Field Notes
Field Notes
Long-form writing on tone, gear, and the songs you love. Pedalboard architecture, modeler block deep-dives, vintage gear histories, signal-chain forensics.
No. 237Lead · Side A
Gear LabMay 11, 2026·16 min read
Marshall SJ20H Studio Jubilee vs. SV20H Studio Vintage: The Silver Jubilee 2555 Circuit or the JCM800 2203, in 20 Watts
Two Studio-line heads. Two of the most modified Marshall preamp topologies ever shipped. Which 20-watt version belongs on your board, and which one actually sounds like the amp it claims to copy.
Gear Lab·15 min read
$500 Pedalboard Upgrade Path: Which Pedals to Replace First as the Budget Grows From $300
Modeler Masterclass·15 min read
Headrush FRFR-112 MkII vs. Quilter Aviator Cub: $499 vs. $999, and Whether the Upgrade Is Worth It
Gear Lab·16 min read
Hipshot vs. Sperzel vs. Schaller vs. Gotoh Locking Tuners: A Slip-Test Showdown
Gear Lab·16 min read
Marshall ST20H Studio JTM vs. SC20C Studio Classic: JTM45 or Plexi Inside the Studio Line
The Archive
Modeler MasterclassTransformer DI Shootout: Radial JDI vs. Countryman Type 85 vs. Whirlwind IMP 2 vs. ART CleanBox ProNathan CrossQuick FixesBuffer Pedal vs. Transformer DI for Signal-Line Ground Loops: When the $40 Box Beats the $250 BoxSean NakamuraQuick FixesLocking Tuners as a Floyd Rose Alternative: When Stability Matters More Than Dive BombsCarl BeckettGear LabMarshall SC20C Studio Classic vs. SV20H Studio Vintage: Plexi or JCM800 Inside the Studio LineRick DaltonModeler MasterclassQuilter Aviator Cub vs. Friedman ASM-12: Two Powered FRFRs With Character, MeasuredViktor KesslerGear LabComplete $300 Starter Pedalboard 2026: Eight Pedals, One Power Supply, DoneJess KowalskiQuick FixesThe 60-Cycle Hum Decision Tree: A One-Page DiagnosticDev OkonkwoModeler MasterclassCab IR Library Roundup: Ownhammer vs. York Audio vs. ML Sound Lab vs. Free OptionsMargot ThiessenQuick FixesFloyd Rose Locking Nut Height: Why Sour Chord Shapes Aren't Always the SaddlesCarl BeckettGear LabMarshall SV212 vs. SV112: When the 2×12 Earns Its WeightFader & Knob StaffGear LabTC Electronic Plethora X3 vs. Mooer Red Truck: Multi-Effects at $300 from Both CatalogsFader & Knob Staffquick-fixFloyd Rose Intonation: Set Each Saddle in 8 Steps Without a TechMargot ThiessenModeler MasterclassFriedman ASM-12 vs. Atomic CLR Mk II: Powered FRFR With Character vs. FlatDev Okonkwoquick-fixHum X vs. Radial Twin-Iso vs. EBTECH ELQ: Three Cheap Ground-Loop FixesRick DaltonGear LabMarshall SC20H Combo vs. SV20H Head + 1×12 Cab: When the Combo WinsHank PresswoodGear LabTC Electronic Tonepedal vs. Mooer Micro: The $50 Pedal ShowdownJess KowalskiModeler MasterclassBalanced Power for Guitar Rigs: Furman P-2400 IT vs. Equi=Tech ET2R, and When It's Worth ItNathan CrossQuick FixesYour First Floyd Rose String Change: Block the Trem, Set the Reference, Don't Snap the SaddlesMargot ThiessenGear LabMarshall DSL20HR vs. Origin 20: The Two Cheap Marshalls That Get ConfusedHank PresswoodGear LabMooer Pedal Catalog: The Step Up From Behringer, and Which Mooer Clones Are Worth $80Elena RuizModeler MasterclassQuilter ToneBlock 202 vs. Seymour Duncan PowerStage 200: Tube-Stage Emulation vs. Pure TransparentViktor KesslerGear LabBehringer Pedal Clones: Which $30 Boxes Are Actually Worth BuyingElena RuizQuick FixesFloyd Rose Locking Nut Maintenance: When the Strings Slip and