GuitarVibe.com

Is this John Petrucci's Rig?

Via the good guys over at FretBase, here's a video that might or might not be about John Petrucci's rig.  If you've had your fill of over-the-top arrogant guitar players, you'll enjoy this.  No offense to over-the-top arrogant guitar players intended.

• FretBase: Main site, News

Hondo Chiquita Travel Guitar

I recently picked up a unique and somewhat rare Chiquita Travel Guitar.  This guitar was designed by Mark Erlewine in the early 1980s with input from Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.  The idea was to create a short-scale electric guitar that you could take as carry-on luggage and play on a bus, plane or wherever.  The guitars were manufactured by Samick in Korea and sold by Hondo, a division of IMC.   Several different colors and styles were made, including models with swtichable double-coil and single-coil pickups.

Mine is in bright yellow, same as what Michael J Fox played in the opening scene of "Back to the Future."  I must admit, when I first got the guitar and opened the hard-shell case, I burst out laughing.  It's quite something to see this bright banana-colored instrument nestled in the lush velvet interior of a case.  It's like seeing a gold record for the Ramones.  It's a great guitar but not something you need to take too seriously.

Despite it's low-cost manufacturing, the guitar is very high quality.  It has a neck-through design, a nice Schaller bridge and the original DiMarzio distortion humbucker pickup.  There's no tone control though you can back down the volume from 10 for a slightly cooler sound.  Otherwise, it's crunch all the way.

The Chiquita weighs just over 4 pounds, making it incredibly light.  It measures just 28" end-to-end, almost a foot shorter than a typical electric guitar.  The Chiquita achieves its compact size by using a short-scale of just 19" which feels like you're playing a regular full scale guitar with a capo on the 5th or 6th fret. 

Since it uses heavier gauge strings (.013) you're able to get a very good tone out of the guitar and can still play in standard tuning (EADGBE).  The Chiquita sounds great for open chords, power chords etc.  But the compact scale can take some getting used to, especially as you get to the 12th fret and beyond.  Because of the short scale, you don't have to bend very far to get a half-step or two of tone.  Which is good because the heavier gauge strings give more resistance than typical light-gauge electric strings.  But again, it's mostly just a question of getting used to it.

Unfortunately, Hondo discontinued the Chiquita in 1985 and these guitars have become somewhat rare now.    You can sometimes find them on eBay for between $250-$300.   Erlewine Guitars continues to sell high quality hand-made versions of the Chiquita, but they are quite expensive, clocking in at over $600. 

Check out the video below to see an example of the guitar in action.

• Hondo Chiquita: HubPages Blog
• Erlewine Guitars: Main, Chiquita Travel Guitar

The Large Sound of Ashbory Bass

I can't even remember how I ran across the Ashbory bass, but it's a pretty remarkable instrument.  With an 18" scale (compared to a standard bass at 34" or a Stratocaster at 25.5") it's the most compact bass you can imagine.  But with it's unique silicone rubber strings, it has a rich, upright bass sound.  It requires a different style of playing due to the fact that it's fretless and, of course, given the shorter scale.   While it's not likely as easy for a beginner to learn as a fretted bass, it's a heckuva lot more portable and weighs only 2 pounds.

The original design dates back to 1985 when it was invented by a couple of brits (Ashworth and Thornbory) and was previously marketed by Guild and later DeArmond.  Now Fender owns the brand and you can order them on the web and see them on eBay routinely for under $300.  Brock Frazier's web site www.largesound.com has a ton of information on this unique instrument and also sells them for around $250.  

I picked up one of these recently on Craigslist, and while I'm not a bass player, it seems pretty wild.  It weighs next to nothing and is by far the most portable instrument I own.  It may take some time to figure out how to play this thing, but its pretty cool looking and has a very rich sound.

• LargeSound: Audio, Playing, Articles, FAQ
• YouTube: Ashbory bass video
• Amazon: Ashbory

Line 6 JM4 Looper

 

In my quest to play along to some backing tracks that go further than the basic MIDI files included in the Fender G-DEC Combo Amp I picked up a Line 6 JM4 Looper pedal recently.  In effect, this is the "brains" of Line 6's Spider Jam amp in a 5 pound package without the amp, speaker and cabinet.   The whole thing measures about 12" x 7" x 2.5", or about the size of four single-purpose effects pedals. 

