Rather than do a ‘best of’ style post, every year I’m doing a rundown of what home studio gear I’ve used this year, and why.
Previous years: [2019] [2020] [2021]
Continue reading “2022 Review: Home Studio Gear”2022 Review: Gigging Gear
Rather than do a ‘best of’ style post, every year I’m doing a rundown of what gear we started with and what gear we ended up with – along with a discussion of why.
Previous years: [2019] [2020] [2021]
Continue reading “2022 Review: Gigging Gear”2022 Review: Guitars For Home Playing
Rather than do a ‘best of’ style post, every year I’m doing a rundown of what guitars I’ve had my hands on, and what I’ve learned from the experience.
This post covers guitars that I play at home for fun. I’ll cover the guitars that I gig with tomorrow.
Previous years: [2019] [2020] [2021]
Continue reading “2022 Review: Guitars For Home Playing”#TeleTuesday: Bridge Pickup Comparison – Part 2: The Reveal
#TeleTuesday is my occasional series where I share my own feelings and experiences with Fender’s original solid-body electric guitar … warts and all.
Last time, I ran a blind test: seven demos of bridge pickups, but only four were Telecasters. Now it’s time for the reveal, and to share my thoughts on each bridge pickup.
Continue reading “#TeleTuesday: Bridge Pickup Comparison – Part 2: The Reveal”#TeleTuesday: Bridge Pickup Comparison – Part 1: Blind Test
#TeleTuesday is my occasional series where I share my own feelings and experiences with Fender’s original solid-body electric guitar … warts and all.
Do all Telecaster bridge pickups basically sound the same? Can you get the same sound (or close enough) from a non-Telecaster guitar? Let’s find out.
Continue reading “#TeleTuesday: Bridge Pickup Comparison – Part 1: Blind Test”#CoffeeAndKlon 33: The EHX Soul Food
#CoffeeAndKlon is my (irregular!) Sunday morning magazine series, where I talk about whatever’s on my mind right now. There’s always coffee, and there’s normally chat about the Klon and its many competitors.
Today, I want to talk klones, and specifically the most important klone pedal ever released: Electro-Harmonix’s Soul Food. Make yourself your favourite morning drink first. This one is going to be a #longread … with audio demos.
Continue reading “#CoffeeAndKlon 33: The EHX Soul Food”Studio Diary #35: Reducing Noise With The Axe-FX III And The 4 Cable Method
When I listen to any demos involving the Axe FX 3 on YouTube, there’s no noise to be heard. But here, at home, and in my own demos that I’ve posted, there’s a background hiss whenever I let notes sustain.
I thought it was because I’m using the Axe FX 3 with my pedalboard, and it is. But it’s not the pedals causing the noise. And, thankfully, it’s incredibly easy to sort out.
Continue reading “Studio Diary #35: Reducing Noise With The Axe-FX III And The 4 Cable Method”Making Music Interlude: Gravity Still Kills
Making Music is where I share the process as I write, arrange, record and release my music. You’ll get to read it all: what went well, what really didn’t, the decisions I had to make along the way, and why I made them. I hope you find it useful!
When making music isn’t a habit, distractions are a real problem. For years, my distraction has mostly been playing with gear. But it’s not the only one that I need to recognise and avoid.
Continue reading “Making Music Interlude: Gravity Still Kills”Making Music #3: We’re In Another Heat Wave
Making Music is where I share the process as I write, arrange, record and release my music. You’ll get to read it all: what went well, what really didn’t, the decisions I had to make along the way, and why I made them. I hope you find it useful!
This week, conditions are against me, so I need to come up with a new plan.
Continue reading “Making Music #3: We’re In Another Heat Wave”#CoffeeAndKlon 32: A Digital Klone In The Axe-FX 3?
#CoffeeAndKlon is my occasional Sunday magazine-style series, where I talk about whatever’s on my mind about guitars, gear, music and yes, sometimes my love of both coffee and the Klon pedal.
Fractal Audio recently released a digital Klon klone pedal for the Axe FX 3. Knowing Fractal’s reputation, it will have been meticulously modelled against a real Klon Centaur pedal – either one they own, or one they were able to borrow from the community.
Can a digital klone be a stand-in for the real thing? Let’s find out together.
Continue reading “#CoffeeAndKlon 32: A Digital Klone In The Axe-FX 3?”