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We love gear. So much so we have to write about it, just so we can express our love. If you've got some gear you would like us to show some love to, drop us a line and we'll inspect your gear. If we dig it, we'll review it, right here! |
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The Transpo Capo This is one of the products that stopped us dead in our tracks at NAMM 2008. We were immediately drawn in by its unique appearance, as the TRANSPO™ Capo is truly amazing in its design. It is essentially two capos in one. The company’s demonstrators NAMM made its use look extremely simple. It combines the benefits of using a cut capo and a regular standard capo simultaneously, because it contains both. Its “Patented Double Capo System” combines a short cut capo and a regular capo into one convenient system, which according to the manufacturer, has several benefits. For example, it provides alternate tuning and new chord structures, it allows players to play complex chords with just one or two fingers, it provides a more open and full chord sound as compared to standard tuning, it can also be used as a regular standard capo, and its revolutionary redlined rubber™ molds to guitar strings preventing unwanted de-tuning. After trying the capo out for myself, I amazingly found all of these claims to be true – and then some. |
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HORNETS DRUMSTICKS I saw these at NAMM 2008 and was immediately drawn in, from aisles away, by their appearance and design. I have been coming to NAMM for many years, and have been drumming for 26 years, and I admit I am usually pretty skeptical of new drumstick designs – especially those that may appear to some to be gimmicky or flashy upon first glance. Upon examination, the Hornets line are very different, however. They not only look very cool and unique, but they stand up to veteran drummer scrutiny. |
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V-PICKS GUITAR PICKS With the creation of V-Picks, guitarists of the world have been provided with a completely new tool to change not only their tone, but their playing. I have been to NAMM for over 2 decades, and have seen scores of upstart guitar pick companies that come and go with the rapidity of a one-hit wonder. But this new creation is truly unique, and represents a total re-thinking of the guitar/mandolin pick. V-picks synthetic guitar picks have completely redesigned the plectrum from the ground up – with not only a fresh rounded-edges appearance, but with a thicker plexiglass compound that drastically improves tone, speed and volume. They even look very striking, as they are transparent and when warmed to body temperature, cling to your fingers. This makes them very difficult to accidentally drop during a gig, and if they are misplaced they reflect the light in a very cool manner. V-Picks are the brainchild of guitarist Vinni Smith, who decided traditional picks were not working well enough. Since it is the very contact point at which emotion is conveyed to the guitar string, Smith decided to rework the very design that had gone basically unquestioned for centuries. Aware that players known for their great tone, such as Brian May and Billy Gibbons, had used filed down coins for a fatter tone during their careers, Vinni stopped filing down quarters and half dollars and decided to start with revamping the essential element picks are made from. He settled on plexiglass. (The very poignant and touching full story of the creation of the V-picks can be found on their website, here: http://www.v-picks.com/Story.html) |
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| The Staggerpick from PickWorld - PickWorld, previously known for their incredibly huge selection of custom picks, is introducing a brand new item for guitarists called the “Stagger Pick.” This is a completely revolutionary design in the previously predictable world of the guitar pick. The Stagger Pick consists of two separate, slightly-different-sized picks that are joined together by a piece of hard rubber material that is held in place by a strong double adhesive. It is designed to play primarily with the tortoise shell side up, then can be turned over for leads or picking patterns. However, it can easily be played from either side, and each side (being a separate pick) creates different tones. The design is said to create improved volume, a variety of tones, and increased harmonics.
I have seen previous attempts at a similar design at prior NAMM shows, but they were merely two identical picks joined together at the base that were designed to make a 6-string guitar sound like a 12-string. Since those two conjoined picks had a varying, inconsistent gap between them due to its “alligator mouth” design, the results were unimpressive. However, the Stagger Pick is unique in that it joins two slightly different sized picks into one larger pick with a consistent gap between the two picks. As a result, it has all the benefits of two distinct conjoined picks (a wider frequency range) and a thicker pick (greater attack and volume) combined. |
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HERCULES QUIK-N-EZ SERIES
MS-631B Hercules Stands caught our eye at last year’s NAMM show. We have been attempting to obtain some of their products since that time, but unfortunately they don’t have any current distributors on the West coast (we’d love to see their products more widely available to the public). Thanks to the invaluable help of Jeffrey Pipech at NAMM 2006, we were able to obtain a MS-631B boom microphone stand for review (pictured in the photo).
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| GigSkinz We were greeted by the lovely and hospitable Agatha Gerutto,
Marketing Director. She gave us a detailed description of GigSkinz products, a tour of the large booth, and
provided us with a very cool computer case – the GSCB Computer/Utility Tote to review. This bag,
like all the bags we saw, is very well designed. Not only is it very clean, distinct, and
“rock and roll” in its appearance, but it is highly functional. It has several
internal and external pockets, serious padding, and a sturdy adjustable shoulder strap (as
well as a very meaty rubber grip-handle on top). It is versatile as well: although
designed with a laptop PC in mind, it works very well as an attaché case or soft
briefcase. |
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HEAD DRUMS 14" X 7" EBONY SNARE DRUM - You’ve
read about VOX’s adventures at past NAMM conventions in past issues (International
Music Products Association, formerly National Association of Music Merchants). For the unfamiliar, the NAMM convention is the mecca of all
things musical. At the 2003 NAMM, we at VOX toyed
with the idea of branching into the musical instrument product review realm. At this year’s
2004 convention, what we heard on the convention floor inspired us enough to jump headlong
into this new endeavor. Having
just played a great sounding drum kit, I was walking away from that manufacturer’s
booth when from behind me I heard a loud, amazing snare drum sound. I turned to see a
gentleman lightly tapping upon a gorgeous snare drum that was being held aloft by its rim.
It had incredible volume for the slight velocity with which it was being struck, and
incredible a low end frequency response. I immediately returned to the booth from whence
the sound came to investigate. |
Comments? Questions? E-mail us at gear@voxonline.com and let us know about your gear!
