Gear 5
Talking Shop: The Best Show You’ve Ever Seen
It’s a fact: if you’ve been to two or more shows, you can talk about the best show you’ve ever seen (so far). Whether it was a band you’ve idolized since childhood, or an unknown act that blew you away, or even a perfect crowd, these shows can be a transformative experience. We asked zZounds […]
Photo Gallery: Moogfest 2019
zZounds is back at it, training our eyes at Moog’s annual meeting of minds, music, and technology dubbed “Moogfest.” Located in the lovely confines of downtown Durham, NC, Moogfest is a synth and music lover’s festival complete with intriguing workshops, a huge synth marketplace, experiential art installations and brilliant music performances. Debuting this year is […]
Moog Matriarch Announced at Moogfest 2019
As has become an annual tradition at Moogfest, the top name in analog synths is welcoming a new member to the family. Meet the Matriarch. This semi-modular synth is loaded with creation potential, featuring 4 notes of paraphony that a user can mix, mangle and arrange across a 256-step sequencer. More of a monophile? The […]
Ibanez Tube Screamer Shootout
2019 marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most iconic and most copied overdrive pedals of all time: The Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer. Designed by Maxon and re-branded by Ibanez, the Tube Screamer has been a favorite among guitarists of all genres. Whether you’re trying to get the sweet bluesy break up of Stevie […]
Fender Custom Shop Crafts Game of Thrones Axes
There are countless guitar-based covers of the Game of Thrones theme on YouTube, but only one that’s played by show runner D.B. Weiss and theme composer Ramin Djawadi…and guitarists Tom Morello, Nuno Bettencourt and Scott Ian, plus Fender Principal Master Builder Ron Thorn. While that’s enough star power to melt The Wall, the show is […]
Talking Shop: Buying Gear Under the Influence
Endorsements are a huge sales driver in any industry. It’s why young basketball stars are wooed to sign shoe deals with brands like Nike and Adidas. Or former NBA stars like Shaq, who get courted by brands like Icy Hot and Gold Bond. Music gear is no different, with a history of artist endorsements going […]
Magnetic Field Design Pickups and the Legacy of Leo Fender
G&L was founded in 1980 by George Fullerton and the legendary Clarence “Leo” Fender. Few people know about Leo’s time after leaving Fender, in which he designed some of the first Music Man models and then founded G&L where he worked until his passing. These instruments featured some of Leo’s final innovations to the electric […]
Talking Shop: Worst Gigs
Sometimes, you play a great show. Other times…things go wrong. From smashed gear to horrific venues to audiences looking to really rage, these are tales from the shows we wish we could forget. Read these terrifying short stories if you dare, and share yours in the comments below! Mellow Against the Machine Shop One of […]
Joe Perry Reveals New Signature Les Paul on Twitter
Yesterday, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry tweeted a first look at his new signature Gibson Les Paul. Sporting a tastefully relic’d gold top and single bridge humbucker, it also offers a few out-of-the-ordinary features. There are two knobs — a master volume and a Chandler Tone X control. This unique pot sweeps your midrange for a […]
