Guitar Cables that Rock!

Dr. "M" Unplugged
Photo: Snap-Jack Guitar Cable
Fender Standard Stratocaster

Cables! Unless you plan to go wireless anytime soon, you're going to need them. Still the pops, cracks and squeals that occur when you try to disconnect from a live amp are enough to send you and your audience running. Not only that, repeated noises like that can permanently damage your amp and your guitar. Not good. What's a working musician to do?

Our solution was to find quality guitar cables that can cut the signal at the instrument jack. Both cables we tested were also featured the May issue of Guitar Player magazine among the 49 they reviewed. We took two guitar cables on the road and into the studio for our own test drive. Here's what we found:


Snap-Jack Guitar Cable by ZZYZX (15 ft.) The simplicity in this design underlies the genius. Tough, thick, PVC jacket, braided shield cable with gold plated contacts and 2 oz of solid metal nickel plating in its shell. The beauty of this cable is that the neodymium magnet only disconnects at just the right tension. If you have a busy stage with lots of wires going every which way, (who doesn't), then this cable could be a life-saver. I had it plugged into a live amp and tripped on the cable. Yes! It disconnected and saved me from a pretty nasty fall. Better still, there were no horrible cracklings in my amp as it separated. In guitar class, I simply brought along extra magnetic tips which can be purchased separately as straight or right angles. Everybody was able to disconnect and switch guitars instantly without cutting the power to the amp. Sweet! For fast changes while performing or recording, just leave a tip in each guitar you'll be playing. Break off the Snap-Jack Cable at your guitar jack and you are ready to attach another instrument without running back to your amp to shut it down! Saves a lot of time and energy especially when you're trying to adjust your boxes & equipment on stage.
PROS: The Snap-Jack is a high quality, thick guitar cable. Our tests for sound quality, durability and construction gave the Snap-Jack very high marks. Easy to use, no guessing about whether or not you're "live"! It performed flawlessly as advertised in the studio and out.
CONS: If you use the extra tips, they can be a bit difficult to remove from your guitar jack. We got around that by simply using the cable itself to retrieve them.
Snap-Jack Guitar Cable MSRP $53.49
Visit ZZYZX (Jodavi) Online at: www.zzyzxsnapjack.com



The Circuit Breaker by Planet Waves (10 ft. Right Angle Plug) Planet Waves is well known for their quality guitar accessories. 24K gold-plated plugs, copper braided shielding and 8 compression springs that allow the plug to lock securely in the jack. The Circuit Breaker is a performance capable guitar cable with a signal cutoff switch. This means that you can cut the signal from your guitar without having to cut your amp.
We were able to test the Circuit Breaker during a live performance. My amp was connected to a direct box so "my sound" could be played over the house PA. The soundman, (picky fellows, they are), was very impressed and when the set was over, I disconnected the Circuit Breaker cable without blowing up his system. No pops, squeals or cracks! If you need to change instruments on the fly, simply depress the button, remove and insert into another instrument. Press the button again and you're live! I found the right angle plug to be especially useful in the studio when recording and practicing. I like to switch between my Autoharp and acoustic guitar so I can tweak the same arrangement on different instruments. The Circuit Breaker allows me to do this seemlessly without the need to shut off my monitor or recording equipment.
PROS: This guitar cable offers great sound conductivity. Rugged construction makes this cable roadworthy and reliable. The attached cable tie shows Planet Waves was thinking of us musicians down to the smallest details.
CONS: If you're not careful, you could disconnect yourself by accidentally pressing the "short" button during performance.
Circuit Breaker Guitar Cable MSRP $53.99
Visit Planet Waves Online at: www.planetwaves.com

UPDATE!!!:

The Original Braided Cable! Spectraflex, a top maker of professional quality, low noise guitar cables also makes a cable with a "Silent Plug" that can be shut off to allow for quick guitar changes without disconnecting from your amp. The Fatso Flex Guitar cable was voted among the best cables this year by Guitar Player Magazine. This superior quality cable is also available with a 1/4 inch Silent Plug, straight or angled. Made in the USA. Have it all!

Fatso Flex Silent Plug Guitar Cable (14ft) MSRP $49.95

Visit Spectraflex Online at: http://www.spectraflex.com/

Coming up next! We'll see what Keeley Electronics, BOSS, Marshall Amps, Digitech and Ibanez have going for them in the way of guitar effects pedals and processors. Learn how to daisy chain your pedals for the best effects. Take a quick preview right now by clicking the banner ad photos to your left!

Bluegrass Season is Here!

Martin D-16GT with Fishman Ellipse Martix Blend under the saddle pickup and custom pearl inlaid bridge pins. Picks by Strum 'n Comfort. Concho Western Straw Hat by Dorfman-Pacific

Now is the time to get your guitar ready for those warm weather concerts and jam sessions! My Martin D-16 is back from the shop with a set of new phosphor bronze strings, a new pickup battery and custom pearl inlaid bridge pins. I also had some cosmetic work done to the soundboard and the repairs are completely invisible. That's one of the reasons why serious musicians buy C.F. Martin guitars. They make beautiful, high quality guitars and stand behind them. I'm also a member of the Martin Owner's Club. We will be having Owner's Club Day this coming August 1st in Nazareth PA so check out the banner ad to your left for more details.

