Hands On With Shawn Kyle

Tungsten Amplification: Cortez 1x12
"Hand-buit key to Rock and Roll, get one before they become a collectable!"
The Cortez amplifier is based on the classic 5E3 design, putting out twelve watts with a pair of 6V6 tubes and eighteen watts with a pair of 6L6 power tubes. It has a single Tone knob, Bright Volume and Normal Volume controls, four inputs and comes standard with a custom designed 12" Weber T12Q Alnico speaker.

This is the very same amp design that’s been used by Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Sheryl Crow, and all the original rock musicians in the 50s. What makes this amp even more special is they are designed and hand built, using the best available components, by Adam Palow who resides near Orlando, FL.

Named after Neil Young's epic "Cortez the Killer" and a brilliant take on the 1959 era Fender Deluxe Tweed amp (now going for over 4000 on the vintage market), Tungsten Amplification’s Cortez model is by far the best Tweed era Fender style amp I have ever played. Keep in mind, this testimony is coming from someone who owned original 1958, 1959 and 1954 Deluxe Tweed amps—my 1958 was purchased by a representative of the Rolling Stones. If you are a recording studio, a working musician who likes great tone, or play in a blues or retro-rock band, you deserve to check these out. To contact Mr.Palow about these phenomenal amps email:tungstenamp@hammondresurrection.com
Tungsten Amps can be found at Legends Guitars in Tampa, FL. and legendsguitarsinc.com.

Bong Spirit Vodka
"Not just a gimmick, but a gimmick that works."
No sooner did I announce that I would be doing "Gonzo" hands-on product reviews, a package arrived in the mail from Bong Spirit Vodka. I unwrapped it to find a beautiful "vase" filled with vodka featuring Denver artist Jason Thielke's modern screen-printed work on the bottle. Immediately, I set to work reviewing this liquor.  Made in Holland, and triple distilled, it is extremely smooth, and I’m able to sip it without fear of wincing. It has a complex aroma and is excellent in martinis, but with such smooth vodka, I decide to drink it straight. At this point, a friend joins me in the process and we finish off the bottle. While it may seem like a waste to drink it all in one sitting, we really wanted to get to the bottom of the bottle and attempt our own crafting project. Breaking out the drill with a small grinding bit, we carefully drill a hole in the glass at the base beneath the plastic emblem, and attempt to insert a thin glass tube acquired at a local smokeshop. At this point, I accidentally smash the glass tube, causing injury and the need of band-aids. So, the lessons learned here:  first, this vodka is amazing, so good it begs to be sipped like you’re a Russian; second, the bottle has a second life when empty; and third, after drinking all the contents in the bottle in one sitting, don't try to use power tools or operate machinery—you will hurt yourself.
theinvodka.com

Electro Harmonix: Micro P.O.G.
Make your 6-string guitars sound like a 12-string.  Convert your guitar into a tight, funky bass. Fast, glitch free polyphonic tracking, this is a smaller version of their big Polyphonic Octave Generator used by bands like the White Stripes and anyone else who wants an analog sounding octave pedal. If you have ever wanted that 60s sound without spending a grand on a 60s guitar, here is your answer!
Find the Micro P.O.G. at Green Shift Music, www.greenshiftmusic.com

Fender: Joe Strummer Telecaster
Fender calls guitars that have been cosmetically aged at their factory a "relic" guitar, and this Telecaster has all the look of the late Joe Strummer's broken-in-1966 guitar (currently on display in the Rock and Roll hall of fame museum). While it lacks the vibe of a real 1960s instrument, it also lacks the 50k price tag. At 899, street price, it is an affordable collectable for fans of The Clash, but also a roadworthy and great sounding guitar for the musician who needs an axe capable of Combat Rock.
You can find the Joe Strummer Tele at Stevie B's Total Guitar www.steviebs.com

Apple: iPod Touch
Don't want to deal with AT&T or already have a cool cell phone, but want everything else the iPhone has? The new iPod Touch is everything the iPhone is without phone service and the Big Brother, AT&T, keeping track of your conversations, and who knows what else, for our government. Wi-Fi is free if you can find a connection, it has a big display, and 8 or 16 gigs of hard drive space. Also, you can lie and tell everyone it's an iPhone because they look the same. Just remember, don’t let someone borrow it to make a phone call, or you'll get busted.
www.apple.com

Epic Records: Duran Duran’s Astronaut CD / Drink Coaster
I don't know who gave this to me, but it makes a great coaster for my Vodka on the rocks, and has a really cool pattern...wait there's music on here? Why would anyone put music on a drink coaster? What the hell is a Duran Duran? Kind of a redundant brand name isn't it? Ah, what the hell do I know?
www.epicrecords.com