Posted by Don Mackrill on Sat, Jan 16, 2010 @ 01:00 PM
It's the middle of January, which means it's NAMM time in Anaheim, CA!
Once again Mack is at NAMM in the Eastwood Guitars booth. This year we are featuring our new Gem head and combo.
Gem head on 1x10 OB speaker cab beside Eastwood Guitars Tuxedo and Mandocaster (see above).
Wendell Ferguson plays Tuxedo through Gem combo.
SUPER HOT country pickin': Mason Stoops (plays a Mack Heatseeker HS-18 when not at NAMM!) and Wendell Ferguson jam using Gems. These guys drew a BIG and very appreciative crowd!
Eastwood Guitars founder Mike Robinson and new solid body, electric uke!
Steve Makk, Mack Amps' electronics design and manufacturing partner, with Mike Robinson.
Posted by Don Mackrill on Sat, Jan 16, 2010 @ 07:04 AM
Mack Endorsing Artist Val Halla, has won the 2010 Regional Radio Star National Songwriting Competition in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada!
The Radio Star competition is held each year across Canada. The competition is aimed at discovering songwriters who are looking to have their music recorded and published.
Val Halla won based on the strength of her most excellent song "Bad Girl Touch" (all guitar parts were recorded with her Heatseeker HS-18!).
As a result of being a Regional winner Val scores a very cool bunch of music related stuff including a Garrison acoustic guitar and an all expenses paid stay in Toronto in March where she will be performing live along with the other regional winners from across the country to see who becomes Canada's National Radio Star for 2010!! GO VAL!!
Posted by Don Mackrill on Sat, Jan 09, 2010 @ 07:14 AM
It's once again time to take stock of what's happening in the world of tube guitar amps. I'll examine some interesting happenings in 2009, make some predictions and revisit Tube Tone Crystal Ball 2009 to see if any of last year's guesses came true!
Read about guitar amp current trends and predictions...
Posted by Don Mackrill on Thu, Jan 07, 2010 @ 03:19 PM
Most guitarists instantly create an image in their minds when they think of 'boutique' guitar amps. But, what does the term really mean?
Perform a Google search on the term "What is a boutique amp" and you will find many threads from many gear related forums where members debate the meaning of the term and the criteria by which a boutique amp is defined.
In this article we'll sort through the debate and see if there is an underlying theme that describes what makes an amp worthy of being called 'boutique'.
Read more about what a boutique guitar amp really is...
Posted by Don Mackrill on Wed, Jan 06, 2010 @ 05:47 AM
In this article we take a look at what happens when you listen to an amplified electric guitar at low volume.
Admittedly, that's kind of an oxymoron - who cares about playing an electric guitar at low volume, crank it!
However, there is a high percentage of guitarists who spend most of their time playing at home or in situations where low volume is all they can get away with.
So, we're going to explore what happens to the sound coming out of your amp when you turn down and how to enjoy your low volume sessions to the greatest extent possible.
Read the full article...
Posted by Don Mackrill on Tue, Jan 05, 2010 @ 02:05 AM
In this article we investigate whether guitar amp sound and video clips are actually useful and what makes a good one.
Almost every amp company features sound and sometimes video clips on their web sites. The purpose is to demonstrate how good their amp sounds and generate on-line sales.
I'm confident in assuming you've listened to and watched clips. Undoubtedly, you thought some were better than others - not just because of the product being demonstrated, but because of how the clips were presented. And, there are some of you that have used clips to help you decide to purchase an amp or amps on-line.
But, how do you know that clips accurately demonstrate the amp's live sound? Are clips a good enough tone reference to base a purchase decision on them?
Read the full article...
Posted by Don Mackrill on Fri, Oct 09, 2009 @ 05:32 PM
Mack Endorsing Artist Val Halla recently won the 2009 Tennessee Concerts Talent Competition.
One of the benefits of her win was to have a review written by Gary Allen - former drummer for The Charlie Daniel's Band who is currently performing with JJ Cale. Gary attended one of Val's gigs and had these amazing things to say:
(The following excerpts were taken from "Gary Allen's Music Beat", a free, online newsletter published monthly in Nashville, TN.)
"After just a few strums and her no nonsense approach to the guitar, I suspected she would be the winner of this round. Her sound is a little bit pop with a big dose of electricity. If Nancy Wilson could sing like Val Halla, she could have kept all the money. I have always been a fan of Chrissie Hynde, because she sings and plays as good as any male. So does Val Halla.
Elle Magazine did a top ten list of female guitarists and in my opinion Val could make that list along with rocker Orianthi, from
Michael Jackson's band. She ranks up there with any rock and roll guy as well. Carlos Santana said he could pass the torch to a player like Orianthi. Val is bad ass however and may just club you over the head with the torch.
One last comparison and I'll stop. I hear Lita Ford in some of Val's more metal style guitar shredding, but with more of a rock
feeling that well suits her music. Best of all, her music is a sexy riff filled group of songs that are accessible, well performed
with a musical maturity well beyond her 25 years. She is high energy and has a wicked tight band, that totally won me over.
Congratulations!
Val riffs and revs it up like a rock star and knocks you over with tasteful solos. The songs are clever and brings to mind Bonnie Raitt with the bad attitude of Joan Jett."
Posted by Don Mackrill on Fri, Oct 09, 2009 @ 04:30 PM
Mack Endorsing Artists Steve Gunner, Tommy Mack and Rob Roberge hung out before and after a Creedence Clearwater Revisited gig at the LA County Fair on September 17, 2009.
As with all MEA meetings, much gear and music talk ensued along with general good times.
Here's a photo of Tommy, Steve and Rob - dude, nice hair or lack of it!
Posted by Don Mackrill on Sun, Sep 13, 2009 @ 08:34 AM
Mack Endorsing Artist Val Halla documented her recent recording sessions at Felix The Cat Studios in New Jersey.
Check out the insane amount of Felix related swag, Val's hot guitar playing and a great new song 'Maker's Moon'.
View 'Felix Is A Headbanger'
Posted by Don Mackrill on Mon, Aug 17, 2009 @ 12:05 PM
Mack Amps is pleased to announce the launch of the 'Gear Guru' program targeted at independent guitar educators who teach from home or a dedicated teaching studio.
Many teaching studios use basic amps and their students don't sound their best.
Becoming a Gear Guru means you can buy a Mack Gem amp at the Gear Guru discount price, teach with it and differentiate your instruction business by allowing your students to sound great!
The result will be happier students, more loyalty, lots of street 'BUZZ' and more business!
Also, Gear Gurus can sell Gems to their students - or anyone - and earn a commission on every sale.
The Gear Guru program - make learning the guitar more fun, differentiate your teaching business, get more students and earn extra cash!
Check out the Gear Guru program here or call 416.705.9620.