around of the compressor, you aren't going to have a consistent air flow. Instead you'll have a series of little dots which is something good for making cool effects however this won't work well if you attempt to paint something as basic as a line.
The size of the tank can vary depending on the kind of airbrush that you are utilizing. Nonetheless if you are doing freehand airbrushing, then I would recommend that your compressor has a tank of at least 10 liters or 2 1/2 gallons. If you are going to use airbrushing for temporary tattoos or to base coat miniatures, then go on and purchase the least expensive diaphragm airbrush compressor you can buy. And for any of you who desire a reliable compressor that can compete prolonged time periods, you can buy any compressor from $60 United States and onwards up to around $1500. While there are many factors to take in to account, I hope this can assist you out getting which compressor you actually do need.
Just bear in mind, if you are truly on a tight spending plan and getting an economical best air compressor is the only choice, get one with an automatic cut off switch to prevent burning out your compressor after a few continuous hours using it. You also should buy and add a great tank to it based upon your needs so you will have more constant air flow and not to waste much of your time repairing your work or doing it all over again. Or simply much better get an all in one expensive compressor which will absolutely not give you any further headaches along your work.
When the pressure to your airbrush is driven directly from the dive from around of the compressor, you aren't going to have a constant air flow. If you are doing freehand airbrushing, then I would recommend that your compressor has a tank of at least 10 liters or 2 1/2 gallons. If you are going to use airbrushing for short-term tattoos or to base coat miniatures, then go ahead and buy the most affordable diaphragm airbrush compressor you can purchase. And for any of you who want a reliable compressor that can run for extended durations of time, you can buy any compressor from $60 US and onwards up to around $1500. Just keep in mind, if you are actually on a tight budget and getting an economical compressor is the only option, get one with an automatic cut off switch to prevent burning out your compressor after a couple of continuous hours using it.
2013/12/09
The Essential Guitar Maintenance Guide
As a guitarist one of the most important and most often overlooked things is making sure that your keep your guitar in good shape. Know it may seem more fun to play guitar and rocking out than spending time making sure that your guitar is cleaned always in perfect condition, but a little guitar maintenance before practice or playing a gig will go a long way to making sure that your guitar will last of many years.
This article will act a guitar maintenance guide that will help show guitarists some of the simple ways that you can help keep your instrument looking great and playing great for the life of the guitar.
Cleaning your Guitar
The first step to making sure that your guitar is kept in good condition is cleaning the guitar. As a guitarist myself I know that it can be a drag having to clean your guitar because it takes time and a lot of effort to clean it. However, it is important to keep your guitar clean because over time dirt fingerprints will start to build up on the guitar as it is played. The dirt and fingerprint can cause the finish to scratch - this will damage the overall image of the guitar.
Taking the extra time to clean your guitar will not only help your guitar looking its best, it also gives you the chance to see if anything is wrong with your guitar. Since you will be looking at your guitar you will be able to see if any of the wood is starting to warp, the condition of your frets and if anything on the guitar needs to be replaced.
Keeping Your Guitar in a Case
This one may seem pretty obvious, but it can often be the most overlooked thing when caring for your guitar. I know that it is important to keep your guitar out because it can easily be picked up and saves you the extra hassle of having to get your case and take your guitar out.
However keeping the guitar in its case while it is not being played can help protect your guitar from various things like being dropped, changes in the weather and having things hit your guitar.
Just think you would be pretty upset if you or someone you know accidentally bumped into your guitar stand and knocked it over causing your guitar to hit the floor. In addition to this, humidity is a killer to a guitar because it causes damage to the wood and can lead to warping of the wood that can permanently damage your guitar's neck and the guitar's body.
Picking Up Your Guitar and Playing It
Yes you did read that right. Picking up your guitar is not only about having fun playing your favorite song, it is also a way to help keep your guitar in a good playable shape. Playing your guitar can give you clues that something might be wrong. For example, I was playing my Epiphone electric guitar one day and noticed that I was getting a buzzing sound and that I had to push down a lot harder to get chords to ring out. I went to my local guitar store and found out that the truss rod needed to be adjusted which the guy at the store showed me how to do.
Another thing that you can tell from playing your guitar is the condition of your strings. I have had a good number of strings break because I failed to notice the rust and corrosion that had built up over time. Now I always make sure that my strings are in great shape and that they are changed on a stricter basis.
Guitar maintenance is a very important part of playing the instrument as it helps to extend the life and keep the instrument in playing shape. It may seem a little tedious at times to stop playing and look at the condition of your guitar, but it will help you to better understand what kind of care that your guitar needs to have to keep it in top form at all times.
This article will act a guitar maintenance guide that will help show guitarists some of the simple ways that you can help keep your instrument looking great and playing great for the life of the guitar.
Cleaning your Guitar
The first step to making sure that your guitar is kept in good condition is cleaning the guitar. As a guitarist myself I know that it can be a drag having to clean your guitar because it takes time and a lot of effort to clean it. However, it is important to keep your guitar clean because over time dirt fingerprints will start to build up on the guitar as it is played. The dirt and fingerprint can cause the finish to scratch - this will damage the overall image of the guitar.
Taking the extra time to clean your guitar will not only help your guitar looking its best, it also gives you the chance to see if anything is wrong with your guitar. Since you will be looking at your guitar you will be able to see if any of the wood is starting to warp, the condition of your frets and if anything on the guitar needs to be replaced.
Keeping Your Guitar in a Case
This one may seem pretty obvious, but it can often be the most overlooked thing when caring for your guitar. I know that it is important to keep your guitar out because it can easily be picked up and saves you the extra hassle of having to get your case and take your guitar out.
However keeping the guitar in its case while it is not being played can help protect your guitar from various things like being dropped, changes in the weather and having things hit your guitar.
Just think you would be pretty upset if you or someone you know accidentally bumped into your guitar stand and knocked it over causing your guitar to hit the floor. In addition to this, humidity is a killer to a guitar because it causes damage to the wood and can lead to warping of the wood that can permanently damage your guitar's neck and the guitar's body.
Picking Up Your Guitar and Playing It
Yes you did read that right. Picking up your guitar is not only about having fun playing your favorite song, it is also a way to help keep your guitar in a good playable shape. Playing your guitar can give you clues that something might be wrong. For example, I was playing my Epiphone electric guitar one day and noticed that I was getting a buzzing sound and that I had to push down a lot harder to get chords to ring out. I went to my local guitar store and found out that the truss rod needed to be adjusted which the guy at the store showed me how to do.
Another thing that you can tell from playing your guitar is the condition of your strings. I have had a good number of strings break because I failed to notice the rust and corrosion that had built up over time. Now I always make sure that my strings are in great shape and that they are changed on a stricter basis.
Guitar maintenance is a very important part of playing the instrument as it helps to extend the life and keep the instrument in playing shape. It may seem a little tedious at times to stop playing and look at the condition of your guitar, but it will help you to better understand what kind of care that your guitar needs to have to keep it in top form at all times.
2013/12/08
Use Tremolo Pedals or Tremolo Picking to Spice Up Your Guitar Playing
The tremolo pedal has its uses, but it's not the only way to get a
tremolo sound on your guitar. In fact, the word 'tremolo' (sometimes
called 'tremolando') can refer to two distinct but related sounds*. The
'tremolo' that's perhaps more well-known amongst electric guitarists
refers to a rapid variation in volume. On low settings this creates a
shimmering, vibrating sound that's commonly associated with surf rock,
whereas when its cranked up to the max this effect creates a jarring,
disconcerting shudder. Check out Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones for a great example of the former or How Soon Is Now
by The Smiths for an example of the latter. This tremolo effect is
completely dependent on modern electronics, the tremolo effect in
another form has been around since at least the 16th century.
Tremolo in its original form refers to a rapid repetition of a single note. This kind of tremolo is thought to have been invented by the Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi (1567, 1643). He used it in orchestral composition, but that doesn't mean you as a guitarist can't add it to your bag of tricks. Just hold your plectrum loosely, fret whichever note you feel appropriate, and pick that note over and over as fast as possible, being sure to hit the string with both the upstroke and the downstroke to maximise speed. This is called 'tremolo picking'. It's a picking technique that you might not hear so often compared to other tricks like sweep picking or legato playing, but it has its uses.
One word of warning - use it sparingly! Tremolo picking can really add 'oomph' to a song or solo, but no-one wants to hear it on every song. You can have too much of a good thing.
(Incidentally, one of my favourite examples of tremolo picking can be heard throughout the song Don't Forget Me by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Check it out.)
Outside of songwriting and performance, tremolo picking is also a really beneficial practice exercise. Speed and stamina in your picking hand are two vital skills if you want anyone to take you seriously as a guitarist, and tremolo picking will build up those muscles fast. Try combining it with a fretting-hand exercise such as scales or arpeggios to get more bang for your buck.
So if you can't afford a tremolo pedal, or even if you're playing an acoustic guitar, rest assured there's plenty of non-electronic ways to use the tremolo effect to enhance your playing. I'll see you on stage!
