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Gear History 14

Gear History tells the story behind now-legendary pieces of gear, and the innovative people and brands who changed the sound of music.
9 months ago Gear History

Stop Trading Gear So Soon

As tone chasers and curious musicians, it’s pretty easy to keep trading gear. While new gear won’t make you play any better, new tools can expand what we as musicians can do. Most of the gear that I get usually stays in my possession for a long time. Whether I’ve used these pieces of gear […]

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1 year ago Gear History

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 […]

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2 years ago Gear History

The Triangle: Earth’s First Big Muff

Arguably the most famous distortion pedal of all time is the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi. With its nearly endless sustain, amazing textures, and its ability to take your solos to the next level, the Big Muff has gained fame by appearing on some of the biggest records of all time. But where did this world-changing […]

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3 years ago Gear History

The Shure SM58: From Flop to Top

It may have been your first mic, or it may be the one you’ll use at the gig tonight — either way, this mic set the standard for nearly every microphone built in the last 50 years. Shure’s SM58 leads the way in the live sound microphone world thanks to years of refinement and development […]

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4 years ago Gear History

Raymond Scott, A Synth Pioneer

Born in Brooklyn and a graduate of the Julliard School of Music, synth pioneer Raymond Scott began his career in music in 1931, playing piano for the CBS Radio house band. In 1936 Raymond Scott put together a six-man “quintet” (Scott liked the word quintet, although his band had six members). The Raymond Scott Quintette […]

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4 years ago Gear History

10 Music Gear Brand Names You Should Know How to Say

If you’re into making music, you’re probably into talking gear, too. But what’s the proper way to pronounce all those audio gear and musical instrument brand names that you’ve seen so many times? Here at zZounds, we’ve heard them all. Here are 10 commonly mispronounced brand names, and our guide to how to say them […]

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4 years ago Gear History

Audio Gear Brand Names: What Do Those Initials Stand For?

What does AKG stand for? What does JBL stand for? If you’re familiar with pro audio and recording gear brands, you’ll recognize many names that just go by their initials. But what do those initials and acronyms stand for? Read on for the stories behind those letters you’ve seen a million times on your audio […]

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6 years ago Gear History

A Quick Take on Flanging

Flanging, whether created by a reel-to-reel tape machine, a guitar pedal, or a plugin on your DAW, is an instantly recognizable, transformative effect. But where does flanging come from? What exactly created that iconic sound in the first place? We’ll give you a brief overview of flange, from its invention to its glory days in the ’70s, on through […]

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6 years ago Gear History

Who Was Ted McCarty?

The president of Gibson during its most accomplished era, the man who oversaw the development of the Les Paul and first conceptualized the ES-335, nearly took a job with Brach’s Candy. Perhaps in a parallel universe, Ted McCarty does take up a position at Brach’s and we all enjoy some wondrous confections that not only taste divine, but […]

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Since 1996, zZounds has been making it easy for musicians to get the gear they need. With our easy monthly payment plans, you can get the music gear you need today -- and split the cost into monthly installments on your existing credit card. zZounds ships from multiple warehouses across the continental United States, so we can cover most of our customers within a day or two. Our customer service team is staffed with real musicians. They don't get paid on commission -- they get paid to help you! Looking for the best prices? Don't miss our Big Deals weekly specials, Used Gear on Clearance, and The Drop for monthly promos, sales, and special offers.
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