Musings

Titles ⁽²⁸⁵⁾

"Fender Clean"

amplifiers, performance, distortion, evaluation

"The Cult of the Amateur" & Music

books, business, distribution, history, recording

"Tone" is not the goal

fetishism, goals, opinion, technique, technology

"Tone", amps and players

performance, opinion

"True-Bypass" revisited

effects, marketing hype, technology

'64 Vibroverb Custom review

Vibro-King, '64 Vibroverb Custom, Fender, review, comparison

2006 Musical Goals

goals, motivation, music theory, recording, technique

2006 in review

goals, motivation, music theory, recording, technique

2007 Musical Goals

goals, motivation, style, technique

2007 in review

evaluation, goals, motivation, music theory, performance, style, technique

2008 Musical Goals

goals, motivation, recording

2008 in review

Stephen Caird, Joe Williams, Garbriel Darling, Nancy Stovall, ReverbNation, evaluation, goals, performance

2009 Musical Goals

goals

2010 Musical Goals

goals

A Saturday in the studio

Mary-Suzanne, Stephen Caird, Joe Williams, performance, recording

A conversation with George

George Koumantzelis, background, influences, philosophy

A minimalist pedalboard

effects

A moment of Zen

human nature

A survey of lightweight rigs

Fender, Mesa/Boogie, Tone King, Line6, Peavey, Vox, Boss, Fractal Audio, Digitech, Roland, Acoustic Image, AER, amplifiers, comparison, evaluation, review

A/B switchers

amplifiers, set-up, technology

About Almost Milwaukie

Almost Milwaukie, Mary-Suzanne, performance

Acoustic amp for electric guitar

amplifiers, review, technology

Adjusting Amps

amplifiers, performance

Advances in Technology, Revisited

amplifiers, digital, loudness, speakers, technology, tubes

Advances in technology

business, history, marketing hype, technology

Advice for first-time amp buyers

amplifiers, digital, distortion, loudness, power, speakers, tubes

Amp Acquisition - An Education?

amplifiers, performance, preferences, evaluation

Amp Loudness

amplifiers, loudness, power, speakers

Amp terminology: Touch Sensitivity

amplifiers, terminology

Amp troubleshooting tips

amplifiers, tubes, troubleshooting

Amplifier "class" distinctions are useless

amplifiers, technology, terminology

Amplifier Evolution

amplifiers, technology, history

Anatomy of a listening test

Bret Holtz, cables, comparison, evaluation, physics, technology

Anectdotes, Theories and Facts

cables, evaluation, fetishism, human nature, marketing hype, physics, technology

Anti-digital myths busted

digital, physics, technology

Are DJs ruining the live-music scene?

Paul Kantner, attitude, entitlement, history, performance, philosophy, respect

Are boutique amps just another amp in the end?

amplifiers, comparison

Are computers good for music?

business, digital, distribution, recording, studio, technology

Are guitar players stuck in the past?

attitude, business, fetishism, technology

Are tube amps right for small venues?

amplifiers, digital, loudness, power, sound engineering, tubes

Are tubes good enough for the future of guitar music?

amplifiers, digital, opinion, technology, tubes

Are you happy?

attitude, evaluation, goals, human nature

Art vs. artifice

human nature, performance, philosophy, technique

Assembling a band

attitude, goals, human nature, motivation

Aural fatigue and dialing in your rig

human nature, preferences, set-up

BTPDX April 2004 Notes

amplifiers, review, comparison

Balancing music vs. gear aquisition

attitude, evaluation, fetishism, goals, human nature, marketing hype, motivation, philosophy

Behringer

Behringer, business, technology

Benefits of a digital guitar rig

digital, evaluation, opinion, technology

Best (and worst) musical performances

opinion, performance

Beware of placing form over content

business, fetishism, human nature, marketing hype, philosophy, technique, technology

Biasing the Vibro-King "by ear"

amplifiers, service, Vibro-King

Big Music can no longer afford talent

business, distribution, opinion, technology

Blackface vs. Tweed

amplifiers, comparison, distortion, opinion, preferences

Bonding with my Gear

amplifiers, cables, effects, guitars, preferences

Bookers and clubs

attitude, business, human nature, motivation

Boss RT-20 rotary simulator reviewed

Boss, effects, review

Boutique Amps

amplifiers, business, construction, marketing hype

Boutique gear?

comparison, construction, evaluation, marketing hype, performance, technology

Boutique vs. commodity pedals

comparison, effects, evaluation

Box of 1,000 sounds

digital, style, technology

Bypass

effects, marketing hype, technology

Cable Nuances Revisited

cables, comparison, evaluation, physics

Cable comparison, part 1

cables, comparison, evaluation, physics

Cable comparison, part 2

cables, comparison, evaluation, physics

Can you have too many guitars?

fetishism, goals, guitars, human nature, philosophy

Changing tastes

amplifiers, preferences, evaluation, Fender, Mesa/Boogie

Clean amplification

amplifiers, sound reinforcement

Clean boosts and compressors

effects, performance, review

Combatting GAS

attitude, fetishism, goals, human nature, motivation

Comfort above all else

guitars, motivation, set-up, strings

Complexity and tone

amplifiers, opinion, performance, preferences, technology

Computer-based recording

studio, recording

Customer service, good and bad

Behringer, Digitech, business, troubleshooting

DIs, Speaker Simulators and Amp Modelers

sound engineering, technology

Delay effect comparison

comparison, effects

Developing creativity

goals, influences, philosophy, technique

Digital guitars

digital, guitars, marketing hype, opinion

Digital rig pros and cons

amplifiers, attitude, comparison, digital, effects, loudness, philosophy, technology

Dignity and respect

attitude, business, goals, motivation, respect

Dinosaur guitarists

performance, attitude

Direct-to-PA

performance, philosophy, set-up, sound engineering

Do you really get what you pay for?

business, human nature, marketing hype, technology

Do you want good tone?

goals, preferences, technique

Does gear define the player?

goals, human nature, influences, preferences, technique

Does the "tone chase" ever end?

attitude, evaluation, human nature, opinion, performance, preferences

Earplugs and band volume

loudness, human nature, performance

Echo Roundup

echo, effects, review

Effect loop pitfalls

amplifiers, digital, distortion, effects, set-up, technology, troubleshooting

Effects devolution continues

effects, preferences, performance

Effects preferences revisited

effects, preferences

Effects?

effects, preferences, performance

Electric guitar as a folk instrument

attitude, background, goals, human nature, instruction, motivation, philosophy, style, technique

Electro-Harmonix SMMH vs. Eventide TimeFactor

Electro-Harmonix, Eventide, comparison, echo, effects

Electronic tuners

comparison, review, tuning

Even better Vibro-King "Ticking Tremolo" fix

amplifiers, mod, fix, Vibro-King

Evolution and Contradiction

background, philosophy, technology

Feedback vs. volume

amplifiers, guitars, loudness, performance, sound engineering

Fender Trans-Impedance Power Attenuator

Fender, attenuators, technology

First time in a studio?

performance, preparation, recording, studio

Flat EQ for guitar

amplifiers, guitars, settings, technology

From Quark to Quasar

George Koumantzelis, philosophy, recording, sound engineering

From the beginning: history & inspiration

background, history, influences, motivation, philosophy, style

GAS-less

attitude, evaluation, goals, motivation

Gain, volume and dynamics

amplifiers, attenuators, distortion, technique

Gear advice

human nature, motivation, philosophy

Gear minimalism vs. collecting

attitude, goals, philosophy, technique

Gear vs. talent

performance, human nature, preferences, attitude

Geezers

attitude, fetishism, history, human nature, marketing hype, opinion, performance, respect

