Tech Review: Microsoft Zune
I've been in the market for a PMP (portable media player) for some time now and, what with being a part-time worship leader, it only made sense that I finally make the jump and pick up a unit…
product review: Mama Bear Acoustic Preamp
We got our hands on one of the hottest acoustic guitar products: the Mama Bear acoustic guitar preamp from D-Tar (Duncan Turner Acoustic Research). The Mama Bear has been making quite a name for itself among acoustic players. In a market that is saturated with modeling amps for electric players, D-Tar is banking on acoustic artists to jump on the sonic bandwagon.
The premise of the Mama Bear is pretty simple. With one knob you dial in your pick-up configuration (tell it what pickup you are using). With another control you dial in a target instrument (16 different guitar choices). Say you play a 1999 Taylor 514. Dial that pickup configuration in as your source. Want to get a hallow body archtop jazz guitar? Dial in number 12 and give a listen. A slope-shouldered jumbo? Number 9. For the full menu, take a look at the complete source and target choices.
You are able to blend from wet to dry, varying the mixture of the source sound and the target sound. This means that the possibilities are quite overwhelming.
Is it worth purchasing?
product review: Taylor big baby
A small group at church just ordered a Big Baby Taylor as a gift for an overseas friend. We will deliver it to him soon, but while it is running through our hands we gave it a test drive.
Taylor guitars have always been a favorite of mine. I have played numerous models belonging to friends, enemies, and music stores. Currently, my main guitar (a workhorse) is a Taylor 710KCE. Taylor has been making some quality instruments and if money were no object, I would have a room full.
I first played the Big Baby in a local music store and was blown away by the sound. After the first strum, I stopped to make sure that I had not mistakenly picked up a different model.
review of chris tomlin’s see the morning
Chris Tomlin released his new album through iTunes on Tuesday. It has quickly made it into the top 10. See the Morning is a gathering of new tunes from the guy who says that he writes so that “the most unrhythmic person can sing my songs.”
I first “met” Chris in the early days of the Passion movement. He was on a Q and A panel with some other worship artists. I was instantly taken with his honesty and wonder. “I just am pretty much in awe that I am here,” he said. At a gathering a few years later I was invited to a brief interaction with Chris, Louis Giglio, and some other passion guys. A few CD’s had been under his belt along with some big recognition. Still the same guy. Total respect.