If you're looking for a simple gig-ready looper pedal to lay down some rhythm guitar and then play some riffs on top of it, the JM4 Looper may or may not be the right thing.  But if you'd like to make things more interesting with drums, backing tracks, built-in amp models and effects, then the JM4 Looper has a lot going for it. 

There are 350 (!) different pre-set tones covering an even broader range of songs, artists and styles.  Want the exact tone for Steely Dan's "Kid Charlemagne" solo? It's there.  Pink Floyd "Another Brick in the Wall" solo?  Check.  AC/DC's "Back in Black?"  Got it.  Ozzy Osbourne's "Barking at the Moon"?  Hey, there are three different tones for that one.  There are so many tones built in here it can be pretty overwhelming: Joe Satriana, Albert Collins, The Police, ZZ Top, Dire Straits, Guns 'n' Roses, Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Rush, White Stripes, Maroon 5, Slipknot, to name a few.  The tones are organized into different banks (for various eras, artist styles etc) but it can still take a while to go through all the choices.

But the real power of the JM4 Looper is the backing tracks.  There are around 100 jam tracks in various styles (rock, blues, metal, country, jazz).  Admittedly, with so many choices in both backing tracks and tones, you may never use all of them.  But with the approach Line 6 has taken there's something for everyone. 

There are great blues tracks, metal songs, country jams, stadium rockers and more.  Because these are recorded by professional session musicians, even songs outside your favorite genre have an energy and sound to them that makes it easy to play along.  There's also an "endless jam" capability that makes it easy to jam to the songs without it feeling completely repetitious.  And you can speed up or slow down the tracks or modify the key.  However, when you do, the audio distorts a bit.  So if you want to change something from the key of E to F, that's ok.  But if moving it more than two half steps, the percussion starts to sound very artificial.  So you're probably just better off learning how to play these songs in the proper key.

Recording and practicing to the backing tracks is dead easy.  You select a backing track using the Songs button, or if you want it bare bones, just select the Drums button.  Rotating the big dial button lets you scroll through the choices of songs or drum tracks.  The JM4 Looper will automatically dial in an appropriate tone.   Then click the record button and you'll get a 4 beat countdown to start.  You can record multiple layers or, as I often need to, hit the "undo" button to start again from a clean slate.  To transfer the song to your PC, press the save button and then select "Mix down to WAV file" option.  You can then use iTunes or other programs to compress the WAV file into a standard MP3 file.

Sample MP3 Files

If you click on the MP3 link below, you'll hear a backing track of "The Thrill is Gone" in Bm with some simple Pentatonic solo riffs. I've also experimented a bit with some of the delay capabilities, though honestly I don't think I did the effects justice.  Still you can get a sense of the quality of the backing tracks and the built-in tones.

The Thrill is Gone (MP3)

I also recorded a riff from the Metal Method instructional DVDs with more of a hard rock feel to it.  In this case, I played a simple rhythm part (G7, C7, D7) over a built-in 70's Groove drum track and then dialed up the Laguna Coil - Pizza  solo tone and hit record.  The solo uses the G Minor Pentatonic scale.

Metal Method Riff (MP3)

Note: Some readers have had trouble with the embedded MP3 player above.  You can also click on links to the MP3 files The Thrill is Gone or Metal Method Riff directly to open them in a new window or right click save them to your computer.  Also, for some reason, the Metal Method Riff recording has a lot of pops and clicks. I'm trying to figure out the problem on this...
 

While the JM4 Looper is cheaper than the full-blown Spider Jam amp, it's a significant investment.  The street price is typically $330, though you can occasionally find it for less.  Still, right now, this is the best device there is when it comes to providing a combination of high-quality jam tracks, built-in effects and tones and easy recording capabilities.  And not only is it a blast to use, but the more you use it, the better you'll play. 

• Amazon: KORG Pandora PX5D, Line 6 JM4 Looper
• GuitarVibe: G-DEC Combo Amp, RiffWorks, Roland Cube
• Line 6: Main site, JM4 Looper, Pocket Pod, Pocket Pod Express

Roland Cube: A Million Strong

 
I recently picked up a small battery-powered Roland Micro Cube amp to take with me to some guitar lessons.  I wanted something light, portable and battery powered.  Despite my skepticism about such a small amp, I've come away impressed with the Micro Cube.  