Gig kit

performance, preparation

Golden Age, or beginning of the end?

business, opinion, technology, distribution

Grateful Dead

Grateful Dead, history, sound engineering, technology

Ground switches and "death caps"

amplifiers, history, safety

Guitar cords - what's important?

cables, construction, physics

Guitar rig architectures

amplifiers, attenuators, distortion, echo, effects, reverb, speakers

Guitar-magazine reviews

business, opinion

Guitarist or musician?

opinion

Hearing with your eyes

attitude, fetishism, philosophy, technique

Help, my amp hisses!

amplifiers, evaluation

High-end Cables

cables, evaluation, physics, technology

Hippie Music

Burning Man, attitude, entitlement, hippies, human nature

How I improve my playing

instruction, motivation, philosophy, preparation, technique

How does the Vibro-King compare to a tweed or blackface Fender amp?

Fender, Vibro-King, amplifiers, comparison, evaluation, speakers, tweed

How loud is too loud?

performance, loudness, sound engineering

How many true-bypass pedals is too many?

cables, effects, physics, set-up, technology

How to increase sustain

amplifiers, guitars, set-up, settings, technique

How to use a standby switch

amplifiers, physics, technology, tubes

I have to use a modeling rig!

amplifiers, attitude, digital, performance, philosophy

I've never been a Deadhead

Grateful Dead, business, history, respect, style

Import guitars

guitars, evaluation, opinion

Improving as a player

attitude, goals, human nature, motivation, music theory, philosophy, technique

Is a 50-watt amp too loud?

amplifiers, loudness, power, speakers

Is it the gear, or not?

evaluation, philosophy, technique

Jazz: adapt or die

business, distribution, history, technology

Jazz: the birth and death of a genre

history, style

July 2010 update

Keep Searching

evaluation, marketing hype, preferences

Lectrosonics IS-400 Wireless System Review

Lectrosonics, digital, review, technology

Leslie Emulators

comparison, effects, review

Lies, damn lies and specs

business, marketing hype, terminology

Life after bands

attitude, goals, motivation

Longevity of digital gear

construction, digital, technology

Looper Roundup

Akai, Boomerang, Electro-Harmonix, Eventide, comparison, effects, review

Losing my Boogie "religion"

Fender, Mesa/Boogie, amplifiers, comparison, distortion, evaluation, performance, preferences, technique

Luthier-built vs. production guitars

guitars, philosophy

Making your own cables

cables, construction, preparation

May 2007 Rosedrop Media Circus podcast

Mary-Suzanne, Robert Madrid, Mike Birchet, Rosedrop Media Circus, recording, performance

Maybe it's not a phase, after all...

amplifiers, comparison, digital, preferences, tubes

Mesa-Boogie Lone Star Review

Mesa/Boogie, amplifiers, review

Modelers vs. Tube Amps (1)

amplifiers, comparison, digital, technology

Modelers vs. Tube Amps (2)

amplifiers, comparison, digital, technology

Modelers vs. Tube Amps (3)

amplifiers, comparison, digital, technology

More Tone Secrets

guitars, set-up, strings

More power!

amplifiers, loudness, physics, power, sound engineering, speakers

Multi-Amp Pitfalls

amplifiers, cables, physics, set-up, troubleshooting

Multieffects vs. pedals

comparison, digital, effects, set-up, technology

Music in context

attitude, effects, opinion, performance, philosophy, recording, studio, technology

Musical Clichés

goals, influences, performance, style

Musical Evolution

goals, history, influences, motivation, music theory, performance, preferences

Musical Goals

motivation, performance, respect, music theory, technique, goals

Musical journeys: Reflections on a gathering

philosophy, motivation, influences, gatherings

Musicianship vs. Sound Reinforcement

attitude, loudness, performance, sound engineering

My Choices

amplifiers, guitars, effects, cables, preferences

My favorite amp

Vibro-King, amplifiers, preferences, reverb

My musical influences

influences, history

My pedal pops!

effects, technology

My practice routine

goals, motivation, music theory, philosophy, preparation, technique

My technical background

background

My, what a strange rig you have

preferences, opinion

Next steps

attitude, goals, motivation

Obsolescence

digital, history, technology, tubes

Old Dogs, New Tricks

attitude, goals, human nature, motivation, music theory, performance, philosophy, style, technique

On "real" guitar amplifiers

amplifiers, opinion

On "the best" Mesa/Boogie amplifier

Mesa/Boogie, comparison, review

On "tone"...

performance, opinion

On Gibson's MAGIC and guitars

Gibson, digital, MAGIC, technology

On amp construction

amplifiers, construction, fetishism

On amplifier power

amplifiers, power, loudness, distortion, attenuators

On amplifiers and effects

amplifiers, effects

On artist signature guitars

business, endorsement, Les Paul

On buying a used amp

amplifiers, evaluation, tubes

On channels... to switch or not?

amplifiers, technology, comparison, preferences

On effects

effects, preferences

On gear and performance

performance, preferences, sound engineering

On guitar store etiquette

guitar shops, human nature, respect, attitude

On guitar synths

performance, effects

On guitars... a block of wood?

guitars, physics

On increased sound level with multiple speakers

speakers, loudness, physics

On magic cables

human nature, marketing hype, cables, physics

On motivation and GAS

motivation

On multi- vs. single-channel amps

amplifiers, preferences

On multi-amp setups

amplifiers, preferences, performance

On multiple guitars

guitars, preferences

On phase cancellation

amplifiers, physics, technology

On power attenuators

amplifiers, power, loudness, distortion, attenuators

On powering pedals

effects, power, preparation, set-up, technology

On reverb

reverb, preferences, effects

On string gauges

strings, performance, physics

On the 3dB rule

amplifiers, distortion, loudness, sound engineering, performance

On the Mesa/Boogie Blue Angel's headroom

amplifiers, distortion, power, loudness, review

On the quest for tone

opinion, performance, preferences

On touch-sensitive amps

amplifiers, performance

Online guitar forums

fetishism, gatherings, human nature, marketing hype, opinion, philosophy, respect, terminology

Ordering a Custom Guitar

construction, guitars, human nature, respect

Pedal Board 2.0

Visual Sound, effects

Pedal hangover

effects, preferences, technique

Phil Lesh: "Searching for the Sound"

books, review, Phil Lesh, Grateful Dead

Playing guitar through a full-range amp

amplifiers, evaluation, loudness, physics, power, speakers, technology

Playing in "the zone"

motivation, performance, philosophy, preparation, recording

Portland's music scene

business, attitude, motivation, respect

Portland: not a music mecca

Portland, business

Powered Speaker Comparison

Atomic, FBT, QSC, amplifiers, comparison, evaluation, gatherings, power, review, sound reinforcement

Preamp Tube Substitutions

tubes

Reconsidering the "palette" analogy

goals, opinion, performance, philosophy, preferences, set-up, technique, technology

Reverb first?

effects, reverb, Vibro-King

Sequenced Live Music

attitude, motivation, opinion, performance

Shop, or play?

