Bodacious Brian’s big, big rigs and also sometimes little rigs too! (stab: RedWitch Empress)

Brian mentioned to me that we should do OUR OWN rigs for BBBBRAASLRT

Derek: Guitar of choice (leaning towards fender style bodies with Gibson style parts). At home I’m now using the HX Stomp, but I also have a small pedalboard with a Smallsound/Bigsound Mini, MIJ BF-2 Flanger, EHX Memory Toy, and HOF mini, into either the HX or an Orange micro-terror (just a practice amp mostly).

Live/Band: Polytune, Ernie ball volume, Coppersound custom stutter/vol, Script Phase 90, Fulltone plimsoul, EP Booster, Small Clone chorus, Coppersound Loma Prieta, OBNE Procession Reverb, Strymon Timeline, then into the front of a jumped and crispy AC30 w/Greenbacks. (Alex also built me a footswitch for amp reverb/trem)  

Justin talks about his stuff in the episode, maybe just listen, yeah?

Crash! (stab:805)

Sold the amp! HX Stomp! Wahoo!  (stab: Apocalypse Fuzz on bass)

Righteous Tele! (stab: Wombtone)

Demo features all three pickups on a 50W Plexi

Reverb to be acquired by Etsy! (stab: KHDK Abyss)

Kemper Profiler Stage (stab: Longamp Time Machine)

Full blown Kemper Profiler in a floorboard format

Kemper head/rack require a foot switcher to change sounds, recall settings, etc

THIS is a Kemper amp WITH the switching fully integrated in pedalboard form

5 buttons for 5 rigs per performance, 4 stomp box style effects buttons are individually assignable, 4 expression pedal inputs, 2 stereo effects loops 

2 XLR outs, USB, MIDI, S/PDIF

$1700

Reverend Manta Ray 390 (stab: Jackson Prism)

It’s the Manta Ray but with 3 P90 pickups! 

Features the bass contour passive bass roll-off. 

Korina body, 3 piece korina neck 

African Blackwood or Ebony fretboard w/ 12” radius 

Treble bleed, locking tuners, dual acting truss rod

Pedal Genie 

Boss MD-500 $350 

Neunaber Immerse $250 

Righteous Ryan! Electronic Audio Experiments (stab: OE Revival Drive)

DIRT PEDALS! But this stuff stands out 

Model FET https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/nad-sunn-model-t.1885737/ 

Based on the Sunn Model T preamp 

Controls for bass, mid, treble, matser, normal, and brite (sic)

Designed to have pedals stacked into it, much like the old Model T amps 

Sounds big, wooly, kinda fuzzy, but also crisp and clear. 

Longsword 

Op-amp based drive with a huge range of distortion 

low/hi sets the James/Baxandal tone stack 

Shift toggle selects the frequency that the Mid knob controls 

Lots of EQ controls… like Metal Zone level of control. (this is NOT a metal zone, but it’s got a TON of EQ control like the MZ)

Interview with John Snyder up on the website! 

VERY detailed interview with lots of insight on his design process, gear he uses, and upcoming projects. 

Dunlop Tortex White Jazz III picks (stab: Sea Foam)

Derek sold him amp! Kind of… 

HX Stomp (stab: OE Revival)

Digitech drop update. Standard guitar in an Eb band. (stab: Mathews The Architect)

Righteous Tele update (Stab: 805)

Gibson update  (stab: JHS Unicorn)

They released a statement FINALLY. They acknowledged that this is something they have to do but their tone was all wrong. Too little too late, and the actual statement still didn’t soften things much. 

Apparently they have threatened dealers with legal action unless they stop selling Dean guitars, alleges Dean.  

Earthquaker Devices Plumes (stab: WA Luminary)

It’s a tube screamer with three clipping modes. Like a super baby Palisades. 

Symmetrical LED clipping, OpAmp distortion, Asymmetrical silicon diode clipping

Level, tone, and gain controls. 

Relay based true bypass with momentary option. 

The real killer feature is that it’s $99. 

TS Mini is $79, TS9 is $99, TS808 is $179. Boutique pedal company getting in at those low prices. Cool! 

Discussion topic idea from fan-of-the-show Eric Giribaldi (stab: WA Plainsman)

“What do you do when you reach a crossroads with your equipment?” 

As in, coming to terms with not needing 11 overdrive pedals, needs vs. wants. 

