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)
Seymour Duncan's new Polaron has a big array of analogue phase tones available, like Auto Wah, Rotary Speaker (Leslie), Talkbox, Flanger and Phaser - all controlled using a digital technology.
This refreshing new take on the auto wah by Flower Pedals offers a lot more than just classic wah sounds; Hosta Wah Filter's three modes give you a lot of options on tap.
Save nearly 50% on IK Multimedia's AmpliTube MAX bundle and AmpliTube 4! This deal for new users runs until 31 March, so it's a good time to grab one of the leading virtual guitar rigs.
Supro‘s Blues King 10 is the third iteration of the Blues King concept, this time with 5 Watts, an 8-inch speaker and enough trimmings to make it an interesting proposition for home and studio use.
Dynamo has a new proposition for guitarists who cover a lot of miles on the road (or in the air) and need a convenient rig with a tube preamp but lower weight: Flight Rig.
New in the Revolution series: The Joyo Baatsin R-11. Looking inconspicuous, the R-11 packs in 8 overdrives and distortions in one pedal - and all are generated using analog components.
If you're on the market for a wah-wah or volume pedal, now is the time! There's a Morley Mega Deal on with massive savings on 16 pedals, including signature Steve Vai wah and more!
The new Synergy Amps Steve Vai Signature preamp module is the company'e first artist signature product and extends its ever-expanding range of swappable preamps.
The well-priced Joyo XVI is an octaver in the style of the EHX POG with upper and lower octave, but throws in a additional - if limited - effect: modulation.
The Fender Marauder is a super-rare prototype guitar from 1965, re-imagined by the Custom Shop in 2020 for guitarist Matthew Logan Vasquez - it even comes with a built-in delay effect!
TC Electronic's new Plethora X5 multi-FX board crams in every TonePrint algorithm yet released like the Flashback and Hall of Fame - and lets you combine these any way you like as "virtual boards".
Chapman Guitars teases a new "Battleworn" ML1 Pro, a guitar with a post-apocalyptic 'backstory' darker than any YouTube spat over who said what... Is this a stormy new chapter for Chapman?
Drive two stereo reverbs in parallel or in series! The Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12 pedal can do that and more. Dive into the full details of EHX's new reverb machine here.
If you're after a bargain on a quality overdrive pedal, you will not find a better deal than this: Lunastone's True Overdrive 2 is on sale at Thomann for only 39 Euros instead of 149!
Fancy getting your first semi-hollow guitar? Take a look at the new Guild Starfire I range, available as a single- or double-cut and with an optional Bigsby trem at a very decent price.
A new chapter in the Kiesel-Gibson spat: Kiesel launches two new signature guitar models, one of which uses the body shape that was the subject of Gibson's recent cease and desist letter, the CS6!
Frankenstein's Guitar! Look Mum No Computer added a MIDI keyboard made of arcade buttons to a Gibson Les Paul. After all, why not? If you're a guitar aficionado/purist, do not watch this video.
If you fancied buying a Bob Weir Bedford last year but couldn't quite stretch to it, the new D'Angelico Bob Weir Premier Bedford model may just satiate all your 'Deadhead' needs!
Ernie Ball Music Man heats up the winter with the February Collection, offering three great looking guitars: a Jester in the Majesty's court, a hot Valentine and StingRay5 about to burst!
Made in Japan, the new Modern Jazzmaster takes the classic American offset guitar design and turns it on its head, with twin noiseless humbuckers and modern spec throughout.
The new T-style Nuno Bettencourt signature model is called the Nele and comes with a unique six-way pickup switching system and that Stephen's Extended Cutaway design adored by its fans.
HOT
Kiesel Guitars is the latest manufacturer to recieve a 'cease and desist' letter from Gibson's lawyers. Jeff Kiesel goes online to share why he thinks Gibson will lose.
Dean Guitars releases some new Exile Select Series guitars in six different flavours, with quilted maple or burled poplar tops and some intriguing colour choices. Shredders' paradise!
Plugin Alliance debuts the Friedman BE-100 and DS-40 plug-ins, emulating two classy tube amplifiers in turn inspired by some of the most famous British amps in rock history.
