Recorded using a Schroeder Chopper TL into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV miked with a Royer R-121 feeding an Apogee Duet going into Studio One with no EQ-ing, compression, or effects.
Clip 1 – Bridge pickup, gain at 1 o’clock, volume at 11 o'clock, bass at 11 o’clock, mids at 9 o’clock, treble at 1 o’clock.
Clip 2 - Gain at 7 o’clock, volume at noon, bass at 11 o’clock, mids at noon, treble at 1 o’clock.
Clip 3 - Gain at 2 o’clock, volume at 11 o’clock, bass at 11 o’clock, mids at 3 o’clock, treble at 1 o’clock.
RatingsPros:Excellent EQ controls. Loads and loads of gain. Apparently runs on … high-end beard oil? Cons: Very touchy gain control. Low-gain settings are still a bit … gainy. Street: $240 Redbeard Effects Red Mist MkIV redbeardeffects.com | Tones:  Ease of Use: Build/Design:  Value:  |
Don’t let the MkIV label fool you. Although this is the fourth iteration of Redbeard Effects’ Red Mist, it’s available publicly for the first time. Born out of a collaboration with Skindred guitarist Mikey Demus and Adrian Thorpe of ThorpyFx, this rock-solid dirt box is an impressive medium-to-high-gain circuit with a wickedly powerful EQ section. According to Demus, the Red Mist isn’t an upgraded clone of some sought-after vintage pedal. That may be true, but I definitely heard some sonic touchpoints of yesteryear.
The Red Mist has a ton of gain, so careful with that volume knob when you fire it up. Even low-output T-style pickups transformed into chunky, gruff fire-breathers when the gain sneaked past 1 o’clock. With that much gain, an active EQ setup is almost a necessity. Each control can add or subtract up to 6 dB, which really helps dial out any low-end demons or tame the high-end shrills. With my brighter guitars, I found that the gross sizzle in the high end was pretty much non-existent with the Red Mist. Even at more saturated settings, the treble had a thickness to it. If your board is already sporting a few low-gain pedals, the Red Mist could be a valuable addition.
Test Gear: Schroeder Chopper TL, Fender Modern Player Jaguar, Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV
Billy Gibbons is an undisputable guitar force whose feel, tone, and all-around vibe make him the highest level of hero. But that’s not to say he hasn’t made some odd choices in his career, like when ZZ Top re-recorded parts of their classic albums for CD release. And fans will argue which era of the band’s career is best. Some of us love drum machines and synths and others don’t, but we all love Billy.
This episode is sponsored by Magnatone
Originally released in the 1980s, the Victory has long been a cult favorite among guitarists for its distinctive double cutaway design and excellent upper-fret access. These new models feature flexible electronics, enhanced body contours, improved weight and balance, and an Explorer headstock shape.
A Cult Classic Made Modern
The new Victory features refined body contours, improved weight and balance, and an updated headstock shape based on the popular Gibson Explorer.
Effortless Playing
With a fast-playing SlimTaper neck profile and ebony fretboard with a compound radius, the Victory delivers low action without fret buzz everywhere on the fretboard.
Flexible Electronics
The two 80s Tribute humbucker pickups are wired to push/pull master volume and tone controls for coil splitting and inner/outer coil selection when the coils are split.
For more information, please visit gibson.com.
Gibson Victory Figured Top Electric Guitar - Iguana Burst
Released in 1983, the Roland SDE-3000 rackmount delay was a staple for pro players of the era and remains revered for its rich analog/digital hybrid sound and distinctive modulation. BOSS reimagined this retro classic in 2023 with the acclaimed SDE-3000D and SDE-3000EVH, two wide-format pedals with stereo sound, advanced features, and expanded connectivity. The SDE-3 brings the authentic SDE-3000 vibe to a streamlined BOSS compact, enhanced with innovative creative tools for every musical style. The SDE-3 delivers evocative delay sounds that drip with warmth and musicality. The efficient panel provides the primary controls of its vintage benchmark—including delay time, feedback, and independent rate and depth knobs for the modulation—plus additional knobs for expanded sonic potential.
A wide range of tones are available, from basic mono delays and ’80s-style mod/delay combos to moody textures for ambient, chill, and lo-fi music. Along with reproducing the SDE-3000's original mono sound, the SDE-3 includes a powerful Offset knob to create interesting tones with two simultaneous delays. With one simple control, the user can instantly add a second delay to the primary delay. This provides a wealth of mono and stereo colors not available with other delay pedals, including unique doubled sounds and timed dual delays with tap tempo control. The versatile SDE-3 provides output configurations to suit any stage or studio scenario.
Two stereo modes include discrete left/right delays and a panning option for ultra-wide sounds that move across the stereo field. Dry and effect-only signals can be sent to two amps for wet/dry setups, and the direct sound can be muted for studio mixing and parallel effect rigs. The SDE-3 offers numerous control options to enhance live and studio performances. Tap tempo mode is available with a press and hold of the pedal switch, while the TRS MIDI input can be used to sync the delay time with clock signals from DAWs, pedals, and drum machines. Optional external footswitches provide on-demand access to tap tempo and a hold function for on-the-fly looping. Alternately, an expression pedal can be used to control the Level, Feedback, and Time knobs for delay mix adjustment, wild pitch effects, and dramatic self-oscillation.
The new BOSS SDE-3 Dual Delay Pedal will be available for purchase at authorized U.S. BOSS retailers in October for $219.99. To learn more, visit www.boss.info.