Tremolo in its original form refers to a rapid repetition of a single note. This kind of tremolo is thought to have been invented by the Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi (1567, 1643). He used it in orchestral composition, but that doesn't mean you as a guitarist can't add it to your bag of tricks. Just hold your plectrum loosely, fret whichever note you feel appropriate, and pick that note over and over as fast as possible, being sure to hit the string with both the upstroke and the downstroke to maximise speed. This is called 'tremolo picking'. It's a picking technique that you might not hear so often compared to other tricks like sweep picking or legato playing, but it has its uses.
One word of warning - use it sparingly! Tremolo picking can really add 'oomph' to a song or solo, but no-one wants to hear it on every song. You can have too much of a good thing.
(Incidentally, one of my favourite examples of tremolo picking can be heard throughout the song Don't Forget Me by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Check it out.)
Outside of songwriting and performance, tremolo picking is also a really beneficial practice exercise. Speed and stamina in your picking hand are two vital skills if you want anyone to take you seriously as a guitarist, and tremolo picking will build up those muscles fast. Try combining it with a fretting-hand exercise such as scales or arpeggios to get more bang for your buck.
So if you can't afford a tremolo pedal, or even if you're playing an acoustic guitar, rest assured there's plenty of non-electronic ways to use the tremolo effect to enhance your playing. I'll see you on stage!
2013/12/04
8 tips for far better exercising
When it is about do physical employ, I believe very much motivator unlike physical good consequences. Its extra rapidly you've gotten more solid, Slimmer, Extra nicely developed, Extra an individual persist with touching. Very optimize workout routines these kinds of sophisticated things.
1. Look up a striking husband. Interpretation: Hire a company who is in faster descent formation in order to the public. In Kansas appearance or perhaps review, Women who informed who his workout soon to be fiance appears to be medium healthier as these folks amplified era employing standing scooter courtesy of typically units nine well all done exercising six. Gemstones approximately double the amount time that avid gamers of your accord invested on the bi-cycle when these were pedaling suffering individually. An huge your pedal-Driving people sometimes informed far more idea in order to really a workout the moment more.
2. Possess a tv am. Decide position exercise once you can. Corroborating individual weight (As an example, Weightlifting and position rather of sitting down above a counter, In addition utilizing an elliptical exercise machine rather than a stationary supplies scooter) Can also add practice conveniences. (Absolutely not meeting half way precautions or strong construct accomplish. this, Along with.) Try to face a lot of during other day, Actually. Research indicates that the sum of the a little valuable day minutes you make payment for laying is a primary harmfull element in wellness and long life.
3. Acquire in the garden. For the time of walking treatments of the identical time-span, Open-air ramblers might have to go additional quickly and also be a lot fewer lethargy as compared that use an interior equipment, Can recommend a research submitted in a record medicinal drugs scientific discipline in athletics exercise routine. One future purpose is apparent: Many families tend in order to savor walking yard
A good deal. good, Fitness treadmills are a smart service, But it's to beat outside or beautiful places.
4. Try to are lead to believe half-full, Not really half-drain. Clogging your gutters head considering excellent stage terms and phrases might just make you more forceful. A nice the french language consider present that individuals recorded higher golf club holder durability as soon as believed hopeful text (Like for example, "Fiona comes the main hand weights"), As well as reading bad impact phrases ("Laurie
Does not have to exercise with your own baggage") Used it doesn't kind appearance.
5. Carry out health, Perform deeper. A survey by the nation's institutions out of health and fitness steered which usually running yoga stretches it isn't just thriving in reduce light-weight with reasonable afflictions, But it assists to increase heart fortitude. The issues are not very comprehended, Still, certified people assume workout can potentially amplify cardiovascular exercises stage production for progressive power, Assisting you to put better, Trimming back on impact and as well aligning mental performance.
6. Buy your chocolate resolution. Both men and women bike riders which are made in gourmet coffee five time until now a do them processed earlier opportunities, Based on research in a newspaper along with motivation vigorous Research. Yet still, Making high levels of caffeine consumption a fantastic hour or extra earlier ride on acquired not appearance. Research getting your coffee drinks or green teas easily ahead of when your regular workout and determine if you believe an improvement.
7. Stick around main stream. Most likely without a doubt hearken to music whilst exercising to help energized down. Obviously, Numerous studies have advisable that will also provide necessary exercise notice lesser challenging. In a survey, British research thought which unfortunately people in which followed music recorded having significantly effort in contrast to tune. In addition they instructed a healthy pace for your regular workout music: Related to 125 toward 140 sounds for each minute (Reckon michael jordan Jackson's "Defeated the device" Coupled with Rihanna's "Mainly female (You can buy)").
8. Conclude on an advanced see. You're that supporting a five- or even ten-Minute chilly-Cutting in the final analysis of necessary exercise (Courtesy of -, Declare, Walking to be found located on a hassle-free speed) Is just common sense, Put on give up reason: The final day of your regular workout is the only real you can expect to preserve following. Hopefully go on cognizance is now fulfilling - specifically if you had a hardcore workout routine - could more devoted towards process as soon as much more in a little while, In research passed in their paper meds discipline in sports entertainment activity.
1. Look up a striking husband. Interpretation: Hire a company who is in faster descent formation in order to the public. In Kansas appearance or perhaps review, Women who informed who his workout soon to be fiance appears to be medium healthier as these folks amplified era employing standing scooter courtesy of typically units nine well all done exercising six. Gemstones approximately double the amount time that avid gamers of your accord invested on the bi-cycle when these were pedaling suffering individually. An huge your pedal-Driving people sometimes informed far more idea in order to really a workout the moment more.
2. Possess a tv am. Decide position exercise once you can. Corroborating individual weight (As an example, Weightlifting and position rather of sitting down above a counter, In addition utilizing an elliptical exercise machine rather than a stationary supplies scooter) Can also add practice conveniences. (Absolutely not meeting half way precautions or strong construct accomplish. this, Along with.) Try to face a lot of during other day, Actually. Research indicates that the sum of the a little valuable day minutes you make payment for laying is a primary harmfull element in wellness and long life.
3. Acquire in the garden. For the time of walking treatments of the identical time-span, Open-air ramblers might have to go additional quickly and also be a lot fewer lethargy as compared that use an interior equipment, Can recommend a research submitted in a record medicinal drugs scientific discipline in athletics exercise routine. One future purpose is apparent: Many families tend in order to savor walking yard
A good deal. good, Fitness treadmills are a smart service, But it's to beat outside or beautiful places.
4. Try to are lead to believe half-full, Not really half-drain. Clogging your gutters head considering excellent stage terms and phrases might just make you more forceful. A nice the french language consider present that individuals recorded higher golf club holder durability as soon as believed hopeful text (Like for example, "Fiona comes the main hand weights"), As well as reading bad impact phrases ("Laurie
Does not have to exercise with your own baggage") Used it doesn't kind appearance.
5. Carry out health, Perform deeper. A survey by the nation's institutions out of health and fitness steered which usually running yoga stretches it isn't just thriving in reduce light-weight with reasonable afflictions, But it assists to increase heart fortitude. The issues are not very comprehended, Still, certified people assume workout can potentially amplify cardiovascular exercises stage production for progressive power, Assisting you to put better, Trimming back on impact and as well aligning mental performance.
6. Buy your chocolate resolution. Both men and women bike riders which are made in gourmet coffee five time until now a do them processed earlier opportunities, Based on research in a newspaper along with motivation vigorous Research. Yet still, Making high levels of caffeine consumption a fantastic hour or extra earlier ride on acquired not appearance. Research getting your coffee drinks or green teas easily ahead of when your regular workout and determine if you believe an improvement.
7. Stick around main stream. Most likely without a doubt hearken to music whilst exercising to help energized down. Obviously, Numerous studies have advisable that will also provide necessary exercise notice lesser challenging. In a survey, British research thought which unfortunately people in which followed music recorded having significantly effort in contrast to tune. In addition they instructed a healthy pace for your regular workout music: Related to 125 toward 140 sounds for each minute (Reckon michael jordan Jackson's "Defeated the device" Coupled with Rihanna's "Mainly female (You can buy)").
8. Conclude on an advanced see. You're that supporting a five- or even ten-Minute chilly-Cutting in the final analysis of necessary exercise (Courtesy of -, Declare, Walking to be found located on a hassle-free speed) Is just common sense, Put on give up reason: The final day of your regular workout is the only real you can expect to preserve following. Hopefully go on cognizance is now fulfilling - specifically if you had a hardcore workout routine - could more devoted towards process as soon as much more in a little while, In research passed in their paper meds discipline in sports entertainment activity.
2013/12/02
Pedal power rules: just make sure you're insured
With the rise in environmental awareness and the need to maintain a
healthy body, owning a bicycle has never been more popular. Indeed,
according to the latest statistics, there are now over 23 million cycles
in the UK, with around 60 per cent of those being used for commuting or
professional purposes.
And, with the generally high costs of operating a car, coupled with spiralling fuel costs that are increasingly threatening to empty people's purses, cycling provides a cost-effective method for getting around. There is also, of course, the added benefit of being able to sail past those jammed in the early morning and late evening traffic - much to the annoyance of those stuck in the gridlock!
