Boss EBand JS-8 Audio Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I've owned a lot of Boss guitar products over the years. Before getting the JS-8, I was using a Boss ME-30 and a Korg Pandora PX4D. I never thought anything could replace my ME-30 until now. Simply put... The JS-8 is an amazing device! The jam tracks installed at the factory are top notch and you can add your own. If you run out of storage space on the included SD card, buy a high capacity SD card and store your entire music or backtrack library on the machine. Personally, the included jam tracks will keep me occupied for months.
The other impressive feature(s) are the guitar effects, which are based on the GT-10 effect engine. The designers included dozens of preset effects, but you can also make up your own. Now if you're a tone junkie like me, the JS-8 will allow you to dial in just about any guitar sound. The amp modeling is simply amazing! The first distortion patch I made included a Peavey 5150 amp model as the foundation. It took me about 40 minutes to set up my first patch because you can tweak so many sound parameters. After learning the interface real well, I could probably design an effect patch in under 15 minutes. The buttons and knobs make everything associated with the unit a cinch to use.
The only negative thing I could say about this device is the speakers. A lot of reviewers have also commented about them. But don't let this turn you away. The speakers are really a positive thing because you can take it on the road and play quietly in a motel or dorm room. You can also attach headphones and achieve satisfying results. The unit also comes with a USB cable that will allow you to use it as an interface with your computer. After setting the driver parameters, I was playing it through my Mixcraft software. And Boss, (unlike other companies out there), provide 64 bit drivers for both Vista and Windows 7. They also have firmware updates and add-on jam tracks. This was a very big selling point because I use Windows 7 x64. I should also mention that I saw several Mac OS drivers on their website.
Furthermore, the unit has RCA jacks on the side which allow you to play it through a regular stereo or boom box. That worked fine for me, but I had to try it with my Crate 4x12 amp. I simply ran a mini-stereo cable out of the unit's headphone jack, and added a 1/4" guitar adapter on the other end, which I plugged into the amp. With a little sound tweaking, I got VERY impressive results. So much that I dumped the ME-30 and just use the JS-8 with my main amp. I've even read about players running this thing directly into a PA system at gigs. From what I've experienced, I think that would work well because the JS-8 really shines when plugged into higher-end speaker systems.
So who would really benefit from this device?
1) Players who like to play along and improvise with good jam and rhythm tracks
2) Players who use computer software to write music and need a solid, versatile digital interface
3) Players who are real fanatical about their tone and don't mind digital/solid state devices
4) Players who need something relatively portable and easy to use
5) Players who will only buy things that are sturdy and well constructed
6) Players who need a new toy and can afford 300-400 bucks
The JS-8 has many other features such as a nice tuner and the ability to record. I suggest you check out some of the videos on YouTube and read the spec's on the Roland/Boss website. My personal favorites are Jack Thammarat's YouTube videos.

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For "bedroom guitarists" who love jamming along with their favorite songs, the ultimate musical companion has arrived. eBand is a portable all-in-one audio player that's packed with big features. WAV and MP3 files can be loaded and played by eBand, and the tempo and pitch can be changed. Plug in your guitar and jam along using the powerful onboard COSM® preamp and BOSS effects. You can minimize the pre-recorded vocals or guitar parts with the Center Cancel feature for minus-one play, and record and save your jams. There's even a library of backing tracks and rhythms onboard, plus a built-in tuner and metronome.

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Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus Amp Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm in heaven. I was playing on a Peavey Classic 30, but the JC-120 blows that amp away. This Amp is the standard to which all amps are measured. It has 120 watts of the sweetest tone to ever make your ears bleed. It's loud and clean! You can actually hear your guitar's true uncolored tone ring through. When I play jazz, I plug straight into the front of the amp with no effects whatsoever, and it's the most beautiful clean tone I've ever had.
The chorus on this thing is legendary too. I can't help but think I've heard this same chorus many times before in studio recordings. That would make sense since I hear this is a studio as well as a stage standard.
The reverb is tops as well. The distortion is a little weak, but I have a Boss GT-10 to handle all my effects needs since I have to play a multitude of different styles. Works good since the amp has a stereo input, and the GT-10 has a stereo output.
The Amp holds up well on the road which is a plus if you have to travel a lot, and the casters are a life saver.
I recommend this amp to anyone playing ANY style of music that wants versatile professional sound. I don't think you can find a better clean tone at any price, and it won't muddy up your effects.
On the down side for some guitarists... If your chops are sloppy this amp is unforgiving. You really can hear everything on it. If you practice clean like you're supposed to, you are in for the tonal treat of your live. Enjoy!

