Ralphie's Ramblings

Sarcoidosis

2010-03-22T21:29:00.001-07:00

In case you have not heard, I am battling a disease called Sarcoidosis. I seem to have contracted a fairly bad case. For information on this disease, please go to http://WWW.stopsarcoidosis.org . I plan on starting to post again, but wanted to raise awareness of this disease. Please read and consider donating to help find a cure.

Anomoly - Ace Frehley

2009-10-09T21:12:00.001-07:00

Ace Frehley

When I read that had a new cd coming out at about the same time as a new KISS CD I was intrigued. I had just read an interview with Ace in a popular Guitar magazine and the bitter feelings between them were evident. Also, with Ae's famed substance abuse problems and his inability to even play during part of it, I wondered how good it could be. Well, the Starman has done it again. Much like his first solo release in the Kiss solo releases ay bacjk when, Ace has trumped any solo release the band hs made. It totally blows Paul Stanley's recent solo cd out of the water (and I thought Paul's was pretty good). In fact, it blows the most recent Kiss CD, Sonic Boom, out of the water. Tommy Thayer does his best Ace impression on Sonic Boom, but just does not have the same power or feeling. In fact, he often copies Ace too much. Bruce Kulick and Vinnie Vincent each brought something a little different and unique to Kiss, where Tommy seems content to be an Ace impersonator in looks and playing style. Check out Anomaly! Ace has never sounded better. His playing is raw and crisp. It rocks harder than anything his former mates have done in years. And much like New York Groove, even the cover tune, Fox on the run, is a perfect fit for him. He even brings Anton Fig back on board for a little drumming. I like to say that I have progressed past Kiss in my musical tastes, but truth be told, I am still a closet Kiss Army man. Well, now I am a total sold out Ace fan. I sure hope he does a follow up with the same heart and energy.

VG Strat

2009-10-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

One of my best finds in guitars as this VG Strat. I got rid of my Carvin CT3 to get it. Fender has discontinued these and I do not know why? No sales? Was it misunderstood? It the root it is an American Strat with all the great feel and sound off an Amrican Strat. But inside it is so mucch more. With the Roland picckup it is a Strat, Tele, Humbucker guitar and an acoustic. It has a varieety of alternate tunings and doe each well. It can also be a 12 string in all but the first mode where it is a sanddard American Strat. I love the feel and vversatility of this. The only downsie is the batterry usae which is about 4 hours with standard double A's or 6 to 8 with decent rechargeables. So I just keep a spare set charged at all times. I hope they bring these back out in the future. I love mine.

Delay Desire

2009-08-06T06:50:00.001-07:00

Tone Factor - Dedicated to bringing you the finest in hand-made, boutique effects pedals, Guitars, amplifiers and other accessories

I love delays. But I am really like a more natural old style delay with out all the wild space effects. So today I was searching Tonefactor for delay that I might really sink my teeth into and saw this one.

Subdecay Echo Box - Start out with a great delay sound, add intuitive and useful features, and you have your self The Echo Box.

The sound is somewhere between a digital and analog delay, but without the coldness of the the typical digital delay, or sometimes "icky" artifacts heard with analog delays.

The repeats degrade each time they are recycled, but without any clicking, or popping often caused by "noise reduction" compandor circuits in older delays. Instead the Echo Box uses a discrete noise reduction circuit designed from the ground up.

Natural decay mode allows the echo effect to naturally trail off after being bypassed. (with this feature off the pedal is true bypass)

The modulation can be turned completely off, add just a little tape like warble, or push your tone to near insanity.

Delay time is around 800ms. Infinite repeats are possible, and the scaling of the repeat knob can be altered via an internal trimpot.

I thought it sounding very nice. Perfect for those Pink Floyd type pages or those sweet analog like slapback. This one might be the perfect addition to my Analogman Delay. I like to have two.

Subdecay Echobox Modulated Delay Pedal

Subdecay Echobox Demo

of course if you have the money andd are a tweaker you may want the Empress SuperDelay

Empress Superdelay

http://www.tonefactor.com/proddetail.php?prod=Superdelay&cat=89

Tonefactor on You Tube

2009-08-05T06:57:00.000-07:00

YouTube - Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret

As many of you alrready know, my main source for pedals is http://www.tonefactor.com. They also have a cool You Tube Channel that shows off a lot of the gear they sell. Above is the link to one such item. The DLS is plain sweet.

