GearTrap- THE gear blog

Looking for Used Gear?

2010-02-12T21:42:00.001-06:00

Who isn't, right? My good friend and former Gibson cohort Gabe Hernandez is some thing a used gear king. The guy buys and sells and has tons of awesome stuff. If you like trolling Ebay for killer deals, you want to hit gabe up to see what he's got. Tell him GearTrap sent ya...

Here's his contact info:

Gabe Hernandez
email: gatorgabe@att.net

Nashville Amp Expo

2009-08-21T00:28:00.002-05:00

Some good buddies of mine (Creation Audio Labs, Pedaltrain, etc.) will be putting together a killer amp show this weekend here in Nashville, The Nashville Amp Expo. A Flyer with more info can be found below:

(click on the flyer)

Stanton Adcock, WLPb 2.0 demo video

2009-08-21T00:23:00.001-05:00

Check it out- from the WLPb 2.0 party... Stanton Adcock demoing CoreOne patch cables.

World's Largest Pedalboard... AGAIN!

2009-07-23T18:04:00.003-05:00

Well, we did it again. Last week and The Rutledge, here in Nashville we set a new world record for the World's Largest Pedalboard! 147 pedals!

A special thanks goes out to all of the sponsors and to everyone who helped make this possible!

World's Largest Pedalboard Party 2.0 Press Release

2009-06-29T15:21:00.001-05:00

World's Largest Pedalboard Party 2.0 Updated Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kristen Hoetzel, Gopher Entertainment Group
Tel: 615-513-2856 - Email: gopherentertainment@hotmail.com
NASHVILLE GUITARISTS ATTEMPT BREAKING WORLD’S LARGEST PEDALBOARD RECORD AGAIN

Nashville, Tennessee - 6/29/09 Radio personality Aljon Go and musician Jaux King are throwing a party to break last year’s record of the world’s largest pedal board while raising money and awareness for the National Kidney Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Gopher Entertainment Group, ToneFreq.info and GearTrap.com present The World’s Largest Pedalboard Party 2.0. The event will be held Thursday July 16, 2009 at The Rutledge. Party will feature performances from bands: Flight Case for Sushi, Philos and JonesWorld, Holy Crap and The Rust as well as guitar clinics from: Bart Walsh, Tony Pasko, Bryan Lionman, Stanton Adcock and more. Attendees will have a chance to meet the manufactures and partners. There will also be a silent auction of various guitar accessories donated by event partners benefiting the National Kidney Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Nashville guitarists/bloggers Aljon Go and Jaux King recently made plans to build, operate and claim the record for the world’s largest pedalboard. On June 18, 2008 they both, set the world’s record. Guitarists from novice to professional generally use several guitar pedals (electronic devices giving them different sounds like Hendrix’s fuzz or U2’s Edge echo) to craft their own signature tones. Having generated a buzz through viral marketing, comments are flooding in from guitarists all over the world. Event organizer, Aljon Go mentions, “It started out as a laugh. Now it’s become a reality. I just wanted to push the technology as far as it could go and see how insane it can get. This extraordinary pedalboard is far from practical, but every pedal is operational. This has become a celebration of the advancements in guitar technology and innovation. It will be a great party. What a great time to be a guitarist!”

The World’s Largest Pedalboard Party will be held at The Rutledge, 410 4th Ave. South, Nashville Thursday July 16th. Doors will open at 6 p.m., is “smoke-free” and an 18 and up event. The silent auction and music starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $7/ $5 with NAMM badge. The event is presented by Gopher Entertainment Group. Companies interested in donating products for the charity event and silent auction should contact Kristen Hoetzel. Deadline for inclusion is July 10. For more information please contact Kristen Hoetzel, Gopher Entertainment Group - (615) 513-2856.

The National Kidney Foundation of Middle Tennessee is a voluntary health organization. It seeks to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation. Currently there are more than 107,000 people on the waiting list for an organ. Of those 78,000 are waiting for a kidney. To learn more about the National Kidney Foundation of Middle Tennessee and its programs, please visit: www.nkfmdtn.org.

There are several partners that have made this event possible. Partners include ToneFreq.info, GearTrap,com, Pedaltrain, Visual Sound, Creation Audio Labs, George L’s Musical Products, D’ Addario/Planet Waves, CoreX2/Bullet Cable, Eventide, Retro-Sonic/Vintage Vibes, Mad Professor Amps and Effects, Bourns, Farley’s Music Essentials/ Mighty Bright Music Lights, Music Connection Magazine, Vox, Kramer Guitars, Peterson Tuners, Keeley Electronics, T-Rex Engineering and Dungeon Promotions. For more information on these partners please visit their websites.

Gopher Entertainment Group, a Nashville artist/event consulting agency is run by Kristen Hoetzel. GEG has organized and promoted events such as the Save the Predators concert and benefit; Rock the Vote concerts, My Space Mixers, National Kidney Foundation benefits and the annual Local Buzz Rock Awards. www.myspace.com/gopherentertainment.

Gibson.com Features WLPb 2.0

2009-06-25T10:52:00.003-05:00

Our good friend Gabe Hernandez has written a smashing piece on the World's Largest Pedalboard 2.0 on Gibson.com You can check it out HERE.

MXR Bass Octave

2009-06-20T23:43:00.000-05:00

New Bass Octave from MXR!

WLPb 2.0 Ad Running in Music Connection Magazine

2009-06-17T00:08:00.001-05:00

Here's an ad that will be running in Music Connection Magazine. We thank Music Connection for their support of this World Record breaking event!

The World's Largest Pedalboard Party 2.0 will be held at The Rutledge, 410 4th Ave. South, Nashville Thursday July 16th. Doors will open at 6 p.m., is "smoke-free" and an 18 and up event. The silent auction starts and music starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $7/$5 with NAMM badge. The event is presented by ToneFreq.info, GearTrap.com and Gopher Entertainment Group and benefits the National Kidney Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

EHX POG 2

2009-06-15T22:04:00.001-05:00

In July, Electro-Harmonix will be releasing a new line of pedals, one of which will be the "POG 2". Below is a video that is not exactly a "demo", but it will give you an idea of some of the cool sounds this thing can make.

BOSS FRV-1 Fender Reverb

2009-06-14T00:30:00.002-05:00

BOSS/Roland has announced the FRV-1 Fender Reverb pedal as the latest in their line of COSM tone modeling effects. I'm interested to see how this puppy sounds. It sure looks cool!

From the Roland/BOSS website:

A classic reborn — the legendary sound of the 1963 Fender® Spring Reverb returns as a modern stompbox. BOSS and Fender® USA have collaborated to create the FRV-1, a stunning recreation of the legendary ’63 Fender® Reverb via COSM technology. The FRV-1 puts that timeless tube-driven reverb sound under your foot in a tough, reliable compact pedal.

A Timeless Classic — the Fender® ReverbThe original '63 Fender® Spring Reverb is the sound that launched the surf-music phenomenon, and is a staple of rockabilly, country, and blues. Later, it became commonplace in grunge and other modern genres. Now the same legendary sound can be had in an affordable, rugged compact pedal.

* Recreates the legendary sound of the 1963 Fender® Reverb via COSM technology
* Easy operation with three classic controls for Dwell, Tone, and Mixer for creating sounds from buttery warmth to sparkling twang
* Cool, retro appearance
* Road-tough BOSS metal construction

Click the Photo for the Product Page:

WLPb 2.0 Sponsors Announced

2009-06-13T14:32:00.002-05:00

This year, GearTrap contributor Aljon "Tone Freq" Go has begun putting together a fantastic list of sponsors for this year's World's Largest Pedalboard event. The list below is made of of some of biggest gear companies in the world and we are proud to have them involved. Also, this year's event will be a benefit for the National Kidney Foundation. Please check out the companies listed below!

National Kidney Foundation of Middle TN
Pedaltrain
Visual Sound
George L’s
D’Addario
Vox
Retro-Sonic
Creation Audio Labs
Mad Professor
Core Products
Bullet Cable
Eventide
Music Connection Magazine
Gopher Entertainment Group
GearTrap.com
ToneDonkeys.com
Tonefreq Blog
Mighty Brite

WLPb 2.0 is scheduled to take place during Summer NAMM here in Nashville on July 16th at The Rutledge. If you'll be in Nashville for NAMM, please make sure to be there!

WLPb 2.0

2009-06-12T00:15:00.003-05:00

Yes, we're doing it again... (and the internet haters around the world let out a collective groan).

World's Largest Pedalboard is coming back to Nashville this summer. More details will be coming very soon, so keep your eyes on GearTrap!

GearTrap.com Revived

2009-06-11T00:53:00.001-05:00

We have our domain back! You may resume using "http://geartrap.com"... ... ... now.

Korg DS-10

2009-06-10T20:28:00.002-05:00

So lately, GearTrap posts have been few and far between. I've had a lot going on work-wise and I'm finally hoping to get back into posting a little more regularly. As I'll be posting more regularly, I'm going to begin making my posts a little more informal and not so "newsroomish". That said, loosen your ties and enjoy...

Korg DS-10: it's not what you might think. It's not a keyboard or a pedal, it's a video game! It's pretty cool too. I first heard about it on the HCFX (Harmony Central Effects) forum. It's available on the Nintendo DS and is actually somewhat rare, although not impossible to find. I saw a copy several months ago in the local mall. I passed on it at the time and didn't see it again for a while. Recently though, I saw it again and jumped. I paid $30.00 for it which is pretty standard for a DS game.

Essentially, DS-10 allows the user to create music using synth/drum sequencers. It also has a Kaoss pad function as well, but it's not like having an actual Kaoss pad on hand. Using the sequencers, you can play around and create different sounds and patch effects together. It seems that there is also save capability which says to me that you could call up previous files. Cool.

Here are some videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yejsYE5uHnw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmIwZDVJSwI&feature=fvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JvmMCeJukw&feature=related

GearTrap Mourns the Loss of George L. Lewis

2009-05-25T00:26:00.002-05:00

In case you haven't heard, the gear world has lost a true pioneer. Mr. George L. Lewis passed away Friday here in Nashville. George L's is a fantastic company full of amazing individuals and we want them to know that they are in our thoughts and prayers. Below is a great write from Premier Guitar that will fill you in on the great life of George L. Lewis...

