Mason has played guitar since age 14 and has remained a charmingly amateurish musician ever since. Mason joined zZounds in 2014 and serves as editor of the zZounds Blog, as well as Accessories Merchandiser. Prior to zZounds, he earned a degree in journalism and worked as a newspaper editor and freelance writer. When not writing or editing for zZounds, you can find him playing his Strat, hosting bar trivia, and chasing his toddler around the house.
Boss Announces DC-2W and MT-2W Pedals
Pedal heads have a lot to be excited about today: Boss has just announced the DC-2W Dimension C and MT-2W Metal Zone! Like other pedals in the Waza Craft series, these pedals are made in Japan and incorporate a best-of-both worlds approach, letting players instantly recall the familiar tones available in these classic pedals, while […]
Behind the Design: Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan (the company) has been producing top-tier pickups since 1976, but Seymour Duncan (the man) got his start in the late ’60s wiring pickups for the likes of Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page, and working with Seth Lover (the inventor of the humbucker) as a mentor. Seymour Duncan guitar and bass pickups […]
Yamaha Teases New Synth Announcement
If you’re a synthophile, there’s been a lot to be excited about lately. Just this past weekend, Knobcon’s seventh annual event took place, and the zZounds Blog was there — check out the photos! Roland is set to debut new synth and drum products Thursday per its “Music Connects” site. And now, hot on its heels, […]
Talking Shop: Essential Gear
Take a moment to think about the most important piece of gear in your rig or studio. Maybe it’s your most powerful, most capable, or most expensive piece of gear. But what happens when the strap comes off your vintage guitar and all its sweet, inherent mojo falls from your shoulder to make contact with […]
EarthQuaker Devices Releases Aqueduct Vibrato
EarthQuaker Devices’ newest pedal, the Aqueduct Vibrato, is a pitch-shifting enigma that just emerged from the watery depths, sending the High Council of Tone into a frenzy. Are its intentions good or evil? Are its eight modes of vibrato meant to bring peace to the Planet Ohio, or to destroy it from within and defile […]
Remain Calm: DigiTech FreqOut Demo
The FreqOut Natural Feedback Creator is another entry in DigiTech’s legacy of creating pedals fueled by some truly next-level inspiration. The FreqOut replicates the sound of feedback created by playing your guitar or bass close to a blaring amp. And it doesn’t just give you one tonality but seven, letting you cherry-pick the frequency of your […]
Top Tones: EHX Oceans 11 Reverb
Packed with eleven reverb modes, an internal tails switch and powerful hidden parameters, the Electro-Harmonix Oceans 11 is a “Swiss army knife” of reverb. We’re putting this pedal through its paces by showcasing its spaciest, shimmering sounds in this Top Tones video. Peep the Fender Player Jaguar we’re using as well — its unique pickup […]
Beat Connection Collection: Beat Foundations
In Beat Connection, we explore modern and vintage dance styles the only way we know how…by providing you a musical starting point to help you create that beat. In this collection, we’re highlighting Beat Connection posts that detail the fundamental foundations of beatmaking, elemental topics like rhythm, pitch and structure. Check them out below and […]
Talking Shop: Dream Gear
If money were no object, what is one piece of gear you’d buy? This is the question we asked for the first installment of Talking Shop, the series in which we ask zZounds staffers questions about gear and all things music. Check out our team’s answers below, and feel free to comment on what your […]
