Overdrive pedal 101

What Phaser Effect does to Your Guitar

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After such household items as distortion and wah-wah pedal, phaser ( Phaser effect )stands out as one of the most frequently used guitar effects in the world today.
Phaser pedal we recommend: MXR M101 Phase 90

It produces a distinctive and memorable type of sound, yet it is typically not easy to be recognized outside of the guitar aficionado circles. Therefore, we have decided to do some research and bring this lovely pedal closer to you so you could understand its powers and maybe determine if it is the right product for you.

We will do our best to explain the matter in simplest possible terms, although we will occasionally dive into some intricate explanations. The question here is ” What phaser effect does to your guitar?”, let’s answer it!

How phaser works?

A phaser pedal operates by filtering the input sound from your guitar and processing it to create a string of peaks and troughs in the final frequency spectrum, crafting a smooth, floating, sweeping type of sound.

When you strum a tone on your guitar, it enters the phaser effect, which separates the signal into two parts, one of which is an all-pass filter that saves original sound. The other part infuses the sound with the effect, cancelling all the sounds that are out of phase and crafting that sound we just mentioned.

Phaser options

So what controls do you have to change the sound here? Well, the effect came a long way since it was initially introduced, and now typically packs a set of four control knobs – Rate, Depth, Resonance, and Mode.

Rate – This knob controls the speed of the phasing sweep by making it faster or slower depending on the position. More sweeping usually brings the effect closer to the vibe of a chorus pedal.

Depth – This one determines the intensity of the effect, hence it is sometimes referred to as the Intensity control. More Depth gives the stompbox additional power and extra prominence in the final mix.

Resonance – The Resonance knob emphasizes some of the tones in the sweep. More of this effect brings a spacey vibe to your sound, a type of tone we could describe as underwater.

Mode – Over the years, phaser pedals were crafted with a different set of shifting phases. As we have entered the modern era, manufacturers now present the user with freedom to utilize any of these sounds with a few simple turns of a knob.

Best example of phaser effect

As far as classic songs using phaser go, Eddie Van Halen stands as the king of this stompbox. A specific example would be the song that changed the world in under 2 minutes – the mighty “Eruption”! Check it out.

Conclusion

We hope that this guide made it clear what phaser does to a guitar and you can best utilize it. Our main goal was to give you a sonic image of what to expect from a phaser effect and hopefully pique your interest to further investigate. If this fella sounds like a stompbox for you, feel free to treat yourself with one of these bad boys as early as today!

What are the Compressor Types for Guitar

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The compression is one of the notorious effects of the guitar world, and something some players associate with loudness wars or bland and soulless music we get to hear through a variety of channels these days, but the reality is that it’s simply a useful effect that can be utilized in a variety of cool ways.

Generally, compression is a type of effect that clips the sonic peaks of a given recording and presents a more concise and well-rounded recording. Use it too much and you will get a bland recording indeed, but use it just right and you will improve your sonic attack a lot.

Therefore, we decided to take a more thorough look at these babies and answer the big question – “What are the compressor types for guitar?” Let’s do this!

Voltage Controlled Amplifiers

Hailed as the most versatile type of guitar compression the variable limiting compressors operate by rapidly changing their gain levels in response to different detectors directed towards the same signal. They can go from gentle and minute sonic changes all the way to hardcore clipping of the audio input. Some of the notable models of this kind include Focsurite Red, DBX 160, and many more.

Optical Isolators

These compressors utilize LED lights to make alteration in the gain department as the compression corresponds to the incoming sound signal. This way, a photocell is then added to the audio track, resulting in appropriate gain adjustments. In simpler terms, this secures a smoother sound with far less unwanted sonic peaks and breaches than on the original track. Notable models include Tube-Tech CL 1B Compressor, Universal Audio LA3A, and more.

FET

These devices emulate the vacuum tubes by incorporating a significant dose of extra circuitry. This results in super fast machines that are clean and work around the clock with maximum efficiency. Many professional studio engineers and producers prefer this type of compression due to top-level sound quality. Some of the notable models include Purple Audio MC77, LA Audio Duel II, and more.

Software Compressors

Along with voltage controlled devices, compression programs are the most widespread types of compressors out there. They are of course cheaper than classic devices, but they can offer very strong results, hence the widespread factor. They give the user all the powers of the digital domain, allowing infinitely accurate sonic controls and adjustments of all sorts.

