Atomic Amplifire with Xotic SL Drive

Here is a demo of the fantastic Atomic Amps Amplifire, with the Xotic effects SL Drive (currently my favourite dirt pedal). I will be doing a field test review soon, once I have gigged it a bit more.You can read the full review hereYou can Download the patches in the video here 

Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre Thunderbolt Review

Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre Thunderbolt Review

The Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre is a new range of Thunderbolt Interfaces continuing the 'Red' theme from their other firewire and usb interfaces (Scarlett and Sapphire!) and keeps up the tradition of red!I have been looking for a new interface for sometime now as I was a little unahppy with the Presonus Firestudio soundcard that I had. Now, please don't get me wrong this is a great little soundcard with some great features, plus the preamps don't sound that bad at all. But I personally had a no end of problems with the firewire implementation, and I put a large part of the blame down to Apple. Partly for firstly removing firewire 400 and then 800 connections from their machines and thus the only way to use this was soundcard with a MacBook Pro was via a series of hideous adaptors and connectors!I find this slightly ironic, given how much Apple pride themselves on function and looks as my laptop with a whole bunch of strange connectors and devices hang it off it looks pretty appauling. I should also add, that part of my quest for a new audio interface was because I didn't really like the gain staging on the Presonus. I found it was very hard to get the level controls just right with the level either being too quiet or distorting the source and the sweet spot was difficult to find.

Considerations

My considerations in the quest for a new sound card, first had me looking at the UAD Apollo Duo. Now this really looks like a fantastic device and I love the fact you can use UAD plugins with it and from what I read (and hear on line) the preamps are phenomenal! I was literally about to pull the plug (yes it was in the shopping basket), but I got a bit sidetracked with something out, and when I came back, the Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre had popped up into my radar.With the UAD, I was willing to overlook some of my requirements for more inputs and particular more outputs in favoure of the device due to it's functions and the plug-ins. But, when I read about the Clarett and my ears (eyes!) pricked up. I am a big Focusrite fan, I have had a number of their devices over the years (although lets not talk about the terrible original Saffire firewire soundcard that we had at work.....we managed to blow three of them up, and when we actually got them working they keep crashing! I have put that in the past, I am willing to forgive and forget!).On top of that, I have always really wanted (since working in MI retail in the early 90's and selling a whole bunch of them) the Red and Green series compressors and EQs. So this seems to have a good heritage.Take the next step in your guitar playing

Thunderbolt and Lightning

So what appealed to me?Well, first off, the 4 Mic Preamps, that is pretty cool for my home studio, as with the ADAT in, I can always connect another 8 channels, so that was a tick and a plus point over the UAD (the 4 pre amps inputs, not the ADAT which you can do on both). As much as I could work with 2 mics, I like the option of being able to have four, for example, when recording a vocalist and stereo mic'd acoustic, or for doing some strange multimicing techniques for sound design, which is something I like to do a lot of.So the Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre gives you a few easy options (so that is a tick). The next thing was the AIR option. The Air option models the ISA preamp in analogue domain by adjusting the input characteristics of the Clarett, again is a massive selling point. This does of course compare to the UAD which does something similar with it's preamp modelling on the input stage, and of course you can have a wider variety of preamps with the UAD, but I know the sound of the ISA and  like the sound if the ISA units (so another tick).Next up, two headphone outputs, so this is only a little thing but I wish more units had multiple headphone outputs, as this makes it so much easier in the smaller studio to set up two seperate mixs, and more importantly, working the same room with a performer, being able to hear what you wish and letting them hear what you want, without having to use up your outputs to create separate mixes! Okay, perhaps this is a case of two different ways to do the same thing, but I love the fact that there are two headphone sockets on the front and they have their own independent levels controls which also have easy access.

