Squier by Fender Stop Dreaming-Start Playing Set: Affinity P Bass w/ Rumble 15 Amp, Black

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $499.99
Sale Price: $299.99
Today's Bonus: 40% Off

• Agathis body with gloss polyurethane finish
• C-shape maple neck with 9.5 in radius, rosewood fingerboard and 20 medium jumbo frets
• 1 Split Single-Coil Pickup
• Standard 4 saddle bridge w/ 1 volume ant 1 tone control
• Set Includes: Affinity Precision Bass®, Gig Bag, Rumble 15 Bass Amplifier, Tuner, Strap, Cable, Stereo Headphones, Instructional DVD

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

This is an awesome bass that sounds great and has everything you need to start playing as soon as you get it out of the box. The only disappointment I have is the tuner did not work. It looks like the wires to the battery were loose. That can be an easy fix if you know how to solder. I already had another tuner, so it was not a problem for me. I have read on several other reviews that the tuner did not work as well, so I think that Fender needs to take a look at these tuners and correct the issues, but other than that it is a great package. This is my first bass guitar and man is it cool! The Rumble 15 Bass Amplifier sounds great, the headphones are of good quality, the gig bag seems pretty good but I've only used it one time and the instructional DVD will have you learning the notes and playing some licks within 30 min. I suggest that you find some songs that you know on u-tube and play along with the notes. I also found a really good website , that you can search for nearly any song and choose your instrument and play along. Overall the package is a great buy for $299. I reviewed several bass guitars and it was between the Fender bass and an Ibanez and I went with the Fender package because it was a complete package and was convenient to order through Amazon...and arrived within 5 days. I had gifts cards to Amazon also. I have never played bass before, (a little on acoustic) but I can tell you that the bass is much easier to learn and play. So if your looking to get something that looks good and sounds good and does not cost too much, this one is great. Just be prepared for the tuner to not work.

Buy Squier by Fender Stop Dreaming-Start Playing Set: Affinity P Bass w/ Rumble 15 Amp, Black Now

Excellent beginner Bass to learn with. The included amp is also an outstanding beginner amp that is easy to use. Overall perfect choice for anyone interested with learning to play the Bass Guitar.

Read Best Reviews of Squier by Fender Stop Dreaming-Start Playing Set: Affinity P Bass w/ Rumble 15 Amp, Black Here

I'm really enjoying this kit! It does have *ALMOST* everything you'd need to get started playing bass. The only things I'd suggest are the following:

Some sort of guitar stand. The kit doesn't come with one, and it's nice to have. The stand I have is around $10. It also does a good job of reminding you to play. :-P

A "Y" cable that's got two RCA connectors on one end and a 3.5mm connector on the other. This lets you use the "CD" input on the amp to play along. This should cost no more than $2-3.

Want Squier by Fender Stop Dreaming-Start Playing Set: Affinity P Bass w/ Rumble 15 Amp, Black Discount?

A little background on meBrand new (adult) bass guitar player starting out without ever having played a guitar before (except for Guitar Hero & Rock Band). Was looking for a bass guitar to get myself started with, without breaking the bank. I didn't want to spend a $1,000+ dollars on a bass and all of the necessary gear in order to learn. What if I stunk or ended up just not liking it. I'd be stuck with a ton of semi-expensive gear to get rid of. A friend of mine who plays guitar mentioned picking up this pack.

For the price you really can't beat it. It has everything you need to learn. Aside from the bass guitar, you get a amplifier, cable, shoulder strap, gig bag, tuner, tools for changing your strings and headphones, as well as an instructional DVD. I will say that the headphones are sub-par. Luckily, I had a good pair of Sony headphones with a 1/4" connector that I can plug right into the amp. This way when I practice at night, I don't wake up the whole house. Also, the tuner is Ok. It works, but I feel that it takes a bit to pick up the sound coming from the strings. I decided to replace it with the Snark SN-2 clip on tuner which a lot of people are raving about. That is my choice, but again, the one that comes in this pack is servicable.

