Jet City Amplification - Ultratone Guitars Product Reviews Without Complaints

Before Jet City Amplification was founded in 2009, the design team asked themselves, "Does the world really need another average-sounding tube amp, propped up with pithy marketing rants using the word 'boutique' fifteen times a paragraph?" At first, the answer was "yes, our hearts are black enough. Let’s face it, we’re not running a charity. However, something inside just wouldn't let us do it."

Perhaps it was a sense of camaraderie with brothers who drop their dwindling cash reserves on guitar amps promising tone, but ending up not delivering the goods? Or maybe it was because for the first time this team was unshackled by the MBAs and bean counters we worked for in the past — guys who wore khakis with pleats and never touched a guitar— let alone heard an amp sing like an angel. Sure, they know how to use Excel, but they don’t let it make design decisions – Jet City Amplification is a labor of love.

Whatever the reason, the designers had no other choice.  Jet City Amplification must deliver the utmost in tone, while being affordable enough for musicians slugging out a living on the small stage.

Of course, actually delivering on this credo was a whole ‘nother ball of wax. Luckily for you, the amp-buying consumer—legendary tube amp designer, Mike Soldano has joined the Jet City gang. The very name Soldano conjures the smell of hot tubes and blistering guitar. In fact, Mike’s creations in the 90's are directly responsible for more shattered eardrums and 13-year old children than any other guitar amp. The other guys can say boutique all they want, but Mike is the real deal.

Jet City Amplifiers are designed in Seattle with a very simple "no bullsh*t" philosophy. No goofy "DSP" or "marketing knobs" to get between you and your sound. So for the guitarist, it's pure all-tube tone — from shimmering clean to thick ‘n raunchy. If you wanna play smooth jazz, buy someone else’s amps.

Jet City's "Keep It Simple, Soldano" approach to tube amp design speaks for itself; with simple controls, cool cosmetics, and sensible pricing, Jet City Amplifiers offer a taste of the good life, at a fraction of the cost. Each amplifier is meticulously hand-built and rigorously tested, ensuring 100% legit tone, and unflinching reliability.

While other brands snap like toothpicks under the pressure, Jet City Amplifiers eat it up and ask for more — right out of the box, no mods necessary.

Welcome to Jet City Amplification. Plug in and see what real tube amp design and quality tone is all about.

Ultratone Guitars Product Spotlight : Vintage V100AFD Paradise Flamed Amber Electric Guitar

Vintage V100AFD Paradise Flamed Amber Electric Guitar

It’s true to say that the best guitars are built from the inside out, and Vintage enjoys a well-earned reputation for building great guitars.  And now, the superb line-up of exciting Vintage electric guitars just got even better. Working with acknowledged guitar industry guru Trevor Wilkinson, Vintage has now introduced a fantastic new line-up of Wilkinson-equipped Vintage electrics and semi-acoustics. Using Trev's excellent range of pickups, tuners and hardware has taken Vintage electrics to the next level.

Vintage guitars – great looking, great sounding, great to play – and all at unbelievably competitive prices.

Today, we look at the Vintage V100AFD Paradise Flamed Amber Electric Guitar.  At first it will recall a very notable guitar played by a certain guitarist who wheres a black top hat!

This instrument is an irrestible package of attitude and power.  This guitar features a solid mahogany single cutaway body with a genuine carved maple cap and flame maple veneer top, the V100AFD Paradise Flamed Amber electric guitar comes with single ply ivory coloured binding and a cherry red back.

With its mahogany set neck and rosewood fingerboard, this is a guitar that looks just as amazing as it sounds. The Paradise comes with a pair of WVHZ Wilkinson Zebra humbucking pickups that provide a seismic punch of chunky rocking tones.

As well as the Wilkinson tuners and bridge (a Vintage standard), the Paradise includes a set of chrome straplocks – ideal for those moments when you want to scale the PA stack without your guitar ending up in bits.

