Guitar Review Ninja

The Martin JC16ME guitar is equipped with a peerless electronics system offered by Fishman. The Fishman Aura system is fashioned by accurately capturing the sound of the guitar under different high-end microphones so you always receive the highest quality sound even when out of the studio and on the road. This guitar is made to play anywhere it’s made from a solid sitka spruce top and a unique solid European flamed maple back. It’s jumbo size especially aids those who need a full body guitar sound with plenty of projection.

Martin JC16ME Jumbo Acoustic-Electric Guitar Features…

Construction: Mortise/Tenon Neck Joint

Body Size: J-14 Fret Cutaway

Top: Solid Sitka Spruce

Rosette: Single Ring

Top Bracing Pattern: Hybrid “X” Scalloped

Top Braces: Solid Sitka Spruce 5/16 inch

Back Material: Solid European Flamed Maple

Back Purfling: Style 45

Side Material: Solid European Flamed Maple

Endpiece: White Boltaron

Endpiece Inlay: Black/White Boltaron

Binding: White Boltaron

Top Inlay Style: Multiple Black/White Boltaron

Side Inlay: Black/White/Black Boltaron

Back Inlay: Black/White/Black Boltaron

Neck Material: Select Hardwood

Neck Shape: Modified Low Oval

Nut Material: White Corian

Headstock: Solid/Square Taper

Headplate: Solid East Indian Rosewood /Raised Gold Foil Logo

Heelcap: White Boltaron

Fingerboard Material: Solid Striped Ebony

Scale Length: 25.4 inches

Number of Frets Clear: 14

Number of Frets Total: 20

Fingerboard Width at Nut: 1-3/4 inches

Fingerboard Width at 12th Fret: 2-1/4 inches

Fingerboard Position Inlays: Style 28

Fingerboard Binding: White Boltaron

Finish Back & Sides: Polished Gloss

Finish Top: Polished Gloss

Finish Neck: Satin

Bridge Material: Solid Striped Ebony

Bridge Style: Belly

Bridge String Spacing: 2-1/4 inches

Saddle: 16 inch Radius/Compensated/White Tusq

Tuning Machines: Chrome w/ Small Knobs

Recommended Strings: Martin MSP 4100 Light Phosphor Bronze

Bridge & End Pins: White w/Black Dots

Pickguard: Tortoise Color

Case: 380

Interior Label: none

Electronics: Fishman Onboard Aura

Buy Martin JC16ME Jumbo Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Outstanding Guitar

This is an outstanding guitar in every respect; acoustic tone, plugged in tone, playability and overall quality are all top notch. The fiddleback maple sides and back on this guitar give a nice bright projection with keeping that signiture Martin sound; not to bright and not to dark. I had a Taylor 814ce before it which paled in comparisson. The JC-16ME Aura is a much better value.

Greg Vulcan from Caledonia, MI (Oct 18, 2007)

Beautiful Tone and Quality

This Martin is very balanced sounding because it is not bass heavy sounding. Crisp, but full tone. The combination of the big jumbo body, yet European flame maple gives it a balanced tone. It's quite nice to look at as well. The neck is typical Martin in that it's silky smooth with nice relatively low action. Although this acoustic guitar may seem a bit pricey, it's well worth it. I just received it today and only played it unplugged so far. But the Aura system keeps getting rave reviews, so I'm looking forward to pluggin it in.

Steve Baltimore from Baltimore (Aug 5, 2008)

Epiphone Masterbilt promo video (.wmv)

Epiphone Masterbilt guitars are built to such great specifications that they rival overly expensive “higher-end” guitars. The AJ500RE is crafted with a solid rosewood body and topped with solid sitka spruce providing both warmth and character that only gets better with age. A rosewood fingerboard on a mahogany neck provide smooth playability. Masterbilt guitars provide quality to last for years whenever, wherever, or however you use them.

Epiphone Masterbilt AJ500RE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Features…

Hardware: Gold

Scale: 25.5 in.

Nut width: 1.68 in.

Neck: Set

Neck material: Mahogany

Fretboard/Inlay: Rosewood/Dot

Binding: B/M/H

Body material: Solid Rosewood

Top: Solid Sitka Spruce

Pickup System: eSonic2

Buy Epiphone Masterbilt AJ500RE Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500RE

Thick beautiful tone that rings loud and clear. I bought this guitar online as a beater, one that I wouldn't be afraid of playing every day and banging up. I hadn't even heard it yet, but the price was right, so I thought I'd give it a chance. After the first 5 minutes of strumming, I was convinced that this was my new main acoustic. Bass and resonance you can feel in your chest. Glassy high end with complex overtones. Epiphone has made something very special, indulge yourself!

