Hands-On Reviews and Product Spotlights

The introduction of the Bose^® L1^® Model I system in 2003 marked a revolutionary new approach to live sound. By combining monitors and PA into a single system musicians are now in control of one common mix for the stage and audience. The L1^® system’s interlocking components can be set up in minutes so musicians can spend time focusing on what is important—the music.

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Spider guitar amplifiers are famous for breaking down barriers. Last year, more guitarists chose Spider III amplifiers over all other guitar amplifiers*. Spider Valve is the world’s first guitar amp to combine world-class modeling with a boutique-style, all-tube preamp and power amp. Spider Jam™ is the only jam amp to deliver dialed-in, artist-created tones and a wide variety of backing tracks performed by pro players.

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There’s being serious about your acoustic sound, and then there’s being Fishman Serious. People who fall into the latter category are on a never-ending quest for better sound—much like Larry Fishman himself, who, while searching for a good-sounding pickup for his beloved double bass, found himself on a journey of discovery that led him up and down the East Coast and ultimately back to himself. The discovery was the old cliché, "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." And that happy accident is how Larry Fishman became the top name in acoustic amplification, when all he was looking for was a way to have his bass heard alongside electric instruments.

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Each of the guitars in my modest collection has a role to play. I have a dependable workhorse guitar that goes to gigs, a great-sounding instrument for the recording studio, a compact travel guitar, a lavishly appointed diva that only makes appearances at special occasions, and finally, my guitar for the rest of my playing situations such as parties and informal jams, the backyard patio, or a spur-of-the-moment songwriting session. Epiphone has two excellent candidates for such an all-purpose guitar: the Limited Edition Hummingbird Artist and Limited Edition EJ-200 Artist. Each Artist is a no-frills version of a classic Gibson flattop.

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When the Parker Fly was released in the early 1990s, it was a landmark in solidbody electric guitar innovation: a slim, ultralight body design with a distinctively angular silhouette enveloped by a smooth "space age material" skin. With the new DragonFly, Parker combines the best of the original Fly’s forward-looking features with elements that appeal to guitar players looking for a more traditional vibe. While sacrificing none of the elements that make the Fly a Fly, the DragonFly successfully broadens its appeal to any guitarist looking for state-of-the-art technology in a lightweight and versatile instrument.

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Whatever you do, don’t call it a headphone amp. That doesn’t come close to describing what the JamHub can do to transform your practice sessions and rehearsals. Although it has elements of both a headphone distribution amp and a multichannel mixer (and a recording device), the JamHub combines the best of both to provide musicians a friendly, no-hassle environment to get together and practice silently—without the high-decibel collateral damage that can make rehearsing a full band a nightmare. The JamHub is a silent rehearsal studio—or you might even say a "stealth studio"—that allows you to bang it out with your bandmates even while someone nearby reads a book, watches TV, or nods off to sleep.

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