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Roland JC120The long-time favorite JC-120 features two 12-inch speakers, and two input channels. As well as its distinctive JC chorus, the JC-120 also offers vibrato with rate and depth controls, mild distortion and clear reverb, all of which can be switched on/off with footswitches. The stereo effects loop on channel 2 meets full professional specifications so you can select series/parallel connections and switch between different input and output signal levels.

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Roland HD-1 V-Drums Lite Electronic Drums Review

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(More customer reviews)This kit is near-to-perfect for someone who finds their acoustic kit has become too loud, too big, too difficult to transport, and too time-consuming to set up.
If you are looking for something that is small with a small footprint that is light, portable, and that sounds good, this kit will fill the bill. I haven't been able to put the sticks down (geeze, now I know why I got away from playing for 15 years - it's as additive as crack cocaine).
The other reviews voice criticism and they are justified, depending on what you are looking for. Unlike the higher-end kits, you cannot select individual drums. The drums for any of the pre-programed ten kits, and the volume of those individual drums are "global," meaning you can turn the whole kit up or down, but not adjust the tune or volume of one drum vs. another.
The voices are sampled and really sound incredible, but if I could "have it my way," I would have the snare be a bit more sensitive (you can set the sensitivity, but again, it's "global" for all the drums in the kit), and would make the snare and cymbal louder in relation to the toms and kick.
The peddle system is ingenious, and works well. It took a little while to find a the sweet spot to allow me to do "Banham doubles," and it still is not as easy to do as it is with a true peddle, but it's close.
The other thing that I have seen on the more expensive kits that the HD1 does not have is the ability to be able to choke out cymbals with your hand.
If these thing are important to you, you might want to look at a more expensive kit. But those kits are bigger, heavier, and more time-consuming to set up. If the reason you wanted is primarily for portability (the greatest kit in the world that you won't take to friends' house to jam with will do you no good, right?) - or what this thing is, for how tiny it is, and for what it weighs (32 lbs), you can't beat it with a stick - well, actually you can, and I have been, a lot.
More information: Kit 1 has a nice acoustic sound, like a kit in an intimate setting. Kit 1A is a "jazz kit," the snare sound of which I like the best. The crash is a bit more splashy, and the ride sounds like it has rivets. The hat is really crisp and clean. The second tom becomes a cross-stick on a rim. Kit 2 sounds just like drums in a big empty hall. Kit 2A sounds the same as 2, but the hat peddle becomes a second kick (open hat) and the second tom become a cowbell. Kit 3 is a snare, crash, ride, hat, and three "island drums." Kit 3A is a snare, crash, ride, hat, and three percussion instruments of some kind or another. Forget about Kits 4 & 5 and their Alternates, unless you like Devo and dance music from the 80s.

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A New All-In-One Drum Kit for the MassesRoland's V-Drums are the most popular electronic drums in the world, but not everyone has the room or budget for a full V-Drums kit. Introducing the new Roland HD-1. It's forged from the same technology as its predecessors, but it's much simpler to use. It's also incredibly quiet, thanks to the newly designed kick beater, cushioned tom pads, and snare head. The HD-1 is also conveniently compact and stylish - perfect for every home, school, studio, etc. - and it's priced for the masses. Most of the HD-1's components are mounted on one stand for easy setup and transport, and for a clean look. Just take it out of the box and play.

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BOSS ME-70 Guitar Multiple Effects Pedal Board Review

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(More customer reviews)"Excelent item!.. but, no where in specs did it let you know that this came without AC Adaptor and needed to run on batteries...disappointed when arrived". Este multiefectos es excelente, facil de usar. Tiene lo justo y necesario, algunos gabinetes y preamplificadores, los mas comunes.

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It's one thing to have a sprawling pedalboard with every effect pedal you'd ever need, but if one pedal can give you awesome, versatile tone and portability, look no further than the Boss ME-70. Consolidating over 40 great Boss effects into a single floor-based multi-effects unit, the ME-70 pedal has no confusing menus or displays to sift through—it was designed to be just as easy as a collection of stompboxes. Organized into logical groups, these Boss effects are dialed in with dedicated front-panel knobs. All these guitar effects are housed in Boss's distinctive rock-solid, all-metal chassis, and it runs on either AC power or batteries for maximum portability.The EffectsThe Boss ME-70 has 8 different effects groups, and all of them can be used independently or simultaneously. Once you dial up your effect type and customize it on the front panel, you can even save your settings for each effect type.Manual and MemoryThe Boss ME-70 pedal has 2 operating modes: Manual and Memory. In Manual mode the effects function like a floor full of stompboxes, all adjustable on-the-fly. Its 4 dedicated footswitches allow you to turn the essential effects groups on and off. Once you've got your sound perfect, Memory mode lets you save the setup as a patch for later use. You can save up to 36, and the ME-70 comes with 36 presets to get you started. In Memory mode, the 4 main footswitches let you switch patches and banks with ease.

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