[Courtesy of Premier Guitar]

Madison, TN (May 23, 2009) -- Premier Guitar is sad to announce that George L. Lewis, industry pioneer and founder of George L's, has passed away. He died Friday afternoon with his family by his side.

Lewis founded George L's more than 30 years ago, introducing the world to the notion that high-quality cables are an important part of good tone. A pioneer in making high-end instrument cables available to a broad range of musicians, George L's was one of the first companies to offer low-capacitance, easy-to-use cable kits. Lewis had also been part-owner of GHS String Co. and Sho-bud Steel Guitar. He was a great influence in the steel guitar community.

Lewis kept George L's a family business with the help of wife Mona and daughters Kim and Lisa. The company is known for a warm, family-style ethos that imbues all aspects of its operations; anyone who visits the company's NAMM booth or telephones the office is greeted with gracious hospitality.

Prior to his work in the musical instruments industry, Lewis served his country on the USS West Virginia and survived the Pearl Harbor attack.

GearTrap.com Temporarily Out of Service

2009-03-26T17:24:00.002-05:00

In case you haven't noticed, we are having some trouble with our domain. As such, until further notice please refer directly to:

www.geartrap.blogspot.com

Sorry for any inconvenience!

NEWS FREQ: Dunlop Re-Introduces Way Huge Effects Pedals

2009-03-16T15:51:00.000-05:00

Way Huge effects are back in a huge way. The new Way Huge website is up and takes you through Mr. Huge’s dingy laboratory with all kinds of secrets for you to discover. Dunlop has resurrected this brand in cooperation with Way Huge founder Jeorge Tripps and is bringing these hugely popular pedals back to the masses. The first pedals to arise from the lab are the Pork Loin Soft Clip Injection Overdrive, Swollen Pickle MKII Jumbo Fuzz, and the Fat Sandwich Harmonic Saturator Distortion all available now.

For more information, visit: www.wayhuge.com or www.jimdunlop.com.

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

NEWS FREQ: The Gibson “Camp Fire?” Robot Acoustic Guitar Surfaces

2009-03-11T15:35:00.000-05:00

Gibson has been busy perfecting its next generation Robot (self-tuning) Guitar the Dark Fire. It has been a practical tool for electric guitarists who love that classic Les Paul shape. There is some good news for the acoustic fans out there. It seems that inventor Chris Adams has been working on a Robot Acoustic that uses the master control knob of the Dark Fire!

I suggest calling it the “Camp Fire.”

I’m serious.

Check out the video link below.

LINK 1: http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Blogs/dark-fire--the-inside-story.aspx

LINK 2: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.gibson.com/__eme/images/022609_robot-acoustic.jpg&imgrefurl=http://forums.gibson.com/default.aspx%3Fg%3Dposts%26m%3D183149&usg=__A5zQ6nFtixEUFZasm__Srn9Z-5o=&h=100&w=100&sz=4&hl=en&start=12&um=1&tbnid=AQ9G_jeewaWwyM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=82&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drobot%2Bacoustic%2Bguitar%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-US%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

PREVIEW: Liquid METAL Guitars

2009-03-09T11:03:00.000-05:00

Phil Cook, Owner of Liquid Metal Guitars talks about his guitars and company.

We build exceptional guitars. We build metal bodied guitars, that are either chrome, machined etched surface treatment or Harley Davidson candy paints for a look that is brilliant and bright and unique and cool. The one you are looking at now is our chromed beauty, the M1 T.V. Jones Premium.

And on top of the look the sound is exceptional. We have found ways to make absolutely incredible sound. Nothing you have to get used to, just better cleaner, clearer sound. In all of our guitars we use custom pickup sets designed for us by T.V. Jones, Lindy Fralin and soon Joe Barden, some of the highest regarded boutique pick up designers in the business. They have taken their skill and built pickups sets exclusively for the qualities and dynamics of our metal bodies. And we can put it all in the hands of a player at the same price as most custom guitars.

Over the years, we have figured out what works best for sound in the body of the guitar, we have come up with a proprietary widths and thicknesses, that has the best sustainability and dynamics. We have learned how to cut the body to the approximate shape and weight we needed, at a cost that is acceptable, we learned a ton of tricks.

The hand polishing and smoothing is still one man, one wheel and time, the aluminum smoothed, sanded to a 1200 finish for chrome or gold but worth it in the end. The surfaces are smooth and glossy, just like liquid metal. That’s what I kept telling everyone, remember, we are liquid metal, that is what we are after, liquid metal. The by-line is that we do things exclusive to metal not something you can duplicate in wood.

When we started years back I went out to look and see if there was anyone doing this same thing, no there wasn’t, not out of a solid block of aluminum. ( Interestingly, Apple in their new notebook is using clamshells made the same way as what we do, machined out of a single block of aircraft aluminum, Apple Design, because of the integrity of metal. )

I was really encouraged when I found some serious instrument makers in the past had done cellos and violins out of aluminum and had excellent results. that told me there had to be some great sound qualities.

I read about John Veleno and how he had made an aluminum guitar that really caught the attention of marquis players in the late 60’s and 70's. What really set me off was this Harley Davidson Strat, chromed Strat, at the big music store here. Loved the chrome look, that just nailed it for us, it was breathtakingly cool and they had a price tag on it of $45,000 , no kidding, $45,000. We knew we could do it for just a bit less, just a bit.

BODY: A solid block of aluminum alloy is machined to our proprietary thickness. This is the thickness that we found in our researching and prototyping to have the best qualities for sound. The guitar is hollowed out, but plays as a solid body guitar.The chromed body is 17 " long from the tip of the top horn to the back, 13 1/2 " at the widest body point, with a 7 3/4" waist. The guitar weighs 9.75 lbs.

NECK: Ebony fingerboard with 22 frets and 25 1/2" scale, 1.71" wide @ nut, 2.22" wide @ 22nd fret. Graphite nut which incorporates Teflon and match the grooves to each guitar's intonation. This makes the guitar exceptionable playable. A diamond ground fingerboard is accurate to within one thousandth of an inch for super low string action. Hard alloy precision medium jumbo frets are .103 wide and .048 tall. The neck is painted black, with three coats of black paint then seven thin coats of clear, that is wet sanded and buffed after each coat. Tuners Gotoh's six in line mini - tuners, are beautiful to look at and a dream to use, with an 18:1 ratio. The tuners have unique permanent Lubri-Plateâ„¢ coating on the gears assures consistent lubrication without grease, for smoother tuning. Gotoh's new Rock-Solid string posts eliminate looseness for better tuning stability, they stay in tune

PICKUPS: TV Jones LMG powertrons. Tom used a thicker, higher pole piece to take advantage of the sustaining qualities of our metal.

PRICE: $3600 USA. Includes deluxe hardshell case.

LINK: http://www.myrareguitars.com/liquidmetal.html

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

NEWS FREQ: Z.Vex Pedals Stolen at NAMM

2009-03-02T09:26:00.001-06:00

Z.Vex Effects is offering six pedals from his line as a reward to anyone who helps catch and successfully prosecute the thieves who stole several pedals from his booth at the Winter NAMM show.

According to an article posted on Premier Guitar the pedals were stolen mid-afternoon on Friday, January 16. One of the stolen pedals was a prototype of the company's new Distortion pedal. The pedal differs from normal production models in that it does not have a Z.Vex logo on the back edge (facing away from the player), and has a Production Prototype sticker on the bottom. It is the only production unit in U.S. circulation until late March or early April of this year. It also does not have a serial number. The other stolen pedal was the Seek Trem pictured below. It has the initials of the painter HMH on the front edge and serial number C097 on the bottom.

For more information, click to: http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/Daily/News/Z_Vex_Pedals_Stolen_at_NAMM.aspx

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

NEWS FREQ: A message from Keeley Electronics website…

2009-02-06T11:10:00.000-06:00

As many of you may have heard there was a fire at Keeley Electronics. The Fire has caused us to relocate until we find a new building. We are several weeks behind on email and orders. We are glad to say that no one was hurt and that really only parts were destroyed. Customer units that were sent in are safe. There was smoke damage and water damage to the shop so it is taking us a long while to clean up and reorganize. Thanks for your patience, it may be a long time between emails from us, but we are working hard to take care of everyone as soon as possible. Orders will be shipping as soon as product is rebuilt. Insurance is covering everything and our company will be running strong again shortly.

For more information, click to: www.robertkeeley.com

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

PREVIEW: Jeff Beck 1954 Les Paul Oxblood from Gibson Custom

2009-02-03T12:09:00.002-06:00

Excerpt from Gibson.com:

Surely, there are as many modified electric guitars in the world as there are guitarists who play them. But rare is the modified, “off-the-shelf” guitar that is elevated to iconic status by the artist who played it and the music created by it.

Such is the case with Jeff Beck’s “Oxblood” Les Paul, a guitar from the heart of tone history. And now, Gibson Custom is proud to unveil the most accurate recreation of this legendary instrument ever produced: the Jeff Beck 1954 Les Paul Oxblood.

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

BOSS Hi-Band Flanger

2009-02-02T09:21:00.002-06:00

This past week, I managed to land a very cool pedal in a trade- BOSS Hi-Band Flanger. The HBF was made in Japan in the 80's and is a unique flanger because it accentuates high frequencies to emphasize a dramatic flange effect.
Tonally, The HBF is thick and full. It colors well and while subtle and tasteful, it still gives the impression that your rig is falling out of a spaceship. If you happen upon one of these guys, I highly recommend it.

HERE IT IS!!! WLPb Video!

2009-01-27T18:49:00.002-06:00

Here's a killer video from our friends at Nashville based production house Autumn Addict.

Enjoy!

Ok, Ok- we're up...

