The Stomp Box – Effects Pedal Blog

This week’s Facebook Friday Giveaway is KFK strings and a custom KFK Dunlop strap. SLAYER ANYONE? \m/
To enter just add your comment below! Please adhere to our contest rules here.

If you are lucky enough to be in Washington this weekend, three Dunlop performing artists share the bill for three shows at the beautiful Gorge Ampitheatre. The Dave Matthews Band, Ben Harper, and Albert Cross will rock the 25,000 seat outdoor venue with a little help from their friends at Dunlop. Don’t miss out on what is sure to be one of the biggest shows at the Gorge this year!

DAVE MATTHEWS GEAR:
Dave:
MXR mc 401 Boost/ Line Drive
MXR Carbon Copy  (studio)
MXR Micro Amp
Dunlop Nickel wound 11 – 50 electric guitar string
Dunlop Tortex .60 mm custom printed picks

Tim:
MXR MC 401 Boost/ Line Driver
Way Huge Swollen Pickle
Cry Baby 535 Q  Wah
Dunlop Power Brick (studio)
MXR Carbon Copy (studio)
Dunlop Nickel wound Custom Set Electric Guitar strings  11, 15, 18, 26, 36, 50
Dunlop 220 metal Slide
Dunlop mic stand pick and slide holders
Dunlop Tortex 1.00 mm Tortex guitar picks

ALBERTA CROSS:
Dunlop 10-52 Light/Heavy electric guitar strings, Dunlop DC Brick.

BEN HARPER:
Phase 90
Super Comp
Dime Distortion
GCB95 Crybaby

To Download a free track from Alberta Cross.

Check out the Gorge for more info.

Berklee College of Music professor, Thaddeus Hogarth gives the new Electro-Harmonix Freeze his highest rating on the “Cool Pedal” scale!!! AAAA++++. “In this post I am sharing a historic moment in guitar history…a pedal that is not just another alteration of the clean guitar signal, but one that actually could change the way you play guitar in the context of your songs!“

Check out the complete review here:

http://thaddeushogarth.berkleemusicblogs.com/

If you weren’t lucky enough to see the show in person, don’t worry, a DVD of the Metallica/Slayer/Megadeth/Anthrax show from Bulgaria is going to be released on October 15th. You COULD just get the standard DVD, but then you would be missing out on the sweet stuff included in the limited edition “super deluxe” version.

“The full shows from all four bands will be included in the two-disc set along with behind-the-scenes and interview footage. In addition to the two-DVD set and the corresponding Blu-ray, there will be a limited-edition “super deluxe” box set including the DVD set, five CDs with ALL the music, a 24-page booklet, a poster, photos of each band, and a “Big Four” guitar pick.”

The pick is definitely a collector’s item, and not just because it was done by yours truly. Finally, a rival to the “Pick of Destiny”, though no promises on whether this pick harnesses all the metal powers of the big 4.

So skip a few of those “super deluxe size” upgrades at Jack in the Box and KFC this week and preorder the super deluxe Big 4 DVD. You wont be sorry.

Thanks to Blabbermouth for the info, who has the whole track listing if you’re interested.

Gearwire Editorial Director, Gino Robair, finds inspiration in the new FREEZE Sound Retainer.

Check out the complete review here:

http://www.gearwire.com/electroharmonix-freeze-proreview.html

The guitar strap, it’s the unsung hero of the guitar world. It keeps your guitar in place while you push your lead singer back to his side of the tiny and crowded bar stage. It makes the perfect sling for when your slinging your guitar up and over your shoulder and out from under your side in a moment of true rockstardom. The only thing holding that precious guitar to you is that strap. Might as well have it look cool.

Enter our Lucky 13 straps.

“Lucky 13 was formed out of the inspiration of its surroundings- suburbanite youth on a mission to rebel. It was a counter culture of lowbrow hot rod art, fast music and tattoos. It celebrates everything uniquely American while embracing the individual in all of us.”

For this week’s Facebook Friday Giveaway we’re giving 6 Lucky 13 straps (shown) to 6 lucky people. All you have to do to enter is comment on the comment section below. Please adhere to the official rules section of our site.

Question. Often when I am reading about guitars on the internet I hear about different parts of the guitar, can you give a brief description of the different parts of a guitar?

Answer. Here is a brief description of some of the more commonly misunderstood parts of the guitar.

Headstock

The headstock is the part of a guitar at the end of the neck opposite to the body.

The headstock is generally used for supporting the tuning pegs used to wind the strings. There are many shapes that headstocks can come in depending on the type of guitar.

The headstock usually displays the brand of guitar.

Machine Heads

The machine heads or tuning pegs are found at the headstock.

The machine heads tighten or loosen the strings so the string can be tuned.A basic gear mechanism is used to wind the strings.

Winding tools are available and can be used to rapidly unwind and wind strings for quick changing.

Frets

Are the bars or ridges (usually made of metal) that sit on the fingerboard or neck of a guitar; when the string is depressed by your fingers at the metal bar it will make a note of the desired pitch.

Frets are arranged on guitars to produce specific musical pitches. On the typical guitar or bass each fret represents one semitone or half step.

Fretless guitars do exist.

Bridge
The bridge is found down on the body. The function of the bridge, in addition to simply holding the strings in place, is to transmit their vibrations to the top of the guitar, to the instrument’s soundboard or pickups.

There are many different types of bridge and they can be made from a variety of materials depending upon the type of guitar. For example electric guitars usually have metal bridges and acoustic guitars usually have wooden ones.

From picks and slides to strings and effects pedals, Dunlop creates the tools used by today’s top music makers. Musicians of all styles, from hard rock to country rely on Dunlop gear to express their creativity. Want to experience Dunlop live? It’s easy, just check out any of the artists listed below who are currently on tour:

Gus G. (Ozzy Osbourne)
Coheed and Cambria
Five Finger Death Punch
Aerosmith
Keith Sewell (Lyle Lovett)
Brooks and Dunn
Interpol
The New Familiars
Jeff + Vida
Clay Walker
Stone Sour
Avenged Sevenfold
Slayer
Halestorm
Matt Kennon
Mastodon
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Alice in Chains
Jim Kimball (Reba McEntire)
Buddy Miller
and many, many more.

Over 50,000 people subscribe to the Dunlop Newsletter for the latest news, reviews, interviews and much more. Don’t miss out, subscribe today.

To honor the life of their fallen Drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, Zacky Vengence asked us to make a couple Custom Straps to honor “The Rev”.