To buy these items separate you are looking at approx $360 and that doesn't include an instructional DVD

Squier Affinity Bass$179

Rumble 15 Amp$99

Tuner$8

Gig Bag-$25.00

Strap$15

Cable$12

Fender Headphones$20

Overall, if you are just starting out with learning how to play bass this pack is a great value. If you are already a pro, I'd say you'd probably find better. The only flaw I see with this pack is that it doesn't come with a stand for the bass. I picked up an OnStage XCG4 Tubular Stand separate for $12.

this is a nice bass and its very well made also the amp is very good for beginners nice package

Read More >>

Nady HM-20U Headset Microphone Beige 3.5 MM

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $69.99
Sale Price: $49.99
Today's Bonus: 29% Off

• Full-frequency, unidirectional electret condenser micWarm, transparent audio and maximum feedback rejectionDurable, thin metal frame easily molds to any userErgonomic design and comfortable fit with or without glasses, hat, or headphones (also no hairstyle hindrance)Tiny 5 x 8 mm lightweight capsule for hours of comfortable useTwo sizes of foam windscreen included to reduce wind/popping noiseExtendable, fully adjustable boom for optimum mic capsule placementOption of mini-XLR, 3.5mm phono plug (

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

I'm giving it 5 stars so I don't unfairly lower its rating. But I had to return my HM-20U 3.5MM because it uses a low-voltage phantom power (not 48v or 24v). And it won't work with their hard-to-find XM-10 adaptor (that's only for the mini-xlr, not the 3.5mm connector).

So, DON'T BUY THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE A LOW-VOLTAGE PHANTOM POWER SOURCE.

I think low-voltage is between 1.5v to 10v.

Buy Nady HM-20U Headset Microphone Beige 3.5 MM Now

We ordered five of these microphones to use with our Sennheiser G2 belt pack lapel mic transmitters. It plugs directly into the Sennheiser with no difference in audio level from the factory lapel mic. These Nady headset mics are fantastic. They're super clear and quiet, and they stay put no matter what. We (unfortunately) bought one of those really thin $300 over-one-ear mics that you can bend and shape to fit. But it won't stay in place like this Nady does, and it's output is weaker (the G2's audio input gain had to be increased to use the overpriced, overblown mic). We ordered our Nady HM-20U's from Musician's Friend, but it's cheaper to order them through Amazon.com (they still come from Musician's Friend). This Nady has a three conductor (stereo or tip/ring/sleeve) 1/8" plug that is wired the same as the Sennheiser's factory lapel mic (plug tip is + voltage to the condenser element and audio out, plug sleeve is ground, the center ring terminal is not used). Can't beat the quality and stable design of the Nady, especially at this price.

Read Best Reviews of Nady HM-20U Headset Microphone Beige 3.5 MM Here

If you are using this frequently, it is very delicate, and easily broken if adjusting to fit to head. I have a yoga studio and the teachers found it difficult to fit for comfort.

Want Nady HM-20U Headset Microphone Beige 3.5 MM Discount?

Decent unit for the price. Only fits smaller heads, even adjusted all the way out. Good plug interface into Nady transmitter.

Read More >>

Shure SCL2 Sound Isolating Earphones - Clear

Customer Ratings:
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus:

• Frequency Range: 22Hz - 17.5 kHz
• Sensitivity (@ 1kHz): 105dB SPL/mW
• Impedance (@ 1kHz): 16 Ohms
• Weight: 30grams (1oz)
• Includes a Fit Kit, Carrying Case, and Wax Removal Tool

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

Shure tried to pack a lot of performance into the SCL2 earbuds, and, in general, they succeeded. In sound isolating (as opposed to noise-cancelling) phones, the design challenge is to create a seal between the wearer's ear canal and the unit such that a minimum of ambient sound "gets by" the seal and interferes with the sound being generated by the miniature set of diaphragms housed within. From a sound-isolating standpoint, it's difficult for the seal to be "too tight." The tradeoff on seal effectiveness is usually wearer comfort.

Shure has done a good job with these SCL2's. They are light, but that's to be expected, even desired. They are a little wierd-looking, protruding from the ears about 1/2 inch, but if you've paid your dues seeking sonic excellence, you've seen plenty of wierd over time. These are not offensive in that regard. Besides, they sound good, so what's the complaint?

