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PraxAx Users & Their Comments
We've shipped several thousand PraxAxes since we
started marketing them in 1999 . They went to people who enjoy developing and maintaining their playing skills.
Some are performing pros and teachers, but there are satisfied users at all
levels of skill & experience. We Twanger users all have one big thing in common; a love of making music .
For us, practice is fun. We get excited when we explore new musical territory, when we learn new skills and styles . And we all understand the importance of the picking hand, it's role in rhythm, tone and expression. We appreciate the value of a few minutes a day of extra practice eith the PraxAx, while commuting, or during down time at work, or hanging out. It's fun, rewarding, and makes that down time musical .
We've got way too many comments to show you all of them. Here are some.
Paul Asbell session player, experienced pro from Burlington VT. Gigs, teaches, records. Uses while driving or riding to gigs. Uses with students. Mutes it with rubber band to enable silent practice. Check out Paul's website at PaulAsbell.com he says " It's like a NordicTrac for a skier, or an exercise bike for an athlete: it allows you to build muscles specific to right-hand plectrum-style playing, and warm them up prior to a performance. It's also like target practice for a sharpshooter: the tiniest fractions of an inch make the difference between a bullseye and a "miss as good as a mile"! Best of all, you can do these exercises anywhere: at the beach, in line at the supermarket checkout counter, in your car while stuck in traffic... anywhere! Try doing THAT with your Les Paul!" If you want to get some more Picking advice from Paul, go to his Exercises page at Paul's Exercises
Mike Abbott guitar pro and teacher and webmaster of AccessRock.com says "The Twanger is the best solution for any guitar player who is having problems with right hand technique. In my twenty years as a professional guitarist, I have never seen any product that was remotely like it"
Lily Afshar - recording artist and guitar professor at U of Memphis - "I strap it on and take it on the road during my concert tours. I like to play it on the plane and in the airport while waiting, and warm up my right hand fingers. I let one of my students use it for a week and he loved it. He works in an office and he used it for about 30 minutes a day when he had his right hand free. I have noticed that his right hand technique is more solid. His arpeggios are more accurate and he feels more comfortable with string crossing and rasquedos and he's getting a clearer more accurate attack on the strings. Also, it is such a relaxing devise to play on. Not having to think about the left hand and focusing solely on the right hand has made my student more relaxed in the right shoulder. Lily Afshar
Mir Ali - Director Rantucci International Guitar Festival & Competition, Winner Eastern Music Conference Guitar Competition, President Buffalo Guitar Society, nationally know performer and teacher - "The Twanger cuts my warm-up time in half and has proven to be a great practice tool in the absence of a guitar. I frequently use it on airplanes, on my way to a performance, when jogging ... etc. An essential practice tool for all guitarists, students and professionals!" Mir-Ali.com
Barry Bays - Delta State U guitar & bass instructor, music teacher and active player in the Nashville-Memphis area. Bassist with Shawn Lane , Mohead , The Beat Daddys , James Mathus Knockdown Society , Willie Foster, Little Dave Thompson . "Awesome!! It's great! I got it Monday and I've been digging it ever since. Thanks! It's about time someone invented this thing! Now I can work on my right hand technique anywhere. There are PLENTY of situations where playing your instrument is not possible. Long drives to gigs now provide me with hours of right hand study. (It's difficult to play a bass while driving!) Put on your favorite CD and "play along". By the time I get to the gig I'm completely ready to play, and sensitive to the groove. I keep one in the van, one by the computer, and one in my gig bag. I highly recommend the PraxAx to anyone with a serious interest in improving their right hand. "
Dave Beasley - Sales Mgr Fodera Guitars, Brooklyn NY - I noticed improvement in my playing in just a week. Very useful. I use it during my train ride to & from work. Get a groove going off the sound of the wheels on the tracks. Send me some literature for a bass clinic we' re doing in a couple of weeks. I think there'll be lots of interest"
Ariel Beliz - Jazz/Classical/Bossa Nova guitarist - StLouis MO - "The idea is awesome, so simple and yet effective ."
T rain
W ith this
A mazing
N ew
G gadget and
E nergize your
R ight hand
Thanks for the nifty acronym Ariel!
