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.
Part 1: The Electric Guitar is History
The Future of The Electric Guitar Part 1: The Electric Guitar is History Read the rest of the series:Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 Before we can predict the electric guitar’s future, we must understand its past. Created to serve guitarists who needed more output than an acoustic guitar could provide, the electric […]
Vanessa Wheeler (VAVÁ) on Building an Indie Career, Brazilian Music, and Complicating the Guitar
LA-based musician Vanessa Wheeler, who goes by the performing name VAVÁ, has hustled over the past few years to grab the ears of listeners and build a following. Her soulful sound stirs together pop, R&B, and rock influences, with a pinch of the Brazilian music she grew up with to shake up the rhythms. If […]
Tomo Fujita Shares Guitar Wisdom, Talks Ibanez Collab
Don’t compare! Don’t worry! Don’t expect too fast! Be kind to yourself! Apart from the licks, funky rhythms, and musical theory students learn from Tomo Fujita, these four tenets, recited in most of his videos and emblazoned on his custom picks, are what tend to stick in the mind. On both his free YouTube videos […]
Gibson Teases the Return of Maestro
The legend of Maestro pedals gets a new chapter January 18! Gibson just released this teaser video that’s got us all tingly for the return of the classic pedal brand. Best known for effects like the FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone, (the sound behind the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction” riff) the PS-1 Phase Shifter, and the endlessly versatile EP-3 […]
PRS Unveils SE Silver Sky
Fans of smooth John Mayer tones have something to look forward to in 2022 as Paul Reed Smith announced an SE Silver Sky model yesterday. The Instagram post revealed the four new finishes: Ever Green, Stone Blue, Moon White, and Dragon Fruit. A list of specs was also posted, and highlights include a familiar 635JM […]
Our Top 7 Videos of 2021
As 2021 draws to a close, we’re looking back at our seven most-viewed videos from the year. Check them out below! Legends Series: Grateful Dead There are few rock legends with as long reaching a legacy as the still-active Grateful Dead. In this video, we pay tribute to the jam gods with a rendition of […]
Dr. Michael Santucci Wants to Save Your Ears!
Had he followed the conventional audiologist’s path, Dr. Michael Santucci would still be treating musicians — but only after they’d experienced hearing loss, ear injury, and tinnitus. Instead, he entered the field with the mission to help working musicians protect their ears in order to prevent hearing loss and damage down the line. The desire […]
Guitar Parts That Made History
While most guitar enthusiasts recognize and revere the likes of Eddie Van Halen’s “Frankenstrat,” or Jimi Hendrix’s beloved Stratocasters, the individual components in these guitars have stories to tell as well. Whether a revolutionary piece of hardware designed by a technical innovator, or an inspired modification made by an artist out of necessity, these are […]
Live With the Denon DJ LC6000
Looking to get a little more out of your DJ rig? Watch our live demo of Denon DJ’s new LC6000 expansion controller! Resident DJ expert Jimmy guides us through the functionality of this unit, and how it can open up new possibilities in your next DJ set.
