pro-advice

What if you could have the best of both—or multiple—worlds? Our columnist investigates.

This column is a fun and educational thought experiment: What if I took inspiration from the well-known Fender amps out there, combined the best from them, and applied a few of my own twists? After all, this is how amps developed. I read somewhere that “Fender made the first Marshall, and Marshall made the first reissue Fender.” It's funny, because it's true: The Marshall JTM45 was based on the narrow-panel tweed Fender Bassman 5F6-A.

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Be sure to locate your sample library where it can be quickly referenced on your DAW.

Improve your recordings using your own samples. Bryan Clark, house producer at Nashville’s Blackbird Studio, tells you how to take the final steps in building your own sample library.

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The author circa 1980 with his first guitar, an Epiphone Genesis.

Our Last Call columnist reflects on a big birthday with some thoughts about living one’s best life.

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” —Allen Saunders (via John Lennon’s “Beautiful Boy”)

By the time this is published, I will be 60 years of age. I’ve been writing this bit of infotainment for nearly 18 years, so it feels like I should have some life lessons to share. Let me preface it by reminding you I’m not particularly wise, nor have I accomplished much. But I have been gigging for 44 years, and I’m still standing, so here are a few tips that might help fellow musicians on the long journey.

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