Gearbuds

CAUTION: episode image may cause spontaneous sexplosion.

This week the buds focus on the new gear and announcements coming out of Summer NAMM 2021, including Third Man Hardware, the rebooted Rhodes, Fender pedals, Gibson signatures, Daredevil Pedals and Chibson Placebo Pedal, Wild Customs and Gyrock signature Billy Gibbons guitar, and the Boss Eurus synth guitar.

Also discussed: Swedish soundproofing technology Sound Screw, Stomplight, coming clean on a questionable deal, the Aussie underwear shredder, Gene Simmons bass face, This Is Pop, 1971, and the KVR Audio plugin developer challenge.

Pink Paisley slaps.

Gather ‘round, ye music lovers, for this episode is a true headbanger.

This week your Gearbuds explore the ethics of gearflipping with some recent examples: Julien’s auctions, the Squier Paranormal series, the Boss Waza TB-2W Tonebender, the Drolo Stetch Weaver, and Joe Bonamassa selling a (truly wild) NFT.

Also discussed: Earthworks measurement mics, transferring 78 RPM records, Acustica Sienna, inclusive audio language, the audacity of Audacity, Sam Porter’s formerly Ugly Guitar (go see Kali Masi on tour), Rick Laird, and Paul McCartney’s “death” in 1966?

Crank the perfection slider.

Happy day after America day, buddies. This week your favorite deep-fried potato balls decided to celebrate by getting into some controversial gear topics.

What better way to honor America’s birth than diving into the details of when Leon Theremin built a device used to spy on us, or Dave shitting all over St. Louis-style pizza, or Hank bellyaching about selling his Explorer? Or how about the difference between light/heavy guitars, PRS making a signature Jimi Hendrix amplifier 50 years after homeboy died, or Behringer dropping even more clone Moog synthesizers? Hoo baby.

Also discussed: stone Firebirds, Sweetwater’s new gear mecca, The Black Crowes, and making tough Jazzcisions.

Is Fender a dinosaur on the way out? (No.)

Wait, is 2021 really halfway through ? How the…

Speaking of 2021, this week your buds take a deep dive into the murky waters of the gear market. By digging into data trends, instrument life cycles, and anecdotal experience Hank and Dave attempt to play Gearstradamus and suss out what’s happened during the pandemic, where we are now, and what’s going to happen next.

Also discussed: ads that aren’t ads, recovering instruments from a massive guitar heist, updates on Hank’s NBC Today Show embarrassment, trying to get a vocal session done in a day, Pink Floyd financing a tour with a Ferrari, and Silverchair.

Is there a dark web for gear?

If you could talk to yourself from ten years ago, what would you say? And what would ten-years-in-the-future-you tell now-you?

This week your buds get into it with this gearthought experiment as well as Dave triggering Hank with a Goldtop conversion. We dive into the hot new trend of reliced tattoos, Colorware microphone customization, why every piece of gear is black, and even found time for a DODfather update with Kurt Cobain’s Grunge pedal.

Also discussed: the Gamechanger Bigsby pedal made with Fender, virtual reality air guitar game Unplugged, the Scope Labs Periscope microphone with built-in compression, keeping your strings loose when you’re not playing (don’t do this), and WASP.

Darkbacks are real.

Strap in and strap it on buddies, this week we’re getting into The Important Things.

Our (not at all tongue-in-cheek) discussion centers on elemental knowledge and questioning things we take for granted… starting with straps, which leads into an even more hard-hitting, important topic: the ethics and morals of sharing instruments. Do you let other folks play your gear?

Also discussed: the EV RE-20 from a famous radio station, Cre8audio jams, Spotify Hi-Fi, Formula 1 crossover interests with David Bowie and Jerrell Guitars, Pino Palladino appreciation, staticky Jazzmasters, upgrading a vintage 335, finding stuff in gig bags, and Van Halen.

Dave is the dryer sheet king.

Can you believe we’re back in person… with a guest?! We can’t. Not only are we honored to have Ruby Rose Fox join us live, but we do so for the first time at our very own Gearbuds HQ studio!

Ruby generously walks us through her formative early singing and instrument experiences on the East Coast, joining a ska band and touring as a high schooler, and tracing her path through acting and theater while finding her way back to music. We talk Mellotrons, Telecasters, tube mics, curating a show with the Boston Museum of Science (featuring Andy Schauf and Sondre Lerche), and what it takes to pull off the combination of Elvis plus Sonic the Hedgehog. Plus, stick around to the end for possibly the most awkward question Hank has ever asked a guest.

Also discussed: Gibson Garage, Ableton Loop, Strymon Conduit, Scale the Summit’s LED fretboard, Roy Orbison, skydiving, and attending a New Jersey wedding with Dancing Randy from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

Holy Banoly.

We’re back, we’re vaxxed, and we’re ready to thrash.

We find ourselves in a monumental week, buddies; this is the first episode Hank and Dave were able to record in person since March 2020. To mark this milestone the dudes hug a bunch and then dive into important questions - do you name your instruments? What’s happening with our lil ole pod? How many guitars can Hank buy? Have you ever been Gearsplained?

More specifically the dudes spend a bunch of time talking about making Jazzmaster deals (via the kind and talented Mat Barber Kennedy), and by popular demand, diving into the confusing world of Eurorack with Cre8audio.

Also discussed: finding Hendrix’s Les Paul in Chicago, the Gibson Garage, tracking the age of guitar strings, vintage-style Fender neck adjustment tips, Mono bags, The Good Rats, DODfather run-ins with Daredevil Pedals, live streams post lockdown, and plant buds.

Bang your quantum drums.

Hej hej! This week your buds have a lovely virtual sit down with CEO of Carl Martin Effects, Søren Jongberg.

Søren takes us through his early days growing up in Denmark, “upgrading” a banjo into a snare drum, and eventually starting East Sound Research by building PAs, moving into a proper recording studio, and designing bass amplifiers.

We dig into the evolution of Carl Martin as a brand, the joy of playing with sound, aiming for three dimensionality in tone, treating pedals as outboard, the first Carl Martin effect the Hot Drive ’n Boost, and more recent successes like the PlexiRanger and the Octaswitch series. Stick around to the end to hear about the next big release from CM, the Ampster.

Also discussed: Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac, embarrassing gear, free plugins from Native Instruments and Izotope, Apple lossless audio, and the Smoothhound Innovations SIVA.

Don’t join the chorus of negative internet buttholes.

You might be asking yourself, “How do they keep cooking up these tasty treats?” and friend we ask ourselves that question a lot around here; this week’s main course is none other than musician Ryan Joseph Anderson.

The songwriting singer and ripping guitarist takes us back and forth from his musical household, trying to write songs before knowing chords, loving on the versatility of the Gibson 335, his work with Go Long Mule, following the vibes to Nashville and Chicago, and his upcoming free gig at Fitzgerald’s May 22nd. Ryan and Hank also reminisce on playing dual lead guitar together in Tom Schraeder’s band, the importance of practice, and intentionality in songwriting. Heady nugs.

Also discussed: Hercules podcasting stands, Foo Fighters’ Rock Hall induction, shows coming back, new iLoks, stinker Scorpions Dave’s Docs, Warren Ellis, and the Townsend Labs modeling microphone.

How many cats has Joe Bonamassa sacrificed?