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You are here: Home / Archives for Technology

Bass guitar wonderland

July 20, 2007 by Chris

I love playing bass once in a while even though I’m ok at it. I wish that I had the technique to do some “bass slapping” but my longer finger nails prevent me from doing so. I can pull it off in playing songs on my guitar like Neon (John Mayer) or Peggie’s Kitchen walls (Bruce Cockburn) but the doing them on bass is another matter left to the masters of the 4 string.

strange_guitar_21.jpg

My wife came across this site called weirdomatic and bookmarked it without telling me, but I do have selective hearing (like most men) and I had to check it out when I stumbled upon it early one morning while she was asleep.

This site has the best and original looking basses that I have seen anywhere.

Even if your not a bassist check out this link anyway. These artisans are unreal in their abilities to create functioning works of art. I would never have considered some of these styles to actually work.

The bass’ do not look to be ergonomic, but they would be a blast for anyone’s collections. Even just to look at them and admire the artistic merits is worth looking at.

Keep on Jammin’




Filed Under: Guitar Equipment, Shopping, Technology Tagged With: art, artisans, bass, bass guitar, bassist, fun, play, playing, unique bass guitars, weird bass guitars, weird looking bass guitars, weirdomatic

Fantastic guide to Green Cars

July 12, 2007 by Chris

It’s nice to see that car manufactures are beginning to design more and more green cars. My wife and I try to live a fairly green lifestyle. In fact she’s been writing about it on her gardening blog recently. Over the last few years we’ve been changing slowing and living a greener lifestyle.

One major change that we’d like to make, probably with our next car purchase would be to get a green car. Probably a hybrid or if possible a pure electric car.

With this in mind, I was happy to find an article about the Greenest cars on earth over at the Vcars website.

Vcars specializes in the sale of Used cars and I suppose it won’t be long before they’ll be selling a few used green cars since there are more and more types of green cars on the market each year.

The article that I read discusses the many types of green cars that are presently being sold, as well as prototypes and manufactures plans for green cars of the future.

Probably the most well known green car is the hybrid Toyota Prius. This vehicle and it’s specifications are discussed in the article, as are a number of electric cars such as the G-Wiz, and the Sakura Maranello4. It seems that both of these cars can be found on the streets of London. As far as I know we don’t have anything quite like that available to us here in North America, but I hope that we will soon.

Then there are cars by a variety of well known manufacturers that produce a very low C02 footprint compared to many other vehicles on the road today. Cars such as the Honda Civic, Lexus RX-400h, and Lexus GS-450h are all considered green cars.

If you have an interest in cars I’m sure you’ll enjoy the article, and if you are interested in living green you’ll find some very useful information that will help you decide on your next car.

You must go to the site and see the prototypes of future green cars. Did you know that there’s plans for a Tesla Roadster Electric Vehicle? It looks amazing! Scroll to the last third of the article to see a photo of this cool looking car.

Overall I found this article quite informative and I’m sure I’ll go back to it when we are about to buy a new car.

Filed Under: Home and Lifestyle, Technology Tagged With: car makers, electric, electric car, future green cars, Green cars, greenest cars, hybrid, hybrid car, London, low c02 footprint, major manufactures, protoypes, UK, used cars, Vcar

My new SONY HDR-SR5 Video Camera

July 3, 2007 by Chris

So we finally got ourselves a more then capable HD Video camera. Our SONY HDR-SR5 was bought this past Sunday. I have been going over the manual for some time now and I must admit it seems easy enough to use but to get the desired effect maybe another story.

hdr-sr5.jpg My first video attempt was just random shots here and there around the house. I also had the opportunity to video some fireworks down at our local park. It was Canada Day on Sunday so perfect timing! The focus was so fluid and the simple effects were just plain simple to execute! The touch screen was very user friendly not to mention very cool as well! It is set up in such a simple format that even my parents, I think, could figure it out. Sorry mom & dad!

hdrsr5.jpg

The HDR-SR5 has a CD for running the camera for idiots and another for the recording software as well as an in dept PDF manual that is very straight forward.

If you are looking for a HD Video camera I think you should check this one out! The only problem that I have with this so far is that we need a S-Video cable to plug it into our SAMSUNG HDTV. Otherwise full steam ahead.

Today I will install the software in my laptop and try out a few of the basic functions. I hope the software allows me to import the audio from an POD to the final video. If I am having problems the old boys at G-Force Media Productions in Toronto, can certainly help me out!

So wish me luck! Finally after all the hype about my starting to set up lessons on line it really will be coming soon to you my good readership!!!

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Electronics, Entertainment, Home and Lifestyle, Shopping, Technology, Video Tagged With: 1080i, functions, G Force Media Productions, HD video, HDTV, smallest HD Video camera, software, SONY, SONY HDR SR5, Toronto, Video, Video camera

Guitars made out of recycled material

June 25, 2007 by Chris

cigar.jpg

You’ve got to read this story!

