The Tone Control

The Tone Control

By The Tone ControlArtsPerforming Arts
Download on the App Store

The Tone Control episodes

  • Ep. 168 - Axel Rhoads is the Nicholas Cage of Music

    This is the one where we barely talk about guitars. Enjoy. 

    Many thanks to our Patreon supporters!

    • Andrew Walsh
    • Jamie Evans
    • Jeffrey Wright
    • Sean Wright of Lollygagger FX
    • Steve Huffman
    • Righteous Ryan Johnson
    • Kyle McIntyre and Brian Gower of The Tone Jerks Podcast
    • Jonas Sabatini
    • Eric Girabaldi
    • Doug Christ of Thirty7 FX
    • Doug King
    • OG Friend of the show Brian Rizzi
      • 1 hr 14 min
    • Ep. 167 - We're Obviously Great; Some would say, mammoth.

      DISCORD:  https://discord.gg/yy4brEM

      PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/thetonecontrol

      Ernie Ball Music Man Dustin Kensrue Stingray RS (stab: Bogner Oxford)

      • Modified version of the Stingray RS, such as a stacked volume/tone pot and a relocated selector switch
      • HS configuration, “hot vintage” pickups. Middle of the road rock and roll
      • Mahogany body, maple neck, 22 stainless steel frets, satin finish, locking tuners. 25.5” scale.
      • Push/push button on the pickguard toggles between normal guitar operation and bypassing the controls to a stereo cable.
        • The guitar is stereo. Using a Y cable, you can send each pickup to a different destination.
        • Dustin uses Helix live and this allows him to create patches that also control the pickup selection on his guitar. One into the guitar input, the other into the FX loop return.
        • Expression can blend between the two pickups, or you can use a block on/off to switch
        • $2600

          • The Genie

          • ChaseBliss Audio Condor - It’s an EQ!

            • Thirty 7 Effects Fat Guy Little Coat Fuzz (stab: Lovepedal high power tweed)

            • Made by our very own Doug Christ!
              • Hand-built effects from Fairhaven, MA

                • Many thanks to our Patreon supporters!

                • Jamie Evans
                • Jeffrey Wright
                • Sean Wright
                • Steve Huffman
                • Righteous Ryan Johnson
                • Kyle McIntyre
                • Jonas Sabatini
                • Eric Girabaldi
                • Doug Christ
                • Doug King
                • OG Friend of the show Brian Rizzi
                  • 59 min
                • Ep. 166 - Metal Zone For Scale
                  • Coppersound Broadway and Strategy (Red Witch Factotum)
                    • Thanks to Alex and Coppersound pedals for sending us some pedals to try!
                    • Strategy Analog Preamp and Boost (featured on Tone of the Week on 7/7!)
                      • Based on a hi-fi grade op-amp with controls for volume and tone.
                      • Very musically tuned tone control. Lots of range on the volume. Great for hitting the front of your amp.
                      • Broadway Treble Booster and Germanium Preamp
                        • Inspired by the original Rangemaster circuit
                        • Three way pickup selector emulates the pickup positions on a tele
                        • Internal trim pot for compression and dynamics
                        • $249 each
                        • Both of these can be customized to match YOUR strat or tele.
                        • Walrus Audio Slo and Fathom combo (DBA Ghost Delay)
                          • Slo is a multi-texture reverb
                            • Has cool things like a sub octave in the echo, an auto swell mode, dream mode which has a latching mode
                            • Really powerful filter controls, a sustain switch, and an X knob that changes its use based on what setting you’re on.
                            • Fathom is a multi-function reverb with 4 different reverb algorithms
                              • Hall, plate, lo-fi, and sonar
                              • Lo-fi is a filtered reverb with an AM radio sound, or really lush chorus-y/tape sounds
                              • Sonar has both a low and high octave included. The X knob blends the high octave in.
                              • Now both of these are in one enclosure
                              • In/Out for each pedal? Like that weird distortion from last week. BUT, this allows you to insert other pedals between the two reverbs. When not in use, it’s still one input and one output. SMART.
                              • $350
                              • Pedal Genie
                                • Idiotbox Effects Lazer Fuzz
                                • Want to talk about Hamilton? (stab: Catalinbread Perseus)
                                • Many thanks to our Patreon supporters!
                                  • Jamie Evans
                                  • Jeffrey Wright
                                  • Sean Wright
                                  • Steve Huffman
                                  • Righteous Ryan Johnson
                                  • Kyle McIntyre
                                  • Jonas Sabatini
                                  • Eric Girabaldi
                                  • Doug Christ
                                  • Doug King
                                  • OG Friend of the show Brian Rizzi
                                    • 1 hr 9 min
                                  • Ep. 165 - I Fixed You, Miku! Now You Can Be Music!

