News

News 

 

Latest news

 

News as of 6th May 2013

Latest review of the DV-Mark Multiamp is on the video page and online on my YouTube channel now . This video took three weeks to make and is one of my 'Inside and Out' Review series about modern guitar amplifiers where I show you more than just what the maker wanted you to see. This is an extensive and long video (over 1 hour) but includes most features including how to update the Firmware, Sounds, I/O, Processors used and much more. It's all finished off with Andy James playing the Multiamp specifically for tonymckenzie.com in one section and his playing is as always exemplary. Check out Andy James and BUY his Music!

I have another DV-Mark product (the Triple 6 old version) which I will also review presently. I bought that for around HALF PRICE as the Triple 6 has now been updated (but so has the price) so I bought this one at a bargain price. Brilliant for Metal stuff... watch this space for the review coming soon.

 

News as of 27th April 2013

I am recently back from the Music Messe over in Frankfurt Germany and saw many new and some not so new products, met a few new friends and visited some stands of the products I have previously reviewed on this website.

You will see on my YouTube page at least 8 new videos of the things I saw including the DV-Mark Multiamp, Marshall, G-Lab, Thomas Blug and Hughes & Kettner and many more.

Many of those visits yielded enough things to write about and you will see some of those reviewed products on this website starting in May 2013.

One product I liked was the DV-Mark Multiamp that is a amplifier emulator (or simulator) similar to the Axe-FX series, but includes a stereo 500w amp and is roughly half the price! Probably a bargain but we shall see in the forthcoming Inside and Out Review that I am currently developing. And just so you get a really good idea about how it sounds I asked Andy James to play a little just to show you exactly how good that Multiamp really is.

Watch out for these additions to the site... there are some exciting things coming.

 

News as of 15th February 2013

It has been a while since I last updated this site but here I am now. I did go through some ill health issues but fortunately I'm still around so I hope that you guys appreciate what goes in to my YouTube channel and this website.

I have just completed an installation of a Power Transformer in to my Mesa Boogie Road King II. This is important because it shows how to do this... and the procedures will be vaguely similar for other amps too. You are no longer stuck with that external transformer and can install a power transformer with 100, 117, 220, 230 or 240 Volts input.

There is a new review of Lee Jacksons Marshall Amplifier Modifications and Marshall JCM800 Ultimate Bench Warrior Videos; these are great to learn about mods that people like George Lynch who used Lee to develop some unique mods in George's amps. These videos also show the safety aspect of what you need to service amps safely. The videos include: how to modify your own amp; he goes through step by step instructions covering testing, biasing, final setup, tone settings and more. The mods create more low ebd, more gain, better tone, less noise, smoother distortion and the DVD's come with Lee's own schematic diagrams. This series has expanded these days to Fender amps, Ampeg, Crate and many more brands of amps including Lees 'Metaltronix' amps.  Visit Lee Jacksons Website.

I have also put a whole section of Videos on my YouTube channel, and replicated them here on my video page so you don't have to go there if you don't want to.

Coming in the near future is a new Guitar Build. This will be a Warmoth Body, but surprisingly a Warmoth neck; I have shyed away from those since I bought one last about 6 or 7 years ago. At that time it was awful. Has Warmoth gotten better? Weshall see. The guitar is a Telecaster Style with some nice features and I know many guys are waiting for my next guitar build. So I twisted the giutar in to a guitar that many might not consider; at least until they see this one I make. I can't wait!

Lastly, I might update my Kemper amp to one of the new rack versions with integral power amp and if I do it will be fully reviewed right here on tonymckenzie.com as well as video on my YouTube channel.

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News as of 4th August 2012

By the 6th August or thereabouts we'll have the long awaited Marshall JVM410H JOE SATRIANI amp head on this site under review. Its again a long review and we compare some of the changes between this and the previous incarnation of the JVM. Is the amp improved over the old version? is this REALLY worth the extra money? Check it out HERE.

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News as of 3rd August 2012

Some of you out there will be using Cubase 6+ to record your work. Ive recently taken delivery of the controllers from Steinberg and might just review them presently. These have come down in price to what is now realistic at around £75 each (street price) and are probably made by Yamaha. Nice... and now even nicer at this price. Watch this site for more on that.

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News as of 3rd June 2012

We recently had a phone call from a guy in LA called Blan Alaruse. Apparently he is an interviewer and anchorman on one of those USA TV stations that major on rock bands. He gave us a amall press release about a band called the 'FocknRollers'. Honestly, we had never heard of them! But in any case he insisted these guys are the best thing to come out of LA for some time and that made us look closer.

