Friday, May 24, 2013

The Sounds of New Orleans and Big Band Reviews - An Ultratone Guitars Music Spotlight


The sounds of New Orleans rhythm and blues in the 1950s, as exemplified by the music of Fats Domino, was harmonically and melodically much like other regional styles of American roots music.  Individually, the parts played by the different instruments could be traced to other stylistic sources, including Latin, country and blues.  The rhythms, though, are unique to the sounds of New Orleans.

Many of Fats Domino's most popular uptempo tunes are played with a "two" feel.  In this groove, the bass plays the chord's root on beat 1 of each bar and the fifth on beat 3.  The drummer accents beats 2 and 4 with the snare drum (the backbeat).  The result sounds a lot like country music, until you add a piano improvising around the chords, a guitar playing syncopated eigth-note figures against the bass and drums, and a horn section blowing harmonized riffs above it all.  Each part is simple, but the whole is a complex, interlocking arrangement.

It's essential for a good rhythm guitar player to be aware of the role of each instrument on any given tune.  The upper part of the drum set (the snare drum and/or cymbals) provides both a metronome and inspiration for inventing rhythmic guitar parts.  The kick drum or bass pattern can be doubled to give the arrangement a beefier, low-end sound. Either hand of the piano can be augmented or replaced by guitar.

Ultimately, knowing the "right" part to play is a combination for listening, practice and experience, combined with a bit of on-the-spot creativity.  This music is only "traditional" because it worked well enough to be worth imitating; once it was the cutting edge.









Thursday, April 25, 2013

Ultratone Guitars Gear Review – The Chorus Effect in Music


In today’s age, it is more than obvious that music production has gone digital.  Fading are the days of reel to reel recorders and manipulating tracks manually to achieve certain sounds.  Used on instruments like clean, undistorted guitars and keyboards, the chorus effect yields a very dreamy and ambient tone.  In its first days, the chorus effect was achieved in recordings by an artist playing a track.  Then, very slightly detuning the instrument and playing the new track directly on top of the original.  This gave the instrument a shimmering and slightly modulated tone.  The chorus effect can be heard naturally when listening to a choir and sometimes string ensembles where the instruments have not been exactly intonated together.  This natural effect is pleasing to the ears because when all of the sub-tones get together, the end result is a rich, full tone.

Producing the chorus effect manually can be difficult and almost impossible to control in any setting.  Some instruments can produce a chorus effect as part of their natural design, such as the sitar, piano, 12 string guitar, mandolin, and accordions.  Now, chorus effects are simulated using signal processing equipment.  The chorus is sometimes produced by computer software running in a digital effect processor, or an analog effects processor.   Some amplifiers, often acoustic amps or electric guitar amps, have the effect built-in.  Some keyboard instruments have an electronic chorus effect built in and some Hammond organs have the effect built in as well.  If a hard-wire based effect is needed, chorus effects can be most often found packaged as a pedal, a rack-mount module, or a table top processor.  Regardless of technology or form factor, the processor achieves the effect by taking an audio signal and manipulating it with one or more, delayed and slightly pitch-modulated copies of itself.  The pitch of the added voices is then modulated by an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillation), which makes the overall effects sound.  Most effects have an interface that allows for user adjustment of the LFO, pitch modulation, and the overall speed of the delay. 

The basic production of the effect is above mentioned, but recent improvements and technological advancements have bread the love of more full and realistic production of the chorus effect.  This desire produced the stereo chorus effect.  Stereo chorus effects utilize the same processes, but the end result is varied between the left and right channels and the delay of the LFO is adjusted.  The stereo chorus effect produces a more enhanced sound, as a result, because the sounds are produced from multiple locations within the stereo sound field.

The chorus effect is a staple in music.  Whether it is produced naturally or with processing equipment, the effect is used by musicians and sound engineers across all genres of music.  The effect can even be heard in some spoken vocals and is used in the audio tracking for most movies and television production.  So, when you find your tone thin and you are desiring a more rich result, do not forget to look to the chorus effect to help solve the issue.


Some of our favorite Chorus pedals:


Danelectro Cool Cat Chorus Pedal


Danelectro Cool Cat CC-1 Chorus Guitar Effects Pedal

For under $50, this pedal is hard to beat.  It features metal construction, true bypass, and rich analog chorus tones.

