Ep. 060.00 - Will It Gig?

LIVE from the (other) Queen City! 

Quick Rundown:

  • Korg Pitchblack Mini. Smaller version of a great tuner! Regular, strobe mode, all the bells and whistles. $70. (stab: Earthquaker Bit Commander)

  • BYOC is making a mini analog echo and a mini RAT clone! $65 each (stab: Caroline Kilobyte Delay)

  • New pedal board time! (Stab: some jamup preset)

 

 

NEWS

 

 

  • Positive Grid BIAS Head (Stab: Red Witch Ivy)

    • It’s like a physical version of the BIAS app

    • It holds different amp sounds (clean, crunch, lead, etc) and then has 5 models of each

    • Other controls for things like tube stages, topology, cold/hot bias

    • Amp Match built in. Look out, Kemper

    • Pre-orders are going on right now! $1299, estimated to ship in August

    • http://www.positivegrid.com/bias-head/

  • Roli Seaboard RISE (do we talk about non-guitar gear? -Tye) (Stab: Mercy Seat Holy Dove)

  • PG Ad: Death by Audio Soundwave Breakdown, Dreadbox Lamda

  • EHX Mel9 (stab: JHS Twin Twelve)

    • 9 classic sounds from the Mellotron!

      • Orchestra, Cello, Strings, Flute (The Beatles one), Clarinet, Saxophone, Brass, Low Choir, and High Choir

    • Works equally well on guitar and bass

    • Effect and dry outs w/ independent volumes

    • Attack control sets the volume swell speed. Turn it up, notes fade in more gradually

    • Sustain control adjusts the release time after a sound is stopped. Turn it up, time is increased

    • Same form factor as all the other “9” series pedals

    • $221.30

  • Graph Tech Inviso-Match & Ratio Tuners (stab: Mr Black Supermoon)

 

Ep. 005900 - I Almost Said Podcast

Sorry this took so long. I moved. 

Quick Rundown

  • Kirk Hammett, you dummy (Stab: Walrus Audio Mayflower) http://www.effectsbay.com/2016/02/kirk-hammett-an-actual-guitar-player/ 
  • Walrus Audio Julia Chorus is up for preorder. $199, shipping March 1st. (Stab: Keeley Phase 24)
  • Get that great industrial revolution tone with the ZVex Candle Powered Vibrato/Phaser (Stab: JHS Twin Twelve) https://reverb.com/blog/zvex-launches-the-candle-powered-vibrophase-pedal?_aid=fb 
  • ODD Guitars  (Stab: Earthquaker Ghost Echo) http://www.odd.org.nz/steampunk.html 

Pedal Genie!

Listener mail from Ryan (Stab: Mesa Throttle Box)
“Hey guys,

So I've  just returned to electric guitar after a 6 year hiatus...Grad school, marriage and baby can certainly put constraints on hobby time. But, the time has come to crunch again. 

I just purchased a Fender American Special Strat. Got a small 15 Watt Marshall amp as I'll be a home player for the foreseeable future. Also grabbed the Solidgoldfx If 6 was 9 fuzz pedal...and yes, I did subscribe to pedal genie...thanks Tony...douche.

What pedals are on your pedalboard right now? And what do you think every guitarist should have in their Arsenal (for the "average" player, not a performing musician)?

What strings do you fancy? I'm starting out w Ernie Ball super slink as that's what I used to use back in the day...

Anyways...dig the cast and will have fun going through your episode catalog as I shake off the thick layer of rust on my fingers.

Ryan Johnson”

 

Ep. 58000 - It’s A Reduction In Decreasing The Decreasing

Quick Rundown

  • Song Exploder newsletter “Five Song Fridays”. 5 songs sent in a spotify or youtube playlist for you to check out (stab: chika-waaa)

  • “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me” documentary.  (Stab: Chase Bliss Audio Warped Vinyl)

  • Hateful Eight cast actually destroyed an authentic Martin from the 1870’s by accident https://reverb.com/blog/the-hateful-eight-hates-on-six-strings?_aid=fb (Stab: Solid Gold FX Apollo Phaser)

 

 

NAMM!

  • Boss Waza Craft amp (stab: JHS Twin Twelve)

    • Solid state 150W

    • Power scaling 1, 50, 100, 150W

    • Cabinet resonance options: Vintage, modern, deep

    • Line our air feel?? Rec, Live, Blend.

