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GALLERY: Pro Pedalboards Volume I

A look at pedalboards used onstage by Deftones, Alice in Chains, Dave Matthews Band, 311, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Johnson, and many more

"Touring in support of ""Uplifter"" in 2009, Tim Mahoney brought two boardsяhis main board, and a smaller рparty board.с His effects can be broken down into two main signalsяthe clean ampsу effects and the dirty ampsу effects. His guitar signal goes into the King Vox Wah and a Boss FV-500H Volume Pedal. It then goes through the first Loop Master Switcher (bottom) that holds a Maxon AD-9 Analog Delay, a MXR Flanger, a Hartman Analog Flanger, a MXR Micro Chorus, a DOD Overdrive Preamp 250, an MXR Phase 90 (script logo), and a Pearl OC-7 Octave. These are Timуs universal effects, which go to both dirty amps. A third signal goes to another Loop Master Switcher and eventually back to the master clean headяa Diamond Spitfire II. This switcher holds the Boss DSD-2 Digital Sampler/Delay, Boomerang Phrase Sampler, Boss CE-1 Chorus, Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive, an MXR Phase 45 (script logo) and an original Mu-Tron III Envelope Filter (which is used heavily on рAmberс and рChampagneс). Using all these switchers and A/B boxes enables Tim to keep a separate рdreamy, clean soundс through his Spitfire II and still switch over to the Diamond Phantoms that create a tone he describes as рballsy rock.с Also on his main board are an L.A. Sound Design Custom Power Supply and a BOSS TU-2 Chromatic Tuner."

photos by Chris Kies

Fabulous neck with just-right fatness. Distinctive tone profile. Smooth, stable vibrato. Ice blue metallic and aluminum look delish together.

Higher output pickups could turn off Fender-geared traditionalists.

$939

Eastman FullerTone DC’62

eastmanguitars.com

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An affordable version of Eastman’s U.S.-made solidbody rolls with unique, well-executed features—at a price and quality level that rivals very tough competition.

Eastman’s instruments regularly impress in terms ofquality and performance. A few left my PG colleagues downright smitten. But if Eastman isn’t a household name among guitarists, it might be a case of consumer psychology: Relative to most instruments built in China, Eastmans are expensive. So, if you spend your life longing for a Gibson 335 and a comparable (if superficially fancier) Eastman costs just 20 percent less than the least expensive version of the real deal, why not save up for a bit longer and get the guitar of your dreams?

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An easy guide to re-anchoring a loose tuning machine, restoring a “lost” input jack, refinishing dinged frets, and staunching a dinged surface. Result: no repair fees!

This late-’90s Masterbilt was made to mimic the feeling and look of vintage luxury.

Photo by Madison Thorn

This collaborative effort between Japanese and American guitar builders aimed for old-school quality without breaking the bank.

I recently called a rideshare to pick me up from the airport and was surprised when the driver pulled up in a Jaguar. I’d never been in one and was stunned at how quiet it was, and how the backseat was as comfortable as a living room couch, but retained a refined look. This 1998 Masterbilt prototype reminds me of that airport ride.

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Unleash your inner metal icon with the Jackson Lee Malia LM-87, a high-performance shred-ready axe designed in collaboration with Bring Me The Horizon guitarist Lee Malia. Featuring custom Jackson signature pickups, a fast D-profile neck, and a TOM-style bridge for rock-solid stability, this signature model is a must-have for commanding metal tone and smooth playability.

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