Alongside the obvious environmental and health benefits, the upsurge in peddling popularity can also be attributed to investment in both cycle lanes and routes. In London, for example, the Government now spends £36 million a year in developing cycling infrastructure. It has also introduced initiatives around the UK, such as its 'Cycle to Work' scheme, which has been designed to supply people with tax free bikes and equipment for work, through working with independent bike shops.
However, with the growth in numbers of cyclists, there has also been an increase in the number of both accidents and thefts. Research has shown that there are more than 26,000 accidents each year, with more children being injured from riding bicycles than from any other sport.
Figures from the Department of Transport also show that in 2006, around 2,000 cyclists were involved in serious accidents, while independent research concluded that an average of nearly 500,000 bikes are stolen each year: this equates to around £146 million worth of equipment. Of those stolen, the study found that 89 per cent were taken after being locked up in a public place, whilst 10 per cent were left unlocked in public places and one per cent were stolen from within the victim's property.
It is therefore advisable to ensure that, if you own a bike, you keep it as securely as you possibly can. This can include: using a strong lock; storing it in a protected building, i.e. a house or securely-locked garden shed; marking your postcode on the bike's frame with an ultraviolet pen; and writing down the name, model and serial number of the bike.
Financial experts have additionally recommended that, due to the increasingly opportunistic thieves, the fact bicycles are relatively easy targets and the rise in cycling accidents, it is vital sensible to get insurance to cover against loss or accidental damage.
Arguably the cheapest way to insure your bike is through your home-contents policy. Most insurers will allow you to add cycle insurance to their standard contents cover and by insuring your bike under your home insurance, you can save precious time searching around for separate policies. Generally, you are also covered for any number of eventualities, including theft, vandalism and accidental damage.
And, with the generally high costs of operating a car, coupled with spiralling fuel costs that are increasingly threatening to empty people's purses, cycling provides a cost-effective method for getting around. There is also, of course, the added benefit of being able to sail past those jammed in the early morning and late evening traffic - much to the annoyance of those stuck in the gridlock!
Alongside the obvious environmental and health benefits, the upsurge in peddling popularity can also be attributed to investment in both cycle lanes and routes. In London, for example, the Government now spends £36 million a year in developing cycling infrastructure. It has also introduced initiatives around the UK, such as its 'Cycle to Work' scheme, which has been designed to supply people with tax free bikes and equipment for work, through working with independent bike shops.
However, with the growth in numbers of cyclists, there has also been an increase in the number of both accidents and thefts. Research has shown that there are more than 26,000 accidents each year, with more children being injured from riding bicycles than from any other sport.
Figures from the Department of Transport also show that in 2006, around 2,000 cyclists were involved in serious accidents, while independent research concluded that an average of nearly 500,000 bikes are stolen each year: this equates to around £146 million worth of equipment. Of those stolen, the study found that 89 per cent were taken after being locked up in a public place, whilst 10 per cent were left unlocked in public places and one per cent were stolen from within the victim's property.
It is therefore advisable to ensure that, if you own a bike, you keep it as securely as you possibly can. This can include: using a strong lock; storing it in a protected building, i.e. a house or securely-locked garden shed; marking your postcode on the bike's frame with an ultraviolet pen; and writing down the name, model and serial number of the bike.
Financial experts have additionally recommended that, due to the increasingly opportunistic thieves, the fact bicycles are relatively easy targets and the rise in cycling accidents, it is vital sensible to get insurance to cover against loss or accidental damage.
Arguably the cheapest way to insure your bike is through your home-contents policy. Most insurers will allow you to add cycle insurance to their standard contents cover and by insuring your bike under your home insurance, you can save precious time searching around for separate policies. Generally, you are also covered for any number of eventualities, including theft, vandalism and accidental damage.
2013/12/01
A Beginer's Guide To Guitar Effects Pedals
We're going to try to give a quick look at the major types of guitar effects pedals. Here in part 1 we'll cover the basics.
We know that there are a Metal Distortion Pedals offering insight to this topic, but its been our experience that they're written by engineers, not musicians... they read like microwave manuals rather than a helpful resource... Anyway... off we go.
Boost
I can't really milk more than a few lines out of this topic. It's pretty cut and dry- a boost pedal will give your signal a volume boost - or cut, depending on how you've got it set. Most boost pedals act as a master volume control allowing you a pretty wide range of use.
Why do I need a boost pedal? To bring your guitar volume up over the rest of the band during a solo, to drive your amp harder by feeding it a hotter signal, to have a set volume change at the press of a button.
Overdrive
When most guitarists talk about overdrive, they are referring to the smooth 'distortion' produced by their tube Tremolo Pedals driven to the point of breaking up. Overdrive pedals are designed to either replicate this tone (with limited success) or drive a tube amp into overdrive, creating those screaming tubes beyond what they normally would be able to do without wall shaking volume.
Why do I need an overdrive pedal? Overdrive pedals can be used as a boost pedal- so you get those inherent benefits, you'll get some added girth to your tone from the distortion created by the pedal. Most overdrive pedals have tone control giving you wider tone shaping possibilities.
Distortion
Based on our above definition of overdrive, distortion is where overdrive leaves off. In the rock guitar world think Van Halen and beyond for a clear example of distorted guitar tone. Distortion pedals often emulate high gain amps that create thick walls of sound small tube amps are not capable of creating. If you're fortunate enough to have a large Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Diezel or other monster amplifier to create your distortion you might not need a distortion pedal. But for the rest of us mere mortals, distortion pedals are crucial to modern guitar tone.
Why do I need a distortion pedal? You want to be relevant don't you? Even with large amps, like those Multi-effects Pedals above, distortion pedals play a key role in modern music. They offer flexibility that boosts and overdrives can not rival.
Fuzz
God bless Ike Turner and the Kinks. Both acts achieved their landmark tones by using abused speaker cabinets. Ike dropped his on the street walking in to Sun Records to record Rocket 88, the Kinks cut their speakers with knives or so the legends have it. No matter how they got it, their tone changed the world. Some call it distortion, some call it fuzz, however, seeing the progression from these damaged speakers to the fuzz boxes built to emulate those tones, I think its safest to call what Turner and Davies created/stumbled upon was fuzz.
Why do I need a fuzz pedal? Ya like Hendrix, don't ya? In all honesty, the fuzz pedal is seeing resurgence in popular music these days. Bands like Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Muse and the White Stripes rely heavily on classic designs on recent releases.
Compressor
The job of a compressor is to deliver an even volume output. It makes the soft parts louder, and the loud parts softer. Current country music guitar tone is driven by the use of compression.
Why do you need a compressor? Improved sustain, increased clarity during low volume playing.
Modulation
Flanger
The earliest "flanger" effects were produced in the studio by playing 2 tape decks, both playing the same sounds, while an engineer would slow down or speed up the playback of one of the dupe signals. This is how you could produce wooshing jet streams. The edge of the old school tape reels is called the flange.
Why do I need a flanger? A flanger will offer a new color to your tonal palette. You can live with out one, but you'll never get some of the nuance coloring of the Van Halen's, Pink Floyd's, or Rush's of the world.
Phase shifter
The phase shifter bridges the gap between Flanger and Chorus. Early phasers were meant to recreate the spinning speaker of a Leslie. Phase shifting's over use can be heard all over the first few Van Halen albums.
Why do I need a phase shifter? See Flangers answer.
Chorus
Chorus pedals split your signal in 2, modulates one of them by slowing it down and detuning it, then mixes it back in with the original signal. The effect is supposed to sound like several guitarists playing the same thing at the same time, resulting in a wide swelling sound, but I don't hear it. You do get a thicker more lush tone, but it doesn't sound like a chorus of players to me.
Why do I need a chorus? Because Andy Summers uses one, and Paul Raven says so... that should be good enough.
Tremolo
As a kid, did you ever play with the volume knob on the TV or the radio manically turning it up and down? Yeah? Well you were a tremolo effect.
Why do I need a tremolo pedal? 6 words for ya: The Smiths 'How Soon Is Now'
Delay
A delay pedal creates a copy of an incoming signal and slightly time-delays its replay. You can use it to create a "slap back" (single repetition) or an echo (multiple repetitions) effect. Who amongst us can't appreciate The Edges use of digital and analog delay throughout U2s career?
Why do I need a delay pedal? See Flangers answer.
Wah
A variable band-pass frequency filter... Screw all that- you know what a wah wah is... its porn music! It's Hendrix! It's Hammett. It's Wylde. It's Slash.
We know that there are a Metal Distortion Pedals offering insight to this topic, but its been our experience that they're written by engineers, not musicians... they read like microwave manuals rather than a helpful resource... Anyway... off we go.
Boost
I can't really milk more than a few lines out of this topic. It's pretty cut and dry- a boost pedal will give your signal a volume boost - or cut, depending on how you've got it set. Most boost pedals act as a master volume control allowing you a pretty wide range of use.
Why do I need a boost pedal? To bring your guitar volume up over the rest of the band during a solo, to drive your amp harder by feeding it a hotter signal, to have a set volume change at the press of a button.
