Kentucky Artist A-Model Mandolin Model KM-160 in Traditional Sunburst Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been playing guitar for a while (mostly Contemporary Christian & Irish) and wanted to cross over onto the Mandolin. After alot of research on the web, this one consistently had the best reviews. The fact that it is one of the few in this price range with a solid (not laminate) carved spruce top and a truss rod counts for alot. They may be hard to find, but if you do, you won't be sorry.

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Every Kentucky mandolin is meticulously hand-crafted from the finest materials to produce the best possible instrument for players of every level.We have upgraded the 100 series throughout and added new color options for every taste.

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Yamaha MM6 Music Synthesizer Review

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(More customer reviews)Got more then expected. Lightweight with great sounds, especially Live! ones. Good synth suitable primarily for performace. Easily programable for fast patch switching.

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Power and control, two elements that can make all the difference in your music, whether you compose, create or perform. The MM8 and MM6 Music Synthesizers deliver all the musical power and creative control you need - and a whole lot more. Taking their sounds from the highly popular pro-level MOTIF series instruments, the MM series have an enormous variety of dynamic, authentic voices to help you create and perform in virtually any style of music. These powerful instruments also give you total control over your sound, letting you dynamically change sonic textures as you play with real-time tweakable knobs. Also built-in are special Patterns that provide full instrumental backing - drums, bass and chords - to accompany your live performance and song creation. The MM8 and MM6 have 418 Voices and 22 Drum Kits on board, all based on the dynamic, realistic sounds of the advanced MOTIF series synthesizers. These exceptionally high-quality sounds range from authentic acoustic instruments to wild, unique and in-your-face synth Voices. An extra set of GM Voices is built into the instrument as well, giving you all you need to play back songs recorded in that popular format. With so many Voices to choose from, you might think it's difficult to select the ones you need. Not so. The convenient Category Search function lets you choose the type of instrument you want to play - organ, guitar, synth, lead, strings, whatever - then select the specific Voice. All your favorite sounds are right at your fingertips, ready to play when you are.

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Giannini GBSM3 EL Brazil Series Mandolin (Electric) Review

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(More customer reviews)I just received this mandolin (bandolim) tonight, so these are first impressions. The instrument I received was not a Giannini GBSM3 EL (Electric) as listed, but a GBSM3 X (Non-electric). I am in the process of exchanging or returning it, but will make a few observations on the instrument at hand. Overall, for the price I paid, this instrument is a good beater or starter mandolin. The woods are very pretty (sitka spruce top, Bolivian rosewood back and sides, lovely binding and inlay), and the fit and finish are well above what one would usually find at this price. Its intonation is pretty good and it sounds fairly loud, resonant, and ringing. The Devon tuners seem cheap but they work OK. The string hooks on the tailpiece are sharp and indeed one of the E strings broke at the loop end before I had brought it all the way up to pitch (It broke at C#). The strings are very light gauge, 10-14-23-30. The action (string height) is a little high, but OK with such light strings. The mandolin has a zero fret about ¼ inch from the nut. The string slots in the nut are all deeply cut without regard to string diameter, but the presence of the zero fret keeps this from negatively affecting intonation. However, the string slots in the nut are improperly spaced, so that the string pairs are difficult to fret. The strings in each pair are not close enough together and the spacing between pairs is too close. The scale length from the nut to the bridge when the bridge is properly placed is 13.5 inches. The ends of the frets are smoothly finished on the E string side, but not on the G string side, and indeed the latter are sharp and jagged enough to catch one's skin. The neck is shallow and very comfortable to my small hand. The bridge is rosewood with a fixed metal saddle. Both the fretboard and the bridge are slightly radiused. The problems mentioned are correctable and this could be a very nice inexpensive mandolin with a new nut, new bridge, finished fret ends, and possibly a new tailpiece.

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Mandolin with solid Sitka Spruce top and Pau-Ferro/Morado back and sides. Supplied with Giannini bag.

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Applause by Ovation MAE148-5 Mandolin Review

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(More customer reviews)I've owned this instrument for about 6 months. I have an Ovation guitar and I bought this mandolin mostly because it is asthetically the same as the guitar, only smaller. The preamp (model OP-14) is not as nice as on the guitar (model OP-30). The preamp on the mandolin includes a volume control and three band EQ only, the guitar also includes a tuner, EQ on/off and mid shift switch. It does have all most folks will need though. It is difficult to replace the battery through the panel in the back of the mandolin for the OP-14 preamp, unlike the easy to replace battery in the OP-30 preamp on the guitar. It is slightly quieter when played acoustically than most A or F body mandolins, but it sounds great and has excellent tone. Like Ovation guitars, it sounds best through an acoustic amplifier. These mandolins use ball end strings which may be a bit more difficult to find at your local store than loop end strings. Despite the above noted items, this is my favourite mandolin. It stays in tune remarkably well despite temperature changes and humidity changes. The action was great from day one, the round back body is comfortable and the neck shape is is great and while it is thicker than on a fiddle, it just feels "right." It looks more like a miniture guitar than a mandolin (which I don't mind, but some might find the appearance unusual). It sounds decent unplugged and great plugged in. It is comfortable and easy to play. It is well made and the only real difference I see between it and its much more expensive Ovation brother are the machine heads. I am more than happy with mine.

