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Ed Roman was The Guitar King

December 22nd, 2011 3 comments

The message below was posted on the Official Ed Roman Web Site last week:

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ed Roman.

Ed Roman was a big personality. We understand that many people have questions regarding the circumstances surrounding his passing. His death however is still very recent, and is a heartbreaking shock to the family. We ask that you please be respectful of the sensitive nature involved with losing a loved one, and the mourning process that follows.

We will remember him fondly and are keeping his legacy alive. We are conducting business as usual and all orders in process are on schedule, so keep the orders coming, and they will be addressed with the same quality, care and pride you have come to expect from all of us at Ed Roman.

A more formal announcement from Lindsey Star Roman will be forthcoming. Thank you very much for your consideration.

- Lindsey Star Roman and the Ed Roman Crew

Ed Roman and Billy Gibbons

Yes, Ed Roman was controversial. But Ed was also a passionate visionary who who turned his passion into his life’s calling. He was the consummate guitar builder, making guitars for household name rock stars…and guys like me too.

He ruffled a lot of feathers with his “Fabulous Fakes”, guitar replicas that looked exactly like many of the high end guitars on the market, except that Ed’s were even “higher” in quality…according to Ed’s standards of guitar construction.

His “Rants” about the guitar industry and it’s business practices were legendary and entertaining. Ed Roman believed what he believed, and for that I respect him.

If you have never visited the Ed Roman web site, this is a great time to check it out. I have spent hours there perusing the articles and photos.

Sadly, for many, the legacy Ed is leaving behind is not positive. A quick Google search for “Ed Roman” today will take to you multiple guitar sites, chat rooms and forums where people are using this time as an opportunity to bash Ed Roman. I realize I am opening myself up to some backlash, but I think it’s totally inappropriate to post some of the things I have read over the past few days. Ed Roman was a man who built a lot of guitars for a lot of people and operated one of the largest guitar stores in the world and to speak ill at this time is, in my opinion, out of line.

He made a lot of dreams come true when he built the guitars that others imagined. Watch the video below to see what I mean.

He was a son and a father and leaves a family in mourning.

R.I.P. Ed Roman.


New Olympus® LS-100 Linear PCM Recorder

December 14th, 2011 No comments

New Olympus® LS-100 Linear PCM Recorder Features
Best In-Class Microphones, XLR Inputs and Multi-Track Capability

An ideal device for anyone looking to capture the highest quality audio recording

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., December 14, 2011 – Olympus, the world’s number one manufacturer of portable digital voice recorders and professional dictation devices, has created an ideal tool for musicians and audio enthusiasts with the new LS-100 linear PCM audio recording device. The latest edition to the popular LS series features two internal 90-degree directional stereo condenser microphones that capture lower-bass frequencies and louder sound with less clipping, two quarter-inch XLR/standard phone combination inputs and multi-tracking with two-channel simultaneous recording and eight-channel playback. Packed in an attractive, well-built portable device, the Olympus LS-100 combines these new features with uncompressed 24 bit/96 kHz Linear PCM digital recording to offer users incredible audio quality in a multi-track recorder.

Olympus LS-100

“The Olympus LS series has been a favorite of musicians, artists and music lovers, and the LS-100 is an evolution in this series designed with the working musician, specifically, in mind,” said Amy Leslie, Sr. Marketing & Business Development Manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “For songwriting sessions, band rehearsals, live performances, broadcasting, or really anything that requires the highest quality of audio recording, the LS-100 is an ideal, all-encompassing recording solution.”

Supersonic Sound
The hallmark of the Olympus LS series has always been superior sound quality, and the LS-100 takes that reputation to a new level. Two internal 90-degree directional stereo condenser microphones with a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz allow the user to capture all audible lower-bass frequencies. Engineered to capture sound at a wide range of decibel levels, the Olympus LS-100 is an ideal recorder for an incredibly loud environment. Its microphones support sound pressure levels down to 140 decibels, more than enough to capture extreme sound from a rock band without experiencing clipping issues.

