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)
03 Jul in
The MXR Bass Synth contains 8 presets and classic synth bass tones
Tony Iommi's TI100 amp reissued for Black Sabbath's farewell, Catalinbread's Proto Club and Echo Fix EF-P5 FET Compressor.
01 Jul in
Crazy Tube Circuits Mirage modular reverb with two independent engines, and 16 algorithms
Hotone Verbera Dual-engine reverb pedal with 120 IRs, classic algorithms, cloning, and advanced controls.
New Duesenberg Chris Chaney Bass part of the Alliance Series. A P-Style Bass with attitude
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26 Jun in
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After the Strandberg Boden Prog NX6 & NX7 Deep Blue comes the Strandberg Standard NX 6 Plini Edition Mirage.
Get the free BigSky MX Preset Pack 1 and explore full editing, backup, and sharing with the latest Nixie 2 update.
Ed Sheeran's custom PRS, Behringer's Centara Overdrive, and a tribute to the late Mick Ralphs of Mott the Hoople and Bad Company.
PRS Chleo Herman Li limited edition signature models in Charcoal Purple Burst or Orchid Dusk
The KHDK Digital Bath offers rich filter modulation and delays, personally tested by Chino Moreno of Deftones.
Catalinbread Adineko Ghost: A haunting oil-can delay with a new "Ghost" control for ethereal octave-up modulation
Sterling by Music Man Fluff StingRay. Ryan Bruce delivers a powerful, simple rock machine
Matt Bellamy's signature Manson Meta MBM-2H returns with Red Sparkle & Satin Olive Green finishes.
The Celestion Peacekeeper ends the eternal battle between volume and good guitar tone. This new 12-inch speaker is a solution.
This Charvel Pro-Mod Plus So-Cal comes fitted with an Evertune bridge and looks sleek in a Midnight Blue finish
18 Jun in
The EarthQuaker Devices Rancho de la Luna Dirt Transmitter is back! Reviving a beloved, discontinued fuzz pedal.
Fender Richie Kotzen Stratocaster, previously a Japan-exclusive, now officially available worldwide!
Experience the Taylor Legacy 914ce, a Grand Auditorium masterpiece with Indian Rosewood and Engelmann Spruce.
See Matt Bellamy's custom Manson Oryx, Jackson's WoW guitar for Konan Hall, and Dunable's new Custom Shop Yeti models.
Get ready for Roadie 4! Advanced automatic tuner on Kickstarter this June.
Gibson Marcus King ES-345 signature model, honoring his family's musical past