Guitar

> Fender Musical Instruments Corp., one of the largest guitar makers in the world, said Wednesday it is closing its Ovation plant in New Hartford, where nearly 50 employees work, due to low sales and “market conditions.”

Very sad.

The most important rule to me is do you actually need it. Use your ears, and don’t put things in your mix that don’t improve it.

> Rich Tozzoli breaks down how best to use multiple guitar amp plug-ins to achieve unlimited sounds.

I love doing this. Using different sounds and a panning strategy can make your song sound so good.

I’ve been hearing a lot about this app in recent months, so I downloaded it and will give it a try. Everything I’ve heard is that this is a really great community with pros like Zakk Wylde contributing, along with regular guys like me.

Sometimes the best innovation is the simplest—that’s the case with Straptight. I’ve seen the inventor swing a guitar over his head with these on his strap and they didn’t pop off. Yet, you just twist it and it comes off when you want it to. They’re endorsed by Joe Satriani and are really inexpensive too.