Hey there guys and gals
At the end of this month we're doing a massive amp shootout. We're going to have a bunch of vintage and high end boutique amps in the studio so you can hear how they sound with a band.
These will include
65 Amps London
62 Vox AC30 (EF86 input)
Matchless DC30
76 Marshall JMP50
Matchless Cheiftan
76 Blackfaced Pro-Reverb
Two-Rock Jet
I wanted to get a couple examples of 6L6, EL34 and EL84 amps in there so you can hear the differences and to compare the vintage with the modern boutique.
As soon as it's done you'll be able to see clips of all these amps in action right here on the website.
It's going to be a great day so stay tuned for the results!!!
Monday, 14 July 2008
Monday, 7 July 2008
Who's your 'Tone Buddy'?
I was hanging out at Charlie Chandlers Guitar Experience a couple of weeks ago (as you do) and ran into an old Friend of mine. We started talking about recent purchases, bargains, and minefield dodging maneuvers. He introduced me to a simple but very effective concept that I'm sure most of you already are using to one length or another. He has his 'Tone Buddy'. Like an objective filter when it comes to buying gear.
I realised that I've had a tone buddy for a couple of years now as well, and it's worked out to be a revelation. Another set of ears on your tone is worth while having, but there are a couple of pre-requisites for Tone Buddy's. They are;
1. Your 'Tone Buddy' should not be your wife/partner. They should not have an alternate motive for your spare cash.
2. Your Tone Buddy needs to be knowledgeable about tone. You should talk the same language when it comes to choosing the right things for your sound. If anything, they should know more than you.
3. They should be open to new ideas. Not stuck in a 70's time warp, or lisetns to only Megadeath. You want objective opinions.
4. AT the end of the day, as much as their opinion is important, it's more important that YOU make the decision. It's your tone afterall.
With these boxes ticked, your tone buddy can be a life saver. So next time you buy that new pedal and have already made up your mind that it's the best thing ever made before you've even got i out of the box, give your tone buddy a bell.
Trust me, a good 'Tone Buddy' is worth their weigt in semi-precious metal.
I realised that I've had a tone buddy for a couple of years now as well, and it's worked out to be a revelation. Another set of ears on your tone is worth while having, but there are a couple of pre-requisites for Tone Buddy's. They are;
1. Your 'Tone Buddy' should not be your wife/partner. They should not have an alternate motive for your spare cash.
2. Your Tone Buddy needs to be knowledgeable about tone. You should talk the same language when it comes to choosing the right things for your sound. If anything, they should know more than you.
3. They should be open to new ideas. Not stuck in a 70's time warp, or lisetns to only Megadeath. You want objective opinions.
4. AT the end of the day, as much as their opinion is important, it's more important that YOU make the decision. It's your tone afterall.
With these boxes ticked, your tone buddy can be a life saver. So next time you buy that new pedal and have already made up your mind that it's the best thing ever made before you've even got i out of the box, give your tone buddy a bell.
Trust me, a good 'Tone Buddy' is worth their weigt in semi-precious metal.
Thursday, 19 June 2008
How gig fit are you?
Is there ever any real substitute for getting out there and rocking out? Does rehearsal even qualify? How important is being gig fit to your playing?
Fact is, you play how you feel. I know when I feel rubbish I can barely play a note, but when I'm on form, well, let's just say I play alot better. I was invited down to the Music Man party at the London Guitar show to see my friend Brian Kellner perform. The guy exudes pure joy when you talk to him. He's one of these guys that says 'do what you love, and stuff the rest', and he loves playing the guitar. The guy is also incredibly physically fit. So at the end of a very long day the party begins and a few guitarists take the stage. The first two guys were great, I mean what do you expect from Music Man endorsees?, they knew their stuff. Then Brian gets up and is also great, but he takes a different approach. He wasn't their to impress or show off his amazing ability, which he has, he was their because he just loves to play guitar. The joy that was so apparent really made a connection with the people in that room. It just felt really good, and to be able to turn it on like that at the end such a long day of trade is no meant feat. Then i realise at that point, if I was to play right now, I would sound like a complete turd for the simple fact that i was exhausted. The experience has made me rethink my approach to being 'gig fit'. It's not just about sounding great on the third night of a string of gigs, it's about having enough in the tank so that even when you don't feel like it, you can just turn it on and connect with that part of you that wanted to pick up the guitar and rock out in the first place.