human nature, goals, motivation

Simple Gear, Complex Music

effects, opinion, performance, preferences, technique, technology

Simpler, ever simpler

amplifiers, distortion, philosophy, reverb, sound engineering, style

Simplicity

performance, preferences, technology, amplifiers, guitars

Small amps and big PAs?

loudness, opinion, performance, sound engineering

Small-club live sound

loudness, opinion, performance, sound engineering

Small-club live sound, revisited

loudness, opinion, performance, sound engineering

So you want a custom guitar?

construction, guitars, preferences

So, how good are you?

opinion, human nature

Solid-state vs. tube amplifiers for guitar

amplifiers, comparison, technology

Solo Improv Guitar

background, goals, influences, motivation, performance, philosophy, preferences, recording, style, technique

Solo Improv Performance

performance

Solo guitar sound

performance, settings, guitars, amplifiers, effects

Solo performance

attitude, effects, goals, human nature, performance, technique

Sound Reinforcement in Small Rooms

opinion, performance, sound engineering

Sounding good with the gear you have

attitude, human nature, motivation

Speaker Cables vs. Guitar Cords

amplifiers, physics

Spencer

Spencer, cat

Strings and finesse

influences, performance, physics, set-up, strings, style, technique

Suggestions for guitarists

evaluation, goals, opinion, technique

Synth and virtual guitar

Axon, Brian Moore, Fender, Godin, RMC, Roland, digital, effects, technique, technology

Technical perfection vs. the element of surprise

opinion, performance, respect, technique

Technological Obsessions

attitude, fetishism, history, human nature, marketing hype, motivation

Technology vs. passion

attitude, history, technology

The "Class-A" illusion

amplifiers, technology, terminology

The "Real" Rules for Buying an Amp

marketing hype

The Downside of Cliches

goals, history, human nature, influences, motivation, style, technique, technology

The Internet and the Quest for Perfection

comparison, evaluation, goals

The Music Industry is not Broken

business, distribution, history, opinion, recording, technology

The Vibro-King and the Hot Plate

Vibro-King, Hot Plate, amplifiers, attenuators, distortion, loudness, speakers

The end of innocence

preferences, amplifiers, performance, comparison, distortion

The future of digital guitar amplifiers

amplifiers, digital, technology, tubes

The future of tubes?

amplifiers, business, digital, history, opinion, technology, tubes

The importance of guitars vs. amps

amplifiers, attitude, guitars, opinion, preferences

The paradox of practice

goals, human nature, motivation, music theory, performance, philosophy, preparation, technique

The voice is not the message

attitude, goals, human nature, philosophy, technology

Things I need to be reminded of...

opinion, philosophy, preferences

Tips for guitarists

attitude, goals, human nature, influences, performance, philosophy, respect, strings, technique, tuning

Tone Controls

Henriksen, Fender, amplifiers, marketing hype, settings, sound engineering, technology

Tone Secrets

performance, attitude, opinion, marketing hype

Tone Terms

terminology

Tone, Technique, Style and Gear

goals, style, technique

Too much gain!

Fender, THD, Mesa/Boogie, amplifiers, comparison, distortion, performance, preferences, tweed

Touch dynamics

amplifiers, guitars, technique, technology

Trade-ins

business, guitar shops

Traynor K4 vs. Yamaha STAGEPAS 300

amplifiers, comparison, review

Troubleshooting the Blue Angel

Mesa/Boogie, amplifiers, troubleshooting, tubes

True bypass, cables and buffers

cables, effects, physics, set-up, technology

Tube amp attack sensitivity at home

amplifiers, loudness, power

Tube amps for quiet play

amplifiers, power, loudness

Tubes vs. transistors

amplifiers, technology, comparison

Turn that amp down!

amplifiers, loudness, physics, sound engineering, speakers

Used amps

amplifiers, evaluation

Vibro-King "Ticking Tremolo" Fix

amplifiers, mod, fix, Vibro-King

Vibro-King Sound & Settings

performance, Fender, Gibson, Vibro-King, amplifiers, set-up

Vibro-King distortion

Vibro-King, Boss, attenuators, distortion, effects

Vibro-King headroom

Vibro-King, settings

Vibro-King setup

Fender, Vibro-King, amplifiers, evaluation, set-up, settings, speakers, strings, tubes

Vintage gear

fetishism, philosophy, preferences

Weight reduction

AER, amplifiers, effects, philosophy, set-up

What is "touch-sensitive"?

amplifiers, distortion, performance, technology, tubes

What's new? (09-2008)

Joe Williams, Stephen Caird, collaboration, goals, recording

Which FRFR system should I buy?

amplifiers, performance, power, sound engineering, speakers

Why do pickups sound the way they do?

pickups, physics

Why play?

background, goals, influences, motivation, music theory, philosophy, preferences, style, technique

Will the recording industry become obsolete?

business, human nature, opinion, technology

Will you pay to self-distribute your music on the internet?

business, distribution

Writing about music online

attitude, communication, human nature

Zoom HD16CD compared to Tascam 2488mkII

Tascam, Zoom, comparison, recording, review

Facets

Display as cloud.

^ July 2010 update

'64 Vibroverb Custom

^ '64 Vibroverb Custom review

AER

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

^ Weight reduction

Acoustic Image

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

Akai

^ Looper Roundup

Almost Milwaukie

^ About Almost Milwaukie

Atomic

^ Powered Speaker Comparison

Axon

^ Synth and virtual guitar

Behringer

^ Behringer

^ Customer service, good and bad

Boomerang

^ Looper Roundup

Boss

^ Boss RT-20 rotary simulator reviewed

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

^ Vibro-King distortion

Bret Holtz

^ Anatomy of a listening test

Brian Moore

^ Synth and virtual guitar

Burning Man

^ Hippie Music

Digitech

^ Customer service, good and bad

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

Electro-Harmonix

^ Looper Roundup

^ Electro-Harmonix SMMH vs. Eventide TimeFactor

Eventide

^ Looper Roundup

^ Electro-Harmonix SMMH vs. Eventide TimeFactor

FBT

^ Powered Speaker Comparison

Fender

^ Changing tastes

^ Losing my Boogie "religion"

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

^ Synth and virtual guitar

^ Tone Controls

^ Too much gain!

^ Fender Trans-Impedance Power Attenuator

^ '64 Vibroverb Custom review

^ Vibro-King Sound & Settings

^ Vibro-King setup

^ How does the Vibro-King compare to a tweed or blackface Fender amp?

Fractal Audio

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

Garbriel Darling

^ 2008 in review

George Koumantzelis

^ From Quark to Quasar

^ A conversation with George

Gibson

^ On Gibson's MAGIC and guitars

^ Vibro-King Sound & Settings

Godin

^ Synth and virtual guitar

Grateful Dead

^ Grateful Dead

^ Phil Lesh: "Searching for the Sound"

^ I've never been a Deadhead

Henriksen

^ Tone Controls

Hot Plate

^ The Vibro-King and the Hot Plate

Joe Williams

^ 2008 in review

^ A Saturday in the studio

^ What's new? (09-2008)

Lectrosonics

^ Lectrosonics IS-400 Wireless System Review

Les Paul

^ On artist signature guitars

Line6

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

MAGIC

^ On Gibson's MAGIC and guitars

Mary-Suzanne

^ A Saturday in the studio

^ About Almost Milwaukie

^ May 2007 Rosedrop Media Circus podcast

Mesa/Boogie

^ On "the best" Mesa/Boogie amplifier

^ Troubleshooting the Blue Angel

^ Changing tastes

^ Mesa-Boogie Lone Star Review

^ Losing my Boogie "religion"

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

^ Too much gain!

