Musical Instruments

Reviews

The best mandolin on the market. Tried to use another more expensive mandolin and found it not to work as well as the 20 dollar Benriner. Best product on the market for the money.

I bought this after researching mandolines on Amazon and other "foodie" sites and settled on the Benriner after reading reviews from people who have had theirs for 20-plus years. I also heeded the advice of those who suggested getting a glove to protect my hands. I bought this at my local Asian market for the same amount as it is on Amazon and I have been using it for about a month now. While I haven't used the different shredding blades it comes with, I have used it to make cole slaw, paper-thin slices of fennel, onions and shallots for a delicate stew I made yesterday - it works like a dream! I have never been able to make acceptable cole slaw with just my knives (and I have high-end knives). I can't wait to make sauerkraut! I rinse it in hot water and leave it to dry in the dish rack and it doesn't rust. It is imperative (for me anyway) to buy a glove to use with this product. To those who gave it fewer stars for being dangerous, I think I would say just get a meat cutter's glove, or a fish-filleting glove, or, as I did to avoid having a uni-tasker in the kitchen, an Ove-Glove - all of these options cost about 15US to 25US each. I have been cutting myself with kitchen knives for 30 years, so I knew better than to use this slicer unprotected.

Probably more than 15 years, and I'm just now about to order a new one since they don't offer a replacable main blade. Like any kitchen tool, you have to know what to use it for and what NOT to use it for. I use it for paper-thin (or just very thin) slices of cucumber and onion - every night in our salad. You can place the blade right over the salad bowl and not even have to wash the other piece. Also great for paper-thin apples for pancakes or thin potato slices. (Don't use it for thicker slices of hard veggies like carrots - use a salad shooter or an old-fashioned knife!) I keep this mandolin in the drawer right next to the sink...takes very little space, and the plastic makes it lightweight and easier to use than a big heavy metal mandolin. As far as safety goes, one trip to the emergency room 8 years ago taught me to concentrate as I get near the end, use the finger guard (which I have no problem with) and not be cheap about getting every last bit. (Yes, I've cut myself with a knife too, but I'm not going to stop using knives in the kitchen!) This and my immersion blender are my two favorite kitchen gizmos, and I highly, highly, highly recommend it. Indispensable. Inexpensive. Easy to store. (Not sure if I'm trading up to the larger one. If an onion is too large to slice it flat, I slice it at an angle which creates smaller slices which I prefer for salad or cooking. I also like the compact size.)

We purchased this mandolin to make it easier for salad prep slicing (ie. mushrooms, cucumbers, carrots) but have found it such a breeze to use that we now prep countless dishes with the slicer. We have been using it for a few months now and the blades have stayed sharp and slice through a tomato just like the day we first tried it. We are very pleased and easily give it five stars, the guard is basically useless however, but the mandolin aspect is what I am rating and easily give it five stars.

Half the size (and half the price) with none of the bells and whistles of more elaborate alternatives. Because it is so easy to use, and clean, and store I use it much, much more often than the "Cadillac" mandolin I received as a gift. What is harder to do because of its size can be easily accomplished with an old-fashioned, inexpensive, four-sided slicer/grater or a processor for large quantities. But for small amounts and spur-of-the-moment uses it can't be beat. It makes beautiful, thin slices of chili peppers that add zip and color to salads, sandwiches, steamed vegetables, pork chops, baked squash, practically anything you can think of, without the risk of adding too much heat that accompanies dried peppers and powders. Would you ever consider sprinkling dried peppers on a salad? Me either, but pretty, thin, green slices with yellow-white centers look and taste wonderful. Using this mandolin is easier and more convenient than a knife.

Reviews

I bought this a week ago. Used it three time. Every time I have sliced a knuckle or finger. My husband got so mad the last time he made me throw it in the trash.

A few years ago I received the OXO mandoline as a gift, and it seemed like a great mandoline with its rubber stand and assortment of blades. The Kyocera has no rubber stand and only one blade with a few settings, but it knocks the OXO out of the park. The Kyocera is very sharp and does exactly what I want to. It's great for making potato gratin and producing thin, even slices. The OXO, while better looking and having more features, was not sharp enough to slice vegetables -- yet sharp enough to slice our fingers! We'd give up on using the OXO handguard and try to shove the vegetables through the dull blades, when the vegetables would suddenly snap or go through and our fingers would fly forward and get cut. I've had no such mishaps with the Kyocera. Go with this one.

