C.F. Martin's Gig Bag

Get your kicks on Route 66! C.F. Martin's 52BGB Dreadnought Gig Bag hits the road in this classic 1964 Mercury Caliente. Western Concho Hat by Dorfman Pacific.

Review of C.F. Martin's 52BGB Dreadnought Gig Bag. List $85.00, Street $69.00
Now that the weather is warmer, you'll be taking more road trips with your favorite acoustic guitar. The Dreadnought shape and design was actually invented by C.F. Martin & Co. Guitars and it is still a staple of many folk, country and western artists. The obvious reason why "dreads" are so popular is that they are loud enough not to require amplification. This makes them the best "unplugged" travel companions for picnics, beach parties and barbecues.

Depending on your travel arrangements, you might choose to pack your guitar in a lighter, easier to carry gig bag as shown above. The plus in using such a bag is the large outer zippered pocket that allows taking along sheet music and other larger items too big for a hardshell's storage compartment. These bags are good for traveling in a car or where you will be in control of your instrument.

Not all gig bags are alike though. I would recommend a Levy's heavy denim or leather gig bag for any solid body electric such as a Fender Strat or Gibson Les Paul. I have found Levy's to be extremely well made and richly padded.

Likewise the C.F. Martin 52BGB Logo Gig Bag is very well made. This gig bag is constructed of a tough nylon ballistics cloth exterior which resembles black denim with thick foam padding inside to protect your Dreadnought. I especially like the heavy double zipper pulls but wish they had put them on the outer pouch as well. All the same, this is a superior gig bag in style and features, worthy of your C.F. Martin or other beloved acoustic. The classic C.F. Martin logo is embroidered across the outside pocket in gold thread and the bag is reinforced at all the major stress points for extra strength. While it may not be a replacement for the safety of a hardshell case, it offers quite a bit more protection than the average gig bag being sold for acoustics.

Gig bags also give you more freedom to carry other items such as a stool or even an extra instrument. This is due to the backpack type straps. Slip the straps on your shoulders and your hands remain free or turn it on its side and tote it by the leather reinforced carrying handles. The bag is finished off with slip resistant resin feet. With a gig bag like this, you'll appreciate the lighter, breezier way to travel with your guitar this summer! For more gig bag & guitar case options, check out Eclectic Sound's BEST Gig Bags & Cases

PHOTO: C.F. Martin Special Edition Sustainable Series Dreadnought in Cherry, SWDGT. Handmade Guitar strap by Sully's Leather Straps.

Gemini CD3600 DJ Workstation

Gemini CD3600 Dual CD DJ Workstation is a rack-table mount powerhouse for DJs and KJs!

One of the most important pieces of gear for the aspiring DJ and or KJ is a workstation mixer such as the one pictured above. The Gemini CD3600 can be used as a rack mounted or table top unit within its special flight case. Dual CD channels also offer addition inputs for outside CD or Mp3 players to interface with the CD36oo.

Cuing up your set list is very simple and fade ins are virtually a snap. We especially like the amply bright backlit LCD screens and direct track access buttons. All of these features really make a difference when you have to get your songs up in a hurry. The jog wheel is only for finding the spot in your CD, not scratching but you can plug in a real turntable for that if you like. For that we highly recommend the Audio-Technica AT-PL120 Professional Turntable pictured below.








Audio-Technica AT-PL120 is a Direct Drive Stereo Turntable System with selectable 33/45/78 RPM speeds.
PRODUCT FEATURES:
Selectable internal stereo phono pre-amplifier;
S-shaped tone arm assembly with adjustable counterweight, anti-skate adjustment, tone arm height adjustment and lock, tone arm lift with hydraulic action and lift lever, tone arm rest with locking mechanism;
Stroboscopic platter speed indicator;
Forward and reverse play;
Cast aluminum record platter with slip mat;
Start/stop button with remote start/stop input;
Pop-up stylus target light;
45-RPM adapter with storage receptacle;
Receptacle for extra headshell;
Adjustable feet for leveling;
Includes professional cartridge ATP-2

Gemini CD3600 DJ Workstation Features (Pictured above in its optional padded flight case)

