Jazz Month 2009!

Claudio Roditi wraps up Jazz Month 2009 with his performance of "O Pato",(The Duck), a bossa nova from Brazil. This song was broadcast on Eclectic Sound TV

A Few of My Favorite Things!

We asked readers to tell us about their favorite guitar gear. Well, here are some of mine! Ernie Ball Super Strap Locks on the job. Sully's Soft Leather Guitar Strap and the handy Stage Player II Guitar Stool from Farley's Musical Essentials. Oh yes my Martin D-18 in Sustainable Cherry of course. Be sure to visit Eclectic Sound TV for all of our HD videos on tap. Video Credits: Camera by MAM. Music written & performed by Dr. M. Vintage tee by C.F. Martin & Co. 1833 Shop

Christmas Deals!

Check out the banner above and the special ads in the left hand column for some SUPER Holiday deals on featured musical equipment and video gear!

Audiophile Picks for 2010

Audiophiles, listen up! Audio Technica will rock your world with their closed back, "old school" ATH-A700 Headphones. Escape into peaceful solitude with Audio-Technica's QuietPoint Active Noise Cancelling Headphones which knock out 85% of background noise.

Visit Audio-Technica Online

Video Credits:

Camera by Magda, Music by Paul Pugliese, Produced by Dr. M mariejmiczak.blogspot.com The New Eclectic Sound Experience Dr. M's jewelry, the Peace Pick Necklace by Strum 'n Comfort.

Check out the NEW Eclectic Sound TV Channel on You Tube!

Holiday Guitar Gear Give-Away!

WE HAVE A WINNER! Lynn Julian who wrote "THE TUNER is my favorite piece of gear. Without one...your sound is *only* as good as your ear! My pedal tuner gives me the confidence and peace of mind to perform at my peak. I'd LOVE a Planet Waves Headstock Tuner for my acoustic "baby" too!" :

Lynn Julian, send us your shipping and email address HERE, (it won't be posted as a comment) !
This Give-Away is now CLOSED. Here's what Lynn Julian wins:

THE NEW PLANET WAVES HEADSTOCK TUNER!!!

AND...2 Sets of Martin SP Acoustic Strings, (Light & Mediums)

PLUS ...1 Set of D'Addario Flat Top Strings

AND...C.F. MARTIN'S PROFESSIONAL GUITAR POLISH (6 oz)

WITH...C.F. MARTIN'S POLISHING CLOTH

GIVE-AWAY IS NOW CLOSED ! One WINNER will receives all the prizes listed in this GIVE-AWAY. U.S. Residents only please. Also Check out:

Best Guitar Gear for 2010-Player's Pack

Best Guitar Gear for 2010-Care & Feeding

Best Guitar Gear for 2010-Guitar Straps

Happy Thanksgiving from All of Us at Eclectic Sound!!!

Best Guitar Gear for 2010!

Guitar Straps




Continuing our list of Best Guitar Gear for 2010 with guitar straps! We've checked out and tested the best straps for both acoustic and electric guitars with some very cool ideas for people with shoulder and or neck problems. In order to improve form and playing posture, most guitar instructors tell their students to practice playing standing up. You need a strap to do that! This also prepares you for the time that you will perform on stage. These selected straps all make great gifts for the guitarist in your life and will be cherished for years to come.


Sully's New Leather Guitar Strap

PLAYER's CHOICE!!!
The Sully Strap has been voted the hands-down favorite of our guitar playing readers! Handcrafted one at a time in the U.S.A. and made to last as long as your instrument, (or longer)! 1" wide, #1 harness leather strap Shoulder piece 2" wide by 11.5" long harness leather. Also available with 7/8" wide strap and 1 3/4" wide x 9" long shoulder piece for smaller size guitars.

