IK Multimedia AmpliTube 3 Amp & FX Tone Modeling Software Review

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(More customer reviews)A guitar/bass amp modeling software product with usable tones...? Seriously?
Yup.
I've used Line6, Studio Devil, and some other unmentionables over the past few years and I just could not accept them as serious tools. Useful for practicing quietly at home in the late night hours? Sure...but when it came to using them for recording, forget it. Everything seemed off, from overall tone to playing dynamics. It was always obvious that you were using software. So for a long time, I just steered clear of these tools, convinced that it would take some long-term research and development to solve the many issues.
But I'm pleased to say that products like Amplitube are giving me hope. I am very impressed with their version 3 and the newer Amplitube Fender release. Someone really has their act together at IK Multimedia and shows a great understanding of how guitar sound is produced overall. Plugging in and finding quite convincing tones ranging from the sweetness of a stereo chorus Roland JC120 to the onslaught of a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier with a distortion box out front always brings a smile. There are some less-than-inspiring presets, but these may suit some ears more than mine.
However, the real power is in Amplitube's flexibility. You can take any preset that's in the neighborhood of what you're looking for and then tweak it until you're happy. Everything from stomp boxes to the amp face dials to rack effects and microphone placement, it's all there. You can even tell it which mics (e.g., Shure SM57, etc...) to use, where to place them relative to the speaker, how far you want them from the front of the cabinet, and what type of room (e.g., small studio, hall, etc...) to use. The differences are sometimes subtle, but everything adds up to an overall sound. And once you have the whole configuration "just so", you can save the settings to your own preset folder and then call them up whenever. No need to write everything down and hope that you've accounted for each variable. The software takes care of it for you.
We're using Amplitube with our Mbox 2/Pro Tools LE 8 setup and it makes demo recording so much easier. Now the hardest part of recording is setting up the drums and vocals, as the two guitars and the bass are easy to configure and record. Not to mention that the direct in analog-to-digital recording is clean and free from ambient noise, so there's only minimal scrubbing required during mixdown.
I've read some reviewers out there speaking poorly of Amplitube and about modeling software in general. The central argument is always the same: poor tone and playing dynamics. I can understand this complaint and in the past, I'd be right there with them, chanting the Luddite opposition to digital anything. But not anymore. I'd recommend that the diehards out there demo the newest versions of these products and think again about how things are shaping up. I've been playing on and off for almost twenty years and in that time, I've owned and jammed on a lot of different amps, including a Fender Champ, Deluxe Reverb, and Twin Reverb, a Dr. Z Mazerati, Engl Powerball, two different Marshalls, and a couple Vox. I'm not a tone snob, but my ear is pretty good. To me, the new wave of modeling software is really starting to nail down the tone factor. Moreover, they're getting much better at rendering variables and dynamics such as pick placement and attack.
Is it perfect yet? Eh...maybe not. But things have come a long way and in my opinion, it's good enough for most recording efforts. Pros out there may not agree, but I'm speaking here to everyday folks like me who just enjoy writing and recording music and playing out live on occasion. Note that for live applications, you'll really want a way to access the presets more conveniently, like IK's StompIO floorboard, which is another considerable investment by itself.
Bottom line: give it a try and I really think that (unless you're a tone snob) you'll be impressed.

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Moog Music Etherwave Theremin Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)The Moog Etherwave theremin is the "Ford Taurus" of theremins... IT's not the prettiest thing out there, but the value and reliability is stellar.
I personally own 3 Etherwaves. I built one as a kit and the other two were pre-built models. The kit comes with a pre-soldered and tested main board, so all you really have to do is wire up the knobs on the front panel and finish the cabinet. You can even put it in your own custom cabinet. I've seen people build them into old radios, mannequins, and even pickle jars!
The Etherwave has a 5 octave range and it's very stable with temperature drift. Compared to other theremins at this price point, the Etherwave is a clear stand-out.