the Bridge Is Not the ProblemCarl BeckettGear LabMarshall Origin 20 vs. SV20H: The $700 Marshall vs. the $1,500 MarshallHank PresswoodGear LabPower Conditioners and Stage Hum: Furman P-1800 vs. ETA PD-15 vs. Ebtech Hum XNathan CrossModeler MasterclassSeymour Duncan PowerStage 200 vs. Fryette Power Station Plus: Class D vs. Tube Power Amp for Modeler RigsViktor KesslerModeler MasterclassA/B Amp Switching on a Modeler: Verse-to-Chorus Tone Changes Without a Volume JumpFader & Knob StaffGear LabWay Huge Aqua-Puss vs. Behringer VD400: Does the $30 Clone Hold Up to the $150 Original?Fader & Knob StaffModeler MasterclassDIY Bass Trap Build: Two Corner Traps for Under $80Fader & Knob StaffQuick FixesFloyd Rose Stud Cap Replacement: The $40 Fix Before You Replace the Whole BridgeFader & Knob StaffSettings GuidesMarshall SV20H vs. SV20MKII vs. SV2555X: The 20-Watt Reissue Lineup DecodedRick DaltonModeler MasterclassCheap Acoustic Treatment That Actually Works: The $200 Bedroom Guitar StudioFader & Knob StaffQuick FixesGround Loop Hum at the Amp: When the Pedalboard Is Fine But the Stage Isn'tNathan CrossSettings GuidesMarshall Silver Jubilee vs. JCM800: The Overlooked Middle SiblingRick DaltonSignal ChainVariable Power Amps: Rivera TBR, Fryette Power Station Plus, and the Real-World Use CaseViktor KesslerGear LabWay Huge Aqua-Puss MkIII: The Third BBD Delay Nobody Talks AboutJess KowalskiGear LabMXR Carbon Copy vs. Boss DM-2W: Two BBD Delays, Two Different Tonal ChoicesJess KowalskimaintenanceFloyd Rose Knife Edge Replacement: A Step-by-Step WalkthroughCarl BeckettGear LabLR Baggs Anthem vs. Fishman Matrix Infinity Mic Blend vs. K&K Pure Mini: Which Hybrid Acoustic Pickup System Is Right for You?Elena RuizmodelerParallel Amp Routing in a Modeler: When Two Amps in Parallel Solve a Problem One Amp Can'tFader & Knob StaffmodelerSetting Global EQ With Room Measurement: How to Use Room EQ Wizard for Modeler CorrectionDev OkonkwoSettings GuidesBlending an Acoustic Pickup and a Microphone: The Two-Source Recording WorkflowMargot ThiessenSignal ChainBBD vs. PT2399: What the Two Analog Delay Chips Actually Sound LikeSean NakamuraQuick FixesFloyd Rose Knife Edge Wear: How to Diagnose It and When to ReplaceCarl BeckettModeler MasterclassGlobal EQ on Your Modeler: The One Setting You're Probably SkippingDev OkonkwoSignal ChainStereo Guitar Signal Chain Architecture: What Stays Mono and What SplitsSean NakamuraSignal ChainThe EL84 Tube: Why AC30s, AC15s, and Boutique Low-Watt Amps Sound Like ThemselvesHank PresswoodtechniqueHow to Start Hybrid Picking: Four Right-Hand Moves That Work Before You Are ReadyRick DaltonGear LabBoss Katana Mini vs Vox amPlug 4: The Sub-$100 Headphone Amp DecisionJess KowalskiSettings GuidesSilent Recording With a Tube Amp: The Two Notes Captor Setup From Power-On to DAWSean NakamuraSignal ChainWhen the V30 Is Still the Right Speaker: Medium-Gain Rock and the Case Against ModernMargot ThiessenSignal Chain6V6 vs 6L6 vs EL34: What the Power Tube Actually Does to Your ToneMargot ThiessentroubleshootingAcoustic Guitar Through a Pickup Sounds Bad — Five Frequency Fixes That Save the ToneDev OkonkwotroubleshootingWhy Your Pedalboard Power Supply Hums (and How to Fix It Without Buying a Bigger One)Nathan CrossGear LabThe Three-Way Practice Amp Test: Mustang Micro vs Spark Mini vs HX StompElena RuizSignal