This guy, Lenny Piroth-Robert, makes guitars out of discarded cigar boxes. Have you ever heard of such a thing? He uses the empty cigar boxes to make the body of the guitar. it takes him about 8 weeks to make a guitar and they are apparently selling like mad on the internet.

I’ve got to check this guy out! Oh, did I mention he’s Canadian? Yeah, he’s working out Montreal. Check out his site – Daddy Mojo Custom Cigar Box Guitars. You’ve got to see the guitars. I want one! Hey, they sell for $175 to $375, I think I can talk the wife into that.

Filed Under: Canadian, Entertainment, Guitar Equipment, Technology Tagged With: Canadian, cigar boxes, crafted guitars, discarded cigar boxes, guitar

The Guitar Resource

June 16, 2007 by Chris

Just like every other guitar player on the planet, you realize that there is always someone out there that knows more then you do. You may spend your time, like I do, by searching, and then figuring out different styles to play that will help develop a unique sound that you can call your own. This does take a long time. Or, you can search the web for sites that can dramatically speed up this process.

Some great guitar sites even expose you to different ways to listen and understand overall musical structures. Well, I think that I have found one that does all the above and then some. The site is called The Guitar Resource. This is like one stop shopping for technique!

The Guitar Resource has an article called Circle of Fifths that will help with everything from finger exercises all the way to chords and chord progressions.

Not only does the Guitar Resource provide information on how to play, but it has a great selection called How to Read Tabs that compliment and makes the site that much more informative.

The videos that he makes about his topics are top shelf! He has the uncanny ability to make you feel relaxed and he doesn’t talk down to you. His posts also make you sit down and think about what and how to achieve all this without all that dry musical theory stuff. It gives you the very basics and lets you go from there. If you want more detailed info, then just ask him. It’s just that simple.

The tools provided at The Guitar Resource are simple and straight to the point. You don’t need all the bells and whistles to achieve your goal, and I think that he has that aspect all sowed up since he started in March 12th, 2007.

I also found a fabulous book in the portion of his site called Recommended. The book is called the “Practical Theory for Guitar”. Yes it certainly is a must have for any guitarist regardless of his/her level. I looked at some articles and found it simple and straight to the point, so I’m seriously thinking of buying it! I have to hand it to this fellow, he certainly got it right on this one too.

If you visit the guitar resource be sure to check out the tabs that you will find across the top of the site. He has a section called The Store. Within the store you will find a featured product as well as a selection of categories such as Guitars, Amps, Strings, concert shop, guitar instruction, parts and accessories and whole lot more.

All and all, as the name says, The Guitar Resource it is a great resource site to fit all aspects of your guitar playing needs.

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Guitar Equipment, Music, Web Site Promotion Tagged With: accessories, blog, chords, guitar, guitar player, guitars, how to, learn, Music, musical, play, playing, progress, progression, recommended reading, Shopping, strings, the guitar resource, Video

The ultimate ROCKMAN by Tom Scholz

May 11, 2007 by Chris

The ROCKMAN by Tom Scholz is the result of the business venture that helped many budding rock stars obtain that BIG FAT Boston sound that everyone was after in the 1980’s.

Unfortunately or fortunately for myself during those years I did not get my hands on any of these ultimate tools of the trade. I was a young player who tried to create the sound that I wanted by going as direct as I could.

I know that is contrary to most of my posts but I wanted to, in the back of my mind, be as pure and honest with my sound as I could. I was trying to slay many dragons on many fields at once. My guitar mentor at the time, always was suspicious about all those tricks that some players used to fool the listeners. This was someone who I had trusted completely and I never thought twice about questioning his judgment. I hope to have him back in my guitar life if he will let me.

Here is an example of the power of the Rockman Sustainor. I’d love to have this one for sure, what do you think?

So, go through this site and tell me if you have had any dealings with any of these products. Please give us the pro’s and con’s of all aspects of them and don’t leave anything out, even if you think that they are self explanatory.

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Guitar Equipment, Musicians, Shopping, Technology, Video Tagged With: amp, BIG FAT Boston sound, Boston, Getting that Boston sound, rock, rock star, Rockman Sustainor, the Rockman, Tom Scholz

eTrafficJams – Pay for performance

April 11, 2007 by Chris

If you run website, perhaps one that is an online business or an online showcase for your small or large business you probably already know how important it is for your website to be found quickly and easily by people searching search engine sites like Google or Yahoo for the type of products or services that you sell.

Why not use the services of a company such as eTrafficJams to promote your site and achieve higher standing for your keywords on the various search engines? eTrafficJams is a search engine optimization company that is based out of the Tampa Bay, Florida area. This company created the “Pay for Performance” seo service.

