XV-500 Review

The Xaviere XV-500 features a solid three piece mahogany back, solid mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard, bound flamed maple top and criticaly acclaimed GFS Crunchy Pat pickups.

Features: Les Paul style guitar, made in '07 or '08, I believe. Rosewood fingerboard, mahogany body, and flamed maple top. Single cutaway, tune-o-matic bridge, stopbar tailpiece. 2 volume and 2 tone knobs, pickup selector Switch, basically the same thing as a Gibson, only the cutaway is very sharp, and the inlays on the fretboard are not mother of pearl. Mine's the "Amburst Sunrise" color, which is very beautiful, very Orange. Bought it as a blem model, but I can only see one tiny scratch on the back of the guitar. Definately worth the price. // 8

Sound: The guitar sounds really good. The pickups are the GFS PAF copies, which really do sound like the original PAFs from Gibson. The bridge pickup is nice and open sounding, bright and crunchy for some good classic rock, like a typical LP. Both pickups together give you a good level tone that is much mellower than the individual pickups alone. The neck pickup, however, is where this guitar REALLY shines. You can get some great bluesy tones playing clean, or with distortion, you can play hard rock or metal, that sounds amazing. The sound is a very nice deep tone that one would expect from a neck pickup on a Les Paul. For lead playing, I use the neck as I find the pickup much hotter and powerful than the bridge. The sustain on this guitar is incredible too, just like a real Gibson. The humbuckers don't buzz at all, and the pickups are very hot. You just have to barely touch the strings to get a sound out of the guitar. Right now, I'm using a Roland Micro Cube amp, which although can get you some great tones, does steal a bit of the guitar's natural tone, as it is a digital modeling amp. Still, however, you can still hear how good the guitar sounds. With cheap guitars, it's the amp that makes all the tone, but with a good guitar like this one, the guitar's tone stands out. I've tried it through a Peavey tube amp and the sound was like nothing else. Great bluesy tones on the neck, and good bright rock on the bridge. I'm a big Lynyrd Skynryd fan and this thing does the job well (neck pickup), especially in capturing Gary Rossington's signature sound that I love so much. I ordered a new bridge pickup from GFS only because I wanted something different; what's in there now is great and is a perfect PAF recreation, but I wanted to try something else. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: Was decently set up out of the box, but I plan on getting it professionally done soon enough, as there is a tiny bit of fret buzz on the D string low down. In terms of finish, she looked great, and still does. I've changed the pickup rings to cream, but that is it. The tuners aren't anything special, so I have ordered new ones. // 8

Reliability & Durability: I have played Live with this guitar and it can definitely handle it. Everything seems solid, and I will probably be playing this thing for the rest of my life, as it's a great Les Paul style guitar. Very dependable, beautiful finish, everything seems perfect, and will last. // 10

Impression: I play classic rock, blues, and country, and this thing suits the part mostly for the rock and blues. I've been playing for a few years and have 5 or 6 other guitars, but this is my main player, and probably always will be. I'd definitely buy another one if this one was lost, Xaviere's are great, and guitarfetish has a bunch of amazing products at great prices. Before buying, I tried a bunch of Epiphones, but I prefer this to all of them. I love the look, but wish it had the mother of pearl inlays and chrome pickup covers, but I can Live without them. Great deal, great guitar, check them out!

Korg microKorg Analog Modeled Synth/Vocoder

State-of-the-art analog modeling and multi-band vocoding are finally available in a compact, portable instrument. With 37 keys and 128 user-rewritable programs, the microKORG Synthesizer/Vocoder is perfect for the performer, producer, computer musician, or beginner looking for an affordable synthesizer. The new microKORG delivers the quality sounds and features you expect from Korg at a price that will astound you.

Powerful Synthesis
The microKORG boasts the same dual-oscillator DSP synthesis engine found in Korg's critically acclaimed MS2000 and offers a wider selection of waveforms than any other modeled synth. Oscillator 1 features a total of 71 waveforms. These include traditional analog waves like saw, pulse, sine, and noise, plus more unique choices like Vox wave and cross wave. Together they provide a cool selection that can be modulated to produce an extensive range of timbres. In addition, 64 exclusive DWGS waveforms from Korg's classic DW-8000 enable the microKORG to reproduce a broad collection of imitative sounds. Sounds like bells, electric pianos, guitars, basses, and more that would be difficult reproduce on an analog synthesizer. You can also apply Ring and Sync modulation from Oscillator 2 to create the kind of complex timbres that are the true sign of an advanced synthesizer.

