GtrWrks ONLINE JOURNAL

 Sonic Blue, that is…

New pictures of the 19Sixty3 Preamp Pedal showing the updated graphics of the housing have been added to the site, along with some new images of the bV Overdrive Pedal.

See and hear guitarist Allen Hinds play and describe our pedals on this YouTube demo. Allen takes you through the new bV pedal for the bulk of the video, with a segment on the 19 Sixty 3.

Peter Hastings, well-known for his acclaimed television work, produced and directed the video.

Last week’s show found me on stage with Ty England supporting country music legend George Jones – this just a couple of days after his induction into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.  The sold out show was a lot of fun and ably produced/powered by David Qualls Sound.

…for the Summer Stage Blues.  When you book an outdoor summer festival, you never know what kind of  stage & sound system you’re going to get.  This past week’s was… suspect; and not the hippest thing I’d ever seen.  It was very hot that day and we were in a steel-cage-death-match of a metal can stage – it was a lot like being in a oven.  At least the music was good:  www.ricktoops.com.  Al Garcia on drums was laying it down – holy crap, what a sweet groove (and dig his somewhat unique set up).

Dig this: A buddy of mine sold a bass rig to “some cat in some blues band” (www.terryquiettband.com) and told me he’d flipped ‘em his ’63 for them to check out.  Today I get an email from Terry the guitarist/vocalist:

“Hey!  I wanted to write and tell you what a killer pedal you’re making (as if you didn’t know)!

 My band was recently playing a show in Tulsa – where my bass player was buying an amp from a guy off Craigslist.  His name was Ronnie Galloway. We started talking gear…as gearheads do…and we showed him our ever-expanding pedalboards (my bass player and I are both addicts).  Anyway, Ronnie was talking about his friend Todd who makes pedals.  We said we’d have to check them out and he leaves.  Two minutes later he walks back in and says he has a 19 Sixty 3 pedal of yours in his truck – and having just met a few moments before – loaned me the pedal to try out.  I call it fate.

 I’ve been throwing in my chain at the last several shows and just LOVE it!  Everyone in the bands thinks it just kills my (boutique pedal).  I have to agree.  Fabulous man!”

Subsequently I listened to some of Terry’s material @ www.myspace.com/terryquiett - and they are flat-out kicking it.  I thought their blues oriented thing was cool, offering a glimpse into several diverse influences… or maybe it’s just their DNA.  These guys are laying straight out there.  Amazon and CD Baby are stocking their records – check it out.

See Ronnie Galloway @ www.reclinersband.com. 

After assorted delays, stops & starts and an insanely busy spring gig schedule, the bV has arrived!  I’m happy to present to you the (new) bV Overdrive:

This OD shares the same circuit as the previous Flat Five (clean boost > throaty, singing solo tones); the only difference being that these will be regularly available for purchase (as opposed to special order/wait) and a new paint job.  A hip thing about the clean boost ability is it’s voice – the sound appears to be flat in general, yet the mids/low-mids are enhanced just enough to round out thinner sounding/twangy guitars – or perfect to use for a solo tone, even if the volume is @ unity.  Good stuff.

Custom built ’63 Pre with a (sweet) sweepable, low pass filter:

Two of these were built for very special customers: through one’s hands pass many cool things, through the other’s hands pass many cool notes.

The Terry Allen Band (www.myspace.com/terryallenband07) is a Country/Western act stemming from the north Texas area – they have a huge fan base and play across Texas as well as into the surrounding states – they enjoy mucho radio play and generally tear it up on stage.  This past week I worked with these cats in Abilene (www.abilenetx.com – ~150 miles west of Dallas) at Southern Nights Saloon/Dancehall – huge crowd!

Chicken Pickin’!

Last night was Rick Toops’ CD release party (www.ricktoops.com) – I was happy to be part of it – the drummer, bassist, sax man and 2nd vocalist I’d not met before (always a tricky situation on stage) – everyone was extremely cool and all were great musicians – it was very cool to meet some new cats as well as being a joy to play this set.  Rick’s new platter, 2PS, is available at CD Baby (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/RickToops) – groove-based soul/pop at its finest.

 Here’s Rick laying down: