Guitar Stuff » Other Reviews

Review: Logitech Z-2300 THX 2.1 PC Speakers

Matt — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 08:05:10 +0000

I know, in my previous post I bashed the Logitech Z-2300 speakers for not being as crisp and clear (and cheap) as the superior Creative GigaWorks T20. In all honesty I do believe the T20s have a better overall sound. However, there is one area where Logitech’s THX 2.1 speakers excel and that is volume. I’m not exactly sure what the specifications are for THX certification, but I think there is a rule in there that says they must maintain a specific level of sound quality at a high volume. The thing I love about these speakers is whether I have them just loud enough to hear or cranked to 11 the sound quality is the same.

I think my one complaint is the size of the subwoofer. Although it’s size is nice for playing games because you get that rumble when things explode and whatnot, I find music sound quality is slightly diminished. Because I have the speakers above the desk and the sub below there is that separation of the sound. Also, because the speaker cables are only a few feet long your are limited with how far you can move the sub.

If I were to buy another high powered speaker set, I may consider looking into one of the more expensive Creative GigaWorks sets like the ProGamer G500. However, Like I said I like the simplicity of a 2 or 3 piece set, and the GigaWorks only come in 2.0, 5.1, or 7.1

With 200-watts of power these speakers are nothing to scoff at, and they have dropped below the $200 mark here in Canada over the past few months. If you are also a gamer or just prefer the 5.1 experience you can also check out the Logitech Z-5300e set. However strictly for music listening at my computer I just prefer the simplicity (less wires) of the 2.1 set.

The Specs
I always want to know what the specs are:

200-watt RMS Power (40-watt/satellite, 120-watt sub)
8-inch long-throw subwoofer distortion free bass
Wired remote control with volume, bass, headphone, and power
THX Certified
35Hz – 20kHz frequency response
Included 8″ to stereo RCA adapter for consoles and TVs

Christmas Gift Idea: Music and Band T-Shirts

Matt — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 15:35:19 +0000

I am a band t-shirt buyer. When I like a group, I buy the shirt to show everyone. This is a great gift idea for that music lover in your family.

There are lots of places out there that you can get music related tshirts. A great site for both mainstream and underground bands is JSR Direct. I also suggest checking out Amazon.com and allposters.com

You will have to act soon though, the time left for ordering gifts online is quickly running out!

Stocking Stuffers for Guitar Players

Matt — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:29:33 +0000

Well it is December, so I guess it’s ok to start talking about Christmas now. One thing about Christmas is I always get guitar stuff. People know me as a guitar guy and so they know getting me guitar related stuff is always a sure bet.

The good thing about guitars is there is a range of very expensive to very cheap stuff you can get. So I just wanted to go over some of the cheaper items you can buy your guitar playing friend for Christmas. As the title says, these things make great stocking stuffers.

1. Guitar Strings
Guitar strings are always a sure bet. The thing about strings is they wear out and they have to be replaced. Also, it doesn’t matter if buddy has spare guitar strings already, if you buy them they will always get used. There is one key factor though, you MUST make sure you get strings that the person will use. Guitar players can be very specific about what they put on their guitar. So, try and get an old package from strings they have used or better yet, just ask them what kind of strings they like on their guitar.

There are three things you want to know: type, gauge, and brand. The type refers to whether they are steel acoustic, nylong acoustic, or electric strings. The gauge is the thickness and is usually light, medium, or heavy. And the brand could be one of hundreds. These three things are very important. If you get your guitar player a set of heavy strings and they play light strings, they may never put them on their guitar.

2. Guitar Magazines
Guitar magazines are also another sure bet. I don’t know a guitar player who doesn’t like reading a guitar magazine. There is a huge range of magazines for all types of players. Just head out to your local Chapters and take a look. If your guitar player plays acoustic, you will want to get them a magazine like Acoustic Guitar. For everyone in general Guitar World, Guitar One, or Guitar Player are usually a good choice. I also like the Guitar World Buyers Guide which seems to come out around this time of year. It has lots of information on all the new guitar products.

If you know your guitar player likes a specific magazine, you can get a subscription for about $40 which also makes a great gift because it lasts all year.

3. Guitar Books
Guitar books are another cheap gift idea. Whether the player is a beginner or advanced shredder, learning books or books with sheet music are a great buy. A lot of mainstream bands and artists have tablature books that will teach you their greatest hits.

