News, reviews and articles about musical gear and accessories.
Recently, Amazon announced that it would be raising the rates for their Prime membership. It was the first increase in years, and I didn’t think it was too much to bear, because I use Amazon – and free Prime shipping – frequently. Amazon isn’t just increasing the rates to compensate for rising shipping costs; they’re […]
Amazon Prime Music – Amazon’s newest perk for Prime members Read More
I’ve seen plectrums – or picks, as they are more commonly known – made of plastic, metal, even felt – but the Obsidian Arrowhead Guitar Pick is made of volcanic rock. These picks were created by Seth Maranuk. A piece of obsidian, a glass-like material formed in rapidly cooled lava, is hand-shaped into the arrowhead shape
This gives new meaning to “rock music” Read More
If you play guitar or another stringed instrument, you probably have a guitar tuner of some sort. There are a few different tuners around my house, but most of them are pretty large. They’re certainly too big to keep in your pocket, for example. The Seiko Chromatic Tuner Keychain is small enough to use as a
Be ready to tune an instrument, no matter where you are Read More
I’ve wanted to play guitar for years, but I just cannot seem to get the hang of it. I finally decided to take a page from Julie’s ukulele book and thought I’d try one in the hopes that I could manage with four strings. And just like with any gadget or gizmo I have, I’ve made
Put your ukulele in a sling Read More
The creative folks at IK Multimedia have announced the availability of the iRing touchless motion controller for iOS, which was first unveiled at CES earlier this year. The iRing is a double sided “ring” that fits between your fingers. On one side of the ring there is a linear pattern of three dots, on the
iRing is the first motion controller for iOS music apps Read More
Guitar players probably have at least a couple of guitar stands around the house, but if they’re like my husband, they probably often find themselves needing a way to safely prop up their guitar because they don’t have a stand with them. The Planet Waves Guitar Rest is small enough to go in your gig
Carry a guitar stand in your pocket Read More
If you have tuning problems, it may be the strings and not your guitar, according to the folks at String Stretcha. There are ways to stretch the strings using your fingers, but pulling on them at random places results in uneven stretch and using the “thumb and fingers” method takes a long time and causes
Forget guitar tuning problems with the Stretcha Read More
Musicians who play electric guitar now have an alternative case option for their instruments that will not only protect them, but will prevent the need to stoop and squat to remove the instrument from the case. Most guitar cases require you to lay the case on a flat surface to remove them, but the Mono
Stay vertical with the Vertigo electric guitar case Read More
We’ve probably all been in shops where a little bell tied to the door chimes to announce someone is coming in. How would you like something similar, but more musical, to announce a door opening – maybe strumming a guitar? Place a Guitdoorbell over a door, and the swinging of the door will move a mounted
Strum a tune to announce your arrival Read More
If you are a musician using amplified instruments, a DJ, or the tech guy who sets the equipment up, you’ll want to have the Electronic Musician’s Emergency Adapters kit in your gear. The kit includes a variety of adapters – male audio plugs, female audio jacks, and couplers in 1/4″ and 1/8″ sizes, cables, XLR
An emergency kit for electronic musicians Read More
Plastic ukuleles can be considered to be both retro and modern. They were really popular back in the 1950’s with plastic ukes from Maccaferri and other brands. Over 60 years later, plastic instruments are enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Why would you even want a plastic ukulele? Because it’s an instrument that you won’t have
BugsGear Aqulele plastic ukulele review Read More
Amazon just introduced their entry in the streaming-media box field. The Fire TV is a tiny, black box that streams many of the subscription services you expect: Netflix, Crackle, Hulu Plus, WatchESPN, and many others. Unlike the Apple TV, it also provides access to Amazon’s Instant Video, including the free content available to Prime users. It
Amazon introduces Fire TV Read More
Over the years, video quality has gotten better on smartphones, but if there’s one area that hasn’t changed much, it is the audio recording side of things. Have you ever wished your Lightning connector-equipped iOS device (iPhone, iPod, iPad) had a better microphone? The Zoom iQ5 Professional Stereo Microphone for iOS gives you just that
Zoom iQ5 Professional Stereo Microphone for iOS review Read More
Like most of you out there, I don’t jump out of bed in the morning saying to myself “YES! I’m going to go and do a grueling workout RIGHT NOW!!” I need music to motivate me. So do swimmers. The Gadgeteer has reported on various waterproof music gadgets in the past like the FINIS swiMP3v2 and
FINIS Neptune – an updated waterproof MP3 player with Bone Conduction audio transmission Read More
I’ve played a Moog Etherwave theremin (badly) for several years now. Hooked up to a Korg KP3 effects processor, you can get some really great effects out of it. However, plucking notes out of thin air in a continuous scale is maddeningly hard work. Unlike a guitar or piano, where the notes are clearly delineated,
All play, no touch: The Moog Theremini Read More
Digital music has changed how and where we can listen to music, but there are trade-offs for the portability. Digital files often sacrifice some of the resolution for size so you can fit more music on your portable player, which means you loose some of the details and nuances the artist intended you to hear.
Keep on rocking in the free world – in higher resolution Read More
Do you remember that toy piano you used to play when you were five years old? It might have looked like the real thing (except for the color), but the sound completely missed the mark. Korg has updated this toy favorite with REAL piano sound in its new product, the tinyPIANO. This 25-note (2 octave) miniature upright
REAL piano sound for your mini Mozart Read More
People who play guitars and other stringed wooden instruments often covet vintage instruments because they usually have better tone due to years of vibrations from being played. But no one wants to wait 50 – 100 years for their newer instrument’s sound to “open up” and resonate more. ToneRite is an electronic device that uses special
ToneRite claims to bring vintage tone to new instruments Read More
When you’ve reviewed as many Bluetooth speakers as I have, it takes something special for me to be interested in reviewing yet another one. When IK Multimedia asked me to review their iLoud Studio Quality Portable Speaker I agreed because I liked the physical volume knob on the front of the unit. But the ability to use
IK Multimedia iLoud Studio Quality Portable Speaker review Read More
For years I dreamed about building my own guitar, which more recently turned into a dream to build my own ukulele. I even dabbled in the craft by putting together a mini electric guitar from a kit that I purchased from Stewart McDonald. Unfortunately it turned out to be a wall hanger and not a playable instrument.
Will 3D printing turn the average Joe into a digital luthier? Read More