Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) is busy working on the score of the much anticipated Iron Man 2.  Producers of the film wanted a more guitar centric and "heavy" score which will also feature 15 AC/DC songs. The AC/DC classic Shoot to Thrill is featured in new trailer but War Machine from their 2008 Black Ice album would be a perfect fit as the trailer features a brief glimpse of the Marvel/Iron Man character of the same name.

So we've likely all read the dismissal of Guitar Hero by guitarists as a waste of time often flatly questioning why these gamers simply don't pick up a real guitar. Well, Seven 45 Studios is hoping to bridge the gap with Power Gig: Rise of the SixString. The game is scheduled for a fall release on the Xbox 360 and PS3 and ships with a fully functioning 3/4 scale electric guitar with a digital interface promising a Guitar Hero on steroids experience including a full chordal mode for those seeking a truly challenging and potentially musically satisfying experience. Seven 45 Studios is a subsidiary of Boston, MA based First Act which manufacturers and imports a wide variety of music instruments.

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.