Today's Top Stories:

  The Big Day Is Tomorrow!
The big moment arrives at 12 noon tomorrow: GearFest '09 will open its doors! Last year, thousands of gear fanatics turned out to see the exhibits, check out the used gear in the Musician's Flea Market, take in the workshops, and listen to the great performances. This year's GearFest is even bigger and better, with more than 45 information-packed seminars and over 150 manufacturer exhibits. Plus, you'll have the chance to meet and talk with formidable celebrities and music industry notables. And, don't forget, we'll be giving away over $20,000 in fabulous prizes! GearFest '09 opens at noon on Friday, June 26, and closes at 5PM Saturday, June 27, at Sweetwater's Fort Wayne headquarters. We hope we'll see you here! If you can't make it to GearFest '09, you can still take advantage of special GearFest-only pricing. Call your Sales Engineer for details!

  G&G Issue 3
Issue 3 of Guitars & Gear magazine is now available for your reading pleasure! This time around, Mitch Gallagher provides reviews of the IK Multimedia StealthPedal and Peavey Vypyr 120, a discussion of the on-going small tube amp revolution, a look at one-off and custom guitars, tips for setting up vibrato bridges and for working on your guitar without cracking the finish, a treatise on how to use scales to improve your playing, featured videos, news, and more! Read it online, and be sure to subscribe to Guitars & Gear e-mail updates and issue annoucements.

  One Interface To Rule Them All...
Apogee has announced ONE, a pocket-sized USB-powered audio interface for the Mac. ONE has an XLR mic input with phantom power, an unbalanced 1/4" instrument input (the inputs are on a breakout cable), and 1/8" unbalanced stereo output for headphones or powered monitors. There's also a built-in omnidirectional mic for instantly capturing that moment of inspiration. ONE operates at 44.1 or 48kHz, with 24-bit resolution. A multi-function knob sets input gain and output level, and a 3-LED meter shows levels. The Maestro control panel access parameters and provides low-latency monitoring. ONE works with any Core Audio-compatible program, and it includes a mic stand mount, carry case, and USB cable. Should be available toward the end of July.