                                    DISCORD:  https://discord.gg/yy4brEM

                                    PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/thetonecontrol

                                    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                    A couple of things:

                                    • I got some AirPods Pro
                                    • Apple is moving to its own silicon. Does that mean anything for stuff like Protools?

                                      • Neural DSP Quad Cortex (stab: KHDK Abyss)

                                      • A challenger appears!
                                        • This is a new floor modeler and is INSANELY powerful.
                                        • 2GHz quad-core SHARC chip
                                        • 7” multi-touch display
                                        • The footswitches are knobs to turn parameter dials
                                        • “Want to run four amplifier models, stereo reverbs, and a plethora of other effects simultaneously? Quad Cortex won’t even break a sweat.”
                                        • Neural Capture included, which I think is like a Kemper profiler
                                        • 50 amps, 70 effects, and more than 1000 IRs
                                        • Bunch of modes: Stomp mode, scene mode, preset, etc
                                        • 2 combo inputs (XLR and ¼”) 2 sends and returns, 2 XLR out, 2 TRS out, headphone out, MIDI, 2 EXP inputs, USB.
                                        • SMOL BOI. ~11.5” x 7.5” x 2”

                                          • Pedal Genie

                                          • Lone Wolf Audio Twin Snake ($350)
                                          • Korg Miku Stomp (lol)

                                            • TC Electronic Ditto+ Looper (Stab: Meris Mercury 7 Reverb) 

                                            • 60-minute loops!
                                              • Dynamic loop length allows you to add overdubs that are longer than your original loop
                                              • Unlimited overdubs and undo/redo functions still.
                                              • Import/Export via USB.
                                              • It now has a color display with real-time loop info on it

                                                • Many thanks to our Patreon supporters! For only $1 a month you get a super cool shoutout on the show and your name in print here in our show notes. If you're feeling extra generous and pitch in $2 (or more!) per month, you get access to our exclusive Discord channel where you can listen to us record the show LIVE every other Thursday at 8PM eastern time. 

                                                • Jeffrey Wright
                                                  • Sean Wright
                                                  • Steve Huffman
                                                  • Righteous Ryan Johnson
                                                  • Kyle McIntyre
                                                  • Jonas Sabatini
                                                  • Eric Girabaldi
                                                  • Doug Gann
                                                  • Doug Christ
                                                  • Doug King
                                                  • OG Friend of the show Brian Rizzi
                                                    • 1 hr 2 min
                                                  • Ep 164 - The Ark-Uh-Duhs
                                                    • New Delaney Single! “A Small Remaining Quantity of Something” is out everywhere on June 26th!
                                                    • Cooper FX Arcades (stab: OBNE Dark Star)
                                                      • This pedal is designed to receive a proprietary PCB card with 8 effects in a category.
                                                      • Delay, pitch, reverb, and lo-fi out at the moment
                                                      • Four knobs labeled ABCD change their function depending on card/effect.
                                                      • On/off switch and an aux/tap switch for effect-specific secondary functions
                                                      • Two buttons for PRGM and PAGE allow you to control the card parameters
                                                      • Card details: https://www.cooperfx.com/card-details
                                                      • Pedal manual
                                                      • Demo video
                                                      • Walrus Audio Ages (stab: Darkglass Alpha Omicron)
                                                        • Five state overdrive designed to stack with other drives or a dirty amp
                                                        • Five way rotary knob lets you select different gain mode and clipping options
                                                          1. Low-gain mode with symmetric silicon soft clipping. Compressed and smooth.
                                                          2. Low-gain mode with symmetric LED soft clipping. Pushed, open, and sparkly.
                                                          3. High-gain mode with symmetric silicon soft clipping. Increased saturation and tight.
                                                          4. High-gain mode with symmetric LED soft clipping. Saturated, punchy and big.
                                                          5. High-gain mode with symmetric silicon hard clipping. Heavy compression, thick and chewy.
                                                          6. Boost/cut bass control comes before the overdrive stage
                                                          7. Blend knob dials in some of your clean tone, which means this can stack beautifully with other overdrive pedals or into a broken up amp.
                                                          8. Here’s a great video on what diode clipping is and how it works in the Ages
                                                          9. Pedal Genie
                                                            • BIG EAR LOAF! AGAIN!
                                                            • Fulltone
                                                              • Guitar center is no longer carrying Fulltone
                                                              • Reverb will no longer sell new, mint condition, or b-stock fulltone.
                                                              • You can still sell your used fulltone pedal. The seller fees Reverb earns will be donated to a racial justice organization.
                                                              • Spraypaint your Fulltone pedals black and send them to us and we'll reshare!
                                                              • Many thanks to our Patreon supporters!
                                                                • Jeffrey Wright
                                                                • Sean Wright
                                                                • Steve Huffman
                                                                • Righteous Ryan Johnson
                                                                • Kyle McIntyre
                                                                • Jonas Sabatini
                                                                • Eric Girabaldi
                                                                • Doug Gann
                                                                • Doug Christ
                                                                • Doug King
                                                                • OG Friend of the show Brian Rizzi
                                                                  • 1 hr 19 min
                                                                • Ep. 163 - Death Is Better Than This!