Guitarists are weird people. We want all the latest cool tech and big rigs, but also want the simplicity of grab-and-go, maybe some pedals, and an amp. 

Downsizing your set up. When is it time to sell? 

I asked them when this sucker would be out and they said winter 2019. 

Gibson’s “Play Authentic” marketing results in them suing Dean (stab: Bogner Wessex)

Basically making an example of them 

Gibson posted this video, which they later removed. Isn’t Mark Agnesi just the worst?

They’re claiming that any copy of one of their design styles or trademarks is “a counterfeit gibson guitar”. Which I guess they’re saying is what Dean is doing? 

“To the manufactureres out there, we want you to know that you’ve been warned.” 

“This isn’t about us trying to be bullies, or trying to stifle the boutique marketplace. This is about protecting our legacy”, except you’re also being bullies! 

Watch out, literally everyone else. 

They added a counterfeit submission form to their website so you can blow the whistle on anyone you think is infringing on Gibson’s trademarks… So, since they’re going after Dean, I guess this means anyone is eligible. 

New Music from Two Cheers: Future Constellations 

Fender Vintera Series (stab: WA Mayflower)

Overhauling the MIM line! All floating around $900-1000 bucks. GREAT. 

Big era years: 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, each available with a “Vintage” or “modified” option

Vintage is pretty close to period correct, Modified is more like “inspired by” but with modern appointments (flatter radius, S1 switching, etc) 

Some highlights: 

60’s tele with a Bigsby 

60’s Jazzmatser with matching headstock 

60’s Jaguar HH 

Really rad new colors on a bunch of these: white blonde, natural, sienna sunburst, Firemist gold on a jazz bass looks HOT. 

Pedal Genie

Digitech Drop demoed with Metal Zone. 

Daredevil Fearless Distortion

Podcast suggestion: Hit Parade (stab: Sea Foam)

New Guitar Day: Fender Special Edition Custom FMT Telecaster (stab: WA Descent)

Derek got it on scratch and dent at the local guitar shop! It’s awesome! 

Relish Guitars - https://relish.swiss/guitars/  (stab: Seymour Duncan 805)

If Elon Musk started making guitars, this would be it. 

These are extremely expensive but super futuristic guitars.

Aluminum core, with a magnetic back so you can get inside the guitar in like 2 seconds 

Pickups just pull out of the back, completely hot-swappable 

17 pickup positions via a touch pad slider 

Piezo pickup inside with a midrange boost on a push/pull, mono/stereo output jack toggle. 

Details. Models. 

Pedal Genie 

Daredevil Pedals Red Light District 

Wetter Box by The Gig Rig https://www.thegigrig.com/wetterbox (stab: Wampler Reflection)

The Gig Rig makes that G2 switcher thing that is bananapants crazy 

Wetter Box allows you to blend your effects in parallel in real time. 

Blend any effect with your direct signal, or blend 2 effects together 

Blend controllable via expression pedal! WHAT?! 

Stereo via TRS, phase flip on loop B, independent gain controls on each loop, internal voltage doubling, internally isolated power, true or buffered bypass, 

2 modes: Blend will cross fade from A to B, and Mix will add B to A. 

~$240 as of 5/24 (exchange rate

Righteous Tele update (stab: Red Witch Factotum)

Instagram questions (stab: Stone Deaf Warp Drive)

How many drives is too many? 

Channel bound fingerboards, yes or no? From Alex at coppersound 

Humbucker or single coil? From Ryan 

Played a ton of gigs recently, two of which with a band called Sleepspirit. They’re using Kemper rigs! Let’s talk about that. (Stab: Organizer)

Another band was using an electric 12 string like a fucking madman! 

Pedal Genie 

JHS Kodiak Trem $200 

Spiral Electric FX - thanks Righteous Ryan! Interview up on the website! (stab: TC Viscous Vibe)

Owned and hand built by Tom Cram who is the guy that brought Digitech/DOD back from the dead. He had major work on the Obscura, Polara, DOD 250, etc 

Currently makes two pedals: Yellow spiral and black spiral 

Yellow Spiral

Mostly lives in overdrive land and dips into fuzz

It’s kind of fuzzy and has some natural octaving by the sounds of it.