2009-01-27T17:05:00.002-06:00

Things have been a little quiet on the GearTrap front lately, but rest assured, we're on our way back! Be on the look out for WLPb 2.0 info and a killer video from WLPb '08!

Keeley Electronics Destroyed By Fire

2009-01-16T09:33:00.002-06:00

Everyone's favorite pedal modders suffered a devastating blow yesterday when it's main facility in Edmond Oklahoma burnt to the ground. A link to the full story can be found below. GearTrap sends its best wishes to the whole Keeley crew and hopes for a speedy recovery.

http://newsok.com//article/3338278

TONE FREQ REVIEW: Seymour Duncan P-Rails SHPR-1

2008-12-18T16:25:00.000-06:00

A few months back I wrote about the “Swiss Army Knife” of Humbucking pickups called P-Rails by Seymour Duncan. They were touted as groundbreaking and suitable for all genres of music from surf rock, jazz and rock. After spending some time with them I can say that I LOVE THIS PICKUP!

I installed two P-Rails in my Epiphone Custom Les Paul and had them wired in series. I also had push-pull pots installed in both of my volume pots so I could go from Humbucker mode to P-90 mode. I must say that their use of an Alnico V magnet made for a great punch in both P-90 and Humbucker modes. They were very reminiscent of original P-90’s. The Humbucker tone was there albeit a bit breathy it was very unique. Overall the pickups were very musical, especially using a clean channel. When I kicked in some devilish distortion chords still remained very distinct and robust.

Overall the P-Rails pickup is a P-90 with a little more kick when the Humbucker is activated. My LP even sounded great in the middle position! If you are a lover of the P-90’s you’ll really love this pickup. I love the tonal clarity, the fat and breathy sounds you can get as well as its quiet operation. If you are looking for a true hard-rocking Humbucker this set of ‘buckers may fall a bit short since there is so much character from the P-90 shining through. However if you like P-90’s and a wide variety of tones this pickup is for you. The P-Rails just scream the word “experimental” in a good way. All I have to do now is install a toggle to get that single-coil sound! Kudos to Seymour Duncan for giving us another killer tool to carve our own tone!

For more information, please visit: http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/progressive/prails_shpr1/

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

PREVIEW: ESP’S NEW 2008 LTD’S

2008-12-18T16:22:00.001-06:00

While you were at the beach, having barbecues, and going to concerts this summer, we kept working hard at ESP. The result? Three killer new models in the LTD Deluxe series! Check out the EC-1000 STP, the M-1000 SW, and the MH-1000 SW, all with the killer features that make LTD's Deluxe series the best high-performance guitars you can get without breaking the bank!

For more information, please visit: http://espguitars.com/news/news.html

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

PREVIEW: Eastwood Airline Metallic Margarita

2008-12-09T11:41:00.001-06:00

From www.myrareguitars.com

This LIMITED Edition Guitar includes the deluxe Airline hardshell case, vintage tone switchplate and has the original NOS Valco knobs. We have 24 STD models and 24 DLX models (with BIGSBY). The camera simply cannot capture the almost neon-like beauty of this guitar - it looks spectacular in hand. Each guitar is numbered "1 of 48" through "48 of 48" - order early for your choice of serial number. We are taking orders NOW and will ship on Aug 31, 2008. Our Limited Edition guitars ALWAYS sell out early, so do not wait!

SEE IT IN ACTION: http://www.myrareguitars.com/air2pltdgreen.html

I remembered picking up an Eastwood Guitar a couple of years ago and it was cool looking, played well and had plenty of vibe. Even if you’re not looking to be the next Jack White this guitar has Icky Thump written all over it – in green. My kinda color!

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

UK Study Shows Gaming Leads to Music Making

2008-12-09T11:36:00.001-06:00

New research from across the big pond shows that up to 2.5 million children have picked up guitars and drums after playing music-themed video games.

Video games have led some parents to fear that their children could turn into addicted, uncultured sloths (not that there's anything wrong with that). But the UK Times reports that research by one of Britain's largest music charities suggests that the popularity of active music titles such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band have prompted up to 2.5 million children to learn the instruments for real.

The report conducted by Youth Music found that of 12 million young people from age 3 to 18, more than half played music games. A fifth of those gamers said that they now played an instrument after catching the musical bug from the games.

"We have long known that young people are encouraged to take an interest in music if it is presented to them in a compelling way," said Andrew Missingham, the music industry expert who wrote the report. "This research for the first time shows conclusively that young people are being inspired to make their own music by games that first piqued their interest."

NEW REVIEWS COMING SOON!!!

2008-12-04T14:19:00.001-06:00

Keep an eye on GearTrap for new reviews from two great companies: Bosstone and Option 5!

NEWS FREQ: Eastwood Guitars Upgrades Its Sidejack Models

2008-12-04T14:18:00.000-06:00

The Award Winning Sidejack DLX has been upgraded for 2009, and began shipping this week...

The 2009 Sidejack features a new and improved tremolo system, a professional grade roller bridge, and a new-look headstock that closer reflects the guitar's Mosrite origins.

Eastwood has also upgraded the Sidejack Baritone models. Since being awarded the BEST VALUE from Guitar Player Magazine in 2007, the bridge pickup has been repositioned to be closer to the bridge for a crisper baritone sound and the tremolo system has also been upgraded. The Sidejack Baritone DLX is one of the few baritone models in the world to feature a tremolo.

"The Sidejack has always been one of my personal favorite guitars," says Mike Robinson, President of Eastwood Guitars, "and with these upgraded features it should continue to be one of our top selling models for some time to come."

For more information, visit www.eastwoodguitars.com.

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

NEWS FREQ: MXR Releases '76 Vintage Dyna Comp Pedal

2008-12-04T14:17:00.000-06:00

Faithful reproduction features the exact same circuitry used in the original 1976 Dyna Comp ...

The MXR Dyna Comp that was produced in 1976 has long been regarded as the ultimate stomp box compressor. There's something inherently musical in the way it "tightens up" a guitar signal, raising the volume of quiet notes and leveling off peaks to create rich, full bodied sustain. And now the MXR Custom Shop brings back that highly sought-after sound with the '76 Vintage Dyna Comp. Meticulously researched and superbly crafted, it features the exact same circuitry used in the original 1976 Dyna Comp, identical in its component layout, silkscreen and handmade wire harness. The key component is the old school CA3080 "metal can" integrated circuit (IC), which yields quieter operation, greater transparency and increased dynamic range. These ICs have been out of production since the '80s, but MXR has tracked down a stash of them—enough to produce a limited run of these little red boxes of compression bliss. With supplies limited, the MXR '76 Vintage Dyna Comp is destined to quickly become as ultra collectible as its noble ancestor.

The MXR '76 Vintage Dyna Comp pedal has a street price of $175.00.

For more information, visit www.jimdunlop.com.

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

Musicorp Adds BBE Sound

2008-11-21T15:36:00.001-06:00

Courtesey of MMR:

Musicorp, a distributor and manufacturer of musical instruments, lighting products and accessories, has announced the addition of BBE Sound to Musicorp's distribution line.

"BBE is famous for innovative technology and high quality, particularly with their line of Sonic Maximizer products," said Roy White, Musicorp merchandising product manager. Specifically, Musicorp is carrying 20 best-selling BBE products and stocking them in their centrally-located Kentucky warehouse.

"Musicorp was the logical choice when we looked to expand our distribution channels," said Rob Rizzuto, vice president of sales and marketing for BBE Sound. "Musicorp's reach with MI dealers, breadth of products and marketing tools made them the obvious choice for a distribution partner."

PREVIEW: Gibson Dark Fire

2008-11-07T08:46:00.002-06:00

Over the past couple of years Gibson has been releasing some very innovative products with the introduction of the HD.6X-Pro Digital Les Paul and last year’s homerun Robot Guitar. Before the office closed shop this afternoon Gibson dropped another bomb on the guitar world by releasing a teaser for what they call “The World’s Most Powerful Guitar.” It appears to be a mutated Robot Guitar and promises to have limitless tonal capabilities. Prepare yourself. Gibson will be unleashing the Dark Fire on December 15th.

For more information, please visit: http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/the-gibson-dark-fire

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

Blackout Effectors Fix'd Fuzz V2

2008-11-06T14:13:00.002-06:00

If you're a regular GearTrap reader, then you already know about Vancouver based Blackout Effectors. Blackout's Purveyor, Kyle Tompkins has put hours upon hours of hard work into what I sincerely believe is the coolest pedal of the year- the Fix'd Fuzz. Recently, Kyle was nice enough to send me the V2 Fix'd Fuzz and to say i was blown away is an understatement.

Through an array of toggle switches and knobs, the Fix'd Fuzz offers up some of the gnarliest fuzz tones on the planet. If you can picture what a Big Muff beating the hell out of a Fuzz Face sounds like, then you've scratched the surface of what this thing can do with the dirt. The thing that is not immediately evident is how deftly the Fix'd Fuzz can span the divide between clean boost (yes, you read that right) and smooth overdrive.

Suffice it to say that this puppy is oozing versatility and potential. If you can only take one pedal to the studio, please... let it be this one. Your band will thank you. I'm predicting that you'll be seeing a lot more of Blackout Effectors and the Fix'd Fuzz in the coming months. Get in on the ground floor and check them out now at www.blackouteffectors.com

Creation Audio Labs Goes Direct

2008-11-05T20:16:00.001-06:00

Big news from our friends at Creation Audio Labs. No more dealers. It's all direct sale now. What does this mean? It means big price reductions. Check this guys out for some of the great effects and studio tools known to man!

Exciting news from Creation Audio Labs:

To make a long story short, we are going to direct sales only, no more dealers, selling to the public basically at dealer cost.

We know that the economy is impacting everyone - players, dealers, manufacturers - and we wanted to get the cost much lower for the end user. The dealer mark up was the "fat" we could cut out to get the lowest price point for the customer and not lose our hide. We appreciate the small network of dealers that has worked with us over the past few years and have worked out a fair deal with each of them.

