The Ugly Truth About Outlaw Effects Pedals

Right off the bat, sorry for the long break. I'm sure that all my readers are just holding their breath for another post, but on the list of important things to do blogging falls pretty low. Sorry guys.

To the point... I was online the other day and I saw this new brand of pedal. Excuse my latency, I don't get time to check out every little new thing as it comes out as much as I would like. So I did a little digging and found some neat facts about this odd, little (literally, the pedals are tiny) pedal brand.

Ok, so there is nothing new about micro pedals. Malekko has been making tiny pedals for years. There are all sorts of imitators out there now Mooer is a an import pedal that has gained some traction. They have been value priced but now have climbed out of the bargain bin and became a solid option for a guitarist looking to save stage space. This is due to the fact that they closely resemble some of our favorite pedal and aren't outrageously priced. Along with these there are several "bigger" pedal makers doing compact versions of their already established pedals. This gives a guitarist the option to trade-up and slim-down. All good things, right?

Well... Maybe.

Every Description of these Pedals is Extremely Ambiguous 

When I first saw Outlaw pedals, the first thing that I was attracted to was the price. Make a nice looking overdrive pedal for 49.99 and you have my attention. If you make a nice looking, great sounding pedal for 49.99, then you'll get my money. The fact that these things are tiny did make an impression on me, but I've seen these kinds of pedals before. The fact that there are 4 different dirt boxes (2 ODs and 2 Distortions) is exciting for me. I might have something of a weakness for them, but I'm not going to buy a pedal by cool-sounding name alone. With the Outlaw pedals, that's about all you have to go on. The thing with new pedal brands is that you have to give the customer some idea as to what you are going to get. You have two OD pedals, but how are they different? They are even closely colored (red and orange-ish-red) One does have a toggle, but besides that they look exactly alike. Even the description is vague. The only thing I can get from any description I've read is that the Dead Man's Hand might be a tube screamer clone with a toggle to flatten the mid-hump. The distortion come in two flavors as well, metal and... not metal? If these pedals sound as generic as they are described, then I'd stay far away, but there is really no way to tell.

They are micro Pedals

So I know that you might be thinking, "Duh", but hold on. There is a reason that some of the first micros where compressors and reverbs. That is because those are "set-it-and-forget-it" pedals. You usually use those pedals to set your overall sound. But the popularity of the smaller pedals led to making a wider range of pedal with tiny footprints. This isn't a horrible thing, but if you are like me and you like to change and tweak and fiddle with everything, then doing so with tiny knobs and buttons can be a challenge. For the regular person this become an annoyance, but with someone with larger than average digits or size 15 feet this becomes something more like a guessing game. My foot can easily cover a boss-sized stomp box. Now imagine going to turn on your delay and three of your pedal disappear under you shoe. So you can't see your pedal when you turn it on or off, but you might be able to work around that. Lets talk about the knobs. Most of the pedal are set up with a "large" knob in the middle and two smaller knob above and to the flanks. The large knob is about the size of the top concentric knob of a Boss Metal Zone. If you're not familiar with that pedal just look a pencil and picture a knob slightly smaller than that. The other two knobs are slightly larger than the lead in that pencil. Not exactly something that you can fiddle with on the fly. I'm not saying that all pedals this small are bad, but they come with some down-sides.

They are Made in China 

I know that a lot of things are being made overseas now. I also own a lot of things that are made overseas. I like a lot of the things that I've bought that were made overseas. So why am I complaining that these are made overseas? Well, there are some of the stereotypical thing that you think of when you hear "made in China": Bad quality control, poor assembly, cheap parts. But let me remind you that the same remarks are made about Electro Harmonix and they are USA made... I haven't had any problem out of the EXH pedals I own, or any of the one that are made in China. So what is the deal with the ding for being Chinese? First, Poor quantity control. If you order parts from china then you have to order huge amounts. That order takes weeks if not months to arrive. Sometimes the trip half-way around the world is not a kind one. So if something is out of stock then it might be a change of season before you can get that item. Also the company is french*. Nothing wrong with France, but costumer service might be less that speedy.

(Woops, sorry to the guys over at Outlaw Effects. The company is Canadian, not French, The only evidence I based my assumption on is the fact they offer a English and French langue web-site. You know what happens when you assume!)

Everything Is Small... like tiny

These pedal are small, but all we really notice is the box. If we take a look at the inside, then we'll most likely see tiny parts. Resisters and Caps that are that small are nearly too small to do anything with. Are you a modder? to bad. Want to change diodes? Not going to happen. Knob broke and want to replace? Tough luck. All the standard size parts are not going to work with pedals this size. Not to mention that working with parts this small can be a pain when you have all that parts. Lets say that you brand new pedal goes dead and you need a part. What do you do? Call costumer service, right? You do that. I person with a French accent and a working knowledge of the English langue answers the phone. Let also say that you are able to communicate with customer service and they are willing to send you the part. Hazzah! So they send you the part... From China. Three weeks to forever later, the part arrives. You've probably replace the pedal. So you get your package and remember that you own this pedal. You open up your box and go about the tedious assignment that is repairing small consumer electronics only the parts you are messing with go from children's aspirin to a grain of rice. Have fun with that.

4 Ugly Truths about The Guitar You Are Playing

It is easy to think that the guitar that you play on a regular basis is special. You probably take great pride in it's condition and savor it's tone as you play. Perhaps you invested a great deal of money in your instrument so that you could have a recognizable name on the headstock or a certain feature. Well that money you so willingly forked over bought a guitar with some frequently overlooked truths.

1) Its overpriced

I assume that anyone looking at a gear blog is probable an avid musician. Being so mean you probably don't have an entry level instrument. This leads me to believe that you've paid to much for it. There is several things that go into the price of an instrument, but the most important thing to a manufacturer is, "How much are you willing to pay for said instrument.". You may notice that many brands have several "lines" and even some related brands that manufacture copies of more expensive guitar. These guitars look very similar to the more expensive ones, but don't have a particular brand or features that the others do. Fender has their high end "American" line, then their "Standard" line that is manufactured in various place other than the US, and finally they have some models that made in China. They also have a sub-brand "Squire" that makes practically the same instrument in China for much less then similar models made under the Fender brand. I'm not say that Squires are the same guitars as the American line of Fenders, but if someone where to know how to carefully select and set up an instrument then a Squire could perform just as well as a much more expensive guitar. There is just something intangible about owning a genuine article. But remember...

2)Its mass produced

No matter how much your guitar is "the one" remember that a limited run still mean around 500 units. There might be little differences with fit and finish, but the features are the same. There is a lot of talk about a guitars tone being heavily influenced by the type of wood it is made from. There is truth to that. Density influences mass and has a lot to do with reverberation. What does all that mean? Meh... But what has the most influence over the sound your guitars sound? Pick ups. Whats that? You play an (straight) acoustic? Have you read this blog before? Lets look at you signal. You have you guitar (wood and all) and its steel strings that produce notes, these travel through your pick ups and other components. That is just in you guitar! It travels through you chord (hope you got a good one) and trough whatever else in your path; tuner, effects, preamps, and whatever else. And you're worried about your choice of mahogany or maple? Once you decide, keep in mind...

3) There are many like it

Well duh, the woods used, the pick ups, the materials in the hardware, fretboard, inlays, and other part will be the same as many other guitars. In many ways this is a good thing. If your guitar is ever in need of repair, then you have plenty of options. Other than fitting your guitar with serious mods, your guitar is extremely replaceable. Everything from the neck and the body to the string trees, Your guitar is just a series of parts put together by someone that is probably in another country. (By the way, if your guitar wasn't made in another country, then most likely some of the parts were.) No matter where you guitar was made or how many were made with the exact same options by the same people...

