TascamCD-GT2

I have owned several of these since the year 2000 or so and Tascam has done much to upgrade this since I first discovered it. It does everything it says. I like all the features in it - you can practice just for fun without the neighbors complaining for starters.The feature that I like best is just called "Key" which enables you to play along with recordings not tuned to standard "E" PItch. You can select to raise or lower the key of the recording to match your guitar at your whim. Many guitarists record tuned down a half step to E flat or even lower in some cases so you would simply select +1 to raise the pitch i full pitch (or a half step in musical). This works beautifully saves you having to retune your guitar.There is a feature called "Tempo" which slows down the recording so that you may hear it more clearly.There is a loop feature which enables you to listen to an isolated section of a song.Also Tuner, Metronome, and an amazing array of special effects for a device this small and for this price.The drawbacks are few but just to be fair I'll list them. The "Key" feature which works great if a band tunes to E Flat gets a little harsh for anything tuner lower than that - speeding up the guitar to the correct pitch also speeds up the rest of the band as well. The same is true of the "Tempo" feature - you can slow down to - 50 (minus 50) of the original tempo but the entire recording slows as well (meaning all the instruments). I have found it better to use this to slow it down slightly because the effect is not the same as having someone play music at a reduced BPM on the metronome. Most recordings especially if lots of special effects are used by the artist. Try listening to Mahogany Rush at half speed and it is very muddy. Slowed down just a little works better. The built in special effects are better left in their preset position even though you can go in and alter the mix to your taste and save them. Overall this a great tool to practice and learn with as it was meant to be and not a performance tool.

Great for slowing down and change keys. on CD's This is my second one, I purchased my first one in 1997.

I like this product so far. What I don’t like is that it did not include a power cord. For the price it should include a power cord.

This is awesome, slows down the track without changing pitch so you can master any guitar solo and work it up to speed. Every guitarist should have this, it is essential for learning solos.

I’ve been a musician for the last 50 years and this is one of the best tools I’ve found to continue to learn new material.

Just beginning. Great practice tool!

Met expectations. Used to have an older model once before.

Only worked three weeks, returned

This is used as a variable tempo CD player rather than for its proper use as a guitar trainer. I agree with other reviewers that the information screen is very small and difficult to read but you get used to that. The unit has a peculiarity in that it seems to take a few moments looking at a new CD before responding to the play button. Subsequent operations on the same CD are instant. Generally it is good value for money.

pleased with product and service.

good bit of kit. display screen a bit small, but well worth the money

Bin notenfest, spiele ca. 30 Jahre Gitarre und kopiere selbst schnelle Licks von Blackmore & Co. ! Entsprechend war ich dieser neueren Technik gegenüber erstmal recht skeptisch eingestellt, und ich habe mit der Bestellung doch schon einige Zeit gewartet. Konnte am Ende aber nicht widerstehen, und als der GitarrenTrainer dann ankam war ich angenehm überrascht... Sogar schnellste Solosequenzen lassen sich zur Analyse fast beliebig in der Geschwindigkeit herunterpinchen, in Fragmente zerlegen, sowie im Looping wiederholen, und zwar ohne dabei aus der Tonart zu kommen. Habe mir daraufhin einige alte Japan-Notationen von Purple Songs vorgenommen (wer die kennt, der weiss. dass Japan-Notationen zu den genausten Solo-Notationen gehören die man am Markt überhaupt bekommen kann). Aber siehe da, mit diesem Gerät in Sequenzen zerlegt habe ich sogar in den international anerkannten Japan-Notationen noch den einen oder anderen Fehler entlarvt und ausgemerzt. Das ist aber auch kein Wunder, weil es in der Tat beinahe unmöglich ist, die Soli von Blackmore, sowie auch von Malmsteen und Co. ohne technische Hilfsmittel nach Gehör zu notieren (...da geht es den arbeitsamen und fleissigen Notenschreibern in Japan ja nicht anders wie uns). Fazit: Das TASCAM CD-GT2 ist eine Art Wunderwaffe für Solo-Gitarristen, aber es ersetzt keineswegs die Übung. Besonders wenn man durch das Gerät nun endlich Note für Note kennt und im eigenen Spiel dann genau sein will, geht es mehr in`s Eingemachte als für gewöhnlich. Alle Möglichkeiten des CD-GT2 voll ausschöpfen können deshalb auch nur solche Musiker, welche die Zeit und das entsprechende Sitzfleisch mitbringen. Aber wer die Geduld hat um ernsthaft mit dem Gerät zu arbeiten, der wird reichlich belohnt. Abschliessend noch ein technischer Tipp: Der Gitarrensound und das Lautstärke-Mischverhältnis im Gerät (Verhältnis zwischen CD-Signal und Gitarren-Signal) sind etwas mager. Ich habe das CD-Signal deshalb über Lineout in eine alte Tascam 8-Spur Maschine eingespeist, die ihrerseits das Signal über Stereo Lineout an die Stereo-Anlage weitergibt. Die Gitarre speise ich über en BOSS GX700 in einen anderen Kanal der 8 Spur-Maschine ein, und mische sie passend zu dem CD-Signal des TASCAM CD-GT2 hinzu. So hat man einen beliebig mehr oder weniger fetten Sound, und das Üben macht dem entsprechend mehr Spaß.

Excellent guitar tool to have! Just clear this up, it doesn't "cancel" out the guitar, but it does muffle it low enough that you can hear your guitar over it. Need to get part of song under your belt? No problem, just loop the section you want and lower the tempo at the same time until you build up enough coordination. Definitely recommend