With the economy slowing down we've seen our sales grind to a halt over the past few months. We want more musicians to have access to the gear we make and we need sales to pick up. The only consistent complaint we've had on any of our products is that the price was too high for the average user to bite off on, no matter how high the quality was or how great the product is. We had to build in a mark up for dealers to profit from selling our product line, but this put our street pricing higher than many people could stand. This change puts all of our products within easier reach for more players. It's a win-win situation.

All of our products are hand built by real people in the USA. Creation Audio Labs gear is as American Boutique as it gets. We intend to keep it that way and hold that flag high even when many other manufacturers are moving offshore for cheaper labor.

So to sum things up: Same great gear - New low price.

$49 Redeemer Circuit - Unleash your tone, preserve your tone and take your tone further.

$149 MK.4.23 Boost Pedal (9v or 48v Pro Series) - The most transparent boost pedal on the planet. +24 or +30 dB boost.

$195 Holy Fire Overdrive/Distortion Pedal - Overdrive & distortion that responds like a tube and leaves your tone intact.

$795 MW1 Studio Tool - The ultimate D.I. & re-amplification device designed with mega producer Michael Wagener.

Free shipping on every order! - UPS Ground to the continental United States.

Visit our website, tell your musician friends about us and order yours today: www.creationaudiolabs.com

Creation Audio Labs
Blow it out your amp!

Peavey Windsor Studio Amp- Rock Tones, Studio Features!

2008-11-05T17:20:00.001-06:00

The Peavey Windsor Studio guitar amplifier is a Class A, 15-watt combo that gives guitarists the classic guitar tones of rock's golden era with some useful modern features. The small size and light weight of the Windsor Studio make it easy to transport to the studio or gig. A footswitchable preamp boost gives this single-channel amp the flexibility of a 2-channel unit, and features such as a microphone-simulated output and Power Sponge output attenuator add some real-world functionality to the incredible vintage tone of the all-tube Windsor Studio.

Peavey Windsor Studio Amp at a Glance:

Footswitchable Boost button for additional dynamic response
Flexible tube configuration in power section
Direct out with mic simulator for recording

Footswitchable Boost button for additional dynamic response
The single-channel Windsor Studio features a footswitchable Boost button, which increases the preamp level to allow the flexibility of a dual-channel amp plus control over the dynamic response and rich distortion characteristics of its class-A tube power topology. The Boost function can be used as an overdrive feature for the power section or simply as a volume boost for soloing.

Flexible tube configuration in power section
The 15-watt Windsor Studio uses two 12AX7 preamp tubes and one EL34 power-amp tube in a single-ended configuration with no negative feedback. The power section is designed to accommodate 6L6GC, 6550, 6CA7, KT88 and KT66 octal power tubes, as well as variations on those types. Peavey's exclusive new Power Sponge output attenuator incrementally adjusts the power output of the Windsor Studio while maintaining the distortion characteristics of the power amp at any chosen volume level.

Direct out with mic simulator for recording
Also onboard the Windsor Studio is a transformer-balanced XLR direct output with a unique microphone simulator that allows players to send the amplifier signal to a recording device or front-of-house mix without the use of a microphone. Additional features include true spring reverb, preamp volume, master volume, three-band tone equalization, footswitchable effects loop and a single 12" loudspeaker.

Class A tube performance made Peavey tough. The amp might look a bit odd from the outset; however this amp is a GREAT BUY for the mere street price of $399! The fact that it as a flexible power section, direct out and a built-in power sponge blows my mind at this price! Be on the hunt for the 100 watt head of this versatile and cost-effective amp!

For more information, please visit: http://www.peavey.com/products/windsor/index.cfm

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

Planet Waves- New Universal II Chromatic Tuner

2008-11-05T17:18:00.000-06:00

Planet Waves is pleased to present its all-new, redesigned Universal II Chromatic Tuner. Based upon the best-selling Universal Chromatic Tuner, the new design is sleek and futuristic with bold, easy-to-read display graphics and offers precision tuning with chromatic and manual modes—now with a lower price tag!

The Universal II Chromatic Tuner Features:

• Chromatic or manual tuning modes

• Built-in condenser microphone and ¼” input jack

• Large, easy-to-read LCD Display

• Sleek, compact design

• Battery Included

“At Planet Waves, we’re always looking to improve upon our products, and the Universal II Chromatic Tuner is the newest example of that,” says Brian Vance, Senior Product Manager. “We’ve redesigned the look and feel of the tuner with a sleek new industrial design and larger LCD display for easy viewing, while retaining its convenient features including the built-in mic and input jack. And probably the best part is we’ve made it more affordable, making it the ideal playing and practice tool for any musician.”

The Universal II Chromatic Tuner will retail for $24.99 and is now available.

www.planetwaves.com.

Believe the Hype- The V-Pick Guitar Pick

2008-10-27T15:13:00.001-05:00

Sean O’Bryan Smith:

A pick is a pick is a pick right? Granted there are varying thicknesses and grips and material but at the end of the day does it make that much of a difference? In my 25 years of playing I had not witnessed a particular pick that truly made me blurt out a well defined “Holy Crap!” until now. Pick manufacturer V-Pick has opened the eyes of this once skeptic with their pick line and I hath seen the light.
As some “swag” from another manufacturer I was reviewing for a magazine there was a sample bag of V-picks picks inside the box. There was one each of the large rounded and large sharp picks. As I was reading the claims that this pick will make me play “lightning fast as well as improve my tone” I found myself thinking “YEAH RIGHT!” Obviously having nothing to lose and the reality that I have about 10 guitars to review for various publications, I thought I would try out this seemingly outlandish claim. I grabbed one of my trusted hollow bodies off the wall and within a few seconds exclaimed………..”Holy Crap!”
The V-Picks are made from a smooth, clear acrylic that naturally bond to your fingers. The acrylic finish allows the pick to glide extremely well over the strings allowing for a great fluidity to your playing. This helps contribute to the ability to then reproduce lines faster. Being a jazz player at heart, I also like the fact these are nice and thick. 2.75mm to be exact. You just have to love some picks with some child bearing hips. The acrylic picks also had some tone improvement attributes to them. The sound was much like the pick and that it was thick. These things are just beefy.
Another cool aspect of the V-Picks is the way they feel. They have an extremely smooth finish that feels like a well polished stone. Surprisingly they aren’t slippery though due to the acrylic natural tendency to adhere to your skin. After a few minutes of playing you realize there is a great grip to these and you shouldn’t have to worry too much about dropping them. That is a good thing too since the clear acrylic would be a severe pain to try to find on a dark stage.
In short, I am a believer now and plan on using these for a long time to come. In the short time I have been using them I have tried them on various guitars and basses and they play extremely smooth and sound great. If you are on the hunt for the possible Holy Grail of picks you might want to check this out.
Groove on,
S

GearTrap's WLPb- Video on the Way!

2008-10-20T10:27:00.003-05:00

Keep an eye on GearTrap in the coming weeks. There will be a video clip release from this year's "World's Largest Pedalboard- NAMM '08" party. Nashville video production house- Autumn Addict is hard at work completing the clip.

In June of this year, GearTrap set a world record for building the world's largest, fully operable pedalboard in Nashville, TN. with the help of a plethora of great sponsors (including Pedaltrain, George L's, Seymour Duncan, and many MANY more)the board topped out at 142 pedals. So far, "World Records Academy" has sanctioned the event, making it an official world record. The record has also been submitted to Guinness World Records and is awaiting approval.

New Reunion Blues Merino Wool Guitar Straps

2008-10-14T16:22:00.000-05:00

Reunion Blues has expanded its prestige leather gig bag line to include three new natural fiber guitar straps made from 100 percent merino wool. These new additions come in designer black, pinstripe, and chestnut brown, and all are artistically trimmed with full grain leather. They have a MSRP of $50 each.

www.reunionblues.com

Tone Freq’s LINK OF THE WEEK – Bass Frontiers

2008-10-10T11:32:00.001-05:00

Nashville session bassist, friend and overall good guy Dave Fowler has relaunched Bass Frontiers with his business partner Gene Fox. The magazine is now available exclusively on-line. They have video interviews on Billy Sheehan, Nick Jameson (Foghat), Dave Pomeroy, Dave Roe. It also covers the bass player lifestyle covering everything from new gear to how to stay healthy on the road. They have also posted a Billy Sheehan contest where you could win an autographed Sheehan Yamaha bass, Ampeg Bass Combo and Rotosound Strings.

www.bassfrontiersmag.com

"Tone Freq" Aljon Go

Freq’n out? Found a cool link? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail.com

YouTube Video of the Day: The Devi Ever Bit Mangler

2008-10-07T10:17:00.000-05:00

Tone Gear Presents the String Cleaner

2008-10-07T10:16:00.001-05:00

The String Cleaner by Tone Gear extends the life and preserves the tone of guitar strings. It removes harmful substances like sweat and oils and keeps strings strong. The revolutionary design allows for 360 degrees of cleaning power. String Cleaner requires no solution, and there's no possibility of it damaging frets. Featuring cleanable microfiber pads – it is not a disposable item – it saves the musician money on new strings by prolonging the life and the tone of the string. It has a MSRP of $12.99. Call 1-888-258-0898 to become a dealer today.

www.thestringcleaner.com

Tone Freq’s LINK OF THE WEEK – Pro Guitar Shop

2008-10-07T10:14:00.002-05:00

Tigard Oregon is home to one of the most bad ass websites around, Pro Guitar Shop. No only do they carry some of the best boutique amps and pedals but they have something other e-retailers don’t have – the Video Library! This incredible resource of “pedal porn” has hundreds of gear demos as well as the Virtual Pedalboard! If you register you’ll be able to save up to ten Virtual Pedalboards with over 40 pedal demos! By the way, did I mention the site looks classy and is easy to use? Keep up the great work guys, we interweb guitarists thank you!

www.proguitarshop.com

"Tone Freq" Aljon Go

Freq’n out? Found a cool link? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail.com

Tools for the Really Fake Guitarist

2008-10-03T10:05:00.001-05:00

The MI industry has certainly long neglected one market segment – the air guitarist.

But now Takaratomy steps in and presents the Air Guitar Pro Electric and Acoustic by Josh Rubin. No longer will the person who plays an air guitar in the privacy of his or her own home or, increasingly, at the air guitar contest at the local bar, be left without a tool to practice with (you know, besides the millions and millions of real guitars that are produced every year).

Now there is help in developing the "chops" of the invisible guitar player. The tool promises to "take the air guitar to the next level." Air Guitar Pro consists of the upper neck of a guitar and plays chords as your fingers pass through infrared-ray strings that make up an invisible fretboard-of-sorts. All one needs to do is strum the air to produce accurate sound.

The controller has seven buttons for different chords as well as buttons on the side to change from major, minor, augmented, and diminished sounds. It even includes ten beginner songs to get the player up to speed. Now anyone can start playing the invisible guitar quickly and accurately!

The product costs $56.

PREVIEW: Boss ME-20 Guitar Multi-effects

2008-09-24T17:06:00.000-05:00

From the smallest compact pedal to the most feature-laden rack, the BOSS brand is synonymous with effects that sound great and are built to last. Today BOSS expands its famous ME series multi-effects family with the ME-20, a powerful multi-effects unit optimized for live performance. Easy to use and road tough, the ME-20 provides world-class overdrive, distortion, delay, chorus, phaser, flanger, tremolo, rotary, and EQ effects, taking BOSS’s performance-based philosophy to a very affordable price point.

Performance-based guitar processor for the player who wants an ultra-easy interface with BOSS tone and quality New super-tough metal chassis with 3 footswitches, 5 realtime control knobs, and expression pedal EZ Edit for quick sound creation
OD/DS Solo function for punchy and high-impact lead tone 30 user memory locations in addition to realtime operation. Battery or AC powered

My thoughts…

Wow! Boss Clinician Robert Marcello shreds and produces some radical sounds with this unit (see link below for his video demos). The last Boss multi-effect processor I owned was an ME-33. I never had any problems with that unit and took it on several tours packing it in my carry-on. If you are especially hard on gear, have a tendency to drop things or have a heavy foot you might want to steer clear of units like this in favor for a Utopia or Nova System. My only gripe is the overall look of the pedal – it looks like a processor from 10 years ago. Surely there’s a way to sex it up a bit. However, for a mere $199 you can get an excellent sounding floor processor with sublime control.

SEE IT IN ACTION: http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=894&skip=true&page=video&file=me-20_robert_marcello_performance_1.flv

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

PREVIEW: Reverend Roundhouse RT Guitar

2008-09-19T11:43:00.000-05:00

The RT features two Reverend RevTron pickups loaded in a single-cutaway solidbody, block inlays, neck binding, Reverend Pin-Lock tuners, and Bass Contour control.

The pickups are custom designed - the bridge pickup is slightly hotter than the neck pickup for balanced tone and volume. And RevTrons are wound about 5 percent hotter overall than the originals for more sustain and punch. The solid korina body and neck contribute to a resonant, light, and lively instrument that responds to the player's touch.

This RT tone is warm but focused, with an aggressive upper-midrange chime that can cut through a band mix.

Options: Silver Sparkle, Black

List price $849, Street $649

www.reverendguitars.com

For more information, visit their web site at Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

Rocktron Classic Wah

2008-09-18T10:28:00.002-05:00

Per a special request by our good friend Andrew, here is a little more info on the Rocktron Classic Wah. Let me preface this by saying that I have not played this wah, so i can't offer first hand experience as to its tone or operation.

What i can tell you though is that I know for a fact that Rocktron makes great products. There's a reason that you find Rocktron in pro rigs the world over.
I say that with the exception of the Hush pedal. If you're in the market for a noise supressor, i'd go with the Boss NS-2 or the ISP Decimator... but i digress...

The classic wah seems to have one setting. This is contrary to the RT "Tri-Wah" which includes classic, vintage, and bass modes.

It's got a heavy duty, all-metal chassis with a tension adjustment for the guitar pedal and is battery or AC powered.

TONE FREQ REVIEW – Gator Cases’ Pedal Tote and G-BUS-8

2008-09-17T21:08:00.001-05:00

Gator’s Pedal Tote with G-BUS-8 pedal power supply is the equivalent to the overnight bag. It has just enough room for your must have pedals and essentials. It’s perfect for doing those open jam nights, playing on crowded stages or just carrying your short board effects processor.
The tote is made of plywood wrapped in black Tolex with Velcro fuzz on the top panel. Most pedal bags have handles that are susceptible to ripping – not the Pedal Tote. The bag is made from durable nylon (pretty good padding) with a section of the top cut out to expose the handle. The handle is directly mounted to the pedal board so greatly reduces stress from the weight of the pedals within. The version I’m reviewing comes with the G-BUS-8 pedal power supply mounted to the bottom. Power connectors for your pedals as well as Velcro to attach your pedals were also included.
Performance wise I found the Pedal Tote could be just a bit larger. The accessory pocket on the side was a nice size but after using a few times I wished it had a zipper instead of the Velcro flap. I found myself being extra careful making sure my cables and strings didn’t fall out of the side when opening my tote. The G-BUS-8 performed pretty well and was remarkably quite at louder amp settings. I especially liked being able to run three 18v pedals and the fact that all the power outs were isolated. The power cables can be tucked away pretty easily cleaning up your board a bit. There is a central pass for those cables toward the top of the board. If you feel really daring you should drill holes and run all your wiring underneath. That would be a good option if you’re looking for a more permanent pedal setup.

VERDICT: Great deal!
If you want a small no-nonsense pedal board that’s easy to carry this is a no-brainer. The fact that you can get this with or without the power supply is great. Considering the under $90 street price (without G-BUS-8) it’s a great deal. If you happen to buy it on-line you can get the powered version for around $165 with free shipping!

TONE FREQ RECOMMENDED!

High points: Can be purchased with or without the G-BUS-8 pedal power supply, easy to carry, powered board comes with G-BUS-8 pre-mounted, great handle

Low points: Needs side pocket zipper instead of Velcro flap

For more info: www.gatorcases.com

See it in action!

Egnator Rebel Head

2008-09-16T15:07:00.000-05:00

Here's something that seems to be a very cool head- The Egnator Rebel. 1-20 watts switchable- very cool! check it out below!

Eastwood Upgrades Classic Series

2008-09-14T15:02:00.002-05:00

Eastwood Guitars has upgraded its best selling Classic series – now available in 4-string bass, 12-string, and 6-string. All models are also available for left handers. Reminiscent of the famous 1960s Country Classic George Harrison look, these instruments offer great balance and feel. Maple top back and sides, set maple neck with unique MOP sharks' teeth fret markers. The series features dual EW-Retro humbuckers, two volume controls, and one tone control. They feature fixed or floating bridges and are available in walnut, orange, or white. The list price is $649, street price from $479.

www.eastwoodguitars.com

Practice Less, Play better?!

2008-09-12T11:52:00.002-05:00

Yes, you read that right-

Check out this article on PremierGuitar.com. Writer John Bohlinger has some interesting insights on the subject of improving your playing by experimenting with different instruments other than your primary one.

Not only do you stand the chance of getting better at what you play, you also will raise your level of inspiration by tapping into little used areas of your musical brain!

Similarly, as crazy as it sounds, I have noticed that my playing seems to improve after extended breaks. It sounds totally counter-intuitive, but it makes sense!

Do you have any interesting ways of improving your playing? If so, let me know!!!

Check out PremierGuitar.com for other great articles!

Gearz' Stacey David and a 'Hot Rod' ES-335 from Gibson Custom

2008-09-10T15:00:00.002-05:00

Here is a link to a truly unique Gibson Custom Shop guitar...

Gearz 335

Troy Van Leeuwen Rules... and demos the Vox Classic 50

2008-09-09T21:01:00.001-05:00

TVL is seriously one of the coolest players out there right now...

SKB Rolling Roto-Rack

2008-09-09T18:12:00.000-05:00

Designed as a complete upgrade and stronger alternative to SKB's existing rolling X-rack cases, the new Rolling Roto-Racks feature industrial grade steel threaded rack rails (allowing non-destructive screw mount installation and removal) and full access rear lids. An optional rear-rack rail add-on (RRK4 or RRK6 kit) allows enhanced load capacity and stability, ideal for heavy weight power amplifier units.

The 1SKB-R4W and 1SKB-R6W Rolling Roto-Rack models are rotational, molded of high impact LLDPE Polyethylene with in-line wheels supporting heavy loads, a low-profile injection molded telescoping cushion grip rubber over-molded pull handle and cushioned handle for carrying comfort. SKB's proprietary trigger release latching system, with TSA recognized and accepted recessed locking latches, enables users to securely lock their cases and still have them inspected by airline security personnel and safely checked as luggage.

www.skbcases.com

See Jaux LIVE!!!

2008-09-04T23:46:00.002-05:00

For those of you in the greater Nashville area, I'll be performing tonight (Friday) with my friends The Royce at a great rock club called The Rutledge. If you're in the area and you're looking for a killer time, come out and hang with us!

J

PREVIEW: VOX Virage Semi-hollow Single Cutaway

2008-09-01T23:07:00.002-05:00

VOX amps were instant legends, first as the defining sound of the British Invasion, then the entire rock world. The numbers don't lie. VOX is the sound heard on over a half billion records throughout music history.

Fifty years after creating the original, nuanced sound that inspired a generation; it is time for the holy grail of versatile tone to perfect the other side of the performance equation. Now VOX is now longer just the tone you hear, it is the instrument you feel.

Last year’s entry with the Virage Semi-hollow Double Cutaway introduced new features to the realm of electric guitars like the Advanced Full Contact Bridge and Three-90 pickup. This year they move forward with the Semi-hollow Single Cutaway. The guitar draws upon a familiar single cut design but incorporates their Custom Carve Neck Joint and Contoured back.

