Gear Envy: TOM TOM w/ Star Wars Voices.
“No word yet if Admiral Ackbar yells “It’s a trap!” when you make a wrong turn.”
Gear Envy: PANArt Hang Drum
I just came across this amazing performance Davide Swarup. He is playing on a Hang Drum from PANArt. I love non-traditional instruments. How long until I have one?
— Chris Darby
Gear Envy: WOS by Brothers - The worlds most powerful iPod Speaker.
What is it? The Wall of Sound is 225 lbs of tube amp powered,handcrafted speaker. Interfacing with an iPod dock.
Why do you want it? Sometimes you just need to listen to your iPod on 11. And by sometimes I mean ALL THE TIME.
Geek Specs: 3’x4’ (huge), 28 elements, 40Hz-20kHz, 8 ohms, crossover frequencies: 1000k & 5500k, 125 Watts,
Price: 5 Grand.
Not sure who is buying this product, but if it’s you… I’ll be over @ 7.
— Jason Abraham
Gear Envy: The guts of a hand-made, hand-wired guitar amplifier.
Some seriously cool shots and back-story behind the boutique amplifier craze. Unfortunately, hwn hasn’t invested into this craze yet. Did you hear the silent cry of band wives and girlfriends?
Gear Envy: Star Wars AT-AT from Hasbro.
From the Hasbro press release :
In space, size does matter, and Hasbro certainly kept that in mind when creating its all-new, highly detailed STAR WARS AT-AT. The AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport) played a significant role in the Empire’s military assault in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and it will play an equally important role in every fan’s toy collection this year! Measuring more than 24 inches tall, nearly 28 inches long, and 12 inches wide, this colossal vehicle holds up to 20 STAR WARS figures – 6 of which can fit in its head alone! – and includes so many play and electronic features true to its on-screen counterpart that it’s hard to believe! From the zip-line in its body and articulated legs for superb poseability, to its LED lights and authentic movie sounds and phrases, this is the must-have addition for STAR WARS fans of all ages. Includes a 3 ¾ inch AT-AT driver action figure and a pop-out speeder bike.
AMAZING. Due out in August 2010 and should retail for about $100.
Gear Envy: Fuzz Head
What is it?
100% Grade A Creamy Fuzz Dreams. or Fuzz Head by Keeley Electronics.
Why do I get goosebumps when I turn it on?
The Fuzz Head only has two knobs. Fuzz and Head. The fuzz controls the amount of drive and Head controls volume. It also has a Silicon/Geranium selector switch which controls what diodes it goes through. The “SI” mode inserts two diodes (one silicon and one germanium in parallel.) It increases the gain and compression a bit for more sustain and for more of an overdrive mode. The end result, a true set it and forget it pedal - no matter where the knobs/switches are it sounds great.
Hear:
Geek Specs:
NPN Germanium Transistor, Silicon Diode, True Bypass, Large Blue LED(A Keeley Trademark)
— Jason Abraham
Gear Envy: Modulus Genesis 5-String Bass
What is it?
Why does it rock?
It’s built like a beast, the neck is a carbon fiber composite (which is to say that the sound is even and smooth no matter where my fingers are fretting), and the tone is killer without having to fuss with the EQ knobs.
How did it become my weapon of choice?
My first bass was a used beat-up Fender Jazz bass. Red. It had character, but essentially sucked as an instrument. After playing for several years, and getting some lessons here and there, I felt confident enough to get something better. So I started researching and visiting a lot of guitar stores. I tried out a lot of good basses but nothing struck me as the one I was looking for so, for years, I just searched.
Three years later, I randomly found myself at the now defunct Mars Music store near Troy, Michigan. I did my usual round of trying out basses that I thought might have potential but was, again, disappointed… Until I saw the Modulus Genesis hanging real high on one of their walls (why do guitar stores do that? don’t they realise people don’t look up there?). After the employee climbed a giant ladder to get it down, I plugged it in and realized it had the playability and tone I was looking for. True, it was massively heavy and twice as much as I was hoping to pay for a bass, but I couldn’t turn it down - it was the end of an epic search. I managed to get a decent hunk of change discounted on it and drove home a happy man. That was seven years ago.
Geek specs:
- 22-fret, 35” scale
- composite carbon fiber/alder neck
- maple fingerboard
- 2 active Bartolini J-pickups
- quilt maple top/alder body
— Eugene Limb
Gear Envy: Dunlop Tortex Guitar Picks
A huge part of playing guitar is the pick (or lack of) that you use. It can affect your tone, your speed, and your dexterity. After years of playing, both Joe and I have found that Dunlop Tortex .60mm are the best pick for our playing styles. This particular pick strikes the balance between being too thin and too thick. It is a pick that is thin enough to navigate between strings during solos and is thick enough to allow for solid strumming without bending. The Tortex material is synthesized to emulate the original Tortoise-shell picks used prior to 1973, when tortoise-shell trade was banned. The shell of a Hawksbill turtle had natural properties that allowed the pick to stay in your hand even with heavy sweating, which makes it a natural fit for live playing. The Tortex material also eliminates any “clicking” noise heard when picking.
Where to get them? I highly suggest Sweetwater. Everyone I know (including me) has had nothing but excellent experiences with the staff at Sweetwater. Bonus: They include candy with each shipment!
— Jason Abraham