Scott Benton - Waukesha WI - I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know how your product has helped me. I have been playing guitar and bass for 14 years as an aspiring professional. I have been relatively happy with my left hand technique and it's 90% of the level I want to be at. But my right hand technique has been only 60% of the way there. I felt that I reached a plateau and couldnt get over the hump. In just one week of using my PraxAx I have broken through and am making more progress than I ever imagined in such a short time. I have turned my useless 60 minute per day commute into valuable practice time. Isolating my right hand with the PraxAx has helped even more than actual practice on my instrument due to not being distracted by left hand work. I have also noticed marked improvement in my ability to sing while playing, as rhythm hand synchronization while singing has always been a major problem."
Terry Lee Bolton - Nashville, TN - Full time player, singer & recording artist - "I' m a fanatic about practicing. That' s why I do this. I love music. With the Twanger there's no time wasted. Practice anywhere, anyhow."
Mary Ann Breen - Lafayette CA - 49 y/o playing bass 3 yrs Does gigs. "Makes it possible to get some practice while my life is too busy to sit and play bass. Most of my practice time is spent learning tunes. PraxAx lets me get a little technical time in. It's a great practice tool for commute time. Play along with the radio or metronome"
David Brown - Vancouver Symphony - "I use it when I am traveling or just when I have a few minutes anywhere away from home"
Felton Crews - Chicago session player and touring pro (Miles Davis, Charlie Musselwhite, many others) " The Twanger is a great mile killer, not to mention you're nice and loose upon arrival to gigs and soundchecks. Very Convenient! Beginners are fascinated by their instrument, but the pro realizes the importance of building strength, dexterity and loosening and stretching the hands. "
Janet Davis - acclaimed bluegrass artist, teacher and best selling Mel Bay author "The Twanger PraxAx lets you exercise your right hand anywhere, anytime. Excellent practice tool! Wear it with the belt and you can play all day. Really fun to play ! "
JanetDavisMusic.com Mark Egan - Pat Metheny bassist, acclaimed recording
artist and producer "This is a great practice tool! So much of the
sound is generated from the right hand. All players could improve by really
focusing on more right hand technique and the PraxAx is perfect for practicing
anywhere and anytime. I use it from the plane to the train to the car to the
woods. " www.MarkEgan.com
Julius Farmer - Experienced New Orleans based artist, giged & recorded with Professor Longhair, Dr John,
Allen Toussaint, Wild Magnolias, others, Chairman Wage & Scale Committee New Orleans Musicians Union.
"If anybody is a real musician, they can see the sense of this. It really works. I like it for warming up, helps to avoid cramps.
Helps to make the changeover from acoustic to electric, and from bass to guitar or banjo. Helps build endurance.
I really like this thing. I plug it in to my Walk & Play and use it on power walks. People give me a look once in a while,
but I don' t care cause I' m groovin. Showed it to a friend of mine who has arthritis. He used it for a while. I had a hard time
getting it back from him. He told me that nite he played with much less trouble than usual and his playing had a lot of snap.
I' m gonna put a catalog up on the union bulletin board." Rocky Ganglani - Brentwood TN - 23 y/o playing 13 yrs Does gigs, teaches & records "Great for working on strums
and thumping when I don't have my guitar around" Dave Geschke says in Bass Frontiers Magazine review Jan-Feb 99 issue "I thought it seemed like a good idea to have
a compact, easy to use practice instrument I could take with me on the road and use in situations where a real instrument wouldn't be practical. I didn't realize just how much I'd like it until it arrived, though. I keep it in my car and use it on rides to & from gigs "
DaveOnBass.com
G.D.Gray - Eagle,ID - Plays & teaches acoustic guitar - Uses it about 1/2 hr a day while commuting or at work
" Keeps my fingers loose throughout the day. Good size and string spacing. I use a felt under the strings to mute the sound" Mike Guerrero - Montebello CA - 32 yo playing 16 yrs - Gigs, teaches, records, featured G.I.T. clinician in Guitar World
Magazine. Uses the Twanger regularly. "It's good for airplane travel. The Twanger kicks butt!"
Robin Harper - Boiling Springs SC - 38 y/o playing 27 yrs Does solo gigs mostly Uses it 2-3 times a week commuting, waiting or at work. "Helped in the fingering. Small and convenient. Everything is great about it. Wondering if you could make one with nylon strings for classical" (Yes we have) "I would like to thank you very much for coming up with the idea for the Twanger. To me it's the best thing since the wheel. I drive a truck locally, so when I'm sitting at a customer waiting for a pickup, or to be unloaded, I sit there and practice with the Twanger. It's very convenient and makes practice available when it wouldn't be otherwise. & Thanks again for this handy little gadget."