Focusrite control

Focusrite control is a nice little app bundled with the unit, which enables you to set up your own studio routing, it is a god send and really a necessity these days. Of course it is a requirement with this unit as you can't turn the AIR function on or switch the Inst/Line input for the first two channels without it. But this is a great and clear implementation of routing sets ups and it has a variety of options, which you can save which saves a lot of time if you might have different requirements for routing on different days.This takes me to my next point, I would liked to have had some of the options that the UAD Apollo Twin has, this being the way that there are buttons on the front panel to switch things on and off and to control say switching between Line and Inst. I would have also REALLY liked a Pad switch, a High pass filter and Phase switch on the panel (or EVEN in the software),The way the dials light up is very helpful, the Halo around the control is pretty awesome where green is good, orange oooh you better watch out, red, tooo late! Although a proper meter might be more precise.

Included plugins

With the Focusrite Clarett  range you get two plugins free from the Focurite Red range. So!!!! Whooo!!! Yes I finally own a Red Compressor! Kind of!!!I have to say that these are great additions to the package but in no way comparable to those on offer from UAD (in terms of different plugins that is not quality!). I think I will stick with the EQ's I have already, but the Red 2 Compressor is going to see a lot of use, it has such a smooth and transpartent character, which I remember from the hardware days. I am very happy with that inclusion.GainIn my first recordings I have had a few issues of setting the gain right, I didn't have the same problems with distortion as I did with the Presonus and it's very narrow window of the sweet spot. I just undercooked a couple of test recordings as I felt that I was WAY too far up the dial then where I should be for the sound source I was recording.But, I should have trusted my ears more than my eyes! I guess that is one issue I have with the Clarrett, the fact the input gain goes from 0-10, which isn't very helpful, I would have like it to have a dB scale and actually would have expected it.

Sounds

As always I say this with a caveat, that the SOUND of a unit is a very subjective area!Personally, I really like the sound of the Clarett. It is very transparent, clean and uncoloured. I think if you are looking for some form of 'character' preamp, then you might need to stick one in front of this, or use plugins. Which is fine totally with me!I like the purity of the sound and when you kick in the Air option, you get a very lovely HF crispness to the sound which isn't overly bright but more 'well founded'. I think I will probably leave this on most of the time for all of the brightest of sources. The output as well has a refinded quality to it, it is much more airy and open than my Presonus (as you would expect)I still would have loved many of the features from the UAD Apollo, but it seemed buying into the UAD ecosystem would mean a large investment in new plugins. I have a large collection of Waves plug-ins, which I do like and as I get older (or maybe more mature), I am actually trying to limit my plug in envy and limit myself to a few which I really love (and I kind of already have those!).I was hankering over the UAD EMT 140 plate, which sounds so nice, but then I was pointed in the direction of Valhalla DSP and wow!!!! I am in love with the Plate Plugin, it is fantastic, and it was only $50!!! Everyone should check this one out for sure! (NB. I don't work for the company or have any affiliation, I just appreciate good DSP work!)

Conclusion

[ctt title="Overall I am very happy with the Focusrite Clarett 4Pre" tweet="Focusrite Clarett 4Pre reviewed @lightb4sound http://bit.ly/1LAGi95 #musictech #review" coverup="hF6bf"]All in all, I am very happy with this unit and I am looking forward to doing many many hours of recording with it.....and I have already started on a few projects and I am very happy!Do I still have a crush on the UAD? Yes, but I think I would realistically have to have gone for the larger (and much more expensive) units to meet my needs.Does the Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre do everything I want? Pretty much and it leaves me cash to get a few more esoteric character plugins. I should also add, knowing my studio and the acoustic wherein, the limitations of this space mean that more cash spent on high-end equipment would have been slightly futile, as I dont have the best or most correct acoustic space to fully apprecaite the subtleties of the units and they would only stand to highlight the problems I have with my recording space.SO yes, this is well worth a look.BUT......the biggest bug bear was the lack of a Thunderbolt cable. Please watch my rant video about this. This isn't just a Focurite issue, it seems all manufacturers produdcing Thunderbolt products are doing the same. It is mostly an Apple thing, but if I have to buy a cable anyway, why not just stick one in a charge me for it. I have to pay anyway!No Thunderbolt Cable IncludedOkay, so the 'hippy zen me' rarely goes on a rant, but here is a little rant video I made about something which really bugged me. Why when you buy Thunderbolt products can't the producer supply an included cable. I know that Apple charge a premimun for these bloody cables, and that is Apple through and through. But seriously, include the cable and charge me for it, I am more happy with that, then getting a device and then having to wait another couple of days to use it while I wait for a cable to be delivered. It actually gives me a negative perception of your company. You could buy a whole bunch at cost and just charge me the same thing and bundle it. It is a good marketing thing! Okay rant over!!![gallery ids="4873,4872,4871"]Pros

• Sounds fantastic
• AIR is amazing
• Functionality and
• Very stable
• Low Latency
• Lovely controls
• Looks awesome in RED!

