Summer NAMM '99 in Review: Guitar Accessories: Part 3

By Brett Ratner
ratocaster@harmony-central.com

August 11, 1999

Lots of musicians and groups perform at NAMM. One of the coolest I have ever seen at the show (even though there wasn't a guitar involved) was a jazz duo at the Big Briar booth. Since Big Briar is Bob Moog's company, the duo consisted of an excellent keyboard player demonstrating many of Moog's effect devices. The other musician played a theremin... a what?!

You can learn more about Big Briar's products (including some cool effects pedals) on their web site at www.bigbriar.com.

The Big Briar Etherwave

A theremin is that weird thing with antennas used to make eerie sounds on old horror movies. Jimmy Page was known to mess with them every now and then (Whole Lotta Love, for example). While it's easy to make weird noises on them, playing one is a totally different thing altogether.

Well, this multi-instrumentalist named Pamelia did just that. And since the "Ethervox" theremin she played was actually a MIDI controller, she summoned a whole orchestra of instruments.

While the keyboardist whipped off blindingly-fast bebop licks, Pamelia played walking basslines. When the keys took over the backing duties, the Theremin became a highly-expressive violin. What was truly amazing was the accuracy of her ear and the minute, precise hand movements in proximity to the antenna.

While the Ethervox commands over $3000, musicians looking for a cool studio tool or something a tad different on the stage might check out Big Briar's conventional Theremins, priced around $369.

At MusikMesse, I commented that DigiTech's floor-mounted multi-effects processors gave you master recording-quality clean sounds right out of the box. I also said the dirty sounds were nice but still could use some tweaking.

I checked out the RP-14D, and it seems this company is constantly striving to improve. It would be impossible to improve on the cleans. But the dirty tones are getting more and more amp like ... even through headphones.

This particular unit has a preamp tube, amp modeling, expression pedal and all the other goodies. It also has a digital output. It would require a dedicated review to explain all the features. All I'm here to tell you is that DigiTech seems truly serious about achieving the best-possible tones.

You can get more details at www.digitech.com.

The "Fatfinger" is a new Groove Tubes product similar in purpose to their "Fathead."

A pair of Fatfingers (top) and a Fatfinger installed (bottom)

Most guitar necks have "dead spots." These are recognizable by notes that don't ring as well as other notes. Dead spots also adversely affect sustain. The Fatfinger is designed to eliminate dead spots. The device is simply a hefty brass clamp you attach to the headstock of your guitar or bass. Since it attaches via a thumbscrew, "installment" literally takes three seconds. This enabled me to test a Strat with the device both on and off.

In short, it actually works. It's a subtle difference, but there really is more sustain. The guitar seemed a little louder too.

This will sound weird, but the quick decay of a Strat is part of the sound, I think. For blues or funk especially, I think you want the sharp attack and then the note to die. In this case, the Fatfinger is not necessarily a good thing. For country pickers or jazz players, on the other hand, this is a vast improvement. It helps eliminate the need to use a lot of compression to get notes to ring. But since the Fatfinger comes on and off in seconds, you can have it both ways. And for $29.95 for guitar and $39.95 for bass, it's a small investment with a relatively dramatic improvement to your tone. It also has a money-back guarantee.

Visit www.groovetubes.com for more information.

Here's an inexpensive product that's actually something a musician can't afford to be without ... good earplugs.