    • Matching 4x12 and 2x12 cabs available with waza craft speakers

    • Sort of based on an EL34 sound?

    • http://www.bossus.com/products/waza_amp_head/

  • Boss VB-2W Waza Craft Vibrato (stab: Mercy Seat Holy Dove)

    • Rate, depth, rise time(controls initial onset of effect) controls

    • 3 modes: latch, bypass, unlatch

    • Standard/Custom switch (original VB2 setting and updated modern setting)

    • Expression in for real time depth control. Toe up = off

    • http://www.bossus.com/products/vb-2w/

  • Boss VO-1 Vocoder (stab: Moog MF Ring Mod)

    • Guitar in/out, XLR in, send/return

    • Choir mode uses guitar only to make choir sounds, (background stuff)

    • Advanced mode is Boss’s new vocoder sound

    • Talk Box mode is the classic talking guitar lines

    • Vintage mode is more electronic/synth sounding

    • http://www.bossus.com/products/vo-1/

  • Neunaber Immerse Reverb (stab: Red Witch Ivy)

  • Fender American Elite Series (stab: Mercy Seat Consider the Raven reverb)

    • Pretty much the next level of quality from Fender, these are replacing the American Deluxe series

    • New truss rod adjustment above the neck pickup

    • 4th gen noiseless pickups

    • New colors, new body contours, and neck shapes and heels

    • “All short post” tuners, not sure about this

    • “suspension bridge” for tele thinlines, also not sure about this

    • Strat, HSS strat, lefty strat, tele, thinline tele, all $1800 except thinline is $1900

  • Fender Offset Telecaster (stab: Walrus Audio Mayflower)

    • It’s a telemaster. Jazzmaster body, tele guts

    • Indie builders have been making these for years, guess fender is feeling the heat

    • Super limited 500 of each of 3 colors

  • Fender In-Ears (stab: Seymour Duncan 805 overdrive)

  • Fender Bassbreaker amps (stab: Carl Martin Plexitone)

  • Blackstar has two new amps (stab: Caroline guitar company Kilobyte delay)

    • Artist 15 and Artist 30

    • 15 is a 1x12 combo, 30 is a 2x12 combo. Sounds good!

  • MXR M300 Reverb (stab: Mr Black Supermoon)

    • 6 reverbs: Plate, spring, epic, mod, room, pad

    • Tone, decay, mix controls.

    • True bypass, 100% analog dry path.

  • Reverend Airwave electric 12 string (stab: Mad Professor Snow White auto-wah)

    • Semi-hollow body

    • Fully intonatable 12 string bridge and locking tuners

    • 2 P-90s

    • Shorter 24-¾” scale

  • TC Electronic Ditto X4 Looper (stab: Keeley Phase 24)

    • 2 Independent loops each w/ 5 min record time and unlimited overdub/undo/redo

    • Serial/Sync switch

      • Serial mode = each loop is exclusive (thnk switching A to B section)

      • Sync mode = Both loops stack. Loop 1 sets master tempo for both. Better for intricate looping compositions. Loop 2 is not restricted by the time of loop 1 (so 4 bar percussive thing, 16 bar chord progressions can happen)

    • 7 loop effects including half time, reverse, once, tape stop, fade, double, and hold

    • Decay control allows old loops to fade away as new ones are added.

    • USB port lets you export and import tracks

    • Stereo in/out, MIDI control, custom setting dip switches on the back

      • Stereo in/outs let you run two instruments (guitar/bass for example) and output to two separate amps.

    • http://bit.ly/1JZGHkt

  • TC BonaFide Buffer and Spectra Comp Bass Compressor (stab: Devi Ever Godzilla Fuzz)

  • Pedal Genie: D - TC Viscous Vibe

  • Walrus Audio Julia Chorus and Contraband Fuzz (stab: Aguilar Octamizer)

    • Contraband is a simple beefy fuzz, only one level control and thick/thin switch

    • Julia chorus/vibrato, No mode switch, just increasing chorus depth introduces vibrato

    • To me sounds a little like the Small Clone.

  • Catalinbread CSIDMAN, Adineko, and Bicycle Delay (stab: Earthquaker Bit Commander)

    • CSIDMAN

      • Digital delay that has random CD Player skip effect!

