Online Streaming Guitar Backing Tracks

Do you want backing tracks for free? Then the solution is visit Guitar BackTrack, your online streaming solution for your favourite guitar backing tracks and it’s free.  Here are some of the best backing tracks that you will enjoy.

Jimi Hendrix backing tracks, B.B. King’s, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Black Sabbath, Queen, Gary Moore, Joe Satriani, SteveVai, Van Halen, Santana and many more. Even up to not-so-new ones like Audioslave backing tracks, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Oasis, famous Metallica, Guns n Roses and Bon Jovi.

The title Guitar BackTrack was made because it sounds like Guitar Back Pack, meaning you can carry it wherever and whenever you want.  Back Packs are portable just like the concept of Guitar BackTrack where you can access anywhere from your house with your laptop and with the new trend WiFi and 3G its more portable. You can even go to an internet shop and plug in you earphones and right there and then you can Jam.  The ideas are endless and you get to enjoy and practise or rehearse your lead or improvise something out of it.

The purpose of Guitar BackTrack is to improve your skills albeit listening, timing, improvisation, phrasing and even memorising your part or lead.

The future for Guitar BackTrack is also to include tracks not only for guitarists but also for vocalists, drummers, bassists and keyboardists to jam along.  So keep tuning in and will keep on updating the site.  Cheers and Rock On!

Roland cube street review

I just recently bought a Roland cube street and here's my thought on this multi purpose portable lightweight PA and guitar amp in one box. I have read and compared and really scrutinised from the net all about this amp so I would assume that most of you are familiar with the amp's features. When I finally decided to buy one apart from I got the budget for this amp, I am really fully decided to get it. Went to a shop in Southampton called Guitar Store to buy the item and at first the staff did not give time of asking me if I needed something or one of them could have just greeted are you all right? Or even the courtesy of saying we are a bit occupied at the moment but will attend to you shortly. The other thing was when I said I am interested in buying the amp they gave me the price which is £240, way up From Their online price which is £229. So I Said Ive checked it from website online and its £229 and they gave me that price. Anyway so much for the sourgraping I bought it straight away and left the store.

Today I had a test run and it was really good. All of the features were excellent from being lightweight and portable to battery operated which means I can use it wherever from one corner to another and not thinking of any socket or extension lead and not to mention that the battery can stay up to 15 hours where my gig only last for 2 hours. The volume is rather loud for the space or room that I'm playing. Also the effects and the sound quality is rather excellent. I like using the JC and sometimes uses the acoustic effects. It is also very handy to have a builtin tuner. The reverb and the delay are decent. Chorus, flanger and phaser are also lovely apart from the tremolo, which to me is not that impressive. Te downside was the vocals. Only have bass and treble for tone adjustment plus can't give more bass to the mic but well compensated with the reverb. Also the mp3 input uses a baby jack or the 3.5 mm jack, however, I prefer RCA. Plus a separate volume control and EQ would be nice. A line out or an extension speaker output would be a good add on. For the most part I am really happy with the Roland cube street.

LP Aspire Cajon review

LP stands for Latin Percussion for those who wants to know.  I bought this new instrument called Cajon or back home in the Philippines specifically my hometown Roxas City, Capiz.... People calls this as Beat Box because it's like a box and you can create a beat out of it.

LP Aspire is well made and has got a nice finish in terms of colour, texture and polish.  The sound quality is fairly decent especially for its price and category.  I did get a chance to play and compare the sound of the LP Aspire in Guitar Central Southampton.  Thanks to the guys there most especially Gary. It was a big help from you guys to letting me play with the Cajon, compare and decide which one to buy. 

There were two LP Aspire there that I tried one was £99, sounds more on the treble side and then the £119 which I got was more on the bass side.  This one is what I needed as we will be playing with just Acoustic and no bassist so with more bass sound coming from the Cajon, it would rather blend and balance our instruments. 

I have tried as well putting a microphone inside, I am using Shure C606 and it didn't sound great but using a mic stand and positioning it about an inch away from the sound hole of the Cajon and it delivers the sound I want.

All in all, the LP Aspire is worth buying especially with a tight budget, this Cajon won't disappoint you.

Free karaoke downloads

Visit the link below to get your affiliate tools:
http://www.50blues.com/affiliatesa.htm

If you want to convert your laptop into a karaoke singing machine kindly visit my other BLOG and enjoy free downloads from Winamp to MP3+G plugins and also downloadbles backing tracks and CDGs.

Just visit my other site by clicking this link.  Online Backing Tracks and enjoy downloading MP3s and CDGs.

