Gear 5
Vintage Corner: 1962 Fender Champ-Amp
My Fender Champ was built in 1962 in Fullerton, California. There were a few different variations of this amp, but this version started in 1957 with the 5F1 circuit giving it more gain when you crank the volume, and it was the cheapest amp Fender had made at the time since 1950. The only setting […]
Talking Shop: The Gear That Got Away
If you’ve been playing music long enough, you’ve probably experienced the hardship of losing gear you love. Whether sold to pay bills, swapped in an ill-advised gear trade, or stolen, lost gear leaves a painful memory for many musicians. Today, zZounds staffers are looking back at the gear they miss dearly, from tonally supreme amps […]
Boss Announces DC-2W and MT-2W Pedals
Pedal heads have a lot to be excited about today: Boss has just announced the DC-2W Dimension C and MT-2W Metal Zone! Like other pedals in the Waza Craft series, these pedals are made in Japan and incorporate a best-of-both worlds approach, letting players instantly recall the familiar tones available in these classic pedals, while […]
Orange Releases New Terror Bass Head and OBC112
The redesigned Orange Terror Bass has arrived — and it sounds better than ever. With a tube preamp and 500-watt solid-state power amp, the Terror Bass mimics the tone of Orange’s flagship AD200 bass head in an affordable, gig-friendly package. The front panel of the Orange Terror Bass remains virtually the same as the original, […]
EHX Announces Mod Rex Polyrhythmic Modulator Pedal
Mike Matthews and his crew of tone-tweakers are up to their old tricks again. Just today they dropped the latest Electro-Harmonix pedal, Mod Rex, out of the blue. This isn’t the first time a new EHX pedal has appeared out of the ether, but this one is a real doozy! The Electro-Harmonix MOD REX is […]
Yamaha Teases New Synth Announcement
If you’re a synthophile, there’s been a lot to be excited about lately. Just this past weekend, Knobcon’s seventh annual event took place, and the zZounds Blog was there — check out the photos! Roland is set to debut new synth and drum products Thursday per its “Music Connects” site. And now, hot on its heels, […]
Knobcon 2018 Recap and Gallery
One wouldn’t expect the great city of Schaumburg, Illinois (home of an IKEA and in the vicinity of some of the Midwest’s best Japanese food) to be the destination city for legions of synthesizer fans and makers. Yet, here, in its seventh iteration, Knobcon (founded by massive synth head Mr. Suit & Tie Guy) is […]
Talking Shop: Essential Gear
Take a moment to think about the most important piece of gear in your rig or studio. Maybe it’s your most powerful, most capable, or most expensive piece of gear. But what happens when the strap comes off your vintage guitar and all its sweet, inherent mojo falls from your shoulder to make contact with […]
Something New This Way Comes from EarthQuaker Devices
Just over an hour ago EarthQuaker Devices dropped a quick teaser video for something new to come in just a few days, August 29th. With a laid-back, sultry track from Lisa Bella Donna to match the sexy components dripping in swirling black ink shots, there isn’t a whole lot given away. It feels like Netflix just […]