      • Skipping sounds like self oscillation but generates randomly and shuts off randomly. Sounds amazing

    • Adineko

      • Oil can style delay, very warbly and almost reverby sounding

      • Dark repeats, warbly sound

    • Bicycle Delay

      • Lots of modulation on the repeats

      • Filtering/flanging and pitch shifting up or down

    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QxSn6kkXmk

  • Tone King Royalist II and Iron Man II MIni (stab: Earthquaker Arpanoid)

    • Royalist II

    • Iron Man II Mini

      • 30W 8ohm max stand alone attenuator

      • 9V dc power, Amp in/speaker out/Line out

      • Hi/Low range, total of 18 distinct attenuation levels

      • Footswitch for Solo mode! Still attenuating the signal, but it just raises the volume a bit for leads. Cool!

      • http://www.toneking.com/products/ironman-ii-mini/

  • Chase Bliss Audio Tonal Recall Delay (stab: Bogner Burnley Distortion)

    • You know.

    • Tap functions as self osc. switch when held

    • SLB switch, short/long/both. Toggle between DM2 sounds and DMM sounds OR both togheter

    • Sine/Triangle/Square wave modulation with independent rate & depth controls

    • Sounds bananas. $400. May 30th.

  • T-Rex Replicator Analog Tape Echo (stab: Caroline Cannonball)

    • Real deal tape echo

    • Tape cartridge means easy maintenance, tape itself has a 3 month life span of continued use.

    • 4 switches : On/Off, Heads, Chorus, and TAP TEMPO!

    • Heads switch controls two ranges of delay lengths. Short/long

    • 2 expression inputs

Street price $899….  http://www.t-rex-effects.com/replicator

Ep. 000057 - The er ee er ee

Quick Rundown

NEWS

  • Reverend Billy Corgan BC1 (Stab: Bogner Burnley Distortion)

    • Maple neck and fingerboard, Korina body

    • Aluminum pickguard(s) give it a cook 2 tone look

    • Raised center block like a firebird

    • Weight relieved body under pickguards

    • New Railhammer “Humcutters”, P90 style but hum cancelling

      • Blade/pole hybrid design

    • Features Reverend’s Bass Contour control which is a passive bass roll off

    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzl60Kyoy0Q

  • JP2C John Petrucci model from Mesa Boogie (thanks Brian!) (Stab: Caroline Cannonball)

  • Pedal Genie: Dreadbox Omikron, Chase Bliss Audio Warped Vinyl

  • Strymon Ojai & Zuma Power Supplies (Stab: Chase Bliss Audio Whombtone)

  • Song Exploder podcast (Stab: Walrus Audio Mayflower)

    • Musicians come on and deconstruct their songs! Tell studio stories and generally how this song was made.

Ep. 000056 - It's 2016 and the internet sucks, cheers.

Follow up - The Yamaha Revstar guitars that have push/pull knobs actually feature a high pass filter. Cool! Stab: Wren and Cuff Box of War

PRS announces CE24 Bolt-on! Slightly different top carve than the original CE, and now mahogany back instead of alder. http://prsguitars.com/ce24/ Stab: Mercy Seat Holy Dove

Another reason to hate on Gibson. The Bonabyrd is a 50’s les paul with a 60’s firebird neck. No tune-o-matic bridge, pelham blue, and $7900. Bonamassa has played and signed each one. Only 100 made. Stupid. Stab: Keeley Sea Foam

http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2015/Custom/Joe-Bonamassa-Bonabyrd.aspx

  • Floyd Rose FRX  Stab: Earthquaker Organizer

    • Direct swap for a tune-o-matic/stop bar tailpiece

    • No routing required. Completely surface mounted.

    • Set for either flush or floating operation

    • Completely drop in ready. New posts included, no pulling mounts out of the body

    • Push-in arm with tension set screw

    • Includes locking nut mechanism that sits behind existing nut and incorporates a new truss rod cover

    • http://www.floydrose.com/catalog/tremolos/6:frx-series/frx-preorder

  • Year In review: J’s picks  Stab: JHS Twin Twelve

    • The year of Gibson: not

    • The year of EHX: for real

    • Digital Audio Labs Stomp BLOX http://bit.ly/1k9TqyM

    • UAD Distortions, unison, marshall, THE SVT AMPS!

