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A talented electronic engineer, Barr was instrumental in the development of many groundbreaking products that helped make professional recording accessible to more musicians.

Photo courtesy Spin Semiconductor

Vancouver, WA (August 31, 2010) – Keith Barr, a pioneer in the pro audio industry, died of a heart attack at age 61 on August 24 at his home. Barr was best known for founding Alesis in 1984. A talented electronic engineer, he was instrumental in the development of many of the company’s groundbreaking products that helped make professional recording accessible to more musicians. He also co-founded MXR in 1973.

Barr’s innovations with Alesis include the ADAT, an eight-track studio tape recorder that recorded high-quality audio onto video tapes. The ADAT was announced in 1991 and allowed for small and home studios to attain professional-level recording at a much lower price for the first time. With Alesis, Barr also advanced digital effects, designing the first affordable all-digital reverb, the XT Reverb which retailed for $799 as the company’s debut product in 1985, followed by the first sub-$1000, 16-bit effects processor, the MIDIverb, in 1986.

Most recently, Barr founded the company Spin Semiconductor, where he worked on the FV-1 processor chip, which was the company calls “a complete reverb solution in a single IC.” He also had recently completed a book entitled, ASIC Design in the Silicon Sandbox, where he shared his knowledge of integrated circuits. He is survived by his wife and two children.

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The StroboClip? is designed for acoustic instruments and contains many new features not found in traditional clip-on tuners.

Alsip, Illinois (August 31, 2010) – Peterson Strobe Tuners has added a clip-on style strobe tuner to their Virtual Strobe series line-up. The StroboClip? is designed for acoustic instruments and contains many new features not found in traditional clip-on tuners. The large strobe display maximizes the StroboClip’s screen area by moving the strobe bands horizontally, rather than vertically as in previous strobe tuner models, to guarantee easy viewing in various lighting conditions.

New and exclusive Sweetened Tuning presets for banjo, mandolin, and ukulele offer dedicated settings for players of these instruments to facilitate tuning. A variety of other presets including Dobro, lap steel, and settings for the violin family come standard in the StroboClip?. Settings for eclectic instruments such as lute, bagpipes, and oud are also covered along with additional Eastern Temperament settings for instruments of the like.

The StroboClip? also features an exclusive Sustain mode. In Sustain mode, the StroboClip? can be set to hold the tuning pattern for a short time after the note has decayed so that instruments with short voices, such as banjo and mandolin, can be tuned quickly and easily. For regular tuning, the Sustain mode feature can be turned off.

“Musicians have been asking for the convenience of a clip-on tuner that has the accuracy and real-time tuning of a strobe tuner for a long time,” says John Norris, Peterson Sales Manager. “Many features with a low price point is what the target was and we feel we hit the mark with this product.”

The StroboClip? is encased in a brushed aluminum shell to help it withstand the rigors of the road and the included cushioned, metal carrying case will keep it safe when not in use. Soft, rubber pads in the jaws of the StroboClip? protect the instrument’s finish while providing a firm grip for maximum signal conductivity.

The MSRP of the StroboClip? is $89.99 and it is now shipping.

For more information:
StroboClip

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The Black ‘65 is an amp-in-a-box designed to emulate a mid-sixties “blackface” amp.

Martinsville, IN (August 30, 2010) – Wampler Pedals’ latest creation is an amp-in-a-box pedal designed to harness the cranked tones of a mid-’60s “blackface”-style amplifier. The Black ‘65 Overdrive was born after nine months of design, tweaking and testing – and some trials and influence by A-list session guitarist Brent Mason.

The pedal features Volume and Gain knobs, as well as a three-band EQ allowing the player to adjust lows, mids and highs to taste. A mini-toggle switch can be engaged to boost the gain taking the pedal beyond the traditional cranked Fender sound.

Details:
*High grade film capacitors and resistors picked for their superior sound and response
*
Completely true bypass
*Battery connection and 9v power jack (barrel plug like Boss)
*Controls: Volume, Gain, Bass, Mids, Treble, Gain boost switch

* 2.5″ x 4.5″ in size

*Ultra-bright LED for ease of use

*5 Year Warranty

*Powder coated durable finish
*Completely original circuitry

*Stacks well with other pedals

Current Pricing is $199.97 and is available now.