All in one mixer for solo performers or DJ Behringer Xenyx 1002FX

I bought this Behringer Xenyx 1002FX on ebay and it was a total bargain. Comes in with the original box, manual, power supply and functioning rather well.  Really 100% clean and seems like brand new.  Anyways so much for that.  I bought this because I needed a mixer that got a builtin FX for my mini PA, which is ION centre stage because it doesn't have any FX on mic input.  This is a big help also when I am performing with just guitar, mic and backing tracks via laptop, this Xenyx 1002FX is just the answer to it.  It really serves the purpose.

Also it is worth mentioning that I also got a home recording studio and doing some experimental stuff and this one is a big contribution in terms of FX and mixing my recording plus additional inputs.  Also when I plugged in my guitar, the sound that's coming out is very warm, clean and just nice..... only to find out that Behringer mic preamps are designed and comparable to stand-alone Boutique Amplifier, which is very nice with guitar.

Lastly, for aspiring DJ like myself, this Behringer Xenyx is perfect because not only it is small just the size of a netbook..... well, I am using a netbook case actually for this Xenyx 1002, meaning it is so portable and it can fit in your backpack along side with your laptop or netbook plus the inputs and outputs you needed are all there.  No problem with the FX because you got builtin FX from simple reverb to delays and chorus, phaser and flanger.  You can even monitor your sound via headphone with an independent volume control.

Thanks ebay for this total bargain that I bought.  This is trully a value for money experience for me.

Generic Expression Pedal converted to a Wah Wah pedal.

My Digitech RP55 got a Whammy and Wah option with foot pedal switch input, so I decided to buy a generic expression pedal and try to use it as a wah wah pedal for my Digitech RP55 multi effects processor.  Good news/Bad news, it works but not quite as it should be.  There is sort of a polarity issue because the way the pedal function is the exact opposite of how it is intended to be if it was a proper wah pedal.  When you try to release meaning moving your foot upward, that’s where the wah goes on and then when you press your foot forward or down then it goes off so instead of pressing your foot downward to create the wah effect your doing the reverse.

Solutions:  First, I tried reversing the polarity by inverting the jack’s wire.  Nothing happened it was still the same.  Then, I found this sort of rotor inside and it came to my mind what if I reverse the polarity here but the question is which wire is it going to be coz there are three wires.  I just tried my luck and messed the wirings.  I did it, I managed to reverse the polarity.  I have the desired effect now for a proper wah. 

Lesson learned.  It’s better to buy the right one even though it is a bit expensive than the cheap ones and it doesn’t work properly and improvise or mess about the settings of wiring because what if it didn’t work at all or even if it did work, I can’t sell this one anymore or even the warranty because I already opened the pedal.  Buy the right stuff even though it goes with a price.

stomp box or multi effects processor?

There's always a battle between individual stomp box guitar effects or the multi effects processor in terms of sound quality, price, durability, etc.  When I started playing in a band, I use to borrow effects because first of all I can't afford one and second it's very rare in my province (Capiz) in the Philippines to buy guitar gear or accessories such as stomp boxes.  I was using a Boss Distortion during those years and just that one single pedal until my good mate Louie asked his parents to buy him an electric guitar with effects pedal and that's where I came across the Boss Super Overdrive and Ibanez Flanger.  I love these two pedals in terms of their sound quality as well as durability coz until now they are all right apart from the Ibanez Flanger which my Mate said he couldn't find it so may be the lucky borrower who didn't return it became the new owner now.  Also I have tried a couple more stomp boxes like the DOD Metal Maniac which is a good supplementary effects to any distortion pedal to give more sustain, gain and crunch.  For me the two Boss best and versatile pedal are the Hypermetal and Metal Zone.  If you want a clean lead, with nice sustain, you'll go for these two pedals.  Either of the two will give you the versatility you need albeit rock, funk, jazz, almost anything meaning if you are in a show band most probably you will be needing either of these pedals.

So much for the stomp boxes coz there are a lot of them like the famous Tube Screamer, Stereo Chorus, Auto Wah, Compressor, Phaser, etc. etc. then there came the multi effects pedal.  After collecting all these stomp boxes, you'll be surprised they put it in just one digitally assembled gadget.  So the first difference among the two would be Analog versus Digital.  A lot would say analog is the best.  I won't argue, yes analogue is the best because it all started with analogue anyways, however, there are now alot of very good digital effects pedals in the market.  It was just that when it started, the transition from analogue to digital wasn't that great yet.  Like for example, I kind of use my mate Ritchie Hoo's Zoom 1010 before and I kind of like the sound of it during solitary practise with mini amp or earphones coz it was so versatile and everything's in there already from reverb, modulation to dist/drive to noise gate, compression and delay.  Some of the presets are very good as well and you can customize it to your liking.  Also Korg's Toneworks is such an amazing effects pedal far more better than ZOOM.  Have tried AX1500 and it's really awesome much better than the newer AX3000.