Vintage V100AFD Paradise Flamed Amber Electric Guitar Features:

Mahogany Body with Carved Maple Cap

Set In Mahogany Neck

Rosewood Fretboard

24.75" Scale Length

22 Frets

Pearloid Crown Neck Inlays

Chrome Wilkinson WJ44 Tuners

Tune-O-Matic Bridge

2 Wilkinson WVHZ Humbucker Pickups Zebra Coils

Chrome Hardware

2 Volume, 2 Tone Controls

3 Way Pickup Selector Toggle

  

DBZ Guitars by Dean B. Zelinsky - Ultratone Guitars Manufacturer Spotlight

Dean B. Zelinsky, born February 20, 1957, is an American guitar luthier that founded Dean Guitars in 1976 and more recently, DBZ Guitars in 2008.  Today, Dean has a completely new factory with all the familiar tools used in his first guitar company.  DBZ Guitars headquarters and the Dean USA Custom Shop are located in Houston, TX.  DBZ manufacturers and imports a wide range of electric guitars including the Imperial, Bolero, Barchetta, Cavallo, Venom, Royale, and the Bird of Prey as well as acoustic models named Verona and Tuscan.  The USA Manufacturing plant is capable of producing hand-detailed, and precision laser carved tops.  Some even so detailed to resemble alligator or crocodile skin as seen on the USA Custom Bolero and Peacekeeper models.  DBZ has these different designs that are available in a wide array of configurations, and selected models are available with custom graphics.  Graphite saddles and nuts are standard when applicable.  According to Dean, "There are those who fancy themselves as guitar makers, and there are those willing to do everything it takes to become and remain viable no matter what."

For years, Dean's guitars have been played by various artists: Kansas, Michael Schenker, Leslie West, The Cars, Heart, Pantera, Nils Lofgren, Def Leppard, ZZ Top, The Doobie Brothers, Poison, Bret Michaels, Dave Mason, Jefferson Starship, Triumph, Iron Maiden, Sammy Hagar, Karl Sanders and many more.  A close look at artists on stage will reveal Dean's guitar designs in photos, videos, web snippets, music videos, and concerts.  Dean's guitars have been featured on the Howard Stern radio show, at the Grammy's Awards show, even in James Bond novelist Raymond Benson's recent book.  It was Dean who was calle dupon by ZZ Top to created the spinning fur guitars for the "Legs" video.  Blender.com lists the "Spinning Furs" along with the ML as members of "The 28 Most Recognizable Guitars."

Dean, DBZ, is an influential figure in the development of modern electric instruments, bringing innovations like custom-wound pickups and bold body designs to the music world.  His guitar shapes not only look unique, but each and every appointment is designed to add to the sound of the instruments.  So, every radical tailpiece, angled headstock, foundry metal insert, and every smooth curve you see not only looks cool, but makes the DBZ guitar sound like no other on the market.

Superior Bracing Systems on Acoustic Guitars by Ultratone Guitars

In the search for something new in the design corner of the acoustic guitar world, the makers Ovation, Takamine, Fender, Gibson, Taylor come to mind far too easilly.  While these makers do turn out a high quality product with design patents of their own on models, Morgan Hill Music has turned our eye with their Suspended Bracing System (SBS) featured on their acoustic guitars.  Morgan Hill Music's line of Boulder Creek Guitars are the only guitars on the market to feature this unique bracing system.

Boulder Creek Guitars has restarted the otherwise stalled evolution of the acoustic guitar.  150 years ago or so, the "X" bracing system was patented as a design for the acoustic guitar.  Ever since then, the status quo has regined supreme.  In walks Morgan Hill Music with their unique bracing systems on their acoustic guitars.  The "SBS" is a suspended bracing system and the first of its find within the music industry.  It focuses on freeing the soundboard and allowing more vibration to produce a better tone and more sustain.  The system works by using aluminum tone bars that not only make the construction of the instrument more durable, but also allows the top to be free from the constrictions of the standard "X" bracing system.

Patented in the 1850's, the "X" bracing sustem has been the industry standard since that time.  Many years ago, a designer decided that there must be a better way to brace the soundboard of the guitar to allow more vibration and yet keep the strength and stability of the guitar top.  It seemed that if the bridge could be secured without using traditional X-bracing, the top would vibrate more freely.  This would allow greater sustain, volume, and an overall richer tone.  In retrospect, there are not many other new technologies used since the pre-civil war era.  While other have been happy to remain in this design rut, Boulder Creek Guitars believes that relying on covention has hurt the industry and that it is time for a change.

