Gear Diary
Blackstar LDS Model
Found this on my amp today at rehearsal with the Drop Daddies. Apparently, the guys think my new Blackstar Stage 60 is excessively endowed. 🙂
Pedal Board Update– Line 6 HD500X
In my last pedal board update back in May, I talked about having added a Zoom G3X and loop switcher to my pedal board. I was frustrated that I still need a giant pedal board to accommodate my preferred overdrive, distortion and wah pedals, and the switcher to switch amp channels on my AC15 and to work […]
What Do Bad Power Tubes Sound Like?
I was super-excited to get my new Blackstar Stage 60 earlier this month. But immediately after plugging in and firing it up for the first time, I noticed some strange noise issues. I plugged the guitar in directly, with no other pedals and no effect loop. On all 3 channels, I heard some very obvious […]
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.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Knobs and O-Rings
Our Mackie DL1608 Mixer has a frustrating flaw. And I have an inexpensive low-tech solution that works. See that row of 16 gain knobs along the DL1608 back panel? They are super-low torque and easy to turn, which means that every time we transport the mixer between gigs and rehearsals, something gets bumped.