Gear 5
The Gear of 2016
To close out 2016, we’re taking a look at some of the gear we think made a big impact among musicians this year. We’re not saying this gear was the “best” of the year, but whether they intrigued us personally or stirred up a bunch of discussion on forums and Facebook groups, this gear definitely made […]
Gear Review: KHDK Dark Blood
There’s almost nothing like plugging into a big tube amp, cranking the volume, setting the gain just right, and letting that thing rip. It’s that x-factor, the “you know it when you hear it” sound, that keeps you coming back for more. There’s something going on among the combination of tubes, capacitors, resistors, transformers, etc. […]
Five Tuner Pedals With Bonus Features
When it comes to tuner pedals, most guitarists agree that the absolute most important quality is accuracy. If you can’t trust your tuner, you have nothing. Thankfully, just about any tuner you find today is going to be accurate to a degree of under 1 cent. That’s pretty darn precise — for reference, there are 100 cents between each half-step, […]
Korg Announces Monologue
Korg just announced the new Monologue monophonic analog synthesizer today, putting countless rumors to rest. The company had teased a Nov. 1 product launch earlier on social media, but had removed the teaser graphics. With little clues to work with, fans guessed the new product could have been anything from an ARP 2600 reissue, a mini […]
Eight Unsung Heroes in Your Guitar Rig
Like a lot of other guitarists who gig for art or work, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about which guitar is going to fit my style the best, or how many tube watts will I need to fit in with “x” band. While these pursuits are definitely central to getting your sound right, their […]
Knobcon 2016 Recap and Gallery
Here are a few things you’re likely not to read often: thousands descended last week on the great city of Schaumburg, Illinois for a three-day convention full of unique synthesizer companies and aficionados. I may be overselling the event itself, but Knobcon holds a legitimately unique scene you won’t see anywhere else. So, what is Knobcon? Here’s a definition from […]
TC Electronic Mimiq Doubler Announced
Whether it was on Abbey Road or Master of Puppets, multi-tracking is a widely-used studio technique that has given countless recordings the instantly recognizable sound of massive guitars. By recording the same part multiple times, then layering them on top of each other, engineers create a wall of sound. And with each take, subtle differences […]
Roland 909 Day Video Released
Where will you be on September 9? A new video released by Roland teases 909 Day, a major event from the company taking place in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Tokyo and other cities, in which over 30 new products and “services” will be shown. The video says that everything from amplifiers to […]
Joe Bonamassa Epiphone Firebird I Announced
Joe Bonamassa’s Instagram followers got a treat last week as the blues guitarist showed off some early models of his new Epiphone Firebird I guitars. Modeled after his 1963 Gibson Firerbird I (nicknamed “Treasure”), these Epiphone Firebirds feature the same single-pickup design, dot inlays and wraparound tailpiece as the original. Now orderable, the Epiphone Joe […]
