TruFuel 40:1

    When I first purchased my gas-powered string trimmer I was pleased with its performance. It was functioning well and I was able to use it without any problems. This continued until I begin to use it in the spring of 2012. During that period of time, the performance was beginning to suffer. I became both disappointed and puzzled by the fact that it was no longer functioning as well as the day I bought it.

    In an attempt to solve the problem I tried a few things here and there, but I was unsuccessful. I later decided to go online to do my troubleshooting. While troubleshooting, I discovered that I was no longer mixing the gas and oil accurately. Soon after, I decided that it would be a good idea to take another look at my owner's manual. After finding the information that I needed, I was able to quickly learn the proper technique for mixing the gas and oil accurately.

    Almost immediately after learning this technique, I became aware of a  product that was said to eliminate the need to perform this task completely. This initial information appealed to me and it motivated me to find out more. As I begin to find out more, this product became even more appealing. So, instead of applying what I learned from my owner's manual I decided to try this product instead. Weeks later, I went out and purchased TruFuel 40:1.


The purpose of TruFuel 40:1

    TruFuel is simply fuel for two-cycle engines. The fuel is premixed with the proper ration of gas and oil, eliminating the need to perform this task manually.


My experience with TruFuel 40:1

    The main reason I purchased TruFuel 40:1 was to see if it would give me an advantage(s) over my current method of adding fuel to my string trimmer.

    Using TruFuel over most of the summer I found that there were advantages to using this type of fuel. First, I found TruFuel to be very convenient when it was time to refill my string trimmer’s gas tank. It seemed a whole lot easier to just purchase a bottle from the store than to fill a gas can and later worry about getting the mixture of gas and oil just right. Second, I was able to start my string trimmer much faster. Before using TruFuel I struggled to start my string trimmer. It would always take a minute or longer. With TruFuel, I found that one to three pulls while cold and one pull while warm would start my string trimmer. Third, it allowed me to use my string trimmer at full power. Before TruFuel, my string trimmer would stall whenever I would try to press the throttle control completely. Fourth, I was able to get more use out of one bottle than I expected. With its 32 oz bottle, I was able to fill my string trimmers gas tank three times. The first two times I was able to fill the tank to full capacity. The third time, it was slightly less than a full tank. Fifth, my string trimmer didn't seem to emit any smoke.


Overall

    Overall, I would definitely recommend TruFuel. Even though I have learned how to mix the gas and oil manually I still prefer TruFuel. So Far, I have bought a total of two bottles and I will continue to buy TruFuel as long as I am able. It has made it much easier to add fuel to string trimmer and has given me many advantages.

                                                                          
Features:

 •    Available in 40:1 and 50:1 ratios
 •    Fuel stabilizers that inhibit corrosion
 •    Two-year shelf life after opening          
 •    Provides easier startup, smooth idling, no smoke or plug fouling, and     
       promotes improved trigger response
 •    Contains no ethanol                    
 •    Meets and exceeds the warranty requirements of all manufacturers of air
       cooled two-cycle engines including Troy-Bilt, Craftsman, Poulan, and
       McCulloch

Fender Frontman 25R

    After I bought my ESP EC 10 guitar, I decided that I wanted a better amplifier. I wanted something that was a little more serious than what I was using. I felt that my old amp was too small and lacked the features I wanted. So, I begin to research guitar amps.

    In the beginning, I looked at a variety of amplifiers for months. I looked at everything from Peavy to Line 6. Eventually, I narrowed down my choices and looked at the Fender brand. I later decided that the Fender Frontman 25R would be the best choice for me. Weeks later, I went online and I ordered this amplifier.

Inside the box

    My amp arrived well-protected. It was inside of a bigger box that was about the same size as one that would contain a twenty to twenty-five-inch tube-style television. Once I got through this box, I immediately begin to open the box that contained the amp. Once the box was open, I got my first look at the Fender Frontman 25R. At first glance, the only thing that I  noticed was that the amp was well wrapped. But once the amp was completely out of the box, I discovered a simple seven-page manual written in different languages and a detachable power cord.
   