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Lace Sensor Red Silver Blue Loaded Pickguard Pickup Set Review

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(More customer reviews)First of all, I'm going to have to strongly disagree with the other reviewer. This pickguard is intended for an american stratocaster. I think somewhere in the instructions this is stated. Also, wouldn't you make sure that this was the case before making the purchase?
Having said that, these are awesome pickups and very quiet and can work for many different styles of playing. Having these in my AMERICAN strat has turned my guitar into a tone monster.
Having been a pro player for many years, I can recommend this pick ups without reservations.
If you want a quiet/great sounding pick up set, look no further.

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Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD Review

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(More customer reviews)This amp sounds incredible. Sparkling cleans and it can get downright dirty. The Tweed is a great touch. 4x10 inch speakers=plenty of volume.
I was also surprised by how light the amp was, it's not as heavy as other tube amps that I own so that is a major plus. This pedal also sounds great with any pedals you put in in front of it. I highly recommend this amp.

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Blackstar HT-DELAY (HTDL1 Tube Delay Pedal) Review

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(More customer reviews)I like allot of Blackstar's products. Well the HT-5 and HT-1 low wattage amps really. I purchased the delay hoping to capture lightning in a blackstar logo-ed bottle once again. Their ht-1 amp is amazing.
Its been 15 years since I last bought a delay pedal. I wondered what has the newest technology been able to improve in a delay? Well, after playing it for awhile it really just reminded me of the 15 year old pedal I've been playing upon. The 12ax7 tube didn't distill any x-factor qualities that microchip processing had robbed me of through tube amps. The tape setting is not an echoplex emulator. If I could have had that, then that alone would justify a five star rating and the cost would have been negligible. But that didn't happen.
The delay is really nothing special. It will not go down as a classic must have in the effects chain. I feel like a victim of marketing. I'm the second owner of this pedal paying half price from another guitarist who felt the same. Blackstar may really have some epic pedals in their lineup but this is not one of them.
Why three stars? It does do delay in 8 different settings. Only 7 or 8 seconds of sampling. But for the advertised price the expectation is so much more. I think a person could get the same features in a delay at a much better value(50-60 USD).
I hate to rip on Blackstar when they are just getting going here in the states, but come on guys. If they knew it wouldn't turn heads why release it at that price, with their trademark moniker, and compromise their newfound reputation? In all its disappointing. 2011 technology hasn't reinvented the delay.

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Acoustic B200H 200w Bass Head Review

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(More customer reviews)The Acoustic B200H is a solid Head. It offers quite a punch for only being 200 watts. There are 2 very nice features about this Head. The first is that its air vents are at the top of the Head while the fan is in the back. This provides excellent airflow without hindrance. The second nice feature is the Direct Out located in the back of the Head. The Direct Out allows you to plug your amp into a separate system like a PA system. The Direct Out also has a volume dial to determine how much bass you want to send out. (Most Heads do not provide a Direct Out so if they wanted to go through a PA system, the amp would have to be mic'ed) Overall this Head is solid and can take a beating. It is a steal for the price.

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Ernie Ball Music Man Albert Lee Double Humbucker Hardtail - Coral Red All Rosewood Neck White Pickguard Review

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(More customer reviews)Music Man stuff is good stuff, but it is a bit expensive. I wouldn't have bought this guitar but for the screamin' deal on Amazon, which was the best price I have ever seen on this particular instrument. Quick shipping, comes in a plastic flight case, and the guitar does everything you could expect it to do.