DigiTech Hardwire CR-7 Stereo Chorus Pedal


DigiTech Hardwire CR-7 Stereo Chorus Effects Pedal

This effect produces a very high quality, stereo chorus sound.  It is priced right at under $150 too! It can be used in mono or stereo modes.

ModTone MT-CH Aqua Chorus

ModTone MT-CH Aqua Chorus Effect Pedal

This pedal produces a very watery, analog chorus sound.  Perfect dreamy guitar sequences.  It is priced under $100!



Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Another Ultratone Guitars Review without Complaints - Italia Rimini 12-String Electric Guitar Cherry burst



Incredible Electronics, Tone, and Hardware Touched By Beauty

Italia Rimini 12-String Electric Guitar Cherryburst

This Italia Rimini is a sweet soft playing 12-string.  Great Tone!

This guitar is designed in the UK by world renowned Guitar designer, Trev Wilkinson and built in the MIRR Music Co. Custom Shop in Korea.  Italia Guitars have all the Retro looks of the most outrageous 60's designs combined with 21st Century build & sound quality!

Strap on one of these great instruments and you will quickly find it to be one of the sweetest playing 12 string electric Guitars available today, and it doesn't stop there. Italia also wanted the Rimini to be the easiest to Tune with a unique 6+6 tuning key headstock design.

The Italia Rimini 12 String features an Agathis semi-hollow body and set maple neck with Wilkinson Mini Humbucker Pickups create a most versatile instrument at home on stage or in the studio. Eye catching pearloid finish and chrome hardware.

Italia Rimini 12-String Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar Features:
Body: agathis chamber
Neck: maple set-in
Fingerboard: rosewood
Frets: 22 med. jumbo, 25.5" scale
Pickups: 2 Wilkinson Mini Humbuckers
Bridge: Tune-o-matic style
Tailpiece: Italia trapeze
Controls: 2 volume, 1 tone
Hardware: chrome
Tuning Keys: Wilkinson EZ Lock Tuners




Italia Rimini 12-String Electric Guitar Red Pearloid

Italia Rimini 12-String Electric Guitar White Pearloid  Italia Rimini 12-String Electric Guitar White Pearloid

Italia Rimini 12-String Electric Guitar Tobacco Sunburst

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Monday, April 22, 2013

Another Ultratone Guitars Review the Italia Maranello Speedster II Electric Guitar Yellow

Italia Maranello Speedster II Electric Guitar Yellow



This guitar is Loud in every sense of the word, the Maranello Speedster I manages to combine classy minimalism with exuberant self-confidence. A true 'players' instrument with a fantastic neck, great sustain and awesome tone, delivered via the 'Vintage Voiced' Wilkinson humbucker. It's even got 'go-faster' stripes for those tricky solos..... Continue with chequered flag-taking formula with the go-faster Speedster II. The guitar features a distinctive Korina body with cut off upper and lower body horns and a set maple neck, topped off with a speed accessible rosewood fingerboard - check out those go-faster 'accelerating' slim split-block fret markers! The sounds come courtesy of two Wilkinson humbuckers, and topping off the retro vibe is the solid-mounted Wilkinson intonated wrapover bridge.

The Italia Maranello SP Electric Guitar has a korina body and set-in maple neck. The Maranello SP guitar's body features a race car design including unique roadway inlays. Two WHHB Wilkinson humbucker pickups with a 3-way selection toggle provide plenty of options for both lead and rhythm. An Italia stopbar tailpiece / tune-o-matic bridge combo keeps your intonation solid.Echoes one of the most collectible and rare '60s guitars, but with sound and playability demanded by today's musician. If you dare to be different, the Italia Maranello SP is the electric guitar for you.










Italia Maranello SP Electric Guitar Features:
  • Body: Korina
  • Neck: Maple set-in
  • Inlays: Roadway
  • Pickups: 2 WHHB Wilkinson humbuckers
  • Bridge/Tailpiece: Italia combined
  • Tuning Keys: Italia die-cast
  • Controls: 2 volume, 1 tone control, 3 way toggle selector
  • Hardware: Chrome


Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Lanikai LKP-C Koa Concert Ukulele Pack - An Ultratone Guitars Review

Lanikai LKP-C Koa Concert Ukulele Pack

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Lanikai offers a variety of instruments with exceptional sound quality and beautiful craftsmanship to satisfy players and enthusiasts of all levels.