This was an awesome buy for the price! Very sturdy, and I originally bought it to make home made potatoe chips, and now i want to use it on everything! It slices right through potatoes, so that shows you how strong the blade is. It definetly can slice paper thin, which is wonderful for what I wanted. Definitely recommend!!

I had purchased a bigger mandoline some kind of professional one and I never used it because it was too big and diffucult to use quickly. But this one is no set up; pull out of the draw and just start slicing those onions. Clean up is a breeze too. Quick, simple, easy. That's what I like in a product!

Reasonably priced, and nearly-miraculous performance. Slice, slice, slice those cukes, and then put them into your lovely Persian MAST O KHIAR (cucumber, yogurt, and raisin treat)!

Reviews

This is an essential tool for your entire home slicing of firm vegetable. I use it often on carrots, lotus-roots, etc. Its ceramic blade is sharp and stays sharp for long time. The slice thickness is easily adjustable; the tool is light and compact. I do not use the hand-guard but beware the blade is sharp, sharp! I like the blade to be sharp and I managed to get some small cut on my fingers along the way. I do not like the vegetable holder, though, I suppose, I could use Kevlar gloves to protect my finger... Now I just stop short of the last few slices, and it works just fine for me. Highly recommended.

The only complaint I have about this slicer is that it's a bit wobbly. I expected a more solid feel. However, it is perfectly sharp, and the adjustment is simple and fail-safe (you rotate an off-set, rectangular bar below the guide to set it to one of four desired thicknesses). So far, it has worked beautifully for everything I've tried.

Althought the is slicer does slice and is indeed pretty sharp, The thinknesses in which to choose from are too thin for anything. 3mm is the largest and sometimes that is still to small. I dont see how or why anyone would ever need to slice at the thinnest setting, I think it'd be pretty impossible in the first place. But if your on a budget and just need some thing to quickly slice cucumbers and what not then this will do. dont plan on making a fancy dinner plate with this tool. I wont let the gf use it becasue I can see her lossing a few layers off her litter fingers, so be careful when using. JC from MA

Never having used or purchased a mandonline before, I was happy with this when i first got it although I agree that it is dangerous. My daughter and I both sliced our fingers a few times before we got the hang of it. The guard is not very good, but it's OKAY. The disappointment came because it broke so easily. We hand-wash it, and used it fairly often to slice onions and peppers in our salad. It does a nice job. Also does a nice job with cucumbers. BUT, the plastic edge broke on one side. I tried crazy glue and then epoxy. neither worked. We were still able to use it by holding it togeter with a rubber band and slicing gently. It was a pain. But then the other side cracked and broke as well. For $25 I think this is a rip-off. I would like to investigate sending it back to the manufacturer or distributor because it should not be falling apart so quickly. ND

The mandolin slicer fell apart the first time I used it. I'm glad it didn't cost too much and it wasn't worth the cost of the postage to return it. The blade was sharp!

Reviews

I enjoy this type of music. For relaxation, it's great. Great for background music when I'm working.

Not as labeled by the producer. I am a SUCKER because I bought this CD set as described by the producer. I paid $12.47 to learn a valuable lesson. I will never buy another product again without reading the AMAZON reviews. I do not know what I was thinking taking a title at face value. I will blame it on lack of sleep. I use RELAXING classical music to get to sleep. These CDs contain such music but it is interlaced with VOCALS. The human voice can be stimulating and in some operas and chorals it is. Disc one gets you almost asleep with two relaxing instrumental tracks and then WHAP vocal. And disc two begins with the Bach vocal "SLEEPERS, WAKE!". I screwed up royally. If I had just read the reviews. David Raasch: "...vocals"; Nancy Sanka: "If it wasn't for the opera."; Serratia Jones: "Apart from the vocals."; James Stewart: "...offset by disturbing operatic voices." It is a good CD of great music but the vocals are stimulating NOT relaxing. I DO NOT recommend this set of CDs for anyone to use when trying to get to sleep. This is not unique. It seems that many "relaxing" CD collections are made by sadists who have two or three bands of soft music and then insert a hoedown or a march. It is all very frustrating for the sleep deprived. I noticed of the eighty plus reviewers there were only three verified purchasers and some reviews read like they were using the sample clips to make the review which is like reading the first two sentences of each chapter of a novel and then making a review. Many five star reviews seem written from the same script and some persons made multiple five star reviews separated by time. None verified purchasers. This CD set appears to have been hyped by the MADE FOR TV crew. So sad. But they got me! I played percussion in a symphony orchestra and concert band and snare drum and then cymbals in a military marching band. I truly appreciate good classical and march music.