Right now I own a Digitech RP55, and as they say this is a small pedal with such a great punch.  I bought this one two years ago coz I needed an effects pedal badly because I joined a band here in England and I need to buy my own gear.  So, after buying my very first owned electric guitar coz again I use to borrow back home and have not owned a single electric guitar before, I needed to pair this with an effects pedal.  The dilemma of either buying a single pedal or the multi effects having in mind cost and quality.  If I were to buy single stomp boxes then I should collect minimum of three to create the sound I like, which is a bit of a bluesy, rocky and jazzy sound, I need to have overdrive, flanger, reverb/delay.  But if I were to buy a multi effects, then almost all of the effects I needed should be there.  Then having to consider cost, it is more expensive to buy stomp boxes and collect all three rather than buy a cheap multieffects, which I got right now the Digitech RP55.  Indeed, I am very satisfied with what I got at the moment, this Digitech RP55 the sound is just brilliant from metal to reggae to clean sounds to funky and jazz.

Digitech RP55

Digitech RP55 Modeling Guitar Processor

Such a great multi effects processor.  It is small that it can even fit in a gig bag and the good news about this one is that it can run with 6 AA batteries and can last for 15 hours with continuous usage.  This one already got a drum machine so you can jam by yourself, practise your guitar phrasing and timing with this drum machine or you can perform all by yourself like a one man band.  40 user presets and another 40 factory presets which are:

1) Stacked                                                                  21) Bad Dog
2) Recto Delay                                                            22) Steely Phase
3) Clean Chorus                                                          23) Rhythm Crunch
4) Octave Drive                                                          24) Metal Scoop
5) Classic Blackface                                                    25) Slap Rhythm
6) Crunchy Phase                                                        26) 20 Fathoms
7) Fuzz Church                                                           27) Electro-Sitar
8) Grindy Detune                                                        28) Smooth Drive
9) Big Boutique                                                          29) Fuzz Boy
10) Acoustic Chorus                                                  30) Surfin'
11) Sustainium                                                            31) Clean Flange
12) Rotary Blues                                                        32) Thickerer
13) Wahtch It                                                             33) Pedal Steel
14) Power Flange                                                       34) Short Stack
15) Campfire Tremolo                                                35) Dirt Combo
16) Detune Tube                                                         36) Triplet Chunk
17) Whammy Time                                                      37) Roto Jazz
18) Mr. Guts                                                               38) Acoustic 5ths
19) Ottowah                                                               39) Yaya Sure
20) Volume Swell                                                        40) Octavian

Effects:  Pickup Simulator, Wah, Compressor, Amp Models, Acoustic Guitar Simulator, 3 band EQ, Noise Gate, Cabinet Modelling, Chorus, Flange, Phaser, Tremolo, Panner, Vibrato, Rotary Speaker, Auto Ya, Envelope Filter, Pitch Shift, Detune, Whammy, Delay and Reverb.


Amp Model Equivalent Sound:
b - Blackface  =  Fender Twin
o - Boutique  =  Matchless
r - Rectifier  =  Mesa Boogie
H - Hot Rod = Hot Rodded Marshall
t - Tweed =  Fender Tweed
C - British Combo  =  Vox
c - Clean Tube  =  Tube Amp
S - British Stack  =  Marshall JCM800
U - Crunchy Tube =  Marshall Master
G - High Gain  =  Marshall JCM900
F - Vintage Fuzz  =  Arbiter Fuzz Face

how important USB audio interface is in home recording?

This gadget is super versatile, lightweight, portable, all-in-one, heaven sent...... etc. etc. all the nice things I could think of.  The famous Native Instrument's Guitar Rig Session I/O.  After I failed with the USB guitar lead, I bought the right one the perfect one and was also lucky to buy a bundle set to start my planned home recording using laptop.

Opened the box, and these were the content of santa's gift to me last 2009 xmas.... the Guitar Rig Session I/O.  Included inside are the hardware itself, the USB lead, CD installer for Guitar Session plus bonus Guitar Rig 4, Pop Drums and KORE player and especially added software Cubase LE4, which until now I haven't used coz apart from I don't know how to use it, this one is sort of a demo version so there's nothing much in it but just a taste of what is Cubase.

Key Features:  The hardware got 2 mono line/mic inputs with two separate volume control which also can be customized as stereo for left and right channels plus a line/instrument switch or commonly known now as Hi-Z or Low-Z button.  Monitor/earphone output with independent volume control and balance knob for L/R or 1/2 channel. Optional 48V Phantom power for mic input, the switch or button is located at the back of the hardware.   Stereo output, left and right channel also located at the back.