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The roundback design puts a new spin on a traditional shape. the styling is similar to the ovation elite guitars. features include: spruce top, walnut bridge, nato neck with rosewood enforcement strip, epaulette sound-hole design, rosewood fingerboard and chrome machines with pearloid buttons, cp100 pickup and op14 preamp.

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Oscar Schmidt 21 Chord Autoharp Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this for my six year-old's birthday because her father and I play guitar and she always wants to be a part of the music practice. She is learning to strum in time and be dedicated to practicing an instrument. We all love playing this. Fabulous quality, take some time to tune. Buy the hard case for it and plenty of picks.


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Oscar Schmidt is the world's biggest autoharp manufacturer, and the OS21C is one of their most popular models. With 21 chords, a resonant maple body and rock maple pin block, and the handcrafted quality Oscar Schmidt is known for, it's a solid, affordable autoharp that's built to last.

Oscar Schmidt AutoharpsFrom its early beginnings in the 1900s, the Oscar Schmidt Company has offered an instrument with a voice representing individual freedom for American Folk Music. With a wide variety of models to choose from, Oscar Schmidt is truly the original and only complete source for the Autoharp.
The OS21CThe OS21C 21-chord classic is one of Oscar Schmidt's most popular models, and with good reason. As a chromatic 21-chord model, it offers three rows of buttons, meaning quick, smooth chord transitions. Oscar Schmidt's patented chord bar button layout includes A, D, G, C, F, Bb, Eb and A Major; E, A, D, G and C Minor; along with B, E, A, D, G, C, F, and Bb Seventh Chords.
This autoharp features select maple construction, and is finished in an attractive sunburst gloss. A rock maple pin block provides serious strength, to assure your autoharp is always in tune.
Oscar Schmidt backs this instrument with a five-year warranty, for added peace of mind.
About Oscar Schmidt Musical InstrumentsThe Oscar Schmidt Company was founded in 1871 and incorporated in 1911. By the early 1900s, the company had five factories in Europe and a factory on Ferry Street in Jersey City. They made all kinds of stringed instruments, guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, zithers, and Autoharps.
The company prospered through the early 1920s. Oscar Schmidt instruments were sold in many rural parts of the country where no music stores existed. Salesmen distributed the products far and wide, making them available in general, small town furniture and dry goods stores. Country guitar pickers and blues musicians living in areas of the South and in Appalachia, far from the city, frequently played Oscar Schmidt instruments because they were both inexpensive and available locally. But equally important, they were often chosen solely on merits of their superior tone and volume.
Today at Oscar Schmidt, premium woods, quality hardware and modest prices create an ideal instrument. Each is inspected and adjusted in the USA by a skilled technician, your assurance for smooth fret ends, precision low action and resonant sound quality. Unequalled standards in easy playing comfort and tone response creates the perfect value... Oscar Schmidt.

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Washburn M3SWETWRK Florentine Cutaway Mandolin (Rosewood) Review

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(More customer reviews)The product arrived one month earlier than expected and Amazon kept in touch with me with all questions and updates. This is my first mandolin and its an amazing product...quality!!

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Florentine cutaway design Carved Solid Spruce top Book matched solid maple back and sides Maple neck Rosewood fingerboard Stain/buffed gloss finish Rosewood bridge w/piezo pickup NEW Allan style tailpiece (not pictured) MG2 Preamp

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Washburn M3SWK Florentine Cutaway Mandolin (Natural) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm a guitarist but I have played a few mandolins. The Washburn M3SWK has potential but not right out of the box. The two I tried and returned had issues. the first one fretted out on the fourth string at the octave and the second one came with the bridge saddle broken.These were issues I didn't want to deal with after waiting for a week to get the mandolin. If set up properly I think the M3SWK will sound and play reasonably well. but there are plenty of other brands to compare with in this price range. I would suggest buying one from an online music shop that will set the instrument up before shipping it to you.

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Florentine cutaway design Carved Solid Spruce top Book matched solid maple back and sides Maple neck Bound rosewood fingerboard Stain/buffed gloss top Rosewood bridge NEW Allen style tailpiece 4 inline open gear gold tuning machines

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Yamaha DGX-230 Keyboard Bundle, 76 Keys - Includes Professional Headphones, Keyboard Stand, and Power Supply Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the yamaha keyboard for my wife for Christmas expecting
a middle of the road keyboard,We are both impressed with the quality,workmanship and endless features of this product for the price. We would recommend this to anyone from a beginner to an advanced player.

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If you're looking for a reasonably priced piano-style keyboard, look no further than the DGX230. It's great for veterans and students alike, with 76 non-weighted keys that not only look like piano keys but have a Graded Soft Touch (GST) action with different levels of resistance, making it easier for a budding musician to move to an acoustic or digital piano.

