Gear Heads

Special Edition:
SEXY Gear Heads!

    Electronics today aren't just for drooling dweebs who sit in their mothers' basements and play video games till they're 50; even people capable of having relationships with other breathing, thinking mammals have some great gizmos available to them – and we're not just talking about things that go buzz in the night. In this special edition of Gear Heads, we take a look at some of the most innovative products available for adults who actually make romance, sex, and fun parts of their healthy lifestyles. Fancy that, Madden nation!

Dr. Z On Scoring

    There are very few women like Victoria Zdrok, the author of Dr. Z On Scoring (Fireside Books), her new self-help sexual instruction manual for men. How many women can claim to be both a Penthouse Pet of the Year as well as a Playboy Playmate – as well as a clinical psychologist? At the recent press junket for this book held at Hawaiian Tropic Zone in New York, the stunning Zdrok proved she could still work it for the mass of photographers who showed up on a snowy night, though her main role these days is that of resident sex columnist for Penthouse Magazine. This book is an easy-to-read primer for males who want to meet the woman of their dreams; the subtitle is "How To Pick Up, Seduce, And Hook Up With Hot Women." In actuality, though, the text of the book reads like good common sense advice for anyone wishing to start a new relationship. It's eye opening to note that someone among the beautiful people actually puts people first, as the beauteous Dr. Z obviously does. The book is available wherever books are sold.

– Bob Smith

The HunnyDo

   Forget catcalls and wolf whistles. Now there's a device that gives women the power to command a man's attention. HerOrbit.com is selling the HunnyDo, a silent whistle that taps into a man's hearing frequency to get him to listen up and do some housework. A woman simply blows the HunnyDo covertly within a 30-foot range of the man she wishes to alert, and then speaks her mind. The man will be more attentive to her needs than she ever imagined. HerOrbit.com is currently developing a HunnyDo for men to use on women, also. "People who purchase the product absolutely love it," says Nadine Reeves, HerOrbit.com director of marketing. "The demand for the whistle is blowing us away." Check out the website for more information on this unique new product.

Bell'O HTS-100
Home Theater Love Seat

    Bell'O International, a manufacturer of audio/video furniture and accessories, brings couples even closer together with its HTS-100 home theater love seat. This home theater seating makes snuggling up with a loved one highly stylish and comfortable. The Bell’O HTS-100 love seat is designed with the couples' viewing experience as the primary point of construction. The headrest is engineered to place the head at the optimal viewing position and provide the consumer with additional neck support. Created with hand-selected fabrics, the HTS-100 is supple to the touch, yet durable to withstand the normal wear and tear. Additionally, the love seat comes equipped with a compact recline mechanism that requires only three inches of space for a full recline, as well as stainless steel cup holders for full functionality. Log on to bello.com for more.

NYC Photo Booths

   Recently, Lifestyles Condoms unveiled its new "Makeout Booth," a photo booth that dispenses both photos and prophylactics – but photo booths have long been an enjoyable part of arcades and parties. Now, a company called NYC Photo Booth makes photo booths available for private parties, corporate events, and even weddings. NYC PhotoBooths are among the hippest things at top parties: they've been used at parties for DefJam Records, Ford Models, and Playboy Enterprises, as well as for TV and film shootings. What better way to document a lifelong relationship – or even a good 20-minute one – with some fun photo booth shots? Today, photo booth photos can be saved on the usual strips, or loaded onto CDs for lifelong memories. For more information, log on to nycphotobooth.com.

iHome Shower Station

   The shower, by many, is considered by many to be one of the best places for a little watery hootchie cootchie – so why not add your favorite tunes to the tub even when your paramour isn't around? The iHome Shower Station actually lets you use an iPod or other mp3 player right in the shower without worrying about water damage to your favorite portable unit. The portable, water-resistant case protects your iPod from water as it plays your music in full stereo sound. Includes a hang-hook for shower use. The unit uses four AA batteries or the included AC adapter, and comes ready to use. Available at Brookstone stores or at brookstone.com

New ESP Guitars
& Basses At NAMM

    ESP Guitars debuted more than 50 new guitar and bass models at the 2008 Winter NAMM show. The list of new models includes Signature Series guitars designed with some of the industry's most respected players, as well as new models, finishes, and features for ESP and LTD deluxe and standard guitars and basses.
Guitarist Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi), a recent addition to the ESP family of artists, has added his Signature model to the LTD line with the LTD SA-2. The first Signature models from new ESP artist Jon Donais (Shadows Fall) were also added. The ESP Jon Donais (available in See-Thru Black Satin and Natural Oil finishes) and the LTD JD-600 (Black Satin only) have attractive flamed maple tops and ebony fingerboards.