Fact is, you play how you feel. I know when I feel rubbish I can barely play a note, but when I'm on form, well, let's just say I play alot better. I was invited down to the Music Man party at the London Guitar show to see my friend Brian Kellner perform. The guy exudes pure joy when you talk to him. He's one of these guys that says 'do what you love, and stuff the rest', and he loves playing the guitar. The guy is also incredibly physically fit. So at the end of a very long day the party begins and a few guitarists take the stage. The first two guys were great, I mean what do you expect from Music Man endorsees?, they knew their stuff. Then Brian gets up and is also great, but he takes a different approach. He wasn't their to impress or show off his amazing ability, which he has, he was their because he just loves to play guitar. The joy that was so apparent really made a connection with the people in that room. It just felt really good, and to be able to turn it on like that at the end such a long day of trade is no meant feat. Then i realise at that point, if I was to play right now, I would sound like a complete turd for the simple fact that i was exhausted. The experience has made me rethink my approach to being 'gig fit'. It's not just about sounding great on the third night of a string of gigs, it's about having enough in the tank so that even when you don't feel like it, you can just turn it on and connect with that part of you that wanted to pick up the guitar and rock out in the first place.
Monday, 16 June 2008
Great tone moves serious air!
We had a small moment of epiphany this weekend at the International Guitar Show in London. We had set up TheGigRig to do some EXTREME switching. We set up a Two-Rock Jet, Matchless Chieftain, 65 Amps London and my 62 Vox AC30, and had a Pro-14 switching all combinations of the amps + effects, wet/Dry/wet set examples, basically everything you'd expect from the best floor based switching system in the world. But here's the thing that really struck me. If you've ever been to a music trade show there's one common factor - ambient noise. Constant unrelenting noise. So, I start doing this demo, and people quite a way from our stand prick their ears up and head over to check out what's going on. At first I thought that it may be because we were 'shred free', but then a mate who was there with another company comes up and tells me that we could be heard clear as a bell through the ambient noise all the way over to his stand, about 150 feet away.
Hmmm, I thought, so I set up our young gun 'Handsome Dave' on our rig during a noisy period playing a Grissom/Mayer type feel which wasn't loud (you could still talk with no probs at our stand), and went for a bit of a stroll. Through all the noise and chaos, I could hear this tone beckoning. It was a revelation. It really moves air and those toneful frequencies that give us so much joy find their way through the contaminated void, into our ears. This is why great tone can always be heard in the mix.
It does kind of justify the ridiculous efforts many of us go to to get this right. Great tone does connect with people, and that's what it's all about, right?
Hmmm, I thought, so I set up our young gun 'Handsome Dave' on our rig during a noisy period playing a Grissom/Mayer type feel which wasn't loud (you could still talk with no probs at our stand), and went for a bit of a stroll. Through all the noise and chaos, I could hear this tone beckoning. It was a revelation. It really moves air and those toneful frequencies that give us so much joy find their way through the contaminated void, into our ears. This is why great tone can always be heard in the mix.
It does kind of justify the ridiculous efforts many of us go to to get this right. Great tone does connect with people, and that's what it's all about, right?
Friday, 16 May 2008
Pin your ears back boys, we're going in!!! -LIMS
Once again we're be struttin our stuff for MB Media at the London International Music Show. 4 days of music and mayhem at the Excel centre in London from the 12th to the 16th of June. We're doing a pedal board exhibition showing people the stompers of our heroes and what's around today that'll get them there. Our stand is D44 so come over and say hi, and bring me a beer!
Monday, 12 May 2008
Can't sleep. Insomnia gives birth to DISTRIBUTOR
Many people lay awake at night unable to drift off due to so many thoughts nagging at them. I do suffer from this, and what do I think about? Tone. That's it. What can I do to improve your tone. Our latest offering to apease the insomnia deity is the Distributor. This is going to help alot of people, tidy up alot of congested boards, and hopefully I can now get a little bit of sleep.
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Paul Stacey last at the 606 in London, OMG!
Once every couple of months Paul Stacey does a classic rock gig at the 606 club in Chelsea London which is where I caught up with Paul last night. What an incredible gig. Paul's tone was phenomenal. He's back from a long tour with The Black Crowes and is in truly fine form. Jeremy Stacey, Paul's brother was on drums and it must be said, is one of the best drummers on the planet. And how John Hogg on rhythm guitar and vocals is not world famous is simply an injustice to mankind. If your a fan of classic rock done the way it was meant to then keep an eye out for the next time they play at the 6.
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