Apparently, I'm not alone: Roland has sold more than a million Cube amps since it's introduction.  There are whole range of Cubes from the lightest Mobile Cube (which oddly enough is not cube shaped) to the big honking Cube 80X, an 80 watt beast with a powerful 12" speaker.  All of them share a common heritage and built-in modeling derived from Roland's COSM technology that provide a range of sonic choices: acoustic simulator, JC (Jazz Chorus) Clean, Black Panel, Brit combo, Classic Stack, high-gain R-fier etc.  Higher-end units have more features and more models such as Tweed, Metal and so on.  And there are also built in effects including Reverb, Delay, Chorus, Flanger, Phaser and Tremolo.

The Micro Cube is at the low end, but it's surprisingly powerful for it's size.  To be clear, this is not an amp you can use for a live gig competing against a drum kit. It's a 2 watt practice amp with a 5" speaker, so the emphasis is on portability. Think of it as a Pignose amp updated for the 21st century.  It's small enough that you can take it places where you wouldn't have AC power: a day at the beach, a cabin by the lake, front porch, etc.  You can also use it for mic'd recording. The Micro Cube runs for about 20 hours on 6 AA batteries and also includes a 9 volt AC adapter.  Unlike the original Pignose amp, the Micro Cube has a variety of amp models and effects that give you a pretty wide range of tones from clean to classic blues crunch to full-on Marshall stack.  Despite it's small size, it can crank quite surprisingly loud when the gain is turned up. With a street price of around $130, the Micro Cube is a good value.  You can also find them used for well under $100.  Heck, you can spend more than that on a single effects pedal.  

I tested out the Micro Cube alongside my Fender G-DEC, which is a 15 watt modeling amp.  The Micro Cube held its own in terms of volume with the acoustic simulator clocking in at around 75 db and maxing out at just under 100 db with full gain on the Stack amp model.  Volume alone doesn't tell the full story, but the tones on the Cube are as good or better than the G-DEC, though less varied.  Of course, the G-DEC also has other features like MIDI backing tracks and a built-in tuner, but in terms of sonic quality, the Micro Cube measures up nicely.  

Roland has also introduced an upgraded model, Micro Cube RX, which adds a range of drum tracks (rock, blues shuffle, country, funk, etc) an on-board electronic tuner, additional amp models and two sets of stereo speakers and 5 watts total power.  While still portable, the Micro Cube RX is slightly larger and several pounds heavier.  So if budget or portability are the primary concerns, you might prefer the original Micro Cube.  Otherwise, the Micro Cube RX is a significant upgrade and worth the extra $100.  There's also a Street Cube model with dual amps and speakers that's ideal for the guitar player trying to make some extra money busking.

Any of these Cube models make a great first amp or an additional amp for times when you need portability.

• Roland: Official site, Micro Cube, One-in-a-million contest
• Amazon: Roland Micro Cube, Micro Cube RX, Pignose amp 
• GuitarVibe: Fender G-DEC Modeling Amp

Fender G-DEC Modeling Amp

 
With all of what Line 6 has done to promote amp and effects modeling, it's no surprise that the big guys are taking note.  A while back, Fender launched a low-end practice amp called the Fender G-DEC (you don't want to know what it stands for) and followed up with a lower-end G-DEC Junior and a slightly more powerful G-DEC 30. 

The standard G-DEC is a 15 watt practice amp with about 50 built-in tones, ranging from Lefty-Haze (Jimi Hendrix) to Hammer-of-the-Gods (quazi-zeppelin). (Aside: Why do the modelled amps and guitars always have these quaint innuendos instead of just coming right out and saying what they are modeling?).  There's a nice range of sounds from a slightly overdriven Chicago Blues sound to insanely distorted nu-metal settings with a few oddballs (Reggae-wah?) thrown in to boot.

With each built-in setting you get pre-set amp modeling, effects and so on, as well as an optional backing track of bass and drums.  These built-in jam tracks are a great way to improve your playing.  You can select the standard Rockin in G-DEC track, for example, and get a distorted rock guitar through a VOX style British amp sound with a steady 4/4 beat at 120 beats per minute in the key of E.  There are backing tracks in various Blues, Classic Rock, Pop, Country, Jazz and Heavy Metal styles.  While the sounds is good, they are MIDI loops and they do get a bit repetitious after a while.  Still, you can easily change the tempo or the key, or change up the amp and effects settings, making practicing Pentatonic scales a whole lot more fun than just using a metronome.  Because the tracks are MIDI, they play perfectly in any key or at any tempo; there's no distorted sounds from speeding up or slowing down.  Best of all you can wail away doing solos for hours without anyone else in the band missing a beat or drinking your beer!

