P HOTO S : PA U L H A GG A R D

ACCES SORY FILEI C E - P I X S T I XThe most significant thing about Stixpicks ($3.95 per package of three) is thatthey suck—literally. Available in thin,medium, and heavy gauges, these uniquepicks feature a small suction cup that notonly lets you attach them to the surface ofyour guitar when they’re not in use, butalso provides a contoured surface toanchor your thumb when you’re playing.My taste in picks is fairly conservative, soalthough I can appreciate the concept andutility of this innovative product, the suction cup didn’t offer me any greatadvantage. However, if you’re one ofthose guitarists who routinely misplacesor drops plectrums, these little suckerscan help you come to grips with youraffliction. —Barry Cleveland

P L A N E T W A V E S D E L U X E L E A T H E RG U I T A R S T R A PSince 1998, when string giant D’Addarioacquired the company, Planet Waves’ vastline of guitar straps has gained a reputationfor fun and innovative designs. The compa-ny’s new Deluxe Leather Guitar Strap ($83

retail/street N/A) adds comfort and upscalelooks, and it seems destined to become thecrown jewel of the line. (Other straps in theseries range from $22-$53 retail.)

Constructed with heavy-duty nylonstitching, the Deluxe’s 2" wide, high-den-sity closed-cell foam padding offers tons ofplush cushion that your neck and shoul-ders will love you for. Coupled with theDeluxe’s softer-than-average leather, thisis, hands-down, the most comfortable gui-tar strap I have ever used—so much so,that I hardly felt any shoulder fatigue aftera long rehearsal. Sure, the Deluxe is a lit-tle on the expensive side, but you can’t puta price on comfort. —Nicole Saum

D R . Z A I R B R A K EGuitarists are always getting bagged forplaying too loud, and while an obvious wayto address such ridiculous assertions is touse a power attenuator, many players feartheir sound will suck if they do. Designedby Trainwreck’s Ken Fischer, the Air Brake($275 retail/street N/A) is a transparent-sounding attenuator that does not kill tone.Features include a 5-position switchthat provides 3dB attenuation in

the first position, and an additional1.8dB (which is user adjustable ifyou desire more) each step there-after. A Bedroom Level control pro-vides an attenuation range of 7.2dBto 30dB—enough to wail withoutwaking the kids—and the device handlesup to 100 watts. Other details: a welded-aluminum enclosure, high-quality Ohmiteresistors, and a costly Ohmite wire-woundpot. Connected between a 50-watt Marshallhead and a 4x12 cab, the Air Brake did anamazing job of reducing the blast withoutneutering the amp’s tone or altering itstouch sensitivity. The Marshall soundedjust as badass—and had the same dynamicresponse—but at a volume that could makeeven the grumpiest bartender smile. Simpleand effective, the Air Brake gets an Editors’Pick Award. —Art Thompson

G

E

AR

AIR BRAKE

KUDOSLowers amp volume without causing tone depression.

CONCERNSMay force some to admit they have beenplaying too loud.

CONTACT(216) 475-1444;drzamps.com

STIX PICKS

KUDOSCan stop you from dropping or losing picks.

CONCERNSMay be too radical of adeparture for some.

CONTACT(888) 606-7771; ice-pix.com

DELUXE LEATHERGUITAR STRAP

KUDOSComfort, materials.

CONCERNSPricey.

CONTACT(631) 439-3295; planetwaves.com

EDITORS’

PICK

Originally printed in the May 2004 issue of Guitar Player.Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of GuitarPlayer. Copyright 2004 United Entertainment Media, Inc., aCMP Information company. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is

a Music Player Group publication, 2800 Campus Dr., San Mateo, CA 94403 (650) 513-4300.Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com.

P HOTO S : PA U L H A GG A R D

ACCES SORY FILEI C E - P I X S T I XThe most significant thing about Stixpicks ($3.95 per package of three) is thatthey suck—literally. Available in thin,medium, and heavy gauges, these uniquepicks feature a small suction cup that notonly lets you attach them to the surface ofyour guitar when they’re not in use, butalso provides a contoured surface toanchor your thumb when you’re playing.My taste in picks is fairly conservative, soalthough I can appreciate the concept andutility of this innovative product, the suction cup didn’t offer me any greatadvantage. However, if you’re one ofthose guitarists who routinely misplacesor drops plectrums, these little suckerscan help you come to grips with youraffliction. —Barry Cleveland

P L A N E T W A V E S D E L U X E L E A T H E RG U I T A R S T R A PSince 1998, when string giant D’Addarioacquired the company, Planet Waves’ vastline of guitar straps has gained a reputationfor fun and innovative designs. The compa-ny’s new Deluxe Leather Guitar Strap ($83

retail/street N/A) adds comfort and upscalelooks, and it seems destined to become thecrown jewel of the line. (Other straps in theseries range from $22-$53 retail.)

Constructed with heavy-duty nylonstitching, the Deluxe’s 2" wide, high-den-sity closed-cell foam padding offers tons ofplush cushion that your neck and shoul-ders will love you for. Coupled with theDeluxe’s softer-than-average leather, thisis, hands-down, the most comfortable gui-tar strap I have ever used—so much so,that I hardly felt any shoulder fatigue aftera long rehearsal. Sure, the Deluxe is a lit-tle on the expensive side, but you can’t puta price on comfort. —Nicole Saum

D R . Z A I R B R A K EGuitarists are always getting bagged forplaying too loud, and while an obvious wayto address such ridiculous assertions is touse a power attenuator, many players feartheir sound will suck if they do. Designedby Trainwreck’s Ken Fischer, the Air Brake($275 retail/street N/A) is a transparent-sounding attenuator that does not kill tone.Features include a 5-position switchthat provides 3dB attenuation in

the first position, and an additional1.8dB (which is user adjustable ifyou desire more) each step there-after. A Bedroom Level control pro-vides an attenuation range of 7.2dBto 30dB—enough to wail withoutwaking the kids—and the device handlesup to 100 watts. Other details: a welded-aluminum enclosure, high-quality Ohmiteresistors, and a costly Ohmite wire-woundpot. Connected between a 50-watt Marshallhead and a 4x12 cab, the Air Brake did anamazing job of reducing the blast withoutneutering the amp’s tone or altering itstouch sensitivity. The Marshall soundedjust as badass—and had the same dynamicresponse—but at a volume that could makeeven the grumpiest bartender smile. Simpleand effective, the Air Brake gets an Editors’Pick Award. —Art Thompson

G

E

AR

AIR BRAKE

KUDOSLowers amp volume without causing tone depression.

CONCERNSMay force some to admit they have beenplaying too loud.

CONTACT(216) 475-1444;drzamps.com

STIX PICKS

KUDOSCan stop you from dropping or losing picks.

CONCERNSMay be too radical of adeparture for some.

CONTACT(888) 606-7771; ice-pix.com

DELUXE LEATHERGUITAR STRAP

KUDOSComfort, materials.

CONCERNSPricey.

CONTACT(631) 439-3295; planetwaves.com

EDITORS’

PICK

Originally printed in the May 2004 issue of Guitar Player.Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of GuitarPlayer. Copyright 2004 United Entertainment Media, Inc., aCMP Information company. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is

a Music Player Group publication, 2800 Campus Dr., San Mateo, CA 94403 (650) 513-4300.Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com.