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Rig Rundown: Judas Priest

Rig Rundown - Judas Priest

Watch the pioneering British heavy metal band share the stories and secrets behind the gear that’s banged heads for 50 years and sold over 50 million records.


As Ian Hill’s tech Stig says, “Real British metal uses glowing tubes and big transformers.” That being the case, Hill runs a SWR SM-1500 amplifier with two SM-900 heads as backups. The amp feeds two SWR Triad cabinets with a third as a spare. A post-EQ DI is taken out the back of the amp.


Introducing the Future Impact V4 - VIP, the latest evolution in Panda Audio's renowned synthesizer pedals. Designed in response to popular demand, the VIP model is significantly smaller while retaining all the powerful features of the Future Impact V4. With its pedalboard-friendly dimensions of 5”x3.25”x2.5” and weighing less than 12 oz, the VIP seamlessly integrates into any setup.
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Berserker Electronics, creators of the cult-favorite Prehistoric Dog preamp pedal, has announced the release of their latest sonic innovation: the Aquanaut Delay / Echo pedal.
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Though Lou Reed seemed to only use a handful of chords, his shrewd right-hand strumming created limitless rhythmic variations.

Beginner to Intermediate

Beginner to Intermediate

  • Focus on syncopation.
  • Add muted strums to enhance your rhythm playing.
  • Learn how to modify complex rhythmic patterns into smaller, more comprehensible figures.

Though usually more lauded for his lyrics than his guitar playing, Lou Reed had a distinctive style of strumming that can make replication a challenge and seemingly impossible for beginners to comprehend. With a combination of syncopations and muted strums, Reed’s rhythm guitar—from his time with the Velvet Underground to his solo career—has a groove and feel that all guitar players can learn from.

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Montana’s own Evel Knievel

If artists aren’t allowed to take risks, and even fail, great art will never be made. Need proof? Check Picasso, Hendrix, Monk, and Led Zeppelin.

In sixth grade, I went to a strict Catholic school. When you have an Italian-Irish mother, that’s just part of the deal. The nuns had the look and temperament of the defensive line of the ’70s Oakland Raiders. Corporal punishment was harsh, swift, and plentiful–particularly toward boys—and we all feared them. All but one second grader. I can’t remember his first name; nobody used it, because his last name was Knievel. His uncle was Evel Knievel, the greatest and perhaps only celebrity ever to come from my home state, Montana. On the playground, we would watch in awe as this wild Knievel kid raced by us, nuns chasing in an awkward, sluggish pursuit as he knocked kids over, dust, books, and gravel flying behind his path of terror. This kid was fearless. It was truly inspiring to watch.

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