Cons

• Would have liked a few more outs (even two more!)
• No Pad switch, a High pass filter and Phase options, either in software or on panel.
• Don't like the 1-10 input level control, would have preferred dB level
• THUNDERBOLT CABLE NOT INCLUDED!!! (Watch my RANT video here)

Enjoy!PeaceNeil

Line 6 Relay G30 Digital Wireless Review

Line 6 Relay G30 Digital Wireless Review

Here is a video review of the Line 6 Relay Digital Wireless system with all it's pro's and cons'. I have been using this unit for quite some time now and on the whole the experience has been fantastic. I have had no real issues with the unit itself in terms of it's wireless capabilities, but there have been a few other gremlins. Watch the video below for the low down!Take the next step in your guitar playing

Video Review

If you are using this device, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.EnjoyPeaceNeil

Review : Atomic Amps Amplifire

The time has come to review the Atomic Amps Amplifire and I am not sure where to start! There is SO much to say, but firstly I should start with how we got here, the beginning of the story so to say.....

Why the Amplifire?

I have alluded to this in the video review, but basically at a number of gigs over the Christmas and New Year's period I realised that my stage volume with my beloved Fender '68 Deluxe Reverb was getting a little bit too loud! Particularly, in situations where the stage was quite small. I am a big advocate of keeping stage volumes low and letting the front of house do most of the grunt work, it makes it easier to mix but also is better for those on stage and most importantly helps with the problems of noise induced hearing loss.My setup that I have been using for most of last year was pretty rocking and I was so so happy with it, I just love the sound of the Fender Deluxe amp, I know it sounds a strange thing for a man to say but boy do I love it. Although, having said that, the amp really does work best at it's sweet spot (see this post for details) and whislt I love the amp at quiter levels , I have become addicted to the sweet spot and this is a little bit loud for some gigs and stages.And of course, like all of you out there I also do suffer from G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) and particularly at this time of the year, seasonally induced G.A.S!But, on a serious note, I am also very open to working with new technology and trying to get the best set up I can and always tying to make set up and load out easier and simpler and when I get home making the trip up the stairs as easy as possible. This was the main reason I thought it was time to look at the modelling market again, plus I am just a curious guy!I have had modellers since the first Line 6 Pod, the Johnson J-Station, Digitech RP series and several of the Boss GT series and in their way they were quite good and I really did think that the Boss GT-100 was a pretty fantastic piece of kit (see my review), but with all these things, I found that something was lacking sometime. In the studio they worked well but I could not get them to sit too well on stage and given most of my work is performance based and I have the luxury of being able to record with great amps, then this was a big factor for me.Roll forward to the end of last year (2015) and I had heard and seen a few good things about the Atomic Amps Amplfire online and on various videos,  so I thought I owed it to myself (and my G.A.S.) to give it a try!So I went and tried it out...and well long story short, it was love (yes I have fallen again!)Take the next step in your guitar playingNow I know that I use a lot of superlatives to describe the gear I buy, this is mostly because I put a lot of thought and effort into researching the bits of gear that I buy, and when I buy them and I am generally always happy with what I get (why would I buy something I didn't love!). So, yes I love the Amplifire and here are the reasons why :-