4) It is the only one exactly like it

This is what every guitar thinks about their guitar, despite the number of guitars that are just like it. A guitars journey through its life changes it. Take my first Telecaster. It have been through a lot. I've covered it with stickers, repainted, and recovered it with stickers. Its also been thrown against a wall and nearly broke in half. It has had the pick ups, and some other hardware replaced. The dents and dings are more than character, they actually help me feel where certain frets are. The neck has seen more nasty sweat than a cheap motel mattress (thankfully that is the only body fluid its seen. I hope...). Even though I can replace every singe part on the guitar and even buy that exact model again. It would be my tele. It couldn't be my tele. I've owned several Telecasters, and despite being extreamly similar, There is only one.

5 Ugly Truths About Building Your Own Effects

I started a few years back modding pedals. It was exciting to crack open pedals and fiddle with the inside bits. I knew very little about what I was doing, but I knew what I had to do. I was handy with a soldering iron and was cheap, so of course I wanted to try to get the boutique sound everyone was on about on a budget. Going from there, I found that for the price of a used pedal and a mod-kit (or an order from a parts vendor) You can buy a kit with everything you need to build an entirely new pedal. There a few things that you have be mindful of.

1) There is A Steep Learning Curve

Can you tell a resister from a Capacitor? Do you own a soldering iron and necessary accessories to complete projects? Do you have a large amount of free time to use on projects of varying difficulty and usefulness? Do you have a some extra cash to blow on something that may or may not work? Well then, you can embark in to the wonderful world of pedal building. That is, right after you learn how to read schematic and gain a basic understanding how/why pedals work. Building pedals can be a lot of fun. It might save you a bit of money after you get the hang of it. Before you get the hang of it, you might have to sink a bit of money, time, and frustration into gaining that grasp.

2) It won't work

Typically, your first time out won't work. If it does, then you are either lucky or the most talented person I've ever heard of. Depending on the project, there are tons of things that can go airy. So if you are skilled enough to make every solder joint solid, there is still a chance that anyone of the components you've installed are improperly placed. Do you understand exactly how a 3PDT switch works, or how to tell which leg of an LED is negative? Even if you double and triple check your schematics and diagrams as your build, chances are there will be a bug or two that don't work. Which leads us to...

3) Troubleshooting

Typically, this is the step that is the hardest. You know the inner workings of your components, your solder joins are flawless, and you can read technical schematics in Chinese. Now is the time to put all that hard work into action. The pedal is built and everything is "correct" but it is still not functioning properly. This is where a multi-meter comes in handing. You may want to brush up on how to use said device to best serve your needs. The continuity function comes in very handy. I've spent many an hour trying to figure out why something wasn't working only to understand that it was beyond me. So I ended up:

4) Getting Help

There is a wealth of knowledge out there (here) on the interweb. I wouldn't be typing now if not for the vast amount of resources that I've found on this subject and many others that can be found on websites and forums. Sometimes it takes a big man (or lady) to admit that they need help. Other times it take someone who has spend countless hours burning his fingers only to wind up with an extremely frustrating paperweight. You'll find that many people are looking for the same answers that you are. If you are having a particular problem, then you can contact some builders personally. There are fantastic communities of builders and prospect builders willing to help us. Sometimes even with the guided help of experts, we still find a way to fail. Which leads us to...

5) Acceptance

Yes, sometimes the best thing to do is to give up. Maybe today is not your day. Maybe you need to walk away and try again later. Perhaps you were a little too ambitious and need to try a simpler project. I have a couple projects that are just that, projects. I started them with a good understanding of what I need to do and still wind up with something that is unsuitable for use. That's Ok. We learn something every time we start a new project. Its not just about to product at the end of the build but what we learn along the way.

5 Pedals That Every Guitarist Should Own

There are large number of pedal in this world. It is hard to know where to start. Basically, you have to find out what your needs are. But sometimes we need something that helps us expand our sonic range. If you don't have and use these pedals already, then you need to do your self a favor and look into them. They are pretty much awesome.

