BOSS RC-1 Loop Station

I currently have the BOSS RC-2 Loop Station. It’s an awesome pedal. But it looks like it’s been replaced by the all-new BOSS RC-1 Loop Station. One knob by the looks of things. I’m sure that’s not how the names are worked out, but this pedal looks seriously easy to use on account of that one little knob. You’ve gotta love that.

Of course the basic way this pedal is used is the same as all the other workhorse pedals BOSS makes. Stomp on that sturdy little box and go! The pedal unit has been iconic in design and sturdiness for well over 20 years. When it ain’t broke … … BOSS RC-1 Loop Station

Guitar

52 Amplifier Heads, week 36—Silverblade Hellhound 20

When an amplifier comes with a warning that says Warning: Highest gain of all time, I think to myself “I like to live dangerously.” I also remind myself at times like these that I’m looking for an amplifier head that will suit my guitar playing needs. Luckily, the bulk of my guitar playing is heavy metal riffage. I need the highest gain of all time. Silverblade Hellhound 20 warning message … Challenge accepted. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 36—Silverblade Hellhound 20

Guitar

EHX Nano Looper 360

Electro-Harmonix (or EHX) has announced the Nano Looper 360. It looks dead-easy to use with two simple knobs and an on-off foot-switch. I’m dead-easy. This therefore appeals to me. The recommended retail price of $135 USD also appeals to me. Well, as much as any American currency can appeal to an Australian. I know affordable when I see it. This is affordable. … EHX Nano Looper 360

Guitar

PolyTune 2 Mini (also available in noir)

If you’ve ever taken a look around this website you would have noticed a lack of colour. It’s something I decided to do a few years ago because the majority of my guitars are black and/or white. It’s how I like things. So imagine my delight when I discovered the new PolyTune 2 Mini (and PolyTune 2 Noir). They’re black and white and tiny enough to fit into the corner of my packed pedalboard. Handy!

… PolyTune 2 Mini (also available in noir)

Guitar

Steve, Dave and Jim return (with some pedalboard planning)

I recently had too much time on my hands and wasted it by putting together a small Instagram storyline that featured three Lego men I decided to call Steve, Dave and Jim. Not one to dwell on that wasted time, I wasted more time and wrote a Blog article about it all and put together a downloadable PDF booklet of the story. If you’re going to waste time, do it properly I say.

Well, because I do say that, I went ahead and did it all over again. So here is Steve, Dave and Jim Issue 2: Pedalboard planning … Steve, Dave and Jim return (with some pedalboard planning)

Guitar

52 Amplifier Heads, week 35—Kustom Defender 5H

Last week’s wishlist amplifier head had two knobs. Minimalistic is cool. But maybe two knobs is one too many. What do you really need?! Volume and tubes. That’s all you need. If the amplifier head can be around $100 then your wallet is also happy. The Kustom Defender 5H ticks all those boxes by providing perhaps the most simplified amplifier head around. If my wife was picking the amplifier head for me, she’d pick this one. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 35—Kustom Defender 5H

Guitar

52 Amplifier Heads, week 34—Diamond Amplification Positron

Did you know that a positron is also called an antielectron? Did you also know that when a low-energy positron smashes into a low-energy electron that annihilation occurs? Awesome right? That’s the kind of brutality that appeals to a true metal-head like me. Also positron is just a cool sounding word. Cool … Sounding … Surely that translates into an awesome amplifier if you’re the Diamond Amplifications Positron 18 watt head. Let’s hope so, because I want one. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 34—Diamond Amplification Positron

Guitar

The adventures of Steve, Dave and Jim

The other day I decided to post an image on my Instagram account of a few Lego characters in and around the pickup cavity of an electric guitar of mine. I hadn’t put a lot of thought into it, but it was fun. In fact, it was so much fun I decided to take another shot at the end of the day. The next morning I took another shot. Before I knew it, I was creating a dialogue of sorts and the characters—I’d named them Steve, Dave and Jim—began to take on a life of their own. I bit like Pinocchio, but cool. … The adventures of Steve, Dave and Jim

Guitar

52 Amplifier Heads, week 33—Carvin V3M

Week 33 already. Wow, we’re carvin’ through this year. I feel this week’s amplifier head needs to pack more punch than usual. Perhaps I should allow an amplifier into the series that is way over the usual wattage I’m looking for. But it has to still be suitable for my home playing/recording needs. I know … the Carvin V3M. OK, I may have hinted at what the amplifier would be with the intro sentences to this article and the article/page title does give it away week after week, but I enjoy putting these introductions together all the same.

Sometimes I surprise myself. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 33—Carvin V3M

Guitar

52 Amplifier Heads, week 32—Hayden Mini MoFo Head 15W

Seriously. What’s with all the amplifier manufacturers in the United Kingdom? Why are there so many? Why do they all seem so cool? Why are they making it so difficult for me to choose the all-tube amplifier I will end up buying? I don’t know the answers to these questions I but I do know that Hayden Amplifiers are now on my list. Damn them and their Mini MoFo Head (15W).

I was tempted to throw in some cursing there, but figured the amplifier’s name covered all the swearing this article needs. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 32—Hayden Mini MoFo Head 15W