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GEAR 406 • Electro-Harmonix East River Drive vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

Gear, Pedals, , , , , ,

This video compares the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer to the electro-harmonix East River Drive. The TS9 is a well known commodity; the East River Drive is a clone of the TS808 circuit designed in conjunction with Analog Mike of Analog Man fame. The East River Drive’s 808 style circuit means it has a slightly smoother sound and a little less gain than the TS9. Overall, though, the two pedals sound similar. Both have the JRC chip and come in green. The East River has nice graphics, a nice green led, is true bypass, and is less expensive. Also, my version said “Made in NYC, USA.” The Ibanez pedal is made in Japan, has easier access to the battery, and has heftier construction than the East River Drive. The led on the TS9 is not very bright, though.

This demo was recorded with a Fender MIM Strat (w/ Texas Special pickups, Ernie Ball Classic Rock-n-Roll nickel strings) and a Fender Champ II (Rivera, with Eminence Ragin’ Cajun speaker) amp miked with a Sennheiser e906 dynamic microphone. Also note, the Tube Screamer has the JRC 4558D chip.

Ibanez page for the TS9: http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_effect_page14.php?year=2014&cat_id=6&series_id=153&effect_id=5

EHX page for the East River Drive: http://www.ehx.com/products/east-river-drive

Analog Man – http://www.buyanalogman.com

You may also want to check out my comparison between the Tube Screamer and the Soul Food: GEAR 402 • Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer vs Electro-Harmonix Soul Food

For additional reading, here is an interesting article about the history of Tube Screamers with Analog Mike. He mentions the East River Drive too: https://reverb.com/blog/inside-the-overdrive-overlord-an-ibanez-tube-screamer-primer-with-analogman

GEAR 405 • Park Fuzz by Earthquaker Devices

Gear, Pedals, , , ,

Here is my demo and review of the Park Fuzz by Earthquaker Devices. The pedal is a reissue of the original Park Fuzz pedal, which apparently dates to the 1960’s (not the 70’s, as mentioned in the video).
Park is a recently resurrected brand that used to be owned by Jim Marshall (no affiliation with the current Marshall amp company though), and the reissue has been designed and manufactured by the fuzz dudes at the Earthquaker facility in sunny Akron, Ohio. The pedal has germanium transistors and the warm (though sometimes finicky, often beloved) sounds they produce. Though I don’t have an original Park to compare it to, the pedal sounds like a good vintage style fuzz that can be appreciated on its own merits. The form factor of the pedal is smaller than the original, and is similar to other Earthquaker pedals with top-mounted jacks (i.e. the Hoof Fuzz), although the knobs are different. The pedal has a really nice blue finish, and appears generally well built like other Earthquaker pedals. Overall, this would be a good option if you’re looking for a quality, American made boutique germanium fuzz.

This demo was recorded with a Fender MIM Strat (w/ Texas Special pickups, Ernie Ball Classic Rock-n-Roll nickel strings) and a Fender Champ II (Rivera, with Eminence Ragin’ Cajun speaker) amp miked with a Sennheiser e906 dynamic microphone.

Earthquaker Devices page for the Park Fuzz: http://earthquakerdevices.com/shop/Park%20Fuzz/cat/13096

SLACK 401 • Coffee Bean Slack Key – Lesson on How to Play

Open Tunings, Slack Key, Songs, , , ,

Coffee Bean Slack Key is a simple, slack key tinged song that I wrote so that you could have fun learning to play it. 😉 It works well at a variety of tempos: beginners can play it slow and more advanced players might have fun improvising around it. To that end, I’ve recorded several versions of the song for you to check out (links below). Feel free to play along, though I didn’t use a click track or metronome so tempo varies a little. Also note, most of the example versions are just played with an A-B-A format, however you can play longer versions of the song (i.e. A-B-A-B-A). I hope you have fun with this song.

All rights reserved to the song “Coffee Bean Slack Key,” however students are allowed to perform the song in public.

SLACK 401 • Coffee Bean Slack Key – Lesson on How to Play

SLACK 402 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Slow)

SLACK 403 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Med-Slow)

SLACK 404 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Med-Fast)

SLACK 405 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Fast, with some improv)

SLACK 402 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Slow)

Open Tunings, Slack Key, Songs, , , ,

Coffee Bean Slack Key played at a slow tempo. This song was written as a study piece, however it works as a fun, simple song in its own right.

The song can be played at a variety of tempos: beginners can play it slow and more advanced players might have fun improvising around it. To that end, I’ve recorded several other versions of the song for you to check out (links below). Feel free to play along to these recordings, though I didn’t use a click track or metronome so tempo varies a little. Also note, most of the example versions are just played with an A-B-A format, however you can play longer versions of the song (i.e. A-B-A-B-A). I hope you have fun with this song.

Please see the related lesson for this song (link below), as well as other lessons on my channel.

All rights reserved to the song “Coffee Bean Slack Key,” however students are allowed to perform the song in public.

SLACK 401 • Coffee Bean Slack Key – Lesson on How to Play

SLACK 402 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Slow)

SLACK 403 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Med-Slow)

SLACK 404 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Med-Fast)

SLACK 405 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Fast, with some improv)

SLACK 403 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Med-Slow)

Open Tunings, Slack Key, Songs, , , ,

Coffee Bean Slack Key played at a medium-slow tempo. This song was written as a study piece, however it works as a fun, simple song in its own right.

The song can be played at a variety of tempos: beginners can play it slow and more advanced players might have fun improvising around it. To that end, I’ve recorded several other versions of the song for you to check out (links below). Feel free to play along to these recordings, though I didn’t use a click track or metronome so tempo varies a little. Also note, most of the example versions are just played with an A-B-A format, however you can play longer versions of the song (i.e. A-B-A-B-A). I hope you have fun with this song.