With the new high-quality microphones comes new high-quality amplifier circuitry. The audio and system circuitry are separated on the Olympus LS-100 to minimize sound degradation and keep the signal true. A switchable low-cut filter enables users to eliminate low-frequency sound at two different settings, 100Hz or 300Hz. Unwanted background noises like talking or the rumble of a distant car, can be greatly minimized.

Plug N’ Play
The Olympus LS-100 features two quarter-inch XLR / standard phone combo jacks, which support phantom power at 48/24 volts to power a variety of high-quality external microphones.

These inputs can hook into any line-output device, including guitars, soundboards and keyboards. Both the microphones and XLR inputs feature independent recording levels. This allows the user to reach the right balance or blend on the fly. A balanced line provides a noise-free signal.

Eight Track Heaven
The LS-100 is the first Olympus recorder with multi-tracking capabilities. Whether you want to record in just one take, or you prefer the versatility multi-track recording offers, the LS-100 provides the power and flexibility to meet all demands. Up to eight tracks are at users’ disposal. Each can be separately volume adjusted and panned, then mixed down to create the complete composition.

Musician’s Toolbox
Other essential tools easily accessible on the LS-100 include a tuner, metronome and Lissajous measurement. The metronome feature allows users to keep perfect time, and the tuner function ensures accurate tuning for each musical instrument selected. Users can also invoke the Lissajous function, which detects and displays the phase difference between the left and right external microphones from the sound source on the 2.0” backlight LCD – ideal for broadcasting studios. When burning a CD, the Olympus LS-100 can be connected directly to a CD drive for fast and easy mastering.

Overdubs are also in the repertoire of the Olympus LS-100, allowing sound recording to take place over the original sound while simultaneously monitoring it. Meanwhile, the Playback Synchro Recording feature enables recording of an additional track while listening to another.

Files are saved to the internal 4GB memory or on SD (up to 2GB) / SDHC (up to 32GB) / SDXC (up to 64GB) cards. The LS-100 operates on one rechargeable lithium-ion battery – ideal for lengthy recording sessions.

Never Miss a Note
The first vital sounds of a recording will never be missed thanks to the innovative Pre-Recording function, which lets the two seconds prior to hitting the record button be captured. Additionally, with Voice Sync, users can set the Olympus LS-100 to automatically commence recording to file once sound hits a certain level. Index marks can also be placed at specific points on a track letting particular sections to be located more easily later. And various repeat modes, including A-B Repeat, allow users to listen to precise track sequences at will.

Making Recording Accessible for Everyone
Another key LS-100 feature is voice guidance, whereby the recorder can provide audio prompts for users with assistive needs. This helps the user operate the device without needing to see the menus or buttons. Artists with visual or learning disabilities have long been faithful Olympus users, and the LS-100 was built with their needs in mind.

Professional Look and Feel
The durable and compact Olympus LS-100 Multi-Track Linear PCM recorder bestows musicians and broadcasters a high performance, mobile multi-track recording studio to fulfil all their needs – from a single track to a complete composition – boasting highest possible audio qualities. Jam-packed with cutting-edge technology and ready-to-use hands-on features, this metal-bodied masterpiece will hit stores at a recommended price of $399 in February 2012.

Gary Moore “Name The Painting” Contest… And the Winner Is:

December 14th, 2011 1 comment

After receiving over 80 name suggestions, Tom Noll has selected the WINNING NAME in the Name The Gary Moore Painting Contest.

Here is the message I received from Tom:

AND THE WINNER IS:

A big THANK YOU to all of you and your heartfelt suggestions that came through while I was swinging the brush…bringing Gary to life on my canvas.

Wow…talk about making a naming task “tougher”. I’ve wrestled with a number of these great ideas along the way.

The original requests for a Gary Moore painting came from a few different clients of mine in the UK a couple of years ago. I was saddened to learn of his death in February and decided I’d waited too long already to paint him. I feel this portrayal of Gary just nailed his emotion and I thoroughly enjoyed creating it for his followers.

I’ve been a giant fan of his soaring blues, and when I saw this title for the painting, it just grabbed me and I felt it was fitting. It speaks instantly of his heritage, and I think Gary would be proud to hang on your wall with this tag.