David A. Tiangco from Virginia Beach, VA (Jan 7, 2007)

I like both strumming and fingerpicking stuff. I like stuff from Neil Young to Monte Montgomery.

Unplugged, this guitar is LOUD. It has plenty of low end punch and midrange is voiced well too. However, to my ear, the highs are lacking. Overall I dont like the balance. (I'm returning this for the AJ500ME).

Plugged in, this guitar sounds very nice. The element under the bridge seems to pick up each string equally Again, there is no EQ so all you can control is the volume. Again, the guitar sounds great plugged in.

The guitar has a satin finish, solid Rosewood back and sides and a solid Spruce top. The Neck is Mahogany and fretboard is rosewood. Not sure of the material of the nut and bridge. The fretboard at the first fret is a bit small for my liking (I dont know what the nut width is) but as you move to the second and rest of the frets, everything is great.

There is an under the saddle pickup. There is no preamp or EQ. There is only a small volume "wheel" inside the guitar at the top of the sound hole.

I bought this from GC. It had been on the floor for awhile. The strings were corroded and the B string broke as I tried to bring it into tune, so I asked them to restring the guitar. They did and the action seemed to be good to be ok. It could use a neck adjustment and hopefully that would take care of some fret buzz (I'm not going to mess with it since I'm returnning it).

The frets seem to be dressed well (smooth edges) and the bridge and nut appear to be positioned right.

The tuners are gold colored open back style. They seem to be holding up well. The guitar stays in tune while I'm playing and only needs a very slight adjustment when I first pick the guitar up.

So far I've not had a reason to contact Epiphone.

Paul (01/26/2008)

You wanted it. Well you got it. With all the fat, sweet snarling sound that you expect from a Les Paul tone, the Gibson Les Paul Standard Traditional is an electric guitar that has all the traditional features you expect from a Les Paul. Mahogany body and set neck and a pair of Gibson’s awesome ‘57 Classic humbucker pickups. Gibson is pleased to announce that the Traditional is the first model to use the revolutionary Plek system.

The Plek system is a computer controlled set-up that measures and dresses each fret measuring the height between the fingerboard and each string. This will eliminate string buzz and provide ultimate playability. Other traditional features are vintage style Gibson speed knobs, chrome Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar and classic Kluson-style tuners by Tone Pros, which give this guitar the classic look of the 80’s that purists will love.

Each Les Paul Traditional comes with Gibson’s standard black snakeskin case.

Gibson Les Paul Traditional Electric Guitar (with Case) Features…

Body

Top Species: Carved maple (Carved AA maple on Plus Top)

Back Species: Mahogany

Binding: Single-ply top

Fingerboard

Fingerboard Species: Rosewood

Scale Length: 243/4 inch

Number of Frets: 22

Inlays: Trapezoid

Fingerboard Binding: Single-ply

Electronics

Neck Pickup: ‘57 Classic Humbuckers

Bridge Pickup: ‘57 Classic Humbuckers

Controls: Two volume, two tone, three-way switch

Neck

Species: Mahogany

Profile: ’50’s Rounded

Peghead Pitch: 17°

Nut Width: 1.695 inch

Hardware

Plating Finish: Chrome

Tailpiece : Stopbar

Bridge: Tune-o-matic

Knobs: Gold Speed Knobs

Tuners: Green Keys

Case

Interior: White Plush

Case Exterior: Black Reptile Pattern Hardshell

Silkscreen: Silver Gibson USA logo

Other

Strings: Brite Wires .010-.046

Buy Gibson Les Paul Traditional Electric Guitar (with Case)

So Smoothe!

I played this beauty, and wow it is probably the smoothest and creamiest tone you'll get in a Les Paul with out going into lp custom territory. It weighs a good 9 lbs. so that just adds to the smoothe tone. It's just like the standards but without a chambered body, so that means more tone with more wood!!!
As for the neck, I didn't even notice that they weren't 60's style necks and I'm a 60's neck guy. It seemed comfortable for a 60s neck and a 50s neck player.
I was saving for an lp standard in wine red, but when a guitar sounds this good, color doesn't matter, this will be my baby in a couple months… haha

Fish8878 from Minneapolis, MN (Aug 5, 2008)

True Love

I just got this about an hour ago & it is more than I could of ever thought it could be. This guitar looks so good it's just down right sexxy. The neck is so smooth & easy to play & I have small hands. The sound it awsome. I have never been so happy to blow this much money.

K-Fed from Kirksville,MO. (Feb 23, 2009)

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With his scorching riffs and remarkable stage presence, Zakk Wylde has earned a reputation as one of heavy metal’s premier lead guitarists. The Custom Shop teamed up with Zakk to create a guitar featuring Zakk’s trademark black and antique white bullseye graphics, powerful EMG humbucking pickups, and raw, unfinished necks.