Amplifire sounds

Okay, this is where it all starts and at the end of the day this is probably the most important aspect when considering this unit, if it sounds like pants then there is no point in considering any other aspects of the device. So, and this is in my opinion (for what it is worth), this is probably the best sounding unit I have had the fortune to play through. I have had a go with the AXE-FX and it didn't quite work for me, I am just being honest here, if someone were to give me one, I would gladly take it and use it, but again it is probably some psychological aspect makes me think that the complexity and sound didn't justify the cost (for me).I will certainly say hand on heart that the Amplifire sounds supremely more playable than the other units I have and have owned.So, that to me is it in a nutshell, does this replace the feeling I get when I play through my Cornford or Fender Deluxe? No, it isn't the same, and herein lies a lot of the problem when considering amps verses modellers.A lot of people out there are considering one aspect of the very complex physical and psychoacoustic interation which occurs between a person and a piece of electrical equipment. Cranked amps move your body physically as well as mentally in a different way than something coming out of a completely different speaker and electrical process. There is also a strong psychological connection with your own value systems and how you percieve different pieces of gear. The difficultly with modelling is trying to remain objective about how the tool (never forget an amplifier, whatever kind, is a tool to make your guitar louder and therefore heard!) makes you feel and what it means to you.Remember, many of us grew up hearing that valves were best, or whatever, this then becomes learnt belief and behaviour and then that is a mental process that is hard to become objective about.For me, very simply, at the end of the day, the Atomic Amplifire makes me want to play guitar more, when I fire up some presets I enter the rabbit hole for hours. To me THAT is a the indication of a great piece of gear and that fact above all others (and believe me there are some others too)!One of the reasons (and this is true of the higher end modellers) that this unit sounds much more authentic is the use of and ability to load in Cabinet IR's (impulse responses).  Impulse response is the way a dynamic system reacts to an impulse stimulus (ideal an infinite impulse containing all frequency components), an analogy is to consider if you have a burst of a sound and send it through a system what does the burst of sound look like at the output. The way that the system has changed the burst is the effect that the system has on the original signal. You can then model this behaviour in digital signal processing. Remember, this is the part of the acoustic system which shapes the sounds which we usually hear. Convolution and deconvolution algorithms and DSP are becoming more effecitive in terms of processing power and accuracy this days, which again all contrbutes to an authentic sounding product.I will do a follow up field test review about all the amp models I have been using, but at this early stage I am using a combination of the Fender Deluxe Model, The Fender 59 Bassman, Cornford (Kornford) and Rumble (Dumble) amps. In testing, the Fender Deluxe does sound very similar to the amp I have next to it, it doesn't have the same interaction and feedback (but this is part of the designed circuitry of the amp itself and a product of the whole system). The Amplifire give a great clean tone with the Fender amps and I just love the way this unit breaks up like my Deluxe Reverb amp, it sounds very similar to my Conford, the Plexi sounds great. It is just so much fun trying amps and different cabinet IRs.The amount of control you have over various parameters mean that it is very easy to dial in a sound which works for you (warning you can spend ALOT of time playing with this unit!), I find adjusting Cabinet parameters has the biggest impact on the overall sound and works really, really well in getting some amazing tones.When talking about the sounds it is impossible not to mention the effects. These sound absolutely fantastic, I love the delay and reverb in particular and I would consider this a replacement for my TC Electronic effects (which we all know I love so much!), I would say that clearer labelling of some of the parameters might make it a bit easier for those people out there not au fait with the way some of these effects work. I hope (and wonder) if Atomic will add a few more effects when they update the firmware, perhaps a Fuzz, Rat and a few more modulation effects would be great (but NO way a deal breaker). I think the Screamer boost is simple awesome! Check out the video review to hear how the unit sounds.

External Pedals

The biggest surprise to me is how well the Amplifire amp models respond to using external pedals, that was a big surprise for me. My Xotic Effects SL Drive sounds just as good through the Fender Deluxe Model as it does through my actual Fender Deluxe.I did a whole video on how I have the system set up, and might be a good point of call for those of you who like to know moe about that kind of thing.