ChainWhy V30s Sound Fatiguing in Modern Djent (and Three Speakers That Don't)Viktor KesslerSettings GuidesWhat the Celestion G12T-75 Actually Does (And Why Marshall Chose It Over the Greenback)Viktor KesslerSignal ChainFixed Bias Amps and the Screwdriver: What Rebiasing Is, When You Need It, and When to Call a TechHank PresswoodtechniqueHow to Start Hybrid Picking: Four Moves That Work Before You've Practiced ThemElena RuizTone RecipesSingle-Pickup Guitars and the Logic of No Selector Switch: Junior, SG Special, EsquireCarl BeckettSettings GuidesSilent Recording With a Tube Amp: The Two Notes Captor X Setup From Power-On to DAWNathan CrossSignal ChainClass A vs. Class AB: The Amp Operating Point Question Every Player Gets WrongHank PresswoodSignal ChainHybrid Picking for Rock and Blues: Ghost Notes Without the Country ContextRick DaltonTone RecipesLes Paul Junior Tone Recipe: Single P-90 Into a Clean Amp Is One of the Best Rock TonesRick DaltonSettings GuidesWhy Mesa Ships Rectifier Cabs With V30s (And When to Replace Them)Viktor KesslerSignal ChainReactive Load Box vs. Simple Resistive Attenuator: What the Circuit Difference Actually Sounds LikeNathan CrossSignal ChainCathode Bias vs. Fixed Bias: What It Means for Amp Feel (and Which Amps Use Which)Fader & Knob StaffSignal ChainCelestion Speaker Showdown: G12T-75 vs. V30 vs. Greenback vs. Blue AlnicoFader & Knob StaffSignal ChainChicken Pickin' Foundations: The Five Muting Patterns You Need Before the Gear MattersFader & Knob StaffSignal ChainP-90 Pickups and Overdrive: Why the Middle Pickup Acts Like Neither a Single-Coil Nor a HumbuckerFader & Knob StaffGear LabQuilter Tone Block vs. Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander: Two Ways to Go Truly AmplessJess KowalskiSettings GuidesWhy Your Compressor Is Ruining Your Country Tone (and How to Fix It)Fader & Knob Staffmodeler-guidesHelix Cab Models Decoded: Every Stock Cabinet and Its Real-World OriginFader & Knob StaffGear LabSolid-State Amps Worth Owning in 2026: The Short List and Why Each Is on ItJess KowalskiGear LabTS808 vs. Klon vs. RAT: Which Overdrive Works Best With Humbuckers?Fader & Knob StaffSignal ChainWhat Is Amp Sag and Why Does It Make Guitar Feel Better?Fader & Knob StaffSignal ChainDotted Eighth Delay Without a Tap Tempo: A Reference Card for Live UseFader & Knob StaffQuick FixesFloyd Rose Spring Angle and Pattern: How Diagonal vs. Parallel Springs Change Feel and Return SpeedCarl BeckettModeler MasterclassWhy the Roland JC-120 Can't Be Fully Replicated in a Modeler (And What to Do About It)Sean NakamuraSignal ChainParallel Reverb Routing: Why Running Two Reverbs Side by Side Solves Problems That Series Can'tMargot ThiessenSignal ChainPower Scaling vs. Attenuator: What Actually Sounds Better and Who Each Is ForFader & Knob StaffSettings GuidesCountry Telecaster Tone: The 5 Settings Players Get WrongCarl BeckettModeler MasterclassExpression Pedal vs. Volume Pedal: When You Need Hardware Volume and When a TRS Pedal Does It BetterFader & Knob StaffModeler MasterclassHelix Amp Model Cheat Sheet: Which Block Matches Which Real AmpSean NakamuraSignal ChainWhy Your Overdrive Sounds Different With Humbuckers (and How to Fix It)Margot ThiessenSignal ChainWhy Your Tube Amp Sounds Thin at Bedroom Volume (Power Tube Threshold, Explained)Hank PresswoodSignal ChainFloyd Rose: How Spring Count