Gearbuds

Meatball season is back; the Bears lost, screw the Packers, that is all we have to say about that.

ANYWHO, this is a bit of a special week as your buddy Hank went to Panama for some R&R. Not only that, Dave and his band Hot Bloods did some tracking at our very favorite Shirk Studios. As such we get into creativity talks, as well as exploring the joy and gift of tracking in a world class studio with a favorite old Vibrolux, Waterslide Guitars, and a Sphere console.

Also discussed: Universal Audio software updates, Alain Johannes, Korg drumlogue, Orange Retro Series pedals, Fender Tonemaster Series updates, and the new Ikea Kallax DJ shelf.

Oy it’s a pedal mate.

It’s starting to feel like fall in the States, so what better time to hunker down and dig into your pile of projects?

This week your buds do just that by getting Hank’s EB2 up to the Gearbuds Code of Bassboi Standards, featuring a deep dive into the dirty world of mudbuckers.

Also discussed: different types of cutaways, the first Boss pedal for sale, the Revv D20, sticker realizations, Fender Aerodyne and Scandal/Strummer signatures, Aces from Daredevil Pedals, bass condoms,  the truly ground-breaking EHX Big Muff Pi Hardware Plugin pedal, and the truly epic Taylor Hawkins tribute concert.

How do you put a price tag on love?

Happy Labor Day - if you’re in the US go hug a union member. Also - Happy Hank Got a Vintage Shortscale Day!

Your buds push through some Hank pain to talk a bunch about his birthday present, a 1968 Gibson EB-2 bass in Cherry finish with hilarious added EMG pickup. Shorty!

Also discussed: AC15 updates, Marshall Amp anniversary, Chicago Music Exchange hangs, Fulltone shutdown and OCDs going wild, stolen George Harrison Les Pauls, Mark Morton making the leap to Gibson, FN Meka and AI art, Janet Jackson crashing Windows, The Cars and Elliot Easton, and the potential pedal of the year from MXR and Analogman - the Duke of Tone.

Localize it, as they say.

For those following along - Dave needed an amp to match his beautiful vintage Lester, and we landed on a used Vox AC15.

Is it too much amp for the living room? You bet! Does it look and sound dope? SURE DOES.

Also discussed: getting angry about Les Paul darkbacks, Hot Bloods playing gigs, Fulltone closing down, Pigtronix Star Eater fuzz, Kemper opening a showroom in Chicago, Gibson teaming up with Billy Reid for some new clothing, Brian Wilson, Fender making the Jerry Garcia Alligator Strat, Chicago Music Exchange and their sexy/exclusive Squier Classic Vibes, Nektar WIDIFLEX, and the Nu-X Mighty Plug Pro.

A little weiner action going on.

Summer’s winding down here in the States but the gear deals are just starting to heat up!

This week was a bit of a grab bag of gear (yes we talk some more about Dave’s Les Paul) so why not settle in with your neighborhood friendly Gearbuds and learn a thing or two?

Also discussed: Dave’s AC15, the Headache Nine of Swords, Black Bobbin Boost, EHX J. Mascis Big Muff, Acorn Amps Bweep Mini Fuzz, Neural DSP Rabea plugin, Nathaniel Murphy at Martyr’s, mystery Gibson body shape, Busch Light DIY guitars, Fender Personality Cards, houses shaped like guitars, Bass Player ending its print magazine, Taylor Hawkins tribute show, and John Fogerty being a dick.

They all just sorta look like a PRS.

If you missed last week’s IG and FB post; Hank messed up(!), so this week the buds are running down the content we missed out on last week.

That includes: another update in Dave’s slow burn love affair with his new old Les Paul, hanging out with former Fender Master Builder Carlos and Stephanie Lopez from Castedosa Guitars, and catching up on some new pedals we bought including a Muff from Chicago Stompworks and Harmonic Percolator from Catalinbread, specifically comparing the silicon vs. germanium Karma Suture.

Also discussed: listener questions and feedback, Casio PG-380 synth guitar, Reverb updates, Gift of Music and Boutique Guitar Showcase with Chicago Music Exchange, Fender layoffs, Sweetwater Gear Exchange, Shania Twain, Elvis, Tune Voodoo and String Butler string guides, the new Mira compressor from Walrus Audio, Ashdown collaborating with Two Notes, the Orange O-Bass update, and the Pigtronix Gloamer.

Tooth pain sucks, as do NFTs.

This is one of the most exciting episodes we’ve ever put out; BIG SURPRISES INSIDE.

Dave got his dream guitar, a birth-year Les Paul Standard, and Hank and his wife Mandy were able to surprise him with it on the mics!

Also discussed: Death By Audio Space Bender, Fender Custom Shop Minions stuff, Epiphone Power Players, Origin Effects Halcyon, Lollapalooza 2022 with Metallica, Blake Mills & Pino Palladino live, “great for slide” guitars, Julian Lage Tele travel tips, Steve Morse leaving Deep Purple, ZZ Top touring, and This is Gwar.

“Whose 40th birthday is it?”

Friends - we needed to have a little public therapy sesh. Most of the time on this show we feature all of our good gear tidings, but this week we do need to get into a bit of a drag for Dave.

Could next week bring a change in fortunes? Only one way to find out…

Also discussed: HUGE Dave’s Doc news, Hank at Lolla, Cliff Burton beer, Hank’s Very Good Gear Week (sorry Dave), the Guyatone Flip Valve Bass Driver BB-1, Alvarez Yairi, Jake Shimabukuro, Light-Time Lite-Time wireless expression, J. Rockett Uni-Verb, Universal Audio SP-1 mics, and Steve Vai signature Dimarzio pickups.

“Here’s the thing about the uke, man.”

When you think of the Big Three in guitars, who comes to mind?

This week your buds tackle that question as well as a big beefy BFI, specifically a sad update on Dave’s vintage LG0. Was it an ef off bid? 

Also discussed: new signature Rex Brown Thunderbird in time for a Pantera reunion, Mesa California Tweed, customizing a Coppersound Strategy V2, the Aclam Woman Tone pedal, Fender getting sued across the pond, Randy Bachman Gretsch reunion, Guitar Center origins, misleading headlines, DODfather updates, box talk, and Summer of Love.

Fart in the wind, bro.

Utonepia? Free amp finds in an alley? What is this, some weird dream?

Lots of gear to discuss this week with your buds talking Fender, a signature JoBo JoBaffle, API bass pedals, Way Huge reissues, double ronis, and an exciting entry to futuregear from CloudVocal.

Also discussed: artist amps for sale, free alley Gibbies, Catalinbread Karma Suture love, goofy Bose setup, sublimation, always on pedals, replacement fingers/bone tone, and Mustaine being Mustaine.

He digs the beefers.