The "SBS" system utillizes the best of the "X" bracing system with new technology, giving the player the best of all worlds; tone, balance, sustain, and voume.  When the "SBS" bracing system was incorporated witht he new Boulder Creek Sollitaire Series guitars, the sustain and tone quality became even more prealent.  By not cutting a large hole in the front soundboard of the guitar, the soundboard area is increased and the top vibrates more evenly and greater sustain is achieved.  By relocating the soundhole on the top of the guitar's shoulder, the player hears the deep rich tones that come from inside the chamer of the guitar.  Since low frequencies are omni directional, the lows are heard all around the guitar.  Mids and high frequencies that come from the front of the guitar are also increased. Put all of this together and you have a totally new way for a totally new sound to be produced from an acoustic guitar.

The Suspended Bracing System was developed by Mile Shellhammer in conjunction with Morgan Hill Music in the Silicon Valley of California.  By using less points of contact and less bracing around the bridge area, the guitar top vibrates more freely but maintains its strength and stability.  The exclusive aluminum tone bars allow the top to vibrate up and down, but not flex when string tension is applied.  The aluminum bars secure the bridge but are suspended 1/2 inch below the top to avoid dampening the vibration.  The bars are then attached at each end of the soundboard to secure the bridge.

The SBS system is simply a better way to brace a guitar.  The tone, balance, and additional sustain are the results.  Try not to compare the sound of a Boulder Creek Guitar with the sound of other guitars in the same price range.  It's just not fair to the other guitars!

Resources, Reviews and Video Links!

http://www.bouldercreekguitars.com/media/guitar808supp.pdf

http://www.bouldercreekguitars.com/media/gwholiday.pdf

http://vimeo.com/42265709

Electronic Guitar Tuners. Technology hype or the best way to tune up your instrument?

Instrument tuners have officially taken place of the pitch pipe and other natural tuning methods in the world of stringed instruments today.  This is especially true in the world of  the guitar.  When I grew up, my first lessons were how to hold and tune the instrument.  While this is still a common first step for students today, the process of naturally tuning the instrument to a piano or another instrument or with a pitch pipe has been replaced with a less manual process.  In steps the electronic instrument tuner in the place of the pitch pipe and ear training.

The electronic tuner works by either a mic input, direct instrument input, or by measurement of sonic vibration.  Some tuners stand alone and are sized much like a deck of cards.  Others are designed to "clip-on" to the head-stock of your instrument to give a more hands free experience.  Popular stage tuners can line up on a guitarist's pedal board and as of late it is becoming popular to use a mobile based application to use your cell phone as a mic input style tuner.  The most popular with students as of late has been the clip-on tuner because of its ease of use in virtually any environment.

The clip-on tuner is a popular tuning device because they are small in size but extremely maneuverable and inconspicuous.  Higher quality tuners will read the signal digitally, while others will read an analog signal.  It has been noted that digital tuners are more accurate and more stable than analog tuners.  A bright LED display is another feature you want to look for when comparing instrument tuners.  Some have full color displays making it easy to tune at a glance.  Most clip-on tuners use a CR2032 button style battery.  These batteries are compact, lightweight and an efficient tuner will not drain it very quickly.

In the testing of many electronic instrument tuners, I found that a few different tuners proved to be flexible, accurate, and fun to use.

The SNARK SN-5 Guitar, Bass, and Violin Tuner.  This is a clip-on tuner that is stylish, and easy to use.  I tested the SNARK SN-5 in a quiet studio environment, on a loud stage, and on a guitar, a bass, a violin, and an ukulele.  This tuner has a high sensitivity vibration sensor that combines with a frequency of notes range tailored to the instrument.  The Snark SN-5 is a great choice for any level musician from practicing novice to the performing professional.

The Qwik Tune GP-1 Guitar Professor Tuner, Pitch Pipe, and Chord Finder.  This tuner is about the size of a deck of cards and has both a mic input and 1/4" instrument cable input.  This tuner will teach you over 250 different chords while also training the ear with a pitch pipe, and it is a highly accurate desktop guitar tuner.  With easily switchable modes, this may prove to be a great learning tool for the beginning guitarist.

