I got a random e-mail about this Guitar Lesson site. I’ve checked them out in the past, but never decided to bite. But this new technology is really compelling!

http://www.guitarschool.net/

They are using iPerform3D, which is motion capture technology usually used to develop action sequences for high-end animation and games to capture guitar players “doing their thing”. The benefit is that you can see everything up close - and you can spin the camera angle around until you get just the right look. You can then slow it down and copy the moves.

This could be revolutionary! Now if I can just talk them into giving us a few trial accounts to give away!

Let me know what you think if you decide to give them a whirl.

Dan

Happy Easter Everybody.  I pray you find the tomb to be empty…

Last week I pointed out that one of my favorite sites is Truefire.com.  Well over the weekend they have been running their 7th Annual Easter Egg hunt!  You have today to get in on the action - so I hope you connect with my blog before Sunday night at midnight!

Go to this page at Truefire - http://truefire.com/firesales.html - and see if there is anything you like.  It’s all 1/2 off.  Nothing?  Wait an hour and check again!  Buy what you want quick cause it may not roll around again. 

Truefire usually runs sales on Easter and around Christmas - so this may be your last chance for awhile (maybe they run something on 4th of July - can’t remember).

Anyway - I bought 4 things and can’t wait to get them…

God bless,

Dan

OK…I admit it…sometimes I slow.  In this case very slow…

I’ve had these DVDs on my shelf to review for “many a moon” but never really got around to giving them a proper shout on GGH.

I met Robbie at NAMM a couple of years ago and he handed me three of his DVDs to take a look at - and I was recently digging through some things in my new quest to get organized (it is working!) and found them - among other things.   It was like Christmas!

Since the DVDs had not been in my mind for awhile, I decided to throw the “Build a Steel String Guitar” video into my player.  I am not a wood-worker, nor do I have any skill in that department (talk to Sal or Gary if you need something built); however, after watching this video for awhile - even I was thinking “I could do this!”  I also checked out the “Guitar Finishing” DVD since I have some interest in refinishing an old guitar that I have.  All-in-all, there are four DVDs available in this collection:

Build a Classical Guitar
Guitar Finishing
Build a Steel String Guitar
Build a Electric Guitar
The DVDs are interesting in their production - since they are really slideshows and not video.  Each one contains about 1400 step-by-step pictures and audio.  This, in my opinion is better than a DVD since it allows Robbie to get much more detailed in a smaller time space.

If you have any interest in building your own guitar: electric, classical, steel-string acoustic or even just guitar refinishing - this is a definative resource.  Check out the site for example videos!

http://www.obrienguitars.com/?page_id=8

Dan

In my last writing about my favorite sites, I tried digging this one out for you but for some reason it was unavailable.  I thought maybe it had gone silently into the internet graveyard.  I tried once more today and found that it was back up!  So for your internet viewing pleasure I give you SlowHand Blues Guitar!

http://12bar.de/index.php

I had not been there in awhile, but recalled it as one of my favorite sources of Eric Clapton materials.  At one point, the entire site was downloadable.  In fact, I’m quite sure I have in it a .zip file somewhere.  But looks like you can’t do that anymore.  Nevertheless it’s a great site if you are a Clapton fan.

Enjoy!

Dan

Gator cases has been a friend to us for a long time.  What I love about them is their continued willingness to read the market and innovate.

A perfect example is the new items in their Gigbox series.  These caught my attention last year with the “Tech Box”.  But I recently got a very cool Gigbox Junior Power in the mail to review.  It’s a very cool powered pedal board that securely holds three guitars and flips over to reveal a powered pedalboard.  Great for the gigging musician!  Check it out!

http://www.gatorcases.com/productsdetail.aspx?LID=18&PID=173

Features:
-Pedal board dimensions 21.25" x 15"
-Black Tolex exterior
-Deluxe end caps with white stitching
-Black plush-lined stand section
-Recessed section on pedal board for mounting power supply
-Lid converts to stand holding 3 electric guitars
-Base holds pedals with supplied Velcro
-Carpet lined interior
-Power version comes with G-BUS-8 power supply

My favorite site by far is GuitarGearHeads!  But I do venture out every now and again.  Many of my favorite sites have disappeared for various reasons, but new ones pop up that I gravitate to for awhile. Here are a few that I have been coming back to recently.

(No affliates below - just straight links - so click away)

1. GuitarVideoTabs.com  (www.guitarvideotabs.com) -  I like this site because they have clever mixed ASCII tabs (like the old OLGA tabs) with videos posted on the net (typically YouTube).  If I’m trying to nail down a tricky part, I don’t need to see it as much as hear it - and this really helps.  (Although as I write this the site isn’t resolving, so I hope the RIAA didn’t yank them down…)

Two other good sites I like for tablature are:
www.powertabs.net  and the tab archive at www.ultimateguitar.com

2. TrueFire.com (www.truefire.com) - This site has my favorite “pay for” lessons - especially their new video lessons.  Most of them are not for beginners though, even though they say they are - so be warned.  Pay attention to holidays, like Easter and Christmas, because they have great sales during that time period.

Other lessons I like are:
www.metalmethod.com - Doug Marks has just updated his videos, I bought the first set and enjoyed them (at least the first 3 - I got lazy and haven’t done the last 3)
www.absolutelyunderstandguitar.com - A bit dated (like early 90’s) but great theory review
www.greenmonstermusic.com - Well put together and progressive - not really for true beginners, the lessons move fast

3.  Ebay.com (www.ebay.com) - I love to relax and look at the latest listings.  Even more fun for me is look at what is going to end in the next 24 hours to see if there are any potential steals on the table.  I haven’t seen as many lately, but I still like to browse.  In fact, I created a bookmarked search that shows all items ending soonest within the next 24 hours. Here’s my link, you can use it and bookmark it yourself.  >>> Ebay Search Link <<<.

Other shopping sites I like are:
Musicians Friend - Stupid Deal of the Day –  I love this concept, although some things are not that great of a deal and some things are a bargain - so you have to watch the space and act quickly
Sweetwater Guitar Gallery - I just like browsing through the pictures!  Their Dealzone is pretty cool too.

Please post back your favorite sites!  I’m always looking for good ones.

Dan