Pictures of family and friends with their arms around each other smiling gleefully for the camera will forever be a staple of the household photo album. But great pictures don’t alway have to be planned and prepared. Candid photography – spontaneous, in the moment picture taking – can provide lasting photos that are elegant, emotional, beautiful and funny. All it takes is having a camera at the ready, a fast shutter speed and an even faster trigger finger.

You never know when a great photo opp is going to present itself to you so the first rule in candid photography is: take your camera with you everywhere! Having a camera at the ready is always best if you want to catch candid shots because more often than not, you won’t get a second chance. Look for everyday occurences that would normally go unnoticed. Those can sometimes become the most beautiful and thoughtful picutres. Get used to taking pictures without necessarily having to look through the view-finder or at the screen as that can save precious seconds when trying to catch a unique shot. Be comfortable with not worrying about lighting conditions and possible distractions in the frame. It’s always possible to edit things out and lighten it up later on. Lastly, for those people who are inclined to make their own settings on their cameras, it’s also a good idea to use a higher ISO setting to increase shutter speed (although this can possibly affect image quality depending on how much light is available and the cameras image sensor size).

Tell us about some candid shots you’ve taken, tips or any related stories. Abe’s of Maine, and our customers, would love to hear about them. The first 100 people to comment wil receive a $15 coupon code towards any purchase of $100 or more.

Cameras, Video, Televisions, GPS, Pro Audio, Musical Instruments, Large Appliances, Small Appliances, Fitness Equipment, Car Electronics

*All comments are moderated before being posted. Coupon code is not automatically emailed after comment is made. Please allow some time to receive your coupon code.

When December arrives each year we can’t help but get a warm, fuzzy feeling inside that reminds that the holiday season is upon us. It’s a time of fun, happiness, giving and sharing. At Abe’s of Maine, giving is what we do best.

We work hard every day to bring you the best deals, specials, promotions and prices on all the products you’d like to share with others this holiday season. Our helpful sales staff and customer service department are on the constantly phones and on the showroom floor doing their best to make sure you, our valued customers, are as happy and satisfied as can be. And our shipping department is working overtime to get your orders to your door as quickly and efficiently as possible. We do all of this so that you can see the smiles on friends’ and family’s faces when that gift is opened and you know it was exactly what they wanted. Hopefully, our dilligent work truly will help make this the most wonderful time of the year for you and yours.

The holidays tend to bring out the best in everyone. We’d love to hear some nice holiday stories, moments or wishes from you, our valued customers so that everyone out there can benefit from them, creating more of that wonderful holiday spirit. The first 100 people to comment will receie a $15 promo code good towards a purchase of $100 or more*. From all of us here at Abe’s of Maine, best wishes and Happy Holidays!

Cameras, Video, Televisions, GPS, Pro Audio, Musical Instruments, Large Appliances, Small Appliances, Fitness Equipment, Car Electronics

*All comments are moderated before being posted. Coupon code is not automatically emailed after comment is made. Please allow some time to receive your coupon code.

Thanksgiving is a wondeful time when we can truly reflect on what we have to be thankful for. And there is no doubt that here at Abe’s of Maine we are most thankful to have you, our valued customers. We enjoy offering you the best prices, specials, packages & promotions and we appreciate that you continue to come back to us time after time. So from all of us here at Abe’s of Maine…thank you.

Now, everybody knows that along with Thanksgiving comes the ever-popular, Black Friday. Typically, people wait for that Friday after Thanksgiving in order to get in on special deals. We say, “Why wait?!” Check out our crazy hot Holiday Specials now! And remember to check back often because new items and packages will constantly be added throughout the holiday season. That’s our way of saying thank you.

We’d love to hear what you are thankful for. It could be anything you feel like sharing. The first 100 people to comment on this post will receive a promo code that will give you $15 off your purchase of $100 or more! Happy Thanksgiving!

