This year, I was lucky enough to be asked to judge Guitar Center’s Drum Off ‘09. You know the Drum Off, right? Where little drummer boys and girls line up and sign up, pitting their percussive skills against one another – all hoping to be crowned the next Drum Off Champion? Well, that’s where I met John Gresko, president and inventor of Direct Sound Extreme Isolation Headphones.
There were 3 judges total and John was a fellow judge. His Drum Off credentials far outweigh mine – he’s a veteran studio and touring drummer, having done session work in Nashville and L.A. – and he’s toured the nation touting his drum abilities. Me? I’ve played in a few bands, produced a few records, toured a few states. But a drummer, I am not. (Which begs the question – why did I get asked to judge, right? Hmm, don’t know – maybe they needed an everyday kinda judge – sort of like Ellen Degeneres judging American Idol…thanks for asking me Evan!) The other judge, Derrick, a drummer in a local band, introduced himself to me and the first thing he asked after finding out I was a producer was, “What headphones do you use?”
I’m thinking, “I don’t know – whatever ones they have at the studio.” Well, John and Derrick, who is sponsored by Extreme Isolation Headphones, were both right to suggest that I use a pair of EX-29’s. And what a difference a good pair of studio headphones make…
After the drum competition ended, John was kind enough to send me a pair of his headphones – the EX-29’s. Here’s a link – you can check out all the tech specs there…but the bottom line is this: They block out all sound from the outside and give you crystal clear sound on the inside. It’s amazing. And they’re comfortable too…Sometimes I wear them just to block out all the noise going on at my house, so I can think straight…
John (did I
mention he INVENTED these things?) puts lots of love into the presentation of his headphones. Nicely packaged in a purple handbag (reminiscent of a bottle of Crown Royal), these things are perfect for your gig bag. Wear them in studio or live on stage…they’ll provide you with a great monitor – and never again worry about your drummer blasting your ears off with those stickin’ crash cymbals.
Thanks John, for a wonderful product that’s perfect for producers, engineers and musicians…and John – my ear drums are forever grateful to you.
Check ‘em out at: http://www.extremeheadphones.com/ex-29.html