and String Gauge Interact (The 2-Spring vs. 3-Spring Decision)Rick DaltonGear LabKeeley Super AT Mod: What Andy Timmons' Signature BD-2 Changes and Who It's ForMargot ThiessenGear LabTwo Reverb Pedals That Sound Great Together: The Best Hardware PairingsDev OkonkwoSignal ChainWhen an Attenuator Stops Working: The Case for a Lower-Wattage AmpViktor KesslerSignal ChainThe Volume Pedal as a Dynamics Control (Not Just for Swells)Nathan CrossQuick FixesWhy Your Compressor Is Killing Your Tone (and How to Fix It)Carl BeckettSignal ChainDialing In Drop-Tuned High Gain: A Frequency-By-Frequency GuideViktor KesslerGear LabFender Deluxe Reverb vs. Fender ToneMaster: Do the Same Settings Sound the Same?Hank PresswoodModeler MasterclassHelix Cab and IR Pairings: The Reference Table for Every Amp ModelSean NakamuraSignal ChainHow to Set Reverb for a Live Room vs. a Dead RoomNathan CrossSignal ChainHow to Calculate Delay Time by BPM (With a Reference Table for Every Tempo)Nathan CrossSignal ChainWhat Is Power Tube Saturation? (And Why It Sounds Different from Preamp Distortion)Hank PresswoodSettings GuidesRoland JC-120 Settings Guide: Getting The Cure Sound and BeyondDev OkonkwoSignal ChainWhat Happens When You Stack a TS and a Klon Together Into a MarshallRick DaltonSignal ChainWhat Does the Cut Knob Do on a Vox AC30?Nathan CrossGear LabWhat BD-2 Clones Are Actually Worth It: Keeley, Analogman, and the DIY OptionsJess KowalskiSignal ChainFloyd Rose Setup for Players Who Hate Setup: The Three Numbers That MatterRick DaltonSettings GuidesReactive vs. Resistive Attenuators: What the Difference Actually Sounds LikeViktor KesslerSignal ChainStacking Reverbs: When Two Reverb Blocks Sound Better Than OneDev OkonkwoQuick FixesVolume Swell Technique: Why Yours Sounds Wrong and How to Fix the Attack TimingNathan CrossGear LabWhat Makes the BD-2W Waza Craft Worth It (and for Whom)Jess Kowalskimodeler-guidesIEM Mix for Guitarists: Should You Add Compression to Your Personal Monitor Mix?Nathan CrossSignal ChainLooper + Delay + Reverb Without Muddiness: Setting the Order and ParametersDev OkonkwoSettings GuidesHow to Set Your Peavey 5150 for Bedroom Volume Without Losing the ToneViktor KesslerSignal ChainTremolo Arm Techniques: Glide, Flutter, and Dive-Bomb on Different Bridge SystemsRick DaltonGear LabBoss Pedal Mods Compared: BD-2, DS-1, and SD-1. Which Is the Most Worth Modding?Jess KowalskiModeler MasterclassHow to Get Good Tone Through In-Ear Monitors: The Live Guitarist's ProblemNathan CrossSignal ChainThe Looper Pedal as a Compositional Tool (Not Just a Practice Device)Dev OkonkwoTone RecipesMy Bloody Valentine Loveless Tone: Kevin Shields' Wall of Sound BlueprintDev OkonkwoSettings GuidesPeavey 5150 / EVH 6505 Settings Guide: Every Style From Clean to CrushingViktor KesslerSignal ChainHow to Choose Between a Buffer and a True Bypass Looper (And When Each Actually Matters)Sean NakamuraSignal ChainThe DIY Pedal Starter Guide: What You Actually Need to Build Your First OverdriveCarl BeckettTone RecipesThe Great Dismal: How Nothing's Third Album Changed the Shoegaze Gain StructureDev OkonkwoGear LabBoss SD-1 Mod Guide: Three Changes That Make the Super Overdrive Actually GoodJess KowalskiGear LabWampler Tumnus Deluxe vs. Klon KTR: Is the Circuit Still Worth the Price Gap?Margot ThiessenTone RecipesAndy Timmons on a Budget: How to