David Lamkins
http://lamkins-guitar.com/music/musings
David Lamkins picked up his first guitar a long time ago. As best he can recall the year was 1967: the year of the Summer of Love. Four decades later David has conjured up an amalgam of folk, rock and jazz solo guitar music for the occasional intimate Portland audience.
location: Portland, OR USA

Facets: David Lamkins, guitarist, @musings info
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Musings

Recent

1. How to increase sustain
November 24 2008 07:28:21 GMT
2. Electric guitar as a folk instrument
November 16 2008 04:57:47 GMT
3. A survey of lightweight rigs
November 10 2008 05:04:01 GMT
4. Are DJs ruining the live-music scene?
November 10 2008 04:29:32 GMT
5. Are tubes good enough for the future of guitar music?
November 10 2008 01:23:54 GMT
6. Effect loop pitfalls
November 09 2008 20:58:33 GMT
7. "The Cult of the Amateur" & Music
October 13 2008 06:08:26 GMT

Titles (244)

"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
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
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
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 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
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
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 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
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?
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
GAS-less
attitude, evaluation, goals, motivation
Gain, volume and dynamics
amplifiers, attenuators, distortion, technique
Gear advice
human nature, motivation, philosophy
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-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 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
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
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
Losing my Boogie "religion"
Fender, Mesa/Boogie, amplifiers, comparison, distortion, evaluation, performance, preferences, technique
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
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 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 power attenuators
amplifiers, power, loudness, distortion, attenuators
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
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
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
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 importance of guitars vs. amps
amplifiers, attitude, guitars, opinion, preferences
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 Secrets
performance, attitude, opinion, marketing hype
Tone Terms
terminology
Too much gain!
Fender, THD, Tweed, Mesa/Boogie, amplifiers, comparison, distortion, performance, preferences
Touch dynamics
amplifiers, guitars, technique, technology
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
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 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

Facets

'64 Vibroverb Custom
^ '64 Vibroverb Custom review
AER
^ A survey of lightweight rigs
^ Weight reduction
Acoustic Image
^ A survey of lightweight rigs
Almost Milwaukie
^ About Almost Milwaukie
Boss
^ Boss RT-20 rotary simulator reviewed
^ A survey of lightweight rigs
^ Vibro-King distortion
Bret Holtz
^ Anatomy of a listening test
Burning Man
^ Hippie Music
Digitech
^ A survey of lightweight rigs
Electro-Harmonix
^ Electro-Harmonix SMMH vs. Eventide TimeFactor
Eventide
^ Electro-Harmonix SMMH vs. Eventide TimeFactor
Fender
^ Changing tastes
^ Losing my Boogie "religion"
^ A survey of lightweight rigs
^ 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
Gibson
^ On Gibson's MAGIC and guitars
^ Vibro-King Sound & Settings
Grateful Dead
^ Grateful Dead
^ Phil Lesh: "Searching for the Sound"
Hot Plate
^ The Vibro-King and the Hot Plate
Joe Williams
^ 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
^ 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
Paul Kantner
^ Are DJs ruining the live-music scene?
Peavey
^ A survey of lightweight rigs
Phil Lesh
^ Phil Lesh: "Searching for the Sound"
Robert Madrid
^ May 2007 Rosedrop Media Circus podcast
Roland
^ A survey of lightweight rigs
Rosedrop Media Circus
^ May 2007 Rosedrop Media Circus podcast
Spencer
^ Spencer
Stephen Caird
^ What's new? (09-2008)
THD
^ Too much gain!
Tone King
^ A survey of lightweight rigs
Tweed
^ Too much gain!
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
amplifiers
^ Is a 50-watt amp too loud?
^ My Choices
^ A/B switchers
^ 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
^ 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
^ 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
^ Tube amps for quiet play
^ On "real" guitar amplifiers
^ Simpler, ever simpler
^ Simplicity
^ Solo guitar sound
^ Speaker Cables vs. Guitar Cords