Congrats to John O’Grady of Wrexham UK for the “Belfast Blues”. I’ll be shipping John’s print across the big pond this weekend, back to Gary’s homeland.

The 27″ x 19″ prints at that intro price of $217 are in the works and will start shipping this Saturday. For those of you who haven’t reserved one yet, contact me (tom@tomnoll.com) and I’ll arrange to get one coming your way too.

Thanks again.

Tom

"BELFAST BLUES", Painted by Tom Noll, Named by John O'Grady

Tom Noll
22236 W. Hillcrest Dr.
Waukesha, WI 53186 USA
cell 262-844-7499

http://www.tomnoll.com/
http://stores.ebay.com/Creative-Bone-Artworks-Art-Prints

RIP Steve Jobs 1955-2011

October 5th, 2011 No comments

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

TheGuitarBuzz.com is a guitar blog, but it would be totally inappropriate for me to let this day pass without making a statement about Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, and the genius behind the iPod, iMac, iPod Nano, iTouch and what I believe to be the single greatest technology invention in my lifetime…the iPad.

I admit…in addition to being a guitar nut…I am a computer nerd…and an Apple fanatic, addict and evangelist…rolled into one.

Steve Jobs embodied the spirit of American innovation and entrepreneurship and to me he will always be the consummate example of creativity and passion. His dreams became our reality. His ideas and his products changed the course of portable computing and music distribution.

At last count, I have eleven Apple products in my home and I very well may go and buy number twelve tomorrow…simply to honor the man himself. If you do not have an Apple product in your house today, it’s only a matter of time before you will.

RIP, Steve Jobs.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.
-Steve Jobs

UPDATE: 10/6/11 – Make it twelve… I put a deposit on an iPhone 4s this afternoon.

Follow TheGuitarBuzz.com on TWITTER

September 27th, 2011 No comments
Twitter Guitar

TheGuitarBuzz on Twitter

I am active on Twitter. Follow me at: http://Twitter.com/TheGuitarBuzz.

I send regular “tweets” about recent posts to the guitar blog, product reviews, contests, videos and other guitar-related stuff.

I also “re-tweet” from other guitar-related twitter members that I follow when I think the information is worth sharing.

I don’t automatically follow everyone who follows me on Twitter simply because it is too hard to keep track of everything that comes across my email, RSS Feeds and twitter inbox. Instead I stay focused on the latest guitar happenings and use my free time to write new posts for TheGuitarBuzz.com!

Whats New in Blues CDs?

September 8th, 2011 No comments

Several new blues cds have landed in my mailbox over the past few weeks! Check these out:

Stony Plain Records will release The Duke Robillard Band’s: “Low Down and Tore Up”, the guitarist’s 18th record for the label, on September 20th.

This CD is a collection of blues songs from the hallowed days of the 1940s and ’50s, Low Down and Tore Up finds Robillard and his talented band re-imagining material from both well-known and obscure bluesmen like Tampa Red, Guitar Slim, Elmore James, Pee Wee Crayton, John Lee Hooker and others, retro-fitting the songs with, says the press release, “screaming tenor sax solos, gut-bucket vocals and guitar solos that shake the walls.”

In a press release for Low Down and Tore Up, Robillard says “basically, I just wanted to go in the studio and record live and capture the real feeling of the lowdown blues in an off-the-cuff sort of way; the way singles used to be made in the blues world for small labels.”


Solo Delta and Chicago-style blues guitarist Mark T. Small also announces a September 20 release date for his new CD, Blacks, Whites & the Blues, on Lead Foot Music. The new album features 14 songs bursting with his trademark incendiary blues guitar work on a variety of vintage instruments that emphasize his improvisational playing within the framework of classic Delta and Chicago-style blues idioms.

“Blues is a 20th century music with roots in the 1880s and 1890s,” Small says in the album’s liner notes. “It is music ‘of the people’ that evolved from the trials and joys of everyday life. This CD is a collection of songs from the late 1800s through the early 1950s. My intention is to highlight various pieces and styles that have shaped my guitar playing. From Rags to Traditional, Delta to Chicago – this is the music that has kept me pickin’ those guitars.”