Get the Singing Lead Tone Without the Signature GearMargot ThiessenGear LabBoss BD-2 vs. BD-2W Waza Craft: Which Settings Suit Your Style?Rick DaltonGear LabBoss SD-1 vs. BD-2: Which Super Overdrive Wins on a Clean Amp?Jess KowalskiModeler MasterclassHX Stomp Polarity Trick: Why Two Cab Blocks Out of Phase Sound Fuller Than OneSean NakamuraModeler MasterclassMark Speer Tone on an HX Stomp: Khruangbin Clean Funk for $299Dev OkonkwoGear LabMarshall Shredmaster Clone Options: Aion FX Solstice, Five Cats Shredder, and What's Actually DifferentHank PresswoodGear LabMarshall Shredmaster vs. ProCo RAT: Can You Fake the Creep Tone?Jess KowalskiTone RecipesNeo-Shoegaze Tone: How Title Fight, Nothing, and DIIV Update the MBV BlueprintDev OkonkwoTone RecipesNothing Band Guitar Tone: *Tired of Tomorrow* Heavy Shoegaze SettingsDev OkonkwoGear LabPaul Cochrane Timmy vs. Wampler Tumnus: Low-Gain Transparency at Two Price PointsMargot ThiessenTone RecipesDavid Gilmour's Animals Era Tone: How The Wall Sound EvolvedMargot ThiessenGear LabDS-1 Modded vs. Stock: Is the Keeley Ultra Mod Worth the Price?Jess KowalskiSettings GuidesJCM800 vs. JCM900: What Actually Changed and Which Is Right for You?Rick DaltonModeler MasterclassQuad Cortex Capture Tutorial: How to Record Your Own Amp in 20 MinutesSean NakamuraQuick FixesHow to Stop Feedback on Stage Without a Gate (The Physics-First Approach)Viktor KesslerQuick FixesDoes Cavity Shielding Actually Work? A Before/After TestCarl BeckettGear LabChicken Pickin' Compressor Settings: Keeley, Wampler Ego, and Boss CS-3Carl BeckettModeler MasterclassHX Stomp vs. Helix LT for Worship: Which Should You Buy?Nathan CrossQuick FixesHow to Level-Match All Your Presets: Helix, Quad Cortex, and FractalSean NakamuraTone RecipesMalcolm Young's Rhythm Tone: The Other Half of AC/DC's SoundRick DaltonTone RecipesBig Muff vs. Hiwatt: Which One Is Doing the Work on Comfortably Numb?Margot ThiessenSignal ChainThe Buffer Myth: What Buffered Bypass Actually Does to Your Signal ChainSean NakamuraGear LabBoss DS-1 vs. MXR Distortion+: Two Classic Distortions, One AmpJess KowalskiSettings GuidesJCM800 2203 vs. 2205: What's the Difference (and Which Do You Have)?Rick DaltonModeler MasterclassQuad Cortex Scenes vs. Stomp Mode: Which Should You Build Around?Sean NakamuraGear LabBig Muff vs. Fuzz Face: Two Fuzzes, Two Completely Different CircuitsMargot ThiessenSignal ChainDelay Types Compared: Analog vs. Digital vs. Tape (Live vs. Studio)Nathan CrossSignal ChainGermanium vs. Silicon Fuzz: What's the Actual Difference and When Does It Matter?Hank PresswoodModeler MasterclassModeler EQ Guide: The 5-Band EQ Shape Every Patch NeedsSean NakamuraGear LabPRS Silver Sky vs. Fender Strat: Which Gets Closer to the Mayer Clean Tone?Margot ThiessenQuick FixesHow to Stop Pedal Hiss Without Killing Your ToneCarl BeckettGear LabWe A/B Tested 5 Overdrive Pedals: Here Are the Settings That Actually WorkedRick DaltonGear LabHow Much Does Pick Thickness Change Your Tone? We Tested ItCarl BeckettGear LabRAT vs. Tube Screamer vs. Big Muff: Three Classic Pedals, One AmpJess KowalskiSignal ChainWhy the Tube Screamer Before a High-Gain Amp Is the Best Metal TrickViktor KesslerSettings GuidesHow to Use Gain, Volume, and Master Controls Together (And Why They're Not the Same Thing)Hank PresswoodSettings GuidesBoss Katana Deep Dive: 7 Settings