Hybrid Compressors

Finally, the hybrids. These are essentially a mixture of two or more of compressor types listed above. They pack high versatility and can cater to a variety of users based on their personal taste and preference.

Conclusion

We hope that this guide gave you some interesting details and info from the inside of the compression realm. We believe that this effect can significantly enrich the quality of your recordings, so if you’re having second thoughts about buying a guitar compressor, have no doubts and get one as early as today! This is good stuff, hence all we can say is big thumbs up from here, highly recommended.

Educate Yourself: 6 Basic Types of Guitar Pedals

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Listing all the types of guitar pedals can be a bit of a demanding task, and even as longtime gear-heads we are always surprised by just how many of these things exist. But we went on this journey nevertheless in a bold attempt to explain you several types of basic guitar pedals and how they operate. Without any ado whatsoever, the goods patiently await below.

Distortion/Overdrive Pedal

Distortion and overdrive pedals operate by infusing your sound output with various amounts of gain, resulting in, well, distorted sound. Depending on the amount of gain, the effects can range anywhere from light fuzz all the way to full-on death metal distortion growl. This is one of the most popular types of pedals out there, used by players of just about any genre you can imagine.

Notable pedal: Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer – Classic

Wah-wah Pedal

Typically designed as rocking pedals, wah-wah effects have been introduced into the musical pantheon by Mr. Jimi Hendrix with the “Voodo Child (Slight Return)” intro riff. The effect operates by switching between two different frequencies and crafting that distinctive bubbly sound.

Notable pedal: Dunlop GCB95 The Original Cry Baby® Wah Wah

Reverb Pedal

The simplest way to explain what a reverb does to your guitar is that it essentially adds echo. It simulates playing in a controlled large room and brings that effect of sound bouncing around between walls. Depending on which settings you dial in, you can get anything from smaller rooms with mild echo to the largest concert hall you can imagine.

Notable pedal: Blackstar HT-REVERB Tube Reverb Pedal

Delay Pedal

As a fairly self-explanatory device, the delay pedal records the sound you are playing and then instantly repeats it after a designated period of time, which is measured in milliseconds and entirely determined by the user. This gives your sonic output a significant boost in terms of depth and broadness. Frequently mixed up with Reverb, this pedal can truly make your guitar sound huge.

Notable pedal: Boss DD-7 Digital Delay Pedal

Chorus Pedal

In layman terms, the chorus pedal gives your guitar a spacey sound. It broadens the sonic scope of the instrument and makes the six-string more prominent in the overall mix. In professional terms, a chorus pedal emulates a string of individual sounds with approximately the same timbre and nearly the same pitch converge that are perceived as one by the listener’s ear.

Notable pedal: MXR M234 Analog Chorus Guitar Effects Pedal (Standard)

Phaser Pedal

If you are wondering about what a phaser effect sounds like, just listen to Van Halen, particularly the first two albums. The pedal adds a slight distortion to the mix, operating as a sonic modulator with a sweeping vibe.

Notable pedal: Electro Harmonix Small Stone Nano Analog Phase Shifter Guitar Effects Pedal

Conclusion

We have steadily reached the end of our journey here! We hope that you have gained an understanding on how guitar effects work, feel free to browse around the site for a more detailed set of explanations, as well as in-depth reviews of individual devices. Take your time, look around, and enrich your sonic attack with one of these bad boys as early as today!

Top 3: Best Low Watt Tube Amp

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If you are looking to buy a guitar amp ( or low watt tube amp for example ) that you will use for and jam session, we say that you will hardly need more than 5 watts of tube power.

These days, the technology has seriously advanced on all fronts and you can find genuinely killer amps that will do a top job in providing you with all the power you need in an incredibly compact and affordable package.

Therefore, we delved deep into today’s market in an attempt to find the best low watt tube amp. Our quest yielded a lot of goods, and these are the top 3 picks.

Bugera V5 Infinium

We will commence our journey in the budget friendly domain with the Bugera V5 Infinium – 5W 1×8″ Guitar Combo Amp. The first thing we have noticed on this amp is that it looks incredibly classy and that it comes with an incredibly affordable price tag. The device is loaded with one 12AX7 tube and one EL84 power amp tube, securing a warm and organic sonic output.

