With four different Fuzz Faces in the Dunlop stable, we get a lot of players asking us what distinguishes one from another. The differences range from subtle to obvious depending on which two models you compare—it takes a discerning ear. But you don’t have to be Eric Johnson to tell them apart.

Way Huge founder and Fuzz Face guru Jeorge Tripps recently sat down with Voodoo Lab’s VP of Marketing James Santiago for a demonstration of all of the Fuzz Faces side by side in high quality, crystal clear audio. Jeorge gives you a look under the hood of each pedal and explains the components that most affect their tone. James uses a Strat and a Les Paul through a Marshall, playing multiple riffs and licks consistently for each Fuzz Face so you get honest, accurate comparisons.

For more information, follow the links below:

Fuzz Face

Eric Johnson Signature Fuzz Face

Joe Bonamassa Signature Fuzz Faces

Jimi Hendrix Signature Fuzz Face

We often find ourselves backstage when our artists are on the road. We had the privilege to hang out behind the scenes at a recent Mastodon/Opeth/Ghost show, and it got us thinking about backstage conduct. Below are three important guidelines to follow if you find yourselves backstage at a gig.

1. Let people work. You might be there to have a good time, but most people are there to do a job. Don’t mess with that. Avoid talking to people who are setting up equipment or are otherwise busy doing something. If you see people carrying stuff, hug the wall.

 …

2. Don’t take anything without being offered. Any food or beverages, including beer, have been provided for the artists. Partake if you’re offered (and do not overindulge), but if you aren’t offered, don’t even ask.

3. Be respectful. This rule is the sum of the others. Be invisible. Speak when spoken to. Don’t go looking for pictures and autographs—almost everyone is on the job, including the artists. They’re mentally preparing for their gig before the show and trying to relax and unwind afterward. Backstage is the last place they want to deal with an uber fan. Respect that.

If that sounds a bit harsh and a bit stuffy, them’s the breaks. The show is onstage, not backstage. The likelihood that you’re going to party like a rockstar is very small—that stuff rarely happens at venues anymore. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to get stone cold treatment, either—artists and roadies and backstage crew are like anyone else. Some will want to hang out, others won’t. Just play it cool.

Share your backstage stories with us. Did you play it cool?

Have you heard of Andrew Winton? He is an Australian musician who performs in an very energetic, powerful and of course very very musical way. I personally love the tone of his voice too which I think fits really well with his music.

Winton’s sound has been said to be a cross between Ben Harper, Sting, Kelly-Joe Phelps and Harry Manx. His performances are driven by infectious rhythms, stunning slide, bluesy vocals, quirky lyrics and storytelling.

His style of playing, you can tell has been influenced by heavyweights such as Deep Purple, Zappa and Johnny Cash. I was surprised just how heavy a sound he gets with a distortion pedal.

He has 5 studio albums under his belt and I simply can’t wait to get them all!

Check out this video covering “Nobodys fault but mine”:

And also check out this video of him showing his new and unique double neck lap steel guitar:

Posted by Luis Tovar

First of all, TAB or tablature, unlike traditional music notation is written specifically for the guitar and as such has six horizontal line representing the six strings on the guitar. Numbers are written on each of these lines to indicate the frets to place your fingers at to play a particular tune.

Techniques such as hammer-ons and pull-offs are represented in different ways and most tab writers will indicate how they have notated these techniques. It might simply be with the shorthand H or hammer-on and P for pull-off. TAB is not only a great way to show which chords are played in the song, but also riffs, intro, breaks and solos.

Once you become familiar with how TAB is written it is a very useful tool to help you learn to play songs, easy and fast! – I’ve learned heaps of songs thanks to reading TAB; it is very handy, especially if you are wanting to create a repertoire quickly.

TAB is also very easy to write, therefore the Internet is a very rich source for guitar TAB, you will find any song you are wanting to learn to play, so have a go searching for guitar tablature once you are happy with the concept.

Probably the best way to become familiar with TAB is having a look at our Free lesson about learning to read TAB.

And you should also check out Wikipedia’s article about TAB as they have a very complete chart with all the techniques and its symbols.

Reading TAB is a quick and easy way to get up to speed with playing songs. However, there is a, like anything a small learning curve, but I’m sure you’ll have a better understanding after completing the lesson above!

Ready to start learning songs? Check out our post about finding songs to learn.

I really hope this helps and best of luck!

Premier Guitar recently visited our new headquarters in New York City. While here, PG’s Rebecca Dirks and her news crew were hosted on a guided tour by company founder and president, Mike Matthews. We hope you enjoy this inside look at EHX.

Congratulations to the Red Hot Chili Peppers on their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!

Chris Warren (tech + keyboardist) with the band texted Suzi Matthews while on tour to let her know that Anthony Kiedis is using a V256 Vocoder on “By the Way.” And Josh Klinghoffer’s rig includes a Cathedral Stereo Reverb, Freeze Sound Retainer, Holy Grail Reverb and a Deluxe Memory Man Analog Delay/Chorus/Vibrato.

The multi-talented, Bayu Ardianto, sent in his latest videosong all the way from Indonesia. Bayu rocks with a full complement of EHX gear. Here’s what he used on this videosong titled “127 bpm of Lovesick Fools.”