1)Wah-Wah

The mystic box of funky sounds. The most prolific of course being the Dolup Crybaby. There are endless varities and flavors of this effect. Most large pedal makers have an option. Some boutique guys have had a swing at making there own rocker pedals. Most of us have used if not own some type of wah. It is endlessly entertaining and super expressive. Its not so much which one your use, but that do use one. No two pedal use there wah the same. Find your voice and experiment. It makes you standout. If your play a set and employ this pedal, you'll always get a comment usually starting with "Whoa!"

2)Delay

Again, this is one of those pedal that people can use in countless ways. Some people just set it and forget. You can use it like a type of reverb, or help make your sustain sound endless. There are some genres that are built around this effect: Rock-a-billy and soundscape. Short, long, slap-back, infinite loop, they all have there place and you'd do you're self a favor by picking up one of these. You can get started with an investment of about $50. Behringer, Dan-electro, Rouge, or a use boss unit will be good bets to get you started. Currently I use a Boss DD-20 and it does tons of things, most I've yet to use live. Needing something to seriously expand you sound? Delay.

3)Fuzz

Fuzz is one of the sounds that everyone does a little differently, but they all have very distinguishable sound. Fuzz is not shy or timid. Its made to be in your face. It says look at me. You kick it in when you solo, or want to sound like Jimi. You are basically making noise that is barely recognizable as music. It is the musically equivalent of a push-up bra. This pedal is very polarizing. Some people love it and other hate it. Some people spend their lives searching for the "Holy Grail". There is no such thing as a "bad fuzz". There is only a fuzz you don't like and ones that you do. Go find one that you enjoy, and use it when you want a little attention.

4)Tube Screamer (of some kind)

In a world filled with overdrives and distortions, there is one that spreads like a virus into almost every like of pedal. You can buy the real deal (reissue) for Ibanez, or buy any of the copies that are out there. You can even buy a kit to build your own. Basically a Tube Screamer is a symmetrical distortion with a boost to the mid frequencies. There are serval: Green Screamer, Bad Monkey, Joyo Vintage Overdrive, Route 808, Boss SD-1/BD-2(ish), EHX East River Drive. Everyone has their favorite one, but its fun to take that trip down the rabbit hole and see how far you can get. The best thing I can recommend is to go your your local music store and spend time trying there selection of these, and other, pedals. Have fun and get inspired.

5 Ugly Truths About Being a Bass Player

1) You Have The Heaviest Gear

Everyone's least favorite thing about being a musician is moving gear. If you've ever moved a piano you know what I mean. Instrument are some of the greatest things that grace the earth, but packing them up and hauling them across town can be a nightmare. If you are like me then you have your rig set up and tuned-in to sound perfect in your particular room. Depending on your gear and the distance you have to travel, packing up some of your most treasured possessions may mean a few minute or a couple hours of work. A drummer probably have the most pieces, if you count a pedal board as a single piece, but the weight-per-piece for the bass tops the list. Bass gear is very similar to a guitar rig, only heavier. If you play bass you'd had better start working on your muscles.

2)Chicks Dig Guitarist, But Not Bass Guitarist

This I know from first hand experience. No, not because I was a bass player and didn't get a girl, but because when I was in a regularly playing and traveling band, our bass play didn't. Poor guy. Why is does this happen? It probably has something to do with the previous point. Of course everyone notices the singer. They are the one whining into the microphone. There is something that the ladies respond to when a "grown" man "sings" into a mic about what someone else in the band wrote. The guitarist has his solos and dominates the musical attention. Drummers are noticeable, but are quickly dismissed because of their tendency to be repetitive. No disrespect to drummers, not that they can read anyways, its just that they are limited to the number of pieces they have in their set. Its sad that the foundation of the sound doesn't get much notice. It would be missed if it wasn't there. It like a concrete foundation, it is important, but its not sexy.

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I'll just leave this here.