Most Players Never FindElena RuizTone RecipesThe Cure's Guitar Tone: Robert Smith's Chorus Settings and How to Recreate ItDev OkonkwoSettings GuidesDelay Pedal Settings: Slapback, Dotted Eighths, and Ambient Trails ExplainedNathan CrossSignal ChainEQ Pedal Placement: Before vs. After Dirt — What Actually ChangesViktor KesslerModeler MasterclassHelix IR Shootout: Stock Cabs vs. Third-Party Impulse ResponsesSean NakamuraSignal ChainImpedance and Buffers: Why Your Fuzz Sounds Different When You Move ItMargot ThiessenTone RecipesJack White's Lo-Fi Garage Tone: Settings for the White Stripes, Raconteurs, and Dead WeatherJess KowalskiQuick FixesYour Modeler Preset Sounds Different at the Gig (and How to Fix It)Nathan CrossSettings GuidesVox AC30 Settings: From Jangle to Crunch (Sweet Spots for Every Style)Nathan CrossTone RecipesBB King Blues Lead Tone Recipe: Lucille's Sound ExplainedRick DaltonGear LabDoes Cable Length Actually Affect Tone? We Measured ItViktor KesslerTone RecipesMisha Mansoor / Periphery Djent Tone RecipeViktor KesslerTone RecipesTom Morello Rage Against the Machine Tone RecipeJess KowalskiQuick FixesFix Your Fizzy High Gain in 2 MinutesViktor KesslerModeler MasterclassKemper Profiles vs. Helix Models: A Tone ComparisonSean NakamuraQuick FixesYour Reverb Sounds Washed Out: The Decay and Mix FixNathan CrossModeler MasterclassToneX Tone Models: How to Choose the Right OneDev OkonkwoGear LabTube Screamer vs. Klon vs. Blues Driver: Same Amp, Three PedalsRick DaltonModeler Masterclass10 Helix Amp Models You're Not Using (But Should Be)Sean NakamuraSettings GuidesBoss Blues Driver BD-2 Settings: Sweet Spots for Blues, Rock, and CountryRick DaltonSettings GuidesCompressor Pedal Settings: When to Use It, What It Does, and How Much Is EnoughCarl BeckettSettings GuidesFender Deluxe Reverb Settings: Finding Every Sweet Spot on a 22-Watt LegendHank PresswoodTone RecipesKhruangbin Clean Funk Tone: Mark Speer's Minimal Chain and How to Get ThereDev OkonkwoTone RecipesAC/DC Rhythm Tone Recipe: Angus Young Amp Settings, Gear Breakdown, and How to Nail ItRick DaltonTone RecipesAndy Timmons Lead Tone Recipe: Drive Stacking, Signal Chain, and SettingsMargot ThiessenGearBest FRFR Speakers for Guitar Modelers in 2026Elena RuizGearBest Guitar Modeler Under $500 in 2026Jess KowalskiSignal ChainGuitar EQ Explained: The Frequencies That Actually Matter for ToneViktor KesslerGearHelix vs Quad Cortex vs Kemper: Which Modeler Should You Actually Buy?Rick DaltonSignal ChainImpulse Responses Explained: What IRs Are and How to Use Them on Any ModelerElena RuizGearHelix Floor vs LT vs HX Stomp vs Stadium: Every Line 6 Modeler ComparedViktor KesslerTone RecipesNashville Session Clean Tone: Telecaster + Compressor SettingsCarl BeckettTone RecipesRadiohead Jess KowalskiTone RecipesShoegaze Wall of Sound: Guitar Tone Settings and Pedal RecipeDev OkonkwoGearFRFR vs Guitar Cab for Modelers: Which One Should You Use?Sean NakamuraQuick FixesHow to Remove 60-Cycle Hum Without a Noise GateCarl BeckettSettings GuidesMarshall JCM800 Settings: Sweet Spots for Every StyleRick DaltonTone RecipesModern Worship Guitar Tone on the Line 6 Helix: A Complete Preset GuideNathan CrossModeler MasterclassHow to Build a Quad Cortex Preset from ScratchSean NakamuraQuick FixesThe Volume Drop Problem: Why Your Solo Patch Is Quieter Than Your RhythmNathan