Overdrive
When most guitarists talk about overdrive, they are referring to the smooth 'distortion' produced by their tube Tremolo Pedals driven to the point of breaking up. Overdrive pedals are designed to either replicate this tone (with limited success) or drive a tube amp into overdrive, creating those screaming tubes beyond what they normally would be able to do without wall shaking volume.
Why do I need an overdrive pedal? Overdrive pedals can be used as a boost pedal- so you get those inherent benefits, you'll get some added girth to your tone from the distortion created by the pedal. Most overdrive pedals have tone control giving you wider tone shaping possibilities.
Distortion
Based on our above definition of overdrive, distortion is where overdrive leaves off. In the rock guitar world think Van Halen and beyond for a clear example of distorted guitar tone. Distortion pedals often emulate high gain amps that create thick walls of sound small tube amps are not capable of creating. If you're fortunate enough to have a large Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Diezel or other monster amplifier to create your distortion you might not need a distortion pedal. But for the rest of us mere mortals, distortion pedals are crucial to modern guitar tone.
Why do I need a distortion pedal? You want to be relevant don't you? Even with large amps, like those Multi-effects Pedals above, distortion pedals play a key role in modern music. They offer flexibility that boosts and overdrives can not rival.
Fuzz
God bless Ike Turner and the Kinks. Both acts achieved their landmark tones by using abused speaker cabinets. Ike dropped his on the street walking in to Sun Records to record Rocket 88, the Kinks cut their speakers with knives or so the legends have it. No matter how they got it, their tone changed the world. Some call it distortion, some call it fuzz, however, seeing the progression from these damaged speakers to the fuzz boxes built to emulate those tones, I think its safest to call what Turner and Davies created/stumbled upon was fuzz.
Why do I need a fuzz pedal? Ya like Hendrix, don't ya? In all honesty, the fuzz pedal is seeing resurgence in popular music these days. Bands like Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Muse and the White Stripes rely heavily on classic designs on recent releases.
Compressor
The job of a compressor is to deliver an even volume output. It makes the soft parts louder, and the loud parts softer. Current country music guitar tone is driven by the use of compression.
Why do you need a compressor? Improved sustain, increased clarity during low volume playing.
Modulation
Flanger
The earliest "flanger" effects were produced in the studio by playing 2 tape decks, both playing the same sounds, while an engineer would slow down or speed up the playback of one of the dupe signals. This is how you could produce wooshing jet streams. The edge of the old school tape reels is called the flange.
Why do I need a flanger? A flanger will offer a new color to your tonal palette. You can live with out one, but you'll never get some of the nuance coloring of the Van Halen's, Pink Floyd's, or Rush's of the world.
Phase shifter
The phase shifter bridges the gap between Flanger and Chorus. Early phasers were meant to recreate the spinning speaker of a Leslie. Phase shifting's over use can be heard all over the first few Van Halen albums.
Why do I need a phase shifter? See Flangers answer.
Chorus
Chorus pedals split your signal in 2, modulates one of them by slowing it down and detuning it, then mixes it back in with the original signal. The effect is supposed to sound like several guitarists playing the same thing at the same time, resulting in a wide swelling sound, but I don't hear it. You do get a thicker more lush tone, but it doesn't sound like a chorus of players to me.
Why do I need a chorus? Because Andy Summers uses one, and Paul Raven says so... that should be good enough.
Tremolo
As a kid, did you ever play with the volume knob on the TV or the radio manically turning it up and down? Yeah? Well you were a tremolo effect.
Why do I need a tremolo pedal? 6 words for ya: The Smiths 'How Soon Is Now'
Delay
A delay pedal creates a copy of an incoming signal and slightly time-delays its replay. You can use it to create a "slap back" (single repetition) or an echo (multiple repetitions) effect. Who amongst us can't appreciate The Edges use of digital and analog delay throughout U2s career?
Why do I need a delay pedal? See Flangers answer.
Wah
A variable band-pass frequency filter... Screw all that- you know what a wah wah is... its porn music! It's Hendrix! It's Hammett. It's Wylde. It's Slash.
2013/11/27
6 Of The Most Popular Guitar Effects Pedals Explained
Flanger Pedals, which are also called stomp boxes, are
used by the musician to change the sound of their guitar. Stomp boxes
get their name because of the "stomping" action needed to make the
effect work. When the pedals are off, you are playing with the guitars
clean (unaffected signal) sound coming out of your amp. When you step on
it to turn it on, the signal that goes to the pedals are changed
creating the desired effect.
You can also connect more that one effects pedal to your guitar. Simply use patch cables (short cables) to connect them to each other using the imput and output jacks. You can individually control which effects you want on and off at any time just by turning (stomping) them on or off. When a pedal is off, the signal will bypass it and go through anyone that is turned on.
For the best possible sound, you should place your gain and tone based effects at the beginning of your line of pedals. Gain and tone based effects include distortion, volume, wah and EQ. Next you should put the pedals that change the pitch or color of your sound. Then at the end of your chain, you can put the pedals that affect your timing such as delay, reverb and flanger.
If you accumulate a large amount of effects pedals, you can keep them all organized and protected by using a pedal board. Pedal boards are basically a flat board that all of your pedals can be placed on all connected together. You can even get them with covers, transformers and power cables to make it a breeze to pack up and move from gig to gig.
One thing to be aware of is that connecting too many pedals together can cause a lot of humming and unwanted noise. To fix this problem a noise gate pedal can be used.
With so many different types of Boost Pedals on the market today, I couldn't possibly list them all. So I'm doing the next best thing and will explain some of the more popular ones.
Distortion:
Distortion is used in many popular musical genres especially metal, rock and hard rock. The distortion pedals job is to clip the signal, giving it's distorted sound.
Chorus:
Chorus pedals give you a thick and lush sound by duplicating your original sound; adding some delay to it and then mixing it back with your original signal. This ends up making your guitar sound like a bunch of guitars or a "chorus of guitars" if you will.
Flanger:
Just like the Chorus pedal, the Flanger duplicates the signal, adds a short delay and then mixes it back with your original signal. The difference here is that the Flanger's delay includes several repeats that get longer and shorter at a steady rate. This produces a thicker sound compared to the Chorus pedal.
Wah-wha:
The Wah-wha pedal kind of looks like your cars gas pedal and you rock this pedal back and forth to allow lower and higher frequencies to pass though. This then produces the "wah-wah" sound. Jimi Hendrix in the late 60's and funk music in the 70's made this effect famous.
Reverb:
The Reverb effect emulates natural acoustic spaces by producing an echo making your tone sound like it's being played in a big concert hall.
Talk Box:
Last but not least is the Talk Box. The Talk Box pedal has a small speaker in it that plays the signal loudly up an airtight small plastic tube. This tube is taped to the side of the microphone where it sticks out just enough to be able to send the sound into the AB-Selectors Pedals mouth. The guitar player then makes shapes with their mouth to change the sound, which is then picked up by the microphone. Many performers have used the Talk Box over the years but one of the most famous was Peter Frampton who used it on his song "Do You Feel Like We Do" off his Frampton Comes Alive record.
Hope you have enjoyed my explanations of some of the guitar effects pedals that are out there. This is just a small fraction of the effects that are available to you. A good tip would be for you to do a little research on some of your favorite guitar players and find out what effects they use that give them "their sound" the most. For example if you were into hard rock or heavy metal, it would be a good idea to start off with a distortion pedal. Rock On!
You can also connect more that one effects pedal to your guitar. Simply use patch cables (short cables) to connect them to each other using the imput and output jacks. You can individually control which effects you want on and off at any time just by turning (stomping) them on or off. When a pedal is off, the signal will bypass it and go through anyone that is turned on.
For the best possible sound, you should place your gain and tone based effects at the beginning of your line of pedals. Gain and tone based effects include distortion, volume, wah and EQ. Next you should put the pedals that change the pitch or color of your sound. Then at the end of your chain, you can put the pedals that affect your timing such as delay, reverb and flanger.
If you accumulate a large amount of effects pedals, you can keep them all organized and protected by using a pedal board. Pedal boards are basically a flat board that all of your pedals can be placed on all connected together. You can even get them with covers, transformers and power cables to make it a breeze to pack up and move from gig to gig.
One thing to be aware of is that connecting too many pedals together can cause a lot of humming and unwanted noise. To fix this problem a noise gate pedal can be used.
With so many different types of Boost Pedals on the market today, I couldn't possibly list them all. So I'm doing the next best thing and will explain some of the more popular ones.
Distortion:
Distortion is used in many popular musical genres especially metal, rock and hard rock. The distortion pedals job is to clip the signal, giving it's distorted sound.
Chorus:
Chorus pedals give you a thick and lush sound by duplicating your original sound; adding some delay to it and then mixing it back with your original signal. This ends up making your guitar sound like a bunch of guitars or a "chorus of guitars" if you will.
Flanger:
Just like the Chorus pedal, the Flanger duplicates the signal, adds a short delay and then mixes it back with your original signal. The difference here is that the Flanger's delay includes several repeats that get longer and shorter at a steady rate. This produces a thicker sound compared to the Chorus pedal.
