I grew up in a house full of guitars, as my father was forever building electric guitars on the families kitchen table. I spent my teenage years trying to tame a 100 watt Marshall JCM 800 and matching 4 x 12 cab in a bedroom, only just large enough for a bed. I’d bought it not REALLY understanding exactly how loud 100 watts is. At this young age I started to experiment with recording and MIDI and cut my teeth on Pro 24 and Notator on an Atari synced to a Foster R8 with an MTC-1.
Playing in bands and working in recording studios for many years, I learned to mix, record and eventually worked as a sound engineer. I also worked for many of the UKs large pro audio retailers, where I helped to set up DAWs in everything from local studios, music technology colleges all the way through to world famous recording facilities like Air Studios and The Strongroom. As I couldn’t help myself, I even owned my own recording studio in London for a while. There I learnt a lot about recording guitars, dealing with bands and getting quality results anyhow.
Over the years I have acquired a very sizeable guitar collection, which includes many guitars that I have built myself. I’m a total hoarder of effect pedals and valve amps and I’m a certified guitar geek. So there are not many that I have not owned at least once. Whether Parker Fly guitars or Klon Centaur pedals, I’ve had them all. Now running the annual Analogue To Digital music show in the UK, plus the Vintage Guitar Fair, I get to be busy throughout the year and also get to rub shoulders with many other guitar lovers, luthiers, manufacturers and pro players.
My tastes in music includes everything from Dinosaur Jr to Squarepusher.
Write him: jef (at) gearnews (com)
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Thomann has some huge savings on a bunch of D’Angelico Premier Bedford and Deluxe Bedford models on. You don't want to miss out on these fantastic deals!
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TC Electronic upgrades its DITTO+ looper pedal with 99 presets, 60 minutes loop time and a screen so that you can see when the hell is going on! If the price is right, this thing should be popular.
JAM pedals teamed up with 15 different artists for 150 limited, signed gold pedals. Proceeds from the sales will go towards helping COVID-19 affected music-industry professionals.
The Mooer GE300 Lite keeps most of the features of its larger sibling and packs in a ton of useful features for guitarists. Can it win out against the competition from Line 6 and BOSS?
Ola Englund's company Solar Guitars recently added bolt-on neck designs to its extensive range of instruments. But what we really want to know is, do they Djent?
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HOT
PRS has just dropped a video teasing a new SE semi-hollow model that they are calling the best of both worlds. The new Hollowbody II Piezo looks pretty sweet and has some great tones.
If you're looking for a quality nylon-string acoustic guitar, the D'Angelico Avellino Spruce may be the perfect candidate. The guitar is currently at nearly half price, only while stocks last.
The Thermion Zero is a compact, super-flexible new hybrid twin-output 40 Watt guitar amp-in-a-pedal, well thought out and with options galore. This thing ticks all our boxes, and then some.
The iconic 1959 Martin D-18E played by Kurt Cobain on MTV's Unplugged has old at auction for $6,010,000 to a buyer who's no stranger to the audio industry. It's now the most expensive guitar ever!
The Armored Amplification Sabot 6550 is a single channel, 60-Watt, high-gain tube amplifier aimed at metal players with options and settings to let you pound out your heaviest riffs.
The new Kaluna overdrive pedal from German brand Vahlbruch uses a 12AX7 tube at the heart of its design to give you a dynamic playing experience, with real valve tone.
The new Harley Benton Dullahan-FT 24 Roasted IB headless guitar has a beautiful roasted flamed maple neck and comes in a stunning Ice Blue Gloss finish.
MESA/Boogie has just introduced three new overdrive pedals, Cleo, Dynaplex and Gold Mine. Each one caters to a different level of drive, and they go from mild to classic rock, to full on brutal.
It looks as though PRS and Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti have been working together on a new 100 Watt version of the artist's signature MT 15 amp head.
Lightning Boy Audio says its new 1:1 passive 2020 Instrument Transformer can add some studio grade sparkle to your guitar tone, but could also be useful on bass and synth.
One Control launches three new stompboxes: the Dyna Red Distortion 4K, Pale Blue Compressor and Blackberry Bass Overdrive, co-designed with Swedish pedal designer, Björn Ju. Worth checking out!
D’Angelico Guitars has acquired Supro and Pigtronix, which puts all three New York brands under one roof. United they should go from strength to strength, which is good news for musicians everywhere.
16 Jun 2020 in
The new Sound Master Custom Tube Guitar Amplifier plugin is Nembrini Audio's take on classic American guitar tones and is available at a fantastic introductory price.
Fender has a special sale with all proceeds going to Crew Nation, with special Masterbuilt guitars along with signed artist models from Tom Morello, Flea, Jeff Beck, Brad Paisley, Duff McKagan and Eric ...
FREEWARE
A set of five virtual effect pedals from Fuse Lab Audio, the new VPB bundle also includes a freeware distortion stomp box to give you a taste of what is on offer.
Dee Dee Ramone's Number 1 1975 Fender Precision bass is up for auction! This bass was Dee Dee's go-to instrument for stage and studio and helped shape The Ramones' heavily influential sound.
