Magical modulation: The brownface Tremolux You see a lot of chatter online about the differences between the tremolo circuit Fender used in its early-’60s “brownface” amps and the trem circuit that replaced it in the mid-decade “blackface” models. (Just Google “brownface blackface tremolo” to see what I mean.) The prevailing sentiment seems to […] Here’s a running list of all the “how to” posts on this site, as opposed to the ones where we’re just hanging out talking crap. 😉 How to Install Pickups How to Install Onboard Effects. How to Install “Vintage” Les Paul wiring. How to Direct-Record Guitars. How to Install “Nashville” Tele Wiring on a Strat. […] 
Looks vintage, but it ain't. After auditioning so many different tone-control schemes over the course of the Mongrel Strat Project, I wound up with more tone circuits than I have Strats, so I figured I’d victimize a bass — specifically, a 1954 Fender P-Bass reissue with a Seymour Duncan Quarter-Pound pickup, which I’ve […] 
Double the sounds available from your axe! Man, preparing the Pagey project has been a real eye-opener! Expect some surprising results! (Hint: There’s much of interest, even for players who have zero desire to sound like Page.) I’ll be posting the first video and tech walk-through after the weekend, but in the meantime, […] 
Low-Voltage Chunk from Diode Distortion! Did you know you can add a simple circuit to your guitar or bass that produces onboard distortion — without using a battery? The idea is pretty simple — you attach a pair of diodes to the guitar’s output via a pot or switch. With the diodes connected […] Kill the clichés and develop your unique style! Now available from Amazon and Premier Guitar. The Subversive Guitarist is for any intermediate or advanced player who feels like they are stuck in a rut. If you’ve ever thought, “I always play the same things whenever I pick up a guitar,” this is your remedy. The […] I’d never have imagined that I’d get to participate in so many cool music collaborations during Covid lockdown — man, was I fortunate! One of the most exciting developments was being invited to join Another Night on Earth, an international octet of electric guitarist who perform classical music. A few months ago I […] Despite being obsessed with Charlie Christian for decades, I’ve never played a Gibson ES-150, the guitar he made famous. I’ve never even messed with a “Charlie Christian pickup,” even though it’s been a fairly common retrofit ever since the late Danny Gatton installed one in his Tele’s neck position. But I’ve always wondered: Could the […] Oh man — my friends at Premier Guitar just posted a video of me demoing four of my new pedal prototypes at NAMM. I didn’t even think I’d have these ready by showtime, but I powered out at the last minute. (Maybe ’cause I needed something to take my mind of the inauguration.) It’s […] 
No, I don’t mean like, “What’s better: B-flat or F-sharp?” Rather, is there a single note from a great recording or performance that haunts your dreams? Here’s what go me on the topic: One of my Premier Guitar colleagues, Gary Ciocci, recently turned me on to El Twanguero (aka Diego Garcia), a brilliant Spanish-born, Argentina-based […] |
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