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret

Showcase Body

2009-06-04T07:33:00.000-07:00

Showcase Body

As a huge Tele fan, I hae to share this. A carved top Tele body. This looks sweet. I have a Logan Tele and a JHS Vintage Advanced semi hollow Tele. How nice would it be to build one around this! Man it looks nice.

Christian Musician Forum

2009-04-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

Christian Musician Forum

OK. So it has been awhile since I have been here. I am trying to get back to some blogging when I have time. For now, if you are a musician or music fan, check out the link above. It is a great bunch of guys and gals who love to talk music.

Sonic Martyr

2008-10-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

SONIC MARTYR

Ok. So I ripped the description for this off of their webpage, but this is going to be one killer CD. Pop by the link above and listen to the clips. If you like bands like Kings X and Alice and Chains, but with a dose of originality and conviction, then this is for you. This should appeal to the younger listener as well as the old who like a little bit of metal grit in their soup!

From Trinity Records Site:

The music of Sonic Martyr mixes elements of modern hard rock & heavy groove with an industrial atmosphere!

This is a concept EP that deals with our broken
nature. However, it's also the story of someone who is very close to
me. I pray for this person daily.

The music will deal with sin and the negative effects it causes the mind, body & spirit.

Lyrically it won't be for the faint of heart. The wedge that sin
creates between God and His creation should not be sugar coated and
packaged in fuzzy feel good language. We all need to hold the mirror of
our human reality up to our faces. We need to look at our vulnerable
dependency. We further need to acknowledge it, accept the
responsibility for it and through the blood of The Annointed One -
DEFEAT IT!

The 5 Song EP will be Mastered at Alien Beans Studio by Ty Tabor of King's X.

The 5 Song EP will be Mastered at Alien Beans Studio by Ty Tabor of King's X.

The Best Album that you may never have heard of...

2008-10-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

CD Baby: ORPHAN PROJECT: Orphan Found

Ok! I can not figure this one out. Why did the CD Orphan Found, by Orphan Project, not become the biggest album in years? Released in its current form back in 2003, this CD offers up stunning performances. Great guitarwork, bass work, writing, lyrics, and one of the best vocal performances I have ever heard, this thing has it all. From progressive styles, to modern rock and pure sensational Pop (Parts as One should have charted at the top of POP/Rock Charts) it still blows me away. Shane Lankfords vocals are incredible. They show depth, passion, and power. John Wengers writing is incredible and all the guitar work, bass and electric, is amazing. Add to that a great keyboard player and tight drumming and it should have been a winning formula. They recently released OP 2 with a slightly revised line up. It too is excellent, but Orphan Found is a gem. The production is some of the best I have heard. Do yourself a favor and get a copy of the CD before it goes out of print or download the tunes. The title tune will rock your socks off and tunes like chosen will tug at your heart. Here is a quick blurb from Shane Lankford himself on the CD:

A child of adoptive parents, Shane found his way into his first family in July of 1971. Growing up in a family as an adoptee left Shane with the burning question "In whom do I find my identity?"

Spurred on by his love of music, Shane explored these questions while performing with several bands including About A Day. With his characteristic exuberance and "everyman" qualities, Shane contributed thought provoking, deep lyrics that were accessible to all audiences.

In his latest project, Shane explores the topic of adoption from his very personal experience. Elements of longing for acceptance, desire to establish an identity, coupled with a real sense of peace that comes only from above, pervade the new lyrical verse entitled "Orphan Found". The depth of feeling and the joy of this story carry you from beginning to end of this amazing piece. He aims to make you laugh, break your heart, and let you take a glimpse of the pure joy that he has found in his search for his true Father.

You can here clips on CD Baby or on Itunes.

Mojo Hand Mule

2008-10-03T15:43:00.000-07:00

YouTube - Way Huge Red Llama & Mojo Hand Mule Comparison Demo

Way Huge Red Llama & Mojo Hand Mule Comparison Demo

This is one of my favorite pedals. Great tone! It is a must have for every pedal board.