GOT IT FAST.....LOTS OF MUSIC TO SIT BACK AND LISTEN TO AT THE END OF THE DAY OR ON A WEEKEND WHERE YOUR JUST TAKING IT EASY.

This is a good listening classical music. For classical lovers try this one too.

I'm sorry to insert a question here rather than a review, but Amazon hasn't listed track times on this website so I can't answer the question myself without buying the CD: I understand that these are not the musical works in their entirety, but are these at least whole movements, or are they actually excerpts (i.e., shortened "themes" or other snippets)? It makes a big difference, at least to me. I agree with the reviewer that said that you miss a lot if all you get is the slow movement of a concerto, but if that movement itself is edited you don't even have the arc of experience that the composer intended for that movement. Another reviewer referred to "startling ... cuts" between vocal and instrumental pieces which also made me wonder .... Thank you!

Reviews

I've got them all individually in my collection, but collectively? I had to listen to the CD, then I had to buy it. You've got traditionals from anonymous donors and Foster. You've got some of the finest pickers and strummers around and it's just great stuff. Favorites: James Taylor's rendition of "Johnny has gone for a soldier". You'd think I'd tire of this song, I've got a dozen covers of it, but no. "Death by Triple Fiddle" is a fast-paced fiddle song that'd have you dizzy if you got up and tried to dance, but your foot's going to be tapping and you might as well try! Rebecca Kyle, March 2009

To be sure, this is a beautiful compilation, with rich sounds and familiar tunes. But I'm afraid that it's a bit too "clean" to be anything close to the Appalachian music tradition I'm familiar with. It's sterile, it's perfectly rendered, there's no messy strings and gritty heart. I just am not sure that Joshua Bell and Yo-Yo Ma really "get" the intonations and imperfections of Appalachian music. The cover is deceiving, with its distressed and grungy typography and sepia photo of a person in the hills. This CD has nothin' to do with all that, the style of which you're likely to hear in some bar deep in the hills of Appalachia. To me, THAT is "heartland" music. This is beautiful, make no mistake, but it's very simply too rehearsed, too pristine, to be an "Appalachian Anthology." It sounds...well, it sounds like a classical violinist playing traditional Appalachian tunes. If that's what you're looking for, then this is your CD. If not, I'd recommend something closer to Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular, etc.

Heartland is a haven and a piece of heaven. I was transported.

Great violin, appalachian music, brings out your country roots, beautiful song by Allison Krauss, good mix of slow and up beat songs, excellent cd!

If you are planning to open up a high-end gift shop specializing in handcrafted wind chimes and micro-bakery scone mixes and the like, then you must have this CD playing for your customers. It might have a certain appeal there that it did not find in my living room. Not to say that the musicianship is not utterly outstanding, which it is most certainly. Aside from Short Trip Home, which is why I purchased this CD in the first place, I found the rest of the pieces somewhat vapid considering the caliber of the artists. Again, it has its appeal in an easy listening realm, but this was not what I was looking for.

Reviews

This the worst CD I've ever had...terrible doesn't begin to describe it. There was nothing even remotely enjoyable..soothing to the ear would NOT be a description that I would give it.

If you're reading this, you already know Vivaldi and how influential he has been on all music over the past few centuries. I have no complaints about this CD.

Can you believe the price on this? This is probably the best Vivaldi collection for the price available. The sound quality is superb.

