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)
New JHS compressor and a preamp at NAMM There are also three other utility pedals an AB, ABY and a Summing Amp.
Australian jewellery artist Colin Burn has created the ultimate guitar strap inspired by Rock and Roll and loaded with white gold, precious stones and a heavy price tag!
The new Charvel USA Select DK24 models. A more refined pro spec Custom Shop guitars for those that want high-performance without the 'tiger stripes'.
Ibanez has collaborated with another Japanese company, boutique pedal maker Vemuram, on the new TSV808. An amalgamation of TS and Jay Ray circuits
Laney has debuts three pedals, each with four knobs and a three-way toggle switch. All under their premium pedal brand Black Country Customs.
Line 6 has added the new G10S to their 24-bit wireless product range. This rugged pedal format system could be perfect for musicians wanting to go cableless.
Mr 'Pussy Melter' Satchel from Steel Panther gets a new Slime Green Bengal signature guitar loaded with Fishman Fluence pickups in an exclusive finish for this guitar!
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This custom American hand-built guitar hasn't been made since 1955 and 1956, then the company moved to humbuckers. Chuck Berry's was a 1955 and now you could own one just like it!
Zoom's new GCE-3 Guitar Lab Circuit Emulator can easily fit in your pocket, it is so small. The audio interface uses the Guitar Lab software to give you virtual guitar rig setups you can customise.
Dave Friedman has a new Jerry Cantrell Signature version 20-watt mini-head called the JJ Jr and it looks and sounds fab. We even found a video to prove it sounds sweet as well!
The world's first Random Fluctuating Phase Modulation Function? Maybe, but either way the new Free The Tone FF-1Y Delay sounds luscious and ethereal, as it undulates and modulates the delay.
Appetite For Destruction was massive for the band and really put them on the map. Duff held down all those low bass lines with an old '80s Jazz Bass Special. Which this one is sort of based on...
The new Charvel DK24-7 NOVA Angel Vivaldi 7-string signature model is a perfect fit for the New Jersey prog guitarist and looks amazing in that Satin Sage Green with gold hardware finish
Bringing back classic Marshall amps from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s but in a 20-watt format and in head or combo formats. The new Studio Series are full of classic British valve tone
The new Fender Rarities Series will see a different model guitar released each month. Each one with high-end features, luxurious finishes and premium wood choices.
A new Fender Alternate Reality Tenor Tele the last in today's lineup for the company's new range of alternative guitars and it is certainly different.
A cool modern-day recreation of Eddie Van Halen’s famous striped guitar from the Van Halen World Tour back in 1978. Will you be able to catch the EVH Striped Series Shark and make it rock?
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Ed Sheeran the world-famous singer-songwriter is working with his friend George Lowden and together they are producing a new acoustic guitar range based on the star's idea of a good guitar.
The guys on the Squier team at Fender have all been super busy, so now we have an insane amount of new guitars and basses to choose from. All inspired by vintage classics from Fender's back catalogue.
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Ernie Ball just dropped a teaser video of the new VPJR tuner pedal and it could be the perfect partner for your pedalboard. Why hasn't anyone else done this before?
The new 2019 EVH Wolfgang WG Standard Xotic range adds a touch of class to these great modern guitars. Yeah, they still have the wiggle stick and the hot pups, but now they look exotic.
We finally get the low down and full specification on the new Reverend Greg Koch Signature Gristlemaster. One seriously nice signature model guitar and you can hear Mr Koch put it through its paces here.
A new hybrid all tube valve head designed by Suhr with Pete Thorn. The Suhr PT15 IR combines Impulse Response technology and a built-in load to make this modern-day amp super versatile.
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The new Alternate Reality XII 12-String is out the bag and the pricing is good, This model is popping up all over Europe on Fender dealer web pages ahead of it's NAMM Show launch.