The Trashy Blonde’s controls may seem unfamiliar at first, thought they’re simple once you get the hang of them. There’s a knob for dialing in frequencies between 20 Hz and 6 kHz, representing the full range of most electric guitars and basses and then some. Meanwhile, a 5-way rotary switch sets the bandwidth. (The narrower the setting, the more intense and focused the result.) The Cut/Boost knob adjusts frequencies by a whooping ±20dB. And the trash control sets the intensity of the pedal’s British-flavored distortion.
There are additional wrinkles: You can bypass the pedal’s overdrive circuit via footswitching, applying EQ to your clean tones. Also, you can connect Stone Deaf’s optional expression pedal for real-time frequency changes—and some seriously wacky-sounding phasing and wah effects. There’s a mix knob to blend the relative amounts of dry and effected signal, because why shouldn’t bassists also be able to get in on the fun? (Guitarists may also find this option useful.)
All That Glitters
Even with the overdrive bypassed, the Trashy Blonde is useful for shaping clean tones. With my trusty Fender Telecaster and Twin Reverb, the Blonde pinpointed frequencies with surgical precision and remained remarkably transparent. It’s easy to mimic a two-amp setup by dialing in a 4 dB upper-mid boost via the bandwidth and freq controls. The contrasting tones were similar to running an old, clean plexi in tandem with the Fender, adding depth to the Twin’s already beautiful tone.
The frequency and bandwidth controls can also mimic different pickups. Playing a Les Paul Custom, I dialed out some low frequencies with a thin bandwidth setting, yielding convincing Strat-like tones for funky rhythm work. Conversely, I made my Telecaster’s bridge pickup mimic a humbucker by setting the freq control to around 10:30 and boosting by five or ten decibels.
Ratings
Pros:
Buttery British overdrive. Precision processing for clean and overdriven tones. Solid construction. Cool phasing and wah effects with optional expression pedal.
Cons:
Care required when applying bandwidth and frequency adjustments.
Tones:
Ease of Use:
Build/Design:
Value:
Street:
$299 (Trashy Blonde), $159 (EP-1 Expression Pedal)
Stone Deaf FX Trashy Blonde
stonedeaffx.com
Total Trash
Kicking in the distortion mode—colorfully dubbed “Trash”—introduces velvety-rich overdrive that draws inspiration the late ’60s Marshall Super Lead. The Trashy Blonde does a superb job imitating the original’s famous roar, and also responds beautifully to volume knob and pickup selector changes. I was stunned by how naturally the overdrive cleaned up when I rolled down the volumes on my ’78 Greco EG-700. It didn’t just lower the drive—it also removed edginess without thinning the tone.
If you’re into all things high-gain, Trash mode won’t make you ditch your Dual Rectifier. Maxing the gain brings you to about late ’70s Angus Young territory—a tone the pedal does exceptionally well when coupled with low-output humbuckers. It’s easy to get nice, woody British overdrive, though it’s equally easy to unleash truly nasty tones if you’re not careful. I tended to keep the bandwidth control at 6 o’clock or higher in this mode to avoid excessively reedy and nasal-sounding tones, though those tones may be exactly right for adding a lo-fi edge or mimicking the sound of plugging directly into a mixing console, à la the Beatles’ “Revolution.”
Speaking of unique tones, I recommend that anybody considering the Trashy Blonde try it with Stone Deaf’s optional EP-1, one of the most rugged expression pedal’s I’ve seen. Simply plug into the expression pedal jack and set the controllers freq knob to the desired range. I had a blast getting everything from synth-like wah to manually controlled phasing. The Trashy Blonde instantly banished two other pedals from my board.
The Verdict
The Trashy Blonde is almost worth its price for its powerful and flexible EQ section alone. Pairing the EQ with buttery British-flavored overdrive makes the Trashy Blonde feel like more than just a pedal: It’s a dual-channel tone processor. Some might find the three-bills price is a bit hefty, but the Trashy Blonde’s great tone and infinitely useful EQ make a convincing counter-argument.
White Lightning
The Legacy concept originated with a 100-watt bass amp custom-ordered from Risen by a blues guitarist. Risen electronics guru Drew Tooley tweaked the circuit to better handle a guitar’s frequency range, added a second channel, and halved the wattage for softer top-end response.
dig into the strings.
The Legacy is an eye-catching head that oozes vintage vibe. Its ply enclosure, white Tolex covering, black piping, and illuminated logo are flawless. Also, Tooley and business partner Lucas DeShong are committed to using locally sourced materials and labor, and most Legacy parts are built near Risen’s Indiana home base, including the custom hand-wound transformers, faceplates, and chassis.
While the Legacy’s controls resemble those of a Marshall Super Lead or a Vox AC50, Risen says the circuit is an original design. The interior components are beautifully hand-wired on turret board. There are two independent preamp channels, each with its own tubes, controls, and high- and low-gain 1/4" inputs.
The first channel uses a pair of 12AX7s and has a three-band EQ and volume controls. The second channel, fueled by a single EF86 preamp tube, has a volume knob and a single tone control. The 50-watt output section relies on a pair of 6L6GC power tubes and a GZ34 rectifier. The features are strictly traditional—there’s no effects loop, channel switching, or onboard power attenuation, though you can switch channels via an A/B box connected to both inputs.
Ratings
Pros:
Big, bold clean tones. Headroom for days. Rich, articulate overdrive. Superb build quality.
Cons:
Channels not footswitchable. Pedals needed for overdrive at low volume.
Tones:
Ease of Use:
Build/Design:
Value:
Street:
$1,875
Risen Legacy
risenamps.com
Big ’n’ Rich
The Legacy captures the best qualities of coveted non-master volume amps. There’s massive headroom, making this an excellent amp for squeaky-clean country, blues, and rock tones. With a Gibson Les Paul Custom and a Marshall JCM800 4x12, the 12AX7 channel sounds clear and articulate, with a glassy old-school plexi vibe. Clean notes and chords have buttery sustain that becomes seemingly endless at higher volumes. The treble, midrange, and bass controls have fairly wide ranges and greater effect on the tone than the controls on some now-legendary non-master volume amps, such as the Super Lead. The touch responsiveness is off the charts—the amp growls softly or barks with fierce high end depending on how hard you dig into the strings.
The EF86 channel sounds similar to the first, but with rounder body and even more headroom. Much of this is due to the unique design of the EF86 tube. This cool-sounding tube actually has more gain than a 12AX7, but in the right preamp circuit it can remain clean even with strong input signals. As a result, this channel’s bold, brash tones hit you in the chest harder and faster, and with a decidedly British upper-midrange presence. The tone pot acts as a combined high-/low-pass filter, providing an enormous range of colors despite being the sole tone control. The channel also takes pedals (especially overdrives and fuzzes) extraordinarily well, letting them expand and breathe without noticeable coloration or congestion at gig-level volumes.
The amp’s stellar overdrive tones blend a Marshall plexi’s midrange roar with the warm, supple lows of a Fender Bassman pushed to the brink. They’re also extremely touch-responsive—you can go from ripping Powerage-era Angus Young crunch to slightly gritty tones perfect for blues leads and broken chords. The overdrive tones come at a price, though: You must crank the amp’s volume to push the output section into overdrive, and the Legacy is really loud at volume settings above 11 o’clock. Remember, amps of this ilk were originally designed to not distort, which let them produce wide-open clean tones with fast attack and plenty of volume. You might want to invest in an attenuator if you want to enjoy the Legacy’s overdriven tones without pissing off your neighbors.
The Verdict
There’s nothing quite like the response, feel, and sheer muscular power of a healthy non-master volume tube amp, and the Legacy earns top marks in all three categories. It offers a wealth of outstanding clean and overdriven tones, and has an exceptional ability to handle stompboxes without muddying up. Players demanding modern features such as master volumes, channel-switching, and effects loops can probably find more appropriate amps within the Legacy’s price range. But for those of us who can’t resist the thrill of pure high-voltage rock ’n’ roll, the Legacy is downright killer.
Watch the Review Demo:
TKL
4730 Black Belt Deluxe
This gigbag is suitable for most common electric guitar models, especially Strat-, Tele-, and PRS-style guitars. Features include a durable and water-resistant nylon exterior, 12 mm foam padding, Comfort-Grip handle, accessory pockets, and backpack-style shoulder straps.
Street: $41.99
tkl.com
SKB
1SKB-GB66
Constructed of durable ballistic nylon with heavy-duty dual zippers and SKB pull tabs, this gigbag fits most standard solidbody electric guitars. It includes a three-tiered front-side accessory pouch, plus a smaller compartment in the soft, nylon-padded interior.
Street: $39.99
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DIAMOND TACTICAL
TACC-1 Single Electric
Inspired by the designs employed by elite military forces, these gigbags are both rugged and functional. An integrated webbing system lets players customize their cases with a wide range of modular accessory pouches.
Street: $99.99 (base model)
diamondtactical.net
GATOR CASES
ProGo G-PG Electric
This deluxe gigbag boasts a durable nylon exterior, ultra-thick padded sidewalls, and an interior lined with micro-fleece. An adjustable foam cradle secures the neck, while a foam block protects the guitar’s bottom.
Street: $149.99
gatorcases.net
MONO
Guitar Sleeve™
A minimalist solution for traveling light, MONO’s new Sleeve™ collection merges innovative protection with high-quality construction in a slim, stylish, and budget-conscious design.
Street: $149.99
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REUNION BLUES
RBX-2E
Reunion Blues has added double gigbag models to their RBX line. The RBX-2E boasts a sleek and lightweight design, quilted chevron exterior, multi-layer foam surrounds, strategically placed impact panels, dense foam neck cradles, and endpin rests in both compartments.
Street: $189.95
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ULTIMATE SUPPORT
USS1-EG
Ultimate Support Series ONE gigbags balance price and performance. Features include thick foam padding, soft nylex interiors, three external accessories pockets, ergonomic backpack straps, adjustable interior compartments, custom pulls, and padded neck supports.
Street: $79.99
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ACCESS CASES
AB3EGHB Stage Three Hard Bag
Access Stage Three gigbags offer hardshell protection via 1200-denier exteriors, which cloak composite shells formed from layers of high-density foam and polymer panels. The bags boast plush interiors, adjustable neck supports, large zippered pockets, and ergonomically padded shoulder straps.
Street: $149
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GLENN Cronkhite CUSTOM CASES
Leather Gigbag
Working from 300 different patterns, Glenn Cronkhite offers handmade, top-of-the-line gigbags in both leather and nylon cordura, ensuring superior fit and protection for guitars of almost all types and sizes. Shown: Chronkhite’s leather 335-style bag.
Street: $385 (price varies according to pattern, materials, and other options)
glenncronkhite.com
LEVY’S LEATHERS
LM18
This genuine leather electric guitar gigbag comes in a variety of colors. It features 1" foam padding, plush interior lining, and protective leather patches for the headstock and bridge. Also standard are leather handles, double-zipper pulls, heavyweight 2" shoulder straps, and accessory pockets.
MSRP: $486.24
levysleathers.com
FUSION BAGS
Urban Series Electric Guitar
Designed for protection and portability, these lightweight gigbags can be expanded with Fusion’s “Fuse-On” accessory bags. Features include a snug-fit inner collar, 20 mm high-density foam padding, a water-resistant rip-stop exterior, and a heavy-duty rubberized base.
Street: $195 (base model)
fusion-bags.com