If you want to lay down a short rhythm guitar looop, you can record that and then play it back with the backing track and then improvise your heart out playing lead guitar. The G-DEC makes it as easy as its gonna be to try out different musical styles without having to spend hours futzing to get the exact tone you want. In fact the manual is barely a dozen pages and the controls are all easy to use.

Of course, you can futz around for hours if you want to customize any of the built-in presets. You can change the effects, the amp model parameters, the drum track and save it as one of your own 50 custom settings. The user interface is quite easy once you learn it. Just press a button (Amp, Fx, Drums) and rotate the big knob known as the "Data Wheel". (Ok, I must admit, I had to read the manual before I totally figured this out.)

You can also plug in directly to a midi-based PC or pull in tracks directly from a CD player or MP3 player. In fact the amp has a flat top making it convenient to put a CD Player (or beer) on top. Instead of the traditional built-in handle, there's a carrying strap.
As a practice amp, its got a decent sound, but you're never gonna mistake it for a tube amp. The G-DEC puts more emphasis on heavily distorted metal tones than on clean ones and while its unlikely you're going to be thrilled with all of the tones, there's still plenty to choose from.  For the price and size, it's quite a good value, especially if you estimate the cost of a typical practice amp and one or two effects pedals or a Line 6 Pocket Pod, KORG Pandora PX5D or similar amp modeling device. Since it's all built-in, its very easy to use and there's no weird distortion of the backing track when you apply guitar effects. It's also got a great one-button electronic tuner that makes tuning up a snap.

However, at 15 watts, the G-DEC is definitely underpowered. It sounds like and feels like a beginner's amp, which of course it is.  If you're looking for an amp that will get you practicing more, the G-DEC series is worth investigating.  The G-DEC 30 gives you a bit more power with 30 watts, a bigger speaker, and more jam tracks. The G-DEC Junior (shown to the right) cuts out some of the bells and whistles in favor of simpler user interface with fewer tones and backing tracks.  

Street price for the G-DEC is around $260 in the US, slightly higher elsewhere.  The G-DEC 30 costs around $310 and the G-DEC Junior around $160, providing a range of choices depending on your budget and needs.  One other thing to keep in mind, there is a big community of G-DEC users out there with all kinds of resources ranging from forums, mods, more backing tracks, etc.  Below is a short video showing some of the features, tones and backing tracks of the Fender G-DEC.

Line 6 is the only other company offering a modeling amp with built-in backing tracks with their Spider Jam amp.  That definitely goes far beyond the G-DEC with more tracks, more customization (and more complexity).  But its only available in a 75 watt model with a price of around $500.

• Amazon: Fender G-DEC Combo Amp, G-DEC 30, JM4 Looper, Pandora PX5D
• Fender: G-DEC, G-DEC 30, G-DEC Junior
• Line 6: Main site, JM4 Looper, Spider Jam
• GuitarVibe: Headphone Amps with Jam Tracks
• G-DEC Wiki: Main, List of presets
• Fender Forum: G-Dec Posse
• MyGDEC: Main, Forum, File Repository

IK Multimedia's Stealth Pedal

If you're looking to plug in your guitar to your computer in order to record music, jam to practice tracks or get in on the whole amp modeling phenomena, there are lots of different ways to do it.  They all involve using some kind of a USB interface, getting new high-performance low-latency drivers and then getting some software to recognize the device and configure it for input.  That's all before you even start thinking about amp models and software effects pedals.  In short, it's harder than it should be. 

Now IK Multimedia has done something out of the ordinary by combining an easy plug-and-play experience with great software and a heavy duty "Wah" expression pedal.  The StealthPedal works both as an audio interface to your guitar as well as a MIDI controller.  With a list price of around $270 (street price $200), it's not the cheapest solution out there (IK Multimedia's StealthPlug wins in that category), but if you're looking for a full-blown MIDI controller with the power and convenience of a Wah pedal, it's a good value.