    • Everything might come out in march

    • interviews

    • Best/worst pedals:  Mr Black Supermoon/JHS ColourBox

      • Honorable mention Twin Twelve, Thee Holy Dove

    • Beat buddy

    • Fender’s marketing department builds a guitar to the delight of nobody (hendrix)

  • Pedal Genie Bit Stab: Earthquaker Hummingbird

  • Year in review: D Stab: Mr. Black Supermoon

    • All those new pedals from Walrus Audio last NAMM

    • Neunaber V2 Pedals

    • Damcaster guitars, reclaimed wood from a Georgia Dam

    • Prisma guitars, the skateboard deck body guys

    • Gear Supply Co. Still going great.

    • Worst pedal: EHX Key 9

    • Best pedal: Strymon Flint. Honorable mention: Keeley Phase 24, EQD the depths

PRS announces CE24 Bolt-on! Slightly different top carve than the original CE, and now mahogany back instead of alder. http://prsguitars.com/ce24/ Stab: Mercy Seat Holy Dove

 

Another reason to hate on Gibson. The Bonabyrd is a 50’s les paul with a 60’s firebird neck. No tune-o-matic bridge, pelham blue, and $7900. Bonamassa has played and signed each one. Only 100 made. Stupid. Stab: Keeley Sea Foam

 

http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2015/Custom/Joe-Bonamassa-Bonabyrd.aspx

 

  • Floyd Rose FRX  Stab: Earthquaker Organizer

    • Direct swap for a tune-o-matic/stop bar tailpiece

    • No routing required. Completely surface mounted.

    • Set for either flush or floating operation

    • Completely drop in ready. New posts included, no pulling mounts out of the body

    • Push-in arm with tension set screw

    • Includes locking nut mechanism that sits behind existing nut and incorporates a new truss rod cover

    • http://www.floydrose.com/catalog/tremolos/6:frx-series/frx-preorder

  • Year In review: J’s picks  Stab: JHS Twin Twelve

    • The year of Gibson: not

    • The year of EHX: for real

    • Digital Audio Labs Stomp BLOX http://bit.ly/1k9TqyM

    • UAD Distortions, unison, marshall, THE SVT AMPS!

    • Everything might come out in march

    • interviews

    • Best/worst pedals:  Mr Black Supermoon/JHS ColourBox

      • Honorable mention Twin Twelve, Thee Holy Dove

    • Beat buddy

    • Fender’s marketing department builds a guitar to the delight of nobody (hendrix)

  • Pedal Genie Bit Stab: Earthquaker Hummingbird. Derek forgot to make a demo for this pedal, so... woops. 

  • Year in review: D Stab: Mr. Black Supermoon

    • All those new pedals from Walrus Audio last NAMM

    • Neunaber V2 Pedals

    • Damcaster guitars, reclaimed wood from a Georgia Dam

    • Prisma guitars, the skateboard deck body guys

    • Gear Supply Co. Still going great.

    • Worst pedal: EHX Key 9

    • Best pedal: Strymon Flint. Honorable mention: Keeley Phase 24, EQD the depths

Ep. 000054 - Hey Mr. Black, nice job on your reverb or whatever OR Fat and Less Horny

We couldn't decide on a single title this week, so you're getting two. 

Quick Rundown

  • The telecaster build is complete! mjtagedfinishes.com
  • MONO announces the M80 Dual Acoustic+Electric case (stab: Moog Ring Mod) http://guitarnoize.com/mono-announce-the-m80-dual-acoustic-electric-case/ 
  • Wylde Audio (yep) has partnered with Schecter (yep) for distribution (Stab: Caroline Kilobyte Delay)

NEWS:

  • EHX 720 Stereo Looper (Stab: Mercy Seat Holy Dove)
    • 720 Seconds of looping (12 minutes) 
    • 10 independent loops with unlimited overdubs
    • Undo, redo, reverse, half speed all work independently to use simultaneously or separately
    • 24-bit A/D/A, Stereo in/out
    • Loop fadeout option
    • Includes power supply, $185
    • http://www.ehx.com/products/720-stereo-looper 
  • Pedal Genie: 
    • Mr Black Supermoon http://www.mrblackpedals.com/products/supermoon 
    • Keeley Phase 24 https://robertkeeley.com/product/phase-24 
  • Yamaha Guitars RevStar Series (stab: Walrus Audio Janus Fuzz)
    • New line of guitars from Yamaha
    • Inspired by Japanese racing bikes!
    • Really cool finishes and hardware
    • 8 models at the moment with different pickup/bridge combos etc. 
    • Reminds me of Reverend guitars
    • $629-$1549
    • http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-instruments/guitars-basses/el-guitars/eg-rs/?mode=series 
    • http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23489-yamaha-guitars-unveils-the-revstar-series 
  • Fuzzolo Fuzz ColourCV - Maybe a quick thing? It’s Z-vex, but not a guitar pedal. (Stab Red Witch Ivy)
    • The Fuzzolo module brings ZVex's celebrated silicon fuzz to the ColourCV format with CV-adjustable impedance and pulse width.
    • http://www.diyrecordingequipment.com/products/fuzzolo-fuzz-colourcv

Ep. 000053 - You Know What They Say About Tiny Ears

Quick Rundown: (stab: Walrus Audio Mayflower)

NEWS:

Ep. 000052 - You would have called it macaroni or something

000052 - You would have called it macaroni or something

Lousy notes again this week. Sorry about that. 

Quick Rundown: 

  • John Lennon’s 1962 Gibson J-160E sells at auction for $2.41 Million (Stab Jamup Preset, the chicka-wah) https://reverb.com/blog/john-lennons-1962-j-160e-gibson-sells-for-2-dollars-41-cents-million 
  • UAD Marshall Legends Bundle $399 (Stab: Caroline Olympia)
  • Thanks to The Revived for sending over a copy of their album! therevivedmusic.com for more info. Donation based, starting at $0! (Stab Seymour Duncan 805 Overdrive)
  • 81 new followers to the blog in the last month! Thanks! (Stab Seymour Duncan 805)
  • NEWS:
    • Dr. Z Z-Drive (Stab: Black Cat Bass Octave Fuzz)
      • Manufactured by Earthquaker Devices
      • Mosfet and Germanium in one pedal
      • Channel switch
      • https://reverb.com/blog/video-dr-z-amplification-z-drive-overdrive?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=reverbvid&utm_campaign=drz&_aid=yt 
    • Caroline Guitar Co. Meteore Lo-Fi Reverb (Stab: Bogner Burnley Distortion)
      • http://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/caroline-meteore-lo-fidelity-reverb-limited-edition-throwback-can 
      • give me this pedal
    • Gibson 2016 Traditional and High Performance lines (Stab: JHS Twin Twelve)
      • http://iheartguitarblog.com/2015/11/gibson-has-done-something-really-clever-with-their-2016-line.html#more-14012 
  • Mercy Seat Thee Holy Dove
  • Minifooger MF Trem
  • Question from Drew in Hawaii! 


Ep. 000051 - It's warm down here so I took my pants off!

Ep. 000050 - Ton-E 2.0, Australian Edition

Quick Rundown

  • Positive Grid BIAS Distortion. Crazy BIAS controls to build custom dirt boxes. Launching in November http://www.positivegrid.com/bias-pedal/ (Stab: Walrus Audio Mayflower)

  • Guitar build update! Body and neck have arrived at MJT for paint and relic. Parts supplied by them (control plate, bridge) (Stab: Earthquaker Hummingbird)

NEWS:

Ep. 000049 - See You In Hell, Ton-E!

000049 - See you in hell, Ton-E

That gibson “true historic” has more historically accurate plastics… “Molecular-level analysis!” $8600!  (Stab: Carl Martin Bass Drive)