Blan did show us some of the outtakes from his new video rockumentary and we have to say that those guys are quite unbelieveable - never have we seen anything like them before - and Blan said they were really big underground and we had to see them live.

Heres a link to a page we put up about the 'FocknRollers' and we are really looking forward to seeing the finished resultsd of Blan's efforts... awesome stuff. 

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OTHER STUFF coming soon is a review of the new Marshall JVM410HJS ( a Marshall amp that Joe Satriani has had a hand in) and let's hope that Joe 'fixed' that amp once and for all. Review probably sometime June or July 2012.

The new Review of the PRS Dragon 2002 is also now online with links to the video review too. Find out more about that great guitarin the review.

The PRS Dragon III Review is now complete as is the Video of the same guitar where you get to see lots about it you might not have known.

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News as of 22nd April 2012

Now online is my long awaited review of the GT-100 Floor Pedal from Roland Corp.

Is this pedal as good as it needs to be to fend off the competition? and is this GT-100 going to be a winner or a loser in the race for the perfect floor pedal. Find out more about the Pedal in our new GT-100 Review

News as of 5th February 2012

I have decided to 'open up' a section of the reviews pages for 'guest' reviewers out there. Here's how it works:

• Write a GREAT review of a new piece of equipment
• Email it to me at reviews@tonymckenzie.com
• I'll consider the review and if you're successful it will be published on this site

Please note that I have no regard whatsoever for professionals to send in reviews - I can typically do without those. If you have a vested interest in promoting a site thats equally not cool. I also need high quality images. You MUST own the kit.

 

News as of 28th January 2012

Great news - I have reviewed the Kemper Profiler Amp Amplifier inside and out (as I usually do. This review is found in the AMPLIFIER reviews section of this website. There is also a video review on my youtube channel at www.youtube.com/tonymckenziecom and also a copy on the video page on this site.

Theres also a website being developed to upload or download profiles for the Kenper Amp coming from us at: www.kemperampprofiles.com I was going to disregard that site, but have decided to ignore the charlatans out there and proceed anyway. New profiles on the way. If you have any then email me with the details and I'll put them up there.

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I have reviewed (thanks to a friend of mine) a Divided by 13 amp which he has just bought and has kindly agreed to let me review (it gets expensive when you have to fund it all yourself as I do). Please note that is not a begging note so please don't offer - I don't need your money.

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Lastly, I was asked by Fractal Audio to surrender my website 'fractalaudio.co.uk' to them as I was in breach of their trade mark. I checked on the internet for such a trade mark with the USA and European bodies that handle trade marks but could not find one pertaining to 'fractal audio' so I asked for proof by return email. If they can provide the proof that they own that exact trade mark then they are more than welcome to the domain. If not?

Well then in that case I guess you would know that they did not own that particular trade mark so then they would have no right to the domain. The site clearly states that all trade marks are acknowledged. They would then be unable to enforce a trade mark which they don't own against any alledged  'breach' of 'their' trade mark. All they need to do is provide the proof and they can have it. I guess someone calling me a 'chucklehead' does not help.

I gave up waiting for their 'proof' and have now discounted their claims. It's a ploy often used by companies and when you check the 'trademark' it simply does not exist.

That's the last I'll ever bother talking about Fumble Audio.

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News as at 4th December 2011

I have spent some time and money recently reviewing an Axe-FX II. That unit believe it or not cost me near enough £2675.00 and its now been sold. Thankfully.

Click on Axe-FX II to find out why I sold it... you might be surprised about the reason.

 

News as at 14th August 2011

I just added a page called Street Prices which discusses price fixing of musical equipment in the retail industry.

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News as at 6th August 2011

YJM100 was changed out (covered in the Review)

Gilroy Guitars - review of 'wood' scratch plate for Fender Strat

 

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News as at 1st August 2011

YJM100 Marshall amp review is online now YJM100 Review with comments from Santiago Alvarez from Marshall Amplification PLC

Video of the inside of the YJM100 is on my YouTube Channel

Check presently for a second video of the sound quality but not played as Yngwie would - but probably more like you might!

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News as of 27th July 2011

YJM100 Marshall amp is landing tomorrow.