Wah-wha:
The Wah-wha pedal kind of looks like your cars gas pedal and you rock this pedal back and forth to allow lower and higher frequencies to pass though. This then produces the "wah-wah" sound. Jimi Hendrix in the late 60's and funk music in the 70's made this effect famous.
Reverb:
The Reverb effect emulates natural acoustic spaces by producing an echo making your tone sound like it's being played in a big concert hall.
Talk Box:
Last but not least is the Talk Box. The Talk Box pedal has a small speaker in it that plays the signal loudly up an airtight small plastic tube. This tube is taped to the side of the microphone where it sticks out just enough to be able to send the sound into the AB-Selectors Pedals mouth. The guitar player then makes shapes with their mouth to change the sound, which is then picked up by the microphone. Many performers have used the Talk Box over the years but one of the most famous was Peter Frampton who used it on his song "Do You Feel Like We Do" off his Frampton Comes Alive record.
Hope you have enjoyed my explanations of some of the guitar effects pedals that are out there. This is just a small fraction of the effects that are available to you. A good tip would be for you to do a little research on some of your favorite guitar players and find out what effects they use that give them "their sound" the most. For example if you were into hard rock or heavy metal, it would be a good idea to start off with a distortion pedal. Rock On!
2013/11/26
Don't Make A DIY Pedal Board Case
Why making your own case is a bad idea
Would you make your own case for your guitar?... Would you make your own case for your amp? Probably not and why not? Because they are expensive, easily damaged and they are valuable to you, that's why you invest in a case that will keep it in good condition. So why would you make a DIY pedal board case instead of investing in a quality soft case?
I have spent the time reading about various guitarists/bassist who are trying to or looking for advice on making their own DIY pedal board case. As you probably know, musical equipment is expensive and you don't want to repair it too often, this includes effects pedals, which on average range from $100 - $400 per pedal. If you have half a dozen pedals in your set up, that's worth a bit of money.
It amazes me that people spend hundreds of dollars buying effects pedals for their guitar/bass and then they do not want to buy a proper case that will protect it, instead they try to make their own DIY pedal board case for it and if this is not made correctly, it can end up damaging their pedals. If you just got a brand new Gibson you wouldn't try making a case for it would you?you would just invest in a case that would keep it in mint condition!
Alternative Cases
From what I have read, one of the main reasons musicians try to make their own DIY pedal board case is because its cheaper. However, if you take into consideration the price of buying all the materials and spending the time trying to make a DIY pedal board case, a quality soft case/gig bag would not be much more expensive and it would give far better protection and security for your pedals. Unlike a DIY pedal board case a soft case is much more durable, easy to transport around and you wont be worrying about fixing your case all the time, as it will probably break often
If you are still considering making a DIY pedal Board Case, I would suggest that you spend some time researching the internet for other options before you decide. Although you may have the ability to construct your own case from scratch, it will probably not be anywhere near as good as a case made by a professional company like Gater, Pedaltrain, Odyssey etc.
What I use
I use a 24" Gater soft case for my boss GT8 and I have used it for the past year. I gig most weekends and it's still does a great job, no complaints! I would strongly recommend investing in a quality soft case to protect your pedals because lets face it they don't come cheap and its well worth protecting them in the long run, to prolong their life and keep them in mint condition so you can re-sell them.
Would you make your own case for your guitar?... Would you make your own case for your amp? Probably not and why not? Because they are expensive, easily damaged and they are valuable to you, that's why you invest in a case that will keep it in good condition. So why would you make a DIY pedal board case instead of investing in a quality soft case?
I have spent the time reading about various guitarists/bassist who are trying to or looking for advice on making their own DIY pedal board case. As you probably know, musical equipment is expensive and you don't want to repair it too often, this includes effects pedals, which on average range from $100 - $400 per pedal. If you have half a dozen pedals in your set up, that's worth a bit of money.
It amazes me that people spend hundreds of dollars buying effects pedals for their guitar/bass and then they do not want to buy a proper case that will protect it, instead they try to make their own DIY pedal board case for it and if this is not made correctly, it can end up damaging their pedals. If you just got a brand new Gibson you wouldn't try making a case for it would you?you would just invest in a case that would keep it in mint condition!
Alternative Cases
From what I have read, one of the main reasons musicians try to make their own DIY pedal board case is because its cheaper. However, if you take into consideration the price of buying all the materials and spending the time trying to make a DIY pedal board case, a quality soft case/gig bag would not be much more expensive and it would give far better protection and security for your pedals. Unlike a DIY pedal board case a soft case is much more durable, easy to transport around and you wont be worrying about fixing your case all the time, as it will probably break often
If you are still considering making a DIY pedal Board Case, I would suggest that you spend some time researching the internet for other options before you decide. Although you may have the ability to construct your own case from scratch, it will probably not be anywhere near as good as a case made by a professional company like Gater, Pedaltrain, Odyssey etc.
What I use
I use a 24" Gater soft case for my boss GT8 and I have used it for the past year. I gig most weekends and it's still does a great job, no complaints! I would strongly recommend investing in a quality soft case to protect your pedals because lets face it they don't come cheap and its well worth protecting them in the long run, to prolong their life and keep them in mint condition so you can re-sell them.
2013/11/25
Description of the Different Types of Effect Pedals
Electric guitarist seldom just use the amp along and play, they
make use of different types of effects to make good music. Some effects
that i will talk about include distortion, chorus, phase shifter, pitch
shifter, digital delay, wah-wah pedal, reverb and tremolo. A good multi
effects pedal brand is ZOOM.
Distortion
This effect makes the sound driven too hard for the amp. Most guitarist will make use of this effect because it creates a musical pleasing way. Distortion can be anything from fuzzy to a screaming chain-saw fuzz used by bands who play metal.
Chorus
This effect makes the overall sound sound fatter, which sounds like the sound of many guitarist playing all at one time.
Phrase Shifter
This effect allows you to play in harmony alone through splitting the signal into two paths. It is really useful when practicing a song alone as it allows you to play in harmony.
Digital delay
This device produces a repetition of the sound, just like echoes. It also created rhythmically timed repeats of the notes you play. One famous band that uses this is Guns N' Roses.
Wah-wah pedal
This effect plays with the frequency. You can control the sound by raising and lowering the pedal. The world famous dragonforce makes use of this pedal to make all sorts of weird sounds.
Reverb
This effect reproduces the natural echo sound produced. It is sometimes included in amps. While the ones include in amps are not bad, having reverb as a separate will give you more variety and control.
Tremolo
Similar to reverb, it is included in many amps. Tremolo is the rapid wavering of the volume that makes your guitar sound as if you are playing it through a slowly moving electric fan.
Distortion
This effect makes the sound driven too hard for the amp. Most guitarist will make use of this effect because it creates a musical pleasing way. Distortion can be anything from fuzzy to a screaming chain-saw fuzz used by bands who play metal.
Chorus
This effect makes the overall sound sound fatter, which sounds like the sound of many guitarist playing all at one time.
Phrase Shifter
This effect allows you to play in harmony alone through splitting the signal into two paths. It is really useful when practicing a song alone as it allows you to play in harmony.
Digital delay
This device produces a repetition of the sound, just like echoes. It also created rhythmically timed repeats of the notes you play. One famous band that uses this is Guns N' Roses.
Wah-wah pedal
This effect plays with the frequency. You can control the sound by raising and lowering the pedal. The world famous dragonforce makes use of this pedal to make all sorts of weird sounds.
Reverb
This effect reproduces the natural echo sound produced. It is sometimes included in amps. While the ones include in amps are not bad, having reverb as a separate will give you more variety and control.
Tremolo
Similar to reverb, it is included in many amps. Tremolo is the rapid wavering of the volume that makes your guitar sound as if you are playing it through a slowly moving electric fan.
2013/11/24
Recreating Lindsey Buckingham's Signature Sounds - Big Lovea
One of the less well known guitarists of the last entry is
Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac. Newer guitarists may not be
familiar with Buckingham, but his style and sound inspired several
generations of guitarists. He's probably most well known for hist
signing, songwriting and production skills, but his guitar playing was
instrumental in Fleetwood Mac's success, so it's worth taking a look at.
I'm going to take a look at his sound and give you an idea of the kind
of setup that's required to reproduce some of his signature sounds.
The first thing that makes Buckingham so unique is the fact that he uses a fingerpicking style. Originally a Banjo player, Lindsey Buckingham made the transition to guitar, and his virtuoso performances are a signature sound of Fleetwood Mac. Buckingham plays bass lines with his thumb while he uses the other fingers to voice melodies and sweeping arpeggios. The resultant music is truly original and inspiring.
Looking at his setup, one thing that you'll notice is that he has a truly unique axe. His Turner electric is not a guitar that has much fame, outside of Lindsey Buckingham. It's shape, distinctly violin like, is one of the most unique features of the guitar. You will also find Buckingham playing an acoustic on various tracks. There's nothing especially important to be said about his acoustic, other than the way he plays the instrument.