3)No One Really Hears The Bass

As I've stated before. The bass is the foundation of the sound. I appreciate the contribution that they make, but unless you lesson for those particular frequencies, all that people will think of the bass players performance is, "meh". So the years of practice and perfecting skill adds up to an underwhelming sigh. Sorry bass players. There is one exception to the rule. Flea. Flea has been able to break the plain. Even non-bass players will respect the skill of Flea. Try to imagine The Red Hot Chili Pepper without his iconic bass lines. No one would lesson to that mess.

4)No One Likes You

So lets recap. You have heavy gear that no one wants to help move. The chicks don't dig you because they are too busy connecting to the singer over the song that you wrote. Your bandmates have no idea what you are doing over there during a gig. Face it, no body likes you. You are late to rehearsal because your gear weighs as much as the vehicle that you used to get it there. The sound guy tends to make the bass sound more like the parents and teachers of the peanuts cartoons than a musical instrument. Forget about solos. The fact is that most people just think that you are a guitarist that didn't quite make the cut. Sorry guys, the truth isn't pretty.

5 Guitars That Every Guitarist Should Own

There are a lot of guitars out there. If you've been playing for a while then you've no doubt found what you like. It take little more than a trip to the music store to see what you like and what works for you. For me it is the Fender Telecaster. There is something comfortable about the shape and weight. For others it might be a SG or something from Ibanez. There is nothing wrong with any of these, but sometimes we gravitate toward a particular shape and style. If you are the collector type, like myself, then one guitar is never enough, nor is one type. So, how do we go about being a well rounded guitar owner? Diversity.

5) The Pawn Shop Special

There is something about find a diamond in the rough. Sometimes you have call them like you see them. If the guitar is a dud, its a dud. Sometime you find a guitar that was made for about five minutes by a company that doesn't exist any more. Other times you find a guitar that has been loved a little too hard, but despite the looks, the guitar of a soulful tone machine still lives. The best part is that prices are usually pretty flexible. This is a great idea that for the collector with limited cash. It can also serve as a great platform for mods and experimenting.

4)The Classic

We are talking the big four. Strat, Tele, Les Paul, SG. Many of these are made and lots of people make clones. It is actually hard Not to own one of these guitars once your collection reaches a certain size. There is not a lot to say hear. There are some icons that should be experienced. If you do not already like one of these options then look into these guys. Many people like at their choice of guitar as a reflection of themselves, and to an extent it is, and getting one of these classics seems to cliche. There is a reason that these are so prolific.

3)The obscure

Just like owning a classic is important, owning a guitar that no one really knows or has ever thought about since the last one rolled off the production line. Often times these are terrible guitars, but every once in a while these surprise us and end up being fantastic guitars. The pawn shop is a great place to look, as is craigslist.

2)The "Out of your comfort zone"

Get weird. Get way out there. BC Rich is a great place to start. Maybe a flying V or Explorer for the more timid. A seven or eight string guitar will challenge you in many ways. Perhaps it as simple as losing the low E string and tuning a guitar to and open tuning. You should also consider extended range guitars such as a baritone. Resonator or slide guitar could be your "walk on the wild side". Everyone has their own comfort zone, try to find something that is definitively not typical for you.

1))The Fixer-upper

With a little luck and a few tools, you can take a guitar that others would pass up and make it into an absolute player. Maybe this a low-end model that could use some new guts, or a used unit that needs a nice set up. In any case, there is nothing that connects you to your instrument like putting honest work into bringing it back to life. This is a great experience for any guitarist. Working on a guitar and improving its status is good practice for when your main ax develops a hiccup. Skills like soldering and wiring take practice to perfect, so working on a guitar that isn't already an important part of your emotional well-being might be preferable.

5 Pedals That I Wish Actually Worked.

5. Boss DS-1

So I know what you're thinking. "But it does work!" To that I say, "Kinda." Yes, the pedal technically functions as designed. It does cause your guitar signal to distort. However, in it's stock form, it doesn't create a musical effect. The word, "fizzy" comes to mind when playing through this box. There is a lot of support for this pedal, but, in my experience, the only thing that this pedal does is make me sad.