                                                                  DISCORD:  https://discord.gg/yy4brEM

                                                                  PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/thetonecontrol

                                                                  00:00:00 - 00:12:00 Show Intro

                                                                  • Tone of the Week project (stab: Wampler 30 Something)
                                                                    • We’ll see how this goes!
                                                                    • Send suggestions!
                                                                    • The goal is to build a new tone every week and use it as inspiration for playing guitar at home.
                                                                    • Derek might want some studio monitors… (OBNE Haunt Fuzz)
                                                                    • Pedal Genie
                                                                      • Dwarfcraft Devices Gears
                                                                      • PRS Parlor Acoustics (Keeley 1962x)
                                                                        • SE P20 and SE P20E (E for Electronics. It has a fishman pickup! Otherwise they are the same guitar)
                                                                        • Mahogany top, back, and sides. Ebony bridge. Bone nut and saddle!
                                                                        • Neck/body joint at the 14th fret
                                                                        • Double bound with herringbone binding, matching rosette
                                                                        • Bird inlays, PRS headstock with vintage “butterbean” style tuners
                                                                        • Does the PRS headstock look a little out of place here?
                                                                        • SE P20: $500, P20E $579
                                                                        • Patrons
                                                                          • Jeffrey Wright
                                                                          • Sean Wright
                                                                          • Steve Huffman
                                                                          • Righteous Ryan Johnson
                                                                          • Kyle McIntyre
                                                                          • Jonas Sabatini
                                                                          • Eric Girabaldi
                                                                          • Doug Gann
                                                                          • Doug Christ
                                                                          • Doug King
                                                                          • OG Friend of the show Brian Rizzi
                                                                            • 1 hr 10 min
                                                                          • Ep. 162 - It's Too Wooly and Powerful!

                                                                            DISCORD:  https://discord.gg/yy4brEM

                                                                            PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/thetonecontrol

                                                                            • Let Er Riff recap. Congratulations Kyle! (stab: Snow White)
                                                                            • Derek Pedal board update (stab: BIAS)
                                                                              • Running the whole “traditional” pedal board through the FX loop on HX Stomp
                                                                              • Seymour Duncan PowerStage 200 (stab: Strymon Volante)
                                                                                • Pedalboard sized power amp we all know and love. Attention Helix users!
                                                                                • Some expansion on the PowerStage 170
                                                                                • More I/O, presence control, headphone output, cab sim, and EQ on/off
                                                                                • Input, two speaker outputs, balanced XLR output, AUX in
                                                                                • 170W version is $400. New 200W version is $500
                                                                                • Slightly larger footprint than the 170
                                                                                • Pedal Genie
                                                                                  • Big Ear pedals LOAF - $179
                                                                                  • RockBoard Pedal Safe (stab: CB Spectre)
                                                                                    • Little plastic covers for your pedals
                                                                                    • There’s a top piece that comes off to access the knobs
                                                                                    • Two part assembly. The pedal sits on a base plate that connects to the top clear part.
                                                                                    • This is stupid, right?
                                                                                    • Update: it is.
                                                                                    • Patrons
                                                                                      • Jeffrey Wright
                                                                                      • Sean Wright
                                                                                      • Steve Huffman
                                                                                      • Righteous Ryan Johnson
                                                                                      • Kyle McIntyre
                                                                                      • Jonas Sabatini
                                                                                      • Eric Girabaldi
                                                                                      • Doug Gann
                                                                                      • Doug Christ
                                                                                      • Doug King
                                                                                      • OG Friend of the show Brian Rizzi
                                                                                        • 1 hr 3 min
                                                                                      • Ep. 161 - If You Can't Tell, This Is Our First Time

                                                                                        Big thanks to everyone who entered and voted in our first ever Let 'er Riff contest! We'll be doing more promotions and giveaways in the future. 

