Burlap and Blues, The Blues Blog

Other things you can believe in

Proof that you can find anything on Youtube, even very annoying stuff!

On Monday I presented a distortion effect that was dependent on frequency to distort. Somewhat different that the treble boosters of the past, but it still made for a very interesting effect. Today I will present a more complex effect that takes attack and delay and frequency control to another level.

Imagine if you would an effect that if you played subtly, your notes would come through, nice and relaxed with a subtle delay, when you hit harder, the clean note would ring and then quickly mute, and slowly a distorted note would fade in. At the same time, A delay would go from 0% mix up based on the level that you hit the string. As your string fades, the delay fades out. A hard hit makes you sound like you are playing backwards.

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I hate to throw everyone off by breaking this up with an effect review, but I am trying to keep everyone on their toes.

The rest of the single coil manifesto (interpreted)

All preamp distortion, tube or solid state, will sound buzzy at low volumes. I don't care if it's a point-to-point wired Matchless Hotbox, a Boogie V-Twin or whatever, preamp distortion sounds buzzy unless it's used moderately in combination with a hot power amp. That's just the way it is.

A good point to remember.

Tube amps still sound more organic than solid state amps. The difference is mostly in the power amp section, however. That's just the way it is.

Another good point to remember, even if you are running the latest $1200 digital emulator.

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What if there really were no limits in creating good analog effects. What if the mind was really the limit. Well if it was, I would be new creating effects every day. I want to take some time to think outside the effects box. This week I will submit a few effects for your review that I created.

The first effect I will submit for review is the Frequency dependant OD. This overdrive takes 1 / 2 of the signal and distorts it, while keeping the lower frequencies clean. If you were to purchase the analog box it would look something like this:

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Single Coils (from where) Manifesto has graced the internet for quite some time. I have taken time to translate the best into words that most people can understand.

Collecting guitars is fun. But actually keeping more than five guitars properly set up, in fresh strings, and in tune is a pain. More than five is for collectors, not players. That's just the way it is.

Yes, it is a pain, maybe when you get 12 you should plan on having a guitar tech. I have more than 5 but rarely bring more than 3 to a gig. I have several styles of gigs I do, so each of my guitars gets pretty regular use.

The guitar and amp markets are dominated by lower end gear. The high end gear is the most fun to discuss. But most players are shemps who play in their bedroom on low priced equipment. That's just the way it is.

I agree and I will trade you my Marc Sean Price for your entire collection.

The $800 rule. On solid body guitars you get what you pay for (at regular street prices) up to about $800. After that, quality continues to increase with price, but with diminishing returns. Another way of saying this is that you pay most dearly for that last 10% or so of quality. That's just the way it is.

I still am amazed at the number of people who are trying to gig playing guitars that are not matched to their playing ability or amplifiers. This year I watched a young man play a starter $99 bass guitar into a $750 bass amp. Great amp, crappy tone from a crappy guitar.

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