Tascam US-1800Nice little audio interface. USB 2.0, but it has 8 XLR inputs, a few TRS inputs and 4 dedicated TRS outputs. Paid $89 plus shipping, well worth it so far.Karma Audio Silver Bullet MicsGreat depending on the application. Tend to be pretty loud and prone to overloading, so keep your hand near the trim knob. Other than that, fantastic. 7 little dudes for $99. Well worth it.MXR Smart GateIt's a gate. It works. Not super useful unless it's on the Full mode, then it's great. The Hi Trigger Range is totally fuckin' useless - it just squashes the volume and tone of the guitar. Since it's MXR, the line on the knob glows in the dark, which makes it easy to see what you tripped on when you're walking around your bedroom at night. Paid $60 for it, new.

1009 wrote:Basic Audio Zippy Fuzz: big, loud, girthy fuzz. Lots of boom in the low-end and some sizzle on the highs. Has an interesting feature I haven't found in a fuzz before: when the fuzz is cranked and I use a strong pick attack, a fair amount of clean signal passes through in addition to the fuzz. I can imagine a lot of situations in which this aspect (unintended, I have to assume) can be useful. Just as effective on bass as guitar, which is a prerequisite for all of my dirt devices.Turns out this interesting feature was due to a dying battery. (Still cool.) The fuzz is pretty righteous when running on the full 9v, though. Even gets a j-bass into KARP territory.

tallchris wrote:1009 wrote:Even gets a j-bass into KARP territory.FWIW I think Jared has always used a Jazz in KARP and Big Biz.Devil you say! It's always so dark, I just assumed it was a P. Anyhow, this fuzz is wooly with a nasally edge to it. Love it. 154 hates it.

FuzzBob wrote:Heil PR-40Excellent review -- thanks.

1009 wrote:1009 wrote:Basic Audio Zippy Fuzz: big, loud, girthy fuzz. Lots of boom in the low-end and some sizzle on the highs. Has an interesting feature I haven't found in a fuzz before: when the fuzz is cranked and I use a strong pick attack, a fair amount of clean signal passes through in addition to the fuzz. I can imagine a lot of situations in which this aspect (unintended, I have to assume) can be useful. Just as effective on bass as guitar, which is a prerequisite for all of my dirt devices.Turns out this interesting feature was due to a dying battery. (Still cool.) The fuzz is pretty righteous when running on the full 9v, though. Even gets a j-bass into KARP territory.You need a dying battery simulator. Really. It's an easy build.

Heil PR-40Overview: Bob Heil's answer to the RE-20. Rented it for a month because fuck it, $20.The good: those highs really do sound like a condenser, no shit. Nice solid lows. Ridiculously clear for a big dynamic. Quite nice on kick drum and baritone guitar cabs; I assume it's great on bass, too. Great rejection. Nice and hot-- no need to reach for the Cloudlifter.The bad: the RE-20 is nice on voice. The PR-40, however, captures clogged sinuses and phlegm in stunning detail--the peaks are in all the wrong places. On acoustic guitar, miking the neck just north of the sound hole like you're supposed to, it sounded like a neck pickup. Even my SM-7 sounded much better and more natural (!!!!).The verdict: not ready to hang with the SM-7, RE-20, or Heil's own PR-30/35. A great specialty mic on kick drums and bass cabs, weird on anything else. It's going back to the store this weekend.

Eugenius wrote:1009 wrote:1009 wrote:Basic Audio Zippy Fuzz: big, loud, girthy fuzz. Lots of boom in the low-end and some sizzle on the highs. Has an interesting feature I haven't found in a fuzz before: when the fuzz is cranked and I use a strong pick attack, a fair amount of clean signal passes through in addition to the fuzz. I can imagine a lot of situations in which this aspect (unintended, I have to assume) can be useful. Just as effective on bass as guitar, which is a prerequisite for all of my dirt devices.Turns out this "interesting feature" was due to a dying battery. (Still cool.) The fuzz is pretty righteous when running on the full 9v, though. Even gets a j-bass into KARP territory.You need a dying battery simulator. Really. It's an easy build.Pedal Power 2 has a pair of jacks with variable voltage. They're aces.

1009 wrote:Even gets a j-bass into KARP territory.FWIW I think Jared has always used a Jazz in KARP and Big Biz.

Gibson SG Special, 70s TributeWasn't looking for a new guitar, but unexpected chunk of back-dated pay met Easter weekend deal at my local Axetaria, with hilarious consequences. Couldn't believe how nice it was after the first play, so left it for a couple of days, came back, found it still unsold and played it again. Just as nice second time, so got on it. My first Gibson, so obviously wary after countless tales of shod and letdown. Thin nitro satin cherry finish, lots of grain, looks the business. Super light (feels sub-7lb to me) but no sign of neck-dive. Baked maple FB actually plays like a dream. Hardware looks solid, no wonky/scratchy/rubbish-tapered pots etc. Neck profile is fantastic, starts out thin but gets heftier by about halfway up. I generally like mini-hums, and these Firebirdy-looking ones are surprisingly nice. Bright and articulate, lot going on in the mids, spanky with some heft when pushed. I'm no Gibson aficionado, usually go for Fender/singlesome-types, but so far I like this guitar a lot.

twelvepoint wrote:Evans Wing Nut Drum KeysIs it a wing nut or a drum key? Does it look silly? Who cares! I am constantly forgetting drum keys and this is gonna save my ass. 9 dollars for a pack of 3Now, that is awesome.