2-Way Speaker System Separate woofers and tweeters deliver sounds in crystal-clear stereo, for more lifelike instrument voices.
Bass Boost System A special port on each speaker adds a impact to low-ed reproduction.
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Enhance sound quality with sophisticated digital effects like Harmony, Reverb & Chorus.
Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) Yamaha Advanced Wave Memory technology delivers amazingly realistic sound.
Full Keyboard Mode The DGX230 delivers on its piano theme with a special mode of fingering called Full Keyboard Mode. This allows the player to play the keyboard like a piano; for example a chord with the right hand and bass notes with the left. When using the accompaniment feature, the virtual band will follow these chords. Traditional portable keyboards normally require you to chord on the left side of the keyboard, in the bass section, which is foreign to most piano players. The DGX230 is also capable of this mode, for those who prefer it.
Yamaha Education Suite The DGX230 has 30 built-in songs plus 70 more on included CD-ROM for you to learn to play using the Yamaha Education Suite. The songs are separated into left and right hand parts, providing 7 levels of lessons plus a convenient chord dictionary.
Learning features are plenty. Waiting Mode stops the song until you find the right note, Your Tempo Mode matches the song's tempo to your playing speed, and Minus One Mode plays the song without your chosen part, so you can play along.
The DGX230 will monitor your progress, giving you grades for each lesson. A Chord Dictionary is also included, displaying notes and chord names on-screen.
6-Track Sequencer Imagine capturing your child's first performance or writing and recording your own songs. With the DGX230, you have the equivalent of a built-in multi-track recorder to record one or multiple instrument parts at a time and assign each part to a different track. Six tracks are provided to accommodate sophisticated melodies, chord accompaniment and rhythm parts.
Computer Connectivity: USB and Flash ROM The DGX230 comes with 30 built-in songs plus 70 more on an included CD-ROM and an interactive lesson system, divided into left and right hand parts, for learning them. In addition, you have the ability to connect to a computer via USB, download more songs from the Internet into the internal Flash ROM (PC only), and use all of the Yamaha Education Suitefeatures to help you learn to play them. Yamaha makes it easy to get connected with the new PC button. Now, instead of wading through function menus and fighting through a maze of selections, one button is your expressway to music on the web and your computer. In addition, once connected, you can play your songs into the computer (PC and Mac), edit them if necessary, and e-mail them to your friends and family. And with General MIDI (GM) and XGlite compatibility, song data always plays back with the correct sounds.
Digital Music Notebook Digital Music Notebook is a multimedia internet service that enables you to preview, purchase, download and print learn-to-play music books and chart-topping sheet music. From scales to chords to your favorite riffs, Digital Music Notebook is jam-packed with all the secrets you need to master your instrument. Add accompaniments, record and mix yourself, sing karaoke with friends, learn new techniques while having a blast--Digital Music Notebook delivers everything you need to bring music alive! And it's included with the DGX230.
Ease of Operation There are many tools in the keyboard that make it easy to be a power user from the first day you own the keyboard.
Expandable Music Database: Complete keyboard setups by song title. The keyboard selects an appropriate voice for the right hand melody, the correct musical style and the correct tempo. Simply call up a song title and start playing.
One Touch Setting (OTS): Provides you with a recommended voice with effects for each style. For example, on a jazz style OTS might be piano, for a Latin style it might be acoustic guitar and for a rock style it might be a guitar with overdrive etc.
Registration Memory: Set the keyboard up just the way you like and take a digital snapshot by memorizing it to one of the Registration buttons. Load and save up to 16 Registrations to User memory. The Registration buttons are conveniently located just above the keyboard.
Performance Assistant Technology: Performance assistant technology is a feature from Yamaha that guarantees that you can't play a wrong note or chord. Here's how it works. Select a song, press the Performance Assistant button and play the keyboard--any notes you like. Every note you play will fit the music. If you move up the keyboard, the pitch goes up. If you move down, the pitch goes down. Play a perfect arpeggio, or play chords in time with the music, or really "go for it" and play a solo. As long as performance assistant is "on," you're "on." In addition to working with any of the internal songs with chords, this feature also works with XF MIDI files.

Master EQ: Tailor Your Sound Five different master equalizer (EQ) settings are provided to give you the best possible sound when listening through different reproduction systems—the instrument's internal speakers, headphones, or an external speaker system. You're in control.
Easy Song Arranger You can change the "feel," or arrangement, of songs by simply pressing the Easy Song Arranger button, allowing you to re-mix any MIDI file. For example, you can try your favorite song with a Rock feel, Hip Hop, then Jazz. It's fast, powerful and one-button simple.
Realistic Sounding Voices The DGX230 comes equipped with 116 panel voices, 12 drum/SFX kits plus 361 XGlite voices. Included in this selection is stereo-sampled Piano, a selection of special voices including brass, woodwinds, electric pianos, organs and more.
2 Note Polyphony and 16 Part Multi Timbrel In electronic keyboards, the more sounds made at the same time--polyphony--the more memory is needed. Obviously, more is always better, because too little polyphony can cause dropouts in dense passages of music. The DGX230 has 32 notes of polyphony and will play back 16 different parts or sounds at once (16-part multi timbrel); enough for the most demanding needs.
Digital Effects Yamaha has long been a world leader in digital signal processing technology. In fact, Yamaha professional audio products are found in most professional recording studios around the world. The DGX230 takes full advantage of this know-how, giving you an extensive range of nine, top-quality reverb effects that simulate playing in everything from a small room to a large spacious concert hall and four chorus effects that add richness to electric pianos and guitars in particular. You'll also find 26 types of Harmony effects for your melody part.
Metronome Just what the teacher ordered! A fully adjustable metronome is just a button push away.
Auto Accompaniment Styles In addition to the 100 songs mentioned above, the DGX230 also has auto accompaniment styles that "follow" your playing. Simply select a style of music from the 160 built-in styles (example Rock) and start playing. The DGX230 will create a backup band (bass, drums, strings, guitar etc.) and "follow" you through the song. You can play your songs and try different genres of music. And if you can't find the right style for your song, you can go to www.yamahamusicsoft.com, preview from the selection, purchase and transfer it to your keyboard (PC only).
Portable Grand: Industry's best piano You're never more than a button push away from the most realistic piano sound in portable keyboards today. One press of the Portable Grand button resets the entire keyboard to a stereo-sampled piano--perfect for when it's time to practice. Yamaha is known around the world for the quality of our acoustic pianos and this attention to detail is evident as you enjoy the warmth and clarity of the DGX230 Portable Grand piano. And of course, the keyboard includes a Sustain Pedal jack on the back for practicing and playing piano pieces.
Connectivity The DGX230 features USB MIDI, Sustain Pedal jack and a Headphone jack for private practice.
What's in the Box DGX230 Keyboard, Music Rest, Accessory CD-ROM, User's Manual