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Gibson Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar with 60s Neck (with Case

Guitar legend Les Paul and Gibson teamed up in 1952 to produce the guitar that set the standard for solidbody electrics. The 2002 Standard sports the smaller, vintage style headstock and plastic "keystone" tuner buttons and is available with a "fat," rounded 50's style neck or a "fast," slim taper 60's style neck. The Standard is outfitted with the new Burstbucker V pickups with Alnico V magnets producing slightly more output than any previous Standard pickups with more bite and a seductive "airy" tone with both pickups on. The Les Paul Standard is still the Industry Standard Now available with Desertburst, Honeyburst, Lightburst, Trans Amber, Wine Red, and Heritage Cherry Sunburst finishes. Features smaller, vintage style headstock and plastic "keystone" tuners.
Technical InfoBody: Carved AA Maple top, Mahogany backNeck: MahoganyProfile: "Fast" 60's styleFingerboard: RosewoodFrets: 22Inlay: Pearl trapezoidScale: 24-3/4 in. Nut Width: 1-11/16 in.Binding: Single-ply top and fingerboardBridge: Tune-o-maticTailpiece: Stop barHardware: NickelPickups: New Burstbucker V pickups with Alnico magnetsControls: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way switchStrings: Les Paul Signature .009-.046

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ESP LTD KH202 Kirk Hammett Signature Electric Guitar

Kirk Hammett has been an "ESP guy" for as long as anyone can remember and there' a wide range of Signature models to prove it. This ultra-affordable version is built with a Basswood body that holds a loud set of EMG-ESP LH300 humbuckers. Its Maple neck has a Rosewood fingerboard with Skull & Bones inlays, and easy-playing, extra jumbo frets. The Floyd Rose licensed tremolo is double locking and all hardware is Black.
Technical InfoConstruction: Bolt-on Scale: 25.5 in.Body: Basswood Neck: Maple Fretboard: Rosewood Inlays: Skull & bones with model name at 12th fret Pickups: EMG-ESP LH300Electronics: 2 volume, tone, 3-way slotted Hardware: Black Bridge: Floyd Rose licensed Frets: 24 XJ

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ESP LTD M50 Electric Guitar

For years ESP has been researching better methods of guitar building to bring the finest quality, low-priced guitar on the market. They have succeeded and the result is the M50. The M50 offers 2 humbucking pickups, Poplar body, tremolo bridge, a reversed headstock and an incredibly fast Maple neck with a Rosewood fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets. All at a price that everyone can enjoy.

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Monaco Elite Review (hamer guitar)

Hamer's new Monaco Elite features an arched, single cutaway Ivoroid bound body, neck and headstock.

Features: 2005 model, USA, 22 frets, mahogany body and set neck, "ultimate" quilted maple top and headstock laminate, single cutaway body, trans-black lacquer finish on top solid black on back, Tune-O-Matic bridge, passive SD custom and custom/custom pickups, two volume and one tone control, 3-way pickup selector, Sperzel tuners. Binding on top of body, neck and headstock. I'm giving it a nine simply because it doesn't have coil-splitting which a lot of people like. Not withstanding that everything else is top notch. // 9

Sound: Without question, if you are looking for a "Les Paul" style guitar this is the one to get. I can only compare mine to the LP Standard that I own and the Hamer sounds much brighter and more defined in everything it does. It sounds great clean and distorted. If you are looking for a two humbucker guitar I can't recomend one any more strongly, I promise you I'm not making this up out of some kind of owner's loyalty. It really is an excelent guitar in all respects. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: I bought mine from a dealer on eBay. It is a custom ordered insturment with the paperwork to prove it so I can't say I've played an "off the line insturment." The thing about the USA Hamers is that they are all more or less custom/hand made. I suspect most are as flawless as mine. Everything was perfect with mine. The binding is flawless, the wood beautiful, the frets perfect, the action low. I could go on for ever. Seriously, it's a great insturment and I feel that I got a great deal for what I payed, and I payed a lot. All you have to do is think about what you want to play with this insturment and it almost does it for you. It's great. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I don't really play out too much any more so I can't attest to how this thing will hold up on the road. It is a solidly built insturment. Feels much better than the three Gibsons I own, and I can tell you that it holds it's tune very well. I don't know if I would use it live without a backup, usually that would be a bad idea with any guitar. I can say that I would hope this guitar wouldn't fail me so I wouldn't have to play another. With what I do now I've got to say that it should last forever. // 10