Gibson Custom Shop Zakk Wylde Les Paul Electric Guitar (with Case) Features…

Body:

Top wood: Carved maple

Back wood: Solid mahogany

Binding: Multi-ply white/black on top and back

Neck:

Neck construction: 3-piece maple, no finish

Fingerboard wood: 22 fret ebony

Inlays: Pearl block

Binding: Multi-ply white/black

Profile: Rounded

Scale length/Nut width: 24 3/4 in.; 1 11/16 in.

Strings: Brite Wires .010-.046

Electronics & Hardware:

Pickups: EMG-81 and EMG-85

Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way switch

Hardware color: Gold

Bridge/Tailpiece: Nashville TOM/Stopbar

Tuner style: Kidney bean

Included accessories:

Custom Shop case, Certificate of Authenticity, Custom Care Kit

Buy Gibson Custom Shop Zakk Wylde Les Paul Electric Guitar (with Case)

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The sound and tone is what has hooked me. I play rock/hard rock usually but dabble in blues (who doesn't?!) – The trebble (burstbucker 3) grabbed me straight away. It has SO much tone and sustain and bite it really took me by surprise. A better rock sound that the Standards or Historics.

But it was the rhythm (burstbucker 2) which sold it to me. It has so many dimentions (I know that sounds like crap, but bear with me!) playing through tube amps (Marshall JCM 2550 and JCM 6100)at full bore, the cleans sounded superb. I imagine the long neck tennon must have some part to play in this.

The range is huge, but if you want to sound like a tele, buy a tele. If you want to sound like Zakk Wylde, buy some EMGs (or his signature guitar). You shouldn't expect to be able to play every style with this guitar.

The only thing I dislike about this guitar is that I don't want to play my Standard (killer guitar) or my Explorer (great looking and sounding)at all.

The features of this guitar (and the case and goodies) are detailed below quite a bit – basically a custom shop Les Paul Classic with a AAAAA top (and without the green inlays!). That's where the 'class 5' name came from.

For the record, mine is a 2002 in Translucent Black.

I had thought long and hard about getting a guitar that I would never sell. I was blown away by the look of some of the Les Paul Custom Shop axes (I also own a Les Paul Standard, so thought I would know how it sounded!) Having seen some of the reviews below and chatting to some people on the Les Paul Forum I gave the Class 5 a try.

Tiny strap buttons – won't hold this guitar at all. They are light and have the slim necks… why not finish the job with some proper locks? It doesn't make any sense at all! Otherwise it would be a 10.

Low action out of the box. Nice

Had to raise the stopbar which was at its minimum. Raised it to give the strings the same angle (17?) as the headstock. But no biggy

Finish was perfect – the top would transfix you in person (but doesn't photograph so well… which I kinda like!)

Changed the strings to HLLH

It was better set up than I kept my Standard.

The lack of staplocks on a guitar of this calibre still shocks me!

Lifelong warranty; Great website – never need to contact them though. I have the impression they would do OK though.

Rammer (02/19/2003)

Very punchy and bright on the high end. Rhythm pickup is fine for rhythm. Really quite nice.

Mine is a 2001 Class 5 Custom Shop Les Paul with, I believe, the translucent amber finish. I tried at least five Class 5 guitars at the Chuck Levins music store in Wheaton, MD (great place – get Paul Schein to help you). All five played beautifully, but the one I picked was the smoothest of all, I felt.

This guitar has a 60s-style tapered (thin) neck, which I liked quite a lot. In fact, the tapered thin neck was the first reason I looked at the Class 5 rather than the other Les Paul models available at the store. But I ended up appreciating the guitar for all of its assets – finish (amazing), feel, and sound.

Absolutely gorgeous. I purposefully chose a less "figured" maple top, since it seemed to have more character than the tiger-looking highly figured tops. This one screams "play me, use me," which is exactly what I intend to do. It already has the look of a collector's item, actually, and I look forward to watching it age (as I do!).

Excellent. I e-mailed Gibson with several questions after the purchased. Drew Vance, a rep, answered me almost immediately, and we struck up quite a nice e-mail correspondence. Outstanding.

JD (05/18/2001)

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The Behringer PB600 is a universal effects pedal floor board with 9v DC power supply and patch cables.