Finally..Back Online

2008-09-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Ecstasy Drive pedal by Wampler Pedals - custom guitar effects, preamp, and amplification modifications and repairs. Indie Guitarist IndyGuitarist

We got hit by the remnants of Hurricane Ike. 80mph winds that knocked out power out from Sunday until 7pm Thursday. The yard cleanup took my boys an entire day and we now have tones of leaves and branches to burn. I will do a decent update here soon, but for now, check out the link above. I just got one of these from Brian and it is amazing. I love the OD. Warm and slightly fuzzy., Very cool.

Ecstasy Drive overdrive/distortion pedals - Wampler Pedals

Unlock Your tone

2008-09-06T07:54:00.000-07:00

Unlock Your Tone - Guitar Effects, Boutique Pedals and Gear - Video Demos, Articles and Reviews

This is just a quick note to all of you! Please check out this page. It is awesome. Why am I just finding this now?

Mr Echo

2008-09-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

SIB Effects: Mr. Echo Plus - Tone Factor Product Details

All of you delay/echo junkies out there need to check out the Mr Echo by SIB. This is one highly underrated pedal. This has a very analog sound to it. It will really nail those subtle slapback and vintage echos of the past. It sounds nice clean or dirty and the slam feature is insane. Think Townsend smashing his SG without breakig the guitar and you are close. You laugh at first, and then realize...hey! This could be cool if used right. Jump in andd try one. Very cool.

Pedal Board Demo....listen and watch for Mr Echo at about 3:30 or so.

Good Old Fuzz

2008-09-05T16:14:00.001-07:00

How many of you like to use Fuzz Pedals? Even though I am not really a lead player, I love Fuzz tone. Some of my favorite players with great fuzz tone include Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page. As I was browsing the Tone Factor fuzz pedals it struck me that there are so many fuzz pedals, that it is tough to choose. My Tone Factor Hellbilly is in the Fuzz zone. My Tone Factor and my Mojo Hand Huckleberry (ver 1 and ver 2 respectively) are killer Fuzz Pedals that like the Hellbilly, can be set to work well with rhythm as well as lead guitar. Another great one I tried was the Crucible Fuzz by Euthymia. It was a Great pedal, but for some reason I could not use it at my house. It worked great everywhere else, but at home, I often picked up the local radio station on it. I guess I am too close to the tower, as it never happened anywhere else I used it. For the most part, fuzz pedals are modeled after the old Arbiter FuzzFace or Big Muff Pi's, but there are so many fuzz pedals, each with their own twists and turns, that it is so tough to choose. What are your favorite?

Tone Factor Ultra Lord-Mayhem Demo

Tone Factor History/Trivia Continued!!

2008-09-02T04:19:00.000-07:00

I thought I would add a little more Tonefactor History/trivia. This time in a
pictorial view!!!!

From left to right - Bjorn Juhl (BJF(, Jon Cusack (Cusack Music), Jason (ToneFest Organizer), Guy in Red shirt (?) ,Donner Rusk (Donnerbox), Mike Knappe (Diamond Pedals), Brad himself!

So you think you are a Tonefactor junkie?!?!

2008-08-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

I have been buying stuff from Brad at Tonefactor since very early on. In fact, I may have been his second customer (I tried, but I remember him telling me that another person had beaten me too it). I know I was at least one of the first 5. I bought an Electro Harmonix Pulsar if I recall (though it could have been a Holy Grail or Guyatone Compressor). I bought all of my early pedals from them. Back then it was basically Brad dealing via email or forum with his customers(sometimes his better half would handle it as well). So I thought I would throw out some Tonefactor Trivia and see how many of you know the answers. You can answer with reply here or pop in to the Tone Factor Forums and let us know what you think the answers are. I am not going to give the answers. That will be up to Brad, if he wants to share.

1. What was the forum that Brad started many moons ago, that may have helped launch his vision of Tone Factor? (hint: This forum is still active with its current proprietor and and is still frequented by myself and others from the Tone Factor Forums).

2. Currently Tone Factor sells Reverend Guitars! Early on, they sold a Boutique line and 2 other brands. Can you name any of them?

3. What were the first two Tone Factor Branded pedals and do any of you know the actual maker of them?

4. One of Brads early brands made pedals like the KGB and range VooDoo. He no longer carries these, but do any of you know the brand of these pedals?