The goods are delivered through a single 8-inch speaker, featuring a built-in reverb, a tube-life multiplier, as well as standard Gain, Tone, and Volume controls. For an item from the lower side of the spectrum, this amplifier delivers an incredible tone. If you want to start your playing journey with renowned tube sound, this is the best choice.

Marshall SL5C-KIT-1 Slash Signature

Let’s bring out the big guns now, shall we? If you want the best, we bring you the mighty Marshall and a signature model from none-other than Guns N’ Roses guitar icon Slash. The Marshall SL5C-KIT-1 Slash Signature is packed with just 5 watts of power, but is capable of delivering a load stronger that products with seven times more wattage.

The amp utilizes two standard channels, a Celestion Vintage 30 speaker, full EQ control, a digital custom voiced reverb, as well as high and low sensitivity inputs.

Now the sound – it’s just pure rock ‘n’ roll screaming from that speaker! This is one of the ultimate products you can get to achieve pure rock sound and we can say nothing but good things about it.

Laney L5T-112 Lionheart

If buying a full-blown Slash amp sounds too much for you, we recommend this Laney puppy, a very valid choice and a tube amp you can fully adjust to your sonic needs.

Apart from those sleek and elegant looks, the Laney L5T-112 Lionheart 5 Watt Class A Guitar Tube 1×12 Combo features a single 12-inch Celestion speaker, a built-in type 4 reverb, two channels and an included footswitch, along with a class A construction.

The sound is full of roar, but roar that can be controlled. It’s classy, elegant, and subtle, but powerful enough to ride with the best of ’em. A class act!

Conclusion

Overall, each of these fellas is worthy of consideration for the flattering title of the best low watt tube amp. They are all valid choices and the only thing you need to do now is specify your exact needs and then treat yourself to one of these bad boys as early as today. Top notch stuff, highly recommended!

Top 3: Best Lollar Tele Pickups

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If you are interested in boosting your Fender Telecaster guitar with non-traditional pickups that will give the instrument a top-notch sound that’s amazing yet different, we say check out Lollar.

Ran by seasoned luthier Jason Lollar, the company has a variety of items to offer, and each of them will present you with a distinctive type of sonic attack. We took the liberty of testing these puppies out a little bit in an attempt to bring you the best Lollar Tele pickups. While they’re all great in their own way, it is our opinion that the following three fellas stand out the most. Let’s dig in!

Novel T Bridge

This is the one that many people recommend, a shoo-in for our list and a top choice to kick things off around here. The T Bridge features a standard humbucker size, securing a chunky, yet organic and elegant tone. The product comes with a set of custom A5 magnets, a nickel surround, as well as a classy flat black top. It’s available with a black or chrome cover, both of which look super sexy.

The tone is full of roar and purr, but does the thing every high-end guitar item should – remains natural, authentic and organic. This is not just one of the company’s top items, but one of the best Tele pickups in general.

Lollar ’52 T Series Bridge Pickup

Wound to the iconic 52 specs, the ’52 T Series boasts a vintage tone that will take you to the early – and golden years of the Telecaster guitar. Very clear and distinctive, the sound of this pickups features strong basses and a soft, yet prominent attack. Combine this one with a an AC 30 or a Fender Tweed amp and you will get yourself the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll tone.

The item is wax potted, and comes with Alnico 2 flat poles and a vintage-style cloth-covered lead wire.

Regal Humbucker

Finally, something very special – the company’s version of the wide-range humbucker. This thing is fully custom sized and utilizes an entirely different mounting pattern, but it’s well worth it. These things will allow you to tear the house down. They are the loudest pickups of this niche we have ever encountered – fat, clear, sparkly, earth-shattering!

The Regal packs a strong set of mid-range frequencies, allowing your tone to bloom while never sacrificing clarity and note definition. If you want to make your Telecaster the best one out there, it’s not a bad idea at all to hook it up with this puppy.

Conclusion

As noted, while these the entire catalog is nothing short of top-notch, these three stand out a bit above the rest in terms of uniqueness and sonic quality, making them our contenders for the flattering title of the best Lollar Tele pickups. We now recommend jotting down your exact needs, personal preferences and spending budget and single out the one that you want. Feel free to browse around and if you’re up for it arm yourself with one of these mean dudes. Good stuff!