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Musician's Gear Reviews
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Melancon Vintage Artist T
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12.20.2001
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There are numerous Telecaster and Stratocaster copies out in the guitar world. Many are good; some of the cheap ones are terrible, and others are marginal. I recently discovered an exceptionally good one - the Melancon Vintage Artist T.
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Vogel Electro-Classical Guitar
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by Kevin Becka , 1.20.2002
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With most of today's affordable guitars coming out of Korea and Mexico, I was surprised to see some new competition from Ecuador. The manufacturer, American Bob Vogel, also owns a recording studio and record label in Quito, the capital of Ecuador.
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Fender Deluxe Nashville Power Telecaster
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by Bob Kovacs, 2.20.2002
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The $899.99 Fender Deluxe Nashville Power Tele is an impressive variation of the venerable Telecaster, with features that appeal to a wide range of players and styles. Where it really excels, however, is as a live performance guitar. With its unique blend of pickup flexibility, the Nashville Power Tele is the all-in-one guitar to have on stage.
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De Armond Starfire Semi-Hollow Body Guitar
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by John Gatski, 3.20.2002
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The De Armond series of guitars are Far East imports of various models of vintage and current Guild guitars, which is owned by Fender. The De Armonds are made, or as it states in on the neck, "crafted" in Korea. Based on my experience with the De Armond Starfire, priced at $1,029.99 MSRP, I would say that crafted is an apt word to describe this guitar. The guitar is incredible for the money.
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Ashdown Acoustic Radiator 2 Guitar Amplifier
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by Kevin Becka, 4.20.2002
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I recently had a chance to play with the Ashdown Acoustic Radiator 2 amplifier. It's handmade in the U.K., along with a whole line of impressive-looking bass and guitar amps that are quickly catching on with touring musicians. For live musicians playing acoustic guitar on gigs, feed back control has always been an issue. The Ashdown addresses this and much more. Before I get into the nuts and bolts, I must say the Ashdown has a slick retro look that will get double takes from any guitar-wielding musician within eyeshot.
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Danelectro Baritone and Convertible Guitars
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by Kevin Becka, 5.20.2002
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I've always believed you never get a second chance at a first impression, that is until I played some of the "new" Danelectro guitars. The Danos sport the same look as the old 1950s-60s originals but these guitars can play! Nate Daniels first made Danelectro amplifiers in 1947, after which he branched out into guitars. He also made all the Silvertone series guitars and amps for Sears & Roebuck. Five years ago Evets Corporation bought the name, and now the new line is made in Korea.
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Peavey Delta Blues 210 and Delta Blues Tube Guitar Amps
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by John Gatski, 6.20.2002
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Peavey has made the 30 W Delta Blues tube amp with a 15" driver since the early 1990s. The amp has a vinyl covering, which is called "black tweed," as it has two lines of black and gray. It has a look like an old '50s TV-front. The amp has garnered critical approval from players with a combination of vintage and modern tone with likewise features.
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Guild F47CE Acoustic/Electric Guitar
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by Bob Kovacs, 7.20.2002
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When I go to a music store, the acoustic guitars are my Sirens; they call out to me, begging me to play each one. I recently tested an acoustic-electric guitar that just begs to played: the Guild F47CE.
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Carvin's Do-It-Yourself GK1 Guitar Kit
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by Bob Kovacs, 8.20.2002
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Did you ever want to say, "I built that guitar?" The Carvin GK1 guitar kit , based on the assembled version of The Bolt, is a pretty painless way for you to make that statement with a straight face. If you have even minimal tool skills, you can build this guitar in a long weekend with time left over for a barbecue, a movie and Saturday Night Live. The basic Carvin GK1 kit, for $329.95, is more than a nice guitar· it's an adventure.
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Yamaha DG 80 210 Guitar Amp
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by Jeff Severson, 9.20.2002
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In 1998, Yamaha introduced the DG Series of guitar amps. In just over two years, the brand has made a strong entry into the "digital modeling" amp market with several models. The DG series is comprised of the DG100-212 (100 watts and two 12-inch speakers), DG80-210 (80 watts and 2 10-inch speakers), DG80-112 (80 watts and two 12-inch speakers in individual enclosures), and DG130-H (130 watts and 4 12" speakers).