5. What was the USA Reverend Guitar that Brad played for quite some time?

6. What bulletin board system was home of the first Tone Factor Forum? (it is actually still there, though not in use).

7. Are there any famous guitar players who have tried or used Tone Factor/Mojo Hand pedals?

8. Name 3 or more boutique pedal builders who post at Tone Factor!

9. What was the logo on the first Tone Factor T-Shirt?

10. Ok..here may be the toughest one of all. You had to be an early Tone Factor user to even have a clue with this one (and have a great memory). I have Hellbaby #1. Why couldn't I try it right way when I got it?

11. Extra Credit: What was the name of the hurricane that chased Brad and family to Missouri back in 2005? By the way, lets pray that the current predicted hurricane stays away from Brad and his family. The 2005 loss of electricity and such was enough.

12. Who is Tibedeaux?

The logo above was a winner of an early TF contest and Brads first sticker.

Forum Favorites - Guitar Related

2008-08-20T12:34:00.000-07:00

I have participated in a ton of forums over the years so I thought I would share links to a few of my favorite guitar related forums:

The Tone Factor Forum

Christian Musician Forums

The Gear Page

There are a few others, but the above are the friendliest and most helpful. Stop by and say hi!

Barber Electronics Tone Press

2008-08-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

One of the best effects, and maybe the most understood effect, is the Compressor. Described simply, it boosts softer picked passages and squashes louder passages, giving you a more even sound. Done properly, it is a very subtle effect, but turn it off, and you will really notice the difference. One side effect of this is increased sustain. It is almost a must for certain Country Music styles like Chicken Pickin, but it is equally nice for Rock. I really like compression on acoustics if done well. There are many types of compressors, with the two best known being the Ross and Orange Squeezer type. One sort of unique take is Barber Electronics Tone Press, which can be purchased at, where else, Tone Factor. Here is Barbers Description of the Tone Press:

The Barber Tone Press: Tone and Sustain with “Plug and Play” Performance. Bringing together the very best of classic guitar compression and time-honored recording techniques, the Barber Tone Press is a revolutionary performance compression pedal that has no rival.

Tonal Breakthrough: How We Did It In research and development, Barber studied the problems associated with classic guitar compressors and their recent clones and found that, while the clone-makers build pedals with improved components (cleaner switching, in particular) and matched transistors, a few of the major drawbacks of those “vintage” designs still exist. The most glaring drawback of popular classic compressors (and their clones) is that they reverse the guitar’s phase and cause a “pop” (squashed attack anyone?) at the beginning of every note. Although we now see some compression units that have “attack controls,” they leave a bit to be desired as they require seemingly endless trial and error tweaking – and no solution.

Our solution? Parallel compression, a Barber innovation that blows away having to deal with attack, ratio and release knobs of other so-called "studio compressors." Barber developed a one-of-a-kind and quite proprietary continuous “blend control” circuit and combined it with a discrete “Class A” FET mixer circuit to allow you to continuously blend the natural signal of your carefully selected guitar with a “phase-corrected” classic compression circuit. The result? What guitar players have always wanted - unaltered attack and supernatural sustain and resonance, no studio engineering degree required.

• Precision components- Panasonic capacitors and metal film resistors for low noise.
• True bypass switching with led indicator- this is achieved by using an extremely high grade switch, in addendum Solid 20 gauge copper hookup wire is used between the jacks and switching to create the most transparent bypass yet.
• Full size pots- for durability and for easy serviceability if needed.
• Cast aluminum enclosure-our incredibly durable enclosure will last decades if not centuries!
• Double sided pc board with plate through holes-This is the way the military does it when they want electronics to work FOREVER! all pedals should be made this way , few are....once again Barber electronics draws the line in the sand!

As an ex sound guy, I have used many compressors. Studio compressors are great, but tricky to use. Orange Squeezer types often have just one knob, which gives you less control. The Tone Press falls in between them nicely.The results of the Barber are stunning. It is super easy to use and anyone can get great sustain and clarity with it. I have not found a better stomp box for an acoustic guitar. And it is equally nice on an electric. I cant imagine using anything else for my live guitar needs. You need to check one out.

Reverend Guitars - Tone Factor

2008-08-06T04:04:00.001-07:00

I have become a huge fan of Reverend Guitars. They can be hard to find, but they are incredible buys for the money. I currently have two, a Flatroc and a Jetstream 390. Both are amazing. I had a Roundhouse that i sold and I have regretted it ever since. I will get another in time. One place you can get these is at my favorite online spot, Tone Factor. If he does not have what you want in stock, just get in touch with them and they can order what you want. These can take a few months to come in, but they are worth the wait.

