Today's Top Stories:

  Waves Says "Go Platinum"
From now until the end of March (that's only a few more days), Waves is offering 20% off all new purchases of, and updates to, its best-selling Platinum software collection of signal processors. From dynamics, equalization, and reverb to pitch correction, spatial imaging, and beyond, Platinum is ideal for tracking, mixing, mastering, and sound design. It ships with a total of 32 essential processors, now including Waves Tune LT, L3 Ultramaximizer, and IR-L Convolution Reverb, as well as all the plug-ins found in Waves Gold, Masters, and Renaissance Maxx bundles. Platinum is a powerful production arsenal for any studio. Waves also announced that its entire product line now supports Cubase version 4.0.2. Contact your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for more details or to place your order!

  Updates and Upgrades
WaveMachine Labs has released a new Drumagog update, version 4.10. This free update for registered owners includes both bug fixes and improvements such as:

• Fixed latency issue with Stealth Mode in Fixed Latency version.
• Fixed various issues when creating new GOG files.
• Set the default resolution to 60ms for Simple mode, instead of 100ms.
• Further tuning of the auto-align algorithm has been done.

  New in stock at Sweetwater

• Fender VG Stratocaster - Wouldn't it be nice to flip a switch on a Stratocaster and instantly be in an alternate tuning? Or by turning a knob having access to a crisp, clear acoustic sound? How about getting the smoky roar of a humbucker from your Strat or turning it into a 12-string? It's all possible with the remarkable Fender VG Stratocaster! It's a Strat in every sense of the word, with all that magic intact, but with the addition of an onboard Roland GK pickup that allows you to dial in 37 modeled vintage and modern guitar sounds. A Mode Control knob serves up five different guitar models, while the Tuning Function knob provides five alternate tunings instantaneously. Yet for all its power, it's still remarkably easy to use - just plug it into your amp with a regular guitar cable and start playing!
• Edirol MA-15D - Recording on your computer at home? In the past, you'd have to spend a lot of money to get a monitoring system you could trust with your mixes. Well, here's a compact monitor solution with more power than most: Edirol's MA-15D Stereo Reference Monitors are ideal for computer-based recording artists seeking a high-quality, accurate set of monitor speakers to use in a relatively confined space. Besides crystal-clear audio reproduction, you can also cross off that subwoofer you thought you'd need, because these monitors have a built-in bass enhancer. They even have digital inputs!

  Guitar of the Day
If ever a guitar typified the glorious excesses of the 1950s, the Gretsch White Falcon is it. To quote Gretsch's florid literature of the day, the Falcon was "the most beautiful guitar in the world!" A spectacularly expensive dreamboat even back in the '50s, vintage White Falcons continue to be highly treasured collector's items with astronomical price tags to match. But for all the things the Model 6136 White Falcon was, it was not intended to be a production model at all, but rather a tradeshow guitar - a "dream machine" that Gretsch decided to put together just to show off a little in 1954. But once orders began pouring in, the Falcon was rushed into production and now the Gretsch copy read, "the utmost in striking beauty, luxurious styling, and peak tonal performance." But don't get blinded by the glitter and gold! Rich, complex tones pour from the dual DeArmond DynaSonic pickups thanks to a 17" wide, 2-3/4" deep laminated maple body with an arched laminated maple top. The White Falcon neck is 3-piece maple with a 25.5" scale and an ebony fretboard. For greater expressive control, the White Falcon boasts three separate volume controls (neck pickup, bridge pickup, master volume), and a 3-position master tone switch. This gives you the ability to blend the volume and tone of the pickups to create your own unique sound. Along with gold hardware and multiple binding, other artistic touches on the White Falcon include mother-of-pearl inlay position markers with feather engraving and a gold-plated Bigsby vibrato tailpiece for a little extra "twang." Of course it ships in a plush-lined deluxe hardshell case. And yes, you get absolutely free shipping right to your door.