Infinitely adjustable several inches on both ends to the exact length required by the user. These are really custom guitar straps, cut to your size specifications and can be ordered to accomodate oversized pick up end pins if needed. This is the one that fits my Martin D-16GT with a pick up and is my choice for quality and value. $42.00


Martin High End Leather Strap
Martin's latest! This is truly a high end leather strap. Strap is made from the highest quality soft naked finish garment weight cowhide leather on the topside and underside, with a 1/4" foam and suede split core. The strap is complimented with the CF Martin embroidered logo and double stitched heavy thread detailing.
Buttery soft, it hugs you like a fine Italian leather glove!
Highly recommended for use with lighter, acoustic guitars. Available in Brown 18A0000 or Black 18A0001. $90.00


Planet Waves Deluxe Padded Leather Strap

The Deluxe Series sets the standard for leather straps. This particular strap is made of a very stiff leather and would be perfect for use with heavier or solid body guitars such as a Gibson Les Paul or Fender Stratocaster. However, good leather straps like these tend to break in, becoming softer over time. This two-ply garment leather strap has a padded inner core right where you need it.
The Deluxe Series exudes class and style, fashion and function. All feature an exclusive tapered contour designed to prevent twisting when used with acoustic guitars. The body of the straps is 4" longer than standard straps, giving you more support where you need it most. All are adjustable from 44.5" to 53" long. Price $89.00

I recommend using Meguiar's Gold Class Rich Leather Cleaner & Conditioner on all leather guitar straps. Meguiar's cleans, moisturizes and preserves leather with aloe and other anti-aging nutrients. It protects them from UV rays while imparting a beautiful luster to the leather. I've used it to restore faded, dried out leather too.

Planet Waves DARE Strap - Electric Guitar

Planet Waves has teamed up with product designer Troy Dare to bring you the patented Dare Strap. Unlike conventional straps, the Dare Strap allows your to equally distribute the weight of your instrument over both shoulders.Great for heavy instruments and players with back / neck conditions. This is the strap that I use on my Fender Stratocaster which is the heaviest solid body guitar that I own next to my Aria Pro II Fullerton model.

I've coupled this strap with a set of Ernie Ball Super Strap Locks for a amazingly secure connection. These strap locks also make it easy to take the strap off without overstretching the leather end holes. Ernie Ball Super Strap Locks can be used with all of the straps shown in this review except for perhaps the Martin High End Leather Strap due to its thickness.

Be sure to check out our other picks for Best Guitar Gear for 2010 at the following links!

Best Guitar Gear for 2010 - Player's Pack

Best Guitar Gear for 2010 - Care & Feeding

Video Credits:
Camera by Magda
Music by Paul Pugliese
Produced by Dr. M
mariejmiczak.blogspot.com
The New Eclectic Sound Experience

Best Guitar Gear for 2010!

CARE & FEEDING

One of the best things that you can do for your guitar is to keep it clean and properly humidified. This falls under the category of care & feeding. I've sought out and tested the best products for the job and have come up with this list for our Best Guitar Gear for 2010!

Guitar Polish

Keep in mind that if you have a new acoustic guitar, it is best to wait about a year or so for the wood's pores to fully open up before adding any polish. Then after that start with a cleaner followed by a good, non-waxy guitar polish. I've found Virtuoso Premium Cleaner & Polish to be perfect for my Martin guitars especially. The cleaner does an excellent job of removing any heavy compounds while the polish leaves a remarkable shine, making the surface smudge-resistant. I use the Planet Waves Microfiber Polishing Cloth because it is very gentle but does a thorough job of deep cleaning my guitar without scratching or whorls.

String & Fretboard Cleaner

Your strings and fretboard need specific products for their cleaning and care. I use GHS Fast Fret as it makes sliding along the fretboard much easier and prolongs the life and tone of my uncoated strings. Simple to apply, I rub the applicator across my new strings, wipe 'em down and forget about it.


