Tech Tip:What's the difference between a tube amp and a solid-state amp?

The simple answer is that a tube amp uses one or more vacuum tubes to amplify the signal, while a solid-state amp uses solid-state electronics (diodes, transistors, etc.) to amplify the signal. On paper and in theory these two implementations should yield identical result, but in actuality the difference is usually noticeable.

But the simple answer fails to answer to the complexity of the issue. Many amps are not simply tube or solid-state, but mixes of both kinds, called "hybrids." This usually means that they have a tube preamp stage, employing vacuum tubes in the tone shaping circuitry, but use solid-state circuitry for the power section. The hybrids are closer to full tube amps in response and tonal warmth, but purists will still find a difference between the two. Tube amps are generally more expensive in initial cost and to operate (because you need to replace the tubes occasionally), and solid-state amps are generally less delicate and more reliable. Many players, however, feel that tube amps yield a warmer, more musical tone and better distortion.

Yet another wrinkle is tube emulation circuitry. Many amps and preamps have sophisticated circuits designed to act like tubes, and as in all things, some are better than others. The newest develop in amps are the modeling amps, which not only emulate the tone and response of tubes, but of specific tube amps. These are in general pretty exciting amps, but again, some are better than others at getting specific models, and in maintaining the sounds through a range of volume levels.

Another point to make about tube amps is that bigger is not always better. You get the distinctive tube sound most when the amp is cranked up enough that the tubes are saturated or nearly saturated. For this reason, it is often better to choose a lower wattage amp over a higher wattage amp, depending on how and where you play. By the time you crank up your 60 watt amp enough to saturate the tubes to get just the right level of distortion, you could be blowing your audience out the back door. It might have been better to choose a 20W amp that lets you get your saturated tone without the ear-killing decibels.