The Pitch Pocket HST Digital Clip-On Tuner.  This little head stock tuner features 4 select-able tuning modes; chromatic, guitar, bass, and violin.  I found this tuner to be accurate in any environment and with all four instruments, the guitar, ukulele, bass, and violin.  This tuner operates as a clip-on tuner, but is balanced enough and has a strong enough mic input to be used as a free standing desktop tuner too.  The 360 degree rotating display along with the bright full color LED display proved this one to be my favorite of the three noted here.

I hope this little test helps you choose the best way to tune your instrument.  I have found that these three above examples worked well and made a real technological advance while maintaining the quality of training your ear as well.  Happy strumming!

DBZ Guitars by Dean B. Zelinsky - Product Spotlight from Ultratone Guitars

All DBZ Guitars feature innovation and cutting edge design on every turn.  From the Imperial and Royale that have ultra thin body edge sculpting to even the foundry metal medallion headstock logos that promote sustain, each and every point of hardware, electronics, tone woods, and design were carefully chosen to produce guitars that deliver the performance required and desired by their players.  Add custom wound pickups, coil taps, soft V shaped necks, genuine Floyd Rose Tremolos, Babicz Bridges on the basses, and EMG pickup options, well then you have a guitar that is not only unique, but also far superior in quality than competing guitar lines in the same or even higher price ranges.


In their first year of operation, master designer Dean B. Zelinsky (DBZ) won "Best In Show" for the entire collection at the industry NAMM show event.  This award was bestowed upon DBZ Guitars by the attending retailers.  This award also demonstrates DBZ Gutiars' commitment to quality and stands as proof that there is always a need for a quality guitar.


In 2011, DBZ released guitars in left-handed and seven string options, as well as the introduction of a line of 4 and 5 string basses built on the Imperial ultra-thin body style.


In 2012, DBZ Guitars released new LT lines in both the single cutaway Bolero and the double cutaway Barchetta.  The LT lines allow these guitars to reach the price range of the more budget minded guitarist without compromising quality.  The LT lines from DBZ feature custom wound humbucker pickups, soft v shaped necks, ebonized fretboards, coil taps, Grover tuners, graphite nuts, and the DBZ signature TOM bridge and stop bar tailpieces.  These guitars have a street price of $299.00 and blow the doors off the competitors in its price range.


DBZ Guitars are designed in America and the maker features both USA built and Korean hand crafted models.

Ultratone Guitars - Humidity and How it Effects Instruments

Instrument Care Essentials:

Humidity and How it Effects Instruments

The proper storage of a stringed instrument is essential to the lifespan of your instrument. Selecting a space for your instruments and controlling the humidity of environment in that space can be a challenge. This article is designed to give guidelines and to help you better protect your instrument.

I have found that the best relative humidity level for any wood constructed instrument is somewhere between 45% and 55%. Most Instruments live in this range very nicely. However, when the relative humidity level drops to 40% or below inside your home, your instrument's fingerboard may start to shrink, which can cause the frets to stick out slightly over the edge of the fingerboard. When the levels are 35% relative humidity or less, the frets are definitely starting to feel uncomfortable. The top of your acoustic guitar starts to shrink, causing it to bow in or near the soundhole, making the action higher, and you're beginning to notice that your guitar doesn't play as well as it used to. By the time your guitar has been living in 30% humidity for an extended period of time, you may start to see finish cracks, or even wood cracks in the top.

Sounds like a slippery slope, huh! With a simple humidifier placed inside the instrument’s case you can avoid these issues. Humidifiers can usually be purchased from your local dealer at a pretty inexpensive price.

BE AWARE!

MANUFACTURERS WILL ALWAYS JUDGE DAMAGE CAUSED BY HUMIDITY ISSUES AS DEFECTS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTIES!

The best place to store your instrument when not using it is in it’s case. Avoid leaving instruments in severe temperature situations. Extreme hot or cold climates can damage finish, playability and lastly value. Never leave your instrument in the trunk of your car, direct sunlight or anywhere that you yourself wouldn't want to be. If you’re not comfortable then your instrument isn't either! Wipe off instrument after every use. This not only prolongs your string’s life but also the life of the instrument. A clean instrument is a happy instrument! If you must store your instrument for an extended period of time, loosen the strings to avoid damage.

Another great tip is to never attempt major adjustments unless performed by a qualified repair person. Over tightening of the truss rod can result in non repairable damage and can turn your instrument into a door stop.

Remember to have fun and to always play responsibly!