Features   

    The Fender Frontman 25R has a 10-inch speaker and 25 watts of power. It is about 17 inches wide, 15 inches tall, and 8 ½ inches in depth.

    Overall, the all-black enclosure of the Fender Frontman 25R seems well made and the weight of the amp feels solid. It’s about 25 pounds and has a handle for easy carrying.

    The power switch is located on the front of the amp along with a variety of controls. These controls include the input jack, normal volume control, gain control, drive volume control, treble control, middle control, bass control, spring reverb control, aux in, a footswitch jack, and a headphone jack.

    It also has an open back. This area is used to store the detachable power cord. There is even a velcro strap at the base of this storage area to keep the power cord in place.


Performance

    During the testing process, I discovered that this amplifier had an impressive clean channel. I also discovered that a multi-effects processor or effects pedal (s) wasn’t necessary for the enhancement of this channel. I found that the sound from the clean channel(without any effects) was just right for certain songs I wanted to play.

    This wasn’t possible with my old amp. I often felt that my multi-effects processor was needed to enhance the dull-sounding clean channel. With the Fender Frontman  25R, there is much more clarity on the clean channel.

    The Fender Frontman 25R also has a distortion channel. Overall, I would describe the distortion as adequate. It’s much better than the distortion on my old amp but not as impressive as the distortion on my multi-effects processor.

    But, I feel that opinions will be different for each user. If you are a first-time guitar player and have never owned an amp you will be impressed. If you have owned an amp before but have never invested in a multi-effects processor or effects pedal you will be contented. But, if you have ever heard the distortion from a multi-effects processor or effects pedal, you will not be as satisfied with the distortion on this amp.

    With this amp, you will never have a problem with weak volume. I found this amplifier to be much louder than I expected. I usually have the volume set at two (sometimes three) and have never gone beyond this. I am totally satisfied with the volume at either of these levels. It is enough to fill any room in the house.

    As I mentioned earlier, the Fender Frontman 25R has spring reverb. I have found that this enhances the sound of the amp much more. But, at high levels, it has an actual spring-like sound. My experience with this type of reverb is limited but I find that this effect is more pleasant at lower levels.

   So far I ‘ve not used the aux in or the footswitch jack but I have used the headphone jack many times and it has been an advantage. The sound from a set of headphones is just as pleasant as using the amp without headphones.

    The Fender Frontman 25R does accept multi-effects processors and effect pedals. My multi-effects processor works well with this amplifier.


Reliability

    I have had the Fender Frontman 25R for about eight months and I haven’t experienced any problems. It still works just as well as the day it arrived.


Overall

    If you are looking for a basic amp and would rather add your own effects, the Fender Frontman 25R would be a good choice. It will satisfy any guitar player with its perfect size, high-quality sound,  well-made enclosure, and useful features.

1. Miscellaneous riffs with no reverb.
    (3 strums, riff1, riff2, slide.)
2. Miscellaneous riffs with spring reverb at
    levels 3,5, &10.(3 strums, riff1, riff2, slide.)  
3. Distortion at at levels 5 & 10.
    (Power chords, riff2, slide.)






My Photos:

Tascam DR-05 Review

    I decided a while back that I wanted to get a better tape recorder. The recorder that I wanted to replace was a microcassette recorder that I had owned a few years. Even though it was functioning well (no button or tape eating problems) it lacked clarity. I felt that clarity was something I needed when practicing my guitar lessons. So, I decided to search for a better recorder. I eventually discovered digital recorders.

    In the beginning, I considered getting the Zoom H1 but I later changed my mind. At the same time I was considering making a purchase the Tascam DR-05 became available. The Tascam DR-05 was more appealing to me. It was totally new to the market, had a cooler look, and seemed well made. After additional research, I was convinced that the Tascam DR-05 was the right digital recorder for me. Weeks later, I went online and purchased this recorder.