Available now, Matt Schofield’s “Anything But Time” is an example of Matt at his compelling best playing guitar & vocals.

The CD features new drummer Kevin Hayes (ex Robert Cray Band) along with Jonny Henderson on keys, who unconventionally also plays bass on keys and was voted “Best British Keyboard Player” at the 2010 British Blues Awards. Three of the ten tracks include special guest Jon Cleary on keys to add that distinct New Orleans feel to proceedings. All but two of the songs are co-written with Dorothy Whittick, leaving renditions of Steve Winwood’s “At Times We Do Forget” and Albert King’s “Wrapped Up In Your Love” to acknowledge some of his influences. The title track puts you straight in the groove and there is plenty to admire here from the slow burning “See Me Through” to the blues driven “Where Do I Have To Stand” and “Don’t Know What I’d Do”. The overall pick has to be the sublime Hendrix fueled “Dreaming Of You” that a lot of fans will soon hope to experience live! (reviewed in part by Amazon.com)


Sean Chambers – “Live From The Long Island Blues Warehouse” is a fresh find for GuitarDaddy.

Chambers’ style is distinctive to my ears in an “a la Stevie Ray Vaughan” kind of way. They guys got chops that won’t quit.

The album was recorded live on March 22 before a lively audience in a recording studio atmosphere, which resulted in superior audio quality. Backing Sean on the live CD are his longtime bassist Tim Blair and drummer Paul Broderick, with special guest Gary Keith on harmonica.

The new album’s ten tracks include mostly originals, along with Sean’s distinctively searing takes on “Full Moon on Main Street,” a highlight song from an early album by The Kinsey Report, as well as a blistering version of Elmore James’ “Dust My Broom,” which recalls Johnny Winter in its approach. There’s also a brand new original song, “Hip Shake Boogie,” that is making its first appearance on any Sean Chambers album. The remaining seven tunes come from Sean’s three earlier albums, although most of them, with the exception of the two songs from Chambers’ last critically-acclaimed 2009 CD, Ten Til Midnight, have not been widely heard until now.


Shane Dwight’s publicity bio states that he has performed 2,000 live shows over the last 10 years. That, my friend, is a lot of concerts. He has also released seven CDs, which have been moderately successful, selling in excess of 60,000 copies.

He is one of those extraordinary guitarists who seem to float under the radar. His ability to compose and create a fusion of melodic and tough blues/rock songs is first-rate. And along the way he has shared the stage with such artists as B.B. King, Los Lobos, The Marshall Tucker Band, Johnny Winter, Etta James, The Doobie Brothers, and Jimmie Vaughan. His sound tends to tread the line between rock and blues, every so often treading into what could be called alternative country.

A Hundred White Lies is his latest release and many of the tracks deal with the dark side of his recent life, including the ending of a relationship. The title track and “She Struts 22” are songs about temptation, while “Love’s Last Letter” and “Broken” explore the pain of separation and divorce. “True Love’s Gone” essentially summarizes his painful journey

EVERY GUITAR Should Come With One Of These

September 2nd, 2011 No comments

The E-Tuner From Shadow Electronics

Automatic, comfortable, fast, inconspicuous, accurate and always there when you need it: the Brand New Shadow E-Tuner!

The Shadow SH E-Tuner HB-T sits inconspicuously inside a humbucker frame.

Wherever and whenever you need it, the Shadow SH E-Tuner HB is always ready.

Whether on stage, backstage, at rehearsal, in the studio, while practicing at home or jamming with friends . . . the E-Tuner is always there, always ready to keep you in tune.

The Shadow SH E-Tuner HB responds quickly and precisely and – thanks to its chromatic functioning – allows for all conceivable alternate tunings, including open tunings. Its multicolored LEDs are unfailingly easy to read, even in very bright surroundings, and its operation – thanks to single-button turn-on and automatic shut-off – is entirely straightforward.

For more details, check out their website!

Montenegrin Guitarist Milos talks about Guitar and Intimacy

July 12th, 2011 No comments

Surfing the web this afternoon… the CNN.com headline read:

“Montenegrin guitarist Milos talks to CNN’s Shanon Cook about the intimacy of his classical instrument.”

