A colleague of mine once said something to me in a conversation about overdrive pedals that to this day still resonates. I was asking his advice about overdrive pedals and he said "overdrive pedals are the only type of effect that you can have a drawer full of, and still need another one". It may seem gluttonous or hyperbolic, but it really is true. There are many types of overdrive pedals that can serve a wide range of uses, and one person's trash is always another person's treasure. With all of that in mind, allow me to inform your decision making if I can by offering some recommendations based on my own personal experience. I'm going to start...
Similar to reverb, delay effects can create the illusion of distance in a mix, and adding it in or taking it away can change the way your guitar fits in with a band. Ever since the introduction of massive tape delay units such as the Roland space echo, whose praises can still be heard from the mouths of true analog purists, delay effects have become an essential component of any modern guitarist's tone. Guitar icons from Jimi Hendrix to The Edge have pushed the delay pedal into the library of required reading for any guitarist with even a half hearted interest in advancing. That said, not all delays are created equal. Many of the delay effects on the market...
Guitarists love to talk about gear from every angle, with no stone left unturned. I have happily entertained conversations in the past about everything from what type of pickups are in my guitars, right down to the hardware; the literal nuts and bolts. Lately however, I have noticed that one specific gear rabbit hole that every guitarist has gone down is sorely lacking from typical discussions. I can understand why to a certain extent, as this particular type of purchase is not really part of the whole "gear" scene, in that it is not really part of the signal chain. And yet in a way it is a crucial part of every guitarist's tone. So today I thought I'd talk...
I remember growing up and thinking that capos were tools for amateur guitarists, as if using one was like cheating at the guitar. Boy was I ever wrong! Anyone who seriously pays attention to guitar players knows that capos can be used in some really creative ways. There are all sorts of styles and sizes, and I hope that this article will introduce you to a few of the more common ones to help you if you're in the market for a capo but aren't sure what kind is the most appropriate for your needs. Spring Loaded Capos Maybe the easiest capos to use, and the most simple design, spring loaded capos work exactly like you'd think they do. My home...
If you're like me, you don't live alone. Sharing space means compromise, and if you're a guitarist (or you just live with one) then you know it also means practicing quietly. Nowadays I look back with nostalgia on the times when I was a teenager and living at home with my parents when my father would yell at me in the basement to turn down my guitar, but at the time there was nothing more irritating than being asked to play quietly. Doesn't he understand?! If you want to sound like Jimmy Page your amp needs to be turned up LOUD! Living in a large city for my entire adulthood has meant adapting to apartment living, and that means no...
