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NAMM - ToadWorks PipeLine Tremolo & Fat City Demos

PG's Rebecca Dirks is On Location in Anaheim, CA, for the 2010 NAMM Show where she visits the ToadWorks USA Effects booth. In this segment, we get to see and hear from two of their newest pedals -- the PipeLine Harmonic Vibrato/Tremolo pedal and the Fat City Dual Overdrive. Amplitude modulation, otherwise known as tremolo, is arguably the first 'overt' guitar effect. Amplifiers with built-in tremolo began appearing by the late 40's, and became standard equipment by the late 50's. The first major style of music to adopt tremolo as it's own was surf music - groups like the Del-Tones, the Ventures and the Chantays combined tremolo with reverb to create the definitive surf guitar sound. In 1961, the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company released a complex variation on the tremolo effect known commonly as harmonic vibrato. While not technically vibrato (frequency modulation), this new take on tremolo created an effect vaguely reminiscent of a rotating speaker. Due to it's complexity and cost, this form of tremolo was short lived, and no adequate substitute existed - until now. ToadWorks Fat City is a Professional Series effect pedal consisting of two unique overdrive circuits, as well as an independently switchable boost. The overdrive has been designed to emulate classic tube amplifier sounds, and each overdrive circuit can be engaged separately or in combination, thus creating the unique "Fat City" sound. The clean boost is re-routable via a mini toggle switch located directly above the boost pot. This allows you to place the boost in front of, or after the overdrive circuits, and it's all True Bypass.



PG's Rebecca Dirks is On Location in Anaheim, CA, for the 2010 NAMM Show where she visits the ToadWorks USA Effects booth. In this segment, we get to see and hear from two of their newest pedals -- the PipeLine Harmonic Vibrato/Tremolo pedal and the Fat City Dual Overdrive.

Amplitude modulation, otherwise known as tremolo, is arguably the first 'overt' guitar effect. Amplifiers with built-in tremolo began appearing by the late 40's, and became standard equipment by the late 50's. The first major style of music to adopt tremolo as it's own was surf music - groups like the Del-Tones, the Ventures and the Chantays combined tremolo with reverb to create the definitive surf guitar sound.

In 1961, the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company released a complex variation on the tremolo effect known commonly as harmonic vibrato. While not technically vibrato (frequency modulation), this new take on tremolo created an effect vaguely reminiscent of a rotating speaker. Due to it's complexity and cost, this form of tremolo was short lived, and no adequate substitute existed - until now.

ToadWorks Fat City is a Professional Series effect pedal consisting of two unique overdrive circuits, as well as an independently switchable boost. The overdrive has been designed to emulate classic tube amplifier sounds, and each overdrive circuit can be engaged separately or in combination, thus creating the unique "Fat City" sound.

The clean boost is re-routable via a mini toggle switch located directly above the boost pot. This allows you to place the boost in front of, or after the overdrive circuits, and it's all True Bypass.

Whitman Audio introduces the Decoherence Drive and Wave Collapse Fuzz, two innovative guitar pedals designed to push the boundaries of sound exploration. With unique features like cascading gain stages and vintage silicon transistor fuzz, these pedals offer musicians a new path to sonic creativity.

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In our third installment with Santa Cruz Guitar Company founder Richard Hoover, the master luthier shows PG's John Bohlinger how his team of builders assemble and construct guitars like a chef preparing food pairings. Hoover explains that the finer details like binding, headstock size and shape, internal bracing, and adhesives are critical players in shaping an instrument's sound. Finally, Richard explains how SCGC uses every inch of wood for making acoustic guitars or outside ventures like surfboards and art.

We know Horsegirl as a band of musicians, but their friendships will always come before the music. From left to right: Nora Cheng, drummer Gigi Reece, and Penelope Lowenstein.

Photo by Ruby Faye

The Chicago-via-New York trio of best friends reinterpret the best bits of college-rock and ā€™90s indie on their new record, Phonetics On and On.

Horsegirl guitarists Nora Cheng and Penelope Lowenstein are back in their hometown of Chicago during winter break from New York University, where they share an apartment with drummer Gigi Reece. Theyā€™re both in the middle of writing papers. Cheng is working on one about Buckminster Fuller for a city planning class, and Lowenstein is untangling Austrian writer Ingeborg Bachmannā€™s short story, ā€œThree Paths to the Lake.ā€

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Featuring torrefied solid Sitka Spruce tops, mahogany neck, back, and sides, and Fishman Presys VT EQ System, these guitars are designed to deliver quality tone and playability at an affordable price point.

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