Discount Online Music Stores

Since it seems that I love to shop online, I guess that it would only be fair for me to share with you some of the places that I like to visit online to check out gear and compare prices. There are hundreds of sites out there, and I'm sure that my list won't come close to covering them all, but does it really matter? It's a source.. your local tap doesn't spit out Evian.


Musician's Friend is definitely one of my favorite sources for anything musical. I've been dealing with them for over 10 years, and they've never let me down. The customer service is excellent, and delivery is prompt. I used to order a lot of pro audio equipment from these guys, and they always have the best products as soon as they're available. They have a wide selection of everything from instructional materials and accessories all the way to full-studio setups!

Visit Site

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Guitar Trader is a site that I came across recently, and they have some really good deals on instruments and accessories. It's worth checking out if you're shopping on a budget, or you're looking for something for the beginner. The site is easy to navigate, and they post new deals pretty often.. I might come back to this one!

Visit Site

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InstrumentPro is a pretty cool website that lets you shop by brand straight from the homepage. For musicians who know what they want, you can jump straight to Fender, Yamaha, or whatever your preference is! The prices are good, and the inventory is stocked well so you can get what you want WHEN you want!

Visit Site

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Holy Crap this site is cool! I've come across some pretty cool sites recently, but this one takes the cake. Elderly Instruments is one of those sites that you want to bookmark and check back on later because of the frequency of new deals. This site has a huge section of vintage used instruments that date back to earlier than the 1930's.. you can't go wrong here - for the collector, or the musician who appreciates history... check this one out now!

Visit Site

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Last but definitely not least, Guitar Center! I love the website... I love the store. I love everything about it. The prices are great, lowest for all competitors, they're physically located all over the United States, and they have pretty much whatever you could possibly be looking for - and if they don't, they'll special order it for you.

Visit Site

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No matter where you chose to shop, just be certain to look around for the best prices. You never know when you'll find that item you want for cheaper, or when you'll find something even better! Have fun during your search.

peAce.

Fender Mini ToneMaster Amplifier Review Part II

Just a quick update on the Fender Mini ToneMaster Review - this is a quick video demonstrating the superb sound quality of the amp, even if my playing isn't all that great...

Luckily my video camera wants to behave for now, so it looks like I'll be posting more video!

peAce.

KORG CA-1 Chromatic Tuner Review

Time for another review... I swear I'm gonna cut this out and get to actually posting some blogs about my progress so far with the guitar..

The KORG CA-1 Chromatic Tuner is compact, simple in design and even simpler to use. When you first look at it, it looks like a small intercom or burglar alarm. The display is very easy to see, and it fits nicely in the Fender Gig Bag that I recently purchased. There are four buttons on the face of the unit, two of which are up/down calibration buttons, one power button and a sound switch. There is an 1/4 inch jack on the side for electric tuning, and the built-in mic works excellently with acoustic guitars. The power-saving feature shuts the device off after 20 minutes of non-usage, and there is an LED light to let you know if the unit is on or off. The specifications on this unit are:

• Tuning: 12 note equal-tempered
• Detection range: A0 (27.5Hz)-C8 (4186.01Hz) : Sine wave
• Reference tone: C4 (261.63Hz)--C5(523.25Hz) : One octave
• Tuning modes: METER (AUTO), SOUND (MANUAL)
• Calibration function: 410-480 Hz (1 Hz steps)
• Detection accuracy: ±1 cent
• Sound accuracy: ±1.5 cent
• Connection Jack: INPUT jack (1/4" mono
• Power Supply: two AAA batteries 3V
• Battery life: Approx. 100 hours
• Dimensions: 102 mm (W) x 59 mm (D) x 16mm (H)/4.02" x 2.32" x 0.63
• Weight: 72g / 2.54 oz: including the battery

Two AAA batteries are included in the package, so you'll be able to get started right away. By far, my favorite feature of this tuner is the tilt slit located on the back of the unit. You can use a guitar pick or something similar to lean the tuner at an angle on a flat surface for easier tuning. I really do like this product, and it's perfect for the beginning and even seasoned guitar player. I'm going to have to give this one a 4-star rating, only because It's definitely not my absolute favorite... My neighbor has one that is a kick-pedal controlled tuner, metronome, and effects pedal - I'll get one sooner or later.

★ ★ ★ ★

peAce

Fender Electric Gig Bag Review

As mentioned before, I've been waiting on my gig bag to arrive - and it has! I have to say - this is a quality product - hell, the box that it came in was worth at least 50% of the price (no kidding - I'm using it to store cables and whatnot). At $19.99 this thing is an honest steal! So far, all of the products featured on my blog have received a 5-star rating, and this bag fits all of them - mini amp and all, so I'm going to go ahead and give IT a 5-star rating. Here ya go:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

On with the review. I really like the fact that this bag is lightweight, but there could be a little more padding. If you're planning on taking a really expensive guitar on a long trip, and it's not under your care at all times, then you might want to go with something with a little more insulation. It's perfect for me, though - I stay local for the most part, and I don't plan on letting it or my guitar out of my sight... if I go to the airport, I'll go with a hard case - but this will do... Perfect.