Vivaldi 25 favourites is marvelous ,it has been digitally enhanced and is certainly a keeper.Really am pleased with anything i have purchased from Amazon

This CD is decent but does NOT sweep you off your feet into a soaring concert hall with your heart beating loudly and your breaths coming in faster. Why? I think its the quality of the recording and the caliber of the musicians maybe? But hey, $4.98 does not buy much more than a fast food meal- so no harm done! Happy Listening! -Rupa

Reviews

Yikes! I am a huge Thile fan and picked up the mandolin because of his inspiration, but beginners and most intermediates, beware. While Chris gives some great beginning tips on pick stroke theory and how to hold the pick, the second half of the video explores harder scales and Chris's solo on "Ode to a Butterfly". The video progresses from easy to do and understand to "lightspeed" pretty quickly. I was frustrated after about 20 minutes. On the "Hop the Fence" track he invites you to jam with him, but at the pace he plays the song. If you are a beginner, start with something basic, not this video. The songs performed by Chris are awesome, but at the same time make you think "I'll never be that good".

Reviews

Great acting! Based on true historical events this is a great story. Filmed on location in Kefalonia, Greece the scenery is breathtaking.

Great love story, and is a favorite movie. Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz are great in this movie. This movie is a keeper for sure. gigi

Received the DVD and got about 20 minutes into the movie and the DVD stopped working; had to send it back to Amazon for a refund.

For purists, nothing is more aggravating than to anticipate a movie of a beloved piece of literature, only to discover the villains are transformed into heroes, the heroes are made the buffoons and, in the interest of adding insult to injury? The screenwriters have completely changed the ending. Such was my experience with "Captain Corelli's Mandolin". Had I never read the book, had I never invested time and energy into following the author's train of thought, had I walked blindly into a viewing of this work with no preparation whatsoever, I still would have had issues with costume inaccuracies, lack of historical context, and all-too-convenient plot twists. But I HAD read the book, so my list of grievances was far larger. The political framework of the Mediterranean theater of WWII was completely absent. The realization that what is beautiful can die and become evil is ripped away by the ennobling of a quite ignoble character. The symbolization of a particular gramophone was lost. One of the most poignant, heartbreaking unrequited love stories ever written is absent from the film, relegating the passionate self-sacrificing soldier into little more than a walk-on role, and the tragedy of a lifetime spent . . . waiting . . . was just . . . gone. In speaking to those who had never experienced the brilliance of the original work, they enjoyed the film in a late-summer date-night sort of way . . . It was as if . . . if you can imagine it . . . a "Hallmark Movie of the Week" version of "Gone With The Wind" had been made and marketed, pretending to be as good as the original. A sad recommendation for what could have been an epic piece of film.

The item delivered by Amazon is very fine. The film is a bit of a "soft drink" with respect to the reality. Captain Corelli was still alive a couple of years ago, he was in Florence (Tuscany). I guess he was wondering around with a mandolin on his shoulders (especially along military parades). In that event, about 8500-9500 Italian troops were executed by Germans/Nazis because they refused to surrend, and in the end they run out of ammonitions. If I remember rigth, officers (many were young guys) were shoot one by one. This is remembered as the "Massacre of Cephalonia". I wish that such a tragedy would have been represented by a more highly profiled film.

Reviews

IF YOU PLAY A MANDOLIN, THIS IS A MUST. SAM BUSH HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND BILL MONROES STYLE OF PLAYING. GREAT VIDEO. WELL WORTH THE MONEY!

Reviews

Great acting! Based on true historical events this is a great story. Filmed on location in Kefalonia, Greece the scenery is breathtaking.

Great love story, and is a favorite movie. Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz are great in this movie. This movie is a keeper for sure. gigi

Received the DVD and got about 20 minutes into the movie and the DVD stopped working; had to send it back to Amazon for a refund.

For purists, nothing is more aggravating than to anticipate a movie of a beloved piece of literature, only to discover the villains are transformed into heroes, the heroes are made the buffoons and, in the interest of adding insult to injury? The screenwriters have completely changed the ending. Such was my experience with "Captain Corelli's Mandolin". Had I never read the book, had I never invested time and energy into following the author's train of thought, had I walked blindly into a viewing of this work with no preparation whatsoever, I still would have had issues with costume inaccuracies, lack of historical context, and all-too-convenient plot twists. But I HAD read the book, so my list of grievances was far larger. The political framework of the Mediterranean theater of WWII was completely absent. The realization that what is beautiful can die and become evil is ripped away by the ennobling of a quite ignoble character. The symbolization of a particular gramophone was lost. One of the most poignant, heartbreaking unrequited love stories ever written is absent from the film, relegating the passionate self-sacrificing soldier into little more than a walk-on role, and the tragedy of a lifetime spent . . . waiting . . . was just . . . gone. In speaking to those who had never experienced the brilliance of the original work, they enjoyed the film in a late-summer date-night sort of way . . . It was as if . . . if you can imagine it . . . a "Hallmark Movie of the Week" version of "Gone With The Wind" had been made and marketed, pretending to be as good as the original. A sad recommendation for what could have been an epic piece of film.