Mike Birchet

^ May 2007 Rosedrop Media Circus podcast

Nancy Stovall

^ 2008 in review

Paul Kantner

^ Are DJs ruining the live-music scene?

Peavey

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

Phil Lesh

^ Phil Lesh: "Searching for the Sound"

Portland

^ Portland: not a music mecca

QSC

^ Powered Speaker Comparison

RMC

^ Synth and virtual guitar

ReverbNation

^ 2008 in review

Robert Madrid

^ May 2007 Rosedrop Media Circus podcast

Roland

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

^ Synth and virtual guitar

Rosedrop Media Circus

^ May 2007 Rosedrop Media Circus podcast

Spencer

^ Spencer

Stephen Caird

^ 2008 in review

^ A Saturday in the studio

^ What's new? (09-2008)

THD

^ Too much gain!

Tascam

^ Zoom HD16CD compared to Tascam 2488mkII

Tone King

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

Vibro-King

^ Biasing the Vibro-King "by ear"

^ My favorite amp

^ Reverb first?

^ '64 Vibroverb Custom review

^ Vibro-King headroom

^ The Vibro-King and the Hot Plate

^ Vibro-King distortion

^ Vibro-King Sound & Settings

^ Vibro-King setup

^ Vibro-King "Ticking Tremolo" Fix

^ Even better Vibro-King "Ticking Tremolo" fix

^ How does the Vibro-King compare to a tweed or blackface Fender amp?

Visual Sound

^ Pedal Board 2.0

Vox

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

Zoom

^ Zoom HD16CD compared to Tascam 2488mkII

amplifiers

^ Is a 50-watt amp too loud?

^ My Choices

^ A/B switchers

^ Acoustic amp for electric guitar

^ Adjusting Amps

^ Advances in Technology, Revisited

^ Advice for first-time amp buyers

^ On amp construction

^ Amp Acquisition - An Education?

^ Amplifier Evolution

^ Help, my amp hisses!

^ Amp Loudness

^ On amplifier power

^ Amp troubleshooting tips

^ On amplifiers and effects

^ Are tube amps right for small venues?

^ Are tubes good enough for the future of guitar music?

^ On power attenuators

^ Biasing the Vibro-King "by ear"

^ Blackface vs. Tweed

^ On the Mesa/Boogie Blue Angel's headroom

^ Troubleshooting the Blue Angel

^ Bonding with my Gear

^ Boutique Amps

^ Are boutique amps just another amp in the end?

^ BTPDX April 2004 Notes

^ On buying a used amp

^ Changing tastes

^ On channels... to switch or not?

^ Amplifier "class" distinctions are useless

^ The "Class-A" illusion

^ Clean amplification

^ Complexity and tone

^ The future of digital guitar amplifiers

^ Digital rig pros and cons

^ Effect loop pitfalls

^ The end of innocence

^ My favorite amp

^ Feedback vs. volume

^ "Fender Clean"

^ Flat EQ for guitar

^ The future of tubes?

^ Gain, volume and dynamics

^ Ground switches and "death caps"

^ Playing guitar through a full-range amp

^ How to increase sustain

^ I have to use a modeling rig!

^ The importance of guitars vs. amps

^ Traynor K4 vs. Yamaha STAGEPAS 300

^ Mesa-Boogie Lone Star Review

^ Losing my Boogie "religion"

^ Tube amp attack sensitivity at home

^ Maybe it's not a phase, after all...

^ Modelers vs. Tube Amps (1)

^ Modelers vs. Tube Amps (2)

^ Modelers vs. Tube Amps (3)

^ More power!

^ Multi-Amp Pitfalls

^ On multi-amp setups

^ On multi- vs. single-channel amps

^ On phase cancellation

^ Powered Speaker Comparison

^ Tube amps for quiet play

^ On "real" guitar amplifiers

^ Guitar rig architectures

^ Simpler, ever simpler

^ Simplicity

^ Solo guitar sound

^ Speaker Cables vs. Guitar Cords

^ Solid-state vs. tube amplifiers for guitar

^ How to use a standby switch

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

^ On the 3dB rule

^ Tone Controls

^ Too much gain!

^ Touch dynamics

^ On touch-sensitive amps

^ What is "touch-sensitive"?

^ Amp terminology: Touch Sensitivity

^ Tubes vs. transistors

^ Turn that amp down!

^ Used amps

^ The Vibro-King and the Hot Plate

^ Vibro-King Sound & Settings

^ Vibro-King setup

^ Vibro-King "Ticking Tremolo" Fix

^ Even better Vibro-King "Ticking Tremolo" fix

^ How does the Vibro-King compare to a tweed or blackface Fender amp?

^ Weight reduction

^ Which FRFR system should I buy?

attenuators

^ On amplifier power

^ On power attenuators

^ Gain, volume and dynamics

^ Guitar rig architectures

^ Fender Trans-Impedance Power Attenuator

^ The Vibro-King and the Hot Plate

^ Vibro-King distortion

attitude

^ Are you happy?

^ Assembling a band

^ Balancing music vs. gear aquisition

^ Bookers and clubs

^ Combatting GAS

^ Digital rig pros and cons

^ Dignity and respect

^ Dinosaur guitarists

^ Are DJs ruining the live-music scene?

^ Electric guitar as a folk instrument

^ On guitar store etiquette

^ GAS-less

^ Gear minimalism vs. collecting

^ Gear vs. talent

^ Sounding good with the gear you have

^ Geezers

^ Hearing with your eyes

^ Hippie Music

^ I have to use a modeling rig!

^ The importance of guitars vs. amps

^ Improving as a player

^ Life after bands

^ Music in context

^ Musicianship vs. Sound Reinforcement

^ Next steps

^ Old Dogs, New Tricks

^ Portland's music scene

^ Sequenced Live Music

^ Solo performance

^ Technological Obsessions

^ Technology vs. passion

^ Tips for guitarists

^ Does the "tone chase" ever end?

^ Tone Secrets

^ Are guitar players stuck in the past?

^ The voice is not the message

^ Writing about music online

background

^ Electric guitar as a folk instrument

^ Evolution and Contradiction

^ From the beginning: history & inspiration

^ A conversation with George

^ Solo Improv Guitar

^ My technical background

^ Why play?

books

^ "The Cult of the Amateur" & Music

^ Phil Lesh: "Searching for the Sound"

business

^ Advances in technology

^ On artist signature guitars

^ Behringer

^ Beware of placing form over content

^ Bookers and clubs

^ Boutique Amps

^ Are computers good for music?

^ "The Cult of the Amateur" & Music

^ Customer service, good and bad

^ Dignity and respect

^ The future of tubes?

^ Do you really get what you pay for?

^ Golden Age, or beginning of the end?

^ Will you pay to self-distribute your music on the internet?

^ Jazz: adapt or die

^ Big Music can no longer afford talent

^ Lies, damn lies and specs

^ Guitar-magazine reviews

^ The Music Industry is not Broken

^ I've never been a Deadhead

^ Portland's music scene

^ Portland: not a music mecca

^ Will the recording industry become obsolete?