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In light of Halloween slowly creeping up on us, allow me to relay this short horror story:

17 year old Stacy is home alone curled up on the couch on a stormy, thunderous night. Blinding lightning flashes outside the window and suddenly…the lights go out! Scared stiff, she looks for solace and safety in her bedroom. She slowly opens the door, walks inside and sits down on the bed when suddenly…the lights flicker back on! For a brief moment Stacy feels at ease and then she realizes the terrifying reality of what is right behind her…her computer hasn’t turned back on!! She quickly tries to turn it on, but it’s no use. The hard drive is fried from the direct lightning hit on the house! That’s when shock sets in…because Stacy never backed up her thousands of photos that she took with her digital camera!! They’re gone!! FOREVER!! AAAAAAUUUUGGHHH!!!!

Ok, I admit, that was a bit dramatic. But let’s talk seriously for a sec. We’ve all had some sort of crisis where we once thought we lost, or actually did lose a whole lot of files, photos, videos, documents, etc. It’s a terrible and sometimes frightening feeling. The remedy though, is regularly backing up your files. And there are lots of ways to do it. USB flash drives and memory cards are so inexpensive these days, and the price of memory has dropped so much that even an external hard drive with hundreds of gigabytes is within reach of most peoples budgets. Get in the habit of backing up your files, and let Abe’s of Maine help you. Believe me, if you don’t…you’ll regret it! MWA HA HA HA! (sorry, got caught up again).

Do you have a “backup” story? Let’s hear it. Maybe its a horror story, maybe you have a great and efficient system to backup your files. Share it with us. (The first 100 commenters will receive a promo code for $15 off of your next purchase of $100 or more).

Cameras, Video, Televisions, GPS, Pro Audio, Musical Instruments, Large Appliances, Small Appliances, Fitness Equipment, Car Electronics

So you’re in the market for a new flat panel TV but you’re not sure whether to go with LCD or Plasma. Before you make the plunge it would best to know the differences between the two.

Plasma TV’s historically have been able to be manufactured at larger screen sizes although LCD technology has been able to keep up and that may no longer be an issue soon enough. Plasmas are able to offer better contrast ratios and color accuracy, while LCD’s offer increased color brightness over plasma screens. A very important factor is that plasma screens do not perform as well at higher altitudes while LCD’s do not have any issues at higher altitudes (so those of you that live in Denver, for example, may want ot go with the LCD). LCD’s also run cooler than plasmas and are generally lighter than their same screen-size plasma counterparts. Plasma screens however are better at tracking fast moving objects while LCD’s may show a little lag.

Obviously technology is constantly changing and getting better and many of these differences may not apply someday soon. But for now, those are some things to keep in mind. Let Abe’s of Maine help you choose which TV is right for you. What are your experiences with using a Plasma over an LCD or vice-versa? Feel free to recommend or give each other advice.

(First 100 people to comment will receive a $15 coupon towards any purchase of $100 or more).

Cameras, Video, Televisions, GPS, Pro Audio, Musical Instruments, Large Appliances, Small Appliances, Fitness Equipment, Car Electronics

Looking for something inexpensive for yourself or as a gift? Here are some great products for under $100!

SanDisk 4GB Extreme III Compact Flash Card – 59.95

Nikon 10×25 Trailblazer Waterproof Binoculars – 89.95

GLD Bull Blaster Dart Board – 27.99

Dean Vendetta XM Electric Guitar – 99.00

Krups Sandwich, Panini and Waffle Maker – 73.99

LifeSpan Heart Rate Ring – 39.99

Peavey Audition Guitar Amplifier - 47.00

Danelectro Fab Chorus Guitar Pedal – 19.95

Behringer C1 Large Diaphragm Studio Condenser Microphone - 45.00

Behringer AC-108 15 Watt Vintage TUbe Guitar Amplifier – 65.00

Of course, check out www.abesofmaine.com for more great deals every day!