Well now… that sounds like a video I want to watch! So I did. Here are a few quotes – and my immediate thoughts as I listened…

What I love the most about a guitar is the intimacy…

Uhhh… Intimacy? Really?

The way you hold it, the way you play it… it’s so personal…

I guess you mean if you play it on your lap or strap it on…right?

The guitar was given to me and when I picked it up it felt great! I wanted to be a rock star and have lots of girlfriends and play lots of songs…

Be a Rock Star with lot’s of girlfriends…LOL!

I spend more time with my guitar than any other person…

Tell all of your girlfriends that…and let’s see how many are still around next week!

You take care of it, make sure everything is OK, it’s almost like it is alive…

This is getting deep… OK, watch for yourself…I’m not making this up! :

Eric Johnson and the 2011 UP CLOSE Tour

July 11th, 2011 No comments

Eric Johnson Ticket Stub - Phoenix 7-7-11

Last Thursday I had the chance to see Eric Johnson on the first stop of his 2011 “UP CLOSE” Tour.

The only other time I have seen Eric Johnson play live was at the NAMM show a couple of years ago and I was anxious to see him again.

 

Note that ticket price? $22.00 plus A $6.75 ticket fee – what a steal!

I have always been a fan of the man behind the “golden tone” and he did not disappoint me.

(Last December I wrote about the upcoming “UP CLOSE” CD.  Read it again by CLICKING HERE.)

Since the tour was named after the “UP CLOSE” CD, I assumed that much of the music would be from the CD and it was…with a few bonus tracks thrown in as well.

Songs included: “FatDaddy”, “Dear Prudence” (Beatles Cover), “Gem”, “Mr. P.C.”, “Vortexan”, A “Les Paul cover” (sorry – don’t remember the name), “Vortexan”, “Hard Times”, an untitled song called “Title”, “Like a Rolling Stone” (Bob Dylan Cover), “Anthem for Today”, “When the Sun meets the Sky”, “Cliffs of Dover” and a killer (LOUD) closer… “Are You Experienced” (Jimi Hendrix”).

I know I got my twenty-two bucks worth and I know my concert buddy RWG did too. Our ears were ringing for several hours.

His touring band includes Chris Maresh on bass and Wayne Salzmann on drums. A very tight – high energy group.

Today I came across this YouTube video of the 3 of them “gearing up” for the tour… ENJOY!

Black Country Communion Releases First Official Music Video

June 7th, 2011 No comments

Black Country Communion – the English-American hard rock group featuring vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Trapeze), drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin), keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater) and blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa – have released their official music video for featured track “Man In The Middle.”

It can be viewed BY CLICKING HERE:

“Man In The Middle” is Track 2 off Black Country Communion’s highly anticipated sophomore album “2,” which wa officially released last week.

The video for “Man In The Middle” was directed by Davin Maske and produced by Accurate Productions. Filmed all over Los Angeles, the video features in-studio footage of the band intercut with Hughes cruising around in a cherry red 1965 Ford Thunderbird through the hills of Hollywood, down the Sunset Strip, and along California’s iconic Highway 1.

Hughes had planned to film a video for “Man In The Middle” since the song’s inception. “While writing ‘Man In The Middle,’” said Hughes, “I had a clear vision that this song needed to be filmed. Once again we had a film crew in the studio, and we shot some extra footage on location for the vocals, as the song is very visual. It’s Rock ‘n Roll.”

Black Country Communion played their first live gigs last December – a pair of sold-out shows in London and Wolverhampton. Both shows earned rave reviews with The Birmingham Mail calling the band’s performance “rip-roaring” and “breath-taking.” Due to high demand from US fans for a set of live stateside performances, the band booked a number of summer dates beginning June 9 in San Diego, CA; followed by dates in Anaheim, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; St. Louis, MO; Indianapolis, IN; Hampton Beach, NH; Sayreville, NJ; and Washington, D.C. The band then heads across the Atlantic for multiple dates in Europe and the UK.