Pedal Control

I control the Amplifire via my Tech 21 Midi Moose which gives me the greatest amount of flexibility. I can control banks of 5 presets at a time, and then for each preset have 3 different effects I can use. I currently have these set to Boost, Modulation and Delay. I know there is some talk on forums about wishing there were more footswitches, I do get this if you use it without a midi pedal, but even I wish I could have one more switch for Tap Tempo instead of potentially loosing a pedal and having only two effects per patch, but I do LOVE the fact that this is an option, I can do this and I could just assign a preset to be clean and then next to be boosted.In fact as I type this, I will probably do this!! It might be kind of nice to have an expression pedal attached as well, but something small like the Jim Dunlop Mini Wah style pedal. But I understand this would dramatic change the price point.

Outputs

Another area I love about this unit (Listen up boss!), the range of outputs!! With XLR's!! Yes XLR's for those of us who gig that is a god send, no need for DI boxes or handmade jack to XLR cables. Plus the various options to route the output signals and Cabinet responses through different outputs, so you can have your CAB sim going out to PA and use an actual amp on stage and have the CAB output defeated. That is really good!

Interface

I personally find the editing interface on the Amplifire very intuative to use and I can quickly adjust the parameters I want to. This is made so much easier with the amp style controls on the front panel, making the unit feel like an amp and being able to adjust tone for different venues simply and easily. I really like this!

Software Editor

A software editor is another element which is becoming part of the norm now for most products. The Atomic editor is simple but effective, I am sure there might be some more development with this in the future, but it is functional and makes the task of chaging sounds a little bit easier than on the front panel (plus you can do it sitting down!).I would like to be able to group copy or move banks of patches, rather than one by one, but hey we have an editor, I remember the days when no such thing existed. So I am happy!!Wow, Size is everythingIt's size! It is a lovely size, it fits perfectly on my pedal board and also would fit in any small gig bag with a guitar, this give you plenty of options and you could get away without even taking any thing else to a gig, that is COOL!!!

In use (early field test)

So, I have gigged with this a couple of time now. (see my pedalboard video) and this is the thing for me, the unit sounds great, it makes me actually enjoy my playing without thinking too much about the sound I am making as the unit is very consistant. It makes it so much easier to control the FOH sound and makes my monitoring so much easier as well. The sound on stage is also a lot quieter, which is also a really good thing for many reasons, let alone people's hearing.I feel I have a lot more control over my sound in terms of how it actually sounds and how loud it is. It also sounds AWESOME. A few people have commented on that as well, and that is of course always a good thing. I like the fact I can be in my little guitar zone now with my own monitoring, not worrying that I am spilling guitar across the stage. Everything becomes a little bt more managable. The Amplifire has also simplifed my set up and that is always a good thing, I am not tap dancing pedal changing any more, I can control things through simple single pedal presses and then add effects easily.I do have a few problems with the levels of some patches, but that is always the way, I need a few more gigs to get these dialled in correctly, and actually I think a volume pedal is possily an additon I might wish to consider at the back end of the unit. Although, I am using a boost in the loop, I might have to work on this option a bit more. Obviously, this is partly due to trying to set levels at home (even through a monitor cranked) it is still difficult to judge perceived loudness when not in a band context.

Conclusion

For those of you who read my blog and reviews, you will know I am quite picky about my gear and my sounds. I am affected by sounds, and if a sound isn't working for me it can sometimes cause problems with performance. As you may have gathered I really love this unit, It makes me want to play and play and I actually am sad at the end of the gig that I can't play any more. I know I am going to have a lot more fun with this unit and I can't wait to see how Atomic progress the unit (hopefully with a few firmware upgrades!) plus I am looking forward to expolring a whole host of downloadable presets and Cabinet IR's.Looking for a new amp or modeller? This unit is something to consider pretty seriously!

Pros

• The way it sounds!
• The effects.
• The easy of use.
• It makes you never want to put down the guitar!
• The options when used with a Midi foot switch (this could be a con for some of you)

Con

• None!

Little niggles (if I was pushed)

• The tuner - but this is just me and because I just like the old school Polytune or Boss Tuner style of working.
• Tap Tempo - I know you can use a pedal to set this but then this would only give you two effects per patch instead of three and I need three effects over two. It would be good it you could set the pedal configureation per patch rather than globally ...maybe something for a firmware update?