When they arrived, I decided to put them to a serious listening test. My iPod has over 7,000 songs and 30 feature movies in a highly eclectic collection, so I have plenty of opportunities for a challenge.

I've always thought that solo piano, well-recorded, was a supreme test for speakers. If they could reproduce the full range of sounds without noticeable response peaks and valleys, they were probably pretty good speakers. The same criteria, I believe, apply to earphones as well.

I used my collection of Angela Hewitt recordings of J. S. Bach's piano works to take the phones to the gym, and to my great pleasure. The response was clean, transparent, and, as far as I can hear, linear. In short, an A on that count.

At this point, it's probably the right time to address another reviewer's complaint about the bass response of the SCL2's. I can understand how someone might declare these phones inadequate. All I can say about it is that I like bass, but I like it the way it was recorded (you can't easily make a case that you expect it to sound like live music, because not all sound engineers attempt to make it sound like it does fifth row center in a sonically pure concert hall; also, it depends on where you sit in that venue as to the kind of sound you might hear.) In my opinion, these phones are not inadequate. They just don't overemphasize bass tones like some phones are designed to do. Excess bass inthese phones might well be painful.

After about four hours of listening to classical piano and a playlist of Tschaikowsky symphonies, I was ready for some rock, pop, and jaaz. The Shures really shined here. They brought out nuances that I've never heard in recordings that I've listened to for 40 years. As Martha Steweart might say, that's a good thing.

Setting up the product is not a chore, but requires a few minutes of your undivided attention. Shure packs three different sizes of three separate designs of sonic seals. There are clear silicone gels, black extra-soft rubber seals, and some orange memory foam ones. I can't say they've covered all bases, but I found one that creates the desired seal without too much of an effort. You have to be gentle puching the seals over the sound tube of the unit so as not to tear them. I found that a tiny bit of saliva helped to ease them into position -art imitates life. Once set up properly, the phones create a seal that is comfortable yet complete enough to cause some minor discomfort during an unexpectedly loud portion of the music. The good news is that you won't need quite as much of your player's volume control to ahcieve loud sonic levels with these.

The only drawbacks I noticed are these: (1) the tiny bagel-shaped hard carrying case could be, say, a cubic centimeter (!) larger, allowing greater ease in stuffing in the phones and cord, with maybe a folded-up postage stamp occupying any remaining space. A tiny complaint to be Shure. (2) In listening while lying down (I'm an occasional insomniac and can sleep easier with some music playing), the earbuds protrude a bit more than you might be used to. By teasing the pillow into position, I was able to overcome this issue.

I have noticed that the phones continue to evolve and "open up" as I use them. That's OK, since they've only improved so far.

I'm pleased with this purchase. They're worth the added money over the junk that mostly accompanies players. Shure still makes good stuff.

One last note to Shure -PLEASE do something that allows your bubble packaging to be penetrated by common household tools. That's really unnecessary as well as dnagerous.

Buy Shure SCL2 Sound Isolating Earphones - Clear Now

This is my third pair of these in the past 5 or so years. To be more exact I have had two pair of Shure E2Cs and now my first pair of Shure SCL2s, but there basically the same earphones. The fact that I keep buying them at $75 tells you that I like them. The sound is just fine and the sound isolating is great. I use them on the subway most days and on airplanes when I travel. They are great for that.

I have also owned noise cancelling headphones and I much prefer the sound isolating style. If you're in between the two types, here is my view. The noise canceling headphones are more comfortable. But after you use the sound isolating headphones for a while, you'll get used to them. The two big advantages to the sound isolating are they are much smaller and they don't need batteries. The size is an obvious advantage, but don't discount the importance of batteries. I can't tell you how many times I forgot to switch off my sound isolating headphones and had dead batteries Monday morning on my way to work.

Now for my one gripe about the Shure headphones (causing 4-stars instead on 5). The cords are too wimpy. The reason I am on my third pair of these is that the cord had frayed away right next to the ear bud. Eventually they fray to the point that they just break. For $75 they should make the cord sturdy.

