I've just started learning the mandolin and came across this great Chris Thile video on crossing over from guitar to mandolin. I think Chris is exactly right about the challenges guitarists face when making the shift from guitar to mandolin. The string spacing is definitely a challenge, but I'm finding the biggest obstacle is the tuning. Going from standard tuning on the guitar to the mandolin's fifths based tuning is a real brain/finger tester! Still I'm absolutely loving playing the mandolin and I'm …

Here's a shot of me with my new mandolin!  It's an Eastman MD515 and it sounds absolutely fantastic!

Thanks to Namba Gear for making me a featured artist on their website!

I have a keeper!  I just picked up an SR Technology JAM 150 Plus and it’s exactly what I was looking for: An amp that is more than an amp.  I play a fairly wide range of sounds -- everything from nylon string guitar to electric to guitar synth -- so I need an amp that can handle a huge frequency range and lots of dynamics.  The JAM 150 Plus does that with ease.   SR Technology has made the JAM 150 Plus incredibly simple to operate.  You basically have six input …

Here's a shot of my new acoustic pedalboard:

I'm loving the sound of this pedalboard!  The Tonebone PZ-Pre put the the final touch on the overall sound quality, but I think the Fishman Aura (Nylon String) and the Yamaha Magicstomp Acoustic are equally important to the tones I'm getting now.  And I have zero complaints about the Ernie Ball VP Jr. or the Korg DT-10 tuner.  Everything is working perfectly!

An interesting "behind the scenes" look at the making of stringed instruments in China.

Guitar market strikes a nostalgic chord

Even with prices slightly dropping, it looks like guitars are solid investment. "A Gibson Les Paul Standard that sold in 1958 for less than $300, including the guitar case, can now fetch $420,000 or more -- an average annual gain of 32% since 2000, according to vintage guitar price guides."  Not a bad return I'd say.  Hey, can anyone spare half a million so I can pick up a couple used guitars?

Actually, meet my two little friends -- the Mackie  SRM150 's. Without a doubt these are some of the best pieces of gear I've purchased in a long time. So what exactly is the Mackie SRM150?Well, it's a lot of things. Mackie calls it a Compact Active PA System -- an apt, but fairly broad and non-committal description. It can be used as a PA, but it has so many other uses. With a three channel mixer, three band eq, phantom power, an audio "thru" with a mic/line switch, 150 watts of power …

Great demo and a great product! I think Omnisphere will keep me busy for years...