^ Trade-ins

^ Are guitar players stuck in the past?

cables

^ My Choices

^ Anatomy of a listening test

^ Anectdotes, Theories and Facts

^ Bonding with my Gear

^ Cable comparison, part 1

^ Cable comparison, part 2

^ Cable Nuances Revisited

^ Guitar cords - what's important?

^ High-end Cables

^ How many true-bypass pedals is too many?

^ On magic cables

^ Making your own cables

^ Multi-Amp Pitfalls

^ True bypass, cables and buffers

cat

^ Spencer

collaboration

^ What's new? (09-2008)

communication

^ Writing about music online

comparison

^ Zoom HD16CD compared to Tascam 2488mkII

^ Anatomy of a listening test

^ On "the best" Mesa/Boogie amplifier

^ Blackface vs. Tweed

^ Boutique gear?

^ Boutique vs. commodity pedals

^ Are boutique amps just another amp in the end?

^ BTPDX April 2004 Notes

^ Cable comparison, part 1

^ Cable comparison, part 2

^ Cable Nuances Revisited

^ On channels... to switch or not?

^ Delay effect comparison

^ Digital rig pros and cons

^ Electronic tuners

^ The end of innocence

^ Traynor K4 vs. Yamaha STAGEPAS 300

^ Leslie Emulators

^ Looper Roundup

^ Losing my Boogie "religion"

^ Maybe it's not a phase, after all...

^ Modelers vs. Tube Amps (1)

^ Modelers vs. Tube Amps (2)

^ Modelers vs. Tube Amps (3)

^ Multieffects vs. pedals

^ Powered Speaker Comparison

^ The Internet and the Quest for Perfection

^ Electro-Harmonix SMMH vs. Eventide TimeFactor

^ Solid-state vs. tube amplifiers for guitar

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

^ Too much gain!

^ Tubes vs. transistors

^ '64 Vibroverb Custom review

^ How does the Vibro-King compare to a tweed or blackface Fender amp?

construction

^ On amp construction

^ Boutique Amps

^ Boutique gear?

^ Guitar cords - what's important?

^ So you want a custom guitar?

^ Longevity of digital gear

^ Making your own cables

^ Ordering a Custom Guitar

digital

^ On Gibson's MAGIC and guitars

^ Advances in Technology, Revisited

^ Advice for first-time amp buyers

^ Are tube amps right for small venues?

^ Are tubes good enough for the future of guitar music?

^ Box of 1,000 sounds

^ Are computers good for music?

^ The future of digital guitar amplifiers

^ Longevity of digital gear

^ Digital guitars

^ Digital rig pros and cons

^ Benefits of a digital guitar rig

^ Anti-digital myths busted

^ Effect loop pitfalls

^ The future of tubes?

^ I have to use a modeling rig!

^ Lectrosonics IS-400 Wireless System Review

^ Maybe it's not a phase, after all...

^ Modelers vs. Tube Amps (1)

^ Modelers vs. Tube Amps (2)

^ Modelers vs. Tube Amps (3)

^ Multieffects vs. pedals

^ Obsolescence

^ Synth and virtual guitar

distortion

^ Advice for first-time amp buyers

^ On amplifier power

^ On power attenuators

^ Blackface vs. Tweed

^ On the Mesa/Boogie Blue Angel's headroom

^ Effect loop pitfalls

^ The end of innocence

^ "Fender Clean"

^ Gain, volume and dynamics

^ Losing my Boogie "religion"

^ Guitar rig architectures

^ Simpler, ever simpler

^ On the 3dB rule

^ Too much gain!

^ What is "touch-sensitive"?

^ The Vibro-King and the Hot Plate

^ Vibro-King distortion

distribution

^ Are computers good for music?

^ "The Cult of the Amateur" & Music

^ Golden Age, or beginning of the end?

^ Will you pay to self-distribute your music on the internet?

^ Jazz: adapt or die

^ Big Music can no longer afford talent

^ The Music Industry is not Broken

echo

^ Echo Roundup

^ Guitar rig architectures

^ Electro-Harmonix SMMH vs. Eventide TimeFactor

effects

^ My Choices

^ On amplifiers and effects

^ Bonding with my Gear

^ Clean boosts and compressors

^ Boutique vs. commodity pedals

^ Bypass

^ Delay effect comparison

^ Digital rig pros and cons

^ Echo Roundup

^ Effect loop pitfalls

^ Effects devolution continues

^ On effects

^ Effects preferences revisited

^ Effects?

^ On guitar synths

^ How many true-bypass pedals is too many?

^ Leslie Emulators

^ Looper Roundup

^ Multieffects vs. pedals

^ Music in context

^ On powering pedals

^ Pedal Board 2.0

^ Pedal hangover

^ My pedal pops!

^ Reverb first?

^ On reverb

^ Guitar rig architectures

^ Boss RT-20 rotary simulator reviewed

^ Simple Gear, Complex Music

^ A minimalist pedalboard

^ Electro-Harmonix SMMH vs. Eventide TimeFactor

^ Solo guitar sound

^ Solo performance

^ Synth and virtual guitar

^ True bypass, cables and buffers

^ "True-Bypass" revisited

^ Vibro-King distortion

^ Weight reduction

endorsement

^ On artist signature guitars

entitlement

^ Are DJs ruining the live-music scene?

^ Hippie Music

evaluation

^ 2007 in review

^ 2008 in review

^ Amp Acquisition - An Education?

^ Help, my amp hisses!

^ Anatomy of a listening test

^ Anectdotes, Theories and Facts

^ Are you happy?

^ Balancing music vs. gear aquisition

^ Boutique gear?

^ Boutique vs. commodity pedals

^ On buying a used amp

^ Cable comparison, part 1

^ Cable comparison, part 2

^ Cable Nuances Revisited

^ Changing tastes

^ Benefits of a digital guitar rig

^ "Fender Clean"

^ GAS-less

^ Is it the gear, or not?

^ Playing guitar through a full-range amp

^ High-end Cables

^ Import guitars

^ Keep Searching

^ Losing my Boogie "religion"

^ Powered Speaker Comparison

^ The Internet and the Quest for Perfection

^ Suggestions for guitarists

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

^ Does the "tone chase" ever end?

^ Used amps

^ Vibro-King setup

^ How does the Vibro-King compare to a tweed or blackface Fender amp?

fetishism

^ On amp construction

^ Anectdotes, Theories and Facts

^ Balancing music vs. gear aquisition

^ Beware of placing form over content

^ Combatting GAS

^ Geezers

^ Hearing with your eyes

^ Online guitar forums

^ Technological Obsessions

^ "Tone" is not the goal

^ Can you have too many guitars?

^ Are guitar players stuck in the past?

^ Vintage gear

fix

^ Vibro-King "Ticking Tremolo" Fix

^ Even better Vibro-King "Ticking Tremolo" fix

gatherings

^ Musical journeys: Reflections on a gathering

^ Online guitar forums

^ Powered Speaker Comparison

goals

^ 2006 Musical Goals

^ 2006 in review

^ 2007 Musical Goals

^ 2007 in review

^ 2008 Musical Goals

^ 2008 in review

^ 2009 Musical Goals

^ 2010 Musical Goals

^ Are you happy?

^ Assembling a band

^ Balancing music vs. gear aquisition

^ Musical Clichés

^ Combatting GAS

^ Developing creativity

^ Dignity and respect

^ Does gear define the player?

^ The Downside of Cliches

^ Electric guitar as a folk instrument

^ GAS-less

^ Gear minimalism vs. collecting

^ Do you want good tone?