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Electro Voice RE320 Dynamic Microphone Review

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(More customer reviews)The RE320 looks very similar to its cousin, the broadcast industry standard, RE20 with the only major visual difference being the color. The RE320 is a black dynamic microphone geared for vocals and instruments. The mic has a metal construction and is quite heavy, but its sturdiness makes up for its weight. Its 45-18,000 Hz frequency response on its flat setting clearly shows how its aimed for vocals. The kick curve, which is activated flipping the switch, extends its response to 30 Hz and also EQs the mic for kick drums (duh) and also bass amps.
The sound quality of this mic is incredible. I found it to be silky smooth on vocals and guitar. It really sounds "radioy" and I really like it. It makes vocals sound good in every way they need to. On acoustic guitar, it sounded nice, albeit a bit "flat." I felt like the nuances a condenser mic would pick up were missing. It still sounded pretty good. On electric guitar amp, it sounded great. It handles high SPL well and is clear. I do not have a bass amp nor a kick drum to try it on, so I cannot comment on those uses.
The microphone came with a 3/8" clip adapter (for European mic stands), a nice zipper case with fitted foam cutout, and the spec sheet. I really enjoyed trying this mic out and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good vocal mic. Overall, this mic fills the need it was designed for well and it stands up to the reputation of EV and the RE20.

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Line 6 Spider Valve HD100 Review

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(More customer reviews)This sucker sounds really great. And it's true what they say about tube amps. You aren't really hearing it unless you crank it. I cranked it, and it was the greatest thing I've ever heard (I played a metal chord, then turned it from super loud to very low, and I could progressively hear the tone go from amazingly thick and rich, to crackly and thin. so only buy this if you plan on playing it LOUD). Put it on the Metal or Insane settings, and it's just nuts. However, it broke the next day, so I had to send it off for repair to a "local" service center (where Line 6 made me pay 30 bucks to ship. thanks L6). It's been over a month and they finally got around to checking it out. They told me the tubes were faulty. So great. Now they say another 2 weeks to order new tubes and test to see if there are any other problems. Nice work, Line 6. BTW, my POD X3's headphone jack only outputs a MONO signal now. How great is that? Talk about quality! (the presets suck too btw. no one uses those. and you can't customize them like you can on the POD X3, but thankfully, you don't need them. the main channel knob has all you need!!)
Other than that, this amp sounds AMAZING. A shame about the faulty tubes in my unit, but I hope when I get it back, it will last longer than a few minutes of it cranked. And no, not crazy cranked, just normal cranked.
The matching cab sounds amazing btw.

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Spider Valve fuses the versatility of amp and effects modeling with the performance and feel of a world-class tube amplifier. Combining award-winning Line 6 modeling technology with a genuine tube amplifier designed by legendary amp designer Reinhold Bogner, Spider Valve delivers unmatched performance, responsiveness and tonal flexibility on the stage and in the studio.

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Maxon Vintage Series Analog Stereo Chorus Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought into the TC Electronic hype of their new line of pedals, but when I compared the Maxon CS-550 side-by-side with the TC Corona, the Maxon pedal was the clear winner. You can INSTANTLY tell which one was analog and which one was digital. This comparison pretty much put the final nail in the coffin on digital pedals for me. Worth the extra $100 when compared to the Corona.

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Fender Pro Jr Amp Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great amp. Light and portable but loud as hell. I used this guy at a band practice with drums and another guitarist recently and only had the volume at about 3 and it was plenty loud enough. Sounds great too. Its definitely got that tube sound. I also love the simplicity of the controls: just on/off, volume, and tone.

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RackVax Electric Review

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(More customer reviews)If you ever dreamed of of having your guitar sound like a Strat, LesPaul, Jazz guitar, sitar or a Martin 6 or 12-string acoustic, then Rackvax is for you! Not only can you get all these sounds (including customized alternate tunings) from your favorite axe, you can switch among the sounds instantly. For any Alex Lifeson fans who need to switch between acoustic and electric guitars on the fly, this is what you've been waiting for. I have been a guitarist for over 30 years, and while I have always liked the Variax technology, I haven't been as thrilled with the Variax line of guitars. Rackvax takes care of that! All you need is a guitar with a 13-pin midi pickup. I have several guitars with the Roland GK-3, Ghost and RMC hex pickups which all work well. IMO the Ghost Hexpander pickup has the brightest sound and is a first choice-professional installation is the way to go.
The unit can be tweaked with Line6's Variax Workbench software (free download) which makes full customization a breeze. The rack mount unit has simple knob controls, but essential functions can be selected by on board guitar switching or via a midi pedal board. Going to the gig has never been easier!

