Sting - 25 Years[3CD + DVD Set]

I'll be honest. I almost passed on this one. Being a long time Sting fan, I have collected just about every one of his CDs and live concerts(on both VHS and DVD). I often feel that I have contributed to Sting's considerable wealth more than any one human should. With that said, when I got wind of this new collection I instantly said to myself, "I'll Pass!". However, I eventually caved and indulged once more. I'm glad I did!



(click the image above to purchase online from Amazon)


The first disc starts off with the uber familiar "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free". What I heard come through my headphones was somewhat surprising. The song had been remixed from its original presentation on The Dream Of The Blue Turtles album. Gone was that huge 80s reverb and sheen that I was expecting to hear. Several of the instruments and background vocals had considerably more presence and definition. Not a knock against that 80s sound; in fact I love that sound. This was just different. A more modern mix of a classic. Old, yet new at the same time. I thought this was very cool, as it was almost like hearing a rough cut of a tune I'd heard hundreds of times already. This treatment is more evident on some songs than others, and will probably go unnoticed by many. It's safe to say that laptop speakers will not do it justice. However, my $350 Pioneer headphones delivered every nuance, and I marveled at how well I could hear Sting's and Darryl Jones' basses on many of the songs. Do yourself a favor and play this on a good sound system. Any true blue Sting fan will be pleased!

Once you wade through the 3 CDs  filled with songs remixed by Sting himself and other artists, there's the DVD that features 10 live performances. It was great to see songs like 'Synchronicity II' and 'Heavy Cloud, No Rain' as they are two of my favorites. And of course, what would a live Sting set be without the inclusion of 'Roxanne'? WINNING!!

All in all, you could do much worse with your hard earned $120. It is a pretty sizable investment, but true fans will come away feeling as though it was money well spent. For the uninitiated, this is a golden opportunity to discover the genius that is Gordon Sumner aka Sting!

Jeremy Ellis on Maschine And Maschine Mikro......WOW!

This has got to be some of the most impressive use of Maschine that I have witnessed so far!

Fender American Deluxe Jazz Electric Bass

 As any Fender Jazz owner(myself included) knows, this instrument is a musical 'chameleon'. Not many instruments fit so well into so many different genres of music. The J-Bass is as much at home in an Alt-Metal band as it is in a laid back Smooth Jazz situation. The balanced and powerful, yet subtle and soulful tone of these instruments falls into any mix so perfectly and deliver the goods so well that one is often tempted to ask him/her self if any other bass is needed in their arsenal.


The latest model in the ubiquitous line of instruments from state-side manufacturer Fender brings with it a few brand new and very welcome bells and whistles:

• N3 Noiseless Pickups - these offer increased headroom and tighter low end response
• An Active/Passive toggle switch
• A new Passive mode tone control(VERY NICE!)

Fender was even gracious enough to supply flat-head screws for the battery compartment, so that if a screwdriver is not readily available in an emergency, a pick or some other flat utensil may be used to swap out a dead battery. HUGE plus in my opinion! Other enhancements include rolled fingerboard edges, a genuine bone nut and  a Stealth A String retainer.

Fender has once again succeeded in making a truly incredible Bass even better. List price for this instrument starts at $2249(click the picture below to see models available starting from $1699 courtesy of our affiliate partner) . Yes, Fender has raised the stakes for these fine instruments as a result of today's economy, but the new features combined with the ever-consistent build quality justifies the price hike.

Thanksgiving Day Was Awesome!

Spent the day with family in Chicago and indulged in my fair share of turkey, dressing and desserts! Hope you all enjoyed your 'Turkey Day' as well. I'll be back on Monday with some new updates on some hot gear!

F Sharp Productions Personalized Cables

As musicians, while striving for that oh so elusive sonic nirvana from our setups, we tend to put just about all of the emphasis on our instrument and/or amplification. However, the right interconnect can take the quality of your sound up or down a few notches depending on the quality. I once underestimated the value of a good cable in my setup, many times opting for the typical 'Bargain Basement' cables found on a large spindle at the local music shop. Those cables get the job done, but that's about it.

Enter F Sharp Productions Personalized Cables. Not only do these cables look amazing, but they sound wonderful. I purchased two of these cables earlier this year(see pic below) and I am very pleased with the full range tone and clarity I get with them. In my opinion they stand up quite well next to offerings by Monster Cable and the like. The price(about a dollar a foot) was also a plus. These cables can be custom made to your liking, and they are delivered in a timely fashion. Options include: length, color, mesh covering or standard and you can even opt to have your personal or corporate entity name printed on the cable end shielding. F Sharp Productions also offers headphone extension, speaker and midi cables, and a lot more! Click the link to check out F Sharp Productions Facebook page and give 'em a 'Like'!

American Musical Supply Outlet Zone

As an advertising affiliate of American Musical Supply I am able to post links to special promotions that the company is offering. Check out this link for some deep discounts on all sorts of gear. Find that perfect gift for yourself or your favorite musician!

Special Price On A Subscription To Bass Player Magazine

Take advantage of this low price for a one year subscription and save $30!!

TuneCore Music And Video Distribution

Here on the blog I will primarily be covering musical instruments and supplies. I will additionally include posts featuring other services and products that singers and musicians will find useful and interesting. The advent of the internet brought along with it a new era of convenience and accessibility. Many things that were once off limits or extremely difficult to do are now just a few clicks away. This includes getting your music out there to the masses.

TuneCore is an online media distribution service that allows musicians and vocalists to get their projects on iTunes, Amazon and other digital outlets. At only $9.99 to start this is an excellent service.

Avalon VT737SP Class A Tube Channel Strip

You'd have to try awfully hard to NOT get a good sound out of this box! I have run my bass through one of these personally in the studio and with very little effort was able to get a rich, warm tone that really cut through in the mix. All the dynamics processing you need in one double rack space unit! Tube preamp, opto-compressor, sweepable EQ, output level and VU metering. A must have for instruments and vocals alike.

Korg M50 88 Key Synthesizer Keyboard

The Korg M50 88 Key Synthesizer Keyboard captures all the sonic firepower of the M3, distilled into a performance instrument that is second to none.

Ludwig Black Magic Snare Drum

This snare drum from Ludwig has striking looks and a timeless sound sure to please just about any drummer! As always free shipping is available when ordering from American Musical Supply!

Ahead 5A Aluminum Drum Sticks

Wow! When I played drums MANY years ago I seem to remember aluminum sticks coming on the scene but not really catching on with most people. These new sticks by Ahead look pretty cool; and from the description they look to trump the old offerings from years gone by. However, THEY AINT CHEAP! Maybe they'll work for you?

Hartke HyDrive 210C Bass Guitar Combo Amplifier

The new Hartke HyDrive bass amplification line really packs a punch. This particular model uses two 10-inch HyDrive neodymium hybrid cone drivers to push 250 watts of power. Add to that a laundry list of ins and outs and you have one heck of an amp for $569!

Universal Audio UAD 2 Duo Flexi DSP Card

This card allows you to run large mixes on your computer by taking the load off of your CPU. As if that alone doesn't warrant a purchase, it also comes with a $500 plug-in voucher!