^ Improving as a player

^ Life after bands

^ Musical Evolution

^ Musical Goals

^ My practice routine

^ Next steps

^ Old Dogs, New Tricks

^ Reconsidering the "palette" analogy

^ The paradox of practice

^ The Internet and the Quest for Perfection

^ Shop, or play?

^ Solo Improv Guitar

^ Solo performance

^ Suggestions for guitarists

^ Tips for guitarists

^ "Tone" is not the goal

^ Tone, Technique, Style and Gear

^ Can you have too many guitars?

^ The voice is not the message

^ What's new? (09-2008)

^ Why play?

guitar shops

^ On guitar store etiquette

^ Trade-ins

guitars

^ My Choices

^ Bonding with my Gear

^ Comfort above all else

^ So you want a custom guitar?

^ Digital guitars

^ Feedback vs. volume

^ Flat EQ for guitar

^ On multiple guitars

^ How to increase sustain

^ Import guitars

^ The importance of guitars vs. amps

^ Luthier-built vs. production guitars

^ More Tone Secrets

^ Ordering a Custom Guitar

^ Simplicity

^ Solo guitar sound

^ Can you have too many guitars?

^ Touch dynamics

^ On guitars... a block of wood?

hippies

^ Hippie Music

history

^ Advances in technology

^ Amplifier Evolution

^ "The Cult of the Amateur" & Music

^ Are DJs ruining the live-music scene?

^ The Downside of Cliches

^ From the beginning: history & inspiration

^ The future of tubes?

^ Geezers

^ Grateful Dead

^ Ground switches and "death caps"

^ Jazz: adapt or die

^ Jazz: the birth and death of a genre

^ The Music Industry is not Broken

^ Musical Evolution

^ My musical influences

^ I've never been a Deadhead

^ Obsolescence

^ Technological Obsessions

^ Technology vs. passion

human nature

^ Anectdotes, Theories and Facts

^ Are you happy?

^ Art vs. artifice

^ Assembling a band

^ Aural fatigue and dialing in your rig

^ Balancing music vs. gear aquisition

^ Beware of placing form over content

^ Bookers and clubs

^ Combatting GAS

^ Does gear define the player?

^ The Downside of Cliches

^ Earplugs and band volume

^ Electric guitar as a folk instrument

^ On guitar store etiquette

^ Gear advice

^ Gear vs. talent

^ Sounding good with the gear you have

^ Geezers

^ Do you really get what you pay for?

^ Hippie Music

^ So, how good are you?

^ Improving as a player

^ On magic cables

^ Old Dogs, New Tricks

^ Online guitar forums

^ Ordering a Custom Guitar

^ The paradox of practice

^ Will the recording industry become obsolete?

^ Shop, or play?

^ Solo performance

^ Technological Obsessions

^ Tips for guitarists

^ Does the "tone chase" ever end?

^ Can you have too many guitars?

^ The voice is not the message

^ Writing about music online

^ A moment of Zen

influences

^ Musical Clichés

^ Developing creativity

^ Does gear define the player?

^ The Downside of Cliches

^ From the beginning: history & inspiration

^ A conversation with George

^ Musical Evolution

^ My musical influences

^ Musical journeys: Reflections on a gathering

^ Solo Improv Guitar

^ Strings and finesse

^ Tips for guitarists

^ Why play?

instruction

^ Electric guitar as a folk instrument

^ How I improve my playing

loudness

^ Is a 50-watt amp too loud?

^ Advances in Technology, Revisited

^ Advice for first-time amp buyers

^ Amp Loudness

^ On amplifier power

^ Are tube amps right for small venues?

^ On power attenuators

^ On the Mesa/Boogie Blue Angel's headroom

^ Digital rig pros and cons

^ Earplugs and band volume

^ Feedback vs. volume

^ Playing guitar through a full-range amp

^ Tube amp attack sensitivity at home

^ More power!

^ On increased sound level with multiple speakers

^ Musicianship vs. Sound Reinforcement

^ How loud is too loud?

^ Tube amps for quiet play

^ Small-club live sound

^ Small-club live sound, revisited

^ On the 3dB rule

^ Turn that amp down!

^ The Vibro-King and the Hot Plate

^ Small amps and big PAs?

marketing hype

^ Advances in technology

^ The "Real" Rules for Buying an Amp

^ Anectdotes, Theories and Facts

^ Balancing music vs. gear aquisition

^ Beware of placing form over content

^ Boutique Amps

^ Boutique gear?

^ Bypass

^ Digital guitars

^ Geezers

^ Do you really get what you pay for?

^ Keep Searching

^ Lies, damn lies and specs

^ On magic cables

^ Online guitar forums

^ Technological Obsessions

^ Tone Controls

^ Tone Secrets

^ "True-Bypass" revisited

mod

^ Vibro-King "Ticking Tremolo" Fix

^ Even better Vibro-King "Ticking Tremolo" fix

motivation

^ 2006 Musical Goals

^ 2006 in review

^ 2007 Musical Goals

^ 2007 in review

^ 2008 Musical Goals

^ Assembling a band

^ Balancing music vs. gear aquisition

^ Bookers and clubs

^ Combatting GAS

^ Comfort above all else

^ Dignity and respect

^ The Downside of Cliches

^ Electric guitar as a folk instrument

^ From the beginning: history & inspiration

^ GAS-less

^ Gear advice

^ Sounding good with the gear you have

^ How I improve my playing

^ Improving as a player

^ Life after bands

^ On motivation and GAS

^ Musical Evolution

^ Musical Goals

^ Musical journeys: Reflections on a gathering

^ My practice routine

^ Next steps

^ Old Dogs, New Tricks

^ The paradox of practice

^ Playing in "the zone"

^ Portland's music scene

^ Sequenced Live Music

^ Shop, or play?

^ Solo Improv Guitar

^ Technological Obsessions

^ Why play?

music theory

^ 2006 Musical Goals

^ 2006 in review

^ 2007 in review

^ Improving as a player

^ Musical Evolution

^ Musical Goals

^ My practice routine

^ Old Dogs, New Tricks

^ The paradox of practice

^ Why play?

opinion

^ Are tubes good enough for the future of guitar music?

^ Best (and worst) musical performances

^ Blackface vs. Tweed

^ Complexity and tone

^ Digital guitars

^ Benefits of a digital guitar rig

^ The future of tubes?

^ Geezers

^ Golden Age, or beginning of the end?

^ Guitarist or musician?

^ So, how good are you?

^ Import guitars

^ The importance of guitars vs. amps

^ Big Music can no longer afford talent

^ Guitar-magazine reviews

^ Music in context

^ The Music Industry is not Broken

^ Online guitar forums

^ Reconsidering the "palette" analogy

^ On "real" guitar amplifiers

^ Will the recording industry become obsolete?

^ Sequenced Live Music

^ Simple Gear, Complex Music

^ Small-club live sound

^ Small-club live sound, revisited

^ Sound Reinforcement in Small Rooms

^ My, what a strange rig you have

^ Suggestions for guitarists

^ Technical perfection vs. the element of surprise

^ Things I need to be reminded of...

^ On "tone"...

^ Does the "tone chase" ever end?

