Just published Jeff Baker's review of the much anticipated AmpliTube 3. Sounds like a killer package, check it out!

http://www.frugalguitarist.com/Frugal.aspx?Issue=17&Page=IK%20Multimedia%20AmpliTube%203

AcmeBarGig's newest release is the Shred 1 Suite offering models of six amp heads and the ability to custom mix and match aspects of each of the models to create your own custom Frakenamp.  Best of all, the Shred 1 Suite is available as a free download directly from AcmeBarGig's homepage. 

The Last Goodbye, a rock musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet featuring songs by Jeff Buckley, appears to be gaining some backing with a potential Broadway debut in late 2010 or 2011. Michael Kimmel conceived and adapted the show in collaboration with Mary Guibert, Buckley's mother and the executor of the late singer/guitarist's estate.

California born Jeff Buckley died in a tragic drowning accident in Memphis on May 29, 1997. He had emerged in New York City's club scene in the 1990's and his critiaclly acclaimed album Grace has achieved a large cult fan base with many claiming it to be one of the best albums on the 90's.

AOL's Spinner debuted the video for the first single Valleys of Neptune from the posthumous Jimi Hendrix release of the same name today. It's a bit over the top even given Jimi's infamously psychedelic nature but worth sitting though just to hear the tune again. I for one am really looking forward to the release.

Today's update features a reviews of the SX SJM-57, Vox Pathfinder 15r, and the Lowdown Showdown - Three affordable Bass Libraries Go Head to Head featuring libraries from Yellow Tools, Sonivox, and Sonic Reality. I also finally got a chance to publish the Tech 21 Trademark 60 video portion of the review on the FrugalGuitarist.com YouTube channel. 

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As you may have read, Janie Hendrix (Jimi's half sister and the CEO of Experience Hendrix who was also behind the largely controversial Gibson Jimi Hendirx signature guitar) has collaborated to release the final recording session of jimi Hendrix while he was working on the never released First Rays of the Rising Sun.  the album, scheduled to be release March 10, 2010, will be titled Valleys of Neptune.

I admit that I'm a bit skeptical of posthumous releases as they often end up being money grabs featuring a collection of cobbled together tracks which are rarely the artists best work and typically have an unfinished sound to them. That being said, Spinner Canada has leaked the title track of the new album and it's very good. If the rest of the album sounds as good as this, we're in for an incredible treat. Click here to listen to the track.

R&B/blues guitarist and singer Jonny Lang was born January 29,1981.

http://www.last.fm/music/Jonny+Lang/_/Bump+In+The+Road?autostart

HAYWARD, CA - The AXL Badwater Pro, available March 2010, is our response to requests for a Badwater guitar with upgraded professional components and hardware. Built with a resonant ash body, then hand-distressed like all Badwater models, we’ve added a patented Trem-King bridge that allows string bending both up and down so players have ultimate expressive control over their playing.

The satin finished maple neck makes this guitar feel already worn in, and the 3 single coil EMG-designed Alnico pickups give guitarists the chance to dial in a variety of tones. Quality Grover tuners help to keep the Badwater Pro perfectly in tune after tremolo dive-bombs.

The AXL Badwater Pro gives players pro features and one-of-a-kind style in a guitar that demands attention.

The Badwater Pro is the newest addition to the popular AXL Badwater Series guitars. For more information on AXL guitars, visit axlguitars.com.

So Winter NAMM has come and gone. Here's my Top 5 from what I've seen so far.

Vox Valve Reactor AC series - Vox released these in Japan earier this year and I've been excited since I read the initial info on their Japanese corporate page.  These cobmine a (presumably) solid state preamp with their valve reactor circuit (as featured in their valvtronix amps).

Peavey Revalver MK 3.5 - I was extremely impressed with Revalver MKIII and this update brings a bunch of new models and bug fixes. Peavey also announced a partnership with MUSE research to provide a smaller version of there Reactor bundled with a lite version of Revalver.

Flux Density Modulation Speaker - Eminence is releasing an innovative way to attenuate signals by manipulating the efficiency of the speaker promising your cranked amp tone at any volume.

Bugera BC-30 - I was very impressed with their V22 and the BC-30 appears to take that concept to the next level looking very much like a Matchless DC-30 clone.

Visual Sound Garage Tone Overdrive - This new line of affordable effects from Visual sound features a revised version of the much loved Reverend Drive Train with a street price under $50 USD!

Stop by the forum to see the complete list of gear I thought drool worthy of a Frugal Guitarist!

Australian guitarist Orianthi Panagaris was born January 22nd, 1985.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7b-_YcACuQ&feature=player_embedded