I started this blog in January of 2007. For the first few years, I posted to it at least five times a week. It gained in popularity, and became a destination site for people looking for gear. In my mind, I never wanted to be an “uber” gear site where I reviewed anything and everything. Frankly, I started this blog simply as a diary to get my thoughts down on gear I was testing to potentially add to my rig.
So here I am, nine and a half years later wondering about this blog. And no, I’m not considering closing it down. It’s a useful resource for many people. But it’s most likely that unless I get some new gear that totally blows me away, I probably won’t be posting here much at all, as has been the case for the last couple of year.
Why is that?
Simply because I’ve found my tone. Being ever so pragmatic about the gear I have, I’ve sold off most of my electric guitars because I just need a couple to get the sounds I need. I’ll hold onto my amps because I just love them, but quite honestly, I only play with two amps now (though I am looking at getting a Fender Twin since I’ve been focusing a lot on Reggae as of late). As for pedals, I still have a bunch of ’em, and I’ll probably hang on to those as well.
So here are my electric and acoustic rigs right now:
Electric Rig
Guitars:
– Gibson ’58 Les Paul Historic with Deacci Green Faze pickups
– Slash L Guitars “Katie May”
Amps:
– DV Mark Little 40 with Groove Tubes 6L6 tubes (will also take EL34’s)
– Aracom VRX22
– Fender ’58 Champ in a custom 1 X 10 cabinet
Effects (These are switched out depending on my mood):
– Overdrive: Paul Cochrane Timmy, Tone Freaks Abunai 2
– Distortion: EWS Little Brute
– Chorus: TC Electronics Corona, HBE THC, BOSS CE-2
– Reverb: Hardwire RV-7
– Delay: Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay (handwired version)
– Wah: VOX Big Bad Wah (I love this wah)
Acoustic Rig
Guitar: Yamaha APX900 Acoustic/Electric
Amp/PA: Fishman SoloAmp SA-220
Effects:
– Same modulation effects as above
– Looper: Roland RC-2 LoopStation
As I mentioned above, I’m looking to get a Fender Twin. I’ve played both the new and vintage ones, and didn’t hear much of a difference between the two, and you can find decent used reissues for a great price.
But circling back to the title of this article, that electric rig that I described above is about two years old. It gets me pretty much where I want to go tonally. I’ve found my sound, so I don’t need anything else. I’m now in a cover band, and it could be argued that if I was going to be true to the original sounds, I should get the “right” equipment. But with our band, which is really a bunch of old farts, we’re just getting together and having fun. As long as it’s close, we’re good.
All that’s not to say that I won’t succumb to a GAS attack in the future, but I haven’t had a serious GAS attack in a LONG time. Chances are I probably won’t any time soon.
Guitar Gear 
i hear what yer sayin dawg…i sound the same on any gear so i have some nice select hand wired stuff, use teles for the most part. i have 3 other friends where we all send youtube vids of new gear as it comes and goes just to say if it’s a winner or not. i kinda like having it open…sometimes we dont hear from each other for weeks, then it’s a weekend binder of “check this out, and check that out”. to get your threat today was nice, and kinda how i like it..with no strings attached….no pun intended.
so, getting back to your thoughts….i purchaced this little hand wired tweed with all the best parts, and from a builder who knows how to build part by part….musically. they are way under pirced as far as i am concerned, but i figure that the man knows what he wants, and it’s good by me to save as well.
check him and his twin build out, i think you might like what he is doing. i had a 65 deluxe built built by him (well, bought it from another who had asked for it to be made as well), and i am kicking myself for ever selling it…had too many amps at the time…hand wired voxs, friedmans, mesas, 5150iii, the hw tweed, 66 bassman, etc, so i was punch drunk when i let it go to a friend.
the builders site is chickinpickin’ amplifiers at http://cpamps.com/
i am very happy….check out his tweed, and don’t stop being a kid….ya old fart…ooops…..dawg.
dt
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Yeah, I’m an old fart… 🙂
Damn!!! Now I’ve got GAS!!! Those amps are gorgeous! I’m gonna contact ’em. Do you know of any videos are available?
I have my sound and gear I like as well (for now) :o). Thank you for your wisdom and kindness as we all hunt for the elusive “toanz”. Through gear, lessons, practice, songwriting, playing with other people and friends, I continue to be a work in progress in the best of ways. Taking ourselves out of our particular comfort zone is paramount to new discovery and growth. I cannot recommend this enough for anyone who loves guitar or music in general. As I become a better listener, I become a better player. As I become a better player, I become a better listener. It never ends.
Eddie, that’s right on. I think for me trimming down all the gear I used to play with has a lot to do stripping away down to the essentials. What it has made me do is work a lot harder to get a good sound. For instance, playing with my ’58 Champ amp, there’s no tone control, just a volume control. Whatever sound my guitar plus effects produce comes out of the speaker of that amp. The only EQ I have is my guitar’s tone control knob(s).
But having such a spartan setup has forced me to use my fingers more; forced me to get the most out of what I’m playing. It may not be fast, but it’s as expressive as I can make it.
In much the same place here – got rid of an over the top full stack although still to much amp with a Marshall JCM 900 twin and satellite cabinet, which will stay as it is for me “the sound”; reduced pedals form a big number to 8+ not all on or in circuit at the same time mind you! And down to a P90 single pickup Hammer and a Gibson L6-S – once you get there you know you have arrived – so never look back, keep listening and carry on….
and I do agree very much with Eddie K’s thoughts – as long as you keep at it you are making progress no matter how slow or insignificant it appears at times