EnjoyPeaceNeil

Stagg UPC-688 Guitar Effects Pedal Case Review

Stagg UPC-688 Guitar Effects Pedal Case Review

Okay, some of you out there have said that many of my reviews are quite positive and gushing about the product. Well, that is kind of true and that is mostly because I am not paid to review products, nor am I endorsed by any of these companies. The main reason for my positive reviews are that I have actually brought these products, and I tend to put a fair amount of time and effort into resarching and testing out the products before I made the purchase.So, in a nutshell, I knew what I was looking for, I researched the hell out of the options and brought the item which turned out to be awesome for me. So, this reason that most of my revews are positive.......well aside from this one!I should add that I didn't actually but this case, it came 'free' with my Boss GT-100 as an incentive! Well, you shouldn't really complain about a free gift should you?Well, of course not.But, I am just writing this for the people out there whom are looking online for a pedal case, and have come across this one and are about to part with cold hard cash for it.

The Good

Okay, I might have hinted that this isn't a great product, but I need to put it in some context. I gig regularly, I have proper flightcased gear and I know the abuse it can handle and the reasons why it needs to handle that abuse. I would suggest given the cost of the Stagg UPC-688 Guitar Pedal Case and the overall construction this is in no way a pro flight case solution and my review of it is based on that.This case would be great for someone to keep their pedals in at home for example, keep them tidy and the dust off of them. It would be okay for someone who goes to the odd rehearsal or pub/club type gigs and is careful with their gear. This is not a case to be thrown about or dropped.What I like about this case (a lot) are the dimensions. Ironically, this case is the ideal size for me, you can fit about 8 pedals and a full size wah in with no problems, it looks tidy and the material takes velcro quite well. I'd love full flightcases to come with this width dimension, as most are about double the size are shorter (or too much longer) in length.This is a very lightweight case, so it works well if weight of gear is an issue for you. Erm and.....okay I might come back to what else is good about this case.

The Bad

Okay, I am sorry Stagg, but there are a few things about this case which are not great. I have gigged this case 4 times, for small gigs (including acoustic gig), I was very careful with the case on each occasion, but you can tell from the pictures it is pretty scuffed alreadly, that was from putting in the boot of the car (trunk for those in the US).The handle really does not fill me with any confidence that it would hold out in the long term, it feels like it could break at any time. The hinge idea for the lid is great, but the material the the hinges are made from bent on the first time I tried to reconnect the lid, that is pretty shocking. The metal is pretty flimsy, so I was able to bend it back roughly into shape, but this doesn'y promote confidence and I don't think would take to many removals of the lid before they bent and perhaps snapped off.The big one for me was the tiny rubber feet on the bottom of the case. On a stage they are pretty much next to useless and turned the case pretty much into a big skateboard. The first time I went to engage the Wahwah in nearly did the splits , as the case slide right across the stage!! The case would not stay put and had to be wedged under monitors on the occassions I used it. It is fine on carpet!!The Pros

• Weight
• Dimensions
• I got mine 'free' (ish!)

The Cons

• The construction
• The hinges
• The Handle
• The feet

In conclusion

• If you want somewhere to store your pedals at home or have them mounted on. This is perfect!
• If you have a few pedals and your rehearse and play out very occassionally. This is perfect!
• If you play out a lot, are in usual gigging environments where wear and tear is everyday issue, then look elsewhere, this probably wouldn't last 3-4 gigs before it got seriously damaged or actually broke.

I am thankful that I got something free, I use the case for pedal storage at home.....just not live!If you are just starting out and don't have much cash, this might work for you but bare in mind that you will have to replace it. So, is it not better to save up and get something proper in the long run, rather than buy twice?I will actually go out on a limb and say that ElectroHarmonix Gig Bag is a better option, even if it is a bag, it is certainly more robust.EnjoyPeaceNeil 

Hotcovers Cover for Cornford Roadhouse 50 Watt Head

HotCovers 600 Denier Cover for Cornford Roadhouse 50 Watt Head

So I have done another review of a Hotcovers Cover which I brought for my Cornford Roadhouse 50 Watt Head. I have also done a video review too. (This review is similar to the one I did for my Fender Deluxe Reverb 68 as the general parts of the cover are the same). Please read that review here.