There's one performance in specific that I'd like to analyze. During one particular Fleetwood Mac reunion, back in 1997, Buckingham performed the song "Big Love", playing a Gibson Chet Atkins sold-body nylon string guitar. The reason that I've chosen this one is because of the unique sound that he got using that particular guitar. You can actually recreate this sound, even if you don't have this particular axe. Using your acoustic electric guitar, I will show you how to simulate this sound using your guitar and a few simple effects.
In order to simulate this sound, you're going to need delay and reverb. If you have an amp with these effects built in, that will do just fine. For the delay time, you're going to want to set it around 125 milliseconds. You'll need to be able to adjust the blend on the delay, adjusting it to be mostly the direct signal. This is important because when you're soloing and playing intricate melodies, you don't want the delayed notes muddying down the sound you're trying to create. If you're using a delay unit, such as those built in to some amplifiers, that only allows you to adjust the delay time by tapping a button, you may find it difficult to get the exact sound that I'm trying to teach. You can play around with the settings to see if you can get a sound that's similar or just use this guide as a way to get ideas for new sounds.
Another adjustment that you may want to consider, if you have a nice delay, is to roll off some of the high end from the delayed signal. Again, this is to make sure that your original notes really sing through. As for your reverb, you're going to want to reduce the size of the room to around 35 percent. If you're not allowed to change the room size, don't worry, just know this is going to be more of a creative exercise for you, rather than an all out recreation of the original sounds of Buckingham. Finally, you're going to want to roll out a good bit of the midrange from your amplifier (or board if you're going directly into one). This is going to keep things crisp and clear when you're really laying on the notes.
While using built in effects are limiting, you can get a unique sound using this guide. For those with a nice effects board or pedals that allow them to adjust all of these settings, you'll find a deep airy sound is the result of these settings. This is great to add some depth to a track where the main guitar part is played on an acoustic. If you haven't heard the version of "Big Love" that I'm talking about, get on the net and look for videos or recordings from the '97 Fleetwood Mac reunion show. It's truly worth your time & is a great performance! Good luck & happy guitarring!
The first thing that makes Buckingham so unique is the fact that he uses a fingerpicking style. Originally a Banjo player, Lindsey Buckingham made the transition to guitar, and his virtuoso performances are a signature sound of Fleetwood Mac. Buckingham plays bass lines with his thumb while he uses the other fingers to voice melodies and sweeping arpeggios. The resultant music is truly original and inspiring.
Looking at his setup, one thing that you'll notice is that he has a truly unique axe. His Turner electric is not a guitar that has much fame, outside of Lindsey Buckingham. It's shape, distinctly violin like, is one of the most unique features of the guitar. You will also find Buckingham playing an acoustic on various tracks. There's nothing especially important to be said about his acoustic, other than the way he plays the instrument.
There's one performance in specific that I'd like to analyze. During one particular Fleetwood Mac reunion, back in 1997, Buckingham performed the song "Big Love", playing a Gibson Chet Atkins sold-body nylon string guitar. The reason that I've chosen this one is because of the unique sound that he got using that particular guitar. You can actually recreate this sound, even if you don't have this particular axe. Using your acoustic electric guitar, I will show you how to simulate this sound using your guitar and a few simple effects.
In order to simulate this sound, you're going to need delay and reverb. If you have an amp with these effects built in, that will do just fine. For the delay time, you're going to want to set it around 125 milliseconds. You'll need to be able to adjust the blend on the delay, adjusting it to be mostly the direct signal. This is important because when you're soloing and playing intricate melodies, you don't want the delayed notes muddying down the sound you're trying to create. If you're using a delay unit, such as those built in to some amplifiers, that only allows you to adjust the delay time by tapping a button, you may find it difficult to get the exact sound that I'm trying to teach. You can play around with the settings to see if you can get a sound that's similar or just use this guide as a way to get ideas for new sounds.
Another adjustment that you may want to consider, if you have a nice delay, is to roll off some of the high end from the delayed signal. Again, this is to make sure that your original notes really sing through. As for your reverb, you're going to want to reduce the size of the room to around 35 percent. If you're not allowed to change the room size, don't worry, just know this is going to be more of a creative exercise for you, rather than an all out recreation of the original sounds of Buckingham. Finally, you're going to want to roll out a good bit of the midrange from your amplifier (or board if you're going directly into one). This is going to keep things crisp and clear when you're really laying on the notes.
While using built in effects are limiting, you can get a unique sound using this guide. For those with a nice effects board or pedals that allow them to adjust all of these settings, you'll find a deep airy sound is the result of these settings. This is great to add some depth to a track where the main guitar part is played on an acoustic. If you haven't heard the version of "Big Love" that I'm talking about, get on the net and look for videos or recordings from the '97 Fleetwood Mac reunion show. It's truly worth your time & is a great performance! Good luck & happy guitarring!
2013/11/21
Confused by Guitar Effects: Clean/Boost, Compressor, Distortion, Overdrive, Fuzz?
There are so many guitar effects pedals on the market and it is
hard to know what the difference is between them. Categorizing effects
pedals has been difficult. There has been little consensus on how to do
this. There are six common classifications: Dynamics, time based, tone,
filter, pitch/frequency, and feedback/sustain. This article will focus
on the Dynamics Classification and the Tone Classification.
Dynamics Classification: Clean Boost/Volume Pedal, Compressor Pedal, microphone amplifier.
Clean Boost/Volume Pedal; Amplifies the volume of an instrument by increasing some aspect of its electrical signal output. These types of effects are usually used for "boosting" volume during solos and preventing signal loss in long "effects chains"
Examples: Fender Volume pedal, Dunlop MXR Amp effect, Visual Sound True Tone Clean Boost
Compressor Pedals; stabilize volume and smooths a note by dampening its onset and amplifying its sustain. Compression is achieved by varying the strength of a signal to ensure volume stays within a specific dynamic range.
Examples: Dunlop's MXR custom Comp pedal, Erockson Compressor/Sustain pedal, Boss CS-3, Aguilar TLC Compressor, BBE Benchpress pedal.
Microphone Preamplifier or "preamp"; Increases a microphones low voltage output to levels that can be picked up and used by equipment such as mixing consoles and headphones.
Tone Classification: Distortion, Overdrive, Fuzz, Lo-Fi
Distortion and Overdrive; distort the tone by adding "overtones" creating different sounds such as "warm" "dirty" "gritty" types. Distortion effects produce the same amount of distortion at any volume. Overdrive units produce "clean" sounds at a lower volume and distorted sounds at louder volumes.
Examples: BBE GreenScreamer, Dunlop MXR Distortion III, MXR custom GT overdrive, Dunlop Zakk Wylde Overdrive Pedal, BOSS Bass Overdrive, Pigtronix Aria Distortion pedal, Pigtronix Disnortion, Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde Ultimate Overdrive, and Route 66 American Overdrive.
Fuzz Pedal or " Fuzzbox"; A type of overdrive pedal that clips a sound-wave until it is nearly a square wave resulting in a heavily distorted or "fuzzy" sound. The Rolling Stones greatly popularized the use of fuzz effects.
Examples: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff, Visual Sound Angry Fuzz Octave, Boss Fuzz, Dunlop MXR Blue Box Octave Fuzz.
Boost, Compression, Distortion and Fuzz are the most popular class of effects. Usually, if a guitarist only owns one pedal, it is one of these. Many musicians have several of these types and use two or three at a time to get the many different sounds that make music so wonderful!
Dynamics Classification: Clean Boost/Volume Pedal, Compressor Pedal, microphone amplifier.
Clean Boost/Volume Pedal; Amplifies the volume of an instrument by increasing some aspect of its electrical signal output. These types of effects are usually used for "boosting" volume during solos and preventing signal loss in long "effects chains"
Examples: Fender Volume pedal, Dunlop MXR Amp effect, Visual Sound True Tone Clean Boost
Compressor Pedals; stabilize volume and smooths a note by dampening its onset and amplifying its sustain. Compression is achieved by varying the strength of a signal to ensure volume stays within a specific dynamic range.
Examples: Dunlop's MXR custom Comp pedal, Erockson Compressor/Sustain pedal, Boss CS-3, Aguilar TLC Compressor, BBE Benchpress pedal.
Microphone Preamplifier or "preamp"; Increases a microphones low voltage output to levels that can be picked up and used by equipment such as mixing consoles and headphones.
Tone Classification: Distortion, Overdrive, Fuzz, Lo-Fi
Distortion and Overdrive; distort the tone by adding "overtones" creating different sounds such as "warm" "dirty" "gritty" types. Distortion effects produce the same amount of distortion at any volume. Overdrive units produce "clean" sounds at a lower volume and distorted sounds at louder volumes.
Examples: BBE GreenScreamer, Dunlop MXR Distortion III, MXR custom GT overdrive, Dunlop Zakk Wylde Overdrive Pedal, BOSS Bass Overdrive, Pigtronix Aria Distortion pedal, Pigtronix Disnortion, Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde Ultimate Overdrive, and Route 66 American Overdrive.