For more information, please visit: Vox Virage

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

Tone Freq’s LINK OF THE WEEK – BossArea.com

2008-09-01T22:59:00.001-05:00

Consider this site as the “wiki” for all things Boss! Originally launched in 2001 this site grew from covering Boss compact pedals to recording equipment, drum machines and more. If it had the Boss name on it it’s in there. They even have the latest editions to the Boss lineup like the Slicer! The coolest thing would have to be info on classic pedals like the Boss CS-1 from 1976!

You’ve got to bookmark it so you can cross reference all the vintage pedals you’re watching on E-bay!

www.bossarea.com

"Tone Freq" Aljon Go

Freq’n out? Found a cool link? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail.com

Gear Wire's SG Diablo Demo

2008-09-01T22:56:00.002-05:00

Here is a cool video from our friends at Gear Wire that features Gibson's SG Diablo...

Check it Out!

Gibson Replaced in Guitar Hero

2008-08-30T01:17:00.000-05:00

Gibson took its proverbial ball and went home, but the game is still very much going on.

Activision has announced the instrument and equipment companies that will fill the branding void left by Gibson in Guitar Hero World Tour. After partnering with them for a few years, Gibson decided to sue the owners of the popular game for patent infringement. But not only did that not deter the game maker, but apparently there were plenty of others on the block who wanted to "play."

The lineup of companies from which gamers will be able to grab in-game sponsorship and gear goes something like this: Ampeg, Audio-Technica, EMG Pickups, Ernie Ball, Evans Drumheads, Guitar Center, Krank Amplification, Mackie, Marshall, Orange County Drum & Percussion, Pork Pie Percussion, Regal Tip, Sabian, Vox, and Zildjian.

Dean Leaves Dean, Launches DBZ Guitars

2008-08-30T01:16:00.000-05:00

"It just wasn't working any more," Dean Zelinsky told MMR this week. "It's time to move on. I wish them well, but I really needed to be CEO of a guitar company again and have total control over things. There's not much more to it than that."

But there is.

Zelinsky, who has been making guitars since he was 18, had already left his own guitar company once before in 1986. Dean CEO Elliott Rubinson lured him back to the fold in the late 1990s. Last month he left again, only this time he launched a new company. He already has a new model out under the moniker DBZ Guitars, and promises a full line of new six strings – including acoustics – to be shown at summer NAMM. "I will continue to make heavy metal guitars, but we're also going straight down the middle, and we will be making round guitars that compete with Gibson, Fender, and PRS."

As politely as he could put it, he clearly was "not happy with the direction" of the company (which is sort of the business equivalent of "it's not you, it's me"). Zelinsky quickly wanted to talk about the future of the new company, for which he has partnered with Diamond Amplification owner Jeff Diamant (who is now also president and COO of DBZ Guitars), and Diamant's Texas partner, Terry Martin. Explained Zelinsky, "I have teamed up with Jeff because his proven business savvy is critical to this challenging new venture."...

Fender Sent to the Locker Room- But That's a Good Thing

2008-08-30T01:14:00.001-05:00

In addition to the questionable smells and perhaps words you wouldn't say to your Mom, this is what you'll also find in the Arizona Diamondbacks locker room: a Fender Player's Lounge filled with instruments.

"The Fender Player's Lounge has been quite popular with our players as well as some national recording artists that have stopped by to check out a D-backs game," said Shaun Rachau, the D-backs' vice president of communications. "Trace Adkins and his band performed after one of our games in May and couldn't believe the musical equipment Fender set up for us."

An Arizona Republic reporter recently wrote about hearing the Rick Derringer classic "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo" blasting from the room, to find it was being played by pitchers Brandon Webb and Brandon Medders.

Les Paul Axcess

2008-08-26T14:34:00.003-05:00

Here is a little piece that includes some info on the Les Paul Axcess from Gibson. You Floyd Rose fans will be especially intrigued...

LP Axcess

Gibson Rolls Out New Apparel Line

2008-08-25T11:16:00.002-05:00

Gibson has announced that it will be re-entering the fashion world with a new apparel line to be launched at the 2008 Magic Marketplace in Las Vegas August 25 - 27.

Having seen preliminary designs for the line, I can tell you that it will be a vast improvement from Gibson clothing lines of the past. No silk shirts w/ flames or tribal artwork in sight! Instead, look for the line to be hip, up to date, and rockin'!

Gibson Rock Wear

Just What You Always Wanted...

2008-08-24T22:06:00.001-05:00

This you've gotta see...

AWESOMENESS...

Jaux to Guest with Nashville Rockers "The Royce"

2008-08-23T21:37:00.003-05:00

For those you in the greater Nashville, TN area, here is a show you can't miss... I will be guesting on guitar for the single coolest Nashville band around right- The Royce on September 5th. If you live in the Nashville area, make sure to come out to The Rutledge for a killer show!

You can find more info at JauxKing.com

NAMM Heads to Political Conventions

2008-08-22T18:19:00.001-05:00

Joe Lamond for vice president? Not quite, though he'll be at both political conventions. NAMM, in partnership with the Americans for the Arts Action Fund, announced yesterday it will host two events at the national political conventions designed to encourage support for and awareness of the importance of arts and arts education. Both events are part of ArtsVote2008, a national initiative created by the Americans for the Arts Action Fund to promote the arts during the presidential election. Americans for the Arts Action Fund is the nation's only grassroots advocacy organization committed to ensure that candidates for public office adopt thoughtful arts policies.

Dave Kutner, former president of Hammond Organ, dies at 93

2008-08-22T18:18:00.001-05:00

Dave Kutner, former president of Hammond Organ, died of a heart attack at his home in Rancho Bernardo, Calif., on June 26. He was 93.

Prior to joining Hammond in 1965, he had an impressive background with Motorola, Zenith, and Helene Curtis. Organ sales had slipped during the decade prior to Kutner joining Hammond, and he launched a new product, which his wife named the Hammond Piper. Its immediate success turned the company's fortunes around. Kutner's focus on the home market led to the introduction of the first non-tonebar "J" series spinet featuring a built-in rhythm unit, six rhythm voices, and many other features typically only found in console models. He was also a board member of the American Music Conference. Kutner retired in 1971, but long after he retired, he still kept in touch with industry friends. A tribute to Dave is posted on the NAMM web site, along with a video clip from his interview for the Oral History project.

PRS HQ to Triple in Size

2008-08-22T18:17:00.001-05:00

Next year there'll be more of PRS to love. Literally.

Paul Reed Smith Guitars has received a $10 million private equity bond from the state of Maryland to help pay for a major expansion of its manufacturing facility in Stevensville, Md. The expansion will more than triple the size of the factory, going from 25,000 square feet to 84,000 square feet, and is expected to add 60 more jobs. The new areas will be dedicated to building amps and acoustic guitars. It is also reported that PRS will develop more products in the lower price range (today their products range from $500 to $20,000, with an emphasis on the higher end).

"There are some large segments of the market we should be addressing," said Paul Reed Smith. "We have the skills and the supplies and the talent to do it. But we were out of room, and now we won't be out of room."

The bond is tax exempt and provides the company with a low interest rate for repaying the loan. The bond was issued by a private lender through the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED). DBED also approved a $1.5 million loan in 2005 to help pay for the expansion.

Smith is working with Ricky Skaggs to design acoustic guitars and with well-known amplifier builder Doug Sewell on amp products.

Source: Baltimore Sun

WLPb Video on the Way!

2008-08-21T18:44:00.002-05:00

I'm happy to announce that there is a video forthcoming from the World's Largest Pedalboard NAMM party! I have seen the nearly finished product and it looks fantastic! The video is being produced by GearTrap buddies Autumn Addict, a Nashville based production company. I'm stoked for you guys see it. Keep an eye out!!!

J

PREVIEW: Orange Tiny Terror Combo

2008-08-21T18:39:00.001-05:00

Lunch box-sized amp now available as a combo

The award winning, critically acclaimed Orange Tiny Terror was launched 18 months ago, and, after selling over ten thousand units, has proven to be one of the most in-demand amps in the world. During this time period Orange has been under sustained pressure from guitarists to launch a Tiny Terror combo and now Orange can announce they will debut the new Tiny Terror combo at the forthcoming Messe show in Frankfurt, Germany.

Part of the appeal of the Tiny Terror was that its clever design which packed everything into something not much more than the size of a lunch box and weighing in at only a few pounds. Orange have kept to the same concept in designing the combo version by keeping it extremely compact, with a look very reminiscent of classic 70’s Orange OTR combo’s. As with the head it is competitively priced and most importantly the unique signature tone is every bit as good as the original.

The amp section of the new combo is identical to the Tiny Terror, and in designing the speaker section Orange used a Celestion 30 watt G12H anniversary speaker.

Built to Orange quality standards, the new combo uses top quality components and its roadworthy rugged construction is what you’d expect from an Orange amp.

Specifications
Power- 15 Watts Class A/ 7 watts class A
Channel Controls; Gain / Tone / Volume
Preamp Valves: 2 x 12AX7
Power Values: 2 x EL84
Speaker: Celestion 30 watt G12H anniversary speaker

For more information, please visit:

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

PREVIEW: Ibanez RG770 Reissues

2008-08-21T18:36:00.003-05:00

The second electric guitar I ever owned was an Ibanez RG570 in Ruby Red. I always wanted a RG770 because of it’s maple fretboard and sharktooth fret markers. Now I can. New for Summer 2008 are RG770DXLB/RR Reissues which feature original Edge bridges, DiMarzio®/IBZ pickups, colored sharktooth inlays and 5pc maple/walnut Wizard necks with original 1987 dimensions. From my understanding they play amazing and are probably setup better now than they ever were.

For more information, please visit: Ibanez

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

Epiphone "amps" it up!

2008-08-20T18:50:00.003-05:00

as previously mentioned on GT, Epiphone is preparing to launch a new line of killer amps. I was given a preview today at Epiphone headquarters here in Nashville. The meeting was very informative and the amps sound KILLER! The Valve Jr. Hot Rod was one of my favs. It's basically a stock VJ with all the mods for the VJ that are available online- very cool! Killer new features include: Tone controls, reverb, and a dummy load that will allow you to use the HRVJ as a dedicated reverb tank! whoa! Aslo featured were the Valve Senior, a 20W head (or combo) that includes EQ controls and Presence controls!