HotCovers

Some amp maufactuers do provide a thin amp cover (Fender did for my deluxe reverb, thanks guys that is a nice touch! I wish more companies did this!). These covers on the whole are pretty good for dust protection, travel to rehearshals etc and if you are very careful when gigging. I actually had the Fender cover for my Blues Junior and gigged with it for nearly two years! Now the cover is pretty scruffy now, and the amp actually does have quite a few bumps, but it did an over all good job!I decieded to look for a cover which wasnt a flight case but also offered a tad more protection for my prde an joy! That is when I discovered hot covers and their excellent range of covers.I opted for the 600 Denier cover (not a fan of PVC and the way it looks!) and I ordered away! I was surprised that within a couple of days my cover had arrived. So full marks for customer service! The cover fitted perfectly and adds what feels like a decent amount of protection around the amp.So I am vey happy.You can see all the details in the video below.In short.ProsGreat over which offers a good amount of portection for the gigging muscian and ampGreat range of covers availableFantastic customer serviceConsNon really, although you could (if you are that way inclinded) think that the prices are a little pricey. But what price on protection?EnjoyPeaceNeil

Standback Stand Review

The Amazing Standback Stand Review

Wow, just wow and wow again! The Standback stand is just one of those things that comes into your life and you wonder where the hell it has been all your life, and crucially why no one has made one before??It is simply brilliant in it's simplicity and it is without probably one of the best guitar products I have ever brought!!

All Stand

The premise is simple, most guitarists are know for being LOUD and dominating the stage (as of course we should be ;) ) but in real world situations this isn't a good thing and you end up upsetting a lot of sound engineers. The primary reason for a lot of guitarists being so loud is that they have their amps flat on the floor pointing directly at their legs (and the front row of the audience when on a stage), so a large part of the amps sonic projection (and tone) is going towards the back of a pair of legs in jeans and a front row of an audience wincing at the loudness and the high frequency offerings of the amp.So one solution has always been to tilt the amp back. It isn't really a solution, but something that I think most guitarists should ultimately do. Why? because you will instantly realise how loud you are, and also more importantly be able to hear yourself better and crucially dial in yourr tone correctly (i.e. not over compensate for lost highs and mids). Tilting also decouples the amp mostly from the floor, so you will get a more accurate bass response from the amp and not suffer from bass transmitted into the stage (which can act like a massive bass amp depending on the nature of the stage!)So stands are good!! And yes there are some out there already. Fender do tilt back legs for some amps, but they can be a PITA to install. Other companies offer massive stands (I have had a few) and I always feel that this is yet another couple of bits of gear you need to lug around to gigs.So, some of us (myself included!) may be tempted to improvise solutions to tilt the amp back. Which generally mean resting it insecurely on an object not desiged for the job!! I was doing this for a while (using a bass drum mic stand!) until my lovely valve amp fell forwards due to the stage rocking and that is never a good thing for a tube amp!!Then Standback appeared! Three bits of plastic and some strapping...which collapses to the size of a ruler and you can stuff in the back of your amp with ease. It is so simple there isn't really much to say. You pull it out of your amp, arrange it into a triangle shape, lock the triangle together, drop your amp down on the foam holding plate and tilt your amp back....and it is done!! SO SO SIMPLE!!I am not suggesting though that this would take the weight of a stack, but it supports my Fender Deluxe Reverb perfrectly and my Zilla 2 x 12 cab.It is very, very secure, I used it last week on a very bumpy floor and it help secure and firm with no wobble!!What can I say, get one!! ! (NOTE I AM NOT ENDORSED BY THIS COMPANY!)Here is a short video review I did.ProsSimple designFantastic implementationYou can hear your guitar better in terms of level and toneConsThey didn't make it years ago :)EnjoyPeaceNeil

