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)
The Les Paul Modern Studio offers some upgrades taken from the Les Paul Modern range. Offering a stripped back single-cut American guitar
Guitar Deals this week at Thomann include great savings on products from Squier, Epiphone, tc electronic, Marshall, and Markbass
Great Deal on the Eventide H9 Max Harmonizer Blue and Dark limited editions. These fantastic effects units offer a huge array of tones
NAMM
The Mythos Pedals Herculean Dual Overdrive combines the Herculean and Runestone drive tones into one very tweakable boutique pedal
NAMM
VOX announces the third generation of popular headphone amplifiers with Amplug 3. Now with even better amp tones and effects for 2024
Gibson Songwriter EC, J-45, Hummingbird and SJ-200 acoustics receive the Les Paul Custom-look in the new Custom Ebony series
Two Fender Adjusto-Matic Jazzmaster HH have been announced in Black and Teal Green Metallic. Fitted with Modern Modified humbuckers
Gretsch Limited Edition boygenius Broadkaster Jr announced for the Indie rock trio. Available now as a preorder on the band's site
NAMM
Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone 2 Compressor adds a foot-switchable Grit section to access that germanium dirt section, for added colour
NAMM
We check out the Friedman The Plex at NAMM 2024, plus the latest REVV Amps heads, some new Suhr colours, plus the BluGuitar AMP X
This week's Guitar Deals at Thomann include some great saving on classic products from Gibson, PRS, Marshall, and Digitech
NAMM
These D'Angelico EXL-1 and Excel Style B models both offer some fantastic Jazz tones and are both firmly inspired by classics of the era
NAMM
The Casio Dimension Tripper is an expression pedal on the guitar strap - Possibly the weirdest guitar gadget at NAMM this year!
NAMM
Dunlop shared a sneak peek at NAMM: The MXR Gran Torino Boost Overdrive and the return of the Way Huge Geisha Drive.
NAMM
Strandberg Boden Essential models retail at $999 and come in three great colours on launch Black Granite, Astro Dust, & Elemental Blue Satin.
NAMM
The Wolfgang EVH SA-126 by EVH Gear is announced today, on Eddie Van Halen's Birthday. Available this year in two distinct styles
NAMM
The Guild Polara range of models expands with new colours and models announced for 2024. These '70s styled guitars rock hard
NAMM
Reverend Billy Corgan Drop Z new longer scale-length signature model featuring Corgan's signature Railhammer Z-One pickups
NAMM
The Seymour Duncan PowerStage 100 Stereo. 100 watts of stereo power wherever you are, compact enough for the Pedalboard or gigbag
NAMM
Rabea Massaad Signature Sabre EBMM models are officially here and available in Vileblood and Frenzied Flame finishes.
NAMM
Two Notes Genome is a combination of amp simulation and channel strip plug-in. After two years the official full version is here at last!
NAMM
Victory Amps The Deputy a single-channel tube amp offering British 60s & 70s amp tones designed in collaboration with Pete Honore
NAMM
KMA Machines Endgame Duality Calibrator offers a Dual Cab/ PowerAmp Sim, Doubler, Stereo FX Loop and a heap of connectivity, including Bluetooth
NAMM
The Palmer Supreme Soaker is an analog attenuator and a load box which can handle tube amps rated up to 150 Watts. Offering ultimate amp tone