This one falls under the category: Why didn’t somebody think of it sooner? California firm Power Technology has introduced a pair of tiny boxes that let musicians, or would-be musicians, patch into their stereo system and jam along with their favorite music, and even record the results to tape if they so desire – all without the fear of blowing their precious, high-end audio speakers. The aptly named Jam-Along functions as a standard practice amplifier, but it also uses specially designed circuitry that enables you to hook a guitar, microphone or keyboard into your stereo without affecting the stereo’s normal functions. It’s dead simple to use. On the front panel there’s a single quarter-inch mono input jack, knobs to control volume, bass, midrange and treble, and a switch to toggle between tape and monitor for making recordings. On the back, you have two sets of RCA stereo jacks to link up to your amplifier/receiver. The Jam-Along With Overdrive is optimized for guitar players, adding a distortion overdrive section to the basic model. Now you won’t have to just play with yourself anymore (that’s a joke, you hear, a joke!). Call: 1-800-778-6761.