I have installed all the softwares but as I've said the Cubase LE4 didn't work for me.  Guitar Rig 4 is awesome couldn't say much but try and buy and explore, sound quality is as good as it gets. Real amp sound as well as effects.  Kore Player, I don't have the controller for this one but I got a MIDI keyboard and have tried this one, excellent.  Again sound quality is superb.  Pop Drums, also great but not impressive, I can say helpful for what I needed at the moment.  Native Instrument...... Well done.

USB guitar lead

Out of the blues, I found again this USB guitar lead that I bought a couple of years ago where I was planning to record some guitar tracks on my laptop, and also thinking I can save some money because this gear is far more cheaper than other USB link or audio interface but I was wrong..... this one doesn't work or if ever it works, the sound is super delayed and there's nothing much you can do apart from adjusting your instrument's volume or tone knob. They are right in saying it is a Plug n Play because the computer instantly recognise the hardware and install it automatically in your laptop but then after it's installed and says Device is Ready to use, you plug in your guitar and then what?  Nothing.  Totally nothing because you won't even know what software to use although they mentioned Audacity and this one's free but it doesn't work the way it should be.  Latency is unbearable and you don't have monitors not even earphone input for this one because the ones in the laptop won't work with USB devices unless there's a separate soundcard or audio interface.

In conclusion, not all cheap products or gear can save you money. I don't know if it's just me or how I installed or used this thing but it didn't work on what it should as I expected it to be.

MIDI keyboard

This is a followup to my previous blog about Evolution MK249C2, which I bought from Carboot Sale. I was really lucky to buy this cheap keyboard. It was a bit of a gamble because there was no way to test it when I bought it so it was like buying what the seller was trying to tell you.

To cut the chase, in my previous blog regarding this MIDI keyboard Evolution MK249C2, I mentioned I was using Mixcraft, however, right now I am using EnergyXT as my software to write and record songs.  This is a very light, portable but versatile all-in-one recording software.

To give you an example of my song, here's my latest song titled 1 2 5 using the Evolution MK249C2 and EnergyXT plugged into Guitar Rig Session I/O as my USB audio interface to my HP mini Netbook.

Guitar Gig Bag

My old cheap gig bag had its time last Dec 2011 and I needed to replace it urgently as we have an upcoming gig.  Good thing there's Guitar Central in Southampton near Bargate just beside Maplin.  You can google map it if you're not familiar of the place.  Again as I've said before friendly atmosphere and all willing to help.

I tried and look around for a gig bag just a quick replacement and Guitar Central got a lot to choose from.  Mind you, just be careful coz there are bass gig bag, guitar gig bag and electric guitar gig bag so it is better to ask assistance.  I was also tempted to buy a hardcase one but apart from short of budget I just needed a replacement for my softcase gigbag.

The one I bought was a good one.  It has two pockets, one at the top where you can put your strap and/or guitar lead then a bigger one where you can put a multi-effects processor i.e. Digitech RP55.  Also you can put in some songbook or any music magazines, chord charts, DVD lessons, etc. in this big pocket.  Also apart from the back straps there is also a sort of handle at the side so you can easily carry your guitar when it becomes a little heavy on your back.  It is also worth mentioning that the padding for this gigbag is far better than the one I got where there's hardly no padding at all to protect or cushion the guitar.  Lastly, I got an extra Behringer sticker from my K450FX and put it on this new gigbag and it made a difference. I am now looking for more stickers to add some colour or art to this gigbag.

Thanks again Guitar Central...... BIG HELP.  Cheers guys!

Guitar Central post Boxing Day

I went to Southampton post Boxing Day because I was working long day during boxing day.  I went straight to Guitar Central and have a look what's on sale and it was a total BARGAIN.  I was drooling from guitar amps to effects pedal and most especially the electric guitars.  ESP, Dean, Washburn and one of my favorite brand, Gretsch.  There was a guy playing this semi-hollow Gretsch and I was with my son that time in his pushchair, I was really amazed by the sound of the guitar.  It was plugged in a Randall guitar amp stack, I am not sure but it looks like a tube amp.

The Randall KH-15, a Kirk Hammett's signature practise amp was on super sale and by the way, Kirk Hammett was born to a Filipino mother and an Irish American father, so technically Kirk is half Filipino.  Kirk is an avid ESP guitar user and was using Mesa/Boogie before he made his move to Randall Amplifiers.


There are junior electric guitar as well that was on sale, guitar books and DVDs, lessons and other music materials were on sale.  Have a go guys and try to visit Guitar Central if you got the chance or time.  Dimebag's guitar is waiting for you guys there. R.I.P.


Here's their facebook link:  https://www.facebook.com/guitarcentralsouthampton