I tested out the StealthPedal on both a Mac and a PC.  As with the previously reviewed AmpliTube Fender Studio, everything worked flawlessly.  The installation takes care of setting up new low-latency ASIO drivers.  Since the Stealth Pedal is powered by the USB interface, you don't need to plug in a separate AC adapter and power cord.  This also makes it easier if you're taking it on the road or moving between different computers --it's one less thing to leave behind.

Right out of the box you'll be impressed that the StealthPedal is not some piece of chrome painted plastic; it's rugged steel and feels like it would withstand the travails of live gigging as well as any BOSS stomp box.  The StealthPedal includes input jacks for two instruments, as well as jacks for a separate expression pedal and two-switch controller stomp boxes which are available separately.  It's also got a headphone line out as well as separate stereo line outs.  The bottom line is you can build a pretty sophisticated and expandable rig, as long as you don't mind having a computer with you on stage. 

Also included is a full complement of software.  You get AmpliTube 2 Live modeling guitar amps and software effects pedals along with Ampeg SVX UNO (who comes up with these names?) bass amp modeling.  This provides three different software modeled amps and 11 effects.  There's also a Deluxe version of the StealthPedal available which includes the more full blown versions of AmpliTube 2 and Ampeg SVX giving you dozens more amp models and effects.  IK Multimedia has a current promotion whereby you get AmpliTube Metal with either StealthPedal package.  That gives you a boat load of high-gain amps and heavy metal effects like the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff, Digitech Whammy and various BOSS overdrive pedals.

To round things out, IK Multimedia also includes the AmpliTube X-Gear expandable software interface (for adding other AmpliTube software), Sonic Reality's AmpliGrooves Loops backing tracks and a copy of Sonoma Wireworks' low-end Riffworks T4 recording software.  With all the software included, this is a heckuva value.

True to IK Multimedia's reputation with AmpliTube, the modeling is first rate and the interface is noise-free.  You get a lot of different sounds at your disposal with this package, and you can customize and tweak the settings easily.  And with the X-Gear interface, you can continue adding new amps and effects as they become available.  Check out the video below for a demonstration of how the StealthPedal can be used with the full range of IK Multimedia's modeling packages. 

If you're looking to create an expandable modeling setup and want something heavy duty, the StealthPedal is worth investigating. 

 

• IK Multimedia: Main site, Stealth Pedal, Fender Studio, Stealth Plug
• Amazon: Stealth Pedal, StealthPlug , RiffTracker

• GuitarVibe: Amplitube Fender Studio, Riffworks, G-DEC Combo Amp

Turn Down the Suck Knob

Sometimes when you're playing guitar it feels like someone is adjusting the suck knob the wrong way. I don't know that there's a cure for this other than practice, practice, practice.  But here's some links to some resources that might be helpful.

• Amazon: The Complete Far Side (hardcover), The Far Side Gallery 
• Metal Method: Main site, Basic Course, Metal Riffology, Speed Kills
• GuitarVibe: Get More Time to Play Guitar, Guitar Mastery, Riffworks

Portable Headphone Amps w/ Jam Tracks

I'd been using a Korg Pandora PX4 headphone amp for a few years when traveling.  It was a nice little device and also included some very basic backing tracks, guitar effects and built-in tuner.  Not bad for something the size of a pack of cigarettes.  But the sound quality was never that great, especially if you wanted to lay down a rhythm guitar track on top of some drums. Whatever effects you applied to the guitar (reverb, distortion) would also get applied to the drums.  Lame!  Also, because of how the power switch is located on the side, I would often take it out of my travel guitar accessories case only to find that it got jostled to an on position and there was no battery power left.  

At any rate, since it had been a few years, I figured there was bound to be some improvements in this category and I decided to take a look and see what would fit my needs.  Here are the key capabilities I was looking for:

• Small & light enough to fit with my travel guitar while on the road
• Runs on batteries
• Built-in effects (chorus, reverb, distortion)
• Built-in tuner
• Basic rhythm tracks with bass & drums
• Good quality headphone output, since that's how I'd mostly use it
• Easy to use, so I could focus on playing rather than futzing around

There are lots of other features you can find in portable headphone amps, but these were the most important to me.  The key point being that playing with a rhythm track is essential for improving your timing.  

