Sometimes a story or an idea is best vocalized
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Ep 155 : Buying Used Is a Smart Decision
You can get a great guitar and save a bundle by shopping smart for a used instrument. In my collection, I have a lot of used guitars and because I shopped carefully, all of them are 100% keepers. In fact the only guitars that I have sold or traded were bought new, and I grew to discover they weren’t a fit for me. Used can be a very smart decision.
Ep 154 : The Best Amp…
Hey there. When the music industry goes into its annual slump starting early January that lasts until March or so, the Internet, forums, magazines and the tubes all fill to the brim with speculative fiction and utter BS. Which is the best amp is one of those. Time to set that crap on fire and burn it down.
Ep 153 : D’Addario XS Acoustic and Electric Coated Strings
Happy 2025. In this episode I talk about the advantage of coated strings and my favourite readily available strings, the industry leading D’Addario XS family. If you like my work, please become a monthly supporter on Patreon by clicking the link on the main page at thatguitarlover.com
Ep 152 : The Rotary or Leslie Pedal
Hey listeners! In this episode I talk about the design and evolution of the Leslie speaker system and how that incredible effect is now available for guitar and bass. Please support my work by becoming a donor on Patreon.
Ep 151 : The Spark 2 is the Perfect Practice Amp
I contend that you cannot get a more effective, more powerful in terms of function and more usable practice amplifier system than the Positive Grid Spark 2. This episode is not sponsored by anyone and I wasn’t bought off. I really believe this so have a listen and let me explain why. Help keep the channel running by becoming a supporter on Patreon.
Ep 150 : Where Next for Amplifiers
Our use cases for amplifiers has changed over the last fifty years. What we had to have then, may be irrelevant today. In this episode I invite listeners to consider where they will be going on the subject of amplifiers and if willing to share with the audience by sending in a comment. If you get value from what I do here, please sign up to make a monthly donation on Patreon. Your support keeps the microphones and the computers working.
Ep 149 : The Value of a Looper
The Looper pedal is one of the most useful tools to a guitarist or bassist. When one is practicing alone or writing a song, the ability to construct passages or solos over a backing sound is very powerful and very important. While powerful backing tracks are available on the Internet, some free, some at cost, a looper doesn’t require that there be any gear involved other than you, your instrument, your looper and your ability to hear yourself, either through an amp or some device that feeds your sound to a pair of headphones.
Ep 148 : Discussing Switchers
Hi folks, in this episode I talk about three kinds of switchers that most of us could make use of. To support my work, please go to https://thatguitarlover.com and click the link to support me on Patreon.
Ep 147 : Getting More From Your Pickups
In this episode I share my experience in getting more tonal range out of the pickups that are already in the instrument. Changing pickups can be fun, but perhaps there is a simpler and less expensive option. If you enjoy my work, please become a supporter on Patreon. Your small monthly donation is used to keep this channel up and running.
Ep 146 : Killing Hum and Hiss
In this episode I explore the root causes of noise from our electric instruments and provide suggestions on how to reduce and kill it. Please support the channel by becoming a support on Patreon.
Ep 145 : Equalizers and Tone Stacks
Hello listeners. In this episode I want to explore the value propositions of the tone controls, starting with the ones in your instrument, moving to a pedal style equalizer, the tone stack in your amplifier and EQ plugins in your DAW. And if you aren’t recording, we will consider the tone stack in the PA or sound board. Sound fair?
If you listen to these episodes, please consider becoming a Patron on Patreon and supporting the channel with a regular monthly donation.
Ep 144 : Pedal Style Bass Preamplifers
Hello all. In this episode I discuss the value proposition of bass preamplifiers with speaker simulations that come in a pedal sized box. I touch on the capabilities of these devices in general and then drill down into the three that I recommend, the EBS Microbass 3, the Tech21 NYC DI-2112 and the Ampeg SGT-DI. Please become a Patron on Patreon. Your small monthly donation makes a big difference to me.
Ep 143 : Getting a Decent Signal from a Dynamic Microphone
I’ve recently been approached by some folks who have found that the output level from dynamic microphones that they have bought are very low and that to get a decent signal level requires almost cranking the mic preamp in the interface or on the stage mixer to the maximum. They want to know why, and here I will explain what to do to solve the problem. To support my work, please sign up to be a Patron on Patreon. Your small monthly donation of support is sincerely appreciated.
Ep 142 : Understanding Reverb Options
Welcome to the episode. I want to dive into reverb this episode. What is it, what are the different types, how do we achieve it and what do you look for in choosing the reverb option that is right for you?
Ep 141 : Does Country of Manufacture Matter?
This is a pretty common topic, so I did my research and you may find what I learned surprising. Please become a Patron on Patreon to support my work.
Ep 140 : Modulate This
In this episode I explore the different types of modulation effects that we find in pedals for live play and for recording and in plugins to use in the studio. Please become a patron on Patreon to support my work. Your small monthly donation matters a great deal.
Ep 139 : Amp Sims, Impulse Responses and Pedals for Both
About a year ago, I did an episode on Impulse Response systems. Time has passed, they have become even more prevalent and a lack of clear information has created a fog of confusion around IRs, Amp Sims and pedals that do both to directly feed a PA without any actual guitar or bass amplifiers involved. So that’s what this episode is all about.
Ep 138 : Delay in Depth
The use of a great delay expands your soundscape and helps you as a musician tell your story. In this episode I go through the four primary delay types to provide some core knowledge that might help you find the delay that fits your needs best. Please support my work by becoming a Patron on Patreon. Your small monthly donation makes a big difference to me.
Ep 137 : Should Your Next Guitar Be a Baritone?
As guitarists we are (most of us) always happy to spend time in a real guitar shop, looking around, and perhaps having a play on a guitar that strikes our fancy. Yet, when I ask players who have decided to own multiple guitars, I rarely hear of a baritone guitar. Twelve different Strats, for sure, or a number of different six string acoustics. Maybe the odd mandolin, or a 12 string, but baritones are rarer. Why is that? In this episode, let’s spend some time on the subject of the wonderful baritone guitar.
Ep 136 : Why A Short Scale Bass May Be Right For You
I have to admit that I get tired of the endless spew of BS that I hear thrown around at high velocity by people with strong opinions who are also unemcumbered by facts. Asking the right questions will result in a buyer getting the best instrument for his or her needs, but not asking the right questions can result in a customer who ends up not playing. This time, I want to provide a bit of insight into what might make a short scale electric bass the best choice for you. If you like what I do here, please become a patron on Patreon.