                                                                                        Remember! If you dig the show and want to support us, head over to patreon.com/thetonecontrol! You can also join our Discord server which is open and free to everyone! Come hang and talk with us about guitar stuff! 

                                                                                        DISCORD:  https://discord.gg/yy4brEM

                                                                                        PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/thetonecontrol

                                                                                        • The winner of the let ‘er riff contest is….??!?!
                                                                                        • Round 1 of Delaney mixes are back. A few things to update but sounds great! We’re in the home stretch. (stab:  Caroline Shigeharu)
                                                                                        • Fender is discontinuing Ash in production model guitars (stab: DBA Interstellar Overdriver)
                                                                                          • The remaining inventory will be used on “select, historically appropriate vintage models”
                                                                                          • A steady and predictable supply of ash has been hard to obtain
                                                                                          • Ash trees are at risk due to an invasive beetle
                                                                                          • Strymon Compadre (stab: Fat Drive)
                                                                                            • Compressor/Booster!
                                                                                            • All analog sound with digital control
                                                                                            • Two analog compressor circuits: Studio and Squeeze
                                                                                              • Studio: Smooth compression based on vintage rack gear.
                                                                                              • Squeeze: Hard compression typical of compressor pedals.
                                                                                              • Boost EQ switch lets you choose which frequencies are impacted by the boost
                                                                                                • Treble: Tightens bottom end by boosting mid to high frequencies
                                                                                                • Mid: Fattens tone by pushing midrange forward
                                                                                                • Flat: Full range frequency response
                                                                                                • Independent footswitches for each side
                                                                                                • Toggle switch for clean or dirty boost
                                                                                                • VCA Volume control via expression pedal (no scratchy pots!)
                                                                                                • 3 presets via Strymon Multi-Switch, 300 presets with MIDI.
                                                                                                • Pedal Genie
                                                                                                  • Dwarfcraft Devices Super Wizard
                                                                                                  • Temple Audio LED Lights (stab: Walrus Audio Luminary)
                                                                                                    • This has probably been out for a while but I just found it
                                                                                                    • RGB LED Light strip for your pedalboard with a regular 9VDC center negative connector on it so it’ll tap right into your power supply
                                                                                                    • Includes remote and cable ties
                                                                                                    • THANK YOU PATRONS!
                                                                                                    • Jeffrey Wright
                                                                                                    • Sean Wright
                                                                                                    • Steve Huffman
                                                                                                    • Righteous Ryan Johnson
                                                                                                    • Kyle McIntyre
                                                                                                    • Jonas Sabatini
                                                                                                    • Eric Girabaldi
                                                                                                    • Doug Gann
                                                                                                    • Doug Christ
                                                                                                    • Doug King
                                                                                                    • OG Friend of the show Brian Rizzi
                                                                                                      • 1 hr 15 min
                                                                                                    • Ep. 160 - My Quarter Inch of Joy

                                                                                                      DISCORD:  https://discord.gg/yy4brEM PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/thetonecontrol

                                                                                                      Let ‘er Riff contest - TODAY, MONDAY 4/20/2020 IS YOUR LAST DAY TO ENTER THE CONTEST!! Enter your riff for a chance to win a $25 gift card to Reverb.com!

                                                                                                      Details:

                                                                                                      1) Write a riff using the drum loops we provide. There is a link to a Google Drive folder with drum loops in the pinned messages on #let-er-riff

                                                                                                      2) You may edit the drums if you need to (shorten, extend, change tempo). You don't have to use them at all if you don't want to!

                                                                                                      3) Key, genre, additional tracks are all up to you, but the entry is about the riff!

                                                                                                      4) Record your riff any way you can! Run it through a DAW, or just jam along to your phone playing the loop. Whatever you got, send it!

                                                                                                      Submissions are due in the #let-er-riff channel no later than April 20th. Voting will take place from April 21st through May 4th.

