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gear giveaway

Author Archive

Empress Of’s Gear and Creative Process

The two preview singles from Empress Of's upcoming album ('Kitty Kat' and 'Water Water') reveal how the project of Brooklyn's songwriter and producer Lorely Rodriguez is evolving from its dream pop beginnings towards a more experimental sound, closer to the avant-electro sensibility of artists like Bjork and Gang Gang Dance. Since Lorely produces her own music, we thought it would be interesting to ask her a few questions about her favorite gear and creative process.... Click on the title for more

Empress Of’s Gear and Creative Process

Tribute Audio’s Effect Integrator

Have you ever wanted to run vocals through your guitars pedals, just to see what kind of sonic madness can be obtained? The Effect Integrator from Tribute Audio Designs (a company that participated in our latest Summer NAMM Stompbox Exhibit) might be just what you're looking for. This unique device allows regular stompboxes to be used as vocal effects without needing to worry about DI boxes, impedance issues, adapters, or anything else.... Click on the title for more

Tribute Audio’s Effect Integrator

Holy Ghost!’s Synths, Gear and Creative Process

Active since the beginning of the decade, NYC born and bred synth pop duo Holy Ghost has been able not only to remain relevant in an ever changing musical scene, but also to deliver new memorable singles with every new release. Their songs showcase two accomplished songwriters, something quite rare among electronic musicians. The following interview sheds light on their creative process and what seems to be their main font of inspiration: synths.
... Click on the title for more

Holy Ghost!’s Synths, Gear and Creative Process

Adventure Audio’s pedalboard at SNAMM 2015

Adventure Audio participated in our Summer NAMM 2015 Stompbox Exhibit, showcasing their growing family of pedals, now including the mysterious TARS Fuzz (a pedal inspired by the movie "Interstellar"), the Fuzz Peaks (a spin on the classic Black Russian Big Muff circuit), and the Fuzz Lightyear (two fuzz circuits fused together).... Click on the title for more

Adventure Audio’s pedalboard at SNAMM 2015

Boards at the SNAMM ’15 Stompbox Exhibit

Check out all the boards of the manufacturers that participated in the Summer NAMM 2015 Stompbox Exhibit!... Click on the title for more

Boards at the SNAMM ’15 Stompbox Exhibit

New pedals at SNAMM: Humboldt’s Regainer and Preserver

Guitar pedals with wooden enclosures are not an entirely unforeseen idea, but - at least as far as we know - in this field no company has taken things quite as far as Chilean manufacturer Fuse, with their new Humboldt line, handcrafted in Valparaiso and Santiago. Not only are these pedals made out of wood, but the mateiral used for the enclosures is recycled and hand picked from a variety of selected scraps. Because of this, each pedal varies in color and texture, which gives each stompbox its own character.... Click on the title for more

New pedals at SNAMM: Humboldt’s Regainer and Preserver

Teenage Love’s Gear and Creative Process

You shouldn't let go of an ideal band mate: Katy Gunn and Anna Lidell found each other, and not even an ocean in between is slowing down their collaboration, that goes under the name of Teenage Love: the Brooklyn/Copenhagen based duo's beautifully textural 'Gold' EP is out today (July 7th, 2015), and, besides bright musical talent, it showcases a playful approach to gear and musical technology, which is surely also crucial in keeping this long distance relationship alive. We asked Katy and Anna a few questions about their gear and creative process.... Click on the title for more

Teenage Love’s Gear and Creative Process

EZTV Ezra Tenenbaum’s pedalboard (or lack of thereof)

Ezra Tenenbaum used to write about guitar pedals for this very blog. We were pleasantly surprised to see his new band EZTV signed with super buzzworthy Brooklyn label Captured Tracks (home to notable artist such as Mac DeMarco, DIIV, Widowspeak and Wild Nothing among others). Since we had his email, we thought it was time to ask him a few questions about his favorite pedals...... Click on the title for more

EZTV Ezra Tenenbaum’s pedalboard (or lack of thereof)

NashPedals presents two new pedals at the SNAMM Stompbox Exhibit

New stompbox manufacturer NashPedals has a bit of a dual namesake as it was founded by Nash Probst in early 2011 and it also happens to be based in Nashville. Nash began in the early days by focusing mostly on true bypass loopers, other routing pedals and auxiliary pedals before expanding in to the full range of overdrives and boosts offered today. Nash is gearing up for the future with big plans on the horizon, “We will be previewing two new pedals at Summer NAMM 2015,” founder Nash Probst described via email - and they will do that at our Summer NAMM Stompbox Exhibit! “We have a new hybrid transistor fuzz called Sudden Impact and a stereo version of our beloved Bronco Billy boost pedal (check out the demo of the mono version below). And then after the first of the year, we're planning to cater to our bass playing friends and maybe work our way into some modulation options.”... Click on the title for more

NashPedals presents two new pedals at the SNAMM Stompbox Exhibit

Stompbox Exhibit at SNAMM 2015 – List of Manufacturers

The Stompbox Exhibit's booth from SNAMM 2014[/caption]We've been taking our Stompbox Exhibit concept to the NAMM shows since 2013, mainly with the purpose of allowing emerging manufacturers to be able to showcase their products at these important conventions at a fraction of the price. At this year's Summer NAMM, scheduled for July 9-11, we've had an overwhelming number of requests, which forced us to get - for the first time - two 10x10 booths. Here's the full list of participating manufacturers; Summer NAMM attendees will find us at booth #1348. Adventure Audio Big Ear n.y.c. DLS Effects Fairfield Circuitry Fuse Electronics Hotone Main Ace FX Malekko Heavy Industries Nash Pedals Neunaber Audio Effects Outlaw Effects Red Panda Lab ScreaminFX T-Rex Effects Tribute Audio Valeton Effects The Stompbox Exhibit peeps... Click on the title for more

Stompbox Exhibit at SNAMM 2015 – List of Manufacturers

The Life Electric’s Gear and Creative Process

<a href="http://thelifeelectric.bandcamp.com/album/heartbeat">Heartbeat by The Life Electric</a>Active since 2011, Boston's The Life Electric play rather aggressive but always melodic rock'n'roll, with psych and disco influences. Their personal guitar sound is crafted through carefully chosen stompboxes, so we decided to ask them a few questions about their gear and creative process - check out the Q&A below.... Click on the title for more

The Life Electric’s Gear and Creative Process

New Pedals: Black Cat N-Fuzz

Our friends at Black Cat Pedals just released a new fuzz stompbox called N-Fuzz based on an N-Channel transistor (hence the name). This box is based on the Fuzz channel of the OD-Fuzz, but with Japanese components and an extra wide ranging Bias control that allows you to dial in a sweeping array of fuzz tones and timbres. The original N-Fuzz, designed by Fred Bonte was made in limited numbers between 2001 and 2003, and was only available in the Asian market. The circuit was based on a modified Fuzz Face, with an additional toggle switch for high and low output. This new version replaces the toggle switch with a variable bias control pot, allowing for more versatility and in-between options, offering many different tones and timbres of fuzz.
... Click on the title for more

New Pedals: Black Cat N-Fuzz