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Oscar Schmidt OS15B Autoharp Review

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(More customer reviews)I gave this as a gift to my 11 year old granddaughter. She tells me that she is enjoying it, but has to have her Dad tune it for her pretty often.

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A fun and extremely easy to play instrument and fun for the whole family

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Casio PX-130 88-Key Digital Stage Piano Review

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(More customer reviews)My first keyboard was a Casio. My brother bought it for me when I was 12. It was little more than a 24 note toy, but it was mine and I was proud to own it. As I grew into my music and more serious about performing, I became jaded and picky about my instruments. Casio had a well earned reputation for being cheap, low end starter boards. The most expensive keyboard I ever owned was a Yamaha DX7 FD. Until now, I never owned a full sized, 88 note keyboard, let alone, a keyboard with realistic action.
Enter the Casio PX-130.
Exit all my preconceptions about Casio.
Look and Feel: I love the classic, uncluttered look of the instrument. It has minimal buttons and lights. There is no screen. It first and foremost wants to be a piano. It succeeds. It will look right at home in a studio, a church, or a living room. As for feel, when playing, I have to remind myself that it is not an acoustic. My fingers are convinced that these keys are attached to a big, wooden cabinet in the form of a traditional piano. I did not get a chance to see one of these in a store before buying. I was worried the keys would feel cheap. Needless to say, my expectations were blown away from the first touch. You will not be disappointed.
Sound: If you know what a piano sounds like, you know what this sounds like. I won't pretend to know how all the high end electronic pianos sound, but they can't possibly be head and shoulders above this one. Just as my fingers are easily convinced they are playing an acoustic piano, my ears are equally convinced. If you are thinking about buying an acoustic piano for your home, do it only for the value of a classic piece of furniture, not for the sound. This casio sounds so much better than 90% of the pianos I've played in the homes of people I have visited. The speakers are more than sufficient for most common uses. High notes sound like they originate from the right of center while the opposite is true for low notes, just like you would expect from an acoustic piano. Such full and realistic sound from such a compact package is shocking. You will not be disappointed.
Features: This keyboard has several other sounds besides the traditional piano. To my ear, they are all quite good. Not everyone will find use for all of the sounds, but all of the sounds will be useful to many people. I will not take the time here to describe each sound. There are YouTube videos that do a good job of that. IMO, this keyboard would be well worth it just for the piano sound; the others make for a great bonus. You can split the keyboard to play two different sounds, or you can combine two different sounds to make one composite sound. There is a library of songs built into the memory that are readily accessible. You can even transfer files from your computer to be played on the keyboard. Speaking of computers, this is a great companion for a midi enabled computer, Mac or PC. I use a Mac. After connecting a USB cable, I was instantly able to use the keyboard to trigger the midi in all three of my music creation programs: GarageBand, Logic Studio, and Band in a Box. I experienced no detectable latency in any of the programs. It just worked. You can even record your performances directly in the piano's memory and send them to your computer for editing and use with other programs. There are many useful features. You will not be disappointed.
Value: It is worth every penny of the asking price. Even so, you can find even better deals if you are willing to do a bit of searching. Yes, this is a Casio. No, this is not even the top model in the Privia line. Do not let the low price or the name brand trick you into passing this one up. From now on, I will look at Casio before looking at Yamaha or Roland. Yes, I feel just as silly writing such a thing as you do reading it. But there it is. I have got to believe that the Casio PX-130 is the best keyboard value going right now.
Cons: By no measure can this be considered a toy. Having said that, it is still made out of plastic. Nor is it that good polycarbonate stuff Apple uses for the white MacBook line. It is not industrial grade anything. It is just plain old cheap plastic. I suggest you buy a good case if you are going to travel with it. Also, be prepared for a small learning curve. Because there are so few buttons, most of the functions can only be accessed through the use of a function key paired with one or more of the 88 playable keys. That is a slightly annoying, but acceptable trade-off for having an uncluttered look. Finally, I wish there was more than one USB port. Once you have such a useful device, you will think of many ways to use another USB port or two. That is more of a wish list item than a complaint.
Conclusion: Despite the minor gripes, I gladly gave it five stars. In fact, I plan to buy another one specifically for travel. I do not write many reviews, but I felt it was important to do my part in getting the word out about this product. Casio should be rewarded for what they have done. They have successfully reinvented themselves and we are the beneficiaries. You will not be disappointed.

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The new Casio Privia PX-130 redefines the digital piano category with unprecedented sound quality and performance in a sleek package that is supremely portable. Featuring all new grand piano samples and a new Tri-Sensor 88-note scaled hammer action keyboard and weighing less than 25 lbs., the Casio Privia PX-130 is versatile enough for home, church, school or on stage.