Make sure to check these bad boys out as soon as you can!

Epiphone Website

"Buck the Hum"- Gibson Bible Excerpt

2008-08-19T11:25:00.002-05:00

Here is a fantastic little bit from Gibson.com on humbuckers and their history...

Buck the Hum!!!

PREVIEW: Roland Mobile Cube

2008-08-16T00:10:00.001-05:00

I was so impressed with the Roland Cubes I bought a Bass Cube for my wife around four years ago. I’m pleased to say the amp is still kicking ass! They offer quite a bit of bang for your buck and are perfect for practicing and jamming in your living room, apartment or dorm. The Roland Mobile Cube is their latest offering delivering inputs for MP3 players, guitars, keyboards and center cancelling for karaoke or practicing your lead guitar! It even has distortion, chorus and delay effects to boot! At $160.00 street pricing it’s a welcomed value for beginner or seasoned pro!

Features:

Battery-powered amplifier for anyone, anywhere, anytime
5W (2.5W + 2.5W) stereo power with two high-performance 10cm (4") speakers
Inputs for microphone, stereo-instrument, and stereo AUX; headphone output
Center Cancel function for karaoke
Built-in stereo reverb/chorus, distortion and more
Dedicated strap included for easy carry around

For more information, please visit: Roland

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

Tone Freq's E-Baywatch

2008-08-16T00:02:00.002-05:00

Tastier than a half-eaten Whopper on the floor of the Hoff’s bathroom floor it’s the first ever edition of Tone Freq’s E-BAYWATCH!

HOMEMADE PEDALBOARD

ARE YOU EFFIN’ KIDDING ME?

This guy wants to sell you his homemade pedal boards for $35 +$12 shipping. I think not. For a few more dollars pick up a Pedaltrain Mini or Gator Pedaltote along with a Visual Sound 1-Spot kit. Your pedals will thank you for the gig bag – PLUS you’ll look much cooler setting up for your gig!

BBE SOUL VIBE

HELL YEAH!

You’ve got plenty of time (19 days as I write this) to bid on this bad boy. The seller bought it and hardly used it. It’s currently going for CHEAP – including $10 shipping. A small price to pay for this rotary pedal – one to watch for sure!

BOSS DIMENTION C (DC-2) COMPACT PEDAL

COOL FIND!

Dimension C is an analog chorus pedal where you can choose from 4 presets. It is similar to the earlier rack mount effect, Roland SDD-320 Dimension D, but in a compact pedal format. It is quit rare and it's not uncommon to see it go for around $150 in the used pedal market. There isn't any way to adjust your sound other than to choose from one of the four presets. The users have never seen this as a problem as all 4 presets produce excellent sound. The DC-2 was sold from December 1985 to September 1989. The seller admits that it needs clean up BUT it “works great.” Let’s hope so – his feedback his 100% positive since he started in April of this year.

EASTWOOD WANDRE DLX

KILLER!

The Wandre is bad ass in black! Michael, the man behind My Rare Guitars, posted this B Stock due to some scratches in the finish where the neck meets the body and paint cracks at the neck joint. Thankfully he inserted some pictures of it on the listing. Personally I don’t mind the marks. They are hardly noticeable, besides nobody will see them on stage while you rock out!

I hope you enjoyed our little excursion. Remember… I do the surfing so you don’t have to! See you soon!

“Tone Freq” Aljon Go is considered to be a pedal junkie by his peers often asked for advice when building pedal boards. He toured the world with his award winning band Mink and was the artist relations/marketing pro for a musical accessory company. He currently spends his time bringing new and exciting tones to regional acts Jaux King and JonesWorld. He is also host of the long running “Local Buzz” radio show in Nashville and product specialist for a leading instrument company. Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

Taylor Solidbody Classic SC

2008-08-14T22:41:00.002-05:00

Taylor has had a reputation of great acoustic guitar making for years now. In the past year or so, they begun to explore the electric market and with great results. Their latest take on this is the Solidbody Classic SC. The new SC features a proprietary Style III noiseless single-coil pickup, which will offer the user a unique single-coil tone, sans the hum. Other features on the retro recreation include a solid ash body with a vintage style crush pearl pickguard, a maple neck, and chrome hardware.

Taylorguitars.com

Tone Freq's TONE TIP: Amps for Cheap Bastards! PART 1

2008-08-14T22:32:00.003-05:00

Boutique? Stock? Whatever? If you are low on cheese but want to add some boutique-esque vibe to your amp set up I’ve got some amps for you. Here are some of my tips for amps under $500 for all of you cheap bastards!

Epiphone Valve Junior Half Stack

It’s the ultimate in simplicity and tone delivered in one little package - it’s the Valve Junior half stack from Epiphone. The Valve Junior Head and matching cab make for a distinct vintage style and undeniably powerful tube tone.

Much like Master Yoda don’t be fooled by its small size. This straight-forward single-ended Class A tube amp has been applauded for it’s tube tone and style and leaving you more than enough cash in pocket for other necessities – like gas! The head delivers 5W power with one 12AX7 tube in the preamp and an EL84 in the power amp. The lunchbox can work a 4x12 cab and can deliver some great overdrive all dimed out. The cab features birch plywood construction and a 16 ohm 12" Eminence Lady Luck Speaker rated for 70 watts RMS.

If you want killer looks and great tube tone that won’t break the bank (or your back) be sure to check out Epi’s Valve Junior half stack! PS – The mods to this amp are KILLER and are also worth researching! Check out my previous TONE FREQ LINK OF THE WEEK: BITMO MODS

Gretsch Electromatic G5222 – Street price $195.00

Classic looks, great price and the Gretsch name – what’s not to love? If you are looking for some vintage tone for home recording or just playing the coffee shop down the road give this five watt hat box a shot.

This two input combo has a specially designed 6” 6 ohm speaker, single volume control, external speaker jack (way cool) and is powered by a tube preamp and tube power amp (one 12AX7 tube; one 6V6 tube). The tweed look alone had me at “hello!”

Marshall AS50D – Street price $385.00

Speaking of the coffee shop I didn’t forget about you acoustic bangers. The critically acclaimed Marshall AS50D is a 50-watt, is one of my favorite acoustic amps. Not just because of its pedigree but because of the number of features! The 2 x 8" acoustic guitar combo amp has 2 channels, including a phantom-powered microphone channel, a crispy tweeter, digital chorus and reverb, and an anti-feedback notch filter! Each channel sports its own volume, EQ, FX loop, and D.I. output. Master volume, line out and RCA inputs round things out nicely.

I love playing through this amp and consider this a MUST own for the acoustic musician. I have even used this amp in conjunction with a POD and it sounds pretty good for the rehearsal room! Kudos to Marshall!
Although you might be able to find some great deals at pawn shops, garage sales and scratch-n-dents my research and hands-on use find these new models some of the best in their price points. (Manufactures please feel free to prove me wrong and send me some gear to review!) Next time I’ll examine some bigger combos and half stacks. In the meantime - happy hunting!

“Tone Freq” Aljon Go is considered to be a “pedal junkie” by his peers often asked for advice when building pedal boards. He toured the world with his award winning band Mink and was the artist relations/marketing pro for a musical accessory company. He currently spends his time bringing new and exciting tones to regional acts Jaux King and JonesWorld. He is also host of the long running “Local Buzz” radio show in Nashville and product specialist for a leading instrument company.

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

TONE FREQ REVIEW – Line 6 Verbzilla

2008-08-14T00:21:00.001-05:00

Line 6 is best known for their modeling – or emulation of classic guitar tones. Creating tools like their trademark red kidney bean POD, amps like the Vetta and pedals like the DL4 Delay Modeler they are making their mark on the compact pedal market. The Verbzilla promises to be a force to be reckoned with providing studio-grade reverbs to your pedalboard.

This hefty pedal comes with the standard mix, delay and time controls. The additions of a tone knob, model selector and trails switch set this box apart from other reverb stomps. My favorite function has to be the Model Switch. You can choose from 11 types of reverbs – most of which are self explanatory: '63 Spring (based on* a Fender® 1963 brown spring reverb head unit a la The Ventures), Spring, Plate, Room, Chamber, Hall, Ducking (volume of your reverb is "ducked" reduced while you're playing, and increases when you stop), Octo (ambient space with a harmonized decay), Cave, Tile, and Echo. I found the models to be very clean, noise-free and authentic. There is plenty of splash in those early reverb models. The Octo setting is quite viby and easy to dial in thanks to the time control. The Trails switch is also good for letting your notes continue ringing with reverb after the pedal has been disengaged.

They sure crammed a lot of functionality into this compact pedal. Since the Verbizlla is part of the Tonecore line you can purchase other Tonecore effect modules to insert and play with. The housing seemed really sturdy with easy access to the battery compartment. The unit is powered by a standard 9v pedal power supply or battery. I suggest using a power supply since the batteries drain very quickly.

VERDICT: AWESOME!

The Verbzilla from Line 6 delivers on its promise for studio-grade algorithms to your pedalboard. If you are looking to get the biggest bang for your buck in the world of reverb than the Verbzilla is your monster!

TONE FREQ RECOMMENDED!

High points: Rugged compact stompbox, plenty of killer reverb models

Low points: uses up batteries very quickly

See it in action HERE!!!

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Aljon Go is considered to be a “pedal junkie” by his peers often asked for advice when building pedal boards. He toured the world with his award winning band Mink and was the artist relations/marketing pro for a musical accessory company. He currently spends his time bringing new and exciting tones to regional acts Jaux King and JonesWorld. He is also host of the long running “Local Buzz” radio show in Nashville and product specialist for a leading guitar company. Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

YouTube Video of the Day: MXR CLASSIC FUZZ

2008-08-12T23:16:00.002-05:00

Tone Freq’s LINK OF THE WEEK – BOSS Tone Radio

2008-08-11T18:36:00.000-05:00

I love podcasts! They provide a constant source of information and entertainment while I’m on the road. One of my favorites comes from BOSS, the champions of the compact pedal world. Hosted by Paul Hanson, product specialist and author of “Shred Guitar,” the show deals with artist interviews, technique and plenty of gear talk from some of the best names in the business. Check out his interviews with Will Ray (Hellecasters), Paul Gilbert and Robert Marcello. The latest edition features the father of sweep picking Frank Gambale!