Since portability was essential, I ruled out the nice looking Line 6 JM4 Looper, which weighs a couple of pounds and doesn't run on batteries.  Roland's also got a comparable new eBand JS-8 product coming in November that looks very promising.  Since I wanted backing tracks, this precluded the Line 6 Pod family and their portable Pocket Pod and Pocket Pod Express.  All of these are great looking products, but they just didn't have the combination of features I was looking for.

Ultimately, that left three different devices for me to look at: a recently updated Korg Pandora PX5D, the Zoom Z1-Z2 etc, and the Boss Micro BR, a very cool looking portable device focused on recording.  Any of these could fit the bill.  Here's a quick summary of all three:

KORG Pandora PX5D
The Pandora is the most expensive of the three, with a street price of around $250.  It's a good upgrade from the PX4 with more rhythm tracks to choose from, higher quality sound and a USB interface that you can use for recording.  Although recording is not my intended purpose, the USB interface also gives you the ability to easily customize the sounds and "chains" of rhythms (e.g. songs) from a Mac or PC.  It's about the size of an 1980's cassette walkman and runs on 2 AA batteries or USB power.  

BOSS Micro-BR
Boss has a well deserved reputation for some of the best guitar effects pedals on the market.  The Micro-BR is a small device that is focused on multi-track recording and also includes effects, tuner and rhythm tracks.  There's a significant community around it trading tips, settings and the like.  If you're mostly looking at recording without a PC, this could be the right choice, but there's a bit of a learning curve here.  

Zoom G2
While the Zoom G2 is the cheapest of the bunch at around $100, its still got the basic features: guitar effects, rhythm tracks and tuner, all built in.  Zoom also makes more advanced versions with a built-in expression pedal (think "wah wah") and USB recording ability.  If you're on a budget, or have used their earlier products, this could be a good way to go.  But again, some have found it hard to use since the display only gives you a number, no other information.

Ultimately, I decided to go with the KORG Pandora PX5D, partly because I was already familiar with the earlier version and based on reviews, it seemed to be the easiest to use.  In addition to improved sound, the PX5D adds some new features like the USB interface that could make it more flexible for customizing sounds and backing tracks.  And best of all, I was able to find it online for under $200.

I'll post a full review of the Pandora PX5D in the coming weeks.  If you're looking to improve your rhythm playing with a headphone amp that includes rhythm tracks, any of these gadgets could work well.  If you've used one of these products, let me know what you think by posting a comment below.

• Amazon: KORG Pandora PX5D, BOSS Micro-BR, Zoom G2, Line 6 JM4 Looper
• GuitarVibe: G-DEC Combo Amp, RiffWorks
• Korg:  Main site, Pandora PX5d, PX5D Review, Forums, 
• Roland Boss: Main site, Micro BR, eBand JS-8, User Group
• Zoom: Main site, Zoom G2, 
• Line 6: Main site, JM4 Looper, Pocket Pod, Pocket Pod Express

Steinberger Headless Guitars

A few years back, I bought a Korean-made Steinberger Spirit guitar from MusicYo, an online division of Gibson that has since shut down.  I originally bought the Steinberger as a travel guitar, but it has since become my main axe.  Despite the headless design, it's not as light as other travel guitars, but it is pretty sturdy and has a unique tone and nice sustain.  The guitar features EMG pickups and has a great feel.  MusicYo is gone now, but you can still find Steinberger Spirits online at eBay, Amazon, and at Musician's Friend and most other online dealers.

Ned Steinberger, a furniture builder from New York, created the unique headless design for his namesake bass back in 1979.  He later branched out to create headless guitars built out of graphite and carbon-fibre, but these never broke into the mainstream and he later sold the company to Gibson in 1986.  Numerous other headless designs have emerged since the 1980s including Cort, Klein, Hohner, Traveler Guitar, Erlewine and others.  Some use an officially licensed version of the Steinberger bridge and tuners, others have their own unique take on things.  Ned Steinberger continues to create unique bass cellos, violas and violins in his new company, NS Design.

While these guitars are somewhat hard to come by, they have a devoted following.  Musicians famous for using Steinbergers include Lou Reed, Buck Dharma from Blue Oyster Cult, Geddy Lee and Mike Rutherford, who contributed to the design of the original M-Series guitars. 