Impression: Just so you know, I'm only even writing a review because one of this fine insturment doesn't exist yet in this database and I'm so pleased with my Monaco Elite I couldn't let that stand. I honestly play pretty much every style of music you could imagine from straight up jazz to death metal to hillbilly bluegrass on guitar and bass. I've been playing for 18 years, own a lot of gear and have jamed with a lot of well known musicians in my time and have never been told that I can't hang. I'm a amature because I joined the Army in 2001, I promise you I was doing well with my music career before that, and bought this guitar as a gift to myself after I got out. I tried out many guitars before I bought this one including PRS's, Gibsons, McNaughts, etc. and this is as good as it gets. I would definitly buy another one if mine was stolen because I find that this is the guitar to which I tend to gravitate in my stable of 15 quality guitars. Honestly, my Monaco is pretty standard except for the astetics with the top and headstock. I was worried about the pickup choice before I got it, but as soon as I started playing it I understood the company's desision. If you are looking for a "Super Strat" this will not be your cup of tea. However, if you're looking for a great LP style double buck guitar this is it. Guitars are pretty subjective, and I can't tell you that you will deffinitely like one of these Hamers more than a LP or a PRS, etc. but I can say you owe it to yourself to try one out. // 10

roland fantom x7

The Fantom-X Series are the world's first 'Giga-Workstation' keyboards, giving musicians nearly 1GB of wave memory when fully expanded and powerful 128-voice polyphony. The synthesis section has all-new waveforms and room for 4 SRX expansions, while the sampler's RAM can be expanded to 544MB, with an inexpensive DIMM chip - enough memory to use like a digital recorder. The Fantom-X Series is also the first line of workstation keyboards with a color LCD screen.

Features

128-voice workstations with 61-note keyboard (Fantom-X6), 76-note keyboard (Fantom-X7), or 88-note (Fantom-X8) Progressive Hammer-Action Keyboard

Seamless integration of audio and MIDI using gorgeous new ROM waves and sampling with realtime timestretch capability

128MB wave ROM includes quality-focused sounds like 88-key split piano and more

32MB sample RAM expandable to 544MB with optional DIMMs

New color LCD screen - a first in a workstation keyboard!

Innovative features like Skip Back Sampling, Dynamic Pad Bank and V-LINK*

3 MFX processors, plus dedicated reverb, chorus and mastering processor

USB port for MIDI, .WAV/AIFF file exchange and 4x SRX expansion

PC card slot for backing up samples and data with up to 1GB capacity

4 Line outputs (2 stereo or 4 mono), stereo Line input and 24-bit S/PDIF I/O

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Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar (Rosewood, with Gig Bag)

Fast-action Maple neck, comfort-contoured Alder body, 3 single-coil pickups and standard synchronized tremolo -- it's where the tradition began and still carries on today.

Technical Info

Model Name: Standard Stratocaster (Upgrade)

Model Number: 013-4600-(Color#)

Series: Standard Series

Colors:
(306) Black
(325) Chrome Red
(332)* Brown Sunburst
(375) Midnight Wine
(380) Arctic White
(387) Electron Blue
(Polyester Finish)

Body: Alder

Neck: Maple, Modern 'C' Shape,(Satin Polyurethane Finish)

Fingerboard: Rosewood, 9.5 in. Radius (241mm)

No. of Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo

Pickups: 3 Standard Single-Coil Strat Pickups (Ceramic Magnets)

Controls:
Master Volume
Tone 1. (Neck Pickup)
Tone 2. (Middle Pickup)

Pickup Switching
5-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup

Bridge: Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo

Machine Heads: Fender/Ping Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines

Hardware: Chrome

Pickguard: 3-Ply White

Scale Length: 25.5 in. (648 mm)

Width at Nut: 1.650 in. (42 mm)

Unique Features: Vintage Styling

Strings: Fender Super Bullets 3250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 to .042)

Accessories: Standard Gig Bag

Case: None

Introduced: 1/2006

Notice: Product Prices, Features And Specifications Are Subject To Change Without Notice

for info click here

or here http://www.zzounds.com/a--994203/item--FEN134600

ibanez RG 3720 DX

The RG guitar line is the unchallenged standard in hard and heavy rock guitars. The RG370DX employs several of Ibanez’ most-popular upgrades, including the Edge III bridge and Wizard II neck.