  • Keeley 30ms Double Tracker (Stab: Walrus Audio Mayflower)
    • Delay/Reverb/Chorus...tape emulator...thing? Just watch the video. 
    • Marketing it as “live double tracking” 
    • Dry to one amp, 100% wet to the other
    • Chamber reverb (abbey road) 
    • Stereo out via TRS splitter
    • https://robertkeeley.com/30ms_Automatic_Double_Tracker 
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=2&v=p_7t81afmUQ 
  • New Pedals from TC Electronic (Stab: Dwarfcraft Pitch Grinder)
    • HyperGravity Compressor
      • 3 modes: Multiband, vintage (stompbox style), and Toneprint
      • True bypass, mono in/out, typical TC design
      • 4 controls, Sustain, Level, Attack, & Blend
      • This was one of the things TC was missing in their line up
      • http://bit.ly/1G0slJf 
    • Sentry Noise Gate (Caroline Kilobyte Delay)
      • Multi-band noise gate lets you adjust threshold in highs, mids, lows
      • Hard-Gate mode available for ultra tight gating 
      • Send/Return FX loop 
      • True bypass and toneprint enabled (artists toneprints available but mostly for you to fine tune your own settings)
      • 3 controls: Threshold, Decay, and Damp
      • http://www.tcelectronic.com/sentry-noise-gate/main/ 
  • This week's pedals:
    • Caroline Cannonball 
      • http://www.carolineguitar.com/portfolio/cannonball/
    • Wampler Thirty Something
      • http://wamplerpedals.com/product/thirty-something/ 
  • Thanks to Pedal Genie as always for sponsoring The Tone Control! Learn more about the new Flex Subscription and try the pedals we reviewed on the show here!
    • http://pedalgenie.com/new-flex-subscription 
    • Stereo guitar / stereo amp video thingy (Some random Jamup preset)
  • Classic Brit 45 kit from BYOC (Walrus Audio Plainsman Boost)
    • Old fashioned KT66 power stage and GZ34 tube rectifier
    • Classic Tone ™ transformers from Magnetic Components in Chicago
    • 6 colour [ ;-) ] options
    • Starting at $789, complete kit.
    • http://buildyourownclone.com/products/classic-brit-45

Ep. 000048 - I'm Back, Baby!

000048 - I’m Back, Baby! 

What is this? Quick? News? 

PRS adds Custom 22 SE and Custom 22 Semi-Hollow SE
http://guitarnoize.com/prs-add-2-new-models-se-custom-22-se-custom-22-semi-hollow/ 

Gibson is reducing prices because that was fucking stupid. 
https://reverb.com/blog/breaking-gibson-to-revert-prices-and-specs-on-2016-models?_aid=tw 

JHS Muffuletta Fuzz
6 big muff sounds on a rotary dial. The original JHS model plus 5 classic BM designs  
http://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/jhs-muffuletta-fuzz?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=CMEannotations&utm_campaign=muffuletta 

Catalinbread zero point flanger. 
no controls, just on/off and the “flange” momentary switch. 
Button is like a finger on a tape machine
It is your grandpa’s flanger. 
http://www.catalinbread.com/zero-point.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtkM69Gchww 

EHX Key9. You know what it is
http://iheartguitarblog.com/2015/09/meet-the-ehx-key9-electric-piano-machine.html#sthash.JBRXtobA.dpbs 

  • New picks & stuff http://www.dragonsheartguitarpicks.com/ 
  • Derek’s guitar build!
    • Musikraft.com 
    • mjtagedfinishes.com 
  • PG Pedals
    • EQD The Depths $195 http://www.earthquakerdevices.com/shop/The%20Depths/cat/13100 
    • Walrus Audio Janus $289 http://walrusaudio.com/shop/janus/ 

Ep. 000047 - What Is The Captive Nut?

Quick Rundown:

 

NEWS:

 

Beginner stuff?

My buddy Ryan is learning guitar. He has no musical background and is just going for it via youtube lessons, tips from friends, etc. I’ve learned just by talking to him that this is way harder than I remember and to anyone just learning right now, power to you. Not only are you trying to learn all there is to know about guitars and how they work, you’re trying to learn all about music at the same time. Definitely a challenge.

 

He asks: “Honestly my biggest struggle right now is transitioning from one note to another and proper finger angle technique. I know that's something that probably can't be taught but it might be worth at least a discussion.”

 

  • “Tilt”

  • Economy of playing/leaving early

  • Now is not the time to dwell on gear. Everyone has to play crappy guitars for a while.

  • Time

  • Listen to music and other guitar players with a critical ear. What are they doing? How are they doing it? Why are they doing it? Don’t just put music on to have on, listen actively.