HotCovers Cover for Fender Deluxe Reverb Review

HotCovers 600 Denier Cover for Fender Deluxe Reverb

When we have things we love, we always want to do whatever we can to protect them! With any piece of gear, be it musical or otherwise, using it in a working context can put it at great risk from not just bumps and bangs but all manner of other enviormental factors. Gigging is one area where gear gets severely tested, not just during a performance, but afterwards, especially when you are in a hurry to load out of a venue at 1.30 in the morning.Of course, if you are on tour then most gear would be at home in flight cases, and on the whole I tend to opt for flight cases for everything. So why am I not writing a flight case review now?Well, the only downside of a flightcase is that they can add considerable weight to any item by their very nature of being big strong cases! When thinking about flightcasing an amp, you have to bare in mind that this may double it's weight! which is find if you have a roadie to help you manage the beast, but not so good when you are getting home at 4am and having to carry the amp up four flights of stairs by yourself.So, one option is no protection (now kids you all should have had the lesson that you should always wear protection right?) and if you take this option, you will find that your beloved piece of gear will start looking very shabby very soon, let alone start suffering from GTD's (gear transmitted diseases!).So, the other option is to get some form of protective lightweight cover, which might not prevent major damages, i.e. your amp being thrown down stairs or the general abuse that being on the road may warrant, but something which will protect it from the general gigging knocks and bumps, throws into the back of vans and cars etc.

HotCovers

This is where HotCovers step in. Some amp maufactuers do provide a thin amp cover (Fender did for my deluxe reverb, thanks guys that is a nice touch! I wish more companies did this!). These covers on the whole are pretty good for dust protection, travel to rehearshals etc and if you are very careful when gigging. I actually had the Fender cover for my Blues Junior and gigged with it for nearly two years! Now the cover is pretty scruffy now, and the amp actually does have quite a few bumps, but it did an over all good job!I decieded to look for a cover which wasnt a flight case but also offered a tad more protection for my prde an joy! That is when I discovered hot covers and their excellent range of covers.I opted for the 600 Denier cover (not a fan of PVC and the way it looks!) and I ordered away! I was surprised that within a couple of days my cover had arrived. So full marks for customer service! The cover fitted perfectly and adds what feels like a decent amount of protection around the amp.So I am vey happy.You can see all the details in the video below.In short.ProsGreat over which offers a good amount of portection for the gigging muscian and ampGreat range of covers availableFantastic customer serviceConsNon really, although you could (if you are that way inclinded) think that the prices are a little pricey. But what price on protection?EnjoyPeaceNeil

Fender 68 Deluxe Reverb Custom The Sweet Spot

So you may have read my recent review of the Fender 68 Deluxe Reverb Custom, where I may have been quite gushing in my praise for the amp. Well actually I may have actually declared my undying love for it.Well, after some more gigging with the amp, I can safely say that this love is only getting stronger. All the the pros that I mentioned in the review still hold true and mostly importantly the way this amp sounds is just phenomenal and the ability to get the most amazing feedback from the amp is just the icing on the cake.On top of all of that, the fact that this amp is so, so easy to transport and carry make me a very happy camper. I am also more relaxed in transporting it now I have a Hot Covers cover for it (review and video review can be found here), ensuing that my pride and joy doesn't get too beaten up from gig to gig!!

The Sweet Spot

So, the title of this post is about the sweet spot! After all my recent gigs I have found that there is a lovely sweet spot on this amp, which resides in the middle of the volume dial just between 4-5, it is really hard to pin point, but when you have the amp set below 4, it is still amazing and given most situations this is where you are likely to have it set.But moving ...well actually nudging it just above 4, and somewhere in between 4.5 ish, something magical happens! I can't actually describe it, but something that is already sounding and playing awesomely, suddenly roars up a gear into a different beast, it is like something insdie the amp is unleashed.Note's sustain and feedback even more, the lovely Fender tone seems to move from 3 dimensions into 4! And for something that is already very responsive to touch, starts to feel like it is actually connected to your fingers and your very soul.What more can I say but I am even more in love! If you  get the change to take your amp into the sweet spot! Do it, do it now! If you don't own this amp and think that you want that Fender goodness, then make sure that this amp is on your list to try out!I'd love to hear your feedback in the comments below if you own the amp, or please fire away any questions if you have any about the amp!

EnjoyPeaceNeil