What is a pay for performance SEO service? Well, eTrafficJams charges monthly fees based on the number of top 10 rankings that they achieve for your websites keywords. They promote your site, using keywords that will work best to bring traffic and customers to your site, on the big search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN. eTrafficJams guarantees that they will get your site a minimum of 10 top 10 ranks on these search engines each month, or that months service will be free of charge.

Visit the eTrafficJams website to learn more about their SEO services and the company in general, and then decide if you’d like to promote your site with a company that stands by their performance.

Filed Under: Sales and Marketing, Technology, Web and Technology, Web Site Promotion Tagged With: etrafficjams, Google, keyword search, keywords, MSN, Search engine optimization, SEO, site promotion, top 10 keywords, top 10 rank, website, Yahoo

Line 6 Floor POD

April 3, 2007 by Chris

Finally the pedal that I have been looking for is available in a real foot pedal! I was just surfing the Electric Guitar Review today and came across one of his posts about it. I have written here before about this Line 6 product that only came as a “plug in” for a mixing board. I was first exposed to this baby by my good friends at G-Force Media and now it is in a foot pedal version.

The Line 6 Floor POD is a very versatile piece of equipment that I would love to get my little hands on. The sound reproductions and clarity are out of this world. This little piece of heaven is compact enough to go anyway you want to. The above link takes you to the sounds that it can reproduce.

This one suits me just fine thank you. I would use this more for my acoustic guitar and at the drop of a hat, have my electric collection do likewise. The sample sounds, for this product, on their site is a good mirror of what I do anyway.

With the Floor POD, you can have 64 pre-set sounds that also allows you to create you own unique sound signature and then save it as a pre-set one. You can also use your existing pedal along with it if you wish. As well, you can plug it directly into a PA system and hook up a CD player if needed. Best of all you can plug in your head phones and just enjoy the raw power that this thing punches out without the wife or neighbours freaking out!

The only drawbacks are that you cannot use Gearbox software or Line 6 Edit. You also cannot back up your patches

I love the effects that come with this puppy. They are Insane Melodic, Big and Wide, Harmonic Chorus, Harmony & Rhythm, Clean Chorus, Steely Montgomery and Double D. Insane Melodic gets an honorable mention here as well folks.

So now I have to find out where I can take this pedal out for a spin here in Toronto. When I do, I’m sure your hear about it!

BTW, my wife just made $2500.00 US with one of her online companies so I could be “off to see the Pedal” (use the Wizard of OZ theme song here folks), before long, … maybe.

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Guitar Equipment, Technology Tagged With: Acoustic, acoustic guitar, amp, electric guitar, jammin, Line 6 Floor POD, pedal, sound

How to figure out what strings you really need

March 29, 2007 by Chris

If you want your guitar to sound it’s best when you play it, you have to determine what type of strings you need to compliment your style of playing. Take your guitar in to have the intonation on your axe set by the best guitar technician possible in your area.

Intonation on a guitar is what we call the action on your guitar. This allows you to play/hit your strings effortlessly. Trust me, it’s worth the extra few bucks and time to get this done correctly. The better the intonation, the better the chance of your strings staying in tune longer. The less you have to bend the string, the less they lose their tension. That should speak volumes in itself.

I am forever fine tuning my guitars. People tell me that I make it look like an art form – or maybe they mean I’m being anal retentive!

When you go into a music store tell them what style of music you are playing, and how you want the guitar to react. I recommend kissing this person’s butt by going to see them on a Tuesday in the A.M. if possible.

Going there on weekends is like going to the lions den. There are always way too many kids and rookies in the store to drive them crazy. Monday is the day they try to remember what they were told to do and start off where they last ended. It can be the craziest part of their work week. Besides, who really does their best work on a Monday? Makes sense, huh?

Bringing a coffee can go a long way. Yes, I’m a kiss up artist too.

After you’re done kissing up, ask the techie what type of set-up they are putting on your guitar. This will help you in determining or narrowing down what type of string you should use. You can even ask him or her what type of strings they would recommend for your guitar and playing style.

Remember, a techie is the person who works on guitars. They are players themselves in their own right, but having said that, they also might not the ones to help make your final decision about your strings. NO disrespect intended to all you masters of guitar maintenance! The techie helping you might be biased towards certain types of equipment and or a certain type of sound. The more opinions the better, so ask around for further input. Remember, knowledge is power.

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Guitar Equipment, Guitar Maintenance, Shopping, Technology Tagged With: acoustic guitar strings, electric guitar strings, guitar intonation, How to pick which guitar strings to use

451press needs blog writers – earn money blogging

March 22, 2007 by Chris

Hey Gang … my wife, Tricia, writes for a blogging network. It’s called 451press and they are looking for some new writers to take over existing blogs. Check out my wifes page to see the list of blogs that they need writers for – there’s a huge variety of topics to write about, so I’m thinking that some of you might be interested.

Oh yeah, you can make some money by be a 451press writer too. Check it out.

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Web and Technology Tagged With: General, Web and Technology

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