My take on the age-old debate over guitar amplification. Valve vs Solid-state/Modelling. The case for and against valves. The Case for Valves Tone Tone is, of course very difficult to describe and highly subjective. In my experience, all my A/B comparisons have resulted in the valve amp coming out on top. Valve amps just sound […]
Valve vs Solid-State/Modelling Guitar Amps Read Post »
1. Invest in the best quality guitar leads you can afford. Cheap guitar leads are a false economy. If you’re gigging regularly they’re your main point of failure, so buy quality/buy once is the idea here. I paid well over £20 each for my Whirlwind cables (which isn’t really that expensive ), they have a lifetime
5 tips on becoming a Cheap Guitarist. Read Post »
The idea of transitioning from acoustic guitar to electric can be daunting. Sure, you’ve got the technique down, the chords and the strumming patterns and the scales, but what do to do with all those knobs and cables? Fear not, the evolution need not be intimidating or difficult. All it takes is a bit of time learning
Going Electric: Switching From Acoustic to Electric Guitar Read Post »
Has guitar amp modelling technology caught up or will nothing ever compete with the real guitar amp experience? I love guitar amps, valve guitar amps in particular, but recently I’ve delved into the world of modelling partly out of curiosity, partly out of trying to not be the traditionalist. How did that turn out? Well…
Real Guitar Amps vs Modelling Read Post »
Review and In-depth video review of the handy and surprisingly great-sounding Laney MINI-STB-LION Battery powered guitar mini amplifier. Back to the world of guitar amplifiers Before I acquired this marvellous little amp, the Laney MINI-STB-LION, I was making do with iPad Garageband or even no amp at all to practice with. Guitar-wise at the time
Laney MINI-STB-LION Guitar Amplifier Review Read Post »
A Low-wattage valve guitar amplifier: Something I’ve never considered before, but lately, I’ve come to fully appreciate their charms. So what do I mean by a low-wattage valve guitar amplifier? I’m not talking 15 or even 5 watts, still too loud for the neighbours in the world of valves. I’m talking 1 watt or less,
Low-Wattage Valve Guitar Amplifier – 5 Benefits Read Post »
What is it about valve guitar amps that make them just as popular with guitarists in the digital age as they’ve ever been? Why did I move away from Valve Guitar Amps? When most of my guitar playing time was spent gigging, valve amps (or tube amps to our American cousins) represented a problem, as
5 Compelling Reasons to Buy a Valve Guitar Amp Read Post »
If tone is your only concern. The BOSS Katana can’t compete with more expensive valve guitar amps. Let me try to explain why. I’ve been a supporter of the BOSS Katana range of amps for years. But how do they really compare with traditional valve guitar amps? I’ve already covered the benefits of the BOSS
BOSS Katana vs Valve Guitar Amps Read Post »
The Line 6 Spider series has evolved quite a lot over the years. The latest generation, Spider V, comes in V and V MkII models. I own the Spider V 120. Anything smaller than the 120 sounds great and functions primarily as a great practice amp. The Spider V 20 is perfect for students and
Expanding Line 6 Spider V 120 Read Post »