Two new Signature Series models have been introduced from the guitarists of Chimaira, their first for ESP. Guitarist Rob Arnold's signature model, the LTD RA-600, offers a Floyd Rose bridge and a single EMG 81 pickup in a light alder body. The LTD MFA-600 is the signature model from Matt DeVries, based on his own customized ESP Viper model.
Another ESP artist is introducing new models; the ESP Michael Padget V and LTD MP-600 are the first custom Signature Series models from the Bullet For My Valentine guitarist. Other additions to the ESP and LTD Signature Series include three new models by long-time ESP endorsee George Lynch: the ESP Super V SE, the LTD GL-256, and the LTD Serpent-600. The ESP Super V SE updates last year's Super V model with a black with silver stripe finish. The distressed 2-tone burst GL-256 is an LTD-branded affordable alternative to the ESP GL-56 model. The Serpent-600 is another new LTD George Lynch model with custom black and white graphics.
It's no surprise that longtime ESP endorsee Stef Carpenter (Deftones), well known for his custom 7-string models, has moved on to new 8-string customs. The new ESP STEF-B8 and LTD SC-608B are new neck-through-body 8-string baritone guitars with a 27" scale.
New finishes are available on a variety of existing popular Signature Series models. Jeff Hanneman's (Slayer) LTD JH-200 now is available in an updated new "Digi-Camo" finish, while the Michael Amott (Arch Enemy) ESP Ninja and LTD Ninja-600 are now offered in See-Thru Red and See-Thru Black, which accentuates their quilted maple tops.

New, affordable LTD versions of several Signature Series guitars are being debuted at NAMM as well. The LTD WA-200 is a low-cost alternative for the Will Adler (Lamb of God) signature model, while the LTD GUS-200 random-star shaped guitar does the same for the model customized by Gus G. of FireWind.
In addition to their popular Signature Series models, ESP has made additions and updates throughout their ESP Standard, ESP Vintage, LTD Deluxe, and LTD Standard guitar and bass lines. New finishes and features are available for several of ESP's Standard Series. The ESP Horizon NT-II now has an exciting See-Through Blue finish over its quilted maple top, while the Floyd Rose-equipped ESP Horizon FR-II is offered is a See-thru Red finish. The ESP Eclipse-II series includes a new Aged Honeyburst finish with a faded polish. Introduced in 2007, ESP's popular Vintage Series has been updated this year with two new finishes. The ESP Vintage Plus guitar and ESP Vintage-4 bass now come in distressed Candy Apple Red and Olympic White colors.
This year's NAMM show saw many new additions to ESP's popular and affordable LTD brand. Most noticeable in their distinctiveness, as the new Graphic Series includes the LTD EC-GTA and LTD EC-SIN, with their respective "Guitarsonist" and "Sin City" custom graphics. Several LTD guitar and bass models are being offered in a brand new neck-through design with ebony tops and fingerboards, with beautiful Natural Grain finishes. The LTD AX-2E and LTD F-2E guitars, as well as the LTD F4-E, LTD F5-E, LTD B4-E, and LTD B-5E basses, will be available through LTD retailers. A brand new addition to the line, the LTD FM-408, is a unique standard-scale 8-string guitar model with EMG's special 808 active pickups.

LTD's Deluxe Series received an update with new finishes available on the LTD H-1001 (See-Through Blue and See-Through Purple) as well as the LTD MH-1000 (See-Through Blue and See-Through Green). Updated finishes and woods are also abound with LTD's Standard Series. The LTD AX-400FM adds a flamed maple top with two new finishes (See-Through Red and See-Through Black) to the popular AX shape. Last year's new LTD PB-500 is now being offered in a See-Through Green finish, as well as a new Black finish with Seymour Duncan P-Rail single-coil pickups. The LTD M-200SR offers a killer new Skulls & Roses graphic to the popular M-200 model.
LTD's popular line of basses also has a slew of updates at NAMM '08. The LTD B-154DX, LTD B-155DX, LTD F-154DX, LTD F-155DX, LTD Viper-154DX, and LTD EC-154DX add a band of active EQ from their predecessors, for a total of three. Joining the popular D-4 and D-5, the new LTD D-6 offers a 6-string version of the neck-through, natural finish bass. The LTD B-104 and LTD B-105 come with 2-band active EQ and new finishes: Metallic Purple and Blue. Three new finishes for the LTD Surveyor-400 and LTD Surveyor-405 (See-Through Blue, Three-Tone Burst, and Dark Brown Sunburst) are available.
The popular EC, EX, AX, and F Series basses have new value-oriented additions to the line, perfect for beginners and musicians on a tight budget. The LTD EC-54, LTD EC-104, LTD EX-104, LTD Viper-54, LTD F-54, and LTD F-105 provide LTD playability and great looks for all bassists.
ESP Guitars are available locally at Monster Music in Levittown and Rockville Centre, and at other music retailers.