Amplifiers

52 Amplifier Heads, week 19—Dr.J Pedal Lover

I’ve written recently in a few articles how I like to get a lot of my tone from the pedals on my pedalboard. It’s not the perfect way to get the perfect tone, but I’ve never claimed to be perfect. I do like to experiment a lot with gear though. So I remind myself of that fact this week as I investigate another potential tube amplifier to begin my tube amplifier journey with.

I need an amplifier that has been created for someone like me—a guitar pedal lover. I don’t want to have to think too hard about it either. If only someone could create an amplifier with a name that let me know it was the right amplifier for me. Oh wait, Dr. J may have done that with their Pedal Lover amplifier head.

Awesome. Job done. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 19—Dr.J Pedal Lover

Guitar Gear Reviews

Pedal Check—YouTube guitar pedal videos ranked by users

Have you ever gone to YouTube with the intention of watching a video about a guitar pedal you’re considering buying only to be distracted by non-guitar related videos and/or videos not related to the actual pedal you went to YouTube for in the first place? I know I have. It can be annoying. If only there was a way to view YouTube videos that were guaranteed to only be about guitar pedals. Oh wait … with Pedal Check there is.

Well that’s handy. … Pedal Check—YouTube guitar pedal videos ranked by users

Guitar Gear Reviews

New B&W plectrums from PlecPicker

Earlier this year I wrote about the glow-in-the-dark plectrums from PlecPicker.com. Now the folks at PlecPicker have released a new range of plectrums that once again include free shipping (global). That’s awesome. The new range appeals to me greatly and there are a few reasons for that. Firstly, the new range is slightly thinner at .71mm. Secondly, the new plectrums have a different texture with increased grip. Thirdly and most importantly, the new plectrums are black and white. Perfect plectrums for this little website. … New B&W plectrums from PlecPicker

Amplifiers

52 Amplifier Heads, week 18—Mooer Little Monster BM

Lately I’ve found myself looking at amplifiers that are getting bigger and bigger. That’s understandable. It’s easy to look at an amplifier, see a bigger and louder one nearby and think “Ooh! But look at that one!” Before you know it you’re ready to buy your own arena sized amplifier stack. But this week it’s time to remind myself of a few things. Things such as my guitar skill level. It’s not high. So I don’t need a huge amplifier. Why expand the area that is likely to hear my guitar playing beyond the room I’m in? I also need to remind myself that size isn’t everything. It’s what you do with it (so I’m told). More importantly, I’m after an awesome sounding amplifier. Something with monster tone in a practice volume level package. Conveniently, Mooer makes the Little Monster BM head.

I’m back on track. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 18—Mooer Little Monster BM

Amplifiers

52 Amplifier Heads, week 17—Line 6 DT25

So far in the 52 Amplifiers series I’ve written about amplifier heads ranging from 1 watt to 20 watts. I’m still looking for something that I could use comfortably at home, but what if I also benefited from something that was capable of a lot more? Then an amplifier that went from 10 watts to 25 watts might be better. But I’ve so far discovered plenty of amplifiers that provide quite the tonal range for me to consider as well. Thanks to the Line 6 DT25 that might not be a problem either. I love a good problem solver. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 17—Line 6 DT25

Guitar Gear iOS

iRig PRO—now I can mic an amp with iOS!

Last year I wrote about the release of the iRig PRO. Recently I was lucky enough to add this interface to my personal collection of all-things-cool and I have to say I’m loving it. I would have written about it earlier, but every time I finish playing with the iRig PRO IK Multimedia goes and releases something else of interest to me. Recently they’ve released the AmpliTube Orange suite (for iOS and PC/Mac), a Custom Shop update with all-new ENGL amps and some amazing EQ releases in T-RackS (including the EQ73, EQ81 and Master EQ 432). So I’ve had plenty to keep me busy. I’m hoping IK Multimedia takes a holiday this Easter. Then I can catch up on my Blog! … iRig PRO—now I can mic an amp with iOS!

Graphic Design

Steve Case CD artwork—Wooden Grove

Back on 01 April this year I wrote about the CD artwork I had done for Steve Case. It may have been April Fool’s Day, but the article was deadly serious. I live in Australia by the way, so I know a thing or two about deadly. Well it’s 01 November now and I’m here to tell you that I’ve successfully created another piece of CD artwork for Steve Case. I’m like a graphic designer or something. Seriously (because there’s no such thing as November Fools). … Steve Case CD artwork—Wooden Grove

Graphic Design

Amplitoon graphic novel (Issue 1)

I decided to create digital graphic novel (of sorts) around the AmpliTube software that I use regularly on the iPad. I shared the booklet with IK Multimedia (creators of AmpliTube) who then shared the pages with their fans through social media. The booklet was created using screenshots from the AmpliTube iOS app and the Strip Designer iOS comic strip layout app. The rest was put together by me in InDesign.

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Graphic Design Guitar Gear iOS

AmpliToon … My AmpliTube ‘How to’ graphic novel

I love graphic novels. I’ve always found them to be one of the greatest story telling mechanisms available to man. I also happen to love playing guitar through my iPad. I’ve found the iPad to be an incredible tool for people such as me, to improve their skillset and experiment with tone, recording, sharing and constructive criticism on a global scale. All of this got me thinking. What is surely going to be the best way of reminding myself how to use some of my favourite iOS software and possibly help others do the same?

Well, because I’m a giver, I made AmpliToon … An almost graphic novel about IK Multimedia‘s AmpliTube application for the iPad. … AmpliToon … My AmpliTube ‘How to’ graphic novel

Graphic Design

Steve Case (Wooden Grove) CD artwork

This was the second CD design I worked on for musician Steve Case. This job required a simple single fold cardboard sleeve. The front and back cover were made to look like a leather bound book while the inside spread looked like the inside of the book cover. The inner-left panel contained a printed message from Steve Case while the inner-right panel allowed him to write a personal message (plus signature) for anybody who purchased a CD from one of his live performances.

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