RSSCategory: Reviews

Comp Lit, Pt. 4: MXR Custom Comp Review (Cont.)

Comp Lit, Pt. 4: MXR Custom Comp Review (Cont.)

(In case you missed it, here’s the first part of this review.) Next I set the Output at 1 o’clock and maxed the Sensitivity, while zeroing out the Attack and setting the Trim at 2 o’clock – “Chime Bloom,” per the instructions. The noise increased, but not to a level you’d likely notice on a […]

June 18, 2010 | By | 1 Reply More
Comp Lit, Pt. 3: MXR Custom Comp Review

Comp Lit, Pt. 3: MXR Custom Comp Review

I’ve always had a soft spot for MXR pedals. A Distortion+ mated to a Boss GE-7 were the key ingredients in making my silverface Twin sound like a Marshall, back in 1986! But over the years I’ve become, well, a snob. A “boo-teek” snob. I thought, Surely some huge company with a team of talented […]

June 17, 2010 | By | 3 Replies More
Show Review: Jimmy Somma and The Doors

Show Review: Jimmy Somma and The Doors

And the Skinny on Robby Krieger’s Rigs So there I am at New Jersey’s infamous Starland Ballroom, in scenic Sayreville NJ, on Friday night. I’m there to see the band Wiser Time, with Jimmy Somma of Sommatone amps on lead guitar. I’m there because Wiser Time is a very cool classic rock, Black Crowes-ish band, […]

June 14, 2010 | By | 1 Reply More
Vai’s Minneapolis Trilogy: Get Them All

Vai’s Minneapolis Trilogy: Get Them All

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 […]

April 14, 2010 | By | 2 Replies More
Ludlow Guitars in NYC: Store and Guitars Review

Ludlow Guitars in NYC: Store and Guitars Review

The second part of my recent NYC geetar adventure was a visit to Ludlow Guitars, which amazingly enough I’d never been to (I think – can’t exactly remember). A super-cool store with lots of USED GUITAR INVENTORY! Yeah! And used and boutique amps! Yeah! That’s the stuff I want to play.

March 24, 2010 | By | Reply More
Ace’s New Instructional DVD Very Cool

Ace’s New Instructional DVD Very Cool

Some people might think an Ace Frehley instructional DVD is an oxymoron. I can understand that. Ace is not a technician and his style isn’t complex in 32nd-note, finger-gymnastical, “hyperlodian” ways. But that is precisely what makes Ace’s style unique, and the fact that it’s relatively easy to cop is one big reason he’s influenced […]

February 19, 2010 | By | 1 Reply More
Bonamassa’s ‘Black Rock’ Better Than ‘John Henry’

Bonamassa’s ‘Black Rock’ Better Than ‘John Henry’

I’ll come right out and say it: Joe Bonamassa’s new Black Rock album is better than The Ballad of John Henry. My opinion, of course, and to some extent it’s apples/oranges, or at least apples/pears. Still, that’s a pretty big statement because I believe John Henry debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues chart, […]

February 10, 2010 | By | 3 Replies More
Go Buy the Bonamassa Albert Hall DVD

Go Buy the Bonamassa Albert Hall DVD

Well, wow. I’d been watching bits and pieces of Joe Bonamassa’s Live from the Royal Albert Hall DVD, but today I sat down and watched the whole thing, start to finish. I have to say that this is one of the best concert DVDs I’ve seen – and remember, I’m a rock guy. It’s a […]

December 11, 2009 | By | 1 Reply More
Gov’t Mule’s By a Thread: Tone to the Bone!

Gov’t Mule’s By a Thread: Tone to the Bone!

There’s more woody tone in Gov’t Mule’s new By a Thread CD than in just about any album I can think of off the top of my head since the ’70s (maybe Derek Trucks’ latest?). Many other albums have great tones, but it’s pretty rare that everything sounds this woody in a vintage rock way. […]

November 19, 2009 | By | 1 Reply More
Review: Lynch Mob’s Smoke & Mirrors Really Good!

Review: Lynch Mob’s Smoke & Mirrors Really Good!

Part 1 of a 2-parter Wicked Sensation. That was George Lynch’s first post-Dokken “solo” album (the band was called Lynch Mob), and it was incredible. Still is. Great songs, great singing, great gainy tone, great playing and some of the most mind-altering solos you will ever hear. For me, it’s one of the best albums […]

November 6, 2009 | By | 1 Reply More
Review: KISS’s Sonic Boom Good, Single Great

Review: KISS’s Sonic Boom Good, Single Great

Full Track by Track Review After numerous listens to the Sonic Boom CD, that’s where I come out: good album, great single – and bear in mind that I’m a huge, long-time KISS fan. Don’t misread that. This is the best KISS record since 1979’s Dynasty (obviously I’m not a fan of the ’80s KISS […]

October 22, 2009 | By | 1 Reply More
The Best Stompbox I’ve Ever Owned (Part 2)

The Best Stompbox I’ve Ever Owned (Part 2)

Sound Clip Below! Here’s the rest of the interview with Gaspedals owner Jayson Lane, followed by a sound clip and some notable info. WoodyTone: I read on your website that you’re a tone-chaser, obviously a guitar-player.  What sound were you trying to find or achieve when you got on to the Carb and do you […]

October 2, 2009 | By | Reply More
The Best Stompbox I’ve Ever Owned (Part 1)

The Best Stompbox I’ve Ever Owned (Part 1)

The Gaspedals Carb! What if a stompbox gave you only two things: more and better. More of the tone you worked hard at creating for yourself, then opening that up with more clarity, dynamics, harmonics and whatever other descriptors you want to toss in there that equal better to you. Would you jump all over […]

September 30, 2009 | By | Reply More
The Anvil Movie: Go See It!

The Anvil Movie: Go See It!

An Ode to Joy (Seriously) By now I assume you’ve heard about the documentary on the Canadian metal band Anvil. It’s called “Anvil: The Story of Anvil,” and is showing in smaller theaters in the U.S. and Canada (I’m not sure about Europe). I was given a promo copy by a friend in the music […]

September 14, 2009 | By | 1 Reply More
Ace’s New Anomaly CD: The Space Ace is Back!

Ace’s New Anomaly CD: The Space Ace is Back!

Yeah! (Anomaly Streaming Link Below…) Wooo-hooooooooo!! I got an advance copy of Ace Frehley’s new Anomaly CD, his first new music in 20 years, and…well, before I tell you about it, I gotta be honest: I had huge hopes and a little fear sliding it into the CD player.

September 9, 2009 | By | 3 Replies More