Scale Exercises To Improve Your Soloing
In one of the early editions of this column I laid out all seven diatonic scale patterns in the key of C major.  I also explained that you could simply slide those patterns up and down the neck of the guitar to change to different keys (including the minor keys, and yes, I'll get to that long-promised column about relative majors and minors real soon.) Learning these seven diatonic patterns is probably among the most important advances you'll EVER make on the guitar, as they allow you to play all over the guitar neck in an orderly fashion - and they help you to understand so much more about the instrument that I don't even have space to go into it here.
Now I'm going to show you a few different ways to practice those scales, while at the same time turning them into useful riffs you can use as short pieces of a solo. After you work on the following exercises a bit, you'll be able to add these exact scale exercises into solos you're playing in real songs - at your band's rehearsals or shows, or while you jam along with your favorite CD.
For all the following exercises, we'll use the 7th pattern of the C major scale - which we call the "7th" pattern because it is the pattern that starts on the 7th note of the C major scale (C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C). The seventh note of the C major scale is B. This is actually a scale pattern that most guitarists will already be familiar with, though teachers will often skip the first note in the pattern, the B at the 7th fret on the sixth string. The fact that the 7th pattern of the key of C major starts on the 7th fret is coincidental. For example, the 7th pattern of the key A major starts at the 4th fret, because that is where the 7th note of the key of A major - G# - is located.
We'll be using alternate picking for this, and almost all exercises I show you (unless noted otherwise). After you get these exercises down, do them with all seven of the diatonic patterns, not just the one I use for an example here. You'll find that some are easier than others, and some have cool little sections that are easier and more useful than others.
And actually, you should use the following three exercises - and any others you figure out on your own, learn from other players, or read about in future editions of this column - on ALL scales you ever learn. It will make it much easier for you to turn scales into solos, and that's what it's all about, right? It's an endless road of learning folks, but it's an enjoyable road just the same.
Exercise 1
Exercise 1 is a four-note pattern.
Practice Point 1: Play B at the 7th fret on the sixth string with your first finger, using a down-stroke of your pick. Then play C at the 8th fret with your second finger and an up-stroke of your pick. Play D at the 10th fret with your fourth finger and a down-stroke. Then finish the first four-note pattern by playing E at the 7th fret on the fifth string with your first finger and an up-stroke. But wait, we're just getting started.
Practice Point 2: Now play C at the 8th fret with your second finger and a down-stroke of your pick. Play D at the 10th fret with your fourth finger and an up-stroke. Then play E at the 7th fret on the fifth string with your first finger and a down-stroke. And then play F at the 8th fret on the fifth string with your second finger and an up-stroke.
See how this pattern goes? You play four notes up the scale, then jump back three notes and play four notes up from there. Repeat this pattern until you reach the top note on the first string in the pattern you're working on (in this example, the 7th scale pattern in the key of C major, starting on B.)
Practice Point 3: Then reverse the whole thing: Play D at the 10th fret on the first string with your fourth finger and a down-stroke. Then play C at the 8th fret with your second finger and an up-stroke. Then play B at the 7th fret with your first finger and a down-stroke. And then play A at the 10th fret on the second string with your fourth finger and an up-stroke.
Practice Point 4: Then, of course, jump back three notes (to the C at the 8th fret on the first string) and move down the scale four notes. Repeat that pattern until you end up back on the B at the 7th fret on the sixth string.
Extra Tips: For optimal results, slide this exact scale pattern down to the first fret on the guitar (which would put you in the key of F# major), play up to the first string and back, slide up one fret (putting you in the key of G major), and repeat, etc. Slide up one fret at a time and repeat the pattern until you just can't take it any more, and you want to smash the guitar through the nearest computer monitor (WAIT! Bookmark this page first!)
This pattern is actually very common in the lead guitar solos of many rock guitarists. Of course you'll never want to use more than two or three groupings of four notes at a time - you wouldn't play all the way up and/or back down the six strings using this exercise. That would sound like a, well, it would sound like a scale exercise.
But if you listen closely to your favorite soloist, you'll catch them using this riff from time to time in smaller chunks. Work it out and make it your own. And remember to start slow and clean, and only increase your tempo when you can play the pattern without mistakes and flubbed notes at a slower tempo. Use a metronome, drum loop, or drum machine to set and change the tempo.
Exercise 2
Exercise 2 is a three-note pattern, and is played using the same up and back formula as exercise
Practice Point 1: Play B at the 7th fret on the sixth string with your first finger, using a down-stroke of your pick. Then play C at the 8th fret with your second finger and an up-stroke of your pick. Play D at the 10th fret with your fourth finger and a down-stroke.
Practice Point 2: Now play C at the 8th fret with your second finger and an up-stroke of your pick. Play D at the 10th fret with your fourth finger and a down-stroke. Then play E at the 7th fret on the fifth string with your first finger and an up-stroke.
Practice Point 3: Play D at the 10th fret with your fourth finger and an up-stroke. Then play E at the 7th fret on the fifth string with your first finger and a down-stroke. Then play F at the 8th fret on the fifth string with your second finger and an up-stroke.
Extra Tips: So you see, this is three notes up, two notes back, three notes up, etc. And of course you'll want to practice it going down the scale from the top string as well. The key to this one is truly alternate picking, because it gets really tricky if you don't have your alternate picking down. But you know what? You will have your alternate picking down after you do this one! When I play this exercise, I seem to fall into a rhythm that includes a slight pause after each three notes. That helps me to separate each grouping, and probably helps me keep the picking alternating.
Exercise 3
Exercise 3 is a five-note pattern, and is played using a similar up and back formula as exercises 1 and 2. However, in this exercise, we'll go five notes up, then jump back three notes, then go five notes up from there.
Practice Point 1: Play B at the 7th fret on the sixth string with your first finger, using a down-stroke of your pick. Then play C at the 8th fret with your second finger and an up-stroke of your pick. Play D at the 10th fret with your fourth finger and a down-stroke, then play E at the 7th fret on the fifth string with your first finger and an up-stroke. Finish the first note grouping off with F at the 8th fret on the fifth string, played with your second finger and a down-stroke.
Practice Point 2: Now jump back three notes and play D at the 10th fret on the sixth string with your fourth finger and an up-stroke, F at the 8th fret with your second finger and a down-stroke, and G at the 10th fret with your fourth finger and an up-stroke. Finish this note grouping off with A at the 7th fret on the fourth string, played with your first finger and a down-stroke.
Extra Tips: So you've got five notes up, three notes back, five notes up, etc. And again, you'll want to practice it going down the scale from the top string as well. Now this exercise actually starts to sound more like a real solo and less like an exercise. Just make sure you practice is slow and clean before you speed it up. Fast, crappy playing is not as cool as slightly slower, accurate playing.
That's It, Doggy!
Enough for now. These exercises should keep you busy for, oh, say, the next 25 years or so. That's how long I've been workin' 'em, and they've served me well. In terms of agility, accuracy, speed, and simply feeling good about my playing, exercises like these work miracles. Go for it

Drummer Joke

A man walks into a shop. "You got one of them Marshall Hiwatt AC30 amplificatior thingies and a Gobson StratoBlaster geetar with a Fried Rose tremolo?"