Realism, Expression and Dynamics The grand piano sounds in the PX-130 delivers an unprecedented level of realism and expression. Four dynamic layers of stereo piano samples are integrated with Casio's proprietary Linear Morphing System, resulting in a grand piano sound with seamless transitions and a superior dynamic range. For added realism, the PX-130 simulates the sound of the open strings when the dampers are raised by the pedal using Acoustic Resonance DSP. The PX-130 also has 128-note polyphony, enough horsepower for the most demanding musical passages and the ability to layer sounds and use the damper pedal without worry of dropped notes. The result is a grand piano experience that is unmatched at any price.
Expressive Touch The Privia PX-130 features a new Tri-Sensor 88-note scaled hammer action keyboard. Casio's superior engineering has resulted in an authentic piano touch that captures every detail and nuance of your performance.This scaled hammer action provides the weight, feel and resistance without sacrificing the portability of the instrument.
Education Features In addition to the superior keyboard action and piano sound, the PX-130 is the perfect instrument for music education. Featuring Casio's Duet mode, the keyboard can be split into two equal ranges, allowing student and teacher to play at the keyboard simultaneously.The PX-130's built-in 2 track recorder and metronome allows you to practice any tempo and later listen back to what you just played.The recording features can also be used to capture moments of creativity and remember song ideas. The optional SP-32 pedal board simulates an acoustic grand piano by providing all three pedals - soft, sostenuto and damper.
Connect and Create It's easy to connect the PX-130 to your computer with its built in USB MIDI interface. The PX-130's 88-note weighted scaled hammer action keyboard makes it an ideal controller keyboard for using with music software applications. The USB connection also allows you to move songs to and from the computer into PX-130's flash ROM, allowing to you save songs you've created.
Versatility, Portability and Design Whether you're at home, church, school or on stage, the PX-130 was designed to tackle it all, making it a valuable investment. With its light weight, you can easily take the PX-130 from home, to the classroom or even to the gig and back with no worries. It connects easily to your computer via USB, and its Duet mode is perfect for student and teacher practice. The technology in the Casio PX-130 allows you to do it all.
Plenty of Variety Choose from 16 built in tones, and combine if desired--layered or split. Further define your sounds with four digital reverbs, four choruses, along with a brilliance and acoustic resonance setting.
Two Headphone Connections The PX-130 features two headphone connections, ideal for the duet function.
Powerful Speaker System The PX-130 features built-in speakers, with 2 x 8 Watts of output power, to fill a room with sound.
Accessorize With the optional SP-32 three-pedal unit, add damper, soft, and sostenuto pedals to the PX-130.
Optional Custom Wood Stand The CS-67 custom wood stand is available for adding a bit of elegance and holding your PX-130 at ideal level.
What's in the Box Privia PX-130 Keyboard, AC Adapter, Music Stand, User's Manual

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Epiphone Vintage G-400 Electric Guitar, Worn Cherry Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this guitar from Musician's Friend on Amazon. Due to some trouble, I had to wait for it for a couple of months. It finally is in my hands and I must say I'm impressed and absolutely satisfied. There's plenty of good reviews of this guitar on the web, so I refer you to those for the features; instead, I want to focus on the quality of the product itself. There is some concern among guitarists about buying instruments online, with random reports about people receiving badly constructed specimens of supposedly quality guitars. It hasn't been my case. This guitar has been known, since it was first released, for being a big improvement in quality for Epiphone, and for being the closest reproduction of a 1961 Gibson SG, for less than a third of the price. The one I received from MF and Amazon completely lives up to such fame: completely solid, flawless construction; gorgeous looks and quality appointments; and above all, near professional performance. Like any guitar that comes new out of the box, it required some action and intonation setup, but that was all: no flaws at all in the general construction or in the finish.
A few comments on the features.
The playability is amazing. The neck has the same satin finish as the body; it's wide and flat but not annoyingly fat or thick; and it joins the body at the 20th fret, giving free access to the last frets. All this makes for a lightning fast playing guitar.
The sound is just great. The pickups are hot, they can really give you that Gibson humbucker crunch, and with high distortion it's just brutal, perfect for everything from riffs to soloing to the mighty pinch harmonic! Of course, there are things that no SG can do, but if you wanted to do those things you would be looking at Strat reviews... but it IS a versatile guitar, it can suit many playing styles, and, unlike other guitars popular in the hard rock/heavy metal world, it can handle clean playing very well.
I encourage anyone who is thinking of buying an SG guitar but cannot afford a Gibson to try this one. Other brands might offer the same quality but just lack the "original" vibe that only Epiphone, being a Gibson subsidiary, can offer... and no, I don't work for Epiphone.
EDIT: the first painful quality issue has surfaced. The wood around the input jack is thin. Due to this, any untoward pressure exerted on the area can potentially crack the wood. I turned around with the guitar plugged in, but the cord was stuck under the amp, and so the plug forced the input jack into the wood and it cracked badly. I had heard that before but I never thought it would happen. So be warned... either you take special care in avoiding this kind of situation, or you don't buy this guitar.

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The Epiphone Vintage G-400 Electric Guitar plays fast and is a super value. Epi has re-created this SG-shaped legend using a worn satin finish and aged fretboard inlays that give it the look of a cherished original. Crafted with chrome hardware, a mahogany body and single-piece set neck with rosewood fretboard, LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece for more sustain and easier string changing, and armed with a pair of Alnico V humbuckers, this guitar is ready to rock right out of the box.