4. Behringer NR-300 Noise Reducer

Behringer is known for making high quality musical products. Cheap. Cheap is what I meant to put there. Behringer is everyone's favorite Chinese importers. They have made knock-offs of other people's things and undercut said people. I've owned several pieces of gear from then from time to time. I've kicked all of it out of my set-up. The NR-300 Noise Reducer not only does a poor job at its primary function, but it ADDS NOISE. It does the opposite of noise reduction.

3. Joyo JF-12 Ultimate Fuzz

I wanted to like this pedal so bad. I thought it was a great combination of fuzz and octave. Fuzz is a very subjective effect. Its obviously an "over-the-top" type of effect. Octave is not very subtle either. I've played a few fuzzes. It seems like there are hundred of boutique type fuzz boxes. This is probably because a fuzz is a simple circuit. Just because it comes in a boutique box with cool graphics, it doesn't mean that they sound great. Just like not all obscure fuzz pedals make great sound, not all prolific. mass-produced units are sure bets either. The Joyo fails to impress on either side of the coin. The fuzz is mediocre at best, and the octave isn't controllable at all and too often covered up. It doesn't do either one particularly well and together they are just noise. Too bad really, Its a great idea.

2. Ernie Ball Volume Pedals

The original volume pedal is an amazing pedal. It has the best feel of any volume pedal that I've used. The Jr editions just aren't the same. I have a big foot, so I like a big pedal. So I picked up one of these and I really dig it, but the ugly truth about this pedal is that they are noisy. The design of these pedals are super-simple. They use string for goodness sake. The pots always go bad. This is a know problem and you can fix it by replacing the entire guts of the pedal. Oh yeah, its expensive too (about $20 a pop). That's what the parts cost. Not handy with a soldering iron? Might as well start looking for a new pedal.

1. Digitech Whammy

So I have a strong dislike for all things digitech. I've used a range of their products and I've been disappointed by all of them. They promise big and under-deliver. The Whammy is a fun effect, no doubt, but the tracking on the whammy is rough to say the least. Its not so much a pitch shifter but an effect of its own type. But as a pitch shifter with real time manipulation, its a fail. Fidelity is a grey area with any effect this type. Something that changes a part of your signal as integral as pitch is going to alter your tone. However, when the effect is off it still "sucks tone". As one of the only effect of this type, it hard to replace this pedal when its need, but for about the same money you can get a Boss pitchshifter and expression pedal. In my onion that is money well spent.

The Case for Another Tube Screamer (EHX East River Drive)

So if you haven't heard, EHX has been cooking up some new dirt. There has been some backlash since a few of their "ideas" haven't been quite original. I posted my hands on review of their Mosfet (OCD) overdrive. This, if you couldn't tell be the extreme use of green or the title of this blog, is a tube screamer close. Cloning the TS-9 and it's derivatives have been copied so many times and ways that it is hard to keep track. Why on earth would anyone put another of the same thing into the world. Ibanez has cornered the market on their green box. They have the TS-9(the old stand-by $100), TS-7,  TS-5(all plastic), TS-9DX(TS with an extra knob), and the TS-808(an expensive all metal TS with a couple different resisters). They all share the same circuit. So it makes it hard to stand out in the middle of such a crowd. What makes The ERD different? It has a sexy boutique-style case, true bypass, mechanical switch, and a slick decal.

What about the sound? Those who follow the world of pedals know the name aNoLoG.MaN. I name synonymous with quality tone. He is the one who made the DS-1 into something so sought after that he was once backordered for a year. EHX bought the MaN himself in on the design of this pedal. He himself admits that it is explicitly an 808 clone. He consulted on the design of the circuit and the parts used in the build. Hopefully some of his Mojo rubbed off in the process. Everything I've read from EHX fails to mention the pedal guru by name, so kudos I guess for not name dropping. I would have been skeptical if I had not read the forum that he actually participates in.

So it looks like the ERD is a TS-9 with all the popular mods installed in it already in a pretty little boutique package designed by the "King of Tone" himself. Oh yeah, it's $58 and made in the USA. So there's that.