Ep. 000046 - Don't Make Fun of My Voice

Quick Rundown:

    Check out our old band, Forging Reverie, on Apple Music (and literally everywhere else) https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/motion-canvas/id736926891

Thanks to Pedal Genie as always for sponsoring The Tone Control! Learn more about the new Flex Subscription and try the pedals we reviewed on the show here!
http://pedalgenie.com/new-flex-subscription

http://www.infanem.com/step/ currently on sale for $99

http://www.bogneramplification.com/burnley-pedals $229


Ep. 000045 - You Know It Always Comes Out Good When We Force It

Ep. 000045 - You Know It Always Comes Out Good When We Force It

Quick Rundown:

  • DOD Gonkulator reissue $187 MSRP
  • EHX announced The Silencer noise gate. Stompbox design w/ effects loops
  • Fano is releasing a “standard” line soon! All made in the US but street price under $2000.
  • Marshall is making a smartphone called the London. Two headphone jacks, volume adjustment via wheel (walkman style). Music focused android phone. Kay.
  • Light Lead Cables http://www.premierguitar.com/blogs/5-daily-news/post/20117-iconic-sound-introduces-light-lead-cables
  • I’m doing the Apple Music free trial. Still find myself thinking “yep, I want to own this album”

NEWS:

  • TC Electronic Bodyrez - http://www.tcelectronic.com/bodyrez/
    • Acoustic Pickup Enhancer Designed to restore the natural sound and feel of your acoustic guitar while using under-saddle pickups
    • Studio quality signal processing employs various filters and a small amount of compression
    • Mini pedal design with one knob, USB, true bypass switching
    • You can configure the footswitch to flip the phase to eliminate feedback
    • Press and hold footswitch to mute signal to change guitars easily 9V power supply included
    • Price $99

 

  • New stuff from Earthquaker http://guitarnoize.com/summer-namm-2015-new-earthquaker-devices-pedals/
    • Tentacle octave up - $125 Zero controls, zero fucks.
    • Dunes Mini Mega Ultimate Overdrive - $185 Condensed version of Palisades
    • Clipping: None, Silicon, and MOSFET (Settings 1, 3, and 5 from Palisades)
    • Bandwidth: “Stock”, “full range” (Settings 3 and 5 from Palisades)
    • Normal/Bright switch Sound Projector 25 25W tube amp
    • Designed to be a pedal platform. Volume, treble, bass Demoed with a 6x12 (3 2x12)

 

  • Roland JC40 http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/22763-roland-unveils-the-jazz-chorus-jc-40
    • It’s a smaller, 40W version of the famed JC120
    • 10” speakers
    • Updated space chorus sound, reverb, and even distortion
    • Includes line-out, stereo in, FX loop w/ series or parallel operation

 

  • New stuff from Boss
    • RV-6 Reverb $149 http://www.bossus.com/products/rv-6/
      • Totally new design, includes new dynamic reverb (basically auto-ducking), and Shimmer Modulated, spring, plate, hall, room, dynamic, shimmer, and + delay
        • Brought back the delay + reverb sound from the RV-3 Stereo in/out, expression in, 9v power
    • DD-500 Digital Delay $299 http://www.bossus.com/products/dd-500/
      • 32 bit 96k resolution, 12 delay sounds
      • USB in, midi control, mono/stereo, buffered or true bypass
      • 60 second looper, tap tempo.
      • Run 2 delays at the same time into different amps via stereo out

 

  • JHS/Keeley Steak and Eggs http://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/jhs-keeley-steak-and-eggs-pre-order
    • Collaboration pedal between JHS and Keeley!
    • JHS Morning Glory OD (with new high/low gain toggle) Keeley Compressor (with new bright switch and blend control)
    • Effect order toggle, dual footswitch, double wide design
    • Preorder from CME for $349

 

Ep. 000044 - I Just Went Full Lumbar

Ep. 000044 - I Just Went Full Lumbar 

Quick Rundown:

Ricky is here! Woop! https://www.facebook.com/RickyReillyMusic

From Slau:

“First let me tell you where I'm coming from. So, never mind my first 2 guitars I had when I was a kid. They were beginner instruments. When I got serious about playing, however, I got a Les Paul Custom. I played that guitar for years before getting my first Strat. (Believe me, I'm trying to give you a Reader's Digest version here) Naturally, I always wanted a nice acoustic so I eventually bought a wonderful Taylor 420. The more I played, the more I felt I needed to go for a hollow body. I bought several hollow body guitars. Somewhere in there, I figured I'd like a Telecaster flavor so I got a cheap Tele. Now I find myself thinking that what I've really wanted all along is a nice semihollow guitar. All along, I'm developing a recognition of each guitar's individual character / style, etc., and realizing that I'm looking for something just a little different from time to time. My wife doesn't even try to understand why I need 20 guitars but I do.