                   
Inside the Box


    Once the order arrived I was eager to take a look at the Tascam DR-05 in person and see what the box contained. Inside the box with this recorder were a 107-page instruction manual, two AA alkaline batteries, MiniUSB cable (0.8m), and a 2gb microSD card installed in the recorder.

    It was about 5 ½ inches in height, 2 inches wide, and had a few extra characteristics that my microcassette recorder didn’t have. It had two omnidirectional stereo microphones, mic/ext in jack, headphones/line out jack, hold switch, USB 2.0 port, microSD/microSDHC slot, a mono speaker on the back, a 1/4 inch screw-hole (just below the speaker) for attaching either a tripod or a microphone stand, and a strap attachment at the bottom of the recorder.


Old vs. New


    The Tascam DR-05 is very different from my microcassette recorder or any other recorder that I have ever owned. So, it took a while to figure out how to operate it. But once I did, I discovered how much better digital recorders are. First, there will never be a concern about any tape problems such as “tape eating” or any other mechanical problems that can damage a tape. As I mentioned earlier I have never experienced this with my most recent microcassette recorder, but I felt that I may have problems in the future. Second, clarity is no longer an issue. I have made recordings that were so clear and accurate that it would be difficult to tell the difference between the original and recorded version. My microcassette recorder never seemed to have clarity. It was useable but it often sounded muffled and flat. Third, the Tascam DR-05 is better equipped than my microcassette recorder. Being able to easily find what’s been recorded is one example of how the DR-05 is better equipped. Recordings are stored in folders that have individual files. Recordings/files are played back on individual tracks. On the playback screen, individual tracks can be selected quickly with the fast forward or rewind button. Combine this with the elapsed time indicator, and you will be able to find your recordings or a certain section of a recording quickly and easily.
   
    With my microcassette recorder, I had the ability to change the tempo of my recordings, if I needed to. But, it was slight and the playback was often muffled and bland. The Tascam DR-05 can do much better at changing the tempo of recordings. With this digital recorder, the tempo can be increased or decreased several degrees without changing the pitch. I have also found that in this mode(in comparison to my old recorder) the sound is a whole lot better too.

    The Tascam DR-05 has many capabilities but, it does something else that my old recorder can’t do. The Tascam DR-05 has the ability to loop a selected section of a track. This capability and others make this recorder a step above my microcassette recorder are any other type of tape recorder.


The Built-in speaker


    As I mentioned earlier, the Tascam DR-05 has a built-in mono speaker. Overall, I would describe it as a good speaker. It’s not the perfect speaker but it’s adequate enough for playback.

    While the built-in mono speaker may not be perfect, Tascam makes it possible for other options. One option is to add a set of headphones. I have found that a good set of headphones really improves the sound during playback. Before I plugged in my headphones, I almost questioned my decision about buying this recorder. The built-in speaker was good and had much more clarity than my microcassette recorder, but it wasn’t impressive. After I tried my headphones, I knew I made the right choice. With the headphones, clarity, volume, and fullness were significantly better.

    Beyond headphones, PC speakers can also enhance the sound of this recorder during playback. In my experience PC speakers produce a sound that is a level above headphones. I recently connected a set of PC speakers with subwoofer to this recorder and was impressed by the results. The sound had even more clarity, fullness, and volume. It was very similar to the sound produced by a home stereo system.

    So, if you’re not satisfied with the sound from the built-in speaker you will definitely be satisfied with a good set of headphones. But, if you want to have home stereo-like sound and have multiple people hear your recordings at once PC speakers(a good set preferably with a subwoofer) would be the overall best option.


Battery life


    There are four ways to power the Tascam DR-05. It can be powered by two AA or Ni-mH(rechargeable) batteries, The Tascam PS-P515U adapter, and USB bus power using the included USB cable.

    I have used the AA batteries that came with this device and I was satisfied. I felt that they lasted a reasonable amount of time. But, I recently switched over to rechargeable batteries. I felt that they would be more convenient, and possibly help me save money over time.


Durability

    I have had the Tascam DR-05 since late August of 2011 and I haven’t had any problems. This device has been performing well.