Humidity Monitoring

Keeping tabs on your guitar's humidity within the case has never been easier. I have an Oasis Hygrometer in each of my Martin Guitar cases. It clips easily onto the storage compartment of my hardshell cases. It also tells me the temperature. Ideally you want to keep the humidity between 45-55%. If the humidity falls below 45% in the case, simply place the New & Improved Humidipak Gel Pak system between the strings into the sound hole for about a week. Once the proper moisture level is reached, keep a check on the humidity and use when needed. Check out our top picks by hovering over the photos below!

Best Guitar Gear for 2010's - Care & Feeding Recommendations:

Be sure to check out our Best Guitar Gear for 2010's Player's Pack!

Best Guitar Gear for 2010!

PLAYER'S PACK

Looking for a gift for your favorite guitarist? Don't buy a thing until you check out this list of new items from our Best Guitar Gear for 2010. We've put together a Player's Pack of THE BEST essential gear that will be perfect for your favorite guitar hero! Here's our hot trio just to start it up....

NEW! PLANET WAVES HEADSTOCK TUNER

Every serious guitar player will flip over the NEW Planet Waves Headstock Tuner! Unlike other headstock tuners it is very compact and even senses the low E string. Not effected by sounds from other guitars in the room because the piezo senses the vibrations from YOUR guitar. Small enough to stay on the headstock while your guitar is being stored in its case. Bright green / red LED shows you when you are in tune even on a darkly lit stage. Very accurate and easy to read. The best tuner I have used to date.

NEW! PLANET WAVES DUAL ACTION CAPO

This is the latest capo creation from Planet Waves. Dual action is right!What you will like about this NEW capo is that it is fully adjustable for a snug, no buzz fit for nearly any guitar. The quick release clip action makes changing keys effortless. Better still, this capo does not pull your instrument out of tune as others can. Leaves no scratches or marks on my prized Martins. Made of super lightweight aluminum alloy in chic black. This is the one capo I use now in the studio and in concert. Don't leave home without it!

CUSTOM PRO SERIES INSTRUMENT CABLES

The thicker, shielded cables of the Custom Pro Series by Planet Waves have become legendary and with good reason. We featured their Circuit Breaker Guitar Cable last year and after several studio sessions and live shows, it has never failed. The Custom Pro Series follows this up with superior insulation and transparency. This is the perfect accessory for many newer acoustic / electric guitars marketed today but also for the dedicated electrics. We've changed over to the Custom Pro Series for our mic and guitar cables because you can really hear the difference. Reliability and quality set these cables apart from the pack. Made my day! These are the cables we are using in the studio for recording and in concert. See more cool guitar accessories online at PLANET WAVES

The Wrap....

Purchasing a guitar for someone else can be tricky. You really never know if the guitar you pick will be comfortable or playable for the person. Chances are they may already have an instrument. These are three key accessories that any guitarist would appreciate, even if they already own other versions of them. Treat them to a serious "upgrade" by purchasing this Best Guitar Gear for 2010's - Player's Pack! They will definitely thank you for it. More guitar gear goodies coming up. Yes, only the best for 2010!

Cozy Up!

NEW! This hot arrival from the C.F. Martin & Co. 1833 Shop ROCKS fall! Made of 100% cotton, this full zip, pigment dyed hoodie is perfect for taking the chill off. Has the Martin logo in distressed fashion across the front. Open Mic Bag with Guitar Strap by Overland Equipment. The perfect Christmas gift!

Order online at the 1833 Shop!

Best Guitar Gear for 2010 is coming up next!

In the Studio & On the Road

Dr. M. during the second set of a performance with the Church Street Ramblers at a charity event. Guitar: Martin SWDGT, a D-18GT Sustainable Series. Cotton pleated skirt by Club Monaco, 5th Ave., NYC

Not all microphones are created equal. That is why when I perform, I prefer to bring my own rig and not use the house mics. I also use mic preamps to smooth out peaks and valleys in the signal while adding a bit of compression and reverb. All of these elements make for a polished performance and confidence on stage.