That's right! The new Marshall YJM100 is landing with me tomorrow. I'm told its one of the first 25 units to be released by the factory and like many guys I'm looking forward to reviewing that unit. WATCH THIS SPACE!

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News as of 17th July 2011

New: Review of the Bladerunner Tremolo from Super Vee.

This is a review subsequent to the installation of the Blade Runner on a fender Strat.

The review of the Fender Custom Strat 'Blue' is now online HERE

This review shows you some of the manufacturers kit I used to develop this unique stratocaster.

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I just checked out the YJM100 with Marshall amps here in the UK to confirm the delivery dates. My contact did say they were being made and 'trickling out' of the factory - and that July was the start of the real shipments no less. Well.... I'm still waiting for that amp to review. I could not locate a single amplifier at any dealer I called in the UK just at the end of last week so I'm not that convinced of the story so far. Needless to say, if anyone finds one in the wild then let me know! As of 17th July still no amps anywhere...

I also took the time to order (yes I have to pay for everything on this site) an Axe-FX II or new better stronger faster one than the older units (so they say) and have chased the delivery up with that one too - to be advised that there was a small shipment which hit the UK on around the start of July and a second one will hit down nearer the end of the month (to the european distributor www.e66.eu ) Ill keep the news pages up to speed on that one and get the thing reviewed should it ever turn up. 17th July - I'm told that this product is sometime past the end of this month.

Lastly I have completed the 'blue' strat I built and thats online on YouTube on my channel www.youtube.com/tonymckenziecom where Im sure you will like what you see. You might even like the sounds too :-) Its also here on this site. Review is as at the top of this page for 17th July.

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Older News

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I have uploaded the 'Blue' strat feature in 'my guitars' and made video of the guitar in action on the video pages and YouTube.

Review of the guitar coming presently as well as reviews of other equipment I used to make the guitar such as Seymour Duncan 1953 'Antiquity' pickups and the 'super-v' 'Bladerunner' tremolo...  should prove great reading... 

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NEW review of Fender Custom Stratocaster I built with many options and a whole video from start to finish of the build. If you are frightened of trying this out yourself - don't be! watch the video and read the reviews HERE

Warmoth Body replacements for Fender Strats HERE and soon HERE too.

A review of Fender Strat pickups from David White from the UK. Sadly david passed away a number of years ago, but his legacy of those pickups remains. But what are they really like? Find out HERE

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The long awaited review of the Roland GR-55 is now online HERE and also watchable on YouTube HERE

 

Other news: 

Rock Prodigy Awarded 2011 “Education” Appy Award

 

LOS ANGELES (Mar. 3, 2011) – Rock Prodigy™ is named a winner in the "Education" category at the 2011 Appy Awards. Taking place during the two-day OMMA Global Conference & Expo, the annual Appy Awards honor the best mobile, social and web apps in a diverse range of categories.

 Produced by the Way of H, Rock Prodigy uses polyphonic pitch-recognition and allows guitarists from every level to play alongside rock legends with the help of an Apple® iPhone®, iPad® or iPod® Touch.

 “This award is a testament to how Rock Prodigy is changing music education and the way people learn how to play guitar,” said Harold Lee, co-founder and CEO of The Way of H, Inc. “It’s an honor to be recognized as a leader and innovator in the world of mobile technology literally weeks into the launch of our app.”

 Rock Prodigy is available for free in the iTunes App Store, with premium feature packs starting at $9.99. More information at RockProdigy.com.

 About the Way of H, Inc.

The Way of H, Inc. is a music technology company based in Los Angeles focused on changing the way people learn, play and interact with music. Rock Prodigy, the company’s first product, is a revolutionary interactive music app powered by patent-pending polyphonic pitch-recognition technology that allows musicians of all skill levels to use any instrument and provide instant performance feedback to accelerate learning.

 For more information, visit www.RockProdigy.com

 

 

News as of 22nd February 2011

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No doubt some of you have heard of Rock Prodigy - the free download for Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod - heres some more recent info about this stuff:

22nd February Press Release:  The Way of H, Inc. has announced the names of the advisory team that helped guide the creation and launch of Rock Prodigy (see below for other info on this).

Actually for a press release type of thing this is actually quite interesting to read. This talks about the Rock Prodigy and the guys who guided the project forward - very interesting.

Check it out - you may well learn something...  Download the PDF of the document: Way of H advisory Team

14th (January revisited): Los Angeles – based  The Way of H, inc. have announced the release of Rock Prodigy, a free guitar instruction app for the Apple iPhone, and iPad.

