Some of my peers have been debating whether the video game, Guitar Hero, is good for the actual guitar market.  Some argue that the game makes guitar playing look easy and when faced with the challenge of really playing a guitar they will become disheartened by the actual effort needed and give up quickly.  Others argue that it is a gateway to real guitar playing, that after the 'toyish' effect wears off kids will yearn to play the songs on real guitars.  I've seen both happen but what the greater effect on the whole has yet to be seen.

I think one good thing is the exposure to great music that features the guitar.  Getting kids to interact with the music seems like a positive step towards actual music making.  Another thing is the fun factor, playing music is fun and getting that message out is nothing but good.  But there ...
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I've said it a hundred times and believe it more every time I say it.  There has never been a better time to buy a guitar (or most any musical instrument) than this time in history.  We have more options, brands, variations, color choices and so on than ever before in the history of mankind.  This is one reason I'm so adamant about exploring all the guitar world has to offer.  For the first time buyer, there are more brands and styles at very good prices that are infinitely better than much of the beginner junk that was around for previous generations to get started on.  For the high end player, there are more custom models and brands that virtually any thought that can be applied to a guitar can and will be done, for a price of course.  For the intermediate player, the world is wide open and affordable.  ...
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Truisms for guitar (and sometimes life)

• Practice makes perfect
• Slow and steady to start
• It costs more to repair a botched repair than to fix it professionally the first time
• Great players do not often make great teachers (though the opposite is usually true)
• You get what you pay for, are you paying for what you got?
• You can't play the name
• Everyone is a musician, they just don't know it sometimes

I'm sure I could think of more, but I was up half the night listening to my electricity go on and off.

By now, anyone familiar with my posts know I have a fondness for the Campbell American lineup. This is the third guitar I’ve reviewed for the brand and possibly the most surprising to me. When I first talked to Dean Campbell of Campbell American I flat out told him I wasn’t too fond of the Transitone styling. It just didn’t ‘trip my trigger’ as they say. My perception was that it was large and bulky (it’s not!) and generally less ergonomic, which to me matters a great deal. Dean wisely suggested I try one, that he’s been getting good feedback from the buyers. Ok, I’m a team player, let’s give it a go.

On the other Campbell Americans I picked more of the features, from the wood to the pickup combinations to the extras like coil tap or matching headstocks. On the Transitone I mostly went with Dean’s suggestions of ...

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After reviewing the Campbell Americans I thought I'd change gears and do a review of the ESP LTD EC 500.  First off, some people want to know what the difference is between the ESP branded instruments and the LTD branded instruments.  They are both from the same company, ESP but ESP wanted to set aside the ESP name for their higher end Japanese made line up.  Having seen the top shelf ESP models I can tell you that they easily rival any US made guitars and still are more affordable.  However the ESP's may be a little pricey for the average user or especially the beginner, hence the LTD series.  Looking through the ESP catalog you quickly notice that for just about every ESP model there is an LTD version (except for some of the high endorser models but not all) plus lesser expensive variations.  For instance, the ESP Eclipse ...
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