|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 7:30 pm
M-Audio Firewire 410
Paid: 400 CAN
What it is: This is a little audio interface that lets you plug in a microphone, bass, or guitar directly into it. It sends the sound digitally to the computer via firewire (that's IEEE 1394 for anyone that really wants to look at compy specs).
Look: Very modern, sleek and cool. It's got a pair of mic preamps in the front of it which also accept 1/4" plugs for guitars. These pres are good for plugging in directly too, since they contain the transformers to deal with impedance mismatches. My guitar can sound really nice through it, but it's just the pickups that you hear and not much else.
Also on the front is a pair of headphone jacks for those that want to jam. This is really handy as I've used them a lot in the time that I've had this. I've had a friend of mine go line in with his bass and plug his headphones in and he's been blown away on countless occasions from me dailing in an EQ on Cubase.
Sound: Relativlely clear, and it's a very good sounding rig for the price (and it sounds exceptional for a mobile rig).
Overall: I would reccomend this to anyone that is on a slightly limited budget that wants to be mobile in their recording ways. I use this more away from home than I do at home (especially since my girlfriend bought a really nice condenser mic to record with biggrin ) It is versatile enough to take a POD in one input and a mic feed in another without any worries.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:11 am
That's really awesome, and has totally got me interested in home recording kind of things, budget kind of recording. Rather than going to a studio or something.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:00 am
Jackson DKMGT Dinky
Price paid - $350 US, new.
Features - EMG-HZ passive pickups, EMG Turbocharger gain boost, string-through body bridge, reversed headstock, Cobalt Blue finish, bolt on neck, alder arch top body. 9/10. A few points taken off for the HZs and for the bolt on neck.
Sound - Hmm... A bit tricky, here. A lot of people complain about the HZs that come standard in these being muddy, but all it really takes to get them to sing is a good ear and a few minutes playing with the EQ on your amp. Not quite the sound I like, so I may end up getting them switched out for a Dimarzio X2N and PAF Pro set. The Turbocharger is a fun little gimmick, but it creates a good bit of noise whenever you're not playing a note, so don't leave it on. 9/10. Very nice, but not quite my preference.
Feel - Sweet Jesus, I love it. The neck is an absolute dream to play on, finished, smooth, thin, jumbo frets... It's fast, no other word for it. Despite being a bolt on, it's still VERY easy to reach the highest frets. Nice and light, so it's very easy on the shoulder. 10/10.
Quality - Feels quite solid. Of course, I baby my guitars, so I don't actually have much to say on durability. No real problems with setup or anything, just a few minor intonation tweaks when I got it from Musician's Friend. 10/10. Nothing to complain about at all.
Overall - 38/40, would most definitely buy again if I had to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:11 am
Fender Frontman 15R
Well, my parents bought me this for Christmas, since they wanted me to have an amp with a headphone jack so I could play quietly...
Features - Clean and dirty channels, 3 band EQ, reverb, headphone jack, 15 watts, auxilliary input jacks. 10/10, excellent feature list for what it is.
Sound - Excellent clean channel, absolutely nothing to complain about there. It's the dirty that gets a bit screwy... EQ can fix most of the tonal problems, but it's still pretty harsh, not at all the rich distortion I can get out of my Johnson BlueLine 30. Reverb works nicely and can add some depth to the clean channel, but it absolutely murders the dirty. 7/10.
Feel - Responsive controls, none of the "Fisher-Price" feel that you have on some amps in this price range. Admittedly, the gain has absolutely no effect whatsoever on the clean channel, but I don't believe it was intended to... Which isn't exactly a good thing, you know? EQ gets the job done. 6/10. I really wish that the gain would work on the clean channel...
Quality - It was definitely put together well, I give it that... I don't think it'll be falling apart any time soon... 10/10.
Overall - 33/40. Not bad, really... In the same price range, I would have preferred a Roland Cube 15, but this isn't too bad.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 5:00 pm
ESP/LTD Explorer EX-50
Price biggrin on't know, but it was new.
Features:Standard EMG p/u. Great sound out of bridge humbucker, kind of muddy out of neck. Agathis body with soft-tail bridge. Gloss black finish with bolt on neck.9/10
Sound:Excellent for rock and metal. Very nice crispness to it, squeelin' high notes and destructive low notes. The pups are good enough to not be replaced. Also very clear and nice clean notes for the times you don't want distortion.10/10
Feel:Apart from the standard body design of Explorers, it is very light and thin. Great feel to the neck, just the right thickness, fast fret changes. Very simple to reach higher notes, great all-around.10/10
Quality:Agathis isn't the strongest, but it's quite nice. It'll hold fine as any other wood as long as you don't abuse it. Very nice quality all together.9/10
Overall:38/40. I'd definitely buy the gutar again. I recommend it for anybody who likes rock or metal. No p/u trouble or neck issues, very nice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 5:10 pm
Zoom G-2 Effects Pedal
Price:$100.00 new.
