The little menace

This little ditty is simply the most amazing thing I've come across, it's actually a pocket-sized speaker, smaller than the average billiard ball. It's slightly less than $40 & made in Singapore.

I bought it as a companion to my pocketPOD, it's an alternative to head/ earphones. It also connects to your MP3 player via the 3.5mm / USB jack.

The X-mini Capsule Speaker (as the manufacturer calls it), dare I say, produces a more inviting tone for pocket guitar processors or any Mult-FX units with a headphone outlet, than the audio headphones. In addition to the above-average clarity on offer, the X-mini is also loud. Say, do you own the mini Marshall MS2 or other novelty miniature amplifiers which you thought would serve as a good tone projector for bedroom noodling? Well, the X-mini's tonal performance exceeds what those novelties could offer.

Tone purists would be critical to the limited performance of small driver equipped devices because of the inability to manifest good lower frequencies. As depicted above, the X-mini pops up to deliver more bass in the mix. Well, for the beginners among us who are in a dilemma of choosing between a good guitar signal processing unit & a practice grade amplifier (with a restrictive budget at hand), the X-mini could be the economical answer to this complication- highly recommended.

More details on this product here: X-mini Capsule speaker

Silent performers

There are players out there who give very little merit to headphone-ready devices namely due to the fact that the tone generated by the headphone drivers are next to repulsive. Nevertheless, there are people who invest/ believe in these products as a result of their needs. Throughout the years, I have acquired the (Korg) Pandora PX4D as well as (LINE6) the PocketPOD, both being my night time saviours when there is this overwhelming surge to play guitar while the baby's sleeping.

The PX4D came by first because it was the most attractive pocket guitar processor (to me) which bothers to include a midrange control. This nifty little box also accepts bass readily. In addition to the guitar related offerings, the PX4D has metronome & backing track modules for a one-man jam. As if these aren't worthy enough, the manufacturer includes a recording facility which accepts your MP3 (or other similar devices) to be played back at slower tempos for educational purposes. It also loops your recorded phrases for that insatiable solo jam.

On days when I don't require back-up shenanigans & wish for a plug & play moments, the PocketPOD would be employed. I've never been a fan of the LINE6 products before, which is attributable to its very fabricated guitar tones but this little red bean has its appeal. It isn't trying too hard to be its more elaborate elder brothers but the fundamental details here are more pleasureable than being digital muck.

The Ibanez TS7 on show here is simply there for comparison's sake but it's the most utilized pedal I own, getting more assignment time than its more celebrated siblings, the TS9/ TS808 (which I also own).