Blame it on the Blackstar
I’ve been using a hand wired VOX AC15HW1 for the last few years, and mostly loving it. I say “mostly” for a couple reasons. It sounds great in many situations, but sometimes I just can’t get what I need from it. More
In-Ear Game Changer
We’ve decided to take the plunge and switch to in-ear monitoring. This is a big change, but I’m super-excited about it.
In my recent post about overhauling our PA with my band The Drop Daddies, I mentioned that our new DL1608 mixer has 6 independent aux outs- perfect for individual monitor mixes.
But running monitor wedges on stage has a number of issues:
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The Case of the Missing Feet
I use an OnStage RS7000B amp stand amp stand to get my amp off the floor. This makes a world of difference in the sound of the amp. Positioning the amp on the floor is great for a very small leprechauns, or a good knee massage.
But putting the amp on a stand, angled slightly upwards, allows you really hear the sound of the amp as intended. And getting it off the floor reduces bass boominess.
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Pickup Measuring Techniques
I often refer to (and recommend) Helmuth Lemme’s article The Secrets of Electric Guitar Pickups. The author succinctly describes the guitar circuit and discusses how each component of the circuit contributes to the resulting guitar tone. More
The Talk Box and the Gong
At a recent rehearsal with The Drop Daddies, my buddy Ian made an amusing and insightful comment…
Last year, I added a Rocktron Banshee talkbox to my pedal board, so that I could nail the intro to Sweet Emotion, and the solo in Weezer’s Beverly Hills. Yes, it does that sound, and it does it well.
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