Plugged In and Amplified

Seriously…Do you have G.A.S.?

Apr 15, 2013 Things I Wish I Would Have Known... Leave a comment
Posted by JD

For those of you with particularly severe cases of G.A.S. I decided I should offer some more advice, if last week’s post wasn’t enough.

BE REALISTIC

Most of the unwise purchases I have made over the years were a result of me overestimating my equipment needs.  If you are just starting to learn guitar or if you primarily play for fun at home in your office or bedroom then you don’t need to buy Marshall half-stacks that take up half the room nor do you need rows and rows of guitars just in case you break a string on your main axe.  Angus Young needs those things when he is touring with AC/DC.  You don’t need those things for when you come home from work or school to practice your scales or chords.

IT IS NOT THE GEAR THAT MAKES THE PLAYER SOUND GOOD, IT IS SIMPLY THE PLAYER

The story goes that Ozzy Osbourne was having auditions to find his new lead guitarist. This small guy walks in with a tiny practice amp.  He plugs that little amp into the wall and proceeds to play some riffs to warm up.  Ozzy hears this guy and gives him the job on the spot.  That guy was Randy Rhoads, the  phenomenal guitar player you can hear melting faces on  “Crazy Train.”   No matter how big or expensive an amplifier or guitar is, the gear will never make up for a lack of skill.  A good guitar player will sound good on just about anything.  Don’t get fixated on the flashing lights, instead practice, practice, and practice.  That is what will truly make you sound good.

For many musicians the battle against G.A.S. is an on-going one.  I hope this advice–as well as a healthy diet and regular exercise–will give you some strength in the struggle against this “illness.”

Do you have G.A.S.?

Apr 8, 2013 Things I Wish I Would Have Known... 1 Comment
Posted by JD

Today, I want to take the time to talk to all of you about a serious affliction suffered by many musicians, particularly guitar players.  In the pseudo-medical field, this malady is known by three sinister letters: G.A.S.  While it may sound like something one gets after eating a delicious but overly filling burrito, nothing could [...]

Amp Modeling

Mar 25, 2013 The World of Guitar Leave a comment
Posted by JD

In this post we are going to look at amp modeling.   Simply put, amp modeling is the digital emulation of a physical amplifier.  Using computer hardware and software (or as I like to call it…magic) amp modeling technology is able to faithfully reproduce crushing distortions, mind-bending delays, funky phasers, and even plain old luscious clean [...]

Solid-State Amps

Mar 17, 2013 The World of Guitar Leave a comment
Posted by JD

Now, as I mentioned in the last blog post, tube amps are the “original” electric amplifier.  They amplify sound through the use of tubes—also called valves.  Tubes were the predominant amp technology until the 1970s.  In the 70s, manufacturers started to use less-expensive semiconductors to do the job of tubes.  This new technology became known [...]

Tube Amps

Mar 10, 2013 The World of Guitar Leave a comment
Posted by JD

I just spent several blog posts writing about guitar effect pedals.  Now, I think it is a good idea to spend some time talking about the guitar amps you are going to be plugging those pedals into. There are some different types of amps you can choose from.  Tube amps–like my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe in the [...]