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Tone 101

  • Can’t tell the difference between a single coil and a humbucker, or a phaser, chorus or flanger?
  • Not sure what difference pedal order makes or what the heck an Effects Loop even is?
  • Have you struggled trying to get the tone from your amp to match the one in your mind?
  • Do you have your tone pretty much down, but just need some help setting up a decent pedal board, MIDI controller or switcher?

Tubes Rule!

Believe it or not, I used to run a Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal pedal into a Roland JC-120 and I thought the tone was good! AGH! But I have been on a Journey to the Center of Tone for over 20 years now. And while a Line 6 Spider can sound pretty good as a practice amp, there are some fundamental reasons why you are going to be disappointed if you put that amp in a band situation and why the truth is that Tubes Rule.  Now, that’s not to say that there is not room for solid state. I love still love my JC-120.  And if you happen to be running something as sophisticated as a Fractal Axe FX you’re a lucky shredder for sure. But tubes are tone. Imho, of course!

I have spent my life learning and trying to duplicate famous songs. In my recording studio, I have had to learn countless production tools and techniques. In my positions as a Worship Leader and team member, I have been continually asked to learn and reproduce the sound of countless commercial recordings. I have made it one of my life’s missions to understand how sounds are made and how to reproduce them.

Beware of GAS – Gear Acquisition Syndrome!

Not only do I have a fine collection of new and vintage amps at your disposal to play and experience personally, I also teach from a full audio production studio. What I do not have physically on hand, I have some very convincing modeling software available that can give you a taste of just about any piece of gear in history.

Again, multiple modern and classic amps along with countless effects pedals and gear along with software to cover the rest.

If you are looking to learn about tone, call me and sign up for Tone 101.

Topics Covered: Finger Technique, Guitars, Amps, Pickups, Strings, Delay/Echo, Reverb, Chorus, Wah, Flanger, Phaser, Compression, Pitch Shifting, Modulation, Filters, Gain, Overdrive, Distortion, Input based effects, Loop based effects, Signal Flow, Gain Staging, Multi-Effects, Stereo Effects, Pedal Boards, Switchers, Power Supplies, MIDI Control and more…