MONO CASES is a company that makes high-quality guitar gig bags as well as guitar straps and gig bags for bassists, producers and drummers. In addition to great looks, MONO’s guitar bags provide a neck-stabilizing support, which provides additional protection for the neck of the guitar. As touring musician Randy Williams says:

The best feature, however, to me is definitely the neck brace. Now, I won’t have to be scared to check it. As long as the neck isn’t moving around, I can hand the case to the burly baggage beast with confidence.

MONO has both single- and double-guitar cases, so if you need to carry more than one guitar, it looks like MONO’s got you covered.

Griffin Technology has released a free iPod/iPhone app called iTalk that let’s you use the microphone of the iPhone to make recordings:

iTalk Recorder lets you record, pause, resume and append to existing recordings, manage the list of your recordings, and add text notes, all on the touchscreen of your iPhone or iPod.

You can then sync the recordings to your Mac or PC using the (also free) iTalk Sync application:

iTalk Sync is a dedicated app you run on your Mac or PC that searches your Wi-Fi connection to find any iPhone or iPod touch that’s running iTalk. It lets you drag recordings from your iPhone or iPod to your computer’s desktop.

iTalk seems like a great way to capture quick song ideas or record brief interviews with other guitarists.

(via Daring Fireball)

The StagePlayer is a combination folding stool/guitar stand created by Nick Vail Designs. I use a folding stool similar to this when I play guitar, and I can see the benefit to having an attached guitar stand.

Here are some of the features of the StagePlayer:

• no assembly required
• weighs only 10lbs
• fully padded and comfortable
• fits most guitars, basses, and banjos
• neck support and non-slip foam on the folding support arms
• safe for all finishes
• rugged metal construction
• holds up to 250lbs

Julian Tan of Guitar Pug recently listed several guitar-related applications that have been created for the iPhone. Having recently purchased an iPhone, I’ve been looking for some cool apps to throw on it, and Julian’s list is a nice round-up of the ones I’ve found. Julian’s list includes:

Guitar Toolkit - This seems to be the most popular guitar-related app on the iPhone so far. It includes a tuner, a chord finder, a metronome, and tuning tones.

Band - An app by MooCowMusic, Band includes a collection of virtual instruments that you can use to create music. Instruments included are drums, piano, bass guitar, and guitar. Crowd noise is also included.

Pandora - Pandora is the iPhone version of the popular Pandora Radio streaming music service. This one looks particularly interesting to me.

Julian’s list also mentions a few other apps, so go check it out!

Anyone who has purchased a new, high-quality acoustic stringed instrument knows that it takes a long time to “break in” the instrument so that the full tone of the instrument can be heard. ToneRite claims to have produced a product that significantly shortens the time it takes for the tone of a violin, cello, or guitar to mature. ToneRite says:

By simulating the very same physics of playing, in a safe and gentle manner (ToneRite applies less structural stress than playing yourself), the ToneRite Signature is able to accomplish more than previously thought possible. According to our customers, in 24hrs the ToneRite Signature accomplishes what would normally take 6 months worth of playing.

You simply place the ToneRite device by the bridge of the instrument, and the device does the rest of the work. ToneRite claims that audible results can be heard after just one hour. I haven’t had a chance to test this on my classical guitar, but I’d be interested in hearing if anyone else has used one of these devices. For further information on why a device like this is useful, take a look at the research posted on ToneRite’s Web site.

* Photo courtesy ToneRite.com

(via Taylor)

Happy New Year! I was browsing the web the other day and came across a video of the Discovery Channel’s “How It’s Made” series about how guitar strings are made. I’m fascinated by how things are made and enjoy taking factory tours, so I enjoyed this video, which you can watch below.

My good friend and fellow guitarist David pointed me to Engadget.com, where there is a profile of the new Yamaha MW10/MW12 USB mixer. You can plug these mixers into either a Mac or a PC to turn your computer into a mixing studio. Depending on the model, the mixers feature either 10 or 12 inputs, including XLR, 1/4-inch phone jacks and RCA jacks. Cubase LE software is included with both mixers. The Yamaha MW10 has an expected retail price of $249, and the MW12 has an expected price of $379. Visit the Yamaha site for more details.

Line6 have announced a new line of effects stompboxes and effects modules. The new ToneDock effects pedals can be modified by using the new ToneCore effects modules to generate a wide variety of sounds without the need for multiple effects boxes.

Review: Sabine Metrotune MT9000  4 out of 5 stars

Recently, I was taking classical guitar lessons from a local guitar teacher, and he recommended the Sabine Metrotune MT9000 tuner to me. I already had a Yamaha YT-2200 chromatic tuner that I like quite a bit, so I wasn’t sure whether I needed a new tuner or not. However, after seeing the Sabine tuner and using it during the lesson, I immediately saw the advantages of it. Not only is the MT9000 a chromatic tuner, it is also a metronome. The metronome itself is really nice, as it allows you to easily adjust the tempo with a touch of a button. The interface is very large and easily lets you view the current note when in tuner mode or the current tempo when in metronome mode. In addition to the metronome and tuning capabilities, this device also includes a tone generator. A handy case was also included that helps protect the tuner when not in use.

If you’re in the market for a guitar tuner, then I’d recommend taking a look at the Sabine Metrotune MT9000.

DVForge has recently announced the JamPod, which allows you to plug your guitar or bass into your iPod and hear it through the iPod’s earphones. The JamPod will be shipping on April 8. DVForge also has several other products for the iPod and for guitar.