The Best Deal on a Banjo has Been Found!

If you've been reading this blog (bless you) then you may know that this year I've resolved to learn new instruments this year. The banjo is one of the instrument that I want to learn. Those intrested in this instrument know that it can be a little daunting to choose the right instrument. First of all there are several types of banjo, but the most popular is the 5-string tenor banjo. Looking at many of the larger retailers, you'll see many options in the beginner range. there are options starting at around $150. Most of the banjos at this range have no resinator (the round wooden back piece that projects the sound forward). If your local music store is any thing like mine, then the banjos there are a little more cost prohibitive. Being a novice and on a tight budget limits my option.

Is there an option at the $150 mark that is suitable for a serious beginner? Absolutly, and I'll share with you exactly where I found it. I found a retailer on eBay, but their prices are slightly less at there site (probably due to eBay fees. The site is Musicians Discount Warehouse I can't speak for anything other than the 24 Bracket Closed Back Jameson Banjo with Remo Head but what I've found really surprised me.

I'm sure that this banjo is imported for china or someplace simular. I'm am no stranger to these "value" instruments. I'm always on the look out for a great deal on any instrument. So, when I found this banjo that appeared to have all the features as other banjos costing 2 or 3 times the price. I was suspisious to say the least. When it arrived I was pleased to see that it was shipped in a double box and well packaged. It was well set-up out of the box. The bridge was well placed and after tuning the insturment was ready for action. I was planning on putting some time into adjusting things like head tention or bridge placement, but everything seemed to be in good working order. Next thing I instected was the fit and finish, and again, I was impressed. No noticable finsh flaw and all the fittings were snugg and well fitting. The only thing that I could complain about is that there a loose retaining screw for he resinator.

If you are concidering purchasing a banjo you should really consider the one linked about. I'm not sponcered by the retailer or brand or anything of the sort. I was just impressed by the value of the instrument that I received. I wouldn't call it a professional instrument and the appointment are not ornate. As far as a functional insturment, this banjo really shines. I have no doubt that I can learn on and use this instrument for my needs.

New Pedals Are Something We Can All Get Excited About. (EHX Glove)

So back it October Electro Harmonix debuted a new line of Overdrives and Distortions. Being a fan of the brand (mostly the Big Muff and derivatives there of) I was interested to see what they had done. The features are attractive. The range of the new pedals span the whole range of OD and dirt pedals. EHX released their new pedals: Glove, Hot Tubes, Soul Food, and East River Drive (not to mention the Big Muff Pi nano). I'm really looking forward to taking a close look at each of these pedals. I've spent some time with one, and this is what I've found:

The Glove pedal is a mosfet drive in the vain of the famous OCD from Fulltone. My personal experience with this pedal has won this pedal a special place in my heart (and possibly my pedalboard). There has huge possiblities with unit. Reported to be able to clean boost. I won't know. My amp is very easily overdriven. A set of hot humbuckers and a boost will send my clean channel into breakup. So I don't know about "clean" boost. It definitely has some boost. The tones possible are great, but whats get my attention is the options on this pedal. First you notice the big three knobs. Everybody know the three, no matter what they are called, they do the same function. Drive, Tone, and Volume are present and accounted for, but take a closer look and you notice a mini-toggle. At first I thought it was a switch that bypassed the tone circuit, it isn't. It actually changes the tone stack. "On" is a high-mid boost and "off" is a flatter mid section with a little focus on the low-mids. Both ways produce some nice tones. Your tone and guitar's character still shine through with this pedal. But thats not all. On the inside there is a switch to change from 9 to 18 volt operation. Modders have been adding this function to their pedal for as long as I've been aware of modding, its nice to see some forward thinking. This pedal is a breath of fresh air, and you can find this for less than $60. The design may not be 100% original but I really like what they did with this pedal

Now the Ugly. To get to the internal voltage switch (or change the battery for that matter), you have to open up the box (screwdriver not included). The slight inconvenience isn't my may concern. I have the habit of cracking open my stomp boxes as it is. I did happen to notice that EHX have turned to the darkside in the name of profits. There is heavy usage of micro-sized passive components. This is bad news for modders and boutique snobs. If Boss can sell a $50 dirt box with real sized resistors and caps, then it serves to think that so can EHX. Oh wait, they are made in the USA.

