Clifford T. Ward – Mantle Pieces
Back in the early ’70s, there was a songwriter who penned some of the loveliest, smartest, and knowing odes to quotidian life and its people. He wrote forgotten hits like “Gaye” and “Home Thoughts from Abroad” that struck British audiences with their perfect memorable mixture of literate lyricism and timeless Orchestral Pop arrangements. Now, for sure, […]
A Rough Guide to Setting Up Your Guitar
Few things excite a guitarist as much as a new guitar. As soon as it arrives the first thing you want to do is start tearing out some hot riffs, but before you can even strum a chord, you realize something — the action is way off. You paid good money for this guitar, so you want things right. […]
New Gear Report: EHX Octavix & Reverend Sensei Jr.
Electro-Harmonix Octavix Octave Fuzz If I had a nickel for every fuzz out there, I would probably use that money to buy myself another fuzz and there is a good chance it would be this one. To start, it’s based off the Octavia (sometimes called Octavio) fuzz that Hendrix used to rip on. The fuzz […]
New Gear Report: Ampeg SCR-DI & Orange OB1-500
Ampeg SCR-DI Bass DI Direct Box with Scrambler Overdrive Bass players know how important a DI is. Nine times out of 10, if you’re hearing bass at a medium-large venue, you’re hearing the bass through a DI box into the house speakers. Same thing for a lot of recording sessions I’ve gone to. Oftentimes they […]
J. Rockett Audio Pedals Soundcheck Demo
J. Rockett Audio makes a slew of overdrive and effects pedals, each with its own voice and character. zZounds Lead Guitarist Justin recently tested out seven of their newest offerings: the Archer, Blue Note, Animal, Mark Sampson MAX, Guthrie Trapp overdrives, plus the Alien Echo and Josh Smith Dual Tremolo. Check out the playlist above for an overview […]
BØRNS’ Guitar Rig
Featuring clever guitar arrangements, atmospheric vocal harmonies, and a penchant for writing incredibly catchy hooks, LA's BØRNS has quickly established itself as a rising star in the indie-pop scene thanks to the band's impressive debut EP, Candy.
7 One-Knob Pedals That Transform Your Tone
Sometimes, all you need is just one. From full-blown loopers to tone enhancers, each of these pedals color your sound with the turn of one single knob. Add one to your chain for a simple path to all-new sound. May 6, 2015Mason
Andy Powers on Taylor Guitars’ 600 Series
We visited Taylor Guitars in El Cajon, California last summer and sat down with Master Luthier Andy Powers, who shared with us the completely revamped 600 Series and the philosophy behind building a better maple guitar. Want to know more? Check out our exclusive Taylor 600 Series Guide for even more insight into these incredible acoustics! […]
“Secret” Pro Tools Keyboard Shortcuts
With the recent release of Avid Pro Tools 12 and Pro Tools First, a crop of new users are picking up this industry-standard DAW software. As any longtime PT user can tell you, Pro Tools has a seemingly endless list of keyboard shortcuts to help you find your way around the software quickly. Some are […]