^ "Tone" is not the goal

^ On the quest for tone

^ Tone Secrets

^ "Tone", amps and players

^ Small amps and big PAs?

performance

^ 2007 in review

^ 2008 in review

^ A Saturday in the studio

^ About Almost Milwaukie

^ Adjusting Amps

^ Amp Acquisition - An Education?

^ Art vs. artifice

^ Best (and worst) musical performances

^ Clean boosts and compressors

^ Boutique gear?

^ Musical Clichés

^ Complexity and tone

^ Dinosaur guitarists

^ Direct-to-PA

^ Are DJs ruining the live-music scene?

^ Earplugs and band volume

^ Effects devolution continues

^ Effects?

^ The end of innocence

^ Feedback vs. volume

^ "Fender Clean"

^ Solo Improv Performance

^ On gear and performance

^ Gear vs. talent

^ Geezers

^ Gig kit

^ On guitar synths

^ I have to use a modeling rig!

^ Losing my Boogie "religion"

^ May 2007 Rosedrop Media Circus podcast

^ On multi-amp setups

^ Music in context

^ Musical Evolution

^ Musical Goals

^ Musicianship vs. Sound Reinforcement

^ How loud is too loud?

^ Old Dogs, New Tricks

^ Reconsidering the "palette" analogy

^ The paradox of practice

^ Playing in "the zone"

^ Sequenced Live Music

^ Simple Gear, Complex Music

^ Simplicity

^ Small-club live sound

^ Small-club live sound, revisited

^ Solo guitar sound

^ Solo Improv Guitar

^ Solo performance

^ Sound Reinforcement in Small Rooms

^ On string gauges

^ Strings and finesse

^ First time in a studio?

^ Technical perfection vs. the element of surprise

^ On the 3dB rule

^ Tips for guitarists

^ On "tone"...

^ Does the "tone chase" ever end?

^ On the quest for tone

^ Tone Secrets

^ Too much gain!

^ On touch-sensitive amps

^ What is "touch-sensitive"?

^ Vibro-King Sound & Settings

^ "Tone", amps and players

^ Which FRFR system should I buy?

^ Small amps and big PAs?

philosophy

^ Art vs. artifice

^ Balancing music vs. gear aquisition

^ Beware of placing form over content

^ Developing creativity

^ Digital rig pros and cons

^ Direct-to-PA

^ Are DJs ruining the live-music scene?

^ Electric guitar as a folk instrument

^ Evolution and Contradiction

^ From Quark to Quasar

^ From the beginning: history & inspiration

^ Gear advice

^ Gear minimalism vs. collecting

^ Is it the gear, or not?

^ A conversation with George

^ Hearing with your eyes

^ How I improve my playing

^ I have to use a modeling rig!

^ Improving as a player

^ Luthier-built vs. production guitars

^ Music in context

^ Musical journeys: Reflections on a gathering

^ My practice routine

^ Old Dogs, New Tricks

^ Online guitar forums

^ Reconsidering the "palette" analogy

^ The paradox of practice

^ Playing in "the zone"

^ Simpler, ever simpler

^ Solo Improv Guitar

^ Things I need to be reminded of...

^ Tips for guitarists

^ Can you have too many guitars?

^ Vintage gear

^ The voice is not the message

^ Weight reduction

^ Why play?

physics

^ Anatomy of a listening test

^ Anectdotes, Theories and Facts

^ Cable comparison, part 1

^ Cable comparison, part 2

^ Cable Nuances Revisited

^ Guitar cords - what's important?

^ Anti-digital myths busted

^ Playing guitar through a full-range amp

^ High-end Cables

^ How many true-bypass pedals is too many?

^ On magic cables

^ More power!

^ Multi-Amp Pitfalls

^ On increased sound level with multiple speakers

^ On phase cancellation

^ Why do pickups sound the way they do?

^ Speaker Cables vs. Guitar Cords

^ How to use a standby switch

^ On string gauges

^ Strings and finesse

^ True bypass, cables and buffers

^ Turn that amp down!

^ On guitars... a block of wood?

pickups

^ Why do pickups sound the way they do?

power

^ Is a 50-watt amp too loud?

^ Advice for first-time amp buyers

^ Amp Loudness

^ On amplifier power

^ Are tube amps right for small venues?

^ On power attenuators

^ On the Mesa/Boogie Blue Angel's headroom

^ Playing guitar through a full-range amp

^ Tube amp attack sensitivity at home

^ More power!

^ On powering pedals

^ Powered Speaker Comparison

^ Tube amps for quiet play

^ Which FRFR system should I buy?

preferences

^ My Choices

^ Amp Acquisition - An Education?

^ Aural fatigue and dialing in your rig

^ Blackface vs. Tweed

^ Bonding with my Gear

^ Changing tastes

^ On channels... to switch or not?

^ Complexity and tone

^ So you want a custom guitar?

^ Does gear define the player?

^ Effects devolution continues

^ On effects

^ Effects preferences revisited

^ Effects?

^ The end of innocence

^ My favorite amp

^ On gear and performance

^ Gear vs. talent

^ Do you want good tone?

^ On multiple guitars

^ The importance of guitars vs. amps

^ Keep Searching

^ Losing my Boogie "religion"

^ Maybe it's not a phase, after all...

^ On multi-amp setups

^ On multi- vs. single-channel amps

^ Musical Evolution

^ Reconsidering the "palette" analogy

^ Pedal hangover

^ On reverb

^ Simple Gear, Complex Music

^ Simplicity

^ Solo Improv Guitar

^ My, what a strange rig you have

^ Things I need to be reminded of...

^ Does the "tone chase" ever end?

^ On the quest for tone

^ Too much gain!

^ Vintage gear

^ Why play?

preparation

^ Gig kit

^ How I improve my playing

^ Making your own cables

^ My practice routine

^ On powering pedals

^ The paradox of practice

^ Playing in "the zone"

^ First time in a studio?

recording

^ 2006 Musical Goals

^ 2006 in review

^ 2008 Musical Goals

^ Zoom HD16CD compared to Tascam 2488mkII

^ A Saturday in the studio

^ Computer-based recording

^ Are computers good for music?

^ "The Cult of the Amateur" & Music

^ From Quark to Quasar

^ May 2007 Rosedrop Media Circus podcast

^ Music in context

^ The Music Industry is not Broken

^ Playing in "the zone"

^ Solo Improv Guitar

^ First time in a studio?

^ What's new? (09-2008)

respect

^ Dignity and respect

^ Are DJs ruining the live-music scene?

^ On guitar store etiquette

^ Geezers

^ Musical Goals

^ I've never been a Deadhead

^ Online guitar forums

^ Ordering a Custom Guitar

^ Portland's music scene

^ Technical perfection vs. the element of surprise

^ Tips for guitarists

reverb

^ My favorite amp

^ Reverb first?

^ On reverb

^ Guitar rig architectures

^ Simpler, ever simpler

review

^ Zoom HD16CD compared to Tascam 2488mkII

^ Acoustic amp for electric guitar

^ On "the best" Mesa/Boogie amplifier

^ On the Mesa/Boogie Blue Angel's headroom

^ Clean boosts and compressors

^ BTPDX April 2004 Notes

^ Echo Roundup

^ Electronic tuners

^ Traynor K4 vs. Yamaha STAGEPAS 300

^ Lectrosonics IS-400 Wireless System Review

^ Phil Lesh: "Searching for the Sound"

^ Leslie Emulators

^ Mesa-Boogie Lone Star Review

^ Looper Roundup

^ Powered Speaker Comparison

^ Boss RT-20 rotary simulator reviewed

^ A survey of lightweight rigs

^ '64 Vibroverb Custom review

safety

^ Ground switches and "death caps"

service

^ Biasing the Vibro-King "by ear"

set-up

^ A/B switchers

^ Aural fatigue and dialing in your rig

^ Comfort above all else

^ Direct-to-PA

^ Effect loop pitfalls

^ How many true-bypass pedals is too many?