Most venues still use dynamic mics. They may have gone wireless but they are still dynamic and in my opinion muddy as compared to the condensers I use in the studio and on tour. I learned early on to bring the best gear to recapture that "studio sound". Using Audio-Technica's ATM710 condenser mic with my DigiTech Vocalist Live 2 and Vocalist Live 4 immediately brought the professional sound I was looking and listening for to my live performances. There is no reason to be afraid of condensers any more if you use the right ones and place them away from the speakers. Now if your style consists of screaming into the mic well, a condenser might not be for you. However if you wish to pick up subtle nuances in your vocals and instrumentals...get a good condenser!

How you prepare for your concerts will certainly effect the finished product, that is your on stage appearance. Getting your sound stage under control starts in the studio. This is where you begin to try out different microphones to see how they work and respond. You can also try wireless applications in the studio first before taking them on the road. We tried a Fender wireless system which was made for one of their PA systems. It came with a dynamic headset mic which was adequate but nothing to write home about. Even worse, it could only be used with that particular Fender amp. We went back to Audio-Technica and found that they had a condenser wireless system utilising the same ATM710 mic that we were so impressed with as a cabled mic! Now we were on to something as Audio-Technica's Series 3000 Wireless System was very easy to set up and unlike the Fender, did not require a trans pack. A battery within the mic housing provides the phantom power needed. The results were pretty incredible. Sparkling clarity and transparency on vocals and everything else you want to throw at it. Nearly feedback proof, it has an easy to access mute button and UHF offering multiple channels.

Mic preamps are a must for recording in the studio but also have a place on the road. Many come as rack mounts but I prefer to travel light. Moreover foot pedals allow me to make adjustments for my vocals and guitar with out having to turn my back to the audience to do so. While I really enjoy using my BOSS GT-10 guitar multi-effector for recording, it's just overkill for most venues. The DigiTech RP-90 is a good alternative for my electric guitar or I'll pack a smaller harmonizer such as the Vocalist Live 2 (VL2) or the Electro Harmonix Voice Box + Vocoder. These preamps or signal processors help to even out your vocals and give you great harmonies by tracking your guitar chords. In the studio, I use the Vocalist Live 4 with pitch correction and many more tweakable features I want on my recordings. Same thing with the GT-10 which has nearly 400 presets for clean and dirty guitar. I also use the far more sensitive Audio-Technica AT4047/SV condenser with the Vocalist Live 4 and the T.C. Helicon VoiceTone Harmony G with the Audio-Technica AT4050 multi pattern condenser. This sort of effort truly pays off when you play back your newly burned CD's. Likewise a poor quality mic can fail to capture your spontaneous creativity.

So what does my road rig look like? A lot like my recording studio! Depending on the size of the venue, it can be a very simple set up with my instrument, condenser mics, signal processor and drum and bass machine. I use the BOSS Dr. Rhythm boxes both live and on recordings and have been very pleased with their easy operation and results. In fact, I got the Instructional DVD for the BOSS DR880 which shows basic and more advanced programming. Really my road rig mirrors my studio rig with the exception of the digital recording equipment. I've also found that there are high-low alternatives. Take for example, if you can not afford the VL4, consider the VL2 or the Voice Box which will still give you basic harmonies and a great finish on your vocals at about half the price. Sometimes it is wiser to leave your more fragile and expensive studio boxes in the studio. I would include the VL4 in that category. I've taken on the road but always used a padded flight case. Plastic knobs and pedals often do not fare well roadwise. All metal chasis and foot switches tend to hold up much better. Once you practice with quality gear you will want to showcase this level of precision for live performances. So here are My Studio and Road Rig Picks!

See more essential gear from my private studio and road set up in the left hand column with some great deals PLUS FREE shipping to boot! Coming Up Soon..... our Best Guitar Gear for 2010 hit list and our Top Gear for Audiophiles. Check this out before you do any gift shopping!