"You're a drummer, aren't you?"

"Yeah. How'd you know?"

"This is a travel agency."

Think about your musicians Christmas wishlist! We are stocked up and ready to get you geared up!!

Acoustic Guitar Maintenance Tips

Regardless of whether or not your acoustic guitar is of an elite breed, durability or if you have had it for a number of years, you will need to diligently maintain it. The truth is that your acoustic guitar can last as long as you (and beyond) by practicing simple tips.
Carrying & Storage ~ It is always better to carry your guitar in a case - whether soft or hard. However, a hard case is better because it will provide for your guitar maximum protection from bumps, temperature and fluids.
At times, putting your guitar into its case may be inconvenient to you, but laying it around or leaning it against the wall can be a set-up for accidents. A good invention that solves this, by providing support for your guitar and easy access for you is a guitar stand. 

Planet Waves Acoustic Guitar Humidifier System 

 

Temperature & Humidity ~ Enemies of your guitar are extremes in temperature and humidity including when they change rapidly. Shifted necks, cracked finishes, slackened glued joints are all examples of damages that can happen to an acoustic guitar due to environmental changes and conditions.
A stable environment of controlled humidity and temperature is ideally what your guitar needs. A humidifier is an effective device that can be placed in the sound-hole of your guitar that can be set to maintain humidity at a particular level. An acceptable level of humidity for guitars is 40% - 60%. Humidifiers won't interfere any at all with your playing.
When carrying your acoustic steeled string guitar on a flight, it is advisable to slacken the strings as the lower temperature may cause the strings to contract (i.e. tighten) and place too much force on the neck of your guitar. Too much force on the neck may cause it to be displaced.

String Care ~ Wipe your guitar strings with a cloth to get rid of deposits of dust, dirt and oils from your fingers. Use a string lubricant if you have metal strings to keep them shiny, light and bright.
Before playing, you can clean your hands with a small amount of hand sanitizer and wipe them in a cloth. The natural oils from your hands will transfer to the strings and bog them down, so you will have to avoid this.
Cleaning ~ Your guitar is quite easy to clean. Guitars are not high maintenance, so what you will need to do is to wipe your guitar with a damp cloth to get rid of smudges, elbow grease and dust. Wipe the body, neck and fretboard.
Occasionally polish your guitar. Many Guitarists abuse their guitar by over polishing, lubricating and waxing. Some experienced guitarists suggest that keeping the wood of your guitar dry is great for the increase in quality of sound. The deposits of products used on the guitar can change the natural resonance of the wood, and reduce the sound quality over time.
You can vacuum the inside of your guitar via the sound-hole to get rid of dust and other unwanted particles.

Additional Miscellaneous Tips ~

• Avoid over-tightening your guitar strings, as this can cause excessive strain on the neck.
• Be extra careful when walking around with your guitar from room to room to avoid bounces and scratches.

It's time to think about the Holidays! Be sure to stop in to Rhapsody for your musician!!! We offer free layaway!!!

Christmas at Rhapsody Music!

Huge Announcement!

HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT! If you bring in your student ID to Rhapsody Music you'll get 10% off ALL drum, bass, guitar, and piano accessories. No joke! Starts today, goes till forever. Any and all valid student IDs will work!

Caring for your guitar

Whether you are a professional musician or a person who likes to sit around the house and play, taking care of your guitar is very important. Guitar manufacturers today take great care in building their products, and they actually handpick different types of wood to craft an instrument which is visually appealing.  This also provides a resonance that can be unique to the particular type of guitar. This is true of electric guitars, as well as acoustic guitars. My review will deal with the care of an electric guitar, but many of the points that I raise will apply to the acoustic guitar also.