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Orange Amplifiers Crush PiX CR50BXT 50W 1x12 Bass Combo Amp Black Review

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(More customer reviews)This amp is perfect for beginners and advance players that just want to practice. It's tone is pure clarity and quality. If you want growl, or artificial noise in your amp, this is not the one for you. I've never taken the volume and gain past half (5) with flat e.q. (I use active basses). I've yet to play this with a drummer, but I wouldn't rely on a 50w bass amp for that kind of volume.
I can't recommend this combo enough. I've looked everywhere on youtube and forums to hear what people say about it or what it sounds like, and no one has tried this thing out yet, except some italian dude which I couldn't understand. I know most shops don't carry this combo, and I had to take a chance on purchasing one myself since guitar center won't special order one without me buying it first. At least you got one review here that can't be more positive.
General:
Great construction and feel. Knobs are solid and smooth. Tuner works great.
Con, and there's only one, I wish it was a 4-band e.q. instead of 3...

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Raxxess ER1216 Sloped Studio Rack with Casters (12 over 16 Space, Black Oak) Review

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(More customer reviews)I never expect much from knockdown furniture, but I was still disappointed. I had two big issues with this product. The first issue is a problem with the side pieces. The holes for the rails have pilot holes, which is good. The problem was that both sides were drilled the same. The pilot holes were drilled on both pieces as if they were both for the left side. Unfortunately, I didn't realize the problem until after I had the rails installed. The instructions have you install the rails on the side boards before assembling the cabinet. There's really no reason for that and I would have noticed the problem if I had put the cabinet together first. If I had noticed the problem before hand, I could have easily drilled the pilot hole all the way through the side and corrected the problem. That's how I ended up fixing it, but now I have ugly holes on the right side of the rack that are very visible.
The other problem is that there aren't enough screws to complete assembly. The screws supplied fit both the rails and the casters. There's not enough included to secure both. I had to go buy more to secure the rails properly. I checked the packaging and I received the number of screws they specied, but if you put a screw in each pilot hole they pre-drilled, they are short about 6 screws.
Aside from my extra holes ... the completed assembly looks pretty good. They did a god job on the laminating in that only the back edge of the pressboard is left exposed. They also provide black covers for the screws. Be aware that this rack has a front rail only, so if you are mounting something heavy you'll need to put those items on the very bottom so that you have the bottom of the rack for support.
For some reason, the product picture has changed since I order. This rack has the top portion of the rack sloped. The current picture is just a standard rectangle rack. Be sure you know what you're ordering.

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Ashdown MAG 300H EVO II 307W Bass Amp Head Black with Silver Face Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned this bass head for over a year now and have had no problems with it thus far.
It's rated at 307 watts @ 8 Ohms, thats 307 real watts not 300 @ 2 or 4 Ohms like most bass amp companies try to wow you with. Has a warm clean sound without the hiss you'd get from other amps in this price range, but is still able to get a little ratty if need be, just crank up the input. cool lit UV meter helps you visualy to see if youre pushing it too far and the sub harmonic generator pumps out serious low end sound.
my only qualm is, no footswitch for the sub harmonic gen.
paired with the right cabinet this thing will shake stuff off of your walls!

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Gator G MIX ATA Mixer and Equipment Case (24 x 36 Inches) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this case for my Behringer PMP6000 Powered Mixer to protect it from damages while being moved from one venue to another. I'm a professional musician & the last thing my band would need is having one of our main pieces of gear for the PA System get damaged.
No, this is not an anvil roa case however, it does exactly what I need it to do. I knew I bought the case larger than the PMP6000 but, after doing some very minor alterations the case firmly holds the mixer & I have the additional space to store the speaker cables, extra connectors, mixer light along with other items that go along with this portion of our PA.
The "butterfly locks" securely keeps the case closed with no room for failure (such as the case popping open while in transit); the pull out handle & wheels are a bonus & the unit is generally strong enough to handle any possible damage while keeping our gear safe.