On electric guitar
1. LPB-1 (lead melodic parts)
2. Metal Muff (reversed guitar parts and solo)
3. Double Muff
4. Cathedral
5. Ring Thing
6. Deluxe Memory Man (also for vocal)

Synth bass emulation
7. Big Muff pi (bass)
8. Freeze (bass)
9. POG2 (bass)

Organ emulation with toy synth
10. Neo Mistress
11. HOG

The multi-talented, Bayu Ardianto, sent in his latest videosong all the way from Indonesia. Bayu rocks with a full complement of EHX gear. Here’s what he used on this videosong titled “127 bpm of Lovesick Fools.”

On electric guitar
1. LPB-1 (lead melodic parts)
2. Metal Muff (reversed guitar parts and solo)
3. Double Muff
4. Cathedral
5. Ring Thing
6. Deluxe Memory Man (also for vocal)

Synth bass emulation
7. Big Muff pi (bass)
8. Freeze (bass)
9. POG2 (bass)

Organ emulation with toy synth
10. Neo Mistress
11. HOG

Peavey introduces the Composer Parlor Acoustic guitar

So the old stuff is getting used again… oh yeah I think that is what people call vintage these days. Do you remember the Parlor guitars? Those guitars used around 1895 until the 1950s? Yeah, those smaller-bodied guitars used by many blues and folk guitarists… now you know what I am talking about! Well, you know the brand Peavey right? They have introduced a really cool new series for their catalogue, the Composer Parlor Acoustic guitars – not the most aesthetically looking guitars for some, but who cares about the look if the sound is alright?

If you are a blues or folk guy or gal you will love these guitars unless you have a Gibson Gretsch or Stella parlor from 1920s in pristine condition.

Peavey designed and made the Composer Parlor series “for guitarists who want the tone and craftsmanship of a full-sized guitar with the comfort and playability of a Parlor guitar.”

The Peavey Composer is designed to a 24 ¾” parlor scale with amenities that guitarists of all stripes will appreciate. With a spruce laminate top and offset sound hole, the Composer produces a surprising amount of volume for its size, as well as clear, full-bodied acoustic tone and the natural playing comfort of a satin finish. A wide body cutaway scoop to the fifteenth fret provides access to the upper registers of the instrument.

What are the features?

• Parlor style guitar
• Spruce top
• Rosewood bridge
• Rosewood fingerboard
• Eastern mahogany neck
• 14 degree angled headstock
• 24.75″ scale
• 18 frets
• Dovetail neck joint
• Natural or Sunburst finishes
• Weight packed: 6.61 lb (3kg)
• Width packed: 14.175″ (36.0045 cm)
• Height packed: 38.975″ (98.9965 cm)
• Depth packed: 5.71″ (14.5034 cm)

The Composer Parlor comes in two different flavors; a Natural wood finish and a Sunburst finish, which is not that bad, I kind of like it and they are under the $200 price range! So yeah, very cheap yet high sound and building quality. Again, who cares about the look?

Check out this video from nepugo90 Youtube user using his Peavey Parlor guitar, fascinating, it makes want one!

Luis Tovar

The Bright Side of Guitar History

Who doesn’t know David Gilmour? Very well known for being Pink Floyd frontman since 1968 and of course a Rock icon, great guitarist with a very peculiar voice.

Gilmour has one of those styles that can be recognized from miles away and of course, has never and will never be surpassed.

I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t like Gilmour’s style and I want to keep it this way as I consider myself a huge fan, I’ve loved Pink Floyd since I was a kid, thanks to my mum for introducing them to me; and I also having Gilmour’s solo albums – On an Island is amazing!

So what’s Gilmour’s magic forumla?

Emotion and Good gear = David Gilmour.

Gilmour’s guitar playing style is very strong, it’s the fusion of two big things that not many guitarists can achieve in a lifetime: emotion and perfect sound production. You can also tell the blues influence he has on his solos combined with hugely expressive bends and lots of sustain, how could he go wrong with that formula? Play all that on a Fender Strat and you get the purest perfection that only Gilmour can create!

Gilmour was rated the 14th greatest guitarist by Rolling Stone. In January 2007, Guitar World readers voted Gilmour’s solos in, “Comfortably Numb”, “Time” and “Money” into the top 100 Greatest Guitar Solos (4th,21st and 62nd respectively). – “100 Greatest Guitar Solos: 51–100″. Guitar World. Retrieved 9 August 2010.

If you consider yourself one more fan among the millions worldwide, you should visit Gilmourish.com to find out all about his gear, although reading all the gear that Gilmour has used in his life is like a history class it itself, but well worth it.

It is very hard to pick a song from Pink Floyd or Gilmour. You are probably expecting me to show you “Comfortably Numb” or “Money” which have epic guitar solos, but no! I want you to check out this great and different version of “Shine on you crazy diamond” where Gilmour is playing a Lap guitar at the beginning. It is an amazing performance not only by him but the entire band, check it out:

PS. If you feel like adding a couple of records to your collection, get “On an Island” or the “Live in Gdansk” DVD.
PSPS. Get gilmourish!

Luis Tovar