A guitar player should maintain his instrument with two things in mind: first, to preserve the beauty that is inherent in a well-crafted guitar that was built from quality woods, and second, to keep the instrument in the best possible playing condition.

Here are my suggestions for caring for your guitar:

• Clean and polish the top, sides and back of your guitar regularly. You can use a top-of-the line furniture polish to apply to your guitar, or your can buy any number of polishes offered by guitar companies specifically for the guitar application. If you establish a regular clean and polish regimen, your guitar will always look good. The beauty of the woods will be enhanced, and if you should ever decide to part with your guitar, it will bring a premium price because of your efforts.
  
  
• Dress the frets every time you change strings. If you play often, a lot of dirt, grime and oils from your hands can build up on the fret board. This isn't good for the strings and probably affects the sound also. I use a very soft-bristled toothbrush and a little soapy water, and I make sure to wipe the fret dry after cleaning. Use this routine when your change strings and your fret board won't ever have that "soft" feel.
  
  
• Wipe down the neck with a dry cloth after every use to protect your fret board and to prolong string life. Sweat, oils, dirt and grime can accumulate very quickly, and if you wipe the fret board frequently, you can make dressing the frets a much simpler task. You will also prolong string life by removing some of the elements that cause strings to deteriorate.
  
  
• Never expose your instrument to excessive heat or cold for prolonged periods of time. Heat and sunlight can cause premature finish checking, and can make the finely crafted woods in your guitar look old and faded almost overnight. Cold weather might not affect the finish so much, but it can cause damage to binding, inlays and the neck, often requiring unnecessary work with the truss rod. Guitars need a cool, dry environment, so try to keep your guitar in that type of setting.
  
  
• Protect your guitar when it's stored in the case. I'm talking about humidity here, and it can be one of the most insidious enemies to the health of your guitar. You can buy a capsule from your local guitar store that will stabilize the humidity in the case; just put it in your case and it will provide the protection that you need.
  
  
• Regularly check and tighten all screws, strap-pins and tuning machines. This just makes good sense, because you don't want any unneeded rattling or jingling when you're playing your instrument, either at a gig or at home for your own pleasure.
  
  
• Make it a point to regularly clean all metal parts of your guitar with a good metal cleaning compound. Chrome and nickel are notorious for corrosion and tarnish, particularly in certain environments, so setting up a regimen to clean your pickup covers, bridge, and tuning buttons will help in maintaining the visual appeal of your instrument.
  
  
• Avoid things that can cause scratches, dings and other scars on your instrument. Don't wear a belt with a buckle when you have your guitar strapped on; I have seen many beautiful vintage instruments which have been ruined by belt-buckle scratches on the back. Also, buy a stand! Never leave your guitar propped up against the wall or your amplifier-I've seen irreparable damage done to some quality instruments because they fell from being propped up. Spend the money and buy a stand--consider it an investment.
  
  
• At least once a year, carry your instrument to your local guitar technician for a complete look-over.  No matter how well you take care of your instrument, the truss rod will need adjusting regularly, and the intonation screws on the pickups will need to be adjusted to ensure that your are getting the balanced sound that you want from your guitar. Your guitar may need bridge adjustments also, so it's always good to take it in annually to let the expert make the fine adjustments that will give you the maximum in playability.
  
  
• My last tip-PLAY YOUR GUITAR!!! There is no better way to keep your guitar in tip-top shape than to play it every day. I have always been dismayed to see how they "go down" from lack of use. Play your guitar, take care of it, and it will take care of you.

Santa Anonymous & Area Food Shle Benefit Concert

Know Your Humidity
For proper guitar maintenance, control the temperature and humidity whenever possible.
Purchase a hygrometer/thermometer and keep it in your case. If you afford it, purchase two. Put the second one in the room where you typically store your guitar.
Keep the temperature and humidity at recommended levels. Check your product manual. If you have no product literature, the most common recommendations I've seen are for 68-77 degrees Fahrenheit and 45-55% relative humidity.
If the area is too dry, use a humidifier to raise the moisture level in the room. You can use a guitar humidifier, such as the one made by Dampit, or a room or house humidifier.
If you use a Dampit, or other small humidifier, make sure you wipe any excess water off before inserting it into your instrument's sound hole, or the case. If you use a room or house humidifier, never allow the moist air to blow directly on your guitar. If the area is too wet, use a dehumidifier to lower the moisture level. Never allow a heating or cooling vent to blow directly on your guitar!
To minimize the affect of changes in temperature and humidity levels, keep your guitar in its case. Also, never store it in the direct path of a vent or against an outside wall where temperature and humidity can be significantly different from the rest of the room and can change rapidly.