Features:
Wizard II neck — 25.5 scale neck is 2mm thicker than the super-thin, super-flat Ibanez Wizard.

3-piece Maple neck material

Basswood body — Basswood is a comparatively lightweight wood, which makes it very comfortable for extended playing. With a good balance of highs and lows, basswood is right in between alder and mahogany in sound character.

24 jumbo frets offer easy playing for leads and chording.

Bound Rosewood finger board offers a strong, bright sound and an attractive appearance with a long grain.

Edge III bridge

IBZ INF3 (H) Neck PU

IBZ INFS3 (S) Mid PU

IBZ INF4 (H) Bridge PU

Sharktooth inlay

Black hardware

Have you seen the headlines? “Guitar rock is back.”
Ibanez is happy to hear it. Except at Ibanez, guitar rock never “left” - and if you’re the type of player who reads Ibanez catalogs, you’ve been too busy playing guitar or bass to worry a whole lot about the media’s take on music. However, the papers are right about one thing: there are more new guitar and bass guitar styles than ever before. That’s why there are more different kinds of guitars and basses in the 2003 Ibanez line up.

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or http://www.zzounds.com/a–994203/item–IBARG370DX

Roland Releases SP-555 Sampler

Roland’s punches up its popular SP ampler lineup with the new flagship SP-555 Sampling Workstation. Complete with 16 velocity sensitive pads, 37 Fantom-quality effects, an exciting new LOOP CAPTURE function, beefed up internal sample memory, and total computer integration with USB MIDI/AUDIO connectivity—the new SP-555 is the perfect weapon for artists looking for new ways to get their creativity juices flowing.

Created for DJs, loop based performers and sampler junkies alike, the competitively priced SP-555 model offers customers a simple and stress-free approach to beat-making. Whether it be the 555’s down and dirty sampling capabilities that allow users to assign samples directly to individual pads, or the dynamic new LOOP CAPTURE function that allows them to grab spontaneous, live performances this new sampler offers something for everyone looking to carve out their own unique style.

The new LOOP CAPTURE function allows users to sample live audio from the 555’s inputs, (you can also play loops from the pads of course), with real-time effects tweaks. Additionally, artists can connect a footswitch to the SP-555 to activate the LOOP CAPTURE allowing them to stack individual parts on top of one another. The SP-555 makes it easy to build-out phrase loops in real time by simply activating the Overdub Mode.

The SP-555 boasts an expanded internal memory with almost six minutes of stereo sampling time, or to compact flash cards up to 2 gigabytes in size, for a total of over 12 hours of sample time. Like all other SP models, the 555 streams audio in real-time directly from the Compact Flash card, preventing any irritating audio flow interruptions.

The 37 Fantom-quality effects make the SP-555 stand out from the crowd. Effects include classics like the Voice Transformer, Delay and Isolator, and brand new effects like Super Filter, Amp Simulator Step Ring Modulator and DJ FX Looper. The SP-555 can save custom effects settings to the Effect Memory section and recall patches directly from the pads.

In addition to an army of button and knobs, the new SP-555 also contains Roland’s proprietary V-Link and D-Beam technologies giving beat makers new and organic ways to tweak their samples in a live setting, or in the studio.

Thanks to the onboard USB-MIDI/AUDIO and bundled Cakewalk SONAR LE and Wave Converter software, artists can easily fly beats and sounds back and forth from their laptops with stress-free ease.

In addition to the newest enhancements, the SP-555 shares the same standard feature sets and functions found in the SP-404, including tap tempo, a low-fi sampling mode, and onboard mic and I/O.

Roland is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of electronic musical instruments, professional audio equipment, multimedia products, and music accessories. For more information, contact Roland Corporation U.S., 5100 S. Eastern Ave., P.O. Box 910921, Los Angeles, CA 90091-0921, (323) 890-3700 (x3718 - for media use only. www.RolandUS.com