What is True Bypass?

Written by admin on July 9, 2009 – 1:27 pm -

Whenever you are looking for a new distortion pedal, or effects pedal, you will undoubtedly see the term “true bypass”.  While most of us might just read over this feature and think, “Sounds good to me!”, it is definitely an important feature to understand. So, what does True Bypass mean? True bypass is a feature of effects pedals that allows the signal passing through them to completely avoid, or bypass their circuity when not engaged.  This will make the pedal appear completely transparent when not in use. The main thing that true bypass addresses is signal loss, which can affect your overall tone. You’re tone would sound different passing through a pedal’s circuitry than it would going straight to the... more


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Distortion Pedal AC Adapter

Written by admin on May 7, 2009 – 6:09 pm -

If you are still powering your distortion pedals with an endless amount of 9 volt batteries, I think it is time you looked into using an AC Adapter instead. Using an AC Adapter has a number of advantages over using your basic battery. A battery will begin draining as soon as you start using it, and this can affect your pedal’s sound. An AC Adapter always functions at the same level and will improve the performance of your effects pedals by providing them with more operating power. Most distortion pedals will drain your battery if you leave your guitar cables plugged in. This means that you need to unplug your entire setup every time you are done playing. An AC Adapter allows you to leave your cables plugged in all the time, keeping... more


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Choosing a Guitar Cable

Written by admin on May 5, 2009 – 8:17 pm -

It is easy for a guitarist to overlook the bundle of wires that feed life into their amplifier, but in reality, a guitar cable plays a huge role in determining the overall sound and tonal quality of your guitar. This is why it is important to choose a guitar cable that meets both your audio demands and your budget. Although we can’t all afford to buy the expensive cables a true audiophile might, that doesn’t mean we can’t get great tones out of a reasonably priced guitar cable. A guitar cable, just like any piece of musical equipment, comes in a wide range of qualities spanning from superlative, to just plain awful. Even if your budget is a little bit tight, you definitely want to stay away from the low end cables as they won’t... more


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Vintage Distortion Pedals

Written by admin on April 15, 2009 – 7:32 pm -

Distortion pedals have come a long way since their early beginnings in the 1960′s, and have continued to evolve throughout the life of Rock’n Roll music.  These distortion pedals helped to create unique tones that have been adopted by some of the greatest guitar players in history and have found their ways onto legendary songs and albums. Nearly every distortion you hear today is an adaptation of a classic vintage distortion pedal. Below is a list of a few pedals that have withstood the test of time, and have grown to be some of the most popular distortion stomp boxes in history. Arbiter Fuzz Face Pedal The Fuzz Face was designed in London by Arbiter Music, and utilized two transistors, four resistors and three capacitors. The... more


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Distortion Pedal Buying Guide

Written by admin on March 9, 2009 – 8:36 pm -

A Distortion Pedal is a very important part of your setup because it often times creates the foundation of your sound. Choosing the right one is a decision that should not be taken lightly, and in this post I am going to point out a few of the major aspects of varying Distortion Pedals that should be taken into consideration. 1. Determine the type of Distortion Sound you are looking for The first thing to decide upon is what type of distortion sound you would like to achieve. For example, if you plan on playing the Blues, you’d want to avoid a high gain, heavy metal pedal because it would not compliment the style well at all. If you are new to whole concept of Distortion Pedal stylings, a great way to figure out what kind would suit... more


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How to Properly Order your Effects Pedals

Written by admin on March 3, 2009 – 6:43 pm -

When you begin using multiple effects pedals in a series like, distortion pedals, chorus effects and phase effects, it is important to follow a few simple guidelines when determining what order these pedals should be placed in. Improperly ordering your effects chain or pedal board can result in poor tones and unwanted noise. Remember, these pedals are actually altering the signal of your guitar, so when placed in a chain, an effects pedal could be processing a signal that has already been altered many times. This is what makes the order of them so vital to your sound. 1st Positions – Chromatic Tuner / EQ I always recommend placing a chromatic tuner (if you have one) , first in your chain. This ensures that the pedal is getting the... more


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Acoustic Cover of Drive by Incubus

Written by admin on February 27, 2009 – 4:03 pm -

This video is of a cover of the song Drive by Incubus that we recently just recorded for some fun. Hope you enjoy it! We recorded this video with a Logitech Quick Cam Pro Web Cam. VN:F [1.9.3_1094]please wait...Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast) Read More →


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What Effects Pedals do you use?

Written by admin on February 14, 2009 – 5:13 am -

It’s always cool to learn about the gear fellow musicians are using. It can help spark some new ideas, or introduce you to a piece of musical equipment you were previously unaware of. I’ll start the discussion off by listing my pedal board lineup, and if anyone wants to chime in, feel free to post your replys in the comment section. Distortion/Overdrive Boss MT-2 Metal Zone – Provides heavy distortion with high gain, and has extensive EQ controls that allow for advanced sound shaping. Boss SD-1 Super Over Drive - This pedal produces a warm sounding tone similar to an over driven, vintage tube amp. It is great because it retains the nuances of your picking style even when playing on a high drive setting. Electro-Harmonix... more


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Jack White’s Effects Pedals

Written by admin on February 4, 2009 – 10:51 pm -

Jack White defines the sound of the White Stripes with his unique playing style, and haunting vocals. For all of us guitar players trying to achieve similar guitar tones, an overview of the effects pedals he plays is a great place to start. Although he plays a wide range of distortion and various effects pedals,  the true essence to his sound, is his skill, that cannot be found in a pedal. The defining feature of the White Stripe’s is the member line up, consisting only of Jack White on guitar and Meg White providing the rhythm section on drums. This arrangement though comes with challenges when playing live, and that is why Jack White uses such a variety of pedals to reinforce the sonic presence of their live shows. Below I have highlighted... more


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Guitar Effects Pedal Board Information

Written by admin on January 28, 2009 – 4:13 am -

A guitar effects pedal board is really an awesome piece of gear to add to your setup. It allows you to chain all of your effects pedals together so they can be easily transported, properly organized and always powered up. Before I had purchased mine, I was always in a battle to get my pedal chain set up when I played gigs, and had practices. It was a hassle, and I knew a pedal board was the perfect solution to my problem. Effects Pedals are attached to the pedal board via a Velcro backing. This allows for quick addition/removal of pedals if servicing needs to happen, and it holds them firmly in place while playing. Pedals boards also come with a case that allows for easy transportation. The cases allow you to pick up your pedals and go, no... more


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