Read Best Reviews of Shure SCL2 Sound Isolating Earphones - Clear Here

I just got these recently as a replacement for Shure E2C phones which, after 1.5 years of daily use, broke. Well, not really broken to the point of being non-functioning, but the plastic wire insulation to one of the earbuds separated and it was right where the wire crossed the top of my ear. It was very irritating, but the wire itself didn't break. Shure replaced the E2Cs with these SCL2 buds, and the first thing that struck me is that they didn't really look much different than the E2s. When I plugged them into my iPod I was pleasantly surprised by the bass response, which I think is an improvement over the older model. They sound great, but the E2s did too. Just improved bass response. Some folks knock the fit of the earphones, and to them I would say to go online and look at a cross section of an ear, see the anatomy of the canal, and try to put your earphones where they will fit, not just where you think they should go. the design of these is the same as the E2 and I wore mine very comfortably on a daily basis. So, yeah, these are a great buy, especially for the price. I tried Bose and some higher end Shures, as well as a pr. of Sennheisers that were out of my price range, and I didn't really hear any more on them than on my Shure earphones. Maybe my hearing is bad I'm 53 years old but I think my auditory acuity is actually very good. You can spend a lot more money for very, very little improvement on the sound. I would say buy these. I already did the research and the shopping for you, and this was the best buy. And you can't beat the 2-yr. guarantee.

Want Shure SCL2 Sound Isolating Earphones - Clear Discount?

I loved the sound and the fit more than any other pair I've ever owned. They lack in bass but not a big deal to me. Loved them EXCEPT!!!! Within 6 months without fail the wires' insulation rots, gets brittle, and breaks. I've owned 3 pair because I like them so much, but without fail they short out. I'm nice to them too!! Sad because their fit design is SO GOOD! And sound isolation is the best I've experienced. If I was rich I'd just but 20 pair and go through them like toilet paper, but I'm not.

VERY NICE..............SHORT LIFE.

I returned a pair of E2C's to Shure just barely still under warranty because of the famous cracking cord. In a couple weeks they send me a brand new pair of these. I was very impressed. I expected a cord replacement only. Love this style of ear bud with the yellow foam earpieces, the most comfortable for me. Tried others but this is the best in-ear. Has to be a pretty tight fit for good bass. I think I like the sound of these more than the E2C's. Maybe I'm fooling myself or just missed them that much during replacement but these sound more defining, better sound stage. Even the bass is a bit fuller. Very impressed with Shure taking responsibility, this cord appears heavier and more pliable. Great earbuds, way to go Shure!

Read More >>

Dean Electric Guitar Starter Pack with Vendetta XMT Metallic Black, 10 Watt Amp, Gig Bag, Cord, Str

Customer Ratings:
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: $189.00
Today's Bonus:

• Features dual humbucker pickups, 25.5" scale, solid mahogany body with a bolt-on maple neck and rosewood fingerboard, and black hardware.
• A stereo headphone jack lets you rock anytime without disturbing your roommates or family.

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

First, let me qualify my ability...I am an absolute beginner to electric guitar; in fact, I am an absolute beginner to playing music in general. I am a middle aged guy who has always wanted to learn. I have, in the month or so I've owned this guitar, learned a number of chords and I am starting to (attempt to) mimic some popular rock guitar riffs.

That being said, prior to purchasing the Vendetta XMT (mine is in the natural finish), I did A LOT of on-line research. Obviously not the best way to shop for a guitar; but with no musical ability, I really didn't know how to check them out at a local music store. Nonetheless, I narrowed down my choices and actually found a YouTube video where someone plays the same portion of a song on both the Dean Vendetta XMT and the Fender Stratocaster. The sound on the Dean was much richer and I liked that (obviously a YouTube video is not the best thing to go on, but it was the best I had). So I settled on the Dean Vendetta as my starter guitar.