So I dig the pedal, Love the features, and the price outstandingly low. It looks like a win in my book, just don't look behind the curtain.

New Pedals from Boss Look A Lot Like Some Old Ones.

So I jump on the computer today to do some time-killing and I found something very peculiar. My first stop (as far as music gear goes) is MusiciansFriend. I like to check their "Stupid Deal of The Day", but today I saw something else. At first glance it looked to be a Boss DS-1 (the infamous "Orange Box") but it was priced at three times the normal price. I looked a little closer and found out that in fact it is a new orange box. They slapped an "X" on the end of the name, gave it high and low tone knobs, and tripled the price. I haven't heard any samples of this pedal, but its hard for me to imagine people shelling out three times the price for a pedal that is famous for only being good for people to mod the ever-loving cush out of.

Here is what Boss has to same for themselves:

The DS-1X launches the famous BOSS distortion into a modern era of expression, delivering an unmatched level of performance for guitarists with an ear for tone. This next-generation stomp combines over 35 years of innovation in pedal design with the most advanced technologies, bringing you a completely new tonal experience that’s only possible with the legendary expertise of BOSS. Prepare to be amazed—the inspiring and ultra-responsive DS-1X will change your thinking about distortion pedals forever.

• Special edition BOSS distortion pedal with next-generation sound, feel, and tonal response
• All-new design provides a superior playing experience that’s unattainable with analog distortion pedals
• Powerful real-time processing adapts to your playing to provide ideal distortion tones in every register
• Enjoy perfect sounds over the entire fretboard, from tight, crisp tones on the low strings to fat, singing tones on the highest notes
• High-clarity distortion sound that’s never muddy or boomy, even when playing two or more notes at the same time
• Ultra-responsive to volume changes and picking dynamics
• Very low noise, even with high-gain settings
• Drive, High, and Low knobs offer a wide range of sound shaping not found in typical stompbox pedals
• Striking appearance with exclusive chrome knobs and control plate, plus vintage silver knob for battery compartment access
• Features BOSS’ innovative Multi-Dimensional Processing (MDP), realized with proprietary technology and custom DSP

EBay: The Real Musician's Friend

Any musician that has ever attempted to buy or research any musical instrument has probably encountered the retail site Musicians Friend. They have a very large selection of musical instruments and assorted accessories. They have detailed descriptions and customer reviews that help in the purchasing decision. I've purchased many things from their website and more often than not I've been very pleased. I endorse shopping at your LOCAL music store as much as possible. I've learned many invaluable lessons from the good people at my local stores, and I am lucky enough to have more than one to choose from. I understand that some people are not in that particular position. Simply, they do not live within 100 miles of a store that sells a selection of instrument and the internet is the best solution for them. In most cases, a purchase is aided in immeasurably ways by putting your hands of the item you want to buy.

Having said that, a savvy consumer can use EBay to save a great deal of money on your next musical purchase. I am not endorsed by EBay, Musician"s Friend, or any other retailer, I feel that my experiences may help my fellow musicians. You may be skeptical of used instrument, and I am too. I also recommend that you check out the return details and read description thoroughly. There is always a reason someone want to get rid of whatever they are selling. Be sure the reason isn't that the item is broken or problematic. I can't speak in depth on making large purchases, like high end guitars or complete drum sets ( there doesn't seem to be that much of a value in drum sets when shipping is considered). Things that really seem to be bargains are effects pedals. You can find them for about 50-60% of retail. Cymbals are another great chance to save some money. Again, prices here hang around half price and shipping doesn't break the bank.

Don't forget you get what you pay for. If something seems to good to be true. There is a learning curve to using EBay, but the time it take to learn the ins and out is worth it.