Features:Built in drum machine with 50+ programmed beats. Save feature to save sounds you like. Over 100 different effects with ability to play 6 different ones at one time. Can also play drum machine and use effects at same time, through same amp. Gain control and volume control, also tempo tap.10/10
Sound razz erfect. Nothing else need be said.10/10
Feel:Quite confusing at first, but you get the hang of it.8/10
Quality:Very lightweight. Feel like it could brake easily. But more durable than it seems it would be.8/10
Overall:Very good clean and distrotion channells. Also with phaser and wah, recommended for stage or home use.36/40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:28 pm
Yamaha Magicstomp: Guitar Effects Processor (Original)
Sound
There are a total of 198 different effects, 99 preset and 99 user. With each sound, you can change different tones depending on the effect, distortion = gain...ECT. One of the greatest features is its ability to hook up to the computer. Not only can you mess with effects in the program (though I haven't gotten around to it yet) that comes with it, but you can also download numerous effects from the website.
10/10
Durability/Reliability
The three tone knobs are plastic, but are pretty strong. The effect switching buttons are all metal along with the case.
910
Features
1. Plenty of effects to keep you busy.
2. Has quite an arsenal between the program and website downloading.
3. Very sturdy case and hardware.
4. Good price (at the time of the clearance price half off (200 USD to 100 USD)
Overall Rating
10/10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 6:15 pm
... I still don't see an EVO 2 review. Somebody needs to be punished for this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 3:03 am
AshWufei ... I still don't see an EVO 2 review. Somebody needs to be punished for this. hehe..... still doing an evaluation.. that's it..... alrighty... here goes: Product: DiMarzio "EVO2", DP215 Placement: Bridge Guitar: Ibanez JS100 Sound: The sound on this is wild. That's probably about the best way to describe the screaming mids, solid lows and peircing highs(a desirable thing). The pickup cuts through mixes easily, and has a voice of it's own; with the right amount of picking strength and the right type of grip, it's easy to make your guitar sound like it's talking (you get that subtle "aw" sound out of it which is almost like a wah pedal that's been left open). For chord work, it's got crunch, bite and scream. It will feedback at any frequency you want. Just hold the note and cover the open strings and you'll get feedback that's desirable. Durability/Reliability: Hasn't broken yet, but I have the feeling that dimarzio pickups are built to last. Customer Support: Never dealt with dimarzio directly, but that's mostly because I'm in canada. In the states, their 30 day "Like it or we'll send you a new one" policy is key. Action, fit and Finish: The look I chose for this one was a black and red coil combination(custom built at dimarzio). Alltogether it looks amazing on my JS, and sounds much better than it looks. Installation is easy if you've done any amount of soldering. Since all the parts you need come in the packaging (Long lead, two springs, two screws) all you need on your own is a guitar with an empty pickup ring. Features: Four conductor wire, hot output and really sexy look (the black coils and black poles make it super sexy). It's also A high output pickup, so when you turn up your volume, you can get some seriously nice OD out of an amp as well as some kicking distortion. Overall Rating: 10/10. I can't say enough about this pickup. I've had it for a few months now and it's served me very well. I'm capable of expressing myself just that little extra bit more, which counts big time in the long run (on a side note, sorry about the delay on the review. to be honest, I completely forgot about doing this what with school and all)..
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 3:17 am
....And just for kicks:
Product: DiMarzio "The Breed Bridge", DP166
Placement: Bridge
Guitar: Epiphone Les Paul (circa 1991 I think)
Sound: You know that sound that you hear when Ace Frehley plays the verse to "Rock and roll all night"? That G-G D-G-D D A progression? I can get that sound. This pickup is all about the classic rock sound. Zeppelin is easy on this, but then again, roll down the tone pot, and there's much more to it than just classic rock. This thing is smooth around the edges, so it's not as biting or as screaming as the EVO2, but it sure has some expressiveness. It'll also do the same easy harmonics and feedback as the EVO, but with a little more class.
On a clean setting, it's high enough to OD an amp, roll it down and it's a beautiful clean jazz tone. The versatility in these pickups is unreal when it comes down to the tone and expressiveness.
Durability/Reliability: Built To last I'm told.
Customer Support: (I'll just copy what I've said before) Never dealt with dimarzio directly, but that's mostly because I'm in canada. In the states, their 30 day "Like it or we'll send you a new one" policy is key.
Action, fit and Finish: What I like about the Dimarzio pickups is that they have their own style of design. When you look at one, it's not hard to tell that it's a dimarzio because of the allen-key pole peices. The Breed comes standard with silver pole peices on black coils and there's nothing to be ashamed of here. It actually matches the Humbucker from hell that I put in the neck on the Epiphone.
Features (Again, I'm lazy so I'll copy what I had before): Four conductor wire, hot output and really sexy look (the black coils and silver poles make it super sexy).