• Audio CD and CD-R compatible

• Anti-shock using RAM buffer memory

2 Selectable Jog modes Pitch Bend/Search
Instant-start & cue with preview
Fader-Start capability
Single /continuous play modes
One seamless loop per side with reloop
Pitch bend via jog wheel or buttons +/- 16%
Three-mode time selection
Frame accurate search
Large blue backlit LCD display
Rubber jog wheels with finger grips
Variable pitch control with a +/- 12% range
Direct track access buttons
Fully programmable with repeat function
+10 track button for quick navigation
Mixer Section:
3-band EQ w/ Gain Control
1/4" headphone output
XLR and 1/4" mic input
Auxiliary Inputs for Phono or Line devices
Balanced XLR Outputs
Dimensions: 4.3" H x 19" W x 10.2" D
Weight: 12.1 lb.
Shipping weight: 15.6 lb.

NEW Voicetone Create XT Unboxed

Back in the studio with some new gear, namely T.C. Helicon's Voicetone Create XT vocal effects processor! This is the new generation of signal processor which adds recording studio quality effects such as hardtune and reverb. Plans are to record some newly written R&B flavored tracks with the Create XT! The Voicetone Harmony G vocal processor / harmonizer joins our rig for live performances.

The Create XT offers 100 factory styles, new reverb, tone and pedal imput. The NEW Hardtune effect give you that auto-tuned sound heard on many current pop and R & B tracks. New for this line is the USB connection and Pedal Imput to connect an optional Switch 3 footswitch for individual effect block on/off. Phantom powered for use with our Audio-Technica studio conderser mics.

Flightcase: Traveling with Your Guitar

Traveling by train down the east coast with our band instruments - Little Martin LX1E guitar & Oscar Schmidt Centurion Autoharp

This is the time of year musicians hit the road to perform at festivals, concerts and jams. It is also the time you should make traveling arrangements for the safe transport of your band instruments.

Be sure to check the airport or rail station ahead of time for their specific rules regarding carry on luggage. Based on security issues, some airlines may have varying degrees of requirements for on board bag sizes. I have found that a smaller guitar such as the 3/4 size Little Martin can easily fit in the seat with you or be safely stowed in the overhead flight compartment or rack, (see photo above). This means you will not have to check your guitar and waste time, perhaps even missing your connection, trying to retrieve it. I have found that if it is at all possible, especially when flying, to keep your musical gear in your possession at all times. You are the best person to see that it is handled safely and carefully.

Most airlines require that onboard luggage fit in a certain size container which generally means accommodating a bag measuring about 15" x 25" inches. The Little Martin guitar would qualify as a carry on item. In the above photo I am transporting this guitar by train in it's C.F. Martin logo padded gig bag but you can purchase a hardshell case for extra protection. This might factor in as a preferred choice of an instrument for the road. The onboard Fishman Mini-Q pickup will compensate for the small instrument size once you arrive at your venue. Just have the sound tech voice the amp/PA to your specific instrument during the sound check and you're good!

Audio-Technica's Wireless Guitar System ATW-701/G MSRP $399.95

When you are traveling, you'll find ways to stow extra items in your gig bag which generally will offer more storage space than a hardshell case. One item you do not want to leave behind or pack carelessly is your wireless guitar system. This is my whole wireless guitar system packed and ready to go in a specially padded Audio-Technica case. The transmitter, receiver and cables all fit neatly and securely inside. This can also be taken along as onboard luggage or fit into a messenger bag. The way that the case opens makes it easy for airport security inspections so you should be in and out of line in no time.


Little Martin LX1E - MSRP $499.95

I've found the Little Martin LX1E with its solid spruce top and onboard EQ & pickup to be the perfect traveling guitar. For its 3/4 size, it offers quite a bit of volume acoustically however, you don't have to settle with that alone. Hook it up with a solid wireless guitar system such as the ATW-701/G, to a warm guitar amp and you won't notice the size.

One of the many benefits of taking along a Little Martin is that the laminated back and sizes do not react as readily to heat, cold and humidity changes. You can't get away with that using a solid wood guitar. You'll find the Little Martins to be quite road worthy indeed. In fact, I prefer traveling with this little powerhouse while reserving my Martin D-16GT and Martin HD-28 for local concerts.

