All in Gear

From Saturation to Overdrive: Exploring the Versatility of the Sarno Earth Drive Pedal

From Saturation to Overdrive: Exploring the Versatility of the Sarno Earth Drive Pedal

Mark Marshall
Gear, Pedals, Reviews

It's intriguing to consider that three decades ago, we had a limited number of options when it came to guitar pedals. Nowadays, the tables have turned, and at times, it feels as if we have too many options. Options are a good thing, but there comes a point where there are so many options that many of the most incredible options get hidden from the masses, much like what is happening in the music business right now. The most interesting music is not what's accessible through the mainstream.

No style of pedal fits into this category more than overdrive pedals, which outnumber all other pedals by far. Everyone makes an overdrive pedal. If my grandma were alive, she would make one, too.

Unleashing Creativity: Exploring the Red Panda Tensor Pedal

Unleashing Creativity: Exploring the Red Panda Tensor Pedal

Mark Marshall
Gear, Pedals, Reviews

Welcome to this week's dive into the world of pedal chemistry, where we're spotlighting the fascinating Red Panda Tensor pedal. This innovative reverse tape effects pedal is not just a tool; it's an instrument that invites experimentation and yields unexpected sonic delights. In this comprehensive review, we'll explore its features, delve into its capabilities, and share creative insights on how this pedal can transform your musical experience.

Douglas Vertical Pedalboards: Transform Your Music Setup

Douglas Vertical Pedalboards: Transform Your Music Setup

Mark Marshall
Gear, Pedals, Reviews

In this week's podcast, we're diving into the world of vertical pedal boards and exploring the unique craftsmanship of the Red Panda Tensor pedal. While browsing Etsy for pedal boards a few weeks back, I stumbled upon a fascinating niche – vertical pedal board stands designed for desktop use.

What caught my eye were these single pedal board holders crafted through 3D printing. However, I preferred handcrafted wooden options, as 3D-printed products feel impersonal and cheap. Enter Douglas Pedal Boards – a discovery that sparked my interest.

Douglas Pedal Boards, a small business in Canada, stood out with its beautifully hand-built creations. The boards exuded a unique quality, far from the mass-produced feel of assembly line products. I reached out to Douglas, delving deeper into his craft, and was fortunate to get my hands on one for my studio – an experience I must say left me truly delighted.

The Universal Audio Del-Verb: What You Need to Know

The Universal Audio Del-Verb: What You Need to Know

Mark Marshall
Pedals, Gear, Reviews

Let's explore the Universal Audio Delverb pedal. I was drawn to this pedal due to its combination of reverb and delay in a compact design compared to my other, usually independent, reverb and delay pedals. When I need both effects for a gig with a minimal pedal board, the Delverb is a solution.

Fitting a larger-sized delay and reverb, an overdrive, and a tuner, among other pedals, is challenging. The Delverb seemed to address this issue. While there have been other solutions, I wasn't satisfied with their sound; many delays and reverbs sounded thin to me, except for the Strymon El Capistan, which I like.

The El Capistan, while a great-sounding pedal, posed challenges as the reverb was not easily adjustable in my version. Even the newer version with adjustable reverb had the drawback that turning off the delay also turned off the reverb. I needed independent control over both effects.

SoloDallas Storm

SoloDallas Storm

Mark Marshall
Gear, Pedals, Reviews

Designer Ken Schaffer boasts a captivating history extending beyond the realm of music. His portfolio not only includes crafting the earliest wireless guitar unit and collaborating with the Rolling Stones but also involves a stint working for the US government, where he engaged in espionage on Russian satellites.

His narrative is rich and intriguing. Even the REM song "What's the Frequency, Kenneth" is an ode to Ken Schaffer. During an interview with Dan Rather, they were assaulted by individuals shouting the infamous phrase, linking back to Ken's days at Columbia University and the states he was studying.

Seeker Electric Effects Tonebender MKI

Seeker Electric Effects Tonebender MKI

Mark Marshall
Pedals, Gear, Reviews

The Tonebender MKI circuit is one of my favorite fuzz circuits and one of the rarest fuzz pedals. Luckily for us, builders such as Seeker Electronics are making the circuit in modern times, as finding a vintage pedal is highly unlikely, especially without a price tag that would make even the avid collected blink.

