A guitarist since 1996, Sergio played guitar in The Junior Varsity from 2002-2007 and a handful of times since, as well as playing in many other bands. In addition to guitar, he plays drums and owns and operates recording gear. Sergio is a sci-fi fan, a lover of dogs, and big, loud amps. Sergio is the Senior Guitar Copywriter at zZounds, as well as the manager of the Guitar category, and works as an audio engineer with the zZounds video team.
Flagship Tone: Mesa/Boogie Mark VII
When you require larger than life tone, then there’s no other choice than Mesa/Boogie’s Mark VII. Boasting three channels (with three voices per channel!), the Mark VII ranges from sparkling clean to bone-crunching distortion — and everything in between. As the flagship of the Mesa/Boogie lineup, this amp has all the bells and whistles: Multi-Watt […]
zZounds Live: Boss Katana-50 MkII EX Combo and Artist MkII Head
Curious about the Katana-50 MkII EX and the Katana-Artist MkII head? Watch as Justin pushes these amps to their limit in this edition of zZounds Live! As one of the most popular guitar amp series around, Boss’s Katana family delivers versatility and pro sound at wallet-friendly prices. Boss adds to their Katana series once again […]
zZounds Live: How to Use a Compressor
Compression is one of the most-heard effects in the world, but its ubiquity is almost matched by its mystery. While the applications of compressors can range from gentle squeeze to full vice grip, training your ear to hear the subtle differences can sometimes prove arduous. Well, wonder no more! Check out this special edition of […]
Celebrate Over 40 Years of Mesa/Boogie with the Mark V!
Satisfy your cravings for the ultimate Mesa/Boogie tone with the world-renowned Mark Series. This series’ pedigree spans over four decades, from founder Randall Smith’s earliest tinkerings to the modern high-gain amps of today. Whether you are looking for pristine yet muscular cleans, juicy saturation, or anything in between, a Mark Series amp delivers with ease. […]
zZounds Live: Discover Divine Tone with Blackstar’s St. James Amps!
Get ready to rock with the Blackstar St. James amps! Available in both head and 1×12″ combos, these amps come in your choice of two bold flavors, thanks to the legendary pedigrees of each model’s power tubes: • EL34 – The classic high-gain British sound. Imagine crispy cleans that smoothly transition into compressed saturation and […]
zZounds Live: Re-Work Your Guitar Sounds With Reamping
Have you ever performed a golden take only to realize afterward that the amp sound just wasn’t quite there? Or maybe you want to audition the perfect amp for a hot solo you just recorded? If you record any guitars at all, then now’s the time to learn about reamping. With recording technology more accessible […]
Ducking Vocals With Sidechain Compression During Live Broadcasts
When there’s a blaring guitar amp right next to a vocal mic, there’s no denying that you’re going to hear some guitar bleed and pick noises coming through. In a live broadcast, especially when you’re trying to highlight the sound of a specific piece of gear, audio bleed can be annoying and distracting. In order […]
zZounds Live: Jamstik Studio MIDI Guitar Deep Dive
Perfect for players who are more comfortable composing on guitar, the Jamstik Studio MIDI guitar easily controls both hardware and software instruments thanks to multiple output options. Whether you want to plug into an analog synth or get a little crazy by triggering drums in your DAW, the Jamstik has you covered. And, if you’re […]
zZounds Live: The Soldano SLO-100: A Live Shredsperience
Ever wonder why the Soldano SLO-100 is almost mythically revered among a huge range of guitarists? Check out a replay of our livestream as zZounds’ resident Shredder-in-Chief Justin takes this beastly amp for a high-octane test drive. Think you can handle the power of a SLO? Find out now!
