Gearbuds

Here it is friends: The Metallica Episode. Well, sort of. Your bud Hank got to experience a once in a lifetime gig last week, and we spend a bunch of time telling the tales of shredding into your 50s, priceless Les Pauls, and happily waiting in line.

In truth there are two main features in this week’s episode: Metallica at The Metro, and FINALLY detailing Captain Beefheart’s Ten Rules for Guitar as explained by Morris Tepper, something we’ve been teasing for over a year.

Also discussed: Fender’s new MoFI turntable and MIJ signature short(ish) scale Katana Bass, making deals and teasing Dave’s new old bass, Warm Audio sales, following up on Reverb’s My Collection and Preferred Seller program, and Blind Melon and Shannon Hune.

Nothing worse than an ill-fitting suit.

Have you ever thought, “Gee, I really need to ruin my Tele…”? Put an iPad on it! (This will make more sense once you listen to this episode, scout’s honor.)

This week, in our first episode with a live studio audience (sup Cappy), we get into how we listen to and make judgements of gear. Specifically, we talk Josh Homme revealing the tone secrets of crappy amps, and scientists science-ing the hell out of some wood and fungus to make a modern “biotech Stradivarius.”

Also discussed: catching up with old bandmates (hi Mike), a heroic bass player saving lives, Reverb updates, Winter NAMM delays, Dave Mustaine’s butthole, Black MIDI ripping up Sleeping Village, Marshall Amps, Boss’ new IR-200 and SY-200, and Players Grade Vintage.

Drugs are a hell of a drug.

Hope you’re in for some chip talk, and we don’t mean Cool Ranch.

This week our main topic concerns silicon chips - semiconductors, microprocessors, and integrated circuits, their unprecedented shortage in almost every device we use, and (perhaps) the forthcoming analog revolution.

Also discussed: a super neat pair of shows with Bethany Thomas, Tawny Newsome, and Ted Leo, positive gear deals, Trent Reznor blasting through Les Pauls, new Focusrite interfaces, the Moog Model 15 app, an updated Klon KTR, Joy Division, Fender Play partnering with Barbie, and Johnny Marr’s wild 9-pickup Strat.

No chunky flops.

We’ve got ourselves a beefy episode, friends.

This week the boys dive deep into a few main topics: church bands and the truly immense power of the praise & worship gear scene, and the wild west of speculative investing, the practice of buying shares in actual physical guitars with specific examples in the new venture between Rally and Gibson.

Also discussed: Lee “Scratch” Perry, 1960 Gibson Rosie Burst, strap pin tips, Klon on YouTube, Kanye vs. Drake, free BProAudio GSat+ plugin, bass octave pedals, two docs - Some Kind of Monster and Count Me In, Nathaniel Rateliff’s signature Gibson, and updating Bluetooth codecs.

Decaf is the near-beer of coffee.

Have no fear, we’re surrounded by gear.

This week your little drummer birthday boys celebrate the life and legacy of Charlie Watts from the Rolling Stones the only way they know how - by digging into his life, technique, Gretsch drums, and stories behind favorite songs and happenings as the pulse holding together the most important rock and roll band of all time.

Also discussed: Hank’s worst ever gear interaction, Leo Fender’s eyes, Handsome Johnny aka PTD Unlimited (and a John Mulaney story), Yamaha’s brief foray into F1, Stingray’s extremely cool involvement with Kanye’s Donda release, the Nirvana Nevermind baby, Strymon’s new Zelzah phaser, and Beatles Boners.

The pee is in the pool, so to speak.

Friends, it’s a good thing we recorded this on Friday and not Wednesday because we might have burned some bridges… coming in HOT.

What’s got us so riled up? Well, a few things: the power (and danger) of social media, getting doxxed by anti-vax Twitter, EHX trying to harness the magnetosphere, and vacuum tube scarcity. Look, we never said this was going to be cohesive, alright?

Also discussed: Les Paul’s first goldtop, Epiphone’s new USA-made Casino, going direct with an SVT, Hurricane Henri, Steel Panther auditions, Gibson’s incredible ICONS series, 1971 on Apple+, Kauer Guitars’ charity work, Reese’s new AR beat-making cereal boxes RP-FX, and Boutique Guitar Showcase coming back to Chicago Music Exchange.

Let the story tell the story.

What’s in a signature? 

This week your buds ruminate on what it means to have a signature guitar and who deserves one that doesn’t have one. We also spend some time thanking our friends and listeners (keep it coming), ponder the versatility of the Black Beauty, and yes, there’s a bunch of baseball talk too.

Also discussed: Behringer’s new XL interface and returning Oberheim’s name, jamming remotely without lag via the Elk Audio LIVE Bridge, tips when shipping instruments in extreme heat, Dave Mustaine’s new Gibson, The American Music Fairness Act, and Peter (fucking) Frampton.

If the case is cold, the guitar is cold.

Congratulations on surviving another weekend, world. Your reward? Another Monday episode of Gearbuds… what’d you expect?

This week we get into a few main topics; integrating the Nord Drum with Ableton via Ableton Drummer, and the misunderstood standby switch, diving into the switch’s genesis, history, why they were implemented, and why we still use them today.

Also discussed: pedalboards as Kia Stingers, Uncle Hank closing down the studio, Ritchie Blackmore, Kirk Hammett joining Gibson, Lollar changing their pickup names, the irony of The Offspring’s drummer going anti-vax, Charlie Watts, and vinyl warpage.

Now go home and get yer grot box.

Now that it’s over we can finally ask - is Lolla a bad idea?

This week the Gearbuds examine this very thought, the cultural and musical impact of Woodstock ’99, headstock shapes, and many other questions in this potpourri grab bag episode.

Also discussed: rooftop shows, Dusty Hill of ZZ Top, Cornelius fucking up, gross guitar design trends, the Reverb Make an Offer button, Gibson Records, modern vs. vintage instruments, and the mind as a time machine.

Straight ‘roni guards bro.

Another week, another episode of buds being buds.

In any relationship it’s important to keep things spicy, so Hank starts off by surprising Dave with a new (old) guitar, the Japanese lawsuit-era Aria Pro II LS-500 VS from 1977 (really rolls off the tongue). We talk honeymoon periods, rebound guitars, nickel > chrome, and selling to buy.

Also discussed: acquiring a case of raspberries from king shit of the corner bodega, a general aversion to partscasters, Rick Rubin and McCartney 3, 2, 1, Neve consoles, The Descendents, and Clapton being a butthole.

Listen to the new Hembree jam Reach Out.