Coming Up Next..... DJ's & KJ's check THIS out! Gemini's 3600 Dual CD Mixer / DJ Workstation. We'll show you how to rock it for your next party or event along with other tools you will drool over! Our Guitar Gear Give-Away Winner will be chosen May 1st so ENTER HERE NOW!

Tech 21 NYC Trademark 60 + BOSS GT-10

Dr. M's Studio Rig! Tech 21's Trademark 60, Fender Stratocaster played through the BOSS GT-10. Hear the three combined in the video below! Fender is resting on a Stage Player II, guitar cable is a Spectraflex FatsoFlex.

Tech 21 NYC's Trademark 60 (first amp pictured) was the amp of choice for Les Paul during his stint at the Iridium in New York City until his death in 2009.

The Trademark 60, (1x12) offers amazingly warm tones especially for a solid state amp. Fully reliable and roadworthy, this is an open back 2 channel amp with true spring reverb and footpedal included. It is my studio amp and what you hear on the HD music videos produced for Eclectic Sound TV

BOSS GT-10 vs Digitech RP-90 Review

The link above will show you some of the many features of the BOSS GT-10 as compared to DigiTech's RP-90. The video above will show you how easy it is to getting a gig-worthy tone! The BOSS GT-10 remains the flagship unit for the BOSS line of guitar multi effectors. It is a serious powerhouse of effects, cabinets and pedals. The GT-10 can be intimidating but the best way to jump right in is to start with the factory presets. Yes, they can be a little obvious but it is totally within your power to manually adjust many of the parameters to your liking. With something like 400 presets, you will surely find something close to your liking and then take it from there. The GT-10 has a USB port so it can easily interface with your Garageband or Cakewalk studio computer software. The lights are extremely bright and work well in a dark studio or on a dimly lit stage. In the lead photo, I have it in my custom Tarcase Pedalboard Case so it can definitely travel!

Enter Eclectic Sound's MAY Guitar Gear Give-Away! Great premium guitar prizes from Planet Waves, Martin Guitar, Farley's Musical Essentials so check it out and enter to WIN!

Gibson Les Paul Axcess & Fender Deluxe VM

The Gibson Les Paul Axcess Standard -Street Price is $3,499.00

This past weekend, I had the sublime joy of playing this sweet Les Paul in black off the floor at Russo Music Center. So what sets this Les Paul apart from all of the other models bearing his name? One of the things that makes this electric different from others is the lack of a heel cap in the back. The guitar lays closer to your body because it is flatter in the back. It also allows you to get at the upper frets more easily. According to Gibson:

"While the Axcess sports what looks from the front to be a traditional Les Paul neck joint, the neck heel and portions of the back and neck joint at the upper cutaway have been contoured to provide a “heelless” feel and an unimpeded reach right up to the 22nd fret."

Other specifications and appointments befitting this new model’s pedigree include:
- One-piece mahogany neck with fast, rounded profile
- 24 3/4" scale length with 1 11/16" nut width
- 22-fret rosewood fingerboard
- Kluson tuners
- Single-ply cream binding on body top
- Pearloid trapezoid fingerboard inlays
- Carved maple top with nitrocellulose lacquer finish in Iced Tea Burst or Gun Metal Gray

This Gibson guitar model has a very fluid body shape that reminded me more of my Fender Stratocaster than a Gibson. None of the bulk was there. Fluid sculpted lines that hug your body especially around the ribcage. VERY comfortable playing! The added Floyd Rose tailpiece makes this guitar truly "custom" as the vibrato is factory installed by Gibson as part of the manufacturing process. So how did it sound? Really incredible! It sounded especially good through this Fender Deluxe Vintage Modified amp. The delay on the Fender Deluxe 40 watt amp is unreal.
At 40 watts, it was plenty loud and delivered all of that true Gibson tone with ease. Street price on this amp is $799.99. Relatively lightweight for a 40 watt amp with a 1 x 12 inch speaker, it is easy to carry to gigs and won't embarrass once you get there. PHOTO: Fender Deluxe Vintage Modified Amp in Blonde. Here is what makes this Fender amp unique:

"The Deluxe VM amplifier takes the sought-after Deluxe formula into a new era of “Vintage Modified” performance by combining a real tube amp with a complement of essential effects. The 40-watt tube platform provides a foundation of great tone to build on, and the versatile tube preamp offers a wide range of tone and gain settings—from world-standard Blackface Fender clean to aggressive overdrive with post-gain EQ.