Cameras, Video, Televisions, GPS, Pro Audio, Musical Instruments, Large Appliances, Small Appliances, Fitness Equipment, Car Electronics

Digital Recording has been around for quite some time now. It has largely replaced tape as the main medium for recording except for some professional applications. What has become more prolific in the past couple of years though is the handheld digital recorder- being able to record anywhere, anytime and with practically no hassle or set up time. Many manufacturers feature products that give you what is the equivalent of a complete recording studio in the palm of your hand. The stereo sound qaulity is pristine, and since everything is digital the files can quickly be transferred to a computer to be saved or edited. There are many to choose from, and while most of them share many features, each has its own unique niche that lets it stand out from the bunch. Like many poeple, you may find that once you have one, you’ll never leave home without it!

Cameras, Video, Televisions, GPS, Pro Audio, Musical Instruments, Large Appliances, Small Appliances, Fitness Equipment, Car Electronics

Let’s face it: everybody’s looking for a good deal. It feels great to find something at a price that seems so ridiculous you can’t believe that it’s true. We here at Abe’s love to give you that warm, fuzzy feeling – and we do it every single day. In our Closeout section we have hundreds of products offered at prices that may seem insane. Why do we do it? We’re always at the forefront of new technology and we constantly have to make room for new incoming products. The only way to do that is by quickly selling what’s currently in our inventory. The easiest way to do that is by offering it to you, our valued customer, at a price or as part of a special that’s hard to ignore. Go ahead and check out the Closeout section. You may be surprised at what you’ll find, but remember – most closeout items are available in limited quantities so get them fast!

To get you started, here are some of the hottest products that we’re currently offering in our Closeout section at prices or as specials that need to be seen to be believed!

Digital Cameras: NIkon Coolpix S52 in Red, Kodak EasyShare Z721 IS Zoom, Pentax K100d SUper with 18-55mm Lens Kit

Fitness Equipment: Proform GT 85 Upright Bike,Proform Razor 400 Elliptical, Proform 465 Recumbent Bike

Large Appliances: Whirlpool Stainless Steel Gas Cooktop, Sharp R320HK Countertop Microwave

Musical Instruments: Vox DA10 Guitar Amplifier, Dean Acoustic/Electric Guitar Package with Amp, IK Multimedia Stomp IO, Danelectro and Korg Pedal and Tuner Bundle,

Pro Audio: Cad Trion Microphone Bundle, Peavey PV215 Loudspeaker, Alesis iMultiMix8USB, Sennheiser MD421II Studio/Live Microphone

Home Audio: Pioneer Infrared Wireless Surround Sound Headphones, Crosley Nostalgia Autorama

Be sure to check back often as we will be posting on this blog at least twice a week. Our next post will include a special offer to commenters! 

Cameras, Video, Televisions, GPS, Pro Audio, Musical Instruments, Large Appliances, Small Appliances, Fitness Equipment, Car Electronics

These days compact digital cameras have become almost as ubiquitous as cell phones. Everybody has one. However we still hear things like  ”…a good compact digital camera will set you back a few Benjamins.” Or, “…Picture clarity and enhancement will be best on a camera with a higher number of megapixels, and that’s going to cost you.” We here at Abe’s want to dispel these rumours and make it known that more megapixels does not equate to costing more money. You can get a great digital camera for less than what it might cost you to fill up your SUV over a two week time period!

The Nikon Coolpix series of cameras are a bargain for the price. The S550 and S600 series give you 10 megapixels (1 megapixel = 1 million pixels) while the P5100 has a whopping 12.1 megapixels. There is also the Canon PowerShot SD770IS and SD790 IS both offer 10 megapixel with a nice big 3″ screen. Pentax features the Optio S12 and A40 models, each of which give you a staggering 12 megapixels in a small package. Panasonic offers the Lumix DMC-FS20 which gives you 10.1 megapixels and 4x optical zoom while the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W170 gives you 10.1 megapixels and 5x optical zoom! The best thing about all of these cameras is that none of them will cost you more than $299 while some of them are even less than $199.

There are many other compact digital cameras from the likes of Casio, Olympus and Fuji but the bottom line to remember is: Megapixels don’t have to equal mega-bucks.  