You can also find them occasionally in 80s movies and videos like "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure."

Update: I've also added a short video below that shows the Steinberger in action.

• Steinberger.com: History, News, Instruments
• Fan sites: SteinbergerWorld, Yahoo Groups
• Wikipedia: Steinberger Guitar
• NS Design: Interview with Ned Steinberger
• Amazon: Steinberger Spirit

My Cheapo Butterscotch Blond Telecaster

Following up on my purchase of a dirt cheap Squier Strat, I finally broke down and bought the guitar I've wanted for a long time: a beautiful butterscotch blond Squier Affinity Telecaster which I picked up at Guitar Center for a mere $169.  Hey, I'm a big spender and this was my splurge!  For under two bills, this is an amazing guitar. 

The Telecaster was the first solid body electric guitar and pionneered the bolt-on neck manufacturing process.  It was invented by Leo Fender as a working musician's guitar without a lot of frills.  It was originally called the Esquire (with one pickup) then later the Broadcaster and eventually renamed the Telecaster. 

As with most Teles, the Squier version is a bare bones, stripped down guitar: two single coil pickups and a simple 3-way switch.  It's got a nice Telecaster "honk" sound on the bridge pickup and a very bluesy neck pickup sound for lead guitar.  It's got decent tuners and the pickups sound great.  Hey, if its good enough for Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, Joe Strummer and Albert King, it's good enough for me.

I found this Tele to be more comfortable than either the Epiphone SG 400 or the Epiphone Les Paul and I like the tone better than my $100 Squier Strat.  Of course, it all comes down to personal preference, but for basic rock and blues, I think the Tele tone is fantastic and versatile enough to cover a lot of ground.  It's got a comfortable neck  and the body is lighter than the average Gibson guitar.  Having bought 4 cheapo guitars in the last year, this is likely my last purchase for a while.  I've got guitars stocked around the country but the Tele is by far my favorite. 

As I've said before, Asian-made guitars have improved tremendously in quality in recent years.  So if you're looking for a first electric guitar or a backup guitar, the Squier Tele should be on your list.

Update: I've added a short video on YouTube so you can hear and see the Squier Telecaster in action

• GuitarCenter: Squier Affinity Telecaster Butterscotch Blonde
• GuitarVibe: Epiphone SG, Epiphone Les Paul,  Squier Strat, 70's Reissue, G-DEC 

White Ephiphone Les Paul Studio

A buddy of mine from London was in town recently and wanted to stop by Guitar Center to pick up an effects pedal, taking advantage of the lower US pricing.  While I wasn't planning on buying anything, 30 minutes later, I walked out with a new Epiphone Les Paul Studio in arctic white.  I was planning on buying a second guitar which I would keep over at my in-laws place.  (I think this is part of my wife's overall plan to get me to spend more time with family.  Hey, if that get's me a new guitar, I'm fine with it.)

Originally, my plan was to test out some gear, and then just buy something locally near my in-laws.  Since this would be a spare guitar that would only get occasional use, I was aiming for something around $200-$250.  I tried a few sub-$200 guitars, but the quality just wasn't there and I figured I would just get frustrated if the action was too high or if the guitar wouldn't stay in tune.  I tried a few low-end Squire strats and telecasters and while they were ok, nothing really set me on fire. 

But then I spotted a beautiful white Epiphone Les Paul Studio for $300.  I was really impressed with the playability and the tone.  Admittedly, it's not a high end Gibson, but the action and setup are decent right out of the box and it feels sturdy.  The guitar is also lighter than I had expected, my estimate around 7.5 pounds.  The pickups are great, the neck is good and it's got nice sustain and a beefy classic humbucker sound.  Plus, I gotta admit, in arctic white, this guitar looks very cool.  If a white Les Paul is good enough for Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, it's good enough for me.  And my in-laws.

Overall, it's a very high quality guitar with a nice warm tone and plenty of sustain for blues or rock, especially when you apply a bit of overdrive.  The only thing that I think degrades from the overall quality is that the tuners are not that stable.  But if you can live with occasionally re-tuning, it's a great sound at a bargain price.

Update:
I've added a video review on YouTube below.

• Epiphone: Home, Les Paul Studio
• Musician's Friend: Epiphone Les Paul Studio
• GuitarVibe: 70's Strat Reissue, PalmGuitar Review