Whether it’s cars colliding with cavernous potholes, or football opponents colliding with “Bear weather,” Chicago is a city known for its winters. It is also true that instruments are not safe from the grasp of Old Man Winter, which can expose the mortality of even the “elite.” While winter has proven capable its ability to […]
The rise of guitar amp and effects modeling in recent years has been hard to deny. Modeling systems have found their way into the touring rigs of countless progressive bands like Animals As Leaders and Periphery — and have even infiltrated bands long associated with the raw power of tube amps, like Deftones. Line 6 […]
With 2017 drawing to a close, we here at zZounds found ourselves feeling a bit nostalgic. After comparing our 2017 Spotify favorites playlists, we quickly fell into another classic trap — the YouTube video hole, going back through all our favorite zZounds videos of the year. Maybe it’s the eggnog talking, but we feel that […]
As the only guitarist in a three-piece band, I sometimes struggle with maintaining a full, thick tone. I’ve compensated by adapting my playing style to be a hybrid of rhythm and lead at all times, and choosing my amps, cabs and effects wisely in live settings. When my band hits the studio, it’s a slightly […]
Here at the zZounds HQ, we’ve all been taking a look back on 2015, and one of the big highlights of the year has been the zZounds Blog. We launched in May, and have been steadily growing ever since. So, here’s a look back at our 10 most-viewed posts from our first year (or rather, […]
If you’re a guitarist, you know how important it is to pair the right amp with the right guitar, and the time it takes to find the right combination. While there are many guitar/amp pairings that are legendary in many ways, for rock guitarists, there’s one iconic pairing that has stood above many, if not all […]
At some of Chicago’s more famous museums, patrons aren’t supposed to touch the exhibits. But Synth House Chicago Museum is different. In this cozy co-working space in the West Town neighborhood, guests get their hands on an impressive collection of modern and vintage synthesizers curated by owner Marty Pelayo, who encourages museum visitors to bring […]
Electro-Harmonix just announced a new reverb pedal called Oceans 11. With 11 unique modes, it’s aimed at satisfying any player’s ambient needs, going from Clooney-smooth spring and plate sounds to more Pitt-esque dramatic shimmer and polyphonic reverb types. Much like its cousin the Canyon Delay, Oceans 11 lets users dig deep into the parameters of […]
With the American Elite series, Fender took it upon themselves to create a modern take on their classic models that would fit in with the ever-changing “pro-level” tier of guitars. The Fender American Elite Telecaster is the latest incarnation of a true American classic, updating virtually all of its components, starting from the pickups and ending […]