Here is another video of me playing about with my Ditto Looper. This time, using my Gilmourised Strat, for something a bit funky

I’ve been hanging my nose over the Asterope cables for a while, as used by David Grissom. However, I then found out how much they cost, with a 10ft cable being around £130!! A little too spendy, even for a gear snob like me.

So I had a look around the net. I’ve always purchased cables of a reasonable quality and always insisted on Neutrix jacks and therefore, the smart cables from Strings Direct always did me proud. Then I looked at Peach Guitars and saw the Lava Cables they sell.

I’ve therefore ended up with two of their Custom Peach Guitars Armoured cables which have a Techflex nylon webbing/covering to add protection for the cable, whilst still allowing some flexibility. I bought the 10ft one first and then the 20ft a few days later! They were used in anger for the first time, at the recent Nightwires gig in Derby, and they sound pretty good to me. They have a nice full sound, but with plenty of top end bite, without being too much. I shall give a longer term assessment, once I’ve used them a bit more.

Interestingly, two of my band mates mocked me for spending £100 on two cables. But ironically, once my bass player plugged in, one of his cables was so noisy, he had to swap it! If only he did as much research into cables as I have. Having a good quality cable definitely helps your sound, particularly when you play through a few pedals like I do. I am certain that you get what you pay for…

I’ve finally got around to doing a video of my Ditto Looper pedal. I’m generally pretty pleased with it but I need to practise the double tap needed to stop the loop!!

Apart from the first chord progression, the playing is pretty off the cuff. I knew where I wanted to go with it but I wanted to let myself go a bit, rather than have it too planned out.

Enjoy!

2 new videos in one day, you are lucky!

At long last, here is my video demo of my Victory Amps V50. Its part one really, as I hope to show some of the lead tones in another video.

Enjoy, but be gentle…..

Hello all!

This is the new video, for the latest song to be released from the debut album by my band, The Nightwires

Here is my latest and greatest pedalboard. It will stay like this for some time, I think….

Sorry for the flash flare, my photography skills don’t match my guitar skills!

I’ve got 2 pedals in loop 2 of the Gigrig Quartermaster. I can’t bring myself to not have the phase 90 on there but I do like using the TC Electronic Shaker, so they both go in a loop together.

I have a Custom Audio Electronics Wah “off board” which I can add in front of the board as and when I need it.

The black footswitch in the top left corner is a custom made channel/boost switch for my amp.  Its made by Bright Onion Pedals.

More updates soon, including the much delayed video demo of the Victory Amps head.

Its been a mega busy time for my band The Nightwires, hence why Guitar Geek has been a bit quiet.

In the new year, there will be lots of new videos posted, including some of my new Victory Amps V50 Head.  Short review: It sounds mega!!

In the mean time, please head over to The Nightwires Store to buy a copy of our debut album

Have a great Christmas!

As you may have read on my site, I play in an acoustic duo called The Nightwires. We are about to release our debut album and have just started a new website. Please check it out and stay tuned for updates. There will be plenty of shows to come….

As you may have read in a previous post, I’ve recently installed a set of Bare Knuckle Apache singlecoils in my strat. Here is a little demo…..

I’ve had my American Standard Stratocaster for 18 months or so now. I’ve never been a massive fan of Strats, even though I’ve owned a few over the years. This guitar was really purchased so I can have some true single coil sounds when recording.

Straight away I put Fender locking tuners on it, as I just prefer the way locking tuners work and they make strings changes so easy, as well as keeping the guitar in tune.

And then I decided that I hated the Fender tremolo arm. Its so long and awkward. So I started looking into shortened tremolo arms and thats when the lightbulb went on.

I can’t say I’ve ever really gotten into Pink Floyd that much, but I’ve always liked David Gilmour’s style and in particular his black strat. I first became aware of him when I was around 13 and on holiday in Italy. Pink Floyd were doing a show in Venice and I was there sightseeing on the day of the gig, so I was aware of the furore around the sound levels and the claim of potential damage to the city.  The gig was on the TV in the hotel that night, so I saw some of the show.

Anyway, back to short tremolo arms! Gilmour uses one and it makes the trem so much more useable.

And now, I’ve got around to creating my tribute to Gilmour’s most famous guitar.

Before:

During, showing the wiring on the black, single ply WD pickguard. The controls are a pre wired, solderless system that means I dont have to use my terrible soldering skills! Pickups are Bare Knuckle Apaches with a base plate on the bridge pickup for a bit more output.

With the pickguard in place

And finally finished. I’m pleased with the results and the Bare Knuckle pickups sound fabulous. They give a rich, deep, fat 50’s single coil sound and I can finally use the bridge pickup without the treble slicing my head off. The switching system has a pull pot on the volume that allows the bridge pickup to be added to any pickup selection. With the Colossus fuzz pedal, the guitar sings like you wouldn’t believe 🙂

Look out for a video demo of the guitar next week