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Breedlove Alpine OF Master Class Mandolin, Made in U.S.A. Review

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(More customer reviews)Howdy folks. Nice to see you can buy one of these top-end mandolins off Amazon these days, but I do have some extended comments:
I'm a professional economist and a mandolin player of over 20 years' experience.
Lemme talk about economics first. There's something in microeconomics called "price discrimination." This means that producers use sneaky means to find out which of their customers might be willing to pay a higher price for essentially the same good, so that they can charge those guys more.
A good example of this would be the difference between the home version of Windows and the professional version. I think there's very few people who could state how exactly the professional version differs from the standard home version, but still, when you've got money to spend and you're setting up your new computer, you wanna buy "the best."
Now let's talk about Breedlove mandos.
Breedlove is widely regarded as the best American-based manufacturer of mandolins currently in mass production. They're fine instruments, of that there is no doubt.
But the question at hand is whether one should one plop down thousands for their higher-end, "Master Class" models (such as the one on this page, the Breedlove Alpine), or whether the Breedlove Quartz OF Mandolin, Made in U.S.A., for example, is enough for you? Nobody wants to spend a ton of money unnecessarily, even if you are loaded.
Now, I had been aching to play a Breedlove Alpine ever since reading the supremely mando-knowledgeable "Mickey" at Folk of the Wood (in New Mexico) declare it to be the best mandolin currently being produced (in a post I cannot currently locate).
But worried about paying too much for a difference that really wouldn't be worth it, I emailed the company with my question. I wanted to know what justified the huge difference in price between their lower-end but still excellent models, and their higher-end models.
I wrote: "I've had my eye on a Breedlove for some time now. But there's something I'd like a straight answer on. Breedlove has what they call a "Master Class" of mandolin, such as their Alpine. I've been wanting a really nice mandolin, but didn't buy an Alpine because I want to avoid the bright tone of the f-models. I need something a little more full and haunting for Celtic music. Anyhow . . . what I don't understand is what exactly is meant by "Master Class." Is that just a bunch of fancy gold trimmings and stuff on the headstock, or is there a significant difference in the wood, the finishing, the playability, etc. of the instrument? I'm looking for a comfortable, playable instrument but don't really care what it looks like as there's certainly no one out here to watch me play. So is Breedlove's "Master Class" just a cosmetic thing?"
This is from their snarky reply: "The finest woods, appointments and attention to detail goes into our Master Class models. IE: out of 500 pieces of wood we might find 50 that will make it to a Quartz Series Mandolin. Of that 50, only 2 or 3 will be Master Class Quality. Does that make sense to you?"
I was not satisfied with this reply, as I don't believe the phrase "the finest woods" can quite justify four grand (or whatever). But I remained determined to own a Breedlove.
Months passed. Then, one August, I found myself in a mandolin speciality store that I learned had a Breedlove as well as one of their "lesser" models -- a Quartz KO.
Wrapping a bandana over my head, I took the Pepsi challenge. I had a friend bring me both mandolins, which I played blindfolded for about 15 minutes, not knowing which was which. The point was to see if I could tell the difference from the sound alone.
Folks, for the life of me, I was not able to tell the difference. Remember I've been playing for a couple of decades.
Sure, when I took the blindfold off, the Alpine immediately struck me as more visually elegant, but in terms of the sound, I was not able to discern a difference in timbre, tone, resonance, clarity, etc. Admittedly, once the blindfold was off, the Alpine suddenly "sounded" better, but I had demonstrated this was just my mind playing tricks with me.
I know they say when you're buying an instrument you should splurge for the best you can afford.
But I am the proud and happy owner of one of their "lesser" jobs: the Quartz. It's all I need.

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The very first Master Class mandolin introduced by Breedlove, the Alpine's sweet tone is complimented by delicate inlays, Master Class Gold Hardware, a golden vintage toner and a classic Ivoroid binding. Slightly oversized frets and a radiused fingerboard combine for an unsurpassed ease in playability. Individually voiced by Kim Breedlove himself, the Alpine is a delight to the eye and the ear.

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Fender FrontmanTM 212R Guitar Combo Amplifier Review

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(More customer reviews)To be honest I like Fender and I hold the brand in high regard. Here's the thing... I bought this exact type of Fender 212R 100 watt amp and it burned out on me after only about seven months. I could understand if I was playing at max volume and distortion, but I wasn't. Not in the entire time I played on it. I played it at moderate volume and dist. every couple of days apart and still it blew out. It truly is a great amp all the same, whether for practice or performances otherwise. I personally wouldn't say it has a long life span, but it's possible your experience will differ from mine.
Next thing I have to say: The company(s) trying to sell this product here on Amazon is pricing this at over the regular value. Big time over the regular value. If you really want this amp I'd advise you to find your nearest "Guitar Center" or other music store and try looking for it there. You can find it for a much cheaper price.

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Fender's great-sounding, top-selling 100-watt combo gets a makeover! Fender Frontman amps deliver quality tone at a great price, with the unmistakable Fender Blackface look. The 100-watt Frontman 212R features two 12 inch Special Design speakers, classic styling, simple controls, drive and more drive distortion and channel switching, and reverb. Oh yeah - and it's really loud! One of the best 'bang-for-the-buck' amps you'll find!