So, the exciting day arrived when I saw the large package on my porch as I arrived home from work. This surprised me because it was substantially more than what you saw with the starter kits at the 'big box' stores. Inside was the guitar, amp, tuner, strap, cord, bag, picks and a brief one page instruction sheet for the amp. The amp is the first thing that distinguishes this starter pack from others I've seen in stores. It is not the tiny little cube these other starters have. Yes, it is just a basic starter amp with only the basic controls, but it has a nice sound and is definitely louder than you need a practice amp to be. This, I think is what accounted for the big shipping box. From left to right, the amp has input jack, gain, boost, volume, treble, middle, bass, headphone jack, power switch and LED. No special effects, but that can't be expected at this price. Once again, I feel this is much more than your basic amp. It is substantial, nice sounding and loud. Much more than the tiny cube I was expecting.

The guitar itself is so much nicer in appearance than a standard starter. Mine has the body in what they call a natural finish which looks like a red stain. It is definitely nice looking but I'm sure it looks great in the metallic gloss finishes available. The neck is done nicely in rosewood. The back of the neck is a clear coated natural wood color. Oddly enough, the side of the neck (where the tuning pegs are) does not have a clear coat finish and feels rather rough (defect or is that the way it is supposed to be). Nonetheless, the guitar looks great.

A complaint I've repeatedly read on low end guitars is the fact that they don't stay in tune well. In my experience (and obviously I don't have the musical experience), this is not the case with this guitar. It holds tune very well and obviously you are going to check it periodically anyways (part of playing guitar). The tuner that came with the starter pack works nicely and makes for quick work in getting the guitar tuned. One of the things which sets this guitar apart is the dual humbucker pickups. I think it is these pickups which give that rich tone that I love. The 3-way switch lets you select the neck pickup (richer), the bridge pickup (brighter) or both. As far as the technical aspects of the guitar, I don't really know enough to say good or bad; to me, it all seems to work well.

The strap that came with it is nice, has the dean logo, but it is just a basic strap and not terribly comfortable. The cord hooking the guitar to the amp works well, but if you compare it to others available in the after-market, it is a very light gauge. Again, more than enough for a starter. The bag that came with it is only a basic gig bag. Not sure how well the zipper will hold up if used heavily. It has a decent amount of storage, but not a lot. Right now, I'm not using it because I bought a nice stand: OnStage GS7462DB Double Electric and Acoustic Guitar Stand

This is a starter guitar. This is not a children's guitar. I think it is usable at many levels of experience and may be stage worthy.

Buy Dean Electric Guitar Starter Pack with Vendetta XMT Metallic Black, 10 Watt Amp, Gig Bag, Cord, Str Now

I got this for my 13 year old daughter for Christmas. To be brutally honest, I picked it because it was cheap. Having been through a drum set, a violin and a bass, I didn't want to spend a lot of money on something she might only be interested in for a few minutes. WOW! Was I surprised. The guitar looks and sounds great. The amp is kid size, but the sound is pure (no crackling noises) and it is light enough for her to carry. This is a magnificent deal and she loves it she plays it with her headphones and I am blissfully unaware. I highly recommend it for those who are just starting to play.

Read Best Reviews of Dean Electric Guitar Starter Pack with Vendetta XMT Metallic Black, 10 Watt Amp, Gig Bag, Cord, Str Here

I've been a guitarist for almost ten years and my nephew just had his eighth birthday. Before I even considered giving it to him I changed the strings that came with it and tuned it. I was a bit skeptic but WOW this guitar is a great buy and I am going to purchase one for my arsenal. He loved it by the way ! Thanks for making me the COOL uncle that gave the best gift he got !

Want Dean Electric Guitar Starter Pack with Vendetta XMT Metallic Black, 10 Watt Amp, Gig Bag, Cord, Str Discount?

Great Guitar. Beginners, intermediate, or advance. A great guitar. The tuner is a bit difficult to operate, but nothing serious. Since it was bought directly from the maker, it is cheaper than go to Guitar Center or order it from their web page.

Fast Shipping, Very happy with the guitar and amp for the price that is. I am a beginner, so take that into account. I've had it for a week and it has stayed in tune with me playing on it every night. I would recommend for any beginner.

Read More >>