I have to say that my favorite feature of this bag is the backpack-style straps. Having your guitar securely strapped to your back is not only the easiest way possible to carry your guitar, it's also the safest - no need to worry about slamming your fretboard into walls when you walk through doors anymore! There is a regular carrying handle as well, if you like to carry your instrument like a briefcase. There are two reinforced zippers on the main compartment of the bag, so it's unlikely that they'll be breaking anytime soon - this whole thing is put together well.


Of course there's also the pocket in the front of the bag which is big enough to fit all or at least most of your accessories. I can fit my Fender Mini amp in there along with my tuner, gripmaster, cables and whatever else I may want to throw in there. This bag has plenty of room. Overall, I'm sure there are better out there, but for the price, this bag is legit. I'd definitely suggest this product.



peAce

Anticipation... Waiting On My Gig Bag and Recorder

Last week I placed an order online at Musician's Friend. I've had my guitar since Christmas, and since I'm learning to play it a lot better, and more than likely I'll want to take it from place to place soon, I decided it was time to get a gig bag. Along with this I went ahead and ordered an ivory recorder (LMI) in the key of "F". Come to think of it, I also ordered a book from buy.com, and that should be coming today as well..

So I'm on my way out to work in less than an hour, and hopefully by the time I return home, my packages will be ready. I actually paid for these, unlike the ProHands by Gripmaster (which I did a review on).

I'll be sure to leave a review of these items as soon as they arrive and I'm able to check them out. Stay tuned... Me and that gig bag will be going places!

Update 2/5/2010 -- Orders have not arrived yet, hopefully by later on today they will be here. I'll be back in a few hours!

Judgement Day

This video was pretty fun to make... other than the fact that it was freezing cold and after awhile my fingers were too numb to operate the camera. The video quality is all trashy because of the fact that it's a myspace upload - the youtube version which is of higher quality, is lost forever thanks to a ban on my last channel...

anyways.. enjoy.


Judgement Day - 2009

Skiilz Mitchell: THE MITCHELL REPORT | MySpace Music Videos

peAce.

My musical Roots Part I

As I mentioned before, I grew up listening to a LOT of good music (hell - I'm listening to good music right now). Believe me, if assload was a legitimate unit of measurement, that would describe my music collection. I listened to a lot of P-Funk, r&b, Soul, Blues, Reggae, but I fell in love with Hip Hop pretty much right away, and in retrospect, it's definitely because of the way it (Hip Hop) has always been able to blend these genres of music into a "supersound" of sorts. My musical appreciation and awareness still expand every day, and I keep an open mind to accompany two open ears, and I have Hip Hop music to thank for that. I no longer have a favorite artist - I tend to look at every artist's musical contributions individually because I love so many of their works. I'm not going to compare Prince to Michael Jackson or Jay-Z to Busta Rhymes. Not happenin'.

...But on the other hand, I do have a tendency to argue about guitarists... Jimi Hendrix was the fuckin' man! On top of being the fuckin' man, he didn't even know how to read music! Damn shame he had to leave the United States to gain recognition.. Obviously we weren't ready, and some of us still aren't. Are you experienced? Do what he did in three years and maybe I'll believe you. nyaah!

Honorable Mention: George Clinton

Um. Yea... so this guy has always been a musical idol for me. It holds true that when it comes to art in any form, whether that be music, painting, or even poetry - the weirdo always does well. Imagine touring the world for over thirty years performing P-Funk, which is high-energy in nature, and thus requires energy. You, George Clinton are also the fuckin' man!


Bill, you're the fuckin' man, too.

Look at Arsenio Hall there with that E.T finger!! Speaking of Arsenio Hall, Remember his "brother"/alter ego "Chunky A"? Sorry for letting these two spoil Georges "Honorable Mention moment", but my mind wanders sometimes.






You can check out a wiki on George Clinton and his work here, and be sure to check out some Parliament music! It's good shit!

I'm going to end the part I of this blog here, as not to get too wordy and long "winded". I'll return with the second part sometime within the week.

peAce.

Pro Hands Review

Recently I ordered the Pro Hands hand exerciser from amazon (I actually got it for free, and I can show you how I did that if you're interested). The reason that I decided to pick one of these up is obvious - I'm a beginning guitarist, and I need to strengthen my hands and fingers. The strength of the fretting hand is of utmost importance, so I'm making sure I have all the power and stability I'm going to need for my journey ahead.

Because I ain't no sissy, and I'm far from a "muscle-neck", I chose the 7lb resistance model (the red one). It's perfect for all hand sizes, and the exercises designed for musicians definitely make for a good workout. There are other models available, each offering different resistance, and some being of a different design. It is ideal for the overall health and wellness of your hands, as well as training and development for sports and recreational activities, meaning anything that involves the hands - golf, shooting, fishing, football, yoga, computer, video gaming, etc. -- and it's comfortable!

