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Today we discuss...

What happens when the most important member of your band passes away tragically? What do you do? Is it a good idea to continue with the original band name?

Today we talk about the controversy surrounding Linkin park, what the band got wrong, and how other bands replaced a key member in a more...graceful fashion.

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Today we discuss:

1. England has political changes! Big ones!
2. KDH drops the big Gibson Bomb. Kelan hit us up!
3. Queens of The Stone Age cancel their tour, due to Josh Homme needing emergency surgery. Get well soon, Josh!
4. Speaking of QOTSA... why don't we love the new album?
5. The Gibson and Dean drama continues, with Dean possibly coming out on top.
6. Fender knows how to market to the new generation of guitar players, just like Ibanez.
7. THE GIBSON CD PLAYER!
8. Fender Player II Series is amazing, and it the price is right for these MIM guitars.
9. Why is the world weirder now?

Main Episode Topic: Rick Beato Versus Anthony Fantano.
Rick released a controversial video last week, and people went NUTS over the content. Almost everyone has made a comment about what Rick said, but Anthony Fantano had some fair replies in his video combating Rick's views. So who is right? 

What do you think, listeners? Do you think Beato is right, or Fantano? Maybe you are somewhere in between like us? Comment and let us know!

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SPECIAL EPISODE!

Today we discuss:

• Pedestrian weather? But for real...this heat wave is insane.
• Ice core samples? I swear we talk about guitars.
• Richard did not know that Queen did the Highlander soundtrack.

Who inspired you to pick up the guitar for the first time? It may seem like a simple answer, but if you really think about it...your influences on guitar may run deeper than you think.

Every generation has a different answer. You may prefer guitarists from the 70s or 80s if you are older. Every generation has a new guitar hero.

But what matters to you? Does virtuosity and technical guitar inspire you? People like Steve Vai or the guys in Polyphia seem to be obvious answers for a lot of guitarists.

 But rhythm and soul go a long way as well. People like Josh Homme and Jack White are great guitar influences as well.

Who is your favorite guitarist, and who inspired you to pick up the guitar and start playing? It may seem like an obvious answer, deceptively so!

* Episode features the debut of Richard's Broken Smoke Alarm.

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The Electrikjam Guitar Nerds Discuss:

• Country Chicken Pickin' is a complicated guitar technique!
• Mastodon/Brent Hinds uses a lot of Country and Blues in a Metal context, and the quality makes the band so unique.
• Check out West End Motel! It is an amazing palate cleanser for guitarists.
• New Country Music SUCKS and I am tired of pretending that it doesn't. Country music used to be a way to rebel against "the man". How did it devolve into Florida Georgia Line?
• I sent Richard some Rap-Country, he was offended.
• NAMM NEXT is the new summer event and is not a trade show anymore. NAMM is now just a winter event if you want to see actual guitars. We have a hunch as to why...
• We know how to fix NAMM.
• 20 Tons of Metal is a non-stop concert on a cruise ship?
• Christopher talks about The Florida Music Festival in the mid-2000s...
• Richard talks about AI... AGAIN 
• Christopher does Donald Trump.

Main Topic: Reverb Scams are BACK!

KDH has pointed out how Reverb scams are back in his recent video. We did some digging, and it is worse than you think. It is so easy to fall for these, so follow our advice before buying from Reverb! We go over how to purchase guitar gear safely.

Would you like to have a guitar community totally different than any other social platform? Send us an email at [email protected] and let us know what features you would like!

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NEWS:

• Katana Gen 3 Review is coming from Electrikjam, but we are taking our time with this amp. Should you go out and buy this amp? Well...
• Baking Terms work well when describing guitar tones?
• We both have broken brains for some reason.
• Cell Phone release dates are wild, man. 
• Technology is always a couple of years ahead of what we see, which also applies to guitars and amp tech
• BOSS is one of the most thoughtful amplifier companies, at least when it comes to updates.
• Marshall Amps has a new CEO, and he might be the end of the company. Will Marshall get into modeling and multi-fx? If they do, what will happen? Christopher knows, and it is not positive.
• "Lifestyle Brands" are killing good industries in the music world.
• The Harley Benton ST Modern is an amazing guitar and can rival the bigger brands. This guitar can do EVERYTHING.
• Jazzmaster-shaped guitars are awesome, and we owe a lot to that design, especially when it comes to Shoegaze.
• Richard and Christopher are both ambidextrous?
• Smashing Pumpkins are a great band...but only for a few albums. The band also recently auditioned 15 THOUSAND guitar players.

MAIN TOPIC: Spotify Is Destroying Artists

"Music is basically free to make, why pay the artists?"