By the way Paul also acted as Michael J. Fox’s guitar coach on Back to the Future! COOL!!!

LINK: Boss Tone Radio

Tone Freq" Aljon Go

Freq’n out? Found a cool link? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail.com

Gibson's Guitar of the Month: August '08

2008-08-11T14:08:00.002-05:00

Here is the lowdown on Gibson's Guitar of the Month for August; the Shred V... Metalheads, rejoice.

SHRED V

Gibson's Joe Bonamassa Signature

2008-08-11T14:06:00.003-05:00

Here are some of the in's and out's of Gibson's latest artist "Inspired By" series guitars. The Joe Bonamassa has been met with a resoundingly positive response. Check out the link for all the details!

Joe Bonmassa Signature

GearTrap Recognized by MMR Magazine

2008-08-11T10:10:00.002-05:00

GearTrap appeared on MMR's "Best and Worst of Summer NAMM '08" list in this month's issue for "Best Coordinated Undertaking". This is an extremely cool recognition and it is greatly appreciated- THANX MMR!!!

MMR Magazine

GearHead's 12 Step Program Part 4: FUZZ

2008-08-07T15:16:00.002-05:00

Regular "GearTrappers" know that I'm a fuzz hound. I love fuzz because it's the most over the top member of the gain boost family. We touched on how a distortion will clip you signal going into the front of the amp and also how OD will give you a smooth, warmth, but fuzz is different still. Fuzz basically kicks your signal in the ass and sends it packing- out the door and through the amp! Some classic fuzzes include: The Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face (now made by Dunlop), The Electro-Harmonix Big Muff, and the legendary Ampeg Scrambler. These models have cultivated reputations as fuzz icons over the years. Some newer fuzzes that I think have just as good a chance of attaining icon status are: Blackout Effectors' Fix'd Fuzz, Mad Professor's Fire Red Fuzz, and the Demeter Fuzzulator. These are all great units which prove to be as unique in tone as their OD/distortion counterparts. Thanks to everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Trent Reznor, we've been enjoying the gnarliness of fuzz for decades and it's evolved just like the music it's defined. With any luck, we'll be enjoying fuzz for years to come.

GearTrap Featured in Vintage Guitar Magazine!

2008-08-07T13:29:00.001-05:00

Check out this month's issue of Vintage Guitar Magazine for some GearTrap love!

Calling All GearHeads: Iggy and the Stooges Gear STOLEN!!!

2008-08-06T14:28:00.002-05:00

I've always said we GearHeads gotta stick together. Well, this is one of those times. In the past day or so, it was reported that an entire truckload of gear belonging to "The Stooges" was stolen. They were on tour and the truck was parked out in front of their hotel. A link below to a full story contains more details as well as a link to a website that contains photos of the gear. Keep those eyes open people!

Stooges Gear STOLEN

GearTrap Preview

2008-08-04T18:28:00.002-05:00

Hi Guys!

Here's a few things I'm working on:

-A killer article on the Gabriel Voxer 33 half stack

-A cool review on the Pedal Flex effect adjustment tool. Very cool product! Watch out!

J

Creation Audio Labs Holy Fire

2008-08-04T18:27:00.000-05:00

Tone Freq’s LINK OF THE WEEK – Gearwire.com

2008-08-03T12:24:00.001-05:00

If you’re like me and can’t get enough on the gear you crave then check out Gearwire.com. The site is updated daily with gear reviews, interviews, and industry news and my favorite - product demos. Gearwire.com also takes you into the coolest trade shows as NAMM, AES, Musikmesse, and many others. The site is not just guitar-centric but covers everything for the musician getting the skinny from industry heavyweights like Roland, Gibson, Shure and Marshall. They also have a regular podcast covering everything from home recording, guitar and industry cheers and jeers.

I had a chance to pay their studio office a visit last month and found them to be great people and musicians who truly want to pass on some unbiased info to the info-hungry consumers. They even encourage interactivity with reader comments. I find their knowledge on digital recording and software their big strong point. I urge you to check out Gearwire.com!

www.gearwire.com

"Tone Freq" Aljon Go

Freq’n out? Found a cool link? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail.com

Tone Freq’s LINK OF THE WEEK – Gearwire.com

2008-08-03T12:24:00.000-05:00

If you’re like me and can’t get enough on the gear you crave then check out Gearwire.com. The site is updated daily with gear reviews, interviews, and industry news and my favorite - product demos. Gearwire.com also takes you into the coolest trade shows as NAMM, AES, Musikmesse, and many others. The site is not just guitar-centric but covers everything for the musician getting the skinny from industry heavyweights like Roland, Gibson, Shure and Marshall. They also have a regular podcast covering everything from home recording, guitar and industry cheers and jeers.

I had a chance to pay their studio office a visit last month and found them to be great people and musicians who truly want to pass on some unbiased info to the info-hungry consumers. They even encourage interactivity with reader comments. I find their knowledge on digital recording and software their big strong point. I urge you to check out Gearwire.com!

LINK:www.gearwire.com

"Tone Freq" Aljon Go

Freq’n out? Found a cool link? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail.com

TONE FREQ REVIEW – Visual Sound V2 Double Trouble

2008-07-31T18:24:00.002-05:00

I have been a huge fan of Visual Sound pedals ever since I tried the H20 (chorus/delay) years ago. Since then Visual Sound pedals have been a staple on my pedal boards. After hearing about the new line of V2 pedals of course I had to jump on one and hear it for myself.

I’ve always liked the Tubescreamer for its musical rich distortion. If you play classic rock, pop or blues it should have a permanent home in your setup, in my humble opinion.This pedal would even make the greatest of Texas guitar slingers gleam with pride and joy! The Double Trouble is designed by head honcho/creator Bob Weil and engineer extraordinaire R.G. Keen to better than your ordinary Tubescreamer 808 clone. By popular demand of fans of their Route 66 and Jekyll & Hyde pedals they have put two of their overdrive sections together. You can get a wide array of tones from this bad-boy. From clean boost, to nice creamy Texas and May-like sing-song saturation the Double Trouble delivers.

What I dig about this pedal is the versatility. The range of tones is great. The bass boost ads some welcomed girth. If you are playing through a single 12 it makes it sound like you are playing through a 2x12. If you are playing through a 2x12 you grab some of that 4x12 response. The fact that you can activate both channels independently is great – as if you gained three more channels on your amp! The drive and tone controls are very responsive and cleverly protected from unwanted adjustments by the new contoured back. The V2 line of upgrades includes a new embossed foot switch designed to last 10-million foot stomps. The new baseball mound diecast aluminum chassis has also been redesigned to reduce the footprint by 20% - more room for more pedals! The battery access door has also been redesigned for easy access. The jacks are also hand wired onto the circuit board so if you step on a plug wrong the pedal will still work.

If you are looking for a more aggressive metal type of grind this pedal is not for you. If you are looking to get more out of a TS-808 then look no further the Double Trouble has found you!

VERDICT: AWESOME!

TONE FREQ RECOMMENDED!

High points: tonal versatility, bass boost on both channels

Low points: None

Visual Sound V2 Double Trouble pedal features:

Overdrive circuits from Jekyll & Hyde and Route 66 pedals
Dual drive, tone, and volume controls
Bass boost
Easy-access battery door
Optional AC power
Heavy-duty die-cast aluminum housing

See it in action!

Check out www.visualsound.net for more info!

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Aljon Go is considered to be a “pedal junkie” by his peers often asked for advice when building pedal boards. He toured the world with his award winning band Mink and was the artist relations/marketing pro for a musical accessory company. He currently spends his time bringing new and exciting tones to regional acts Jaux King and JonesWorld. He is also host of the long running “Local Buzz” radio show in Nashville and product specialist for a leading guitar company. Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

YouTube Video of the Day: Fulltone TTE

2008-07-30T20:55:00.001-05:00

What is My Silverface Worth?

2008-07-30T20:50:00.001-05:00

Here is some great info on how to read Fender amp serials. Check it out!

gablog

They're Bringin' Leslie back... YEP!

2008-07-29T16:23:00.002-05:00

Hammond Suzuki USA is bringing back the classic Leslie rotary amplifier. Two models are available: the G37 (which includes a built-in 100-watt amp) and the G27 (which can be used in tandem with your out board amp). This reissue is certain to harken back the classic Leslie days of the 60's, but with very cool difference- this one is made specifically for guitar! Very cool.

www.hammondorganco.com

Tone Freq's TONE TIP: Tone King Amplifier Company Inc.

2008-07-26T12:31:00.002-05:00

Tone King Amplifier Company of Baltimore Maryland and designer Mark Bartel specialize in recreating classic American “Blackface” tones of the 50’s and 60’s. Hand-crafting every amp with the best American made materials and the finest workmanship possible they just ooze vibe! For you retro buffs I submit the Imperial. This amp has been a favorite for pros and tone aficionados for their art deco looks, era correct tone and splashy reverb. The Meteor II builds on the vintage tone and adds more beef, presence and a bias adjustment that is quick and easy that you could do it yourself. The cabinets are also well designed with custom made speakers. Custom wraps and grill cloths are also available to further your own customizing options.
Check out www.toneking.com for more info!

www.toneking.com

Freq’n out? E-mail Aljon: tonefreq(at)gmail(dot)com.

Marshall at NAMM

2008-07-26T12:28:00.000-05:00

Gibson's Good Wood

2008-07-24T09:04:00.003-05:00

Here is a link to an interesting article regarding the history Gibson's ES-175 and ES-295. You'll get a little insight into Gibson's post-WWII plans and how the advent of 175 and 295 played a part in it. Enjoy!

Good Wood!!!