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Gibson Classic '57, '57 Plus Humbucker Pickups
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by John Gatski, 10.20.2002
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In the early 1950s, as electric guitars became more popular, players complained about the noise from single-coil P-90 pickups. Gibson went to work and came out with the PAF (Patent-Applied For) humbucking pickup. Today, those originals are often sought out as the Holy Grail of pickups, fetching thousands of dollars for a good pair.
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The Electro-Harmonix 6V6EH Output Tube
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by John Gatski, 11.20.2002
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Fender Deluxe owners can rejoice. There finally is a currently manufactured 6V6 output tube designed to accommodate the higher plate voltage of vintage tube amps. The made-in-Russia, Electro-Harmonix 6V6EH is said to be able to handle the high plate voltages - about 400 volts to 425 volts - of Fender Deluxes, Princetons, Gibsons and other vintage amps that used the mighty 6V6. Since the heyday of tubes waned about 25 years ago, guitar players have been wishing for a readily available, robust, good sounding 6V6.
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Sunn T50C Guitar Amplifier Combo
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by John Gatski, 12.20.2002
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The legendary Sunn name conjures up images and aural impressions of the bass and guitar amps of the 1960s. Fender recently revived the Sunn name, and the company now produces a dandy sounding combo amp, the 50-watt T50C.
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Fender American Series Double Fat Strat Hard Tail
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by John Gatski, 1.20.2003
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In 2000, the venerable American Standard Stratocaster was replaced by the American Series, which offered a number of structural, sonic and aesthetic improvements. A slightly less beefy neck, non-veneer topped bodies, smoother fret edges and a thinner body finish has resulted in a better sounding, easier playing and a more vintage looking Strat.
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Generalmusic Realpiano PRO2
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by Stephen Murphy, 2.20.2003
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This keyboard/controller (like its 64-voice sibling, the Pro1) sports several modeling and sound design features that render it the most convincing and "playable" MIDI piano I have encountered. I had the opportunity to use the Pro2 on a variety of recording sessions, all with excellent results.
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Gibson Les Paul Studio Plus Electric Guitar
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by John Gatski, 3.20.2003
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The Gibson Les Paul Studio has been around for about 20 years. It was designed to offer guitar players the Les Paul sound at a lighter weight and a lighter price tag. The models also eschewed the normal fancy tops, binding and colors of more expensive LPs.
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Martin 000-28EC Eric Clapton Signature Model Acoustic Guitar
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by John Gatski, 4.20.2003
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Since its introduction in 1996, the Martin 000-28 Eric Clapton signature model has been a great success for Martin and Co. Premium priced at $3,599 retail, this small body acoustic exudes quality in terms of playing and cosmetics.
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G&L ASAT Bluesboy Electric Guitar
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by Matt Baker, 5.20.2003
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In his continuing quest to improve and refine his brainchild, the solid body electric guitar, the late Leo Fender and his partner George Fullerton founded G&L in 1980. The approach was simple—to continue to design, experiment, and improve upon his already classic designs. This review instrument, the G&L ASAT Bluesboy, is a fitting tribute to its inventor’s vision.
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Martin 000C-16RGTE Auditorium Guitar
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by Bob Kovacs, 6.20.2003
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As a guitar player, you know when a guitar is just right. Although I’ve played a lot of good guitars over the years, the Martin 000C-16RGTE cutaway auditorium guitar ranks up there with the some of the best electric/acoustics I have ever played.
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Yamaha FG-502M Acoustic Guitar
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by Bob Kovacs, 7.20.2003
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Mahogany guitars have made a come back in recent years. Back in the early part of the 20th century, Martin's mahogany acoustics were very popular — especially in the smaller sizes. But the spruce-topped dreadnought acoustics took off in the 1930s and 1940s because of their ability to fill bigger live environments louder volume.
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