(Source: IGN)

Yeah, you’re not dreaming. Rhythm-action gaming with Guitar Hero just got to a whole new level with the TAC Freedom V Guitar Hero wireless controller. Did we mention “wireless”? Okay, maybe that’s just too much hype, but the controller did get a clear thumbs up from the guys over at IGN.

I’m not surprised. Who wouldn’t want to jump, spin, whirl, and swing your guitar “once in a while”, eh? It’s a pity, however, that the included guitar strap is pretty flimsy, so your big stage fantasies will have to be toned down.

Overall, IGN says that, “While purists among the editors preferred the clicking strummer and deeper keys they have grown accustomed to with the standard Mini SG, few could deny that the wireless freedom of the *TAC Freedom V was an exciting new feature. Jumping, spinning, and general metal-insanity took on new levels of awesomeness while we went head to head in Guitar Hero with the new controllers. With an MSRP of $49.99, the The Ant Commando’s Freedom V is a viable and expansionary alternative to the standard Guitar Hero Mini SG for a second controller, or for a complete wireless solution.”

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(Source: Musician’s Friend)

Acoustic-electric bass guitars are a tough nut to crack here at GuPiano due to the crazy number of categories they fall under. Yep, you’ll see this Rogue AB-304 categorised under acoustic guitars, electrics and even bass guitars. But the worst part of the whole thing is that the displeasure doesn’t stop with categorisation.

It’s reviewer over at Ultimate-Guitar.com goes so far to say that, “If it were to get stolen or lost I wouldn’t buy this bass again. I love how beautiful it looks but I hate how you can barely hear it without an amp and how touchy it is.” It’s a pity though, because with die-cast machine heads, piezo pickup and volume control, abalone rosette, top binding, plus mahogany sides, back and neck, the AB-304 looks like a pretty solid bass.

Overall, this Korean-made guitar scores a measely 5.8 out of 10 for its overall rating - though for features, it does get a more respectable 7 out of 10.

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(Source: Gibson)

This is the second CP-series Yamaha stage piano / keyboard launched with the Clavinova CLP-240PE digital piano (the first was the CP300). Unlike the CP300, however, the CP33 is targeted at the budget pianist given that its going at “only” ~US$1300 - around half the price of the CP300.

It still isn’t cheap, but you should find more than enough features to justify its purchase. Like the rest of the CP-series keyboards, this 88-key Graded Hammer keyboard comes with AWM tone generation, robust MIDI functions, real-time controllers, and a USB terminal. Specific to it are 28 original voices - though none of these have the degree of customization given to those of the CP300 (which has 50 original voices in total).

All in all, it looks like a good buy for an experienced amateur looking to bring his/her music on stage. But musicians looking for advanced studio-type features may have to look elsewhere.

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(Source: Gibson)

Simultaneously released with the Clavinova CLP-240PE digital piano are two CP-series stage pianos, a.k.a. keyboards. The first one we’ll talk about is the Yamaha CP300 - one of the company’s flagship keyboards.

This 88-key Graded Hammer keyboard replaces the aging P250, and comes with a 16-track sequencer and 50 original voices - inclusive of grand piano voices customized with String Resonance (with harmonic overtones), Stereo Sustain (with open strings and pedaling) and Key-Off Samples (with dampers on piano strings).

The rest are mostly fundamental Yamaha keyboard specs., so we might as well stop here and look at it from “above”. The CP300 is clearly a full-featured keyboard - with all the jing-bangs and what-nots you will need. Of course, this also means that you’ll have to be prepared to pay the US$2000+ price retailers will demand for one of these.

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(Source: Gibson)

Yamaha recently launched the Clavinova CLP-240PE - a mid-level digital piano which few will find particularly striking bar one aspect. It will come with what Yamaha calls “…a high end, polished ebony finish…” - something it claims doesn’t come too often with mid-range models.

While not untrue, I find it rather ludicrous to make it a key selling point of a digital piano (at least, that’s what Yamaha seems to be doing). But let’s forget about that and return to more solid stuff.

The CLP-240PE, like the rest of its CLP-200-series brethren, comes with two key “technologies” (you know, the ones with all the fancy names and acronyms). One: Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) tone generation for instrument realism. Two: Dynamic Stereo Sampling (DSS) piano samples which allow for subtly different sounds when you hit the keys differently.

Overall, Yamaha’s latest Clavinova-series piano looks good, and sounds good specs-wise. But it really isn’t very different from other digital pianos in its class - except for that “high-end ebony-finish”, of course.

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Over at PALGN News, there’s speculation that Konami might join the guitar game frenzy with Guitar Revolution - a trademark it recently filed with the US Patent Office.

This, of course, probably means that we’re looking at yet another guitar-themed game controller that we’ll have to purchase. Hopefully though, Konami’s version can be uhmm… modified to suit other purposes, like what some have done with the Guitar Hero controller.

Anyway, it’s not even certain yet that Konami will actually bring out a Guitar Hero rival of its own. But even if Guitar Revolution doesn’t materialize, there are other guitar-themed video games in the works - with a few notable ones being Guitar Hero 2 and Guitaroo Man Lives!

[News via PALGN News]

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(Source: Gibson)

Although the auction for this NBA Finals-themed Gibson Les Paul electric guitar started last month, there are sure to be those who haven’t checked out this autographed customised donation-aimed guitar. That’s one long phrase, eh?

Besides being only 1 of 2 made by Gibson, this nickle-plated parts guitar (which includes ‘57 Classic pickups BTW) will feature autographs by at least 7 big NBA names, including but not exclusive to Dwayne Wade, Clyde Drexler and Tim Hardaway. Special feature-wise, you’re looking an an ABR Tune-o-matic bridge and Grover Rotomatic machine heads.

If you’re interested, you’re going have to fork out at least US$4,400 as that’s the current bid on the guitar with around 4 and a half days to go. Bid increments are at US$50, and the proceeds of this auction will go to charities supported by NBA Cares. To bid, visit NBA Auctions’ website.

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