Eight Channels of Incredible Live Sound with the Ability to Record to USB Flash! Completely self contained, Fender’s Passport 500 Pro Portable Sound System provides the added features and improved functionality over the PD500 system of the past. The eight-channel Passport 500 Pro is the new top-of-the-line Passport system. The 500 model has always had the most power and the best clarity; now it also has a port that lets you record your performance with CD quality (.wav) straight to a USB flash drive! The 500 Pro also offers wav and mp3 file playback from your USB, sub-out jack for an external powered sub-woofer, a weight that’s 9 lbs lighter than the earlier Passport 500, smaller physical dimensions, and a redesigned speaker system with 10 inch woofer and improved clarity. Fender Passport 500 Pro Features: 500 Watts of Class-D Power USB Port Records straight to a USB Flash Drive with CD Quality (.wav) Six Mic Lines with XLR and 1/4 inputs, Two Stereo Inputs with 1/4 and 1/8 (for MP3 Player) Inputs, 1/4 inch Subwoofer Out with 120Hz High Pass Filter on Speaker Out, CD-Quality .wav and mp3 File Playback.

The Passport Pro is lighter than earlier models and this is a big deal, especially if you are your own roadie. Set up is quick and easy and the sound is fine for small to mid-size venues. We tried plugging in several items including SM58 microphones, an electric acoustic guitar, a Les Paul and a P-Bass. All worked fine, although as one might expect, the Les Paul was not able to perform anywhere near it’s capabilities given the lack of amplification options.

Pricing

American Musical Supply	$999.99
Musician’s Friend	$999.99

Offering great tone with unmatched design, the ESP LTD EC401VF Electric Guitar has many of the same features as the EC401, but adds a flamed maple top, chrome hardware and Seymour Duncan Pickups . The easy play, bound 3 piece mahogany set neck with rosewood fretboard on a bound mahogany body provides excellent resonance and sustain. A 24.75 inch scale for note bending and cutaway design for easily reaching the upper frets increase playability. The fingerboard has eye catching flag inlays plus Grover tuners. All in all, an affordable professional single cut guitar with highly versatile, powerful Seymour Duncan tones, reliable hardware and tidy, attractive looks. ESP EC Style Case To protect and transport your guitar, ESP recommends the optional EC Style Electric Guitar Case (#ESP ECFF) .

Our team of guitar heroes found this affordable instrument to be very playable with an exciting sonic profile.  With our standard Marshall stack, the lows were deep and menacing allowing some awesome percussive playing. At the same time, our soloists seem to really enjoy the higher notes and the exceptional sustain. This guitar definitely got along well with out stack.

Next, we tried the 401 with our Fender Hot Rod Deluxe to see what kind of blues we could pull. The team thought that the overall sound was surprisingly effective – being fairly even handed with the highs and the lows.  Once again, the sustain seemed to allow some extra creativity in soloing.

Overall, the team found this guitar to be quite impressive given its affordable price tag. Two thumbs up!

Pricing

American Musical Supply

$629.99

The Alesis USB Studio Kit Electronic Drum Set enables drummers and studios to track drum performances with MIDI software and hardware sound modules. This USB/MIDI drum set features dual-zone RealHead drum pads, low-noise DMPad Cymbals, and a compact, studio-friendly StealthRack drum rack. Harness the powerful processor in your computer to create incomparably realistic electronic drum tracks.

Alesis USB Studio Drum Kit Features:

• Five-piece electronic drum set with USB/MIDI computer interface
• RealHead drum pads feature genuine 8 inch mylar drum heads for customizable feel
• Low-noise DMPad
• Cymbals: Hi-Hat, Crash, dual-zone Ride; Crash and Ride with choke
• Dual-zone snare and tom pads for a wide palette of sounds from a standard setup
• Ultra-fast triggering with software sequencers, recording software, and MIDI hardware
• 10 TRS inputs for kit expansion with additional pads, cymbals, and acoustic drum triggers

The USB Studio Drum Kit harnesses your Mac or PC’s processing power, enabling you to create incredibly realistic and incomparably flexible drum performances. You can track in a live or pieced-together drum track and change the sound later, easily with the USB Studio Drum Kit. The true touch of real, tunable, mylar drum heads, combined with low-noise DMPad Cymbals, creates an acoustic-feeling, great-sounding drumming experience. USB/MIDI for Hardware and Software Just plug the kit’s Trigger/iO interface into your Mac or PC’s USB port, load up your sequencing, recording, or virtual instrument software, and you’re ready to play. Because the USB Studio Drum Kit is MIDI compatible, you can track a performance, and then go back afterward and tweak your sounds. Try that with acoustic drums!