An all-new high-quality DSP platform adds reverb, chorus/vibrato, and delay effects with the convenience and “tweakability” of standard stomp boxes, without the need for extra cables or power supplies."

The effects are often the downfall of most combo amps. They are either too obvious or difficult to control. The adjacent dials on the Deluxe VM allow you to tone them down to your liking.

This is a good match really. The Gibson Axcess truly shines with a tube amp with a bit of bassy warmth like the Fender Deluxe VM. Really it is very similar to my vintage USA made Crate amp only well, WAY better. A combo amp like this gives you a few stomp box effects built in for the road which means you can leave a few more pedals at home. Definitely worth taking for a test drive!

Jackson Warrior vs Ibanez Xiphos Video

Dr. M visits Russo Music Center, Hamilton NJ and picks up a (heavy) Ibanez Xiphos Axe! Visit them online at Ibanez



Ibanez Xiphos XP300FX
Street Price $399.99

The Ibanez Xiphos is a knock off of Jackson's WRMG Warrior which has an Alder body (with flame maple veneer on trans finishes), bolt-on maple neck, compound radius rosewood fingerboard, EMG® 81 (bridge) and 85 (neck) humbucking pickups, Jackson® low-profile double-locking tremolo and black hardware.

The Real Jackson WRMG is below!

Street Price $899.99

New Fender Passport 500 Pro Review

Fender's NEW Passport 500 Pro builds on the old PD-500 Deluxe model but how does it stack up?

I have the original Fender Passport PD-500 Portable PA System which I reviewed along with my Roland SA-300 Stage Amp here:

Fender PD-500 and Roland SA-300 Pro Reviews

If you read the article review, one of the issues I noted was the sheer size and weight of the unit. It appears Fender listened and the new Passport Pro is a full 9 pounds lighter than the previous model, (44 lbs vs. 53 lbs). They were also listening to the concerns of bulkiness of the PD-500. The Passport 500 Pro model now offers smaller dimensions but still snaps together in suitcase fashion for transport.

So What's New?
Released earlier this year, some upgraded features of the Fender Passport 500 Pro include a port to record directly via (.wav, Mp3) to a USB flash drive. This can save space over storing large music files on your computer and is an easy way to record your live performances. The previous model Passport has high quality Celestion Speakers but the new Passport Pro 500 only says it has speaker cabinets each with 10" woofers and a 1.2 horn loaded tweeter. There is no mention of the type of speakers they are using in the new model although a Fender engineer claims they were "designed" by Celestion. Celestion speakers are some of the best I've heard in a live setting. The original Passport PD-500 has 8" Neo-Precision Celestion speakers and one titanium compression driver with horn per cabinet. This one technical aspect makes a HUGE difference in the system's quality and tone. One of the complaints I read from a musician who purchased the new Passport 500 Pro was that the sound from the speakers was" thin and lifeless and the amp very easily clips at moderate volume."

The first 6 Mono channels on the new Passport 500 Pro offer 48 V phantom power and the last two are stereo channels with connections for RCA cables such as would be used with our Gemini 3600 DJ Dual CD Workstation or a CD player. This is standard with the original Passport PD-500 as well which additionally offers Feedback Killer on all line level channels and phantom power switchability on the first 6 channels. There is also an onboard mixer with Digital FX controls for each channel on the old Passport PD-500. The new model only has reverb, not a full on Digital FX panel as before. The speaker cables with the original Passport PD-500 included the Neutrik locking Speakon connectors, (pictured above), which are some of the best available. The new Passport 500 Pro does not have the Speakons but cheaper speaker cables included.

