Brev Sullivan

Well kids another Namm has come and gone and we're all better for it. Although it would take an entire book to review every great product I encountered at this years show I can surely give my kudos to one impressive company and that's Vigier guitars. The link to the video I've provided will give you a peek at the amazing guitars at the Vigier booth. I am working on more blogs to provide more extensive coverage of the show but this should hold you over for now.

The Recession Rock Star: How to be a Rock Star on a Recession budget!!

Just 'cause they say there's a recession doesn't mean you stop being a musician, right? I've come up with some cool tips on how to be on top of your game during these so called "economic hard times".

TIPS TO STAY ON TOP OF YOUR GAME

Keep up those chops! Learn some new tunes or new licks for the summer!

At a time like this when vacations are hard to afford, you still need to keep active.
Grab the guitar and a battery-powered amp, and get out of the house. I like the Roland Cube amp 15w amp (it's around $99 at most gtr dealers.)
Go hang out somewhere where you can play without disturbing anyone, and practice your guitar or bass somewhere like a park, or even Starbucks on the outdoor patio
(Leave the laptop at home and be creative for a change).
If there are lot of people around, take some headphones so you won't disturb them.
Chances are, someone may see you with your guitar and show interest in your chops/guitar, and you may even pick up a student or two! Ch -Ching!!
If you really want to be adventurous, grab your battery-powered amp, guitar or bass, and drive to your favorite nature spot, mountaintop or the beach!
Nothing like doing a sweeping arpeggio to the sound of waves crashing on rocks right?
(Note, if you take your guitar near the salt water, be sure to wipe down the hardware after you leave, so the salt air doesn't corrode the metal.)

NEW THREADZ !!

Yeah, appearance is important. Look the part. Self-esteem is important to your creativity. Grab a couple of new cool T-shirts and maybe some new cool jeans. I
leave the house everyday feeling lucky that I don't have to wear a tie to work, and “look the part” of rockstar, while being comfortable.
Skip on the popular name designer stuff and look for cool deals on the clothes racks sales items or non-designer threads. Hey, you may even start your own trend if you shop where it's less popular without looking like you’re on a budget. (Male musicians, here's a chance to casually ask a female friend for some fashion advice without seeming too forward. Take them shopping with you...they generally are better at picking cool threads then we dudes are!!)
Let me break it down for ya: If you own more guitars than the shirts hanging in your closet, you probably need an image consultant.


I NEED A CHEAP STUDIO FOR THAT DEMO!!

These days, it's so easy to record your own music, it's almost kids play… if you do a little research, that is.

First off, you don't need a big budget anymore. Your whole band can record a pro-quality demo or CD for very little, to get that “big” sound.
If you’re Johnny Bravo-gone-solo, it's even easier to record all your own tracks with all the gear and software available these days.
Why hand over you bucks to some recording studio engineer dude who doesn't know how to get the right sound for your band.
For the price of 3 demos songs,you can own your own studio, and record anytime you want!

SELL YOUR STUFF!

Do you really need 8 guitars???
Let's face it. You can only play 1 guitar at a time. You don't need 8 Ibanez Jems sitting around collecting dust.
Sell off some of those babies and put that dough towards equipment for your studio.
and get your self a good mic, a good interface, a couple of good cables and some recording software.
It's best to buy a few high quality items that you are going to actually use, such as a good mic & interface, some recording software, 1 versatile amp, 1 or 2 good guitars, a few high quality cables, and maybe even 1 bass to complete your CD.

THE MAKING OF A ROCK STAR!

Your life is music, so this is where you want to use the best quality stuff (and some cool shirts!!).
But when your “Rockin' In a Non-Free World”, how can you save money if you need the best stuff?
Well, having the best doesn't mean you have to spend a lot. I've gathered some info for you budget-conscious musicians out there, that will give you the biggest bang for your buck, so to speak, and owning premium rock star gear.

WHAT’S A GOOD GUITAR?

Start with your main axe! Why spend your bread on that $3500 custom pro-shop vintage axe, when you can buy your guitar, amp & whole studio for less than that, and still have $ left over for a cool outfit to wear at one of your gigs.
Visit the “mom & pop” shops in your area ( if there are any left!), and try out a few models.
I've found that the current line-up of Epiphone Les Pauls and Standard SG guitars sound just as good or possibly better than the Gibson Les Pauls….no really!
You may want upgrade the tuners and the pickups later on down the line on your axe; after these minor upgrades, your guitar will be as nice & functional as any custom pro-shop model.

Epiphone Les Paul = $550 vs. Gibson Les Paul= $2500-3500………do the math!!!


THE RECESSION ROCK STAR HOME-STUDIO

What You Need:

¸ Guitar & Amp……Duh!!!!
¸ Mics……..Shure sm 57 is the industry standard for instruments & vox
¸ Cables (Spectraflex Cables are high-quality, affordable, don’t tangle, buzz or break…llifetime guarantee! And they come in really groovy colors to match your axe, clothes or your blue-tinged highlights!
¸ Computer with Recording Software….Cubase, Pro Tools Sonar, Logic; need I say more?
¸ A basic audio recording interface…..M-Audio, Presonus, MOTU are our faves
¸ Lots of snacks and Starbucks!



And to save you even more $$, SPECTRAFLEX CABLES IS OFFERING A RECESSION-FRIENDLY 15% DISCOUNT FOR ALL FRIENDS OF ME & MY BAND, FEATURED ON FRIDAYS (FOF)!!!!
We’re in the process of replacing most of our cables & connectors with Spectraflex Braided Cables, because we never have problems with them! Absolutely no buzzing, no loose connectors, no tangling, and high-quality sound in tons of colors & patterns.
For your 15% discount, go to www.spectraflex.com and place the items you want in your online shopping cart, type in this discount code at check-out:
speclovesfof (that promo code says, “Spec loves fof”, but type it without spaces & use lowercase letters when you enter it in coupon code box).