Please see the related lesson for this song (link below), as well as other lessons on my channel.

All rights reserved to the song “Coffee Bean Slack Key,” however students are allowed to perform the song in public.

SLACK 401 • Coffee Bean Slack Key – Lesson on How to Play

SLACK 402 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Slow)

SLACK 403 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Med-Slow)

SLACK 404 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Med-Fast)

SLACK 405 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Fast, with some improv)

SLACK 404 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Med-Fast)

Open Tunings, Slack Key, Songs, , , ,

Coffee Bean Slack Key played at a medium-fast tempo. This song was written as a study piece, however it works as a fun, simple song in its own right.

The song can be played at a variety of tempos: beginners can play it slow and more advanced players might have fun improvising around it. To that end, I’ve recorded several other versions of the song for you to check out (links below). Feel free to play along to these recordings, though I didn’t use a click track or metronome so tempo varies a little. Also note, most of the example versions are just played with an A-B-A format, however you can play longer versions of the song (i.e. A-B-A-B-A). I hope you have fun with this song.

Please see the related lesson for this song (link below), as well as other lessons on my channel.

All rights reserved to the song “Coffee Bean Slack Key,” however students are allowed to perform the song in public.

SLACK 401 • Coffee Bean Slack Key – Lesson on How to Play

SLACK 402 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Slow)

SLACK 403 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Med-Slow)

SLACK 404 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Med-Fast)

SLACK 405 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Fast, with some improv)

SLACK 405 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Fast, with some improv)

Live, Open Tunings, Slack Key, Songs, , , ,

Coffee Bean Slack Key played at a fast tempo, with some improvisation. This song was written as a study piece, however it works as a fun, simple song in its own right.

The song can be played at a variety of tempos: beginners can play it slow and more advanced players might have fun improvising around it. To that end, I’ve recorded several other versions of the song for you to check out (links below). Feel free to play along to these recordings, though I didn’t use a click track or metronome so tempo varies a little. Also note, most of the example versions are just played with an A-B-A format, however you can play longer versions of the song (i.e. A-B-A-B-A). I hope you have fun with this song.

Please see the related lesson for this song (link below), as well as other lessons on my channel.

All rights reserved to the song “Coffee Bean Slack Key,” however students are allowed to perform the song in public.

SLACK 401 • Coffee Bean Slack Key – Lesson on How to Play

SLACK 402 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Slow)

SLACK 403 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Med-Slow)

SLACK 404 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Med-Fast)

SLACK 405 • Coffee Bean Slack Key (Fast, with some improv)

GEAR 404 • J. Rockett Archer vs Electro-Harmonix Soul Food – Klone Comparison

Gear, Pedals, , , , , ,

This demo compares two popular clones (Klones) of the Klon Centaur, the Electro-Harmonix Soul Food and the J. Rockett Archer. I already talked some about the Soul Food when I compared it to the Tube Screamer (link below), and so here I spend a little time looking at the Archer. J. Rockett built the first 1,500 KTR pedals for Klon, so they are familiar with the Klon’s build quality and design attributes. Rather than try to figure out which one sounds more like a Klon, however, my goal here is to evaluate the pedals on their own merits… and both of these pedals offer similar yet slightly different flavors of transparent overdrive. Compared to each other, the Soul Food is a little brighter, a little more cutting, and has more clarity. The Archer is warmer/darker, thicker, and has a little more hair/grit on the gain.

This demo was recorded with a Fender MIM Strat (w/ Texas Special pickups, Fender Original Bullet pure nickel strings) and a Fender Champ II (Rivera) amp miked with a Sennheiser e906 dynamic microphone.

The demo and comparison with the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer and the Electro-Harmonix Soul Food is here.

J. Rockett Audio – http://rockettpedals.com

EHX page for the Soul Food: http://www.ehx.com/products/soul-food

LIVE 004 • I’m on Fire by Bruce Springsteen

Classic Rock, Live, , , , ,

My mom is a big fan of Bruce Springsteen and used to play the Born In The U.S.A. album a lot. Listening to it again as an adult, it’s a sad, powerful album with some great tunes. I’m on Fire is a really cool little song – almost a sketch at under 3 minutes long, but it really creates a great atmosphere in that short amount of time. I had fun playing it fingerstyle and hope you enjoy my arrangement. Here’s to The Boss.

Recorded with a Taylor 412ce LTD (Rosewood/Spruce, with Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze HD gauge set) and a Neumann TLM 102 microphone.

All rights reserved to this arrangement, however students may perform the arrangement in public.

GEAR 403 • Joyo Sweet Baby Overdrive Pedal

Gear, Pedals, , , ,

Here is my review and demo of the Sweet Baby overdrive pedal from Joyo. An inexpensive clone of the Sweet Honey overdrive from Mad Professor, I prefer to evaluate this pedal on its own merits. The Sweet Baby specializes in low gain overdrive that is perfect for pushing a tube amp on the verge of breakup. The overdrive is mostly smooth and, well, sweet. Higher settings on the drive knob gave some mild grit – though this typical Fender characteristic could be coming from my amp in part. Maxing out the drive and volume gives you a sustaining lead tone, though chords are a bit fizzy. I’ve found the settings are better somewhere ‘in the middle,’ where you still get a smooth, sining lead tone and chords have a nice crunch. In general, I prefer buying pedals a step up in price point (especially used) as I find you get better build quality and (usually) better sound, but there’s no denying that some of these clone pedals sound surprisingly good for being in the rock bottom price point category.

This demo was recorded with a Fender MIM Strat (w/ Texas Special pickups, Fender Original Bullet pure nickel strings) and a Fender Champ II (Rivera) amp miked with a Sennheiser e906 dynamic microphone.