Knowing how many original tone benders inventor Gary Hurst made is impossible. The first run of them was made in wooden enclosures. Gary then switched to metal-pressed sheet metal enclosures that were painted gold.

The MKI as we know it only existed for about a year, from 1965-1966, before the MK1.5 came out, which had a considerably different sound.

Speebtone Harmonic Jerkulator Fuzz

Speebtone Harmonic Jerkulator Fuzz

Mark Marshall
Gear, Pedals, Reviews

Every so often, a truly distinctive gem emerges amidst the sea of fuzz circuits that pay homage to the iconic Fuzz Face, Tone Bender, and Big Muff designs.

These moments, however, are far rarer than one might imagine. The prevailing trend often leans towards replication rather than innovation. Admittedly, this has its merits; I find solace in the likes of Analog Man, artisans who meticulously breathe life into vintage fuzz circuits.

Yet, how refreshing it is to encounter a breath of contrast. The Speebtone Jerkulator pedal, a revelation upon my first encounter through a video demo, stands as a prime testament to this refreshing departure. It refused to tread the well-trodden path of traditional fuzz pedals, carving its own niche.

FSC Fuzz

FSC Fuzz

Mark Marshall
Pedals, Reviews, Gear

FSC Guitars has recently introduced their latest pedal, the What The Fuzz (WTF), based on a germanium Fuzz Face circuit (although using silicon) with some unique modifications.

While the WTF retains a silicon circuit's stability and standard power capabilities, it is designed to exhibit the sound qualities typically associated with germanium fuzz pedals. In addition, this innovative approach allows for increased stability and eliminates the need for specialized power supplies.

One notable addition to the WTF is the bias knob, a feature not commonly found on traditional silicon fuzz faces. This knob enables you to adjust the spiciness and gated characteristics of the sound by effectively starving the circuit.

FSC KB-1: Expanding Klon Possibilities

FSC KB-1: Expanding Klon Possibilities

Mark Marshall
Gear, Pedals, Reviews

FSC Instruments has introduced a unique version of the Klon Centaur circuit called the KB-1. Rather than simply creating a replica like many others have done, FSC Instruments decided to expand on the original idea.

However, it's important to understand the KB-1. It does contain the Klon Centaur circuit, allowing you to achieve 100% Klon tones. But the KB-1 takes it further by incorporating an additional gain stage.

A Brief but Complete Guide to the Klon Centaur

A Brief but Complete Guide to the Klon Centaur

Mark Marshall
Pedals, Gear, Tips

The Klon Centaur pedal has achieved legendary status, with guitarists willing to pay thousands of dollars for an original created by Bill Finnegan. It has been dubbed the "holy grail" of guitar tone by many. In this article, I will examine the hype surrounding the Klon, its strengths and weaknesses, its intended uses, and its modern counterparts.

What's intriguing about the Klon is that it has become more of a brand name than a representation of its sound or design. Unfortunately, the Klon is a prime example of a brand or hype overshadowing the actual sound and purpose of the device.

Ampete 88S Studio 2 Amp Switching System

Ampete 88S Studio 2 Amp Switching System

Mark Marshall
Reviews, Gear, Tips

When recording multiple guitars on a composition, I often find using different amps on different tracks helpful. This is because guitars are very midrange-heavy instruments. The more guitars you layer on top of each other, the more muddy things can become.

Each part can lose its identity when you start layering the same sound on top of the same sound. So I often try different guitars and amps to help each guitar part stand out as a multi-guitar layered track.

I often see guitarists switch to another pedal on their pedalboard, but in my opinion, that doesn't change the sonic imprint enough, and stacked guitars can still lose their identity.

The best way to carve out some sonic space if stacked guitars are getting a little cluttered is to use a different guitar, amp, or both.

Surfybear Metal

Surfybear Metal

Mark Marshall
Gear, Pedals, Reviews

For how seemingly simple surf guitar tone appears, it's pretty elusive. Like with cooking, the fewer ingredients you have, the better quality they need to be. There is no disguise or distractions.

Surf guitar is generally a guitar, reverb, and amp. Sometimes an early fuzz like the Maestro FZ-1A was involved. But primarily guitar to the reverb to the amp.

