Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
One thing I am absolutely greatful for these days is the number of amazing tools that is available to us players. Thinking back on when I first started playing music compared to how it is now sure is like day and night. Today we have a endless number of talented companies bringing us just about … Read more
Ladies and gents, I would like to start this month off by introducing you to one of the most exquisite pedal building machines I have ever come across. The name is Eckermeister Effects, and their pedals are to-die-for! Eckermeister is the brainchild of one Carsten Eckermann from Cologne, Germany, and like many of the discoveries … Read more
By now there must be a thousand and one boutique pedal companies doing their thing, with a thousand and one well on the way, and a thousand and one long and gone. As a player and true tone hound finding and separating the “gems” from the “so-so’s” has not been easy. It takes a keen … Read more
The Doc is most definitely in the house and prescribing some of the healthiest tone remedies to ever hit the music scene. FX Doctor is another one of these cool little outfits floating around out there that I was blessed to come across. It was a couple of the FX Doctor’s (Joshua’s) modified stompboxes that … Read more
To me there are a few pedal companies that will never seize to amaze me, Maxon being one of them. I can look back at some of the first Maxon pedals I ever had and remember them being stunning little devices. The art of the stompbox is something that the people at Maxon have down … Read more
In the world of music gear we come across many many strange gadgets, gizmos, and gimmicks. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen an advertisement for a piece of gear that claims it can give you that “holy grail” tone. The only way I’ve been able to get great guitar sounds is by hard … Read more
The limits for what is possible with our stompbox units these days are damn near endless. The materials and technology to go forward has always been in the grasp of our hand. It is those few gear builders and imaginative fellows that take us forward on a daily basis. In the last couple years there … Read more
Why is it that we in the music world see so many rebuilds and spin-offs of gear from 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s? With many other tools, designs, and practices, people move on and never look back. Take the television for instance. Not one person by choice would ever choose an ancient, black & white, dinosaur … Read more
I think it’s safe to say that when it comes to our guitar’s root tone we can get a bit on the obsessive side. Tinkering and molding things until our heads are spinning, and always on the hunt to make things sounds better is something any “tone chaser” will always get stuck doing. But obsessive … Read more
The Landgraff Super Hard On: Updated 24th December 2012 Mojo version for axial components and 1/2W carbon comps added