(Source: The Courier Mail)

Some people might consider destroying pianos as art, but we can assure you that we’re not part of them. And apparently, most aren’t either. The Arts Queensland-sponsored (Read: Tax-payer money) chainsawing has received backlash from a variety of music-loving people – from piano teachers to concert organisers.

After all, that’s AU$3000 of public money down the drain – all of which could have been channeled to more productive uses. Heck, there are tons of children from lower-income families who would have loved this particular piano.

Art? Probably. Worth it? No way. But if the artist, Rebecca Cunningham, used her own money, this would be a whole other story altogether.

[News via The Courier Mail]

(Read the whole post…)

(Source: Farley’s House of Pianos)

Charles Walter’s recently (relatively) unveiled a brand new grand piano model, the ebony-polished 5′ 10″ Charles Walter 175.

It is still in the mass production stage, but it has already made some good first impressions on the experienced guys over at the Piano World Forums.

An important point to note is that it’s only US$1000 cheaper than the 6′ 4″ CW190, though it is really hard to say what this price differential is supposed to mean until you get a chance to test the piano out, and compare the two yourself.

(Read the whole post…)

(Source: JetSlide)

You might think only older and established things can be masterworks. But after reading this review on the new Alvarez Masterworks MD350C acoustic guitar, I’m certain you’ll be cleared of that misconception.

Well, with a recommended price of US$1699, I guess quality would have been expected, but even for guitars in this price range, the MD350C seemed to have performed admirably.

It may not be a guitar for a beginner whose passion for guitars has yet to be confirmed, but if you’re an experienced amateur or professional, I’m certain GuitarGearHeads’ final verdict with take you to the store:

The MD350C was a pure pleasure to review. I really enjoy playing this guitar and I will be adding it to my own personal guitar arsenal. Because of this, I award the MD350C the 2006 Rig Ready Award as well as the 2006 Guitar Gear Heads Approved award.

(Read the whole post…)

(Source: JetSlide)

Two months back, the guys over at GuitarGearHeads got a chance to review one of the cooler guitar innovations this year, the JetSlide guitar slide. Unlike conventional guitar slides, this one doesn’t impede normal chord playing.

When you reach a portion of a song where a slide is required, you can easily “flip the slide into place” and you can reverse this when you don’t need it. Moreover, it seems that the thin bar on the JetSlide provides more control than normal guitar slides, and thus more accuracy.

Overall, the ~US$20 slide got lavish praise, with the reviewer concluding that, “The JetSlide™ has become my slide of choice and I am looking forward to becoming a more skilled and competent slide guitar player. My only suggestion would be to figure out how to fit a piece of glass to the ring – then JetSlide™ would own my whole slide arsenal!”

P.S.: There are currently two variants of the slide. One is made of brass, while the other is made of stainless steel.

(Read the whole post…)

(Source: Amazon)

There’s now one, or more accurately, four more reasons to get an Epiphone Les Paul Studio or Les Paul 100 electric guitar. According to a recent news release, Epiphone will give out an Electric Essentials Pack free with any one of the two guitars, from August 1st to September 30th this year.

The pack will contain a premium 20′ cable, a nylon guitar strap, a 12-pack of picks and a Masterbilt acoustic video. Admittedly, these are nothing to die for, but they are free.

P.S.: I wonder whether they’ll be giving out this pack to those who win a Les Paul through their recent sweepstakes.

(Read the whole post…)

(Source: Yamaha)

Yep, this post was supposed to have been published around a month back, but after checking the post listings, it seems it never got out of the door. But better late than never, right?

The Yamaha DGX620 Digital Portable Keyboard – with a wooden-style design and all – was brought into the market not too long back, with all the standard keyboard features you might expect from one of the top piano and keyboard vendors in the world. To be more precise, it comes with Yamaha’s Graded Hammer action, 400 instrument voices and onboard effects, a pitch bend wheel and sustain pedal, plus stereo speakers and a 6-track onboard sequencer.

Software-wise, you’ll be looking at the Easy Song Arranger (which comes with 150 styles and 267 songs), Performance Assistant technology and the Yamaha Education Suite.

If you’re interested, you can get one now for about US$799.

(Read the whole post…)