We put faces to the names of all those gear personalities you’ve heard about.
If someone mentions the names Leo Fender or Les Paul, there’s a good chance that an image of them will pop into your head. But there are many other “names” in the guitar world that you know but you probably couldn’t pick the individuals out in a crowd. These are people whose guitars, amps, or pedals you might use on a regular basis or, at least, plan to buy as soon as that big lottery win comes your way.
Who? People like Reinhold Bogner, Andy Fuchs, or Dave Friedman (amps). Joe Knaggs, Dennis Fano, or Tom Anderson (guitars). Brian Wampler, Robert Keeley, or Harri Koski of Mad Professor (effects pedals). How about Seymour Duncan? Floyd Rose? Jim Dunlop? Did you know that there is a Rick Shubb behind all of those Shubb capos you see on the wall of your local guitar shop?
These personalities, and more, were at Winter NAMM in January and were nice enough to allow their pictures to be taken.
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StewMac International House of Overdrive Pedal Kit, With Bare Enclosure
The IHOO is based on the Crowther Hot Cake, an overdrive that became available around 1976. It was one of the earliest hand-made boutique effects pedals available. The circuit was designed to be what is now referred to as a “transparent” overdrive. An effect that enhances the player's sound while keeping the original tone intact.
This circuit has undergone many changes since its inception, and we have further expanded on the design by returning to an earlier version most revered by players and removing the buffer, which resulted in a reworked circuit that is true bypass but still retains the charm of the design.
We also include the original LM741 IC chip found in the originals, as well as the TL071 that is found in later versions so you can experiment with which IC best suits your playing style.
On this Wong Notes, the legendary Doobie Brother, Steely Dan member, and session weapon talks the science of music and how to defuse conflict—whether on the world stage or in the sound booth.
“Skunk” Baxter has had an interesting career. The Washington, D.C.-born musician was one of Steely Dan’s founding members in the early 1970s, and played on some of their most iconic numbers, like Can’t Buy a Thrill’s’ “Reelin’ in the Years” and “Do It Again,” or Pretzel Logic’s “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.” Then, he moved on to join the Doobie Brothers, from roughly 1974 to 1979, where he fatefully invited Michael McDonald into the band. After that stint, he became a go-to session player for artists like Rod Stewart, Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton, and Donna Summer, and a touring performer for Elton John and Linda Ronstadt, among others.
That was just the beginning. Baxter’s interest and background in electronics, science, and recording technology gained him a position in the U.S. defense industry. Turns out, a lot of digital music gear shared similar principles with emergent defense tech. “Basically, a radar is just an electric guitar on steroids,” says Baxter, noting the same four fundamental forces at work over everything in our universe.
Wong and Baxter trades notes on how to navigate studio sessions (“Just shut the hell up,” offers Baxter), early conversions of pitch into digital signals, and how Baxter cut his solo on Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” on a $25 guitar. And can mediating between artists and producers feel like high-stakes hostage negotiations? Sometimes. Tune in.
Wong Notes is presented by DistroKid.
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Featuring presets by Jack White, this pedal is designed to offer intuitive control, precise filtering, and flexible expression pedal integration.
Eventide, in collaboration with Third Man Hardware announces Knife Drop, a commanding new effects pedal that merges aggressive octave fuzz with earth-shaking analog synth tones.
Born from the collaborative vision of two pioneering forces in music technology, Knife Drop opens a new chapter in effects processing. The pedal combines Eventide’s decades of digital audio mastery with Third Man Hardware’s innovative vision, resulting in a product that’s as intuitive as it is deep, as fresh as it is familiar.
"The Third Man crew have amazing product design instincts and we learned so much throughout our collaboration. It didn't feel like work, it felt like Rock 'n Roll.” —Russell Wedelich, Eventide Audio CTO
"Collaborating with Eventide on the Knife Drop has been an inspiring and exciting experience that expanded into some amazing sonic possibilities. We're so excited to get the Knife Drop into people's hands, to make their own sounds and feel the same excitement we had." — Dan Mancini, Third Man Hardware
Core Features:
- Rich blend of octave fuzz and analog synth capabilities
- Dual octave control with dedicated footswitch
- Precise filtering options with pre/post distortion routing
- Intuitive preset system with instant recall
- Stereo I/O with switchable guitar/line level inputs
- Flexible expression pedal integration for dynamic control
Intuitive Control
The Synth Mix knob allows players to blend between raw guitar signals and bold synthesized tones, while the Drive section delivers everything from a subtle boost to intense, biting distortion. The expressive filter section includes responsive envelope control, adjustable resonance, and switchable routing, putting total tonal flexibility firmly in the user’s hands.
Knife Drop features an LED ladder display for precise preset navigation and a secondary function layer that unveils additional sonic territory. The dual I/O configuration supports both mono and stereo operation, while the switchable input accommodates various signal levels for versatile applications, whether onstage or in the studio.
Knife Drop will be available for purchase on October 29, 2024, in the United States through Third Man Records’ website and internationally through Eventide's authorized distributors, with an MSRP of $299. Additionally, a limited-edition yellow model will be offered exclusively on Third Man Records' website for $333.
For more information, please visit eventide.com
Knife Drop Pedal: Presets Playthrough and Sound Demo - YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.PG contributor Tom Butwin details RAB Audio GSRS – a studio racking system purpose-built for guitarists looking to declutter, customize, and elevate their creative space. Whether you’re a pedal enthusiast or amp collector, RAB Audio has a solution for your recording setup.