Jauqo III-X 37 yo playing 20 yrs - Chicago based bassist, band leader & producer (Mystical Entity, Jauqo III-X Unit) - Uses the Twanger at home, about twice a week. "It's definitely logically practical. It helps my right hand strength. "
Stan Lassiter - session pro - Hendersonville TN - "Now practice can be non-stop action with my PraxAx " check out Stan's website at Kirk Lorange - Queensland, Australia - " The Twanger arrived safely. What a great idea! I can see how it would be
just perfect for rhythm players. As you say in the blurb, it magnifies imperfections, leaves no doubt as to what you should work on. I can also see for fingerpickers like me how it can maintain callouses when the guitar is out of reach. My girlfriend, who hardly plays at all, really could see the benefits of having it handy. She' s claimed it as hers! " ( see Kirk' s site at GuitarForBeginners.com) Don Maloney - Cary IL - professional musician and teacher " I really like it. I like the freedom to practice in situations
where it was not possible before. It is an excellent tool for developing right hand strength, rhythm, technique, and proficiency
on your instrument. I have suggested it to my students as well as peers. How about a seven string model?" Virginia Masius - professional bass & guitar player & teacher - I've been playing bass and guitar about 22 years now. I gig, teach, and do the occasional recording. I just bought your PraxAx at Merlefest and I've already gotten a lot of use from it. Since my right hand has always been weaker than my left, this is the perfect tool for me to practice on. I think a lot of these problems will go away when I use it. Also, I can be constantly "warmed up". One of my students bought one too. Thanks again for such a handy practice tool" Mike McCollum - I wanted to relate to you what a great device the PraxAx has been for me under some rather unusual circumstances. I suffer from a chronic illness that requres frequent hospitalization, often for long periods of time. In the past, every single time I came out of the hospital I had to retrain my hands to play guitar all over again. Because I'm hooked to various IV's and devices, it is highly impractical for me to even be able to play my travel guitar in the hospital. So my hands tend to atrophy somewhat and it takes a while to rebuild my hand strength and flexibility. I discovered the PraxAx at Summer NAMM 2000. It's the perfect hand therapy for me as a player. It goes anywhere, never gets in the way, and is always strapped around my waist ready to play and practice on. It keeps my picking hand flexible and I dont have to build up my hand strength when I get home. My cardiac surgeon was so impressed with the PraxAx she ordered one too. She says it helps her playing and keeps her hands flexible for surgery. She's a fingerstylist, and a darn good surgeon too! I just wanted to pass this on. I've never written a testimonial or endorsement of a product before, but your product has been a real blessing."
John McGann - Professional player, teacher & web master - "I think both the bass and guitar models are great for
fingerstyle and my wife, who plays fingerstyle, agrees. " check out John's website for flatpicking tips and transcription services -
Greg Newton - Cal State U Dept of Music, Pres American Guitar Society - " I must say this is quite ingenious and an excellent product. It's just wonderful. I've been using it, by way of keeping it in the car - I'm sure you're well aware of the famous LA traffic. The PraxAx is great for working on arpeggios and tremolo while I'm stuck on the freeway. In April I go to the Rust Guitar Festival in Austria where I will be performing and sitting on the competition jury. Needless to say, the PraxAx will be with me."