So, if you were starting over, building your guitar collection from scratch, what kinds of guitars would you say are "a must" to have a well-rounded palette of colors / characters for virtually all applications? It's silly to try to come up with a "single guitar" for everything. But, let's say you could have 3, what would they be? A Les Paul, Strat and acoustic? Sounds reasonable but, beyond that, what guitars are unique enough that it would justify adding them to that initial set of 3? Hmm…

Shit, now I'm thinking I need a resonator…”    


Ep. 000043 - I'm DONE With Little Frets

Ep. 000043 - I'm DONE With Little Frets

Quick Rundown
Apple music is $10/mo individually, $15/mo per “family”. 

NEWS

  • Line 6 Helix http://line6.com/helix/ 
  • Appears to be going after the Axe FX stuff
  • Tour-grade multi-effects pedal with dual DSP
  • 6.2” color LCD, capacitive touch footswitches
  • Hands free sound editing using footswitches and wah/volume pedal
  • External control for remotes, amps, or stompboxes
  • Four FX loops, midi, usb, everything
  • Pedalboard $1499, Rack unit $1499, controller $499 

 

  • DOD reissues the Gonkulator! 
  • DOD Grunge pedal in parallel with a ring mod
  • Added frequency control
  • Normal names for knobs (no more suck, smear, gunk, and heave)

 

  • TC Electronic PolyTune Clip
  • Super tough clip on tuner with extra strong spring
  • Brighter and faster display than ever before
  • Screen automatically flips so you can mount on front or back of headstock
  • Newer/better algorithm for polyphonic tuning, seamlessly switches to chromatic mode
  • Flat tunings and capo modes
  • About $50? 

 

  • Prisma Guitars
  • San Francisco based guitar company making guitars in the classic skateboard-ply style
  • Solid back and sides with awesome multi-color top
  • Bunch of models, Jazzmaster, 335, Mustang, Les Paul inspired designs 
  • Each top is unique and hand made. 
  • $2300 and up for production models. Custom shop starts at $2500. 
  • http://www.prismaguitars.com/guitars/ 

Ep. 000042 - Be Interested Because It's Interesting

Ep. 000042 - Be Interested because it’s interesting

Bad notes this week! Sorry, but not that sorry. 

Ep. 000040 - Wake Up, You Piece of Shit!

Ep. 000040 - Wake up, you piece of shit

Quick Rundown:

  • I got an AC30 C2!

  • New line of super affordable guitars from PRS. $499, all mahogany w/ rosewood fretboard, set neck, bird inlays. Standard 24, 22, SE 245 (lp style) and Santana

  • Innovation: digitally controlled analog circuits. Elixir strings. 

NEWS:

  • Strymon DIG Dual Digital Delay

    • Two synchronized delays in one

    • Two delay time and delay mix controls, on/off switch, tap tempo

    • 3 types

      • ADM - early 80’s adaptive delta modulation

      • 12 bit - mid 80’s pulse code modulation

      • 24/96 - high resolution with subtle modulation

    • off/Light/deep modulation

    • LOTS of subdivisions, triplet, 8th, dotted 8th, dotted quarter, and “golden ratio”

    • “free mode” unsyncs the two delays,

    • Delays can be set to series (like two stomp boxes), parallel, or ping pong. Parallel means the two delays don’t interact. delay 1 is left, delay 2 is right.

    • http://www.strymon.net/dig/

  • Pedal Genie - pedalgenie.com/tonecontrol

    • Create a wish list of pedals you want to try out

    • $34.95/mo for 1 pedal, or $59.95/mo for 3! First month is only $1

    • NEW Pedal of the Month club. 1 pedal/mo from a curated list of the coolest gear

    • TONS of gear from a great list of manufacturers

      • Caroline Guitar Company, EHX, Mission Audio, Z.Vex, Pigtronix, to name a select few

    • They send you one at a time, and you keep it as long as you like

    • Pedal buy-out options

    • Pedalgenie.com/tonecontrol

  • Dynamount Kickstarter