Lanikai Koa Packs are all about giving players what they asked for, a well appointed Koa uke with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, gold plated die cast tuning machines, abalone rosette, body binding and fingerboard board inlays, a gig bag, and a clip-on tuner at a killer price. A custom wide bone nut was used to increase the string spacing, making these ukuleles more comfortable for guitarists who are trying out the ukulele for the first time. These packs represents unbeatable value from Lanikai.

The Lanikai ukulele pack comes with a well-appointed concert ukulele made of koa with a rosewood fingerboard and Bridge gold-plated die-cast tuning machines, abalone rosette, body binding and fingerboard inlays, a gig Bag clip-on tuner, and instruction booklet—all at a killer price. A custom wide bone nut was used to increase the string spacing, making the LKP-C concert ukulele more comfortable for guitarists who are trying out the ukulele for the first time.


This Lanikai ukulele is strung with Aquila Nylgut Strings and includes a Lanikai Learn to Play Instruction Booklet

Lanikai LKP-C Koa Concert Ukulele Pack Features:

4-string concert ukulele
Hawaiian koa top
Mahogany neck
Rosewood bridge and Fretboard
19 Frets
1-1/2" nut width
Chrome die-cast tuners
Chrome hardware
Natural finish
Uke Pack includes:
Gig bag
Clip-on tuner
Instruction booklet

Lanikai LKP-C Koa Concert Ukulele Pack

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Sunday, April 7, 2013

Daisy Rock Debutante Junior Miss Short Scale Acoustic Guitars - Ultratone Guitars Review


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Daisy Rock Guitars are always doing whatever it takes to help girls play guitar and enjoy music. This philosophy goes far beyond the instruments and deep into the community. Daisy Rock is committed and passionate about empowering girls and helping to give them the confidence and the tools to do whatever it is that they enjoy.

The attractive Daisy Rock Debutante Junior Miss Acoustic is a quality guitar available in vivacious colors, we used the Bubble Gum Pink model as our example. Daisy Rock's series of Debutante guitars offer many of the same great features as full size series acoustics.  The Debutante includes slim neck profiles, lightweight construction, and beautiful, eye-catching designs. Because Debutante guitars are designed for beginners, they are now available at a much lower cost.

Out of the box, the guitar did not require any tweaking to make it perform.  The Junior Miss acoustic is strung from the factory with D'Addario strings so it sounds great right away.  The guitar is 1/4 smaller than most full size guitars, making this instrument friendly for beginning guitarists in all age groups.  The guitar responds well up and down the entire fretboard. When tested with vigorous play, the Junior Miss acoustic took my heavy fingers and seemed to ask for more.  The projection of the guitar is not bad considering the size.  While it may not be of the size of most dreadnought guitars, the Junior Miss still delivers a room filling experience.



Daisy Rock Debutante Junior Miss Acoustic Guitar Features:

Set-neck construction
Agathis body
Mahogany neck
Rosewood fingerboard
18 medium frets
23 1/4" scale
Dot inlays
Chrome tuners
Bubble Gum Pink Finish



   

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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

DBZ Guitars Imperial Electric Guitar - Ultratone Guitars Reviews without Complaints


The DBZ Imperial electric guitar has been turning heads since first introduced. Its shape suggests semi-hollow body electric, yet is a solid masterpiece that sculpts down to just 5/8” thin at the edges of mahogany with a maple cap. The DBZ Imperial’s 22 frets on ebonized rosewood fretboard sitting on a mahogany neck, give these guitars incredible sustain. The DBZ Imperial comes with Grover® Tuners, has an extended DBZ stop tailpiece allowing extra tone shaping, and for those inclined to experiment bending individual strings behind the bridge. The DBZ Imperial features our DBZB/DBZ5 Pickups with coil tap, and three-way pickup selector, allowing this guitar to achieve most any tone.

DBZ Guitars Imperial QM Electric Guitar Honeyburst





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DBZ Guitars was officially formed in 2008. Dean B. Zelinsky parted from Dean Guitars in mid 2008 and plans we soon made to launch DBZ Guitars. This gave Dean personal control over design. direction and quality to meet the demands of the custom electric, acoustic, and import guitar markets that Mr. Zelinsky has spent his career helping to establish. With models such as Bolero, Barchetta, Imperial, Royale, Cavallo, Bird of Prey as well as a full line of acoustic guitars and basses, DBZ Guitars delivers the radical designs, tone and feel that guitarists and bassists want.