Michael Nix - Greenfield MA - 47 y/o classical guitar soloist, teacher & recording artist - Uses the PraxAx regularly
while commuting, in addition to his usual 6-10 hrs a day of practice, playing and teaching. "I wanted to evaluate it as a practice tool. I like the portablility & the fact that it separates the right hand from the left. It is a great practice tool, especially for long trips etc. I' ll be glad to endorse it & recommend it to my students" Jeff Odell - Salt Lake City, UT - 27y/o gigging bassist - "I use it almost every day, mostly commuting or when I' m just
sitting there doing nothing. I' m thinking about getting the earphone setup. I' ve already noticed improvement in my timing, touch, feel, etc. You can take it anywhere, it' s so small and great for practicing. Really enjoy your product" Gil Parris - session player - Thanks so much for the custom 6 string bass model. It's for Kip Sophos, who played on my RCA/BMG solo CD, along w Will Lee and Mark Egan. We both love the product. I wish I had known about it when I was on the road with Blood Sweat and Tears last year." Ray Riendeau - Phoenix AZ - touring pro bassist - " I' m really digging the PraxAx. I' m always on the road on trains, planes and autos and it' s hard to get a good practice schedule in & until now! My solo CDs are full of crazy slap bass antics and I' m always developing and practicing new right hand techniques ( double thumbing, double and tripple popping, etc) I' m currently touring with Rob Halford (Judas Priest) and will be taking my new practice machine to Europe and Japan with me. I'll spread the word for your wonderful product! "
Erik Scott - Bassist for Sonia Dada - "Got the Twanger .. have made use of it already& It works"
Uses a piece of foam " .. to deaden any sound from the strings. For my purposes, keeping thumb and fingerpads
callouses from going soft, I can do it almost silently. This way I don't annoy my wife with a constant boing .. boing .. boing
while we drive or watch the TV. " Jeremy Sherman - Mel Bay author and teacher - " A plug for your right hand - Many of us dont get enough time to practice. There's another device I wholeheartedly endorse. It covers an aspect of playing otherwise often ignored - right hand technique. Bass master Gary Willis points out that our neck hand gets most of our attention. But for in-the-pocket perfection, our right hand needs our attention. Riding right above your pants pocket, a Twanger PraxAx does just the trick. Combine it with Gary Willis's video instructions for his picking technique, and all the time you spend watching TV become profitable practice time. "
Kenn Smith - Forest Park IL - experienced tour musician, recording artist and session player - "..The PraxAx is a great
tool for focusing on improving or maintaining your picking hand technique. Since practicing with my PraxAx 5 string model I've even noticed improvement in my left hand technique. I get more practice time because it is so portable. You can take it anywhere. It's also a great warmup tool to use before a gig. Thumbs Up !!!!! "
Heather Tackett - 27 y/o - Ft Lauderdale Fla - gigs, teaches, records - "I use the Twanger PraxAx when I' m at red lights
or stuck in traffic or waiting in my car for various reasons ( drive thru bbank tellers, fast food drive thrus) I keep it in my glove
compartment. I like how small and portable the Twanger PraxAx is. It has helped my right hand technique. Because of the
size, I can play it in places that I couldn' t usually play my real bass guitar. So it adds more time to my practice schedule.
Others have noticed my playing has improved. When I did wear it out in public during th blues festival, people were
commenting on how cool it was. Also, having the PraxAx has helped my urge to have my fingers on the strings." Landon Taylor - Greenbrier, TN "I tour with Clay Walker about 95 shows a year so I am on a bus about 130 days a year when you count the travel days. I have always wanted some way to practice on the bus without disturbing others. With the PraxAx I can get in my bunk and put headphones on to my metronome and really work on my right hand technique. I use it to warm up before the shows too."
Anthony Wellington - Washington DC - Tours with Victor Wooten - Gigs & teaches - "Hey Man! I' m at Victor' s
Bass Camp right now. Check his web site for details (victorwooten.com). I definitely still use my Twanger. And I have a bunch of students interested in them. They like using mine. By the way, it' s the perfect tool for practicing Victor' s up & down thumb stroke. That' s "bass' ically a right-hand technique."
John Wiley - Prescott Arizona age 49 playing for 35 yrs does gigs, teaches, records- "It is by far the best means of
developing right hand finger picking techniques ranging from flamenco to bluegrass. I've used my PraxAx everywhere.
I've even had it at work to use during lunch. It is easily the single most effective practice device I've ever had, other than the
guitar itself. As you know, classical/flamenco playing demands tremendous finger dexterity and coordination. In a unique
way, the PraxAx helps in developing the discipline needed to accomplish this. In addition, I can use the PraxAx watching TV,
while riding with a friend somewhere, waiting in line at the Motor Vehicles (ugh) , almost anywhere. & Thanks for such a
practical and well thought out practice aid." Mark Wilson - Bassist, inventor & developer of Intellitouch Tuners - " I use my Twanger almost every day. It' s like
a universal gym for the right hand. You know how good those universal weight machines are at isolating specific muscles
and muscle groups. The PraxAx isolates the right hand. Who cares about notes - it' s all about the rhythm anyway! "- "Your
product could be called "The Equalizer." It gave me the right hand "feel" I' ve been hearing and wanting for years. Since I
couldn't hear while using it, all I had left was feel! It is forcing me to do the right thing"
StanLassiter
JohnMcGann.com
GilParris.com
RayRiendeau.com"
KennSmith.com
AnthonyWellington.com