The item delivered by Amazon is very fine. The film is a bit of a "soft drink" with respect to the reality. Captain Corelli was still alive a couple of years ago, he was in Florence (Tuscany). I guess he was wondering around with a mandolin on his shoulders (especially along military parades). In that event, about 8500-9500 Italian troops were executed by Germans/Nazis because they refused to surrend, and in the end they run out of ammonitions. If I remember rigth, officers (many were young guys) were shoot one by one. This is remembered as the "Massacre of Cephalonia". I wish that such a tragedy would have been represented by a more highly profiled film.

Reviews

I HAVE THIS CD AND IT IS ONE THAT I AM VERY HAPPY THAT I BROUGHT. FOR ME IF YOU LIKE THIS KIND OF MUSIC IT IS A MUST TO HAVE. DO NOT PASS UP A CHANCE TO OWN A GREAT PEICE OF MUSIC. THE PICKING ON HERE IS AWESOME. DO YOURSELF A HUGE FAVOR AND GET THIS CD. THANKS, TOM

This is what I wanted, the old stile picking. These gentlemen are very relaxed and they are as good as can be. It is Top performance.

Excellent concert: Good video representation. I only wish they had not interspersed interview segments in the first three songs.

All superlatives from previous reviewers apply, and I heartily recommend your purchase of this product. However, I will agree with one of the previous reviewers about the format - the bios, while very worthwhile and interesting (really), should be in a separate section from the music. As good as the bio stuff is, I do NOT want to listen to it nearly as often as I'd like to listen to / watch the performance itself.

This DVD is excellent. For those looking for a "front porch" type of presentation, this is it. The musicians are so relaxed that one viewing the program joins them in the mood. These three musicians have a camraderie that is one of the best I've ever seen, and it enhances the feel of the music.

Reviews

These were my first pair of Dansko's and I absolutely love them. I bought them because I got a job where I was on my feet all day and the shoes I was wearing left my feet hurting and throbbing about halfway through the day. After wearing the Dansko's for just one day my feet did not hurt at all. I even noticed that I had less back pain. I bought a second pair a week later. I always wear my Dansko's if I'm going to be on my feet for any length of time. While these do not look like the typical clog they still wear like a clog so expect the backs to slip off your heel. I've never had any problems with blisters or unfortable rubbing with either pair of my Dansko's. I highly recommend these to anyone looking for the ultimate comfort for their feet!

Really like these slip on shoes with both jeans and dressier pants. They have great arch support too. I purchased them at amazon.com and they arrived in just three days.

You just can't go wrong with Dansko's! This is my 4th pair. The loafer is a nice alternatve to the clog. Love the detailing.

Very comfortable shoe. I can walk all day in this shoe without experiencing any discomfort. I own the black and the brown pair. Great comfort in a shoe that is basically a flat but provides me some height - I'm 5'2". Knee surgery several years ago keeps me from wearing heals over an inch or so. These shoes offer a great compromise.

These shoes take a week or so to break in. I have bought two pairs and the first pair the seam came out. Then the second pair, under the insole cracked now there is a poping sound when I walk. The store would not approve the second return. Very disappointed in this style.

Reviews

I have owned an earlier version of chordAlchemy by tonalAlchemy for quite some time now. I'm writing this review because as far as I'm concerned chordAlchemy is actually as good as the developer says it is. It is an extremely sophisticated piece of software that is nevertheless quite easy to use. Everything tonalAlchemy is claiming that chordAlchemy does, it actually does! And I found that when I had any problems whatsoever, I need merely send an email to the tonalAlchemy website and I would receive an accurate response quite quickly. You will find chordAlchemy to be a valuable tool no matter what your skill level is. I recommend this product without hesitation.