Christofoo Review
the world needs to know what I think
Guitar Studio
Mon, 10/12/2009 - 08:39 | 
chris
I happen to play the guitar, and there is so much great equipment out there I just have to talk about it.
- My computer is old (2003), it's an Athlon XP 2800 1.5 GB RAM, but I have no plans to upgrade. It runs Ubuntu Studio (Linux), and it's smooth.
- My soundcard is a M-Audio Delta 66 with an AudioBuddy as a pre-amp.
- Ardour is my multi-track recorder (part of Ubuntu Studio)
- LADSPA provides effects (part of Ubuntu Studio)
- Jack provides an audio application patch-bay (part of Ubuntu Studio)
- Boss MT-2 Metal Zone distortion pedal - provides a solid metal sound, but it isn't very versatile. It plays metal, and that's about it.
- MXR Distortion+ - provides a more versatile (simple) distortion, but it doesn't do very high saturation. Grunge and metal are out.
- Korg digital multi-effects processor - for the price (<$100) I thought this would be pretty awesome, and it does do a decent job, but some of the effects (like wah) just aren't as persuasive as analog pedals.
Oh yeah, and I have some guitars (this is my short list):
- My no-name brand white guitar came from a pawn shop and had a bad fretboard. I filed it level and now it plays nice - probably my best guitar.
My homemade guitar still needs one more part on the neck to tie the strings down so they won't buzz when I play the strings open.
It plays fairly well, except that the pickups that I wound myself make a noise if I hit them with my pick. Also I realized this guitar doesn't sustain as long as I want. Is that because of my choice of woods? I don't know.
The best part is the pearl and rosewood inlay on the head stock, even though no one can read it. (It says "Cannon".)
- I also have an acoustic, an Alvarex FD60, possibly my most expensive guitar.
Actually mine is a solid red, no sunburst, very pretty, and has one of the best steel-string sounds I know of (which isn't saying all that much, just because I haven't played that many guitars).
By the way, making guitars is expensive (more than buying a guitar) and time consuming, but fun. For anyone curious, check out Musical Instrument Maker's Forum or Build Your Own Electric Guitar.
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