Guitar

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Piece a Day Xmas Special - Day 4 Rush

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Four days in already!! Today's was done in a bit of a rush (do I never learn!) and features some guitar ...yes real guitar, through a Blackstar HT-20 amp, TC Nova System and Suhr Riot pedal...distortiontastic and using an Ibanez 7-string!! I have to say though that the mix has come out a little bit strange, I did do it on headphones , which might explain it, so I will remix it and add a better version later....got a rush....so here is today's piece....rush! rush ....rush!!! Day 4 - Rush by Neil BruceEnjoy!PeaceNeil

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Current guitar rig - 2011

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2011-08-25-19.56.58.jpg

By popluar request I am uploading a picture of my current guitar set up for all those who have been asking.

It is extremely simplified this year, after far far too much pedal hoping, tone 'suck' of all those pedals and general discontent.

Plus getting fed up of carrying around a massive pedalboard and case!

All this fits nicely into the EHX Pedalboard bag!!

 

Pedal choice and why

  • Electro-Harmonix Micro Q tron I simply love, it really does help give you the funk
  • Tc electronic Nova System bk is simply amazing, as those of you who know my gear, I have been using a G-Major since 1999, and the Nova System is the G-Major in pedal form (ish), it improves on a number of features, includes a fantastic analog drive channel. It just makes life so easy, the way the patches are laid out, the fact you can switch effects in and out like individual pedals. The sound quality is out of this world (although I am well aware that it is not to everyone's taste as it is pristine! The delays are simple wow! Sadly missing are filter effects, but to be honest in the G-Major they were quite weak anyway, not like the Q-tron!
  • I have swapped my Jim Dunlop Crybaby for a Vox V847 Wah Pedal over a year ago, I was only my 3rd Crybaby and was still having problems, I like the sweep of the Vox more to be honest!
  • Blackstar HT-DUAL Valve Two Channel Distortion, why? Well reason one....two extra channels on the amp, reason two.... two extra channels :) Also it has a nice valvey sound, but because I can do classic crunch and searing lead in the same pedal, enuff said!!

I have had all this gear for a while now I will be continuing my reviews again as it has been a while since my last one.

I love my Marshall JMP-1 andMarshall EL34 50-50 to bits, but as I mentioned, taking a 4 unit rack (with TC-Electronics G-major and Behringer FCB-1010 foot-controller) and Marshall 1936 2 x 12 cab, floor switch and pedals was just getting a bit much, I knew there had to be an easier, lighter, and smaller solution. Enter the Tech 21 – Trademark 60!

I have been using the Trademark 10 and Sansamp GT2 for many many years, and think they are great in the studio (and the Trademark 10 can hold it’s own at most rehearsals!), but obvsiously it is a bit small for a gig. So last year I picked up the Trademark 60 after getting rid of the Line 6, and I haven’t looked back. I have written a full review on the Trademark 60, click here for details. It is an amazing amplifier, and does have 90% of the sounds I am looking for (doesn’t do metal metal to well….but then again I am playing less of that these days!), so I am very content!

I have also been gigging with the Blackstar HT-5, which i really love, it is an amazing amp. Been only 5W it sounds amazing when itis cranked, but running clean, there is just not enough clean headroom sadly. I have been using it mic'd up and fed through the monitor, but at one gig there was a slight issue with the multicore and my channel went down and the amp just couldn't cut it, I might not as well of been playing. So in hindsight best to use a more powerful amp. I am keen to get a valve combo, and i am currently looking at the Orange TH30 1 x 12 combo, Cornford Roadhouse 30W 1 x 12, Egnater Tweeker and Blackstar HT--40. Sadly it is difficult to try out some of the amps in Manchester, and I am not sure how I feel about buying an amp on spec, but the Cornford does look amazing, and I would love a Cornford!

Currently my set-up goes as follows

Ibanez/ESP –> Pedal Board consisting of……

-> VOX 847 Wah -> Blackstar HT-Dual-> EHX Micro Q-Tron -> Boss TU-3 Tuner -> TC Nova System -> Boss RC-3 Loop Station -> Amp

Any questions, just fire them this way!

Peace

Neil

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Boss DD-7 Digital Delay

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Boss DD-7

I hold my hands up, I love delay, it is a huge part of my ’sound’. After struggling for many years with the Line6 DL-4 Delay Modeler Pedal Guitar Effect Pedal
Line 6 DL-4 Delay Modeller and never really liking it, I finally succumb and brought theBoss DD-7 Digital Delay Pedal
Boss DD-7 Digital Delay
I have been looking for an all in one solution for many years now, as I feel myself becoming lazier and less willing to carry tons of gear to gigs and rehearsals. I always get excited by what Line-6 have to offer and as a result purchased the Flextone III and pedalboard. What with all the amp and effect modelling it was the perfect solution, but I am always disappointed. I know tone is a subjective measurement, but these digital amps, whilst making my life so much easier just don’t cut it.

I just feel it is hard to beat those little stomp boxes, yes you can’t store presents and they take up loads of room and you have run power to them etc etc, but they do sound great, and the DD-7 is no exception.

Here are some of the features…

  • Expanded delay time, up to 6.4 seconds
  • Modulation Delay mode offers natural, chorus-type sounds
  • Analog Delay mode models the classic warm BOSS DM-2 analog delay sound
  • Tap tempo controllable via external footswitch
  • Delay time, feedback, and effect level can be controlled via external Expression pedal (sold separately)
  • Up to 40 seconds of recording for sound on sound (Hold mode)

For detail specifications check out the Boss Website Boss DD-7.

I am particularly impressed with the clarity of the tone from the pedal, it is to my ears clearer and not muddy like the Line 6. I am particularly impressed with with the Analogue mode, it produces that nice slightly inconsistent warm delay sound. I also like the hold mode, which can be used as a basic sound-on-sound looper. Whilst it does not have the functionality of the DL-4 (separate playback controls and reverse etc) it is a lot of fun, and if I wanted some exotic I would pick up the Boss RC-50 Loop Station Guitar Effect Pedal
;Boss RC-50 or RC-20XL (watch this space!).

All in all a great sounding delay pedal that hits all the right notes!! Great!!