CrossTone RecipesModern Worship Guitar Tone on Helix: A Complete Preset WalkthroughNathan CrossWorkflowThe 20-Minute Practice Session: How to Sound Better When You Have No TimeElena RuizGearThe $500 Gigging Rig That Actually Doesn't SuckJess KowalskiGearThe $500 Rig Challenge: Two Players, Two Philosophies, One BudgetJess KowalskiSettings GuidesBig Muff Settings Guide: Every Variant, Every Sweet SpotMargot ThiessenSettings GuidesBoss DS-1 Settings for Every Style: Punk, Grunge, Classic Rock, and MetalJess KowalskiTone RecipesDavid Gilmour Tone Recipe: Pink Floyd Settings for Comfortably Numb, Time, and the WallMargot ThiessenQuick FixesFix Thin Modeler Tone: 5 Settings to Check Right NowSean NakamuraSignal ChainGain Staging for Drop Tunings: Why Your Low-End Is Muddy (and How to Fix It)Viktor KesslerTone RecipesHendrix Fuzz Tone Recipe: Fuzz Face Settings, Guitar Volume Tricks, and the Signal ChainRick DaltonTone RecipesJohn Mayer Clean Tone Settings: How to Get That Neck Pickup SoundMargot ThiessenSettings GuidesKlon Centaur Settings: Clean Boost, Mild OD, and Full DriveHank PresswoodTone RecipesMetallica Rhythm Tone Settings: Hetfield's Sound by EraViktor KesslerGearCan a Modeler Really Replace a Tube Amp? Two Writers, Two Rigs, One VerdictRick DaltonSettings GuidesRAT Pedal Settings for Every Genre: Blues, Grunge, Shoegaze, and MoreJess KowalskiEffectsSpring vs. Plate vs. Hall: A Reverent Guide to Reverb TypesMargot ThiessenQuick FixesWhy Your Delay Sounds Muddy (and the One Setting to Change)Nathan CrossSignal ChainBuilding a Worship Pedalboard That Serves the Song (Not Your Ego)Nathan CrossGearThe Complete Guide to Guitar Amp Types: Tube, Solid-State, Modeling, and HybridHank PresswoodSignal ChainThe 4-Wire Method Explained: How to Use Your Modeler with a Real AmpRick DaltonSignal ChainGuitar Effects Loops Explained: Series, Parallel, and Why It MattersSean NakamuraPlatform GuideThe 7 Best Helix Amp Models for Blues ToneRick DaltonPlatform Guide5 Boss Katana Settings That Sound Like Real Tube AmpsJess KowalskiPlatform GuideQuad Cortex Captures vs Models: When to Use EachSean NakamuraGearWhich Pickup Position for Which Tone? A Quick GuideCarl BeckettWorkflowWhat Is a Tone Recipe? How Fader & Knob WorksJess KowalskiGearHelix vs Quad Cortex: Which Modeler Is Right for You?Sean NakamuraSignal ChainThe Complete Guide to Guitar Signal Chain OrderRick DaltonSignal Chain3 Signal Chains Every Beginner Guitarist Should KnowCarl BeckettEffectsTube Screamer Settings for Every Style: From Clean Boost to Full OverdriveViktor KesslerEffectsOverdrive vs Distortion vs Fuzz: The Definitive GuideMargot ThiessenArtist ToneThe Edge's Delay Settings Decoded: How U2 Gets That SoundNathan CrossWorkflowHow to Dial In a Great Tone on Any Modeler in 10 MinutesElena RuizArtist ToneHow to Get Stevie Ray Vaughan's Tone on Line 6 HelixRick DaltonWorkflowWhy Your Modeler Tone Sounds Fizzy (And How to Fix It)Dev Okonkwo
Masthead
Rick Dalton
The Analog Patriarch
Jess Kowalski
The Punk Engineer
Sean Nakamura
The Digital Architect
Margot Thiessen
The Tone Sommelier
Carl Beckett
The One-Guitar Guy
Dev Okonkwo
The Bedroom Producer
Nathan Cross
The Worship Architect
Viktor Kessler
The Metal Scientist
Hank Presswood
The Vintage Collector
Elena Ruiz
The Parent Player
Edited in the field, filed from the garage, the basement, and the tour bus.