Rather than do a ‘best of’ style post, every year I’m going to do a rundown of what I’ve written about on the blog this year.
Continue reading “2025 Review: The Blog”#TweedTone: Dialling In A 5F1 Tweed Champ Reference Tone For 2025/26
Regular readers may have noticed that most of the tweed amp in a box pedals seem to be chasing either the legendary 5e3 Tweed Deluxe or the sublime 5F6-A Tweed Bassman sound.
But every now and then, I get a pedal that chases the sound of a 5F1 Tweed Champ. And I think it would help if I had a reference tone to compare those pedals against.
So let’s see what I can put together in the Axe-FX 3.
Continue reading “#TweedTone: Dialling In A 5F1 Tweed Champ Reference Tone For 2025/26”Studio Diary #62: When A Power Conditioner Fails
‘Studio Diary’ is an occasional series where I talk about building a home recording setup for hobbyists and enthusiasts like us. I share my personal experiences, and the thinking behind some of the decisions that I’ve made along the way.
After exactly 13 years and 11 months – to the day! – my Furman power conditioner appears to have died without warning.
Continue reading “Studio Diary #62: When A Power Conditioner Fails”New Arrivals: November 2025
Traditionally, November is a quiet month for me. With Christmas on the horizon, I normally hold off on buying things, in case I end up accidentally buying something that Kristi’s decided to get me.
Not this year 😁
Admittedly, the haul looks a lot bigger than it was, as I bought a guitar that came with three free pedals. But still. There’s plenty in here to keep me busy well into 2026.
Continue reading “New Arrivals: November 2025”First Impressions: Blackstar Debut 100RH Amp Head
I recently bought a Blackstar Debut 100RH amp head.
This is going to be an additional pedal platform amp. Read on for my first impressions.
Continue reading “First Impressions: Blackstar Debut 100RH Amp Head”First Impressions: Mad Professor The Green Wonder Overdrive Pedal
I recently picked up a pedal called The Green Wonder, by Mad Professor.
What do I think of it? Here are my first impressions.
Continue reading “First Impressions: Mad Professor The Green Wonder Overdrive Pedal”#TweedTone First Impressions: NUX 59 Bassguy Overdrive Pedal
I recently bought a brand new NUX 59 Bassguy overdrive pedal.
What do I think of it so far? Read on for my First Impressions.
Continue reading “#TweedTone First Impressions: NUX 59 Bassguy Overdrive Pedal”New Arrivals: October 2025
It’s been a very quiet month. I’ve had my head down working on improving my Tweed Deluxe signal chain, and haven’t really been interested in any of the gear that’s come up for sale on the second-hand market this month.
There was one item, though: a new challenger to be my #1 drive pedal.
Continue reading “New Arrivals: October 2025”First Impressions: Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive (Hand-wired 2025 Edition)
I recently bought another Sweet Honey Overdrive pedal.
What do I think of it? Read on for my First Impressions.
Continue reading “First Impressions: Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive (Hand-wired 2025 Edition)”#TweedTone: Is A 5e3 Tweed Deluxe Valve Amp Right For You In 2025?
Last week, I published an updated Tweed Amp Rig price comparison, looking at how much it would cost (here in the UK) to build a Tweed Deluxe rig for home use in 2025.
There was one answer that was too long to fit in that blog post: is it worth you spending that amount of money on a Tweed Deluxe rig for home use?
Today, I’m going to try and answer that question.
Continue reading “#TweedTone: Is A 5e3 Tweed Deluxe Valve Amp Right For You In 2025?”