Fingerpicks Picks Slides

by admin on April 26, 2012

Jack van Breen from Guitar Showcase shows us some lap steel and guitar accessories. First the slides. There’s a nice Schubb steel with is very easy to hold since it’s scalloped on the top. There a traditional bullet or slug steel — look at any pedal steel or steel guitarist and this is likely what they are using. Jack uses two finger slides on the Fender Resonator — a traditional glass slide and a new bronze Rockslide. Jack also covers which finger to use for the slide. Lastly Jack covers finger and thumb picks.

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Music Gear Review Fender G-DEC

by admin on November 16, 2011

Jack van Breen from Guitar Showcase puts the Fender G-DEC practice amp through it’s paces. This 15-watt amp is loaded with features. It has 100 presents and has backing tracks preloaded. You pick a style, like country, it picks the preset guitar tone, tells you the key and you are off and away. Great for practicing different styles — Blues, Country, Metal, etc. It’s got amp modeling, a tuner, a metronome and lots, lots more.

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Korg RD 300NX Review

October 18, 2011

Jack Van Breen from Guitar Showcase is really a triple threat. He plays awesome guitar, sings and now we see his keyboard side. Yep, Jack plays keys too! Here he puts a Roland RD300NX thru it’s paces. It has great piano, electronic keyboards and lots of features that gives you what you need to gig.

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Get A Good Deal On A Guitar

October 12, 2011

Jack van Breen from Guitar Showcase Has an interesting take on how to get a good deal on a guitar. It’s way more than just price. It’s how to find that guitar that talks to you and makes you say “mine.” We all want to fall in love with the best guitar we can get for our budget and Jack tells you how to deal with your favorite salesperson.

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Music Gear Review- Basses Part 2

October 5, 2011

Jack Van Breen from Guitar Showcase reviews bass guitars. The second of two parts, Jack plays some very iconic instruments. First he plays a Hoffner Beatle Bass reissue. You can just imagine Sir Paul McCartney playing this. Then the gigs with a Rickenbacker 4001 reissue. And he finishes off with a Gibson Firebird Reissue. All the basses are played thru a Mesa Bass Amp.

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Music Gear Review – Basses Part 1

October 3, 2011

Jack Van Breen from Guitar Showcase reviews the bass that really popularized the instrument — the Fender Bass. In this segment, we look at three classic versions. The first one is a replica of the one that started it all — The Fender Precision Bass. Leo Fender was really innovative here. He saw the need for a bass that stood out in the mix and allowed players to easily fret the note with correct pitch. Just as Leo didn’t invent the electric guitar, he had a revolutionary effect on music by popularizing the electric bass. Next up Jack looks at a Fender Precision bass with a split, noise canceling pickup. Lastly, Jack shows us a Jazz Bass, one of the classics.

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Mesa Trans Atlantic Amp Review

September 8, 2011

Jack Van Breen from Guitar Showcase highlights two great pieces. A Mesa Trans Atlantic tube combo amp and a great Fender Custom Shop Telecaster. The Mesa is billed as a 30 watt amp (actually it’s 40 watts) and covers all the bases from a clean ‘Vox” sound to a shreading metal sound — with everything in between. This is a cool amp (and I mean more than just the blue light at the top. The Fender Custom Shop Telecaster is new but looks like it’s a veteran of many, many gigs with what looks like a genuine patina.

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Music Gear Review TC Helicon Harmony-G XT

August 10, 2011

Jack van Breen from Guitar Showcase puts the TC Helicon VoiceTone Harmony-G XT through its paces. This amazing little box adds enough vocal harmony that Jack by himself sounds like Crosby, Still & Nash. It has a effects for both guitar and vocals — even a pitch corrector.

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Music Gear Review Boss RC3 Loopstation

August 8, 2011

Jack van Breen talks about the Roland Boss RC-3 Loopstation. He does a killer version of Ramblin’ Man — by himself! You have to catch this! The Loopstation is just out and Jack puts it through it’s paces. If you want to fill out your sound or just have a rhythm track to practice with, this thing is cool.

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Portable Amplifiers

July 29, 2011

Jack van Breen from Guitar Showcase shows us how to take your electric guitar where there’s no electricity. These portable amplifiers are really wonderful with a range of capabilities. One of of these is literally the size of a pack of cigarettes. Cute. But watch this thing power a 12″ speaker! The Vox AC1 Rhythm is a very small amp but sounds great for it’s size. The Roland Cube Street is for serious busking and is a dual 8 watt stereo amp. It even has effects. The Roland AC 33 has plenty of power and even has looping. It does a great job amplifying an acoustic guitar in addition to very punchy electric guitar amplification.

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