I’m a touring musician who daylights as a Product Merchandiser and Copywriter for all things guitar at zZounds. When I’m not working in Chicago or riding around in a van, you can find me tinkering with gear, hanging out with my dog, or retreating to the woods of my native Michigan.
Maintaining Guitar Humidity
For the longest time, humidity never crossed my mind when it came to my guitars. I mainly play solid body Jaguars in a band and only ever pick up my low-end acoustic when I’m at home strumming on the couch. It wasn’t until I moved from a basement rehearsal space to a main floor space […]
A Guide to Studio-Friendly DI Boxes
If you’ve ever played a show at a venue with a legitimate PA system, you or someone in your band has most likely needed to use a direct (DI) box. Direct boxes allow you to split your instrument’s signal, sending a balanced output to the front-of-house mixer, and the unprocessed “thru” signal to your amp. […]
Perfect Pairings: Moog Mother-32 and EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter
Certain situations call for certain combinations of gear. We here at zZounds know that, and we want to share some of our favorite pairings with you. In this edition, we’re pairing up the Moog Mother-32 and the EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter for some seriously spooky synth destruction. Moog Mother-32 The Moog Mother-32 has been a […]
What String Trees Are For
Often overlooked, string trees are an integral little piece of equipment for your Fender-style guitar or bass to play properly. Since a flat headstock doesn’t tilt back to give each string the proper break angle, a string tree (or string guide/retainer) applies downward pressure to the string, ensuring it stays properly seated in its slot […]
Preparing for Your Next Recording Session
Alongside writing and touring, recording is an extremely important part of the working musician’s trifecta. Walking into a well-equipped, professional recording studio is an inspiring feeling, so it’s important to be prepared to efficiently capture that inspiration. Generally speaking, studio time doesn’t come cheap. Whether you’ve saved up for an allotted amount of time in […]
Four Ways to Rein in Your Powerful Tube Amp
Don’t get me wrong — I love loud amps as much as the next guy. I’ve got two tube heads at home that clip at about 120W each and more cabs than my back can handle carrying, but even I can admit that sometimes less is more. While you may be head-over-heels with the tone […]
A Guitarist’s Guide to Thick Studio Tone
As the only guitarist in a three-piece band, I sometimes struggle with maintaining a full, thick tone. I’ve compensated by adapting my playing style to be a hybrid of rhythm and lead at all times, and choosing my amps, cabs and effects wisely in live settings. When my band hits the studio, it’s a slightly […]
Perfect Pairings: Hagstrom Viking Deluxe Baritone & Way Huge Russian Pickle
In this edition, we’re pairing up the Hagstrom Viking Deluxe Baritone and Way Huge Electronics Russian Pickle for some window-rattling, low-end fuzz. Whenever a sweet baritone rolls through the doors at zZounds HQ, it’s hard not to plug it into a nice dirt pedal and riff out for hours. So, when the Hagstrom Viking Deluxe […]
A Primer on Power Tubes
As you gaze lovingly into the warm glow of the tubes in your favorite amp, you may wonder: “What exactly do these glorified lightbulbs have to do with powering my amp, let alone shaping my tone?” The answer to that question is: “a lot.” Each type of power tube, whether EL34, KT88, 6L6 or otherwise, has drastically different […]