Each of these three ingredients needs to be correct to truly capture the classic surf guitar tone of artists like Dick Dale and the Ventures.

Performative Reverb Using the Chase Bliss CXM 1978

Performative Reverb Using the Chase Bliss CXM 1978

Mark Marshall
Pedals, Reviews, Gear

Plenty of people have a set it and forget it mentality when it comes to reverb, and that's fine and dandy. But there is a whole world of exploration there that can happen in real-time. Sometimes while recording, I venture into the sound design world. Meaning it's as much about the sound and feeling as it evolves as much as the part-writing. Which reverb I choose and the settings become an essential factor.

In this article, I will discuss sculpting tone with reverb, where the tweakability of a reverb is just as important as the guitar or amp you choose.

IsoAcoustics Stage 1 Board

IsoAcoustics Stage 1 Board

Mark Marshall
Amps, Reviews, Gear, Tour, Tips

For many decades guitarists would walk into a studio or gig and put their guitar amp on the floor without putting much thought into it. Sometimes, a guitarist would need to hear their guitar more so they would place their amp on an amp road case, chair, wooden box, or anything lying around.

There was little thought about how the guitar amp reacts sitting on a floor or on top of a road case. Guitarists would notice issues with the sound of their amp from gig to gig but often chalked that up to the venue or other circumstances.

Analog Man Sun Face BC108

Analog Man Sun Face BC108

Mark Marshall
Gear, Reviews

The Fuzz Face circuit is the most well know of the fuzz circuits alongside the Big Muff. This largely in part by the usage of the Fuzz Face by Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmore. David Gilmore eventually moved to a Big Muff, which made that pedal well known.

Although Hendrix used other fuzz pedals from time to time, he became associated with the Fuzz Face. Likely because of his performance at Woodstock. I actually got to hold the Fuzz Face, and wah-wah Hendrix played at Woodstock. I was thoroughly pattered down, leaving the location where they are stored.

The term Fuzz Face has become a generic term for fuzz among some guitarists. Some major manufactures don't help in their marketing either. You're often led to believe there is one basic Fuzz Face, which is not valid. I'm not saying Dunlop is lying to you. I'm saying they're making a vanilla Fuzz Face with hopes it fits all.

The Echorec Delay Sound

The Echorec Delay Sound

Mark Marshall
Reviews, Gear

The Bnson Echorec delay is a sound that many guitarists have heard but aren't aware of its identity. There is an assumption that anything before digital or analog delays are tape-based echos.

Tape echos such as the Maestro Ecoplex were produced in quantity and more available in the USA. Italian inventor Dr. Bini designed the Echorec to solve some of the issues known with a tape delay.

Anasounds Element Spring Reverb

Anasounds Element Spring Reverb

Mark Marshall
Pedals, Reviews, Gear

I’m a sucker for drippy spring reverb. I listen to a lot of surf and psychobilly music. You will find records from The Ventures and The Cramps in our vinyl collection.

Spring reverb isn’t just “reverb” to me. It’s an extremely specific flavor. One that just can’t be recreated digitally. Digital technology has come far, but I don’t feel there is a digital equivalent of spring reverb yet.

Strymon Iridium and Live Amp Sim Thoughts

Strymon Iridium and Live Amp Sim Thoughts

Mark Marshall
Pedals, Gear, Tips

Amp and speaker cab emulators are trending right now. A lot of musicians are recording less in commercial studios. Perhaps they can’t record a real amp in their home studio due to volume restraints.

Some guitarists are looking for solutions to loud or heavy amps. Perhaps there are volume limitations on the gig. Or guitarists are trying to have as little a footprint as possible when traveling to gigs. For these players, an amp in a pedal is appealing.

Barefoot Buttons

Barefoot Buttons

Mark Marshall
Reviews, Gear

It's strange the details that fail to progress with guitar gear over the decades. Companies spend a lot of time trying to reduce the pedal size, but neglect others. For instance, we now have nano pedals. Yet, the footswitches remain small.

Have you ever tried to turn a pedal on or off when you weren't wearing shoes? It's not a very comfortable experience unless you're using a Boss pedal.

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