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.
Nine Reasons to Love the Launchpad Pro
Our friend Adam at Novation recently shared with us some reasons the new Launchpad Pro sets the standard for grid controllers. A few folks in the office already have Launchpad Pros and love them, so we didn’t need any convincing! If you haven’t tried one out yet, read up on what Adam says below, or check out […]
Interview: Troy Van Leeuwen
Today, we’re throwing back to our interview last summer with Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen. We discussed the band’s latest album, Like Clockwork, Troy’s chameleonic signature Fender Jazzmaster, and his early, Pre-Queens days in bands like Failure. Speaking of Failure, Troy recently contributed some guitar work on tracks for The Heart is a Monster, released […]
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – The Tyranny of Distance
The Tyranny of Distance is the second album from Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, and it sounds absolutely huge. From the distant, feeding-back guitar that kicks it off, all the way through the ending featuring just Ted and his ES-335, it’s a monumental work. I’ll talk about all that comes in between in a moment, but let’s go […]
Nine Things You Might Not Know About Shure
This post is part of a “Shure Week” (August 6-13) series celebrating the release of the new MOTIV line of USB and iOS microphones and interfaces. Check with us through the week to learn more about Shure! It’s hard to believe that a company over 90 years old still has some surprises, yet dig into […]
Product Testing at Shure
This post is part of a “Shure Week” (August 6-13) series celebrating the release of the new MOTIV line of USB and iOS microphones and interfaces. Check with us through the week to learn more about Shure! You’ve probably heard tales of — or experienced for yourself — the almost-mythic durability and resilience of Shure […]
Interview with Chris Wyse
Chris Wyse just doesn’t have time to slow down. Calling in to talk with me last week, he had just returned home to New York after completing one stretch of a tour with Ace Frehley, and couldn’t take more than one day off before starting up rehearsals with his own band, Owl. It’s a pace Wyse may not […]
Gibson’s Kalamazoo Gals
The “Kalamazoo Gals” in front of the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, MI circa 1944. Photo Credit: Guitarkadia.com. Gibson’s 2016 line of acoustic guitars features plenty of updates — some are designed to suit the modern player, as in the Progressive series. Others are made for history buffs, like the thermally aged tops on the Vintage series. One “update” […]
Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment – Surf
The backing band of a gifted lyricist and songwriter takes the spotlight to craft a work under their own name, with a slew of big-name guest stars joining in. Have we heard this before? In the case of Surf, an ambitious release by Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment, the answer is no. Unlike the reference above, this is no […]
Mark Holcomb Interview
We recently got the chance to sit down with Periphery guitarist Mark Holcomb before a show at Chicago’s House of Blues. Mark gave background on his history with Periphery, shed the details on his signature PRS guitar — which boasts several subtle but seriously unique features — and even offered some advice for up-and coming bands. Check it […]