Behringer PB600 Pedalboard with Power Supply Features…

Ultra-compact and lightweight pedal board for transporting up to 6 effects pedals, including patch cables

Generous 1.7 A power adapter included for powering more than 12 devices*–includes 1 x 6 daisy-chain cabling

Ultra-rigid plastic design withstands even heavy impact

High-quality components and exceptionally rugged construction ensure long life

Conceived and designed by BEHRINGER Germany

Buy Behringer PB600 Pedalboard with Power Supply

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Guitar players, bassists, and keyboard players have all asked for this, and we answered with the most rugged, versatile, and useful board available anywhere. It features heavy-duty metal construction that will handle the most vehement stomps you can offer, as well as stand up to the rigors of the road. The first stereo board on the market, it is also the first to feature the high level of power conditioning that Furman is famous for.

At the heart of the SPB-8 Stereo Pedal Board is a light yet rugged aluminum platform in combination with a steel chassis, and large Velcro sheet, ensuring secure, noiseless, flex free, non-slip performance for up to 11 effects boxes and pedals.

The SPB-8’s stereo patch bay contains ten 1/4 in, switching phone jacks, connected in 2 stereo loops. This allows a single guitar or instrument input to feed multiple mono and stereo effects boxes, send and return from remote effects, and feed up to 2 amplifiers simultaneously. From modest to highly complex patching demands, the SPB-8 allows nearly unlimited set-up flexibility.

Powering your pedals, amps and other gear, the SPB-8 offers 2 levels of surge and short circuit protection, as well as RF and EMI filtering. Furman’s SPB-8 is quiet, powering both AC and DC pedals without hum, due to the high-quality toroid transformer employed. Each DC output is rated at 100 mA capability, as well as being individually protected against shorts — guaranteeing that if one pedal goes out, the rest are protected and continuously functioning.

The SPB-8 makes pack up simple and convenient. Un-patching several effects boxes and pedals is no longer required, since the large Velcro sheet and strips firmly secures all of your pedals in place. A soft padded case is included to protect your valued effects boxes. The case includes a shoulder strap, and a zippered pouch for storing cables, wall warts, and AC cords.

Furman SPB8 Stereo Pedalboard with Power Conditioner Features…

Voltage SPB-8: 120 VAC

Current Rating: 15 Amps total AC outlets (10 Amps “E” version)

Spike Protection: Line to Neutral

Spike Clamping Voltage: Initial turn-on at 200 Volts; TVSS rating of 400 Volts peak at 500 Amps (”E” version initial turn-on is 390 Volts peak)

Response Time: 1 nanosecond

Maximum Surge Current: 6,500 Amps

Maximum Spike Energy: 80 Joules (”E” version 130 Joules)

Noise Attenuation: Transverse mode — greater than 20 dB 800Khz to 10 MHz

Current Rating: 100 mA.per outlet, 1A maximum combined current for all outlets

Protection: (8) discrete PTC re-settable fuses

Trip Time: 1 Amp fault, 0.2 second trip time

9 VDC Patch Cords:

(8) 3.5 mm phone plug (tip hot) to P205L 2.1 x 5 mm plug (sleeve hot)

(1) 3.5 mm phone plug (tip hot) to 3.5 mm phone plug (tip hot)

(1) 3.5 mm phone plug (tip hot) to 9 Volt battery clip (non-perforated, clip hot)

Weight Pedal Board: 11 lbs. (5 kg)

Case: 2.4 lbs. (1.1 kg)

Dimensions (H x W x D): 3.9 x 26 x 17.5 in. (10 x 66 x 44.5 cm)

Compliance CE and CSA/NRTL listed

Buy Furman SPB8 Stereo Pedalboard with Power Conditioner

 Instruction Sheet

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Quality issues kill otherwise decent board

I thought the power conditioner features of the Furman board for the price would make this a great deal, but the 9v power supply was defective and wouldn't power my pedals. Unfortunately I didn't test the board before tearing apart my chain to move it over to the board so a lot of wasted effort. I didn't mind the boards weight, but I agree that the bag zipper seems lightweight for the task. I'm going to go with either and SKB or a Gator board instead.

AustinWoodwrkr from Austin (Nov 2, 2008)

"I'm please with my current "stomping grounds" – stands up to the abuse."

Furman is well respected name brand. I do appreciate owning a "Furman".

On sale – absolutely worth it. If I was going to buy it new, I would buy the SPB-8C – its got a hard shell case!

This pedal board is built like a tank. It's kind of heavy, but it is very solid. I particularly like the amount of space and the built in power supply. The onw thing I do not like about the board is how the power cable exits the power supply case vertically up through the case, rather than out the side. The cable is rather thick and can easily get in the way of your pedals. I tuck the cable under the pedal board's corner… It doesn't wobble when I do that.

I have not dealt with Furman yet… although at the moment I'm waiting to hear from them regarding getting a new soft case.

a customer from gmail.com (3/6/2007)