Review Date: March 2016 – Review unit purchased from Sweetwater Overview Ibanez introduced their new Talman Bass series, the TMB-100 and TMB-300, in early 2015. Then they recently released a short scale version for $179, along with some fancier more expensive models, including some new 5-string options. One thing that’s a bit confusing about these […]
Guitar
How to Install New Guitar Nut, with Video Walkthrough
Replacing a guitar or bass nut (the piece at the top of the neck that the strings sit on) isn’t as difficult as most people think. Installing a new nut is one of the easiest guitar maintenance projects aside from changing strings, and is a good do-it-yourself project even for beginners. There are a number […]
List of Best Free and Paid Guitar Amp Sims
Below is a round up of the best free and paid amp sims for playing guitar using a computer instead of the old school method of playing through a “real” amp. Amp sims have come a long way in recent years. Their realism and sound quality has improved immensely to the point where it can […]
Review: Ernie Ball Cobalt Guitar Strings are Overrated
Last month I decided to order a pack of Ernie Ball Cobalt strings to try out. I’d never heard of their “Cobalt” strings before so I figured I’d give them a try. At $10 for a pack of 7-string regulars, they cost about twice as much as normal strings. Some reviews that I read claim […]
25 New Amp Sim Models Now Available – Thermionik 5
Recabinet 5 was finally released today. Well, sort of… Recabinet 4 was a popular amp sim plugin by Kazrog that included 5 simulated amps and a bunch of cabinets and mics. Now with the release of the 5th generation product, Kazrog has split Recabinet and Thermionik into two separate plugins. Thermionik 5 represents the 25 […]
Review: Rocksmith 2014 Edition, a Terrible Way to Learn Guitar
So a couple months ago I decided to buy the 2014 edition of Rocksmith, the latest version available. I like playing guitar and I like playing video games, so combining the two is bound to be a winning combination, right? Wrong. Rocksmith blows. It blows hard. I can’t begin to express my dislike for the […]
Free Engl E530 Amp Sim: Mercuriall Tube Amp U530 (Video)
A couple months ago Mercuriall Audio released a new amp sim called the Tube Amp Ultra 530. It’s modeled after the Engl E530 preamp, and it adds some extra features not available on the real thing. There’s a free version of the Tube Amp Ultra 530 and a paid version. The free version has limited […]
Free Guitar Drive Pedals, Cabinets and Bass Amp Sim from Audiffex
The folks at Audified have started experimenting with some pay-what-you-want deals for their digital products, which means that you can get them for totally and completely free if you’re a cheap bastard like me. You can get a Gallien Krueger bass amp sim, complete with a cabinet and mic for free. It works as a […]