Within a few days of owning this wonderful device, I noticed a difference in my finger speed and overall hand strength. I am able to do hammer-ons with my pinky finger a lot easier now, and my thumb no longer aches after an hour of practice with my guitar. The exercises get easier as time goes on, like with any other type of activity. You just have to keep with it, and you'll be on your way to faster fingers!

You can check out a full list of the products available at the Pro Hands website. The exercise chart is available in .pdf format here. Keep in mind that these exercises are meant to strengthen your hands for multiple purposes, so this will help me out with more than the guitar alone.

As far as how I managed to get this for free from amazon, check out a little site called points2shop - if you love to waste time on the internet, you might as well get something out of it...

"

I love this product, and I give it a 5-star rating!!

Fender Mini Tone Master Review

Recently I stopped by my local Guitar Center to pick up a new mini amp for my late-night practice sessions. Since I'm still learning, there's no need for a really big amp or anything fancy, and I like the portability, so that's what I'm going with for now. As you can see by the picture above, it isn't very big - actually the dimensions are:

• 160mm/6.3 in. (HEIGHT)
• 171mm/6.7 in. (WIDTH)
• 57.5mm/2.3 in. (DEPTH)

The rest of the specifications are:

• WEIGHT: 500g (1.1 lb)
• POWER OUTPUT: 1W RMS
• POWER CONSUMPTION: DC9V 006P BATTERYx1
• SPEAKER COMPLEMENT: 3" HIGH BALANCE TYPEx2
  

This is a good thing if you live in a small apartment, or you live in an apartment building with lots of neighbors. You can adjust the sound to be just perfect for your personal use, or even use the included headphone jack so you can jam without disturbing your sleeping girlfriend.





The overall sound quality of this mini amp is excellent, and the volume gets pretty high, so it's definitely worth the small price tag ($39.99 at Guitar Center). I have had the pleasure of trying out other mini/micro amps, and so far, this one is the best.

It has a lot of kick for it's size, and the durability is excellent. It's powered by a 9-Volt battery, or an optional 9-Volt adapter (purchased separately, but you more than likely have one laying around the house). With Gain, Volume, and Tone controls, you have multiple settings as far as sound and distortion are concerned - it also features an independent on/off switch and LED (which is great for letting you know when your battery is about to die).


Another pretty cool feature of this little beast is the "kickstand" - located on the rear of the unit. If you place the Mini Tone Master on the floor, you're able to pull out the kickstand to lean the unit upward, thus creating a wider area for sound to travel across the room (no use in keeping the sound on the floor). It is made of metal, and is also sturdy in design, just like the rest of the unit.



I decided against going with the two-year warranty offered by Guitar Center for this product, only because I plan on buying another one as a backup anyway - it's that good! Besides, I don't feel that I should have to wait for a refund check for the purchase price of the amp just to have to cash it, and come in to buy another one anyway... screw dem apples. I'm pretty sure I'm leaving out a few details, but if you have any questions regarding this product or my opinion on this product, feel free to leave a comment. Overall, I'd have to give this product a 5-star rating. Good work, Fender!!

Musical aptitude after 30

If you had asked me if I was musically proficient at any point in my life, I would have answered with a proud and ignorant "yes!"

This was because I did in fact have a strong musical background, but that only included using my ears to listen to what others had performed or recorded, and the instrumental classes that were included in my grade-school curriculum. I had also been rapping since the age of six, and occasionally making beats (electronically, of course). I have always mostly been known for the fact that I am a hip hop artist, but recently it has come to my realization how out-of-tune I am with the truth of the matter...

I'm not musically proficient - not at all! Never have been, but that doesn't mean I can't be.

What I allowed to happen was this: I confused my lyrical proficiency with musical proficiency. Simply put, voice alone is not music unless you use it in a certain way - which is rare in hip hop music (If you need an example of what I mean, listen to a little Pharoahe Monch - his style is musical as it can be).

So I'm at a point now in my life where certain realizations are hitting me hard, and I'm still at the age where I can actually take action instead of regretting unaccomplished goals. I've decided to learn as much as I possibly can about music and music theory including music history and progression. Every instrument that I get my hands on or take interest in will prove to be a new challenge to me... challenges that I am eager to face. I love music now more than ever, and even though I could have learned this stuff years ago, I still want to, and there's no better time than NOW!

I've always had a high aptitude for learning, and thankfully that seems to get a little better as I get older. I know that this won't be simple, but I'm not looking for simple. I'm looking for self-satisfaction and beautiful music that is created by my own hands. In 2010, I plan on becoming a proficient guitar player, and at least learn the basics of a list of instruments:

• Piano/Keyboard
• Trumpet
• Flute
• Electric Bass
• Xylophone

...This ought to be fun. Hopefully along the way on my journey, I'll be able to pick up a few supporters - the more the merrier! I'm always looking for advice, and since I'll be posting videos soon, input is always welcome.