Reverend Jetstream 390

Reverend Flatroc - into BYOC Overdrive, Traynor YBA-2A

Red Witch at Tone Factor

2008-07-31T08:18:00.000-07:00

Tone Factor has many great brands, like Fulltone, Barber, MI Audio, Catlinbread, Subdecay and many more. One of my favorites is Red Witch Analog Pedals. They make some of the sweetest and most organic sounding effects on the market. I have a Deluxe Moon Phaser (original in the Chrome enclosure), and a Medusa Chorus, which was replaced by the Empress(which is a slightly modified Medusa). You have to love these things. They are very natural sounding and almost sound like an extension of your amp. If you get a chance check these out. You can get them here and there should be some clips in each area:

Red Witch at Tonefactor

Tone Factors Mojo Hand Analogue Filter

2008-07-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Mojo Hand Analogue Filter 442 by Filters - Tone Factor Product Details

One of the coolest pedals from Tone Factor is the Mojo Hand Analogue Filter. This is one very cool pedal. I have had two, dating back to the original Tone Factor Branded version. Here is a quick description from the Tone Factor website:

The Mojo Hand Analogue Filter is based on the classic green DOD 440 Envelope Filter made popular by the members of Radiohead among others. It is NOT based on the incorrect schematics floating around the internet. The originals are getting hard to come by and the prices are going up accordingly. This one has added modern improvements like an LED and true bypass switching.

It is a fairly easy pedal to use with the simple Range and Level knobs, though it will take a little tweaking and playing to get the hang off it if you have never used a filter. Cool wah like tones to trippy funk can be had at a twist of a knob.

I mentioned that I had two of these. Why is that? Well, it is because my friend Rob Perez of the bands Fall of Echoes and Visual Cliff liked it so much that he ended up with my first pedal. It can be heard on Visual Cliff's CD "Into the After" as well as on Robs Solo CD BLUESYNDROME. An example of this can be heard on this short clip from Bluesyndrome : Clip of Footprints

Tonefactor Analogue Filter 442 (DOD 440) Envelope Filter

Tone Factor

2008-07-14T08:24:00.001-07:00

Tone Factor - Dedicated to bringing you the finest in hand-made, boutique effects pedals, Guitars, amplifiers and other accessories

OK., I now that looks like hype, but guess what? It isn't. I love playing guitar. Am I any good? Not really, but that has not stopped me to date. I started a bit to late in life to have the time to get really good, but I still have a blast. One unfortunate part for me, is that I worked in sound in one form or another for many years. So, I can not stand bad tone. Cheap pedals (I do not mean this in the monetary sense) just will not do it for me. This is where Tone Factor comes in. They sell only the best in guitar effects and accessories. All of his stuff is top notch. One look at my pedal board will reveal that I have purchased nearly all of my pedals from them. Plus the service is great. And one of the best things are the exclusive Tone Factor Pedals. Originally labeled Tone factor, they are now sold under the Mojo Hand and Sinister Analog Brands. Man, are these things killer. I have a lot to add, but for now I will just post a link to a picture of my board from a couple years ago. Most off the pedals are still on my board, with the exception the Snarling Dogs abd the old tubeworks pedals. Look for the Tonefactor labeled pedals as well as other brands Tonefactor sells, like Redwitch, Pedalworx, Fulltone and Barber.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b38/BigRalphN/My%20Gear/100_0558.jpg

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Now playing: The Orphan Project - Orphan Found
via FoxyTunes

Trinity Records and Productions

2008-07-03T09:18:00.001-07:00

Well, this is my first official blog at this site. I hope there are many more. For now, I just want to mention one of my favorite places on the web. Trinity Records and Productions. This is the home of a few of the best, an most original musicians on the web. Here you will find Visual Cliff, Fall of Echoes and Sonic Marty. These may not be household names, but they should be. The depth of the writing and performances is astounding. I am keeping this first blog short, so for now, just check out this site and if you like what you hear, please tell others off your find. I hope you like it and may God Bless you on your daily journeys.

Trinity Records & Productions

and for the Trinity Artist Forums:
http://z10.invisionfree.com/FOE_Street_Team/index.php