Fuzz Pedal or " Fuzzbox"; A type of overdrive pedal that clips a sound-wave until it is nearly a square wave resulting in a heavily distorted or "fuzzy" sound. The Rolling Stones greatly popularized the use of fuzz effects.
Examples: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff, Visual Sound Angry Fuzz Octave, Boss Fuzz, Dunlop MXR Blue Box Octave Fuzz.
Boost, Compression, Distortion and Fuzz are the most popular class of effects. Usually, if a guitarist only owns one pedal, it is one of these. Many musicians have several of these types and use two or three at a time to get the many different sounds that make music so wonderful!
2013/11/20
Single or Multi Effect Guitar Pedals: Which Is Best?
The common argument is "multi effects sound harsh and digital". This may be true with some older models, however, with the right setup, the latest units can produce sounds equally organic and soul-full as most single effects pedals.
If you spend some time on the guitar forums, and review pages, you will find countless opinions on what is better - Multi effect units, or individual effects pedals. The actual choice in the finish comes together with your ear.
Line 6 is also known for their amp modeling expertise which they include in their multi effects such as the Floor Pod And, HD500, and Pod X3 Live. Several of these pedals also now include XLR in/outs and vocal effects to let you run a microphone through the unit in to a PA. It is all about generating versatility!
The latest Digitech units for example (RP-500, RP-1000) feature an amp bypass capability, defeating the internal amplifiers and cabinet models, giving you a straight up stompbox pedal board. A pedal board that features every pedal known to man, without any cables!
I personally use the RP-500 through a 70's Fender Twin Reverb, and it sounds great! This goes against everything I read about multi effect pedals before I bought it. I also owned a wide selection of single effect pedals including the BBE Soul Vibe, Boss Blues Driver, Dunlop Cry Kid Wah, etc... All of them sounded great in their own right, but I can basically duplicate all these sounds, and more with the RP-500. You can also take it to the next level by jogging it to amps in stereo for an fabulous, lush sound, only available to the professionals in the recent past.
If you spend some time on the guitar forums, and review pages, you will find countless opinions on what is better - Multi effect units, or individual effects pedals. The actual choice in the finish comes together with your ear.
Line 6 is also known for their amp modeling expertise which they include in their multi effects such as the Floor Pod And, HD500, and Pod X3 Live. Several of these pedals also now include XLR in/outs and vocal effects to let you run a microphone through the unit in to a PA. It is all about generating versatility!
The latest Digitech units for example (RP-500, RP-1000) feature an amp bypass capability, defeating the internal amplifiers and cabinet models, giving you a straight up stompbox pedal board. A pedal board that features every pedal known to man, without any cables!
I personally use the RP-500 through a 70's Fender Twin Reverb, and it sounds great! This goes against everything I read about multi effect pedals before I bought it. I also owned a wide selection of single effect pedals including the BBE Soul Vibe, Boss Blues Driver, Dunlop Cry Kid Wah, etc... All of them sounded great in their own right, but I can basically duplicate all these sounds, and more with the RP-500. You can also take it to the next level by jogging it to amps in stereo for an fabulous, lush sound, only available to the professionals in the recent past.
2013/11/19
4 Reasons Why Ear Plugs Will Improve Your Rockstar Vocals
Everyone wants to be a rocker these days and everyone wants to
step in front of the microphone. Some people actually do it. They get
the courage, the practice, the gigs, and then they unleash their
rockstar vocals.
However, most untrained singers have a difficult time identifying pitch and balance within a band. It's not really common sense so you shouldn't expect to be an expert on it.
However, wearing ear plugs during shows, rehearsals, and performances can do wonders. Ear plugs are simple, yet awesome and I have four reasons why you should wear them the next time you perform.
1. You'll learn better pitch.
Immediately, this is a very good thing. Every good singer should sing in pitch. It's like saying every good batter should be able to hit the ball. So, why are you going to develop better pitch for your rockstar vocals? Because you can hear yourself now.
Have you ever noticed how much clearer your voice is when you plug one ear? Plug both of them and see what happens. This is a natural reverberation that happens inside your skull. Take advantage of this. Soon, you'll be hearing the pitches exactly as the audience does. Hopefully, you'll find out that you're not that far off.
2. Hearing other instruments is easier.
Whenever I suggest ear plugs to musicians sometimes I get responses like "I can't hear anybody" and "Everything is too soft now." This is just baloney. The reason things appear that way is because your ears are not used to them. It's like turning out the lights after you've been staring at a radiating bulb. You're gonna see those harsh light circles for awhile.
If you wear ear plugs from now on, at each band rehearsal, your ears will adjust, and you'll begin to notice the real melodies of the instruments and not the piercing white noise from too much distortion on guitars. After your ears have adjusted you can let your rockstar vocals cut through, creating a much rounder, balanced sound.
3. You won't lose your voice as often or ever again.
Losing your voice shouldn't be an option for a singer. Your body is telling you that you're doing something wrong. You're pushing your rockstar vocals way to hard. If you wear your ear plugs, you can develop a much better attuned awareness of how much effort you're exerting when you perform. It's due to that inner reverberation I mentioned before.
This also helps when you happen to perform in a club or bar with bad monitors. With your naked ears, you may not hear so good, so you overcompensate and kill your voice. Wear your ear plugs and you'll realize just how much effort you really need to give to have rockstar vocals.
4. You won't lose your hearing.
This is the most obvious reason to wear ear plugs. Sure, wearing them is going to help your awareness of your own voice. However, your hearing is equally if not more important than your voice. Have you ever come home from a band rehearsal, or club, or rock show and heard that constant ringing in your ears? That means you've experienced hearing loss.
I'm not saying you're deaf now, but I am saying if your hearing was split into 100,000 partitions, every time you heard that ringing that means you lost between 50 to 100 partitions each time.
Do your ears and your rockstar vocals a favor and get some plugs.
I know for a fact that I've lost quite a bit of my hearing since I neglected to wear ear plugs when I first got into rock bands. I also know that my singing was pretty terrible.
Wearing your ear plugs is going to help develop better pitch, hear your band mates clearer, strengthen your rockstar vocals, and save your hearing.
If you happen to catch my band perform sometime, check my ears. I wear ear plugs every time and they're blue. That's for the ladies.
However, most untrained singers have a difficult time identifying pitch and balance within a band. It's not really common sense so you shouldn't expect to be an expert on it.
However, wearing ear plugs during shows, rehearsals, and performances can do wonders. Ear plugs are simple, yet awesome and I have four reasons why you should wear them the next time you perform.
1. You'll learn better pitch.
Immediately, this is a very good thing. Every good singer should sing in pitch. It's like saying every good batter should be able to hit the ball. So, why are you going to develop better pitch for your rockstar vocals? Because you can hear yourself now.
Have you ever noticed how much clearer your voice is when you plug one ear? Plug both of them and see what happens. This is a natural reverberation that happens inside your skull. Take advantage of this. Soon, you'll be hearing the pitches exactly as the audience does. Hopefully, you'll find out that you're not that far off.
2. Hearing other instruments is easier.
Whenever I suggest ear plugs to musicians sometimes I get responses like "I can't hear anybody" and "Everything is too soft now." This is just baloney. The reason things appear that way is because your ears are not used to them. It's like turning out the lights after you've been staring at a radiating bulb. You're gonna see those harsh light circles for awhile.
If you wear ear plugs from now on, at each band rehearsal, your ears will adjust, and you'll begin to notice the real melodies of the instruments and not the piercing white noise from too much distortion on guitars. After your ears have adjusted you can let your rockstar vocals cut through, creating a much rounder, balanced sound.
3. You won't lose your voice as often or ever again.
Losing your voice shouldn't be an option for a singer. Your body is telling you that you're doing something wrong. You're pushing your rockstar vocals way to hard. If you wear your ear plugs, you can develop a much better attuned awareness of how much effort you're exerting when you perform. It's due to that inner reverberation I mentioned before.
This also helps when you happen to perform in a club or bar with bad monitors. With your naked ears, you may not hear so good, so you overcompensate and kill your voice. Wear your ear plugs and you'll realize just how much effort you really need to give to have rockstar vocals.
4. You won't lose your hearing.
This is the most obvious reason to wear ear plugs. Sure, wearing them is going to help your awareness of your own voice. However, your hearing is equally if not more important than your voice. Have you ever come home from a band rehearsal, or club, or rock show and heard that constant ringing in your ears? That means you've experienced hearing loss.
I'm not saying you're deaf now, but I am saying if your hearing was split into 100,000 partitions, every time you heard that ringing that means you lost between 50 to 100 partitions each time.
Do your ears and your rockstar vocals a favor and get some plugs.
I know for a fact that I've lost quite a bit of my hearing since I neglected to wear ear plugs when I first got into rock bands. I also know that my singing was pretty terrible.
Wearing your ear plugs is going to help develop better pitch, hear your band mates clearer, strengthen your rockstar vocals, and save your hearing.
If you happen to catch my band perform sometime, check my ears. I wear ear plugs every time and they're blue. That's for the ladies.