LED or Silicon diodes 

Black Spiral

Much fuzzier than the Yellow but can also be more of a straightforward rock tone 

Based on the Meastro FZ1-S, an early version of which later became the DOD Carcosa Fuzz 

Works best with a crunchy amp channel. 

Controls for gain, bias, detail, and output. Toggle switch for clipping options. 

https://www.spiralelectricfx.com/collections/black-spiral-fuzz/products/black-spiral-fuzz-with-acid-drop-finish-b41  

J forgot something (stab: Earthquaker Rainbow machine)

Pick 5 pedals from one builder, what 5? (Stab: PitchGrinder)

Fractal Audio FM3 (Stab: SG Electroman)

Fractal amp and effect processing at $1000. 

3 footswitches 

All the I/O

https://www.gearnews.com/fractal-audio-shoots-for-line-6-helix-with-fm3-floor-based-amp-modelling-and-fx/ 

Pedal Genie 

Strymon Deco https://www.strymon.net/deco/ 

Gibson 2019 “Original Collection” (stab: Apollo Phaser)

New “original collection” kind of reminds me of the Fender American Vintage line 

All full-weight, hand wired controls, no electronics or coil taps or anything. 

Also looks like they’ve done away with the whole “alternate finishes” thing and how have a few options for each model

Les Paul: 50’s Standard (choice of P90 or HBs), 60’s Standard, Les Paul Special, Les Paul Jr. 

SG: 61 Maestro Vibrola, 61 Sideways vibrola, 61 standard, SG special, SG Jr

Firebird, V, Explorer, Thunderbird, and SG bass. 

Prices seem okay. Very much streamlined.

BEER OR GEAR?!?!?! (stab: Mr Black Dark Star Reverb)

(Special note: if you’re bored by this segment skip to 18:55 when we wrap it up)

Richter Double Guitar Strap (stab: MH Colossus Fuzz)

Matt Heafy of Trivium has released a strap that goes over both shoulders 

Ergonomics are important for career musicians, especially with heavy guitars

However, is there anything dorkier than this? 

Kentucky Hot Brown pedalboards (from Righteous Ryan!) (stab: WA Descent)

Husband and wife team out of Louisville KY 

Really nice wood pedalboards. Total custom options available 

Ryan did a Q&A with the owners which will be featured on our blog. They talk about the design process, where they source the wood, and new projects.  http://tonecontrolshow.com/post/184373897669/qa-with-kentucky-hot-brown-pedalboards 

Pedal Genie

Bogner Ecstasy Red $300 

Matthews Effects The Chemist Atomic Modulator

They’re here! The Tone Jerks run a killer weekly podcast that we’re big fans of and we think you should check them out 

Give us a rundown on Jerk history. How did this all start? 

What’s your main rigs? We’ve heard from Brian in a previous segment (episode 120!), but are there any updates? Kyle, what’s your bass setup like?

Kyle - how do you afford to buy pedals all the time? Do you have a sell/trade budget you keep rolling money over into new gear? Or just out of pocket because FUCK IT?! 

Find the tone jerks everywhere! Instagram and facebook group! 

Derek had one of the worst gigs ever last night. Let’s talk about bad gigs. (stab: SG Electroman)

JHS YouTube Channel (stab: Positive grid nonsense)

Vlog style, super informative videos about pedals and how they work, why they are the way they are, history, examples, not just a big JHS sales pitch. Nice.

Here’s one on the Univibe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-1yQm2cj20 

Coppersound Daedalus (demo)

Dual reverb! 

I held onto it to demo for the show. Went old school because it felt really amp-like. 

Airis Effects Target Mids (stab: Box of War)

1 band parametric EQ to sculpt midrange 

Controls for level, frequency, Q, and Boost/Cut

1400hz to 2700hz

Placed in front of the amp it’s a fully adjustable clean boost, but can also go in the FX loop for modifying your amp. 

Basically you can manipulate your guitar tone or your amp tone

$169 but on sale for $139 at the time of this note

Positive Grid Bias FX 2 (stab: MS Holy Dove)

Totally re-engineered DSP engine. 

Ships with 100 new amp model designs, new cab/mic combos, and Celestion IRs

Guitar Match! Now it will listen to your guitar and transform it into one of 18 classic guitars like ‘57 Goldtop, SRV strat, ‘58 Countryman, etc 

Standard edition: $99, Professional: $199, Elite: $299

Pedal Genie

The Tone Jerks!