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Line 6 Spider Valve 212 Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been playing guitar for about 16 years, but I'll admit I know next to nothing about amps. I know what are generally considered to be good amps (Bogner, Marshall, Mesa/Boogie, etc.), but I couldn't look at the specs on an amp and tell you if it was any good.
After a little research, I came to the conclusion that I wanted a tube combo amp, something suitable for gigging or for practicing in the bedroom, that would give me a good variety of tones. (I like to play a wide range of music, from classic rock to metal and fusion, and bands I play with usually do covers.) I went down to Guitar Center with this in mind, and one of the salespeople pointed me to the Line 6 Spider Valve 212.
I plugged in an Ernie Ball Music Man JP6 (the same guitar I have at home) and immediately fell in love with the tone. You can see the specs for this amp a little farther up on the page, so I'll just talk about what matters: this amp sounds great. Plug in a good guitar with some good pickups, and you can dial in pretty much any tone you're after. Crank it up loud, and the tube power really shines. More than a dozen amp models (two choices for each individual setting on the dial) give you a wide variety of possible sounds. You'll likely hit on one or two models that you prefer, but even within a single setting you can dial in an impressive variety of tones.
I wasn't thrilled with the clean setting, but all I had to do get the clean sound I was after was to turn down the gain on the crunch setting, add a tiny bit of tape delay and some reverb, and there it was: my perfect clean tone. I've settled on the metal modeler (amber LED) for most of my high-gain tones, but I've only had it for about a week. I'm sure I'll find all kinds of great tones on different settings.
The one complaint I have about this amp is about the effects. They are limited, as you might expect with onboard effects, but the modulation effects in particular are practically unusable. The chorus and flanger are combined on the same dial for some reason, but all I really hear when I turn it on is a flanger, which is far too overpowering besides not being tweakable. A shame, since chorus is the only modulation effect I regularly use. The phaser and tremolo are okay, but I rarely use either and haven't experimented with them. The delay, on the other hand, is very usable, and I'm glad it got its own dial with three different flavors. The tap button for setting the tempo is essential and makes the onboard delay all most guitarists will need. The reverb is decent but a little overpowering at anywhere past about 11:00 on the dial.
Some other cool things about this amp include a built-in noise gate (just hold the tap button while turning the reverb dial past noon to activate it), distortion boost (hold the tap button while turning the drive dial past noon), and a tuner (hold the tap button in until the preset indicator switches to tuner mode). You can also save all your favorite settings as presets, easily navigable with a Line 6 FBV Express or Shortboard foot switch. (I strongly recommend spending the extra $100 on an FBV Express, though $230 for a Shortboard seems a little steep.)
(A quick side not about presets: the amp comes with 400+ presets, including 9 user-programmable banks with 4 patches each, totaling 36 programmable channels. You can't overwrite any of the artist or song presets. The presets are mostly decent at best, but they're a good starting point for tweaking. The amp does include a port for a PODxt, which you can also control with your FBV foot switch, and though I've never used one I'm sure it has plenty of programmable patches, so you aren't exactly limited to the amp's channels or presets.)
All in all, this amp sounds great with a huge variety of possible tones and options that will suit the needs of most guitarists playing in cover bands or just having fun at home. No, it can't compete with a Mesa Dual Rectifier half stack, but for a tube combo amp at well under $1,000, it can't be beat. Did I mention how loud this thing gets? I haven't been able to crank it past 10:00 on the master volume yet. I can't imagine anyone would ever need to go past 1:00, even at gigs. It's a seriously loud 40 watts.

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Spider Valve fuses the versatility of amp and effects modeling with the performance and feel of a world-class tube amplifier. Combining award-winning Line 6 modeling technology with a genuine tube amplifier designed by legendary amp designer Reinhold Bogner, Spider Valve delivers unmatched performance, responsiveness and tonal flexibility on the stage and in the studio.

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