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.
New Gear Report: Music Man 40th Anniversary “Old Smoothie” StingRay Bass & Orange OB1-300 Combo
There’s been a stockpile of great new gear coming out for bassists lately — so much so that we can hardly keep up! We’re spotlighting two pieces of gear we think are going to make a big splash among bassists. First up, a reissue of an all-time classic. Music Man 40th Anniversary “Old Smoothie” StingRay Bass The StingRay […]
Nick Jonas Solo Reminds Us We’re All Human
On Sunday night, Nick Jonas did something every guitarist has done likely in the hundreds of times. He flubbed a solo. For Nick though, it didn’t happen in a garage around friends or at a bar with a dozen already buzzed patrons. It was at the 51st Annual American Country Music Awards held in the […]
Year of the Supercharged Guitar: Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass & StingRay
We’re always looking for trends at the NAMM show and this year there were quite a few. One big trend we noticed: 2016 is shaping up to be a great year for progressive guitars. Recent and upcoming releases from major players like Fender, Gibson, D’Angelico, and Ernie Ball Music Man are adding hot-rodded parts and upgrades — some […]
Sound of Ceres Talk Nostalgia for Infinity
Karen and Ryan Hover don’t just make music together, they explore. Their hikes and expeditions into Rocky Mountain National Park, a short hop from their home in Fort Collins, CO, inspire their musical output. Since 2009, the duo recorded as Candy Claws, releasing a series of albums that established their hazy psychedelic sound with a sort of smudged […]
Even Thieves and the New New Wave
Before I listened to Even Thieves perform at their practice space in Chicago’s The Music Garage, the posters on the walls gave me plenty of insight into their influences: Morrissey’s charmingly smug grin, Interpol posing in sharp suits, a promo for an appearance by Duran Duran at a local Best Buy. Even Thieves’ sound is equal parts the influence from their new wave […]
Year of the Supercharged Guitar: D’Angelico’s Deluxe Collection
We’re always looking for trends at the NAMM show and this year there were quite a few. One big trend we noticed: 2016 is shaping up to be a great year for progressive guitars. Recent and upcoming releases from major players like Fender, Gibson, D’Angelico, and Ernie Ball Music Man are adding hot-rodded parts and upgrades — some […]
Bryan Adams’ Vintage Martin Defaced at Cairo Airport
It’s been a weird 2016 for Martin Guitars. Following the misguided destruction of a priceless 145-year-old Martin guitar by Kurt Russell on the set of Quentin Tarantino’s film The Hateful Eight, came this news from Egypt: According to the Daily Mail, After a show at the Giza Pyramids, Bryan Adams was set to depart Cairo, […]
Year of the Supercharged Guitar: Gibson High Performance Series
We’re always looking for trends at the NAMM show and this year there were quite a few. One big trend we noticed: 2016 is shaping up to be a great year for progressive guitars. Recent and upcoming releases from major players like Fender, Gibson, D’Angelico, and Ernie Ball Music Man are adding hot-rodded parts and upgrades — some […]
Update: Axl Rose Set to Replace Brian Johnson for AC/DC’s Remaining U.S. Tour Dates?
Update (March 23): When last we heard, AC/DC singer Brian Johnson was having a rough time continuing to front the Australian hard rock band. At first, his largest setback was his hearing – or impending lack thereof – as doctors warned him against “total hearing loss.” The plot thickened as comedian Jim Breuer, a close […]