Overall Rating: 10/10. This pickup has certainly earned it's worth. When I ordered it, I was looking for something that would contrast the scream of the EVO2, and that's exactly what I got. I had countless excursions on the internet on reveiw sites, ebay, and dimarzio's main site just exploring the options, which in themselves are endless. The thing is that I still have to learn how to use them, regardless of how much they change the sound.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 2:35 pm
And the Peavey? (Damn I'm demanding xd , But I'm seriously thinking about getting this as my next amp)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 5:45 pm
AshWufei And the Peavey? (Damn I'm demanding xd , But I'm seriously thinking about getting this as my next amp) Welll I suppose: Product: Peavey XXL 212 combo Guitars: Epiphone Les Paul (circa 1991 I think), JS100 Sound: Undescribable as a whole, so I can break it down to what I've found in each of the tone settings (get some popcorn). Clean Channel - Vintage: This is a classic vox sound. It's got a nice clear high end, but it will OD nicely on most high settings. Less bass, more High end. Clean Channel - Modern: Sounds like a peavey solid state amp that doesn't clip until it hits the topmost peak. It's got a pristine sound, with balanced highs and lows, and has a nice scoop sound. Clean Channel - Warm: Fender Twin. ODs easily, has a very well rounded sound with accents on the mid and low frequencies. Lead Channel - Classic: Sounds like a pushed over the edge Fender, or maybe a lightly OD'ed Marshall. It's got a tight bottom end(just like the rest of the lead channel tones) and it's sweet for rythm/chord work. Lead Channel - British: very very good tone. I'm running out of comparisons.... really. This could be a Marshall stack in the 80s more than the 60's, but it really cooks. Lead Channel - High Gain: This one's probably one of my fave tones on here. It sounds like a JCM800 overloaded and souped up so far it's beyond reasoning. It's even got a bit of a carvin legacy sound to it. Ultra Channel - Crunch: A marshall 100 watt combo. That's all that needs to be said. Ultra Channel - Modern: A Rectifier Stack. Also all that needs to be said. Ultra Channel - Ultra: I haven't played with this one so much. I'm still not exactly sure what to compare it to, but I think I could work it in with the JCM class. Durability/Reliability: It had better be durable... the thing weighs a ton! Customer Support: Never had to deal with the boys at Peavey, but I've heard that their customer service is somewhat lacking. Stage Appeal: Well, it looks pretty wicked, as you can tell from the pic I've got in the picture forum. As for other features, the tone knobs are some kind of die cast smooth finish, so they = uber sexy. The ability to switch from 25-50-100 watts is a big bonus when dealing with smaller crowds. You can play this thing in front of a large audience, a small venue or a school auditorium, and never feel like you're hindering your image. Features: Again, i'll bring your attention to the power switch on the back which turns the amp from a practice level to a full onslaught of power (although it doesn't need to be at 100watts, but it does sound better up there). One major feature worth mentioning is the damping/resonance switch in the back. You can have Tight/medium/loose damping, which on tight has a "tight" sound, and on loose is very open and unforgiving. Other features worth mentioning include a switchable Effects loop (which I'm assuming is mono), Reverb knob (Sounds fair which is unusual for an amp rev) and Cool red jewel LED. Overall Rating: 10/10. I Would have bought the 212 Valve King if it were cheaper, but I still think I got a sweet deal on this one. It's unbeleivable what the sound is like, and I don't have to turn it up to get a quality practice sound. This beats it all to me right now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 8:26 am
well I've officially moved this thread to the Gear/DIY forum. I just want to get some confirmation before I go about deleting the original.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 8:03 am
o_O I CAN GET ON AGAIN WITHOUT MY NETWORK CRASHING! (Err, nevermind, it just did it anyway. I'll still write the would-be celebratory review...)
In celebration, I now review the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head I've been borrowing from my drummer's dad for practices (and feeling like a jackass about it... But though I feel like a jackass, I can't help but write a review of it... =)
Features: 3 channels, two with Raw/Vintage/Modern gain types, one with Clean/Pushed types. Tube or silicon diode rectifiers.
Sound: Pretty.. Uhh... Wow. Just wow. The gain is really everything you could possibly want. It will blow your mind away with its powerful roar on the Modern channels - it's absolutely perfect for high-gain, modern metal styles. Set one of the two high-gain channels to Raw and it will suddenly be every bit the classic crunch. Put it onVintage and get some more classic heavy metal tones. Switch over to the clean/pushed channel and get that slight overdrive or some sparkly clean tones. We play Guns N' Roses to As I Lay Dying, and it'll handle it until I can get a job, use the first $1k or so to do my senior project, then buy a decent amp of my own so I don't have to feel like a jackass anymore. 10/10 here.
Durability: Uhh.. I haven't dropped it or anything, but it feels like it's built like a tank, so... Seems to be built like a damn tank/10 here.
Those are about all that matters from an amp, wouldn't you say?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 2:55 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