If you are a little rusty from not playing very much over the winter, the best thing to do is to put a new set of strings on your guitar. This will improve the sound greatly and encourage you to play more. If you haven't already, invest in a good electronic tuner. Being a little off is o.k. when strumming at home but if you get with a group, well, let's just say you'll stand out but not in a good way! I use a BOSS TU-2 which also offers chromatic tunings for my Autoharp. It will also do dropped D tunings and the LED lights are easy to see on a dark stage. The next best thing I can recommend is a DVD that will ease you back into playing at those Bluegrass Jams. Homespun Tapes has a variety of DVD's that will help you do just that. No matter what songs you play, you'll find yourself needing to know how to play backup for other musicians. If someone is soloing on a break, this is the back up rhythm that allows that person to shine.

Basic Bluegrass Rhythm Guitar taught by Steve Kaufman is the DVD I chose because it is very specific to that skill. Steve is the only three time winner of the National Flatpicking Championships but delivers step by step instruction of rhythm guitar and moving bass lines in a non-threating way. You will be playing the way he does very quickly. This is because Kaufman breaks everything down yet tells you it doesn't have to be done his way. Therefore he encourages the player to allow his or her natural musical intuition be the deciding factor. Examples of that are the walking bass lines and keeping up when the going gets fast. This was so well done, I am looking forward to seeing his Lead Guitar Breaks for Bluegrass Songs DVD.

Kaufman's approach is refreshing and liberating. After all, you are supposed to be having fun at these events, right? DVD's like this help to get the essentials under your belt so you can actually have a good time playing with other musicians without concentrating so much on technique. I especially appreciated his exercises for muscle memory so that chord changes are smoother and more accurate. This DVD offers 70 minutes of instruction with Music and Tab enclosed. Retails for $29.95

http://www.homespuntapes.com/

http://www.martinguitar.com/

Coming Up Next......

Guitar Cables! Love 'em, hate 'em but you've got to have them. We'll take a look at some new guitar cables that are on the cutting edge for sound quality and even changing instruments on the fly while performing.

Audio-Technica's NEW ATH-ANC3 Quiet Point Earphones

ATH-ANC3 QuietPoint

Active Noise Cancelling

In Ear-Earphones

List $169.00

www.audio-technica.com

Ah yes! Spring is here and we're out and about, hopefully taking our music with us. One of the most important pieces of equipment us musicians will have in our gig bag is a comfortable set of earphones for our MP3 players. Audio-Technica is indeed a company that is always listening so following on the heels of the award-winning ATH-ANC7, A-T released its latest gem in their in-ear, earphone line at the NAMM show this year.

The ATH-ANC3 QuietPoint™ Active Noise-Cancelling In-Ear Headphones actively cut out background noise by 85% without any compromise whatsoever in sound quality. These in ear, earphones are so comfortable to wear due to the pliable, interchangable earpieces. This is one of the ATH-ANC3's best features as fit is always a problem for iPod and MP3 users. I have taken the ATH-ANC3 on my morning jog and they stayed comfortably in place for the whole run. Even better is the quality of the sound either with the noise cancelling option on or off. The secret is a miniature microphone in each earpiece that picks up ambient noise (such as traffic, speech, instruments, etc.). Electronics in the control box create a noise-cancelling wave that is 180° out of phase with the ambient noise. This wave acts like a virtual noise eraser: it cancels out the annoying sounds that surround you without taking away from the the audio you wish to hear.

I've also found these to be very useful in the recording studio and guitar class where there are other musicians tuning up or playing. This is often a problem because you are sharing the same space with other musicians who are not working on the same material as you are. Still with the ATH-ANC3 Quiet Point Earphones, you are able to take your music with you as if you were in your own "isolation sound room" during the session. This is very important when you do not have the luxury of your own separate practice booth. It is also great for replaying your uploaded, previously recorded music files. Work on your own recorded sessions anywhere you want. Listen to your sound creations or other music files any place, anytime—on a busy subway, in a noisy practice session, or settling in for a long flight. The quality of the ATH-ANC3 is unsurpassed. Check out all these excellent features:

• Ultra-compact in-ear design is ideal for travel
  Advanced electronics cancel up to 85% (20 dB) of background noise
  



• Innovative ANC circuitry delivers an exceptionally pure audio signal in noise-cancelling mode
  



• Ideal for use with all audio sources, including MP3 & other portable players
  



• Soft interchangeable ear pieces (small, medium & large) provide a custom fit
  



• Monitor switch deactivates noise cancellation/audio so you can listen outside when you need to Audio functions (in passive mode) even without battery
  



• Sleek control box offers on/off and monitor switches and clothing clip
  



• Two-pin airline adapter connects to in-flight entertainment
  



• Hard carrying case protects headphones & accessories
  



• Y cable includes an adjustable sleeve and extension for secure, comfortable fit
  



• A single AAA battery powers noise-cancelling electronics
  



• Gold-plated mini-plug provides exceptional corrosion resistance, superb conductivity and low noise
  
  

NEW CD in the Mix!