Wireless Applications?
One of the features I did see carried over to the new Passport is the Wireless Docking System which is installed in the storage compartment of the unit. The Fender Executive Wireless Kit which is purchased separately, includes headworn and lavaliere mics PLUS and wireless guitar connector. This is unique because you did not need to bring along a separate, external wireless system. The Fender Passport Wireless runs off of the amp's power. The wireless application expands the versatility of the Passport, allowing you to travel light. PHOTO: Older Fender Passport P-150 hard at work in a Cafe setting. Vintage USA made Crate GX-20M Guitar Amp out front.

Included Accessories?
The original Fender Passport PD-500 Deluxe came with two decent quality Fender P 51 dynamic mics with cables. Each mic came with a zippered carrying case. They all fit neatly in the storage compartment of the unit. The older system was complete and road ready right out of the box. While I prefer Audio-Technica's condenser mics, the Fenders were not bad as dynamics go. The new Fender Passport 500 Pro does not come with any microphones or mic cables.

The Wrap:
While this was a basic first glance over-view, there are some things to note about the Fender Passport Series in general. They are not in the same class as Fender's classic guitar amps. The Passport is first and foremost a PA System but the Celestion Speakers with titanium compression drivers on the previous model gave the system a definite edge. Even with their upgrade being 9 lbs lighter, the weight and shape of the Passport is not practical towards carrying in as you would a "suitcase". I have used a Rock 'N Roller Micro Cart to transport it to gigs. In fact American Musical Supply's catalog has the Rock 'N Roller cart advertised on the same page as the new Passport 500 Pro! You will also need a custom canvas dust cover, (available from Fender), as the molded plastic on the speaker cabinets is easily scratched. (Check out this article on how to set up multi-effects such as the BOSS GT-10 and DigiTech RP-90 with the Roland SA-300 Stage Amp / PA System).

As for reliability, I have seen Fender Passports of all sizes and ages used in a variety of settings from stage plays to cafe concerts. The Passports have a 5 year transferable warranty, which is quite good even by today's standards so be sure to complete registration online or by snail mail. My Fender Passport PD-500 quit on me during a gig due a sub-par diode. It sat in an Authorized Fender Electronics Service Center for 10 months waiting for the rare replacement part to arrive. Passports are made in China so perhaps that and the fact the PD-500 has been discontinued contributed to the wait. Fender is offering the Passport 500 Pro at about $400.00 less than the original PD-500 it is replacing. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Don't be fooled. The new Passport 500 Pro is not the "flagship" of the Passport line or an upgrade in the series. At the MSRP of $1,499.99, $999.99, Street the new Fender Passport Pro 500 appears to offer less in quality components but more technical apps than it's predecessor, the PD-500. Either way, I would pass on the new Passports.

May Guitar Gear Give-Away!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!!!!! The winner is
***ANGIE*** Congratulations on being the winner!

ONE winner will receive ALL of these PRIZES in our super drawing to be held on May 1st, 2010!!! Enter by clicking here: COMMENTS or use the link at the bottom of this article. Deadline for entry is April 30th 2010 - 12 midnight. Here's the contest question:

Where is your favorite place to practice playing & why?

This drawing is open to U.S. residents ONLY with a valid shipping and email address.

Planet Waves NEW Tru Strobe Pedal Tuner, hot from the 2010 NAMM Show! Super accurate, adjustable backlight, dropped D tuning and true bypass. The Tru-Strobe will be sent to the winner directly by Planet Waves.







Premium Guitar PRIZES !!!

Planet Waves Dual Action Capo!


Martin Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Strings!







Mighty Bright Pedal Board Light from Farley's Musical Essentials!

Sorry pedals and case not included.


















Planet Waves Lubrikit Friction Remover!

Sorry, Roland Stage Amp not included.








Co-sponsors of Eclectic Sound's 2010 May Guitar Gear Give-Away are:

Planet Waves & D'Addario

C.F. Martin & Co. - Martin Guitars

Farley's Musical Essentials

Check out their banner ads in the left hand column for more gear and reviews!

Planet Waves NEW Tru Strobe Video

NEW from the 2010 NAMM Show! Planet Waves has just released their latest pedal tuner, the Tru Strobe. Watch the video above as we unbox it and compare size and features to the BOSS TU-2.