Eastwood Guitars Airline 2P DLX
Price: $699.00

Before Jack White of The White Stripes unwittingly turned it into a signature instrument, the Airline 2P DLX electric guitar (produced by Valco from 1958 to 1968) was relatively obscure. Realistically, you might have been able to find one for around $200-$300. Now, however, the original Res-O-Glas models fetch up to ten times that amount, roughly $2,000-$3,000 dollars. And the guitar’s celebrity status (luminaries such as David Bowie and members of the Cure also rely on the instrument) is wholly accountable for its surge in price.

In an attempt to curb this remarkable inflation on obscure-turned-famous vintage instruments, Eastwood Guitars has obtained production licenses not only for the Airline, but also for Supro and the Japanese Tokai brand guitars, right down to the actual script logos. Eastwood also manufactures reissues of vintage Gibson, Teisco, Gretsch, and Eko Rokes models, ranging in price from $400-$800, in addition to the now-outrageously priced Wandre guitars, retailing at about $50,000 for a vintage model. In effect, the Eastwood reissues are faultless reproductions of their originals. The only component they cannot recreate is age.

In terms of playability, Eastwood’s Airline delivered across the board. The Gibson-style Tune-O-Matic bridge and tuning pegs keep the guitar in tune even after vigorous playing. The neck feels solid and smooth and the guitar handles well and is comfortable to hold. As for tone shaping, there are two Alnico Hot-10 Humbucker pickups, each with volume and tone controls. The guitar also features a three-way pick-up selector switch and a master volume control.

The 2P DLX was tested through an actual 1968 Valco-made Gretsch Variety-Plus 2X12” amplifier and created a superb tone. It fared well against a 1967 Teisco-made Fender Jaguar copy, actually surpassing the vintage instrument in sound quality. It did not quite make the cut when compared to a 1966 Gibson ES-330. As one would expect, the ES-330 sounded and played beautifully, but also costs roughly four times as much.

All in all, the Eastwood Airline 2P DLX boasts a vintage design, superior sound, and effortless playability. It is a well-made guitar that is both much cheaper and much easier to locate than the original. If you are in the market for a new guitar and are intrigued by the odd designs and affordable price of an Eastwood, go ahead and take the plunge. You won’t be disappointed.
www.eastwoodguitars.com -Cyrus Shahmir

Zoom H4 Handy Digital Recorder
Price: $599.99

The Zoom H4 Handy Digital 4-Track Recorder fits in your palm and is perfect for ENG and a variety of other mobile recording applications. It is a dual function device with a 4-track mode for easy-to-use multi-track recording and a stereo mode (2-track) for field recording. The H4 features dual electret condenser microphones in an X-Y configuration, two combination XLR-1/4-inch input jacks with 48V or 24V phantom power and a high-impendance phone input for guitar, bass and synth recording. Two AA batteries will allow users four hours of continuous recording operation and a back-lit LCD screen provides visual feedback while recording.
www.samsontech.com

?Mackie SWA2801z Active Sound Reinforcement Speakers
Price: $2,299.99

Mackie unveiled the SWA2801z, an Active subwoofer that combines dual 18-inch drivers, a built-in 800-Watt FR Series power amplifier and Mackie’s trademark Active onboard electronics. The Active electronics allow the SWA2801z to outperform traditional 2 x 18-inch systems and provide greater integration of all components in the system. Mackie Active electronics are customized for each driver/cabinet/amplifier combination and provide real-time control over critical functions, such as crossover filters and equalization. The speakers can be stacked or pole-mounted — whether the SWA2801z is positioned vertically or horizontally. XLR connections on the back of the subwoofer provide stereo input, Loop-Through and High Pass outputs, while a Subwoofer Level control allows the user to blend the SWA2801z with its full range counterparts. Carrying handles built into the enclosure and heavy-duty casters allow for easy transport.
www.mackie.com

Yamaha GO46 Mobile24/192 FireWire Audio/MIDI Interface
Price: $449

Yamaha has introduced its new portable GO46 Mobile 24/192 FireWire Audio/MIDI Interface. With the GO46, Yamaha partners with Steinberg — a company that has been providing technologically advanced music and media production products for musicians since 1984 — so this interface includes one of the strongest software bundles on the market. The GO46 is a compact recording solution, featuring two front mounted combo inputs with independently selectable phantom power and gain controls, two inserts, a headphone out with independent level control and a total of four in and six out with recording resolution up to 24 bit, 192 kHz. It is bus-powered for mobility and comes with a cross-platform PC/Mac software suite including Cubase LE, Groove Agent SE, HALion SE, Sample Tank SE, Sonic Synth 2 SE, Amplitube LE and T-Racks EQ as well as an ASIO 2.0 driver for ultra-low latency.
www.yamahasynth.com

Groove Tubes GTEL34M Vacuum Tube

Price: $60
Following last year’s successful introduction of the GT12AX7M, Groove Tubes has added another reissue of a classic Mullard vacuum tube to their line. The GTEL34M is a faithful reproduction of the Mullard EL34M, a favorite powertube for high gain guitar amplifiers. The GTEL34M is a pentode power tube designed as a replacement for aging tubes in high gain amplifiers. The original Mullard EL34 — factory-standard equipment in Marshalls and other classic amps from the era — has been out of production since the early 1970s, and it’s not unusual to see these rare tubes being sold for hundreds of dollars each.
www.groovetubes.com

?RoboKey

Price: $29.95 The GearDrive in RoboKey quadruples wrist turning speed, so that one crank of the hand is equivalent to four cranks on the drum bolts. The RoboKey is faster than a T-wrench, crank, or ratchet, and works in both directions, making changing drum heads less of a headache. It has an ergonomic design, bright colors and is built for a lifetime of rugged use with machined gears rather than plastic or powder formed internal parts.
www.robokey.com