BOSS GUITAR MULTI EFFECT

ME-50: Guitar Multiple Effects Works Just Like Your Favorite Pedals A multi-effects processor without a menu-driven LCD? Leave it to BOSS to design the most intuitive multi-effects processor ever. With simple knob-based control over each effect section, the ME-50 makes dialing in your tone easier than ever. And when you want to kick in an effect, just step on one of the footswitches. Think of it as a pedalboard full of stompboxes, just without all the individual pedals. Superb Overdrive/Distortion Effects The ME-50 boasts a range of superb COSM overdrive and distortion models - perfect for use on stage with an amp. Derived from the popular OD-20 Drive Zone, these are some of the crunchiest, tastiest overdriven sounds you can imagine. There's even a "Square" effect for cool synth-type sounds. Of course, the ME-50 also has plenty of other effects like compression, analog delay, flanger, phaser, tremolo, Harmonist, Uni-V and a wicked new Rotary effect. Easy Assignable Expression Pedal Having an assignable expression pedal is great, but not if you have to dig through menus just to select the effect you want to control. The ME-50 fixes all that with a simple Pedal Mode switch and knob. First, select whether you want to use the pedal for volume or expression. If you choose expression, you can then select one of six preset assignments via the dedicated knob: wah, resonance, voice, ring mod and octave up or down. Memory Function for Live Performance The ME-50's Memory function makes changing Patches quick and easy. Once enabled, the three footswitches become Patch selectors for switching between three programs within one of the ME-50's ten memory banks. To switch banks, just press the Bank Up/Down buttons or use an optional footswitch. And with the ME-50's convenient tuner function, keeping your guitar in tune is easy.

Other woods that are also used for the back and sides are Mahogany, Maple and sometimes Cherry.

Red Spruce on the other hand, is heavier. It's grain is the stiffest of all the top woods used for building acoustic guitars. This particular characteristic produces the highest volume with more intricate overtones. That's probably why it's a favorite choice for steel-string acoustic guitar players. All you Bluegrass guitarists out there know you can really get down and rip it up!

Many guitarists know that Sitka Spruce is the most common of the woods used for building the face (top) of an acoustic guitar. This wood's high velocity produces a bright, clear tone that has a broad dynamic response.

But difficult circumstances can be the mother of invention- which leads me to one of the coolest things I learned while doing my research about guitar woods...

Mahogany is denser than those previously mentioned. It has lower sound velocity but produces a solid tone.

Makes perfect sense, right? But did you know that sound travels faster through some woods and slower through others? This little phenomenon effects the overall tone, or "color" of a particular acoustic guitar.

The bridge is another important factor to consider when buying an acoustic guitar. Some would even say it's the most important because the vibrations produced from strumming the strings are transmitted through the bridge into the sound chamber. It then bounces around inside the guitar and comes out the sound hole.

"The real star of this guitar is the quality that sustainable wood provides to the guitar. Sustainable wood is planted and harvested by ethical means as not to promote erosion and sustain the ecosystem as it is in it's natural environment. It's no surprise one of the original proponents and users of a DCE is Trey Anastasio of Phish and other environmentally conscious musicians."

Maple also has lower sound velocity and can be somewhat dull when used as a top for an acoustic guitar. On the other hand, the grain is particularly attractive when used for the back. Be aware that beauty and adornment are added features which will drive the price higher. Maple responds well when amplified and therefore it's a popular choice for solid-bodied electric guitars.

A good bridge will be made of hard woods such as Ebony, Rosewood, or Ash.

I discovered that the dynamic response of an acoustic guitar, and the sound it produces, are determined by the density of woods used and the overall construction of the instrument itself.

All I can say is two thumbs up for the Martin Company!

The Martin Guitar Company has developed a new guitar model that is specifically designed to help protect the environment. It's the Martin DCE Dreadnaught Cutaway Acoustic-Electric. Needless to say, it's not cheap, but it is innovative and admirable on their part for taking such an initiative in the first place. Read their own words...

Brazillian Rosewood has often been considered ideal for the sides and back of an acoustic guitar. Not only does it produce rich tones, natural reverb qualities and wonderful clarity, it also has a beautiful appearance. However, due to the high demand for this product the Brazillian Rosewood tree has become a threatened species and is now being protected. This obviously makes the wood more scarce and harder to come by.

Have you ever wondered what the best woods for an acoustic guitar might be? I'm not a luthier, but I recently did a little research of my own which may help to shed some light on the subject.

Perhaps you've noticed this yourself if you've ever compared the sound of one guitar with another. For instance, one guitar may sound bright and clear, the other warm and mellow.

Above all, try to stay away from laminated wood guitars as they will crack and separate under certain conditions. To make your choice simpler, I suggest sticking with reputable companies that you know and trust such as Martin, Yamaha, Gibson, Takamine, and Taylor, etc. If you do decide to go with a custom built guitar, make sure you know what you're paying for. Always look for sound quality and playability first; beauty last. That way you will have years of enjoyment playing an instrument you truly love.

Best Acoustic Guitar Woods

Electro Harmonix Effects Sampler

Getting the Sounds, Classic Guitar Effects

In this DVD, Nick Nolan, the Musician's Institute's rock expert, explains how to use all the most popular effects, like compression, distortion, chorus, digital delay and many more. Special DVD features include: additional video previews, "getting to know your amplifier" interactive features, Internet connectivity, and much more!

John Lennon favored the Epiphone E230TD Casino and used a variety of these guitars from 1966 onwards. Lennon painted this guitar and it appeared during the White Album sessions and in the Film Let it Be. During that film Lennon can be seen playing his Casino while rehearsing new material. Lennons Casino also features during the celebrated performance on the London roof top of their office building. Lennon is synonymous with the Casino, so much so that Epiphone recently re-released a John Lennon signature Casino. This faithful reproduction is of the guitar as John originally purchased it with the vintage sunburst finish and stock hardware.

The Beatles and Epiphone Guitars

The Beatles may well be arguably the worlds biggest ever band. Musically from the early 1960s to the end of their career they covered an array of different music styles from the jangly pop of their early days to the psychedelia of their latter albums. To cover all these different sounds they needed a broad range of instruments.

Clearly the Beatles have been one of the (if not the) biggest influences in popular music over the last 50 years. Their sound was distinct and this was bought about both by their playing and their selection of instruments. Thier Epiphone guitars contributed to their sound and a number of guitars have become iconic in their association with arguably the worlds biggest band.

Throughout their career they used a variety of guitars and you can see many photographs of the Beatles with Rickenbackers (325s in particular) various Gretch, Fender and Hofner. However they are also linked with Epiphone Guitars and often choose Epiphone guitars over all other guitars for recordings and live performances.

The first Beatle to own an Epiphone guitar was Paul McCartney who bought his first, an Epiphone Casino,during 1964. Influenced by the sound of this guitar John and George bought theirs soon after. The Epiphone Casino is a hollow-body double cutaway electric guitar. Although available in a variety of colors, George Harrison stripped his down to bare wood saying that he liked the sound of the guitar being able to breathe.

The Beatles also used Epiphones acoustic guitars. Paul McCartney favored the Epiphone Texan acoustic guitar and it was used to record the epic track Yesterday. McCartney still uses Texan's to this day.

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