^ How to increase sustain

^ More Tone Secrets

^ Multi-Amp Pitfalls

^ Multieffects vs. pedals

^ On powering pedals

^ Reconsidering the "palette" analogy

^ Strings and finesse

^ True bypass, cables and buffers

^ Vibro-King Sound & Settings

^ Vibro-King setup

^ Weight reduction

settings

^ Flat EQ for guitar

^ How to increase sustain

^ Solo guitar sound

^ Tone Controls

^ Vibro-King headroom

^ Vibro-King setup

sound engineering

^ Are tube amps right for small venues?

^ DIs, Speaker Simulators and Amp Modelers

^ Direct-to-PA

^ Feedback vs. volume

^ From Quark to Quasar

^ On gear and performance

^ Grateful Dead

^ More power!

^ Musicianship vs. Sound Reinforcement

^ How loud is too loud?

^ Simpler, ever simpler

^ Small-club live sound

^ Small-club live sound, revisited

^ Sound Reinforcement in Small Rooms

^ On the 3dB rule

^ Tone Controls

^ Turn that amp down!

^ Which FRFR system should I buy?

^ Small amps and big PAs?

sound reinforcement

^ Clean amplification

^ Powered Speaker Comparison

speakers

^ Is a 50-watt amp too loud?

^ Advances in Technology, Revisited

^ Advice for first-time amp buyers

^ Amp Loudness

^ Playing guitar through a full-range amp

^ More power!

^ On increased sound level with multiple speakers

^ Guitar rig architectures

^ Turn that amp down!

^ The Vibro-King and the Hot Plate

^ Vibro-King setup

^ How does the Vibro-King compare to a tweed or blackface Fender amp?

^ Which FRFR system should I buy?

strings

^ Comfort above all else

^ More Tone Secrets

^ On string gauges

^ Strings and finesse

^ Tips for guitarists

^ Vibro-King setup

studio

^ Computer-based recording

^ Are computers good for music?

^ Music in context

^ First time in a studio?

style

^ 2007 Musical Goals

^ 2007 in review

^ Box of 1,000 sounds

^ Musical Clichés

^ The Downside of Cliches

^ Electric guitar as a folk instrument

^ From the beginning: history & inspiration

^ Jazz: the birth and death of a genre

^ I've never been a Deadhead

^ Old Dogs, New Tricks

^ Simpler, ever simpler

^ Solo Improv Guitar

^ Strings and finesse

^ Tone, Technique, Style and Gear

^ Why play?

technique

^ 2006 Musical Goals

^ 2006 in review

^ 2007 Musical Goals

^ 2007 in review

^ Art vs. artifice

^ Beware of placing form over content

^ Developing creativity

^ Does gear define the player?

^ The Downside of Cliches

^ Electric guitar as a folk instrument

^ Gain, volume and dynamics

^ Gear minimalism vs. collecting

^ Is it the gear, or not?

^ Do you want good tone?

^ Hearing with your eyes

^ How I improve my playing

^ How to increase sustain

^ Improving as a player

^ Losing my Boogie "religion"

^ Musical Goals

^ My practice routine

^ Old Dogs, New Tricks

^ Reconsidering the "palette" analogy

^ The paradox of practice

^ Pedal hangover

^ Simple Gear, Complex Music

^ Solo Improv Guitar

^ Solo performance

^ Strings and finesse

^ Suggestions for guitarists

^ Synth and virtual guitar

^ Technical perfection vs. the element of surprise

^ Tips for guitarists

^ "Tone" is not the goal

^ Tone, Technique, Style and Gear

^ Touch dynamics

^ Why play?

technology

^ On Gibson's MAGIC and guitars

^ A/B switchers

^ Acoustic amp for electric guitar

^ Advances in technology

^ Advances in Technology, Revisited

^ Amplifier Evolution

^ Anatomy of a listening test

^ Anectdotes, Theories and Facts

^ Are tubes good enough for the future of guitar music?

^ Behringer

^ Beware of placing form over content

^ Boutique gear?

^ Box of 1,000 sounds

^ Bypass

^ On channels... to switch or not?

^ Amplifier "class" distinctions are useless

^ The "Class-A" illusion

^ Complexity and tone

^ Are computers good for music?

^ DIs, Speaker Simulators and Amp Modelers

^ The future of digital guitar amplifiers

^ Longevity of digital gear

^ Digital rig pros and cons

^ Benefits of a digital guitar rig

^ Anti-digital myths busted

^ The Downside of Cliches

^ Effect loop pitfalls

^ Evolution and Contradiction

^ Flat EQ for guitar

^ The future of tubes?

^ Do you really get what you pay for?

^ Golden Age, or beginning of the end?

^ Grateful Dead

^ Playing guitar through a full-range amp

^ High-end Cables

^ How many true-bypass pedals is too many?

^ Jazz: adapt or die

^ Big Music can no longer afford talent

^ Lectrosonics IS-400 Wireless System Review

^ Modelers vs. Tube Amps (1)

^ Modelers vs. Tube Amps (2)

^ Modelers vs. Tube Amps (3)

^ Multieffects vs. pedals

^ Music in context

^ The Music Industry is not Broken

^ Obsolescence

^ On powering pedals

^ Reconsidering the "palette" analogy

^ On phase cancellation

^ My pedal pops!

^ Will the recording industry become obsolete?

^ Simple Gear, Complex Music

^ Simplicity

^ Solid-state vs. tube amplifiers for guitar

^ How to use a standby switch

^ Synth and virtual guitar

^ Technology vs. passion

^ Tone Controls

^ "Tone" is not the goal

^ Touch dynamics

^ What is "touch-sensitive"?

^ Are guitar players stuck in the past?

^ Fender Trans-Impedance Power Attenuator

^ True bypass, cables and buffers

^ "True-Bypass" revisited

^ Tubes vs. transistors

^ The voice is not the message

terminology

^ Amplifier "class" distinctions are useless

^ The "Class-A" illusion

^ Lies, damn lies and specs

^ Online guitar forums

^ Tone Terms

^ Amp terminology: Touch Sensitivity

troubleshooting

^ Amp troubleshooting tips

^ Troubleshooting the Blue Angel

^ Customer service, good and bad

^ Effect loop pitfalls

^ Multi-Amp Pitfalls

tubes

^ Advances in Technology, Revisited

^ Advice for first-time amp buyers

^ Amp troubleshooting tips

^ Are tube amps right for small venues?

^ Are tubes good enough for the future of guitar music?

^ Troubleshooting the Blue Angel

^ On buying a used amp

^ The future of digital guitar amplifiers

^ The future of tubes?

^ Maybe it's not a phase, after all...

^ Obsolescence

^ Preamp Tube Substitutions

^ How to use a standby switch

^ What is "touch-sensitive"?

^ Vibro-King setup

tuning

^ Electronic tuners

^ Tips for guitarists

tweed

^ Too much gain!

^ How does the Vibro-King compare to a tweed or blackface Fender amp?