
Spider Online Spins a Web of Guitar Gusto
- Steve Krantz
- July 16, 2011
For those of you who are fans of Line 6, prepare to be psyched. For those who aren’t, brace yourself to at least consider the fact that they’ve created a website that contains full blown lessons, accompaniment backing tracks, and a forum for uploading and downloading user-created tones.
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Gibson Firebird X Breaks Ground, Raises Eyebrows
- Steve Krantz
- June 27, 2011
Over the past decade, Gibson has become the innovative leaders in guitar technology as seen in products such as the Gibson “robot” guitar. Now, in an attempt to outdo themselves once again, they’ve created a guitar possessing technology beyond any other the world has ever seen. Enter the Gibson Firebird X.
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Planning Your First Tour
- Steve Krantz
- June 2, 2011
- tours
Whether you’re a national song writing sensation or an entry-level local act looking to hop in the van and hit the east coast, there are a handful of bare essentials that are quite imperative when planning to go on your first tour.
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5 Finger Warmup Exercises for Guitar
- Steve Krantz
- May 22, 2011
- tips
Most professional vocalists will warm up before they give a great performance. Even though some of us as guitar players don’t really warm up, there are a few exercises that will help your fingers get warm. Over time, if you do these exercises daily, you will begin to see improvement in your speed, accuracy, and dexterity as well.
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The Difference between Recorded and Live Music is the Dose
- Steve Krantz
- May 15, 2011
Have you ever listened to a band’s album and been totally blown away only to be disappointed during their live performance? What about going to a show and seeing a band you’ve never heard of only to be caught off guard due to the heart and soul translated through the PA system into your ears? There’s a not only slight, but GIANT difference when it comes to live and recorded music.
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The Hyper Touch Guitar – No Strings Attached
- Steve Krantz
- May 12, 2011
- fun stuff
- innovation
You’ve played guitar hero on a controller that implements buttons instead of strings. You’ve played your nephews fake toy guitar that plays cheesy riffs when a button is pushed. Though, the minds at Givingshape Design Studio have finally brought you the first real guitar with literally – no strings attached.
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A Guitar Stand That’s a Seat? Is This Real Life?
- Steve Krantz
- May 3, 2011
- gear
- innovation
When it comes to guitar playing, the issue has always been, “Why haven’t they made a guitar stand that’s also a seat?” Well, your prayers have been answered. Straight out of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, it’s the AxSys 1.0 AxSys 1.0.
Made by the new school innovators at Iconic Metal, (www.iconicmetal.com) the AxSys 1.0 is both a stand for your guitar and a seat for your bottom.

Ernie Ball Coated Electric Guitar Strings
- Steve Krantz
- April 30, 2011
- gear
I’m sure as a guitar player you’ve got your certain brand and make of strings that are a select choice for your guitar. Mine were DR’s, until I began playing out regularly. After about two to three shows, I’d always end up with a broken string. If I somehow got lucky, the strings were dead anyhow, and I had to pop on a new set. I battled this dilemma until a friend told me about the Ernie Ball 3123 Coated strings.
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Gear Profile: Peavey 5150 II and Marshall 1960a 4×12 cabinet
- Steve Krantz
- April 19, 2011
- amplifiers
The Peavey 5150, originally created by Eddie Van Halen and a team of enthusiasts at Peavey, is a world renowned amplifier hailed as one of the best by EVH fans and metal aficionados abroad. When run through a Marshall 4×12 though, this king of valve amps doesn’t get much smoother.
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