2013/11/18
Guitar Multi Effect Pedals: Finding Your Sound With Pedal
Like they always say, you get what you pay for. Except in this case, you get more.
saying "multi effect pedal" a few years ago would have got you thrown out of most bands, but oh, how times have changed. My first guitar multi effects pedal was the Zoom 505. Honestly, it was a piece of hissing, digital shite, but it made me recognize the potential that lay there within its cheap, semi-transparent blue housing. I actually brought it to of my band practices, & I can tell you, that pedal combined with the roaring power of a cranked, 70's Fender Twin Reverb was painful to say the least, for my band mates. So I returned to my "snake pit", home-made pedal board consiting of the usual guitar pedals (distortion, tuner, delay...).
Then, last year I started researching new guitar pedals on the net, & found a new opinion developing regarding multi effect pedals. Experienced guitarists, with a massive collection of expensive, boutique single effects pedals were beginning to sing the praises of multi pedals by brands like Digitech, Line 6 & Boss. Either these players had reached an advanced stage of hearing loss, or they liked these multi effect pedals!
With this thought in mind, I did some research on single effect pedal prices. I picked 9 of my favourite single effects, that are also produced by most new multi effect pedals, & priced them out. This is what I found:
I was surprised with reviews of the new Digitech RP line of pedals (RP500, RP1000). Guitarists were going off about how great the sound was, the quality of the effects, & the ease of use. None of these qualities had historicallyin the past been associated with a multi effects pedal. These pedals (& others by Line 6 & Boss), have such a wide palette of great sounding effects, that its hard to understand why you would buy single guitar effects any more.
This would give you a impressive pedal board! in size. My elderly pedal board had half this lots of effects, & it was a beast to deal with. You would be taking a look at 11 patch cables, 9 power connections, & the board itself.
Dunlop Crybaby 535Q multi wah: $125.44 Visual Sound Volume Pedal: $139.95 Proco Rat Distortion: $67.49 Boss CH1 Tremendous Chorus: $89.00 Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb: $129.99 Boss DD7 Digital Delay: $169.00 Boss RC-2 Loop station: $189.00 Boss TU-2 Tuner: $99.00 MXR M-102 Compressor: $69.95 Total cost: $1077.83
I now own the Digitech RP500. It's all of these effects built in, with a total of 125 effects, a looper, all metal construction, & stereo output. But honestly, the best thing of all is its ability to close off all digital modeling, & basically become a pedal board. This feature, through my elderly Fender Twin Reverb tube amp sounds awesome. Better than any single pedal, or combination thereof I have ever owned. The only thing that sounds better than my RP500/Twin Reverb combo, is an RP500 through Twin reverbs in stereo! Immense, lush, shimmering sound. All that, for $300 bucks (the pedal that is).
So if your looking for a single, or multi effect pedal, do your research. Despite their digital sounding names, the latest in multi effect pedals can produce brilliant sounds, at a reasonable cost. They basically let you explore more creative sound ideas.
saying "multi effect pedal" a few years ago would have got you thrown out of most bands, but oh, how times have changed. My first guitar multi effects pedal was the Zoom 505. Honestly, it was a piece of hissing, digital shite, but it made me recognize the potential that lay there within its cheap, semi-transparent blue housing. I actually brought it to of my band practices, & I can tell you, that pedal combined with the roaring power of a cranked, 70's Fender Twin Reverb was painful to say the least, for my band mates. So I returned to my "snake pit", home-made pedal board consiting of the usual guitar pedals (distortion, tuner, delay...).
Then, last year I started researching new guitar pedals on the net, & found a new opinion developing regarding multi effect pedals. Experienced guitarists, with a massive collection of expensive, boutique single effects pedals were beginning to sing the praises of multi pedals by brands like Digitech, Line 6 & Boss. Either these players had reached an advanced stage of hearing loss, or they liked these multi effect pedals!
With this thought in mind, I did some research on single effect pedal prices. I picked 9 of my favourite single effects, that are also produced by most new multi effect pedals, & priced them out. This is what I found:
I was surprised with reviews of the new Digitech RP line of pedals (RP500, RP1000). Guitarists were going off about how great the sound was, the quality of the effects, & the ease of use. None of these qualities had historicallyin the past been associated with a multi effects pedal. These pedals (& others by Line 6 & Boss), have such a wide palette of great sounding effects, that its hard to understand why you would buy single guitar effects any more.
This would give you a impressive pedal board! in size. My elderly pedal board had half this lots of effects, & it was a beast to deal with. You would be taking a look at 11 patch cables, 9 power connections, & the board itself.
Dunlop Crybaby 535Q multi wah: $125.44 Visual Sound Volume Pedal: $139.95 Proco Rat Distortion: $67.49 Boss CH1 Tremendous Chorus: $89.00 Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb: $129.99 Boss DD7 Digital Delay: $169.00 Boss RC-2 Loop station: $189.00 Boss TU-2 Tuner: $99.00 MXR M-102 Compressor: $69.95 Total cost: $1077.83
I now own the Digitech RP500. It's all of these effects built in, with a total of 125 effects, a looper, all metal construction, & stereo output. But honestly, the best thing of all is its ability to close off all digital modeling, & basically become a pedal board. This feature, through my elderly Fender Twin Reverb tube amp sounds awesome. Better than any single pedal, or combination thereof I have ever owned. The only thing that sounds better than my RP500/Twin Reverb combo, is an RP500 through Twin reverbs in stereo! Immense, lush, shimmering sound. All that, for $300 bucks (the pedal that is).
So if your looking for a single, or multi effect pedal, do your research. Despite their digital sounding names, the latest in multi effect pedals can produce brilliant sounds, at a reasonable cost. They basically let you explore more creative sound ideas.
2013/11/17
Finding the Perfect Guitar Tuner
In the dark ages, musicians had only one choice for tuning their instrument. The tuning fork was all they needed to get the guitar sounding right. We too often think that our fancy electronics make things easier, when in fact they can do the opposite. When relying on a device to 'listen for you' it gets easier to become lazy in our critical hearing skills. The tuning fork has no visual feedback, which forces the guitarist to listen intensely. This is the missing link between becoming a better player.
We now live in modern world with about a million guitar tuners to choose from. From big boxes to tiny clamp on devices and even suction based tuners. If your a live musician, it may be best to use one that is discreet and easy to access in a loud environment. I tend to use the clamp on tuners when traveling but at home may even use the built in tuner in Pro Tools. Adventurous types may opt for a chromatic tuner, which allows for access to every single note. Going even deeper are those who stray from the standard 440 tuning. Modern research has found that tuning everything to 432 can bring healing frequencies to the listener. Many of those hit songs from the 60s and 70s used this tuning across every instrument. You may also want to try 425 which is great for drones.
Regardless of which guitar tuner you choose, it's important to also get a simple tuning fork. I try to always keep one of these in D and E. This will keep your ears laser sharp and aware of the slightest changes. This does require a quiet room but you'll be a better listener for it. Even when using a modern electronic tuner, you can be aware of the aural disconnect. It kind of goes without saying, but be sure and have some fresh backup batteries. This can be a lifesaver in live or studio situations. If you are flat broke, there is still a free solution. Some have gone to great lengths to create a free online guitar tuner that can be accessed from anywhere. This means that your smartphone, tablet or laptop can be used as a tuner. The tuner is currently a flash based app but will soon be HTML5.
Best of all, this online tuner forces you to listen and get it right. After tuning by ear, try and follow up with a digital tuner to see how close you were. Keep doing this and over time your hearing will improve and this effects musicality as well. If you are interested in trying this then use our free app at 123 Guitar Tuner. It works on any computer browser or mobile browser.
We now live in modern world with about a million guitar tuners to choose from. From big boxes to tiny clamp on devices and even suction based tuners. If your a live musician, it may be best to use one that is discreet and easy to access in a loud environment. I tend to use the clamp on tuners when traveling but at home may even use the built in tuner in Pro Tools. Adventurous types may opt for a chromatic tuner, which allows for access to every single note. Going even deeper are those who stray from the standard 440 tuning. Modern research has found that tuning everything to 432 can bring healing frequencies to the listener. Many of those hit songs from the 60s and 70s used this tuning across every instrument. You may also want to try 425 which is great for drones.
Regardless of which guitar tuner you choose, it's important to also get a simple tuning fork. I try to always keep one of these in D and E. This will keep your ears laser sharp and aware of the slightest changes. This does require a quiet room but you'll be a better listener for it. Even when using a modern electronic tuner, you can be aware of the aural disconnect. It kind of goes without saying, but be sure and have some fresh backup batteries. This can be a lifesaver in live or studio situations. If you are flat broke, there is still a free solution. Some have gone to great lengths to create a free online guitar tuner that can be accessed from anywhere. This means that your smartphone, tablet or laptop can be used as a tuner. The tuner is currently a flash based app but will soon be HTML5.
Best of all, this online tuner forces you to listen and get it right. After tuning by ear, try and follow up with a digital tuner to see how close you were. Keep doing this and over time your hearing will improve and this effects musicality as well. If you are interested in trying this then use our free app at 123 Guitar Tuner. It works on any computer browser or mobile browser.
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