What's Going into this Recording?

Spring is in the air along with musical inspiration! In addition to live performances, guitar classes and gearing up for our upcoming outdoor concerts, we've got it in gear for a new release, our first CD, a demo of our special variety of fusion music. That is a fresh combination of acoustic guitar, electric guitar and electric Autoharp behind some very edgy vocals. PHOTO: Dr. "M" and her Aria Pro II Fullerton model in the recording studio. "Dizzy" Blouse by Fender -The Collection


We are working through artist relations with Roland, BOSS, Audio-Technica and CF Martin Guitars. Each company is playing an integral part in this CD project and we are really pleased to be working with such industry giants. Right here are the instruments and recording equipment we are using on this CD production:


The Martin D-16GT pictured to your lower right is equipped with a serious under the saddle pickup, namely a Fishman Ellipse Matrix Blend. I had it installed in this acoustic at the Martin Factory so we are able to plug it in to the BR-1200CD and get all the effects from the recording studio or play it clean. This guitar is called the "Workhorse" by those in the industry because it just keeps on performing! I couldn't agree more.

PHOTO: CF Martin D-16GT

Fishman Ellipse Matrix Blend Pickup

http://www.martinguitar.com/

Used by musicians from The Lovin' Spoonful to jazz experimentalist, Miles Davis, the Autoharp still holds a place in progressive music. The solid body OS150 FCE Ltd Ed electric Autoharp pictured below has an onboard pickup and EQ system which puts it light years ahead of any other Autoharp with a preamp. The solid body resists feedback as well as changes in humidity. Equipped with "fine tuners", it saves wear and tear on the tuning pins. When performing live, I run this through a signal processor, namely DigiTech's Vocalist Live 4 signal processor and add some chorus. Then we crank it through a Roland SA-300 Stage Amp or our Fender Passport PD-500. Incredible stereo sound both ways. In recording, it plugs right into the digital recording studio via the front positioned 1/4 inch jack and we use the onboard effects just as we do for the guitars. Amazing sound and versatility.

PHOTO: OS150 FCE Ltd Ed

Solid Body Autoharp with EQ/Pickup

http://www.oscarschmidt.com/

Recording Equipment Guide:

Equipment can either make or break a recording project so we are going with tried and tested professional gear. We are using the BOSS BR-1200CD pictured here. One of the best features about using the BR-1200CD is that it has a 40 GB hard drive that can handle the massive files associated with recording and mastering. Even better is the onboard CD burner which allows you to have complete control over your recording productions. http://www.rolandus.com/

Headphones are another essential piece of equipment you'll need to have with your recording studio equipment. This allows you to isolate tracks and do clearer, more precise over-dubbing. As many recording sessions can be quite long, depending on how many punch-outs or takes you do, it is important to have a really comfortable set of "cans". We use Audio-Technica's ATH-M50 Studio Headphones which are super soft padded and isolate outside noises very effectively.

http://www.audio-technica.com/

The most important equipment next to your actual recording studio set up is your microphone. We chose Audio-Technica over the Shure guys and haven't looked back. Kenny Chesney records and performs with Audio-Technica's line of microphones for a good reason. They make amazing quality mics that stand up to the demands of recording and live performance. They are reasonably priced too. I use the AT2010 and the ATM710 condenser mics which require phantom power. Yet what a difference from using those dynamics!


Trust me, I've stopped using dynamics in my performances and recordings and do not miss them one bit. The ATM710 is far and away my favorite though. I turned another working musician onto this mic and he says he can't believe how great his vocals sound after making the switch. He's doing a 6 hour marathon gig in Liverpool on Paddy's Day and now says, "Bring it on!" http://www.audio-technica.com/

Coming up in our Next Issue:

• Audio-Technica's NEW 2008 NAMM Show release, the ATH-ANC3 Quiet Point Active Noise Canceling In Ear Phones for iPods and MP3 Players.

• ZZYZX's Snap Jack Magnetic Guitar Cable, voted Best in Show in the "Gotta Have It" category at the 2007 NAMM.

Here's The Message...

Music is a heart thing. I play all genres of music...rock, blues, pop, county, gospel and bluegrass. Still, I always come back to the Gospel. The saving message of the Messiah who has inherited an earthly kingdom in which we are invited to be co-heirs. The apostle Paul asked the Corinthians, "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?" The Messiah Yeshua, (Jesus), taught us to pray, "Thy Kingdom come." I know someday God's will shall be done on this earth as it is in Heaven. That gives me hope, undergirding everything I do, including my music.


Dr. M.