Filed under: Fender Guitars, Guitars | Tags: David Gilmour, fender, Pink Floyd, Stratocaster
David Gilmour’s original black Fender Stratocaster has become the stuff of legend among guitarists and discerning Pink Floyd fans. Heavily modified and experimented on over the decades – often by David Gilmour himself – the guitar became a cornerstone of Pink Floyd’s surreally psychedelic sound as soon as David Gilmour got it, and it was featured prominently on seminal chart-topping albums such as “The Dark Side Of The Moon”, “Wish You Were Here”, “Animals”, “The Wall”, in addition to David Gimour’s acclaimed solo albums “David Gilmour”, “About Face” and “On An Island.”
Gilmour bought the stock original at Manny’s Music in New York in May 1970, in time to use it on Pink Floyd’s fifth album, “Atom Heart Mother”. It quickly became his main guitar onstage and in the studio, and, famously, he and longtime guitar tech Phil Taylor were constantly modifying and experimenting with its neck, hardware and electronics. The black guitar acquired a black pickguard in the summer of 1974, thus assuming its darkest and most famous incarnation, plus an enduring nickname – the Black Strat.
The Fender Custom ship worked closely with David Gilmour and Phil Taylor in recreating the Black Strat as the new David Gilmour Signature Series Signature Series Stratocaster. Main features include an alder body, black over three-color sunburst finish (for the Relic version), black nitrocellulose lacquer (for the N.O.S version), a black pickguard, a one-piece straight-grain maple neck, custom pickups and electronics, a a shortened vintage tremolo arm. The guitar is available in N.O.S. (new old stock) and Relic treatments.
This very special instrument comes with a custom case, an Evidence high-end guitar cable, the Live In Gdansk CD/DVD set and Phil Taylor’s 2007 book about the guitar’s history, “The Black Strat.” The first 500 sold in either finish will include a limited edition copy of the “The Black Strat” autographed by Phil Taylor.
Filed under: DJ Gear, Pro Audio, Rebates | Tags: free usb turntable, idj2, numark, rebate, tti
We had to let you know about this great deal. If you purchase a Numark iDJ2 iPod mixing console between 10/1/2008 and 12/31/2008, Numark will send you a TTi USB Turntable with iPod dock, free!
The iDJ2 is the only iPod mixing console that provides full control of your music with real–time scratching (via two jog wheels), a stunning color screen and Numark’s exclusive crate management. This is an extraordinary mixing console and portable DJ system with professional DJ features like balanced outputs, pitch control, key lock, seamless looping, and full cueing. The iDJ2 also supports iPod docking and charging, to keep the music playing and the party going all night long.
Legendary Numark turntable performance, USB connectivity and the convenience of your iPod are fused together for the first time in the Numark TTi. This USB turntable with built-in universal dock for iPod easily transfers your old vinyl collection to your iPod. Included software archives your records to CD or MP3. TTi’s integrated line-level output allows quick, easy connection to any mixer for instant playback from your iPod or vinyl records and ±10% pitch control is included to enable adjustment of playback speed.
To take advantage of this great offer and get a free Numark TTi USB turntable, purchase a Numark iDJ2 at any Sam Ash Music Store location, download the official rebate form here and Numark will send you a TTi. Sweet!
Filed under: Home Recording, Pro Audio, Recording | Tags: rubicon, samson, studio monitor
My friends noticed the difference after the very first mix I did with the Samson Rubicon R6a powered studio monitors. Everything else was the same – same i/o, same microphone, same out-of-tune singing – but everything just sounded better. The Rubicons provided a sound quality that I hadn’t heard in a long time – the last session I did in a major recording studio. You probably know what I’m talking about. It always seems that no matter how good the mix turns out, it never sounded as good as it did in the studio. Well that’s the kind of reference the Rubicons provide – no coloration to throw off the mix. That’s mostly due to the Velocity Ribbon high frequency drivers which, unlike a traditional diaphragm, has no added sound characteristics.
Time was when the thought of ribbon monitors in a home studio was financially out of the question. At around $400 the Rubicons have changed all that.
But the ribbons are not the whole story. The 6 1/2″ low frequency speakers have plenty of punch, but you would need a sub if you were punching out some real deep dance or dub tracks. That doesn’t mean the Rubicons can’t get loud – the bi-amped powerhouse (75-watts low/25-watts high) can push it out and still remain natural and true, which really cuts down on ear fatigue. There is a built-in 4 level high-frequency control which lets you tune the speakers to your room.
Even though the Rubicons have become an essential part of my home studio, I recently found out how versatile these monitors are when a friend called me in an emergency – he had no sound system for his daughter’s sweet 16 party! Unfortunately, my PA system was in transit so I tried out a few odds and ends but nothing really sounded good. I looked at the Rubicons and and the next thing I knew i was setting them up with a small Yamaha mixer, an iPod and a microphone. The room was pretty big and we couldn’t believe the sound quality. They handled the music and the live mic beautifully. You really owe it to yourselt to check out these montitors the next time you are in the store.
Some guitars define “cool” and others transcend it. Gretsch guitars definitely fall in the latter category. One of our personal favorite Gretsch guitars – and we have many – has always been the Anniversary Model. Created for their 75th anniversary way back in 1958 this baby was decked out with a cool 2-tone smoke green finish that was nicked from a Cadillac paint job of that era. Everything else was pure Gretsch – dual Filtertron pickups, half moon neck inlays, and the always interesting Gretsch pickup switching system.
Gretsch has several Anniversary Models in their current line up and we really dig the G118T Anniversary with Bigsby. Part of the “Professional Series” this model features the classic single cutaway design, an Ebony fingerboard, chrome plated hardware, knurled strap retainer knobs and an arched laminated Maple top. Multiple bindings, a black headstock overlay with a chrome Anniversary plate and a dark green Plexi pickguard really make this baby stand out. This version adds a Bigsby tailpiece because all Gretsch hollowbodies should have one. It should be a law. Sure, Gretsch is all about orange, but if you want to stand out, go green!