Recording Duration

    In the beginning, when I first considered this recorder, I wondered about the recording capacity of the microSD card. Having always used cassette tapes I wasn’t sure if those microSD cards could hold enough information.

    But, after using the Tascam DR-05 things have become much more understandable. The MicroSD card that comes with this recorder is decent. I am currently recording in Wav(stereo) 16bit format at 44.1 kHz. With this setting, I get the maximum recording time, which is 3 hours and 22 minutes. So far I am satisfied with this setting.  I have been recording my guitar practice sessions etc. for a while, and I still have space on the microSD card.

    Besides Wav format, the Tascam DR-05 can record in MP3 (mono or stereo) format. I haven’t recorded in this mode yet but it has the highest recording duration. With the 2gb microSD card that comes with the DR-05, it can record up to 149 hours and 4 minutes.

    The 2gb microSD card has a decent capacity for starting out. But if you are looking for more storage the DR-05 can accept 4gb and 8gb microSD or microSDHC cards. With a 4gb MicroSD or MicroSDHC card, it has a recording duration of 6 hours and 44 minutes using Wav(stereo) 16 bit at 44 kHz. With the 8gb MicroSD or MicroSDHC card the recording duration is 13 hours and 28 minutes using Wav (stereo) 16bit at 44 kHz. In Mp3 mode (stereo or mono) 32Kbps at 44.1 kHz/48 kHz a  4gb microSD or microSDHC card will have a duration of 298 hours and 8 minutes. In that same mode and setup, an 8gb microSD or microSDHC card has a duration of 596 hours and 16 minutes.

    Overall, I am satisfied with the recording duration of the 2Gb microSD card. It has more recording capacity than I thought and I think that anyone who purchases the Tascam DR-05 will be satisfied with the capacity of the included microSD card.


PC Connectivity


    The Tascam DR-05 has the ability to connect to your PC. Once the DR-05 is connected users will have the ability to transfer files from the DR-05 to their PC, using the included USB cable. Users can also transfer files from their PC to the DR-05. I have tried both and despite not being used to these types of recorders I found it fairly easy.

    If you decide to connect the DR-05 to your PC, you will need a USB port and either a Windows or Macintosh operating system. For Windows, you will need either XP, Vista, or Windows 7. For the Macintosh Operating system, you will need Mac OS x10.2 or later.

    You don’t need a PC (Like the majority of recorders out there) to fully use the DR-05. But, in my opinion, it gives the Tascam DR-05 more versatility.

Overall

    Overall, I would recommend the Tascam DR-05. It has a visually appealing appearance and is packed with many features. It’s more advanced than traditional tape recorders and has many capabilities. It was originally designed with musicians in mind but is often used by a variety of people. Currently, I am using the DR-05 for guitar practice and it is proving to be a benefit. I have even found an extra benefit that I only realized after I made the purchase, the DR-05 is capable of playing your MP3 music files from your PC. This and a combination of other capabilities and features make the Tascam DR-05 worth purchasing.

Features:

•    Omnidirectional stereo microphones                                  
•    Internal mono speaker
•    44.1/48/96KHZ,16/24 bit Wav Format recording.
•    32-320 Kbps MP3 format recording
•    Peak reduction function
•    Automatic level control
•    Limiter Function
•    Low cut filter
•    Change playback speed without affecting the pitch
•    Looping function
•    Musical instrument tuner
•    Playback equalizer
•    3.5mm(1/8) jack for external stereo microphone or external stereo  line input
•    3.5mm(1/8) line/headphone output jack
•    128 X 64-pixel LCD screen with backlight
•    Mini B type USB 2.0 port
•    microSD/microSDHC capable
•    Can be powered by two AA alkaline or Ni-MH batteries,
     AC adapter(Tascam PS-P515U), or USB bus  power
•    PC connectivity
•    Transfer files from the recorder to PC
•    Transfer files from PC to the recorder
•    USB cable included
•    Tripod attachment screw-hole

•    Hold switch

•    plus many more 

  

   

Photos: