Tone Tips
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In our monthly Tone Tips blog, L.A.-based guitarist Peter Thorn shares his wealth of real-world knowledge by offering up useful gear and tone advice for both aspiring road dogs and studio cats.
ARTICLES
The Most Powerful Pedal?
May 25, 2020
It’s underappreciated and not as sexy as an overdrive or fuzz, but an EQ on your pedalboard can open myriad tonal doors.
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What Do James Hetfield and Waddy Wachtel Have in Common?
April 14, 2020
If you’re looking to step up your all-important groove-and-time game, start with some strategic rhythm development.
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Does String Gauge Really Matter? Of Course, But...
March 10, 2020
...There's a lot more to it than whether Billy Gibbons or SRV was "right."
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How to Stay Happy and Healthy on the Road
February 13, 2020
Sideman to the stars Pete Thorn shares his regimen for avoiding the pitfalls of touring.
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It’s Art, Dude, Not Sports
January 1, 2020
Pete Thorn on that time when the need for a raw, emotional connection kicked vapid, self-indulgent music to the curb.
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Tone Tips: Stuck in a Rut?
December 11, 2019
If your playing is feeling stagnant, there are cures for that.
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Tone Tips: How to Learn Songs Smart and Fast
November 21, 2019
If you’re heading into some intense woodshedding, why not make it easier?
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Tone Tips: Don’t Lose the Spark
October 21, 2019
Inspired while on the road? These devices can help.
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Tone Tips: Masters of Many
September 23, 2019
Keep pedalboards light and tight, with a jack-of-all-trades pedal.
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Tone Tips: Different Picks for Different Licks
August 16, 2019
Switching picks is the fastest and easiest way to switch up your tone and attack.
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Tone Tips: Planning Your Route
July 9, 2019
Parallel versus series routing, and how your choice impacts your effects palette.
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Tone Tips: Perhaps the Most Underrated Effect Pedal?
June 12, 2019
They’re typically simple affairs, but oh what a difference treble boosters can make.
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Tone Tips: Switch On, Tap Off
May 20, 2019
Just say no to expressive tap dancing—at least on or around your pedalboard.
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Tone Tips: Know Your Rig, Inside and Out
April 22, 2019
If you lost your signal during a gig, would you panic and freeze or find and fix the issue with ninja-like precision?
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Tone Tips: Make Your Creative Space Rock
March 24, 2019
Easy steps and tips to help open your creative floodgate in a home-studio setting—and keep it open.
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Tone Tips: Keep It Quiet, Part 2
February 15, 2019
Solid advice to search and destroy those unwanted noises coming from amps, pedalboards, and wireless units.
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Tone Tips: Keep It Quiet
January 14, 2019
Looking for and alleviating the sounds you don’t want coming from your rig.
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Tone Tips: Attitude Equals Impact
December 12, 2018
Phil X talks about the approach, technique, and attitude needed for standing out and getting the gig.
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Tone Tips: The Powerhouse Pedalboard
November 13, 2018
Our resident tone guru offers sound hardware solutions for your pedalboard, with versatility and ease front of mind.
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Tone Tips: Tweak Talk
October 14, 2018
Installing new pickups is, of course, a valid option if you’re not satisfied with a guitar’s tone, but tweaking elsewhere could get you where you want to be and save dollars.
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