For more information:
Wampler Pedals

Source: Press Release

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The Woodstock Invitational Luthiers Showcase is an alternative guitar show, featuring fine, handmade acoustic guitars and stringed musical instruments exhibited by their makers.

Woodstock, NY (August 30, 2010) – The Woodstock Invitational Luthiers Showcase is an alternative guitar show, featuring fine, handmade acoustic guitars and stringed musical instruments exhibited by their makers. The show features continuous live acoustic music performances, luthier mini-concerts, and special appearances, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, October 23 and 24, 2010, at The Bearsville Theater & Utopia Soundstage, 291 & 293 Tinker Street (Route 212), Woodstock, New York 12498. General Admission $15 per day or $25 for a two-day pass.

Thirty luthiers are exhibiting in Bearsville Theater, with more luthiers and other vendors in the Vendors Annex, next door in Utopia Soundstage. There will be more than fifty exhibitors in all, including wood dealers, parts and tool suppliers, inlay artists, lutherie services, string and accessories manufacturers, magazines and publications, lutherie schools and our sponsors. Also included is a special exhibit of significant historic, vintage, and contemporary acoustic guitars and stringed instruments loaned by major collectors.

This is a rare opportunity to see, play and experience the instruments, meet with their makers, discuss custom options and one of a kind creations, and to buy or order a dream guitar from dozens of master builders, gathered together in one place. Nylon-stringed classical and flamenco style guitars, steel-string flattop and archtop guitars, crossovers and hybrids, mandolins, banjos, and more will be on display.

In addition, there will be a “String Sampler” concert in the Bearsville Theater on Friday night, October 22, (separate admission) and a number of instructional clinics and workshops (also by separate admission) on Saturday and Sunday. A portion of any proceeds will benefit The John Herald Fund, Family of Woodstock, regional food banks and local soup kitchens, and The Direct Grace Project.

CONCERT
8:00 PM, Friday, October 22, 2010
“String Sampler” featuring Ara Dinkjian Trio, Vicki Genfan, Vic Juris, and more TBA at the Bearsville Theater
Tickets $30

CLINICS
All clinics and workshops will take place at The Bear Café, 295 Tinker Street (Route 212), Woodstock, NY 12498 (right next door to the Bearsville Theater). Cost per clinic is $35, advance reservations recommended. Participants should bring their own instruments. Dates and times still to be announced, see MUSIC & EVENTS page on the website for full details.

Paul Asbell: “Fingerstyle Country Blues Workshop”
Vicki Genfan: “Percussive Techniques for Acoustic Guitar”
Vic Juris: “Jazz Guitar Workshop”
Kinloch Nelson: “Arranging Songs For Solo Guitar, Some Fingerboard Mapping & A Little Theory”
Maria Zementaukis: “Flamenco Techniques”

For clinic details, a list of exhibiting luthiers, full schedule, directions, lodging options, and more, visit woodstockinvitational.com

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More affordable versions of the LH-600 and LH-650 archtops.

Hayward, CA (August 29, 2010) — The Loar is announces the release of two new archtop guitars with tops  hand-carved by the team of expert luthiers at The Loar Hand Carved Workshop, the birthplace of the best-selling LH-600 and 700 guitars.


Based on the popular LH-600 and LH-650 guitars, and modeled after historic 1920s designs, the all-new Loar LH-300 (pictured) and 350 set a new standard for quality and price. Both instruments begin with hand-carved solid spruce tops. The maple back and sides help to provide the bright, percussive sound guitarists look for in an archtop. The mahogany neck is finished with a bound rosewood fretboard and the strings lay across a compensated ebony bridge. With a 1-3/4” nut width and a historic 24-3/4” scale length, these guitars stay true to their classic design origins. The LH-350 has a Florentine cutaway and a floating humbucker for amplified playing. Both guitars will be offered in a vintage sunburst finish.

LH-300 MAP $449.99
LH-350 MAP $599.99

For more information:
The Loar