A guitarist since in 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, Bass, and Drums categories, and is audio engineer for Gear Wire.
Taylor 517e Builder’s Edition Demo
The new era in Taylor tone is upon us with the release of the Grand Pacific body shape! Featuring a wider waist, rounded shoulders, and game-changing V-class bracing, the Grand Pacific’s voice projects powerful low-end clarity with a rounded top-end. These highly musical characteristics make the guitars a perfect choice for any player, from singer-songwriters […]
Fun With Flangers
Loved by many — and mildly perplexing to perhaps the same number of players, — the patiently enduring flanger effect has been found on recordings since the mid-20th century, and at the feet of guitarists since the ’70s. Even though the effect can yield mild, nuanced results, the exaggerated “jet plane” sound is typically what […]
Perfect Pairings: Kemper Profiler and ValveTrain PowerTrain Stage 50
Sometimes you gotta pair up two pieces of gear to get the most out of each. In this edition of zZounds’ Perfect Pairings, we’re partnering up a Kemper Profiler Guitar Amplifier Modeler with the ValveTrain PowerTrain Stage 50 to create a beastly amp stack overflowing with both versatility and muscular tube tone. Kemper Profiler Guitar […]
UAD-2 Preamp Bass Overdrive Shootout
Ever since I picked up my first electric guitar, I’ve always loved the sound of overdrive. Now, of course, when I first started playing, I thought that distortion was an effect or a sound only reserved for guitars, and preferably generated from a monstrous tube amp. As I grew older, I started aligning myself more […]
Gibson 2019 Guitar Lineup Overview
Standing with one foot solidly in the past, and the other in the future, Gibson sprints out of the gate in 2019 with a killer selection of your favorite models. Prefer a more vintage style? Then pick up something like the classic Les Paul Standard. A timeless instrument, the Standard is everything you ever wanted […]
Perfect Pairings: Seymour Duncan FOOZ and TC-Helicon Talkbox Synth
In this Perfect Pairings video, we’re partnering up a Seymour Duncan FOOZ Analog Fuzz Synthesizer pedal with the TC-Helicon Talkbox Synth to create a colorful assortment of funky sounds. Seymour Duncan FOOZ Push your creativity past your limits with the Seymour Duncan FOOZ Analog Fuzz Synthesizer. This versatile pedal mimics the signal flow of modular […]
Perfect Pairings: Guild D-55 & F-512E
In this Perfect Pairings video, we’re matching up a pair of Guild acoustic guitars, the D-55 and the F-512E 12-string, to create a robust (and very autumnal) sonic statement. The Guild D-55 acoustic takes the classic style of large dreadnought guitars, and spices it up in a way only Guild knows how. The guitar’s premium […]
Electro-Harmonix Triangle Big Muff Demo
Electro-Harmonix has surprised us once again with the resurrection of a classic iteration of their most beloved pedal. Based on the original from 1969, the Triangle Big Muff Pi is a one-way ticket to high-gain heaven, with tons of extra volume on tap and a powerful tone control. From rippling velcro-esque sounds, to super-compressed, over-the-top […]
Brent Hinds On His Signature Orange Amp
Deep within a secret mountainous facility underneath a waterfall, Orange designed the Brent Hinds Terror amp head in collaboration with the Mastodon guitarist himself…or so Brent says. This 15-watt beast boasts two foostwitchable channels — “Natural,” with just a single volume control that spans from glassy cleans to harmonically rich overdrive, and the “Dirty” channel, […]