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Hameln Essex Guitar with Translucent Red Finish Review

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(More customer reviews)my frend owns this guitar. i have seen him play it on many occasions and i think that this is a screaaaming deal for just 260.i recomend it to begginers or intermeditate. no fret buzz. frend comments that frets are sharp

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This guitar is crafted from 100% solid hardwoods and features a double cut-away mahogany body with a set-in mahogany neck and a rosewoodfret board.The neck is fitted with 22 frets and a two-way adjustable truss rod.The sealed-gear tuning machines make it easy to tune.Other hardware includes two humbucking pickups with covers, a three-way pickup selector switch, two volume controls, two tone controls, a pick guard, and an adjustable bridge.This guitar is finished in translucent red gloss lacquer with chrome hardware.Also included is a deluxe padded carrying bag, a $60 value, yours free with purchase.At Hameln our aim is to please you with prompt and courteous customer service while saving you money on a guitar you'll love. Our satisfaction guarantee gives you the benefit of an instant exchange if you have any concern in the first 30 days and the safety of a full one-year warranty against manufacturing defects.

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Epiphone LP Standard Plain-Top Les Paul Collection Electric Guitar, Heritage Cherryburst Review

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(More customer reviews)It was painstaking for me to decide to buy this guitar. I typically dont believe in buying a LOW END of anything as you get what you are paying for, I wanted a Gibson and was just turned off by the price of similar Gibson (the one I wanted was 2695.00) which at that price, Im afraid to play it everyday.. afraid to carry it around.. I did alot of comparing the two guitars.. and this won. The finish is GORGEOUS. It has grover tuners.. this sucker stays in tune... I have no complaints... great sustain and Im very happy with the tone. Does a Gibson have better pickups.. YES.. you can change the pickups and knobs.. and for a couple of hundred dollars more you have a Gibson Les Paul.. the price is so great that you dont sweat the knocking around.. I would buy this guitar again in a minute.

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Now, the classic look of the "plain" Maple top is available to go with the classic Les Paul Sound. This understated look is preferred by many Les Paul fanatics. It still has everything you need in a Les Paul: the solid Mahogany body, Maple top, Alnico-V Humbucking pickups and the Tune-o-matic bridge/Stopbar tailpiece combo for monstrous sustain.

The Classic Look of the Plain Maple Top.
Angled Headstock Unlike cheaper designs, all Epiphones feature a 14-degree headstock that gives you more pressure at the nut and so you get more sustain with less tuning hang-ups caused by "string-tree" gadgets.
Double-Waxed Pickups Epiphone utilizes a double vacuum waxing process that ensures optimum performance. The pickup is first placed in the specialized wax vacuuming system before the cover is put in place to ensure that the wax fully penetrates to the very center of the pickup and solidifies all parts. After the cover is placed on, it is again given a second vacuum wax bath until the unit is completely saturated with wax.
Output Jack To increase reliability and ensure consistent performance, Epiphone's proprietary output jacks feature an improved contact shape and heavy-duty spring steel.
Toggle Switches All Epiphones feature our all-metal, USA designed switches for reliable contact and longer life.
Tunomatic Bridge Fully adjustable, the tunomatic remains a classic after over 50 years. Unlike guitars fitted with tremolos, there are no tuning or re-stringing difficulties. Plus, tone and sustain are improved because all string vibrations are transferred directly to the guitar.
Potentiometers Epiphone is passionate about performance. That's why their instruments use one-inch diameter potentiometers for better "throw," longer life and reliable service.
Quick-Connectors For unequalled reliability as well as ease of service, Epiphone wiring harnesses feature quick-connectors.
Specs
Pickups: Alnico Classic humbuckers
Hardware: Chrome
Scale: 24.75 inches
Nut width: 1.68 inches
Neck: Set, Mahogany
Fretboard: Rosewood
Inlays: Trapezoid
Body material: Mahogany
Tailpiece: Stopbar
Finishes available: Honey Burst, Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Vintage Sunburst

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Epiphone Les Paul Ultra-II Les Paul Collection Electric Guitar, Faded Cherry Sunburst Review

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(More customer reviews)The Les Paul Ultra-II is a different beast. This is the original ultra, i purchased one two Augusts ago with a little maintenance it has defeated many of my other pricey guitars.
The sound is a bit murky like fellow Les Pauls before it, you can assume though a nice hard driven rock sound, and a cutting edge solo tone. The treble and rhythm feature such a strong contrast against each other. The rhythm sounds good enough to be used on clean channel unlike many other Les Pauls. The gold alnico humbuckers and tuning pegs really add to a nicer interpretation along with the stylized burst scattered body.
The guitars strap peg may fall out entirely, easy to fix. With multiple sessions put down on this guitar i find no reason why not to buy it, it endures well and plays as well as it endures! I own eight guitars (some even being the elusive Stevie Ray Vaughan sig Fender, Zakk Wylde Gibson LP, Ibanez RG, Another Epi LP ect), and have played with many guitarists/musicians. They all note how well this guitar performs.
Althought it's not for sale currently i recommend you search a Guitar Center, you can find one around 500$ or less. This Epi competes well beyond the degrees of fellow higher companioned Gibson.