Cameras, Video, Televisions, GPS, Pro Audio, Musical Instruments, Large Appliances, Small Appliances, Fitness Equipment, Car Electronics

Welcome to the first installment of the Abe’s of Maine blog! In all of our future installments we hope to bring you key information, features and tips on all of the hot products you can find at Abe’s of Maine. We’ll also do our best to bring you special deals and incentives that you can only get from reading and commenting on our blog postings.

For this first installment we’ll talk about one of our hottest new departments, Pro Audio and Musical Instruments. Abe’s of Maine offers thousands of products that cater to all our friends in the music industry, from the seasoned pro to the beginning student. While there are dozens of different roles one can play within the music industry, these days more and more people are finding themselves playing more than one role, especially with the explosion of the home studio market. We’d like to offer some tips to help facilitate efficient and great sounding sessions in your home studio.

Many home studio owners find themselves limited by the small space their studios are situated in. Whether its a bedroom, a basement or a garage we can feel limited by the lack of space afforded to us. The most important thing to remember though is that while our studios may be situated in one area, that doesn’t mean we can’t use ALL of our surroundings to our benfit. It just may require some longer cables. Here are some suggestions with regards to tracking guitar amps:

1. Need an echo chamber? Want some natural short reverb? Your bathroom is all tiled up and ready to go! When recording your next guitar track try this: Place your guitar amp in the bath tub and tilt it upwards. Place one mic right on the grill and place one up in the air. For the close mic using a directional dynamic mic like the Shure SM57 or the Sennheiser MD421 II will allow you to capture the amp without a lot of the room sound in it. For the room mic using a condenser mic like the RODE NT2000 or the Audio-Technica AT4050 you’ll get all the sound bouncing off al those tiles. Once you get that perfect take, go ahead and blend the two tracks together to taste! Another option is to throw a ribbon mic (which are incredibly popular on guitar amps) like the CAD Trion 7000 close to the amp. A ribbon mic is bi-directional so one side will face the amp and get that direct sound while the other side will be pointing upward and capturing the room sound. Just be sure to listen first and get the placement right as you won’t be able to separate these two signals later on.

2. What if you’re looking for the opposite? Lets say you want a really dead and dry guitar track but you don’t have a vocal booth or small isolation chamber. Make use of what you do have. Go into your living room or den and grab the cushions off of your sofa. Build a little room around your amp or cabinet and place the mic inside of it. Voila! Instant isolation! There are other methods too which can prove useful. Products like sE Elctronics Reflexion Filter are normally set up on a mic stand in order to deaden a vocal track and take the room out of the recording. But there’s no reason why you couldn’t take it off the stand and set it on the floor in front of your amp. A real fun one is using a hardshell case as a gobo. Usually a hard case has a hard reflective outside but inside its lined with a plush, more absorptive material. Open up the case and stand it in front of your amp. If you want to deaden the sound a little face the the inside of the case towards the amp. If you want to increase the reflectivity of the sound in the room, face the outside of the case towards the amp. Be creative!

3. Lastly, hallways can be very useful. Sometimes we want to capture the sound the of the guitar amp as if it were in a very large room. But what if your house has low ceilings and no really large rooms? Place your amp at one end of the hallway and a mic all the way at the other end, up in the air. While you may not have a large room, the length of the hallway may add some distance and surface area to give that “large room” sound. Experimant with putting the amp in the middle of the hallway and a mic at each end. If it’s an open-back amp like the Peavey Bandit 112 or the Vox Pathfinder the mic behind will pick up a little different sound and the two tracks can be blended together. Just make sure to adjust the mics to eliminate any phase issues, or see if swapping the phase of one mic will help.

We hope this first installment has been informative and fun! Don’t be afraid to experiment with what you’ve got available to you. Remember, the first rule of recording is: There are no rules! Be sure to check back often for more tips and features.

Cameras, Video, Televisions, GPS, Pro Audio, Musical Instruments, Large Appliances, Small Appliances, Fitness Equipment, Car Electronics