The USB Studio Drum Kit also opens up a new world of software including BFD, Toontrack, and Reason to drummers and producers looking for realistic drum performances. Advanced Drum Pads The USB Studio Drum Kit’s acoustic-feeling RealHead drum pads are built around 8 inch mylar drumheads and acoustic-dampening foam for quiet response. The snare and tom pads are dual-zone, enabling rimshot or rim-click sounds on the snare and additional sounds such as wind chimes, cymbals, gongs, and cowbells on the tom rims. The drumheads can be replaced with any model you choose from any manufacturer. The heads are tunable with a standard drum key for adjustable tension and feel. The triple-flanged counterhoops are covered in removable, sound-reducing rubber sleeves, which further cut acoustic noise. The USB Studio Drum Kit includes a self-standing RealHead Kick Pad with stand, to which any model of single or double-bass-drum pedal can be attached.

Pricing

American Musical Supply

$599.99

We paired this exquisite amp head with a full stack including the 1960AX angled and 1960AX straight 100W 4×12 cabinets.  We completed the scene with both a Studio Les Paul and a BC Rich Warlock. As you might imagine, we were able to put out enough noise to give the neighbors a good stir.

With The Les Paul plugged in, we found the crunch was mind blowing at both low and high volumes – a true rockin’ sound. This fantastic sound is achieved using an all tube configuration including 4 EL34s in the amp stage and 3 EL83s in the pre-amp stage.

With the Warlock in, we found the tone decidedly more aggressive, with ear bleeding highs and room shaking lows. Guitar solos never sounded so sweet!

There were no big surprises with this setup  we expected killer performance and we got it. There’s a reason Marshall continues to own the rocking amp market. Still, it sure was fun putting this gear through it’s paces!

Pricing

In This Corner

Gibson Les Paul Studio – $1399.99

The Les Paul Studio offers guitar lovers all the essential elements of a Les Paul Standard, including a carved top in a simple yet elegant design. You’ll feel the weight of this guitar as you crunch out some of the tastiest tones you’ve ever heard. Pair it with a Marshall stack and you are in guitar heaven.

Body
• Body style: Les Paul carved top
• Top species: Maple top
• Back species: Mahogany
• Scale length: 24-3/4″

Neck

• Neck wood: Mahogany
• Neck joint: Set
• Neck profile: ’60s
• Nut: Corian
• Nut width: Standard Gibson: 1.695″ ±.050″
• Headstock inlay: Gibson logo
• Silkscreen: Gibson logo + Les Paul model
• Truss rod: Gibson adjustable truss rod
• Truss rod cover: Bell-shaped cover, stamped “Deluxe”

Fingerboard

• Fingerboard species: Rosewood
• Fingerboard radius: 12″
• Inlays: Figured acrylic trapezoid
• Frets: 22

Hardware

• Plating finish: Chrome
• Tailpiece: Gibson stopbar
• Bridge: Gibson Tune-O-Matic
• Tuners: Grover

Electronics

• Neck pickup: 490R
• Bridge pickup: Burstbucker Pro
• Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone with coil-splitting, 3-way toggle
• Control knobs: Black speed
• Control pocket cover: Black molded
• Special features: Quick-connect control pocket assembly

Case

• Type: Gibson hardshell
• Case interior: White
• Case exterior: Black
• Silkscreen: Gibson USA logo

In The Other Corner

Fender Stratocaster – $1499.99

In the newest evolutionary step for the American Deluxe Stratocaster electric guitar, it maintains its traditional look and feel while introducing upgrades that include three N3 Noiseless single-coil pickups that still produce their revered sparkle and snap and—with noiseless design—no annoying hum. The S-1 switching system adds additional pickup combinations beyond those provided by a standard five-way switch including new combinations of series and parallel wiring for a dazzling array of tonal choice. The compound radius fretboard that modern guitarists demand ensures strings won’t fret out even with extreme bending. Other improvements include the high-mass tremolo block that increases sustain; locking tuning keys; and a molded case with glass-reinforced latches and TSA locks.

• Select alder body with contoured heel and body
• Rosewood or maple neck
• C-shaped profile
• 22 medium-jumbo frets
• Compound radius fretboard (9-1/2″ at the nut, 12″ at the 12th fret, and 14″ at the 15th fret)
• Three N3 Noiseless single-coil pickups
• S-1 switching system
• High-mass tremolo block
• Locking tuning keys
• Upgraded, molded case

Decision

Sometimes in life, you can’t lose. This would be one of those times. If you want to pound out some crunchy tones, the Les Paul may be a good choice. If you’re looking for a more bluesy tone with just a hint of sophistication, try the Fender Stratocaster. Or better still – get both!