We are now carrying the new DBZ Guitars!!! Come down to get a taste and register to win a DBZ Royale ST!!
A little history about the electric guitar...In 1937, the first patent for the electric guitar was issued.
Early electric guitars resemble modern electric guitars very little, other than in the concept of electrifying the signal and amplifying it remains. Interestingly, a trend in electric-acoustic guitars to pick up the sound with piezoelectric transducer type pickups is similar to the way the first electric guitars made were amplified. In essence, the vibrations of the wood (bridge) were “picked up” from transducers and transferred electronically to an amplifier to produce the amplified sound. However, the technology to take the sound from the (then) hollow body electric guitar would soon change to include solid body electric guitars. The advent of the magnet/coil pickup would open up guitar design possibilities never before seen in guitar design.
From those early beginnings, the sound of the electric guitar evolved from an experiment, to the art, and billion-dollar industry that it is today. Guitars and equally as important, electric guitar pickups became better as the years went by. By the late 1950’s a pickup that addressed ambient noise, known as the 60-cyle hum was patented, and introduced as the “hum bucker”.
For nearly twenty years following the late 1950’s, the guitar industry plodded along, catering to customers of these original designs.
Today DBZ Guitars is breaking new ground with concepts that are new, even in 2012. DBZ Guitars employs modern techniques using technology (like CNC machines, to expertly create the most intricate and precise cuts & carves), along with traditional craftsmanship, to offer guitars mated with hand-detailed necks, custom tone circuitry and custom wound pickups that look & sound like no other...

NEW VINTAGE MODIFIED SQUIER GUITARS IN

We just received some new guitars from Fender yesterday.  We now carry four new guitars from the Vintage Modified series that Fender just released. The new Vintage Modified series incorporates the classic style of your favorite Fender guitars with some modern components.  The Vintage Model series stayed true to the look and feel of the classic Fender Telecaster, Jazzmaster, Mustang, Stratocaster, and Jaguar, but with Duncan Designed™ JM-101B Single-Coil Jazzmaster® Pickup with Alnico 5 Magnets, instead of the classic Fender pickups. Now in stock is the Squier vintage modified telecaster custom, the Jazzmaster, the Mustang, and the Telecaster deluxe.  Come in and try one out today!

Egnater Amps now at Rhapsody

We now carry a full line of Egnater Amps now available in our store.  We carry both Tweaker and Rebel Models of Egnater combo amps, heads, and cabs.  With the Egnater modular tube amps, you get to pick the channels that you desire.  Not only that, you have the ability to pick and choose what power tubes and speakers you wish.  Come in and see our gorgeous selection of Egnater modular amps. 

LINE 6 product demo

 We will be having a demonstration of LINE 6, PROAUDIO mixers and P.A. systems. This event will take place on Tuesday, September 11th starting at 2:00 PM and going until 7:00 PM.  Come in and check out some great products, as well as get a chance to speak with some experts from the manufacturers.

Check Out What's New at Rhapsody Music

We just created a new page on RhapsodyMusic.net to show you what's new.  Check it out by clicking What's New at Rhapsody Music. We are excited to share this new page with our customers because we believe if we don't show you that we are constantly working to stay current and offer the best products possible, you might stop supporting us. So, enjoy and let us know what you think on Rhapsody Music's Facebook Page or on Rhapsody Music's Contact Page 

Rhapsody Music YouTube Videos

We, at Rhapsody Music, want to offer you as many avenues of information as possible. We started a YouTube channel about 2 years ago and have been using it ever since to share our knowledge and new products with you. Here is a link to our channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/RhapsodyMusicMN

Browse around and enjoy!

eBay and Social Media at Rhapsody Music

Rhapsody Music is proud to offer our customers new ways to connect on a personal level and purchase our products online. 

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