july 2019

Kick your signal up with a 27 dB citrus splash.

   
 

Ratings

Pros:
Adds girth to single-coils. Makes thin fuzz sound extra massive. Inexpensive.

Cons:
Might be too hi-fi and have too much headroom for some players.

Street:
$60

RPS Vitamin C Boost
rpseffects.com



Tones:


Ease of Use:


Build/Design:


Value:
 
Read MoreShow less
Last Call: Space Is Music, Too
Blame it on Bonham, at left. Before Led Zeppelin (posing in this early Atlantic Records promo shot), drummers rarely, if ever, hit their kits as hard as they could.

Think about playing guitar as a communication device in a larger conversation.

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply." —Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

If I'm not gigging, I'm walking around my house wondering what the hell I'm doing with my life, so I try to stay booked to avoid any existential dilemmas. That being the case, if anybody reading this calls, texts, or emails me saying, “You don't know me, but can you be onstage in an hour for a gig?" … I will probably do it if I'm available, it sounds like fun, and I will make some money. There's no hall too small, no bar too far. On any given week, I've played with as many as six different bands in clubs, sessions, and/or tour dates. I keep an amp in my car all the times in case I get a last-minute sub date.

Read MoreShow less

A mellow but vivacious alnico-based blaster.

 
Recorded using a Gibson Les Paul Traditional with 57 Classics plugged into a Goodsellf Valpreaux 21 miked with a Royer R-121 feeding an Apogee Duet going into GarageBand with no EQ-ing, compression, or effects.
Clip 1: Barre-chord rhythm in bridge position, then middle, then neck, followed by bluesy riff in same positions, followed by lead licks high on neck in same pickup order, then random improvisation in various positions.
 

Ratings

Pros:
Wonderful in-between sounds for fans of Celestion’s alnico favorites. Remains pleasing to the ear when driven hard. Beautiful aesthetics.

Cons:
Pricey.

Street:
$289

Celestion Ruby
celestion.com


Tones:


Build/Design:


Value:
 
Read MoreShow less