Rock Prodigy’s patent-pending polyphonic pitch-recognition technology hears the notes that the user plays on their guitar, and provides feedback in order to accelerate learning. The app allows users to learn song by, among others, Metallica, Grateful Dead, Fall Out Boy, and Johnny Cash.

Unlike traditional tablature, Rock Prodigy’s performance cues show rhythm, timing, and note durations with real-time interaction and performance evaluation.

Rock Prodigy’s web entity was handled by independent software developer Seismic Games.

Click Here to download Rock Prodigy from the itunes store for free.

This all sounds good and you should download this NOW! In any case check it out.

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Other stuff coming on line presently will be the Roland GR-55 - lets call it a synth/emulator/effects/everything machine for now. This GR-55 is claimed to have stored presets in there that need absolutely no mods to use effectively.

Before I even test it - it is very likely that this will not be the case - but I will not prejudge the GR-55 even before I have my hands on one. Stay tuned its going to land here in the UK anytime now and I intend to do a slightly depthy review of the best parts of this unit and point out the not so good bits too.

 

News as of 22nd January 2011

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Well, much has gone on since I last updated the news page.

I reviewed a HD500 floor pedal and decided that I should sell it - fast. The one thing that bothers me is when a piece of music kit is really not what they say it is, and the HD500 was at least for me exactly that. I have the review on this site so check that from the menu on the left under reviews exactly why I sold it so fast.

I also reviewed a Marshall AFD100 amplifier head from Marshall here in the UK. I have used Marshall and many other brands of amps for years but I can tell you that the AFD100 is one of the best amps I have used in recent times - at ANY price. Simply a great piece of modern musical equipment - check the review out in the reviews sevtion - with two videos on those pages.

Another product which really impressed me was the Sanyo Pedal Juice battery eliminator. I tried to run it down for EIGHT hours with SIX pedals going flat out over the whole time and you know what... it was STILL going. No noise or hum, just great power. And it recharged back up in just about three and a half hours. They have now introduced a black version - the one I have here was white just like an Apple computer (yuk).

I am also looking forward to reviewing the GR-55 from Roland corp. This is a synthesiser pedal for guitar that promises an awful lot in a completely unique package for a reasonable price... that review is probably February or March 2011 depending when they can send me a pedal - I have my order in right now. This will as always be a completely no bull review - I promise. I have a love/hate thing with Roland, some of their kit really is awesome (VG-99 for example - check the review on this site) but some (GT-8) is not too cool - especially if you want it to do what it should. But this one seems like a potentially good piece of kit - we shall see.

 

Older News as of 22nd September 2010

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Firstly I just stopped that incessant background music ♥

There are new videos of lots of things I do.

I just uploaded a video of the insides of the Mesa Boogie Road King II in case anyone wants a look to see what these are made of - on youtube - my channel is tonymckenziecom (without the dot...) or just check the Road King II an insiders View video HERE

Theres also a new video on the video page of Rockett Effects Pedals demonstrated with a Trainwreck amp at the Dallas guitar show 2010 which I recorded - check it out - theres some old fender strats at the end of that video too.

I just reviewed the Eleven Rack on this site - some may agree with me and some will strongly disagree - but if you are considering one of these units from Avid (Digidesign) then you really should be reading this review - why? Because I don't get paid for any review in any way, no advertising, no buddies, no bullsh*t... anyway check it out on the reviews page.

I also reviewed the TS808HW Hand Wired Pedal.

I now have the AFD100 from Marshall amps on order and its going to get a thorough review from top to bottom when it arrives - should be October or November... Let's hope it's as good as Marshall and Slash say... but who knows - thay are selling it... they would say that now, would'nt they...

 

Even Older News

 

This site is being updated once again thanks to a crap xml and flash template that no search engine finds very well - never buy one they simply dont work...

It has taken me at least three weeks none stop to redevelop this site this time...

But the good news is that as well as updating some of the reviews on here we have added are in the process of adding new reviews for a whole pile of kit including:

• Road king II
• Triple recto
• Marshall JVM410H and some modifications for it
• Ibanez 7 String Guitar
• Ibanez TS808 Reissue
• Ibanez TS808 Hand Wired
• Hardwire delay
• Hardwire Tube Driver
• Lots more to come....

So as you can see we have not let you read the same thing over and over again - its good to read as a reference but does get a little boring :-)

This news feature is as August 28th 2010

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