Spotify is something we all look at as a very convenient app, allowing users to play any artists they want. But now that the company is huge, with tons of money...why are the artists not seeing any of that profit? How did Spotify get to this point?

We have a solution to the artists' issues with Spotify, but we need Taylor Swift to help us out. Taylor, if you are listening...we have a proposition!

Richard knows how to "hold it". Tune in next week!

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This week we talk about:

• Richard and Christopher both have the sniffles.
• Children are germ farms.
• The new BOSS Katana Gen 3 has dropped, but how good is it compared to older generations? Should guitarists who already own a Katana switch to the Gen 3?
• The Boss Katana Cult? What is the difference between the BOSS katana models?
• Do the new Katana amplifiers support Sneaky Amps?
• Line 6 Catalyst CX: It is still unlike the Katana in every way.
• The new Pallbearer album is different but amazing.
• Is Google a sinister entity?

Main Topic: Is AI A Threat To Music?
It seems like AI is everywhere, and people have started to rely on it. While AI can be an amazing tool for production and menial tasks, it is NOT creative. But we have a sneaky suspicion about modern rock producers, and Rick Beato has even pointed it out in his videos. 

But AI does not have the ability to be relatable, or creative. In fact, AI might be plagiarizing some content creators. How is this legal, and better yet...how long until AI goes away?

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Today We Discuss:

• Christopher & Richard talk about the weather for some reason.
• The new TONEX One is an amazing piece of gear for amplifier purists.
• Adam Jones using a stereo setup live? Is that one of his secrets? 
• Richard made Adam Jones from TOOL mess up on stage.
• What is up with bathroom urinals at concerts and venues? Do you talk to people in the bathroom? Are you "that" guy?

Main Topic This Week: Who Are the Best Music Producers in Rock & Metal?

Rock and Metal production has definitely changed over the years, but how did we get where we are now? Christopher seems to think that modern production techniques really kicked off during the 70's with Boston's famous self-titled album. Join us for a dive into music history.

From the Beatles to Wil Putney in modern times, producers make the "sound" of an album. Who are YOUR favorite producers? Leave a comment below or email us for a shout-out on air!

If you are into recording yourself, check out our Mastering 101 Course! We explain how to get the best sound from your home studio without buying expensive plugins.

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Today we discuss:

1. Where have Coal Chamber been?!?! New Schecter Coal Chamber models just dropped, and they are super cool.
2. Josh Fesse has been on EVERY album ever? Josh talked to Rick Beato about how he has replaced drummers in every genre over the years. He doesn't even know how many albums he has been on.
3. Christopher worked on Christian Music?
4.  Check out our review of the Melvins Tarantula Heart Album! We talk about how the boys recorded this album, and it was a weird process.
5. Richard still retains a vendetta against Metallica.
6. Christopher is a huge 311 fan?

Main Topic: Are Real Amps Dying Off?
Christopher is a big fan of "Rig Rundown" and he is often disappointed when the bands are using digital rigs. Digital rigs like The Helix or AxeFX offer a lot of convenience, as well as consistency and longevity. But amps have a "sound" that is so far not possible to reproduce, especially in the studio.

What do you think?

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Happy Birthday, Richard!
Today we have a special episode, where we talk about our favorite movie and video game soundtracks. We have a special guest today, Fran Mummert. She is Electrikjam's Pro photographer as well as a freelance artist.

Christopher, Fran, and Richard all have a different view on what makes a soundtrack great, and today we go over the greats. From Hans Zimmer, to Mick Gordon!

We discuss how a good soundtrack can elevate a good movie, whereas a bad soundtrack can bring down a decent film. But where does that magic come from?

Why doesn't pop music work in modern productions? Does "new" music or TikTok trends work in a soundtrack context?

What are some soundtracks that changed your life?

Would you want to hear another episode on Mandela Effects in music? Let us know!

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Today we discuss:

• Not much guitar news since Summer NAMM is right around the corner.
• Schecter re-releases the Black Ops line with an amazing single humbucker PT model. It comes in 6, 7, and 8 string variants. 
• Richard loves Telecasters!
• Boards of Canada is a pretty cool band, and we revisit them.
• Old-school analog recording equipment is back in style! Lots of producers have started trying to emulate tape, and it is pretty cool!
• Recording a band actually playing live, not snapped to the grid, is an experience these days. The BPM changes, and humanity is something unrivaled even today.

Main Topic:
Is using backing tracks live ok? How far should that go? Today we take a look at some bands that tastefully use backing tracks But there are also some serious offenders, and some bands are even miming on stage. But which bands are not actually performing their music?

Link to Fin from WINGS OF PEGASUS who helped out our episode today. Thank you, Fin!  His video explaining the topic is HERE. Give his video a like, and check out his other "detective" videos.

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