Part 2: Gibson V > Tube Screamer > Soldano, Blackstar Part 1 of this WoodyTone interview with former Quiet Riot and current Ratt guitarist Carlos Cavazo was about Carlos joining the band and writing the new album. Here in part 2 it’s all about the gear details – interesting because Carlos’ Ratt tone is quite [...]
Part 1: Joining Ratt, Writing, Sharing Leads Carlos Cavazo will probably always be known best as the axeman for Quiet Riot. He was tapped by QR singer Kevin DuBrow to replace the immortal Randy Rhoads in the band, and as far as many knew (thanks to MTV) was “the” guit-slinger in the band. If longevity [...]
What a Compressor Can Do for You by John Drenning Now we move on to how a compressor can help your playing and tone. First, let’s say you want the advantages of playing with gain, but you need a clean tone. We all know playing with distortion is “easier” because distortion compresses your signal – [...]
Compressors 101 by John Drenning A particular tone obsession of mine started with David Gilmour. In fact, I’m pretty certain that at least 80% of tonal tail-chasing among Men Of A Certain Age involves British rock bands of ’65-’75, a period more or less bracketing the Blues Breakers’ Beano album on one end, and “Dark [...]
I don’t know if everyone but me has seen this movie, but if not (and even if so) the clips are worth a look. Very cool to see Jimmy Page play, and they show some of his gear (but apparently not on purpose!).
Okay folks, looking for some input about what you’d like to see more of on WoodyTone, but first would like to say thanks for reading. Your eyeballs have helped WoodyTone to become exactly what I hoped it would be: a well-read (and hopefully well-written) site for classic rock and blues-rock artists, gear and tones. WoodyTone [...]
‘Cocaine’ Rig Photo! I’ve been sort of back-of-the-mind obsessed with (really more like “puzzled by”) Eric Clapton for a bit now. Ever since I saw him play on Joe Bonamassa’s Albert Hall DVD. I mean, there’s ERIC CLAPTON! – the fact that he’s Eric Clapton is cool on its own, but I wanted him to [...]
It’s Friday! Do you have guitar-squeezin’ in your weekend? Is it part of the plan? It should be if not, even if you have to…squeeze it in. (I wish I could find an amp that I could crank through headphones late at night that would sound like roasting EL84s or EL34s.) Anyhow, to get your [...]
New CD – Last Part of the Trilogy – Out Now In an era when the word “artist” is thrown around for everyone from “rap artists” (oxymoron) to people who couldn’t shovel snow with a guitar let alone play it (but are famous), I’m here to tell you something we already know: Steve Vai is [...]
Part 2 (Here’s Part 1) Warren DeMartini is yet another example of the fact that much of someone’s tone is in the hands. I say that because Warren played an alder/maple/maple super strat with a Floyd Rose bridge and Seymour Duncan JB humbucker through a 100w Marshall head into Marshall cabs. A typical setup for [...]
Part 1 Warren DeMartini (yeah!) – one of the best, tastiest guitar-slingers from the ’80s – has a new album out, Ratt’s Infestation. Is his playing still tasty? Yep. Fluid and fleet? You bet. The album’s good, Warren’s playing is great as usual, and I wanted to talk to him about it. The folks at [...]
Part 2 Here’s the second part of the EL84-focused interview with Don Mackrill of Mack Amps, which is based in Ontario, Canada. WoodyTone: What tonal properties can you get from EL84s that you can’t get from other power tubes? Don: In my opinion, EL84s and EL34s are very similar. 6L6s and 6V6s are too, but [...]
Part 1 I’m not an amp builder, but to me EL84 power tubes seem like the little brother to EL34s. As Vox is to Marshall, if you will. Similar tone, but lower-powered. And while I love EL34 amps – their sheer mind-bending power – I keep running across awesome-sounding EL84 amps.
With Better Drumming… I’m sure you’re like me: When you hear about a new album coming from one of your favorite players or bands, you have this huge anticipation – but it’s mixed with a little trepidation. You can’t wait to hear it, but you’re a little worried that you’ll be disappointed. You’re thinking that [...]
Here’s the New VH Single/Vid: 50w?
Update from a reader (thanks!): Tattoo is is based on an old song, “Down in Flames” – check it below. “Tattoo.” Is it me or have we never heard a Van Halen tune like this before? If Ed used his “grail” Marshall Super Lead on this album, don’t think we’re hearing it on this tune! [...]
Breaking Down the VH NYC Debut
She’s the Woman! Cafe Wha – yeah man! Couldn’t wrangle my son and I an invite, so instead awaited the sure-to-follow YouTube vids. Fingers were crossed that the band would play some new tunes, though had to admit that didn’t make much sense since they hadn’t even released a tune yet. Anyhow, here’s what we [...]
Bonamassa Hears Clapton in EVH: You?
Lots of well-known axe-slingers are quoted in Neil Zlozower’s new (and awesome) Eddie Van Halen book. One is the current white bluesman extraordinaire, Joe “gingers o’ fire” Bonamassa. What he says is interesting, and not sure I can hear what he’s hearing. Bear in mind a couple things: 1. EVH has said many times that [...]
Have You Gone Extra Slinky Yet?
When I recently got an email from a WoodyTone reader – let’s call him Mike because…that’s his real name – I was stoked because I like light strings. I played 10s for years, then went to 9s after getting back into the whole EVH tone quest. With 9s I noticed that the notes “opened up,” [...]
If I ever had a doubt I’m a huge Edward Van Halen fan (never had any doubt, but…), any such insane thought was erased when I finished reading Neil Zlozower’s new Eddie Van Halen book. Yep, reading. Actually got a little emotional at the end of it (*sniff*), reading Nuno Bettencourt’s story about a recent [...]
Did Edward Van Halen have his MXR phaser and flanger modded to boost or not? The initial interviews are inconclusive. Exhibit A, from this recent post: I use a phase shifter, a Phase 90 – MXR, I think. It doesn’t really phase – it just kind of gives you treble boost, which I like. Cuts [...]
Last Cool Stuff From ’78 EVH Transcript
Here’s the last of the interesting stuff from the newly published transcript of the entire 1978 interview of Edward Van Halen that Jas Obrecht did for Guitar Player mag. Wish there was a lot more! Guitar Stuff The Shark/Destroyer Jas: Does it have a standard neck? EVH: Yeah. It’s completely stock, really, except for the [...]
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