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Improving Perfection: Epiphone's Les Paul Ultra-II Electric GuitarMost guitar experts would agree, it's really, really, really hard to improve on the Les Paul Model. In over 50 years, the master's design is unbeatable. However, Epiphone took a cool concept for a lighter version, the Ultra II, and played up to it's surprising acoustic bonus properties by adding a Shadow NanoMag pickup system. Epiphone embedded the small, powerful, device into the actual end of the fretboard, right at the sweet spot for grabbing rich, acoustic harmonics. We also added the versatility of stereo output, and altogether, yeilding one of the most incredible, award-winning Les Paul models ever. The Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II, with internal chambers making it three pounds lighter than an average LP, still sounds like you'd expect the "King of Solidbodies" to sound with Humbuckers engaged. The comfortable contour on the back is also a plus. Features of the Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II The carved mahogany body features a quilted maple top with a set, mahogany neck with Rosewood fingerboard and is voiced bya pair ofhigh-output alnico classic humbuckers, and the Shadow NanoMag system. Add Gold Grover tuners, and the newEpiphone LockTone locking tune-o-matic bridge and Stop-bar tailpiece for even more sustain and unparalleled versatile tone. Based on the Les Paul Ultra, the Ultra-II adds a NanoMag low-impedance pickup embedded into the fingerboard and custom electronics to create a Les Paul that is not only capable of blistering, electric guitar riffs but also shimmering acoustic-like tones. The Story Behind the Les Paul Ultra and the Ultra II Epiphone has a habit of starting revolutions. In 2005, when most people said it couldn't be done, the worlds favorite luthier said that, yes, it could, and invented the first Les Paul to feature a chambered body, giving smaller guitarists the chance the enjoy killer LP tone and sustain. That model was the Les Paul Ultra. Now Epiphone is doing it all over again, as the original Les Paul Ultra is joined by its younger brother, the new Ultra-II. You might not be surprised at the name. But when you check out this groundbreaking hybrid model, you won't believe what Epiphone has done. The Les Paul Ultra II is Lightweight Some things haven't changed. Like the original Ultra, the Ultra-II features a chambered mahogany body topped with a quilted maple cap, meaning thatit weights far less than a Les Paul Standard while offering the same timeless tone and endless sustain--but that's not the reason why the new Ultra-II is set to steal the show. Unlock Shimmering Acoustic Tones with the LP Ultra II The real revolution comes from the Ultra-II's pairing of twin Alnico Classic humbuckers (which supply the beefy electric tone that has always been the Les Paul's calling card) and a fingerboard-mounted Nanomag pickup (with dedicated tone controls and output jack) that lets guitarists unlock shimmering acoustic tones on the stage and in the studio. Whether you're playing clean fingerpicked passages or digging in with the pick, this revolutionary hybrid model has it covered.
What They're Saying About the Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II"I am extremely happy about the new Ultra-II. I've never liked a lot of complex sound choices, especially on stage, but this build is just as versatile without being confusing. There are 5 or 6 sounds I can switch between in the course of one song and itreally bridges the gap between acoustic and electric. That is especially great for me as I usually have to choose between one or the other on a song by song basis. This guitar is awesome!" Nancy Wilson, Heart "The NanoMag acoustic pickup, specifically, is a marvel that breathes new life into one ofthe oldest and most cherished electric guitar designs. It integrates so well that I'd like to see it as a standard option on all Les Pauls." Eric Kirkland, Guitar World Magazine

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Gibson Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar, Satin Ebony Chrome Hardware Review

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(More customer reviews)OMG, just got my les paul a week ago and everything said about sustain and fat tone is true. it's like a slice of heaven here on earth. if you wish for a preview listen to anything by Gary Moore. BTW, this guitar came with a hard case vs the advertised gig bag. One last thing, when chooseing i had to decide between function or form, i chose function, hence it does not have that deep brillant shine and the wood is not the AAA maple but oh the sound is sweet!

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The arrival of the Gibson Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar in 1983 offered guitarists all the essential elements of a Les Paul Standard, including a carved top and humbucking pickups. Its simple yet elegant design quickly helped it become the most popular model in the Les Paul Series. Cutting-yet-rich tonethe hallmark of the Les Paulpours out of the 490R and 498T Alnico II magnet humbucker pickups, which are mounted on a carved maple top with a mahogany back. The faded finish models are equipped with BurstBucker Pro pickups and a mahogany top. The Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar includes a Gibson hardshell case (Faded and satin finish models come with a gig bag) and a limited lifetime warranty.Body and FinishA solid, carved maple top and chambered mahogany body give the Les Paul Studio the same tonewood combination that has been helping Les Paul Standards rock for nearly 60 years. And each of its four available nitrocellulose finishes makes for a stunning looking guitar, even while its no-frills approach eliminates body binding and pickguard. Mahogany is a medium-dense wood with excellent resonance and superior sustain, and it offers a rich, round, warm tone, but with plenty of high-end sheen and good mid-range presence. Add a solid maple top, and the guitar's tone is enhanced with added clarity, sustain and definition. The body's chambering also enhances its mellow acoustic resonance, and adds further air to the midrange content. PickupsGibson's 498T and 490R pickups ("T" for treble, and "R" for rhythm) have the traditional characteristics of the original "Patent Applied For" pickups of the late 1950s, with a few upgrades. These pickups take advantage of wax potting, which does away with any air space inside the pickup, therefore lessening the chances of microphonic feedback. The result is a humbucker with the tonal characteristics of an original PAF, with a slight increase in upper mid-range response. The Gibson 498T bridge pickup is the 490R's ideal complement.Tak

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