4. Music DVDs
Everyone does CDs for Christmas, but what I like to get is concert or music video DVDs. If your guitar player has a band they love check out the DVD section at your local HMV to see if there are any DVDs for that band. They also make a great gift.

5. Guitar Accessories
Guitar stores have an endless supply of guitar related accessories for cheap. Things from picks to guitar straps to cleaning polishes and cloths. Just go to the store, tell them about your guitar player and I’m sure they will help you find some cheaper items to stuff that stocking.

Well, that is my list of favorite guitar related gifts. All of them should come within $40 and are mostly around the $10 range.

Review: Creative GigaWorks T20 Speakers

Matt — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:36:53 +0000

Creative has a great product on their hands with the GigaWorks T20 speakers. To be a serious guitar player one thing is usually true… you have to love music. If you really love music then you’ll want it to sound as good as it can when you listen to it.

Now I know what you are thinking: “they don’t even have a sub”. Well it doesn’t matter. I bought these speakers for my girlfriend’s Mac Mini and they have better sound then my 200-Watt Logitech 2.1 THX-Cirtified Z-2300s. Creative has incorporated this new feature that they call BasXPort which basically puts a sub in both of the two speakers.

From the Creative website:
BasXPort™
Acoustically engineered to enhance the lower mid range tones. This is done by efficiently channeling sound waves from the inner chamber to the soundstage, for fuller, more encompassing sound.

This BasXPort technology means the speakers can produce better bass then possible with a 2.1 setup.

The Specs
Just for those of you who want all of the detailed specs, here they are:

2.0 28 Watt Powered Speakers (14 Watt/channel)
Cloth Dome Tweeter
Woven Glass Fibre Cone Driver
BasXPort™ 2-Way Design for natural bass
Front access treble, bass, and volume controls
TV Adapter included (1/8th” jack to Stereo RCA)
Front headphone and aux outputs

I’m the kind of guy who is always looking for the best quality for the best price. I cant stop telling people how much I love these speakers because they really are that good. If you are looking at getting a set of 2.1 speakers for your PC or maybe to hook to your iPod defiantly give these a try. The sound is very deep with a great range of highs and lows and it has the power to play with some volume too. I would have a really hard time buying another 2.1 set knowing these bad boys were out there.

Kahler 2300 Tremolo Bridge Review

Matt — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 14:37:22 +0000

All of the guitars I have ever owned have been fixed bridge guitars. I have always associated tremolo’s (wammy bars) with people like Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and John Petrucci. Since that is really not my style of playing, I have never really had much of an interest in using one.

However, lately I have been learning a lot of metal and there are more and more riffs which are hard to play a fixed bridge. Players like Alexi Laiho and the late Dimebag Darrel use them regularly in their leads. As a result I have been thinking about purchasing a guitar that can free me from the shackles of my fixed bridge.

The reintroduction of the Kahler 2300 tremolo was announced in March 2006’s Guitar World Magazine. The 2300 was popular in the 80’s, but as the hair metal music of the 90’s faded and the grunge movement took over, the bridges were in less of a demand. Kahler discontinued the bridge in the 90’s but interest lately has prompted them to reissue it.

The thing that sets the Kahler 2300 apart from other tremolo bridges is its bearing cam system. The result of using bearings as opposed to a fulcrum system is a much smoother feel. Some great things that stand out about this bridge are its solid construction providing great harmonics, and its consistent tension throughout the full range of the pull of the bar.

Kahler USA says: “The Kahler 2300 PROFESSIONAL flat mount series tremolo system is designed to drop into any flat top guitar. All 2300 series models include onboard fine tuners and 6 way adjustable saddles: side to side for perfect string spacing; front to back for accurate intonation and up or down for ultimate action and radius matching. Both, left handed and right handed configurations are available. Only top routing is required.”

Kahler 2300 Tremolo Bridge Features

Smooth bearing/cam system
Mount to any flat top guitar
Onboard fine tuners
6 way adjustable saddles
Left handed and right handed available
Comes in Bright Chrome, Black Krome, or Gold
Four models (2300, 2310, 2315, 2320) for different desired tone and harmonics
Backed by Kerry King of Slayer

If I ever buy a guitar that supports a tremolo bridge, I’ll definitely have to test out one of these suckers.