                                                                                                      ------

                                                                                                      Lots of brands are switching to making PPE, which is huge! (stab: Caroline Shigeharu)

                                                                                                      Daredevil HYPE Boost (stab: Deepspace Devices Golem)

                                                                                                      • FET booster with no controls
                                                                                                      • $89

                                                                                                        • Fender Jazz Strat (stab: Bogner Harlow)

                                                                                                        • It’s a strat with the neck, hardware, and pickups of a Jazzmaster
                                                                                                        • Bound fretboard with big block inlays. Matching headstock
                                                                                                        • Three-way toggle switch, really cool chrome knobs
                                                                                                        • About $2000…. Is it worth it? Is it too ugly?

                                                                                                          • Pedal Genie!

                                                                                                          • Spruce Effects Salt Water Fuzz

                                                                                                            • Recording at home during these trying times (stab: MS consider the raven)

                                                                                                            • Apogee Jam
                                                                                                            • Audient
                                                                                                            • Focusrite Scarlett
                                                                                                            • Reaper

                                                                                                              • Patrons

                                                                                                              • Jeffrey Wright
                                                                                                              • Sean Wright
                                                                                                              • Steve Huffman
                                                                                                              • Righteous Ryan Johnson
                                                                                                              • Kyle McIntyre
                                                                                                              • Jonas Sabatini
                                                                                                              • Eric Girabaldi
                                                                                                              • Doug Gann
                                                                                                              • Doug Christ
                                                                                                              • Doug King
                                                                                                              • OG Friend of the show Brian Rizzi


                                                                                                                • 1 hr 10 min
                                                                                                              • Ep. 159 - It’s cool if you’re into that kind of thing

                                                                                                                DISCORD:  https://discord.gg/yy4brEM

                                                                                                                PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/thetonecontrol

                                                                                                                LET 'ER RIFF!  

                                                                                                                Enter your riff for a chance to win a $25 gift card to Reverb.com!  

                                                                                                                Details:

                                                                                                                1) Write a riff using the drum loops we provide. There is a link to a Google Drive folder with drum loops in the pinned messages on #let-er-riff  
                                                                                                                2) You may edit the drums if you need to (shorten, extend, change tempo)
                                                                                                                3) Key, genre, additional tracks are all up to you, but the entry is about the riff!  
                                                                                                                4) Record your riff any way you can! Run it through a DAW, or just jam along to your phone playing the loop. Whatever you got, send it!   

                                                                                                                Submissions are due in the #let-er-riff channel no later than April 20th. Voting will take place from April 20th through May 4th. More details to come.

                                                                                                                • Intro music entry/riff contest thing Let ‘er Riff (stab: Darkglass Vintage Delux)
                                                                                                                • Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro are both offering 90 day free trials right now. (stab: CB CSIDMAN)
                                                                                                                • Catalinbread Blood Donor (Stab: Meris Ottobit jr)
                                                                                                                  • Retuned version of the Katzenkonig, which Catalinbread says is a blend of a MkII Tone Bender plus a Rat
                                                                                                                  • Changed a few transistors and opened up the range on each knob
                                                                                                                  • 100% of proceeds go to the red cross.
                                                                                                                  • $179
                                                                                                                  • Fender Tom Morello Strat (stab: Mathews The Architect)
                                                                                                                    • Based on his “Soul Power” strat from Audioslave era
                                                                                                                    • Floyd rose trem, kill switch, Duncan Hot Rails bridge and Fender Noiseless middle + neck pickups, locking tuners
                                                                                                                    • Made in Mexico
                                                                                                                    • 9.5-14” compound radius
                                                                                                                    • “Soul power” decal included
                                                                                                                    • $1300
                                                                                                                    • Pedal Genie!
                                                                                                                      • Fulltone Mini Dejavibe
                                                                                                                      • Zvex ‘59 Sound
                                                                                                                      • Patrons
                                                                                                                        • Sean Wright
                                                                                                                        • Steve Huffman
                                                                                                                        • Righteous Ryan Johnson
                                                                                                                        • Kyle McIntyre
                                                                                                                        • Jonas Sabatini
                                                                                                                        • Eric Girabaldi
                                                                                                                        • Doug Gann
                                                                                                                        • Doug Christ
                                                                                                                        • Doug King
                                                                                                                        • OG Friend of the show Brian Rizzi
                                                                                                                          • 1 hr 12 min

                                                                                                                        About The Tone Control

                                                                                                                        From the publisher's feed

                                                                                                                        The Tone Control is a sometimes side-eyed look at the guitar world and making music! We talk about everything good, bad, smart, stupid, and weird about guitar gear and bring it to you every other Monday.