Music is the universal language
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” - Luke 2:14
General Interest
“I will never call this a job. A job is fixing an engine, mowing a lawn”: Why Mac DeMarco has no time for artists complaining about how hard being a musician is
Mac DeMarco might be a rather unconventional artist, but one thing he will never do is complain about making music for a living.
On 22 August, DeMarco will release his 10th album, Guitar. It marks his first record since 2023’s One Wayne G, which was a compilation mostly made up of instrumentals and unusual demos that had a run time of over eight hours.
The album was viewed by many as a sort of rebellion against traditional album formats and streaming – DeMarco didn’t see it that way, but rather as a bit of fun. The indie artist now says he has an unusual relationship with the music industry, and doesn’t view his artistry as a job.
In a new interview with The New Yorker, he says, “If I’m idle, I feel like I should be working on music. But I have a complicated relationship with music, too, because I just want to have this pure experience with it, as opposed to thinking, Well, maybe I should put the b.p.m. up on this one, because they’ll want us to play it on Jimmy Fallon’s show.”
Though some may say that’s part of the business side of being in the music business, he goes on to add: “I will never call this a job. I get paid. But a job is fixing an engine, mowing a lawn. Writing songs? Going on vacation for free? Sometimes younger bands are, like, ‘Touring is so hard.’ Maybe these people have been going on vacation their whole life? For me, I’m kinda, like, ‘I’m in Chinaaaaa!’ It’s a paid rock-and-roll adventure! What is wrong with you?” he quizzes.
“I get it. Not for everybody. But I love it. I didn’t get to go to these places, and now I’ve been to fuckin’ China!… That is amazing! Because I wrote some little songs? What a gift!”
Mac DeMarco’s new album, Guitar, will land on 22 August. He also heads out on tour at the end of this month – you can view the full list of scheduled shows via his official website.
The post “I will never call this a job. A job is fixing an engine, mowing a lawn”: Why Mac DeMarco has no time for artists complaining about how hard being a musician is appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
“This Mk.gee thing came along. It’s really new and fresh and different”: JHS Pedals has put Mk.gee’s beloved Tascam 424 multi-track tones into a pedal – as it finally unveils its mystery stompbox
“Geezer broke down into tears. He had a hard time speaking, and then he delivered an amazing eulogy”: Robert Trujillo opens up on his experience of Ozzy Osbourne’s “beautiful” funeral
Spurr Audio Announces the PMF-8824: A Personal Multi-FX Modulator
Spurr Audio has introduced the PMF-8824, a compact multi-modulation pedal that fuses vintage digital aesthetics with modern DSP-based creativity. Inspired by the design philosophy of early 1980s personal computers, the PMF-8824 is equal parts nostalgic and futuristic, offering players a unique toolset for creating modulated textures and unconventional tones.
The PMF-8824 features eight custom-designed effects, ranging from classic time-based modulation to more experimental sound-shaping tools. Each program has its own dedicated screen layout, complete with visual feedback and real-time control over three contextual parameters (Ctrl 1–3). Two additional knobs control Mix and Volume, while a Program selector knob cycles through effects. All visuals are displayed on a retro-inspired pixel screen that responds to user interaction.
Though the unit is mono, each effect is crafted to feel immersive, using stereo-style modulation, spatial tricks, and reverb-like environments to expand the perceived soundstage.
Included Effects:
- Phaser – Smooth 4-stage phasing with musical feedback
- Tremolo – Rich amplitude modulation with waveform selection
- Flanger – Dense and metallic swirl with resonant feedback
- Vibrato – Tape-style pitch wobble with internal ambiance
- Chorus – Wide 4-voice chorus with built-in reverb option
- Rotary Simulator – Spinning speaker with mic and cabinet control
- VCR (VHS Lo-Fi) – Warped, nostalgic tape textures with saturation
- Microchoir – Digital choir inspired by classic organ voicing
The PMF-8824 stands out not only for its sounds, but also its interface and visual identity. The pedal’s housing and GUI are modeled after personal computer aesthetics—pixel fonts, windowed layouts, and real-time visual meters give each effect its own interactive “page.” The display changes dynamically depending on the selected effect, ensuring clarity and a user-friendly experience.
The PMF-8824 is now available for pre-order for a street price of $219. For more information visit spurraudio.mitiendanube.com.“If you can’t beat them, join them”: Mark Tremonti’s love for Dumbles and tube amps is well-documented – but he’s brought a Neural DSP Quad Cortex on tour
The Line 6 Helix Stadium is nearly here – and if you preorder now at Sweetwater you get a free IR sample pack
Sweetwater is including a free IR sample pack with pre-orders of the highly-anticipated Line 6 Helix Stadium amp modeller.
The Helix Stadium and its deluxe XL sibling, which were announced back in June, are officially launching this autumn and winter. Those who purchase the modellers through Sweetwater from now until the end of December will also get five free impulse responses from speaker and IR company, Eminence.
Eminence was originally a garage-based manufacturer that started up in 1966 in Kentucky. Building on its vast history and global reach, today the company offers a range of different impulse responses so that players can deploy its products in digital form with their rigs of choice.
The five IRS included in this free collection have all been captured by the famed Shure SM57 mic. Within it, you’ll get:
- Cannabis Rex 12: Captures a fresh take on American clean tone. “The hemp cone of Cannabis Rex 12 delivers invigorating clarity and brightness without compromising body or substance,” says Eminence.
- Swamp Thang: Delivers dark, aggressive mids and a rounded bass response. This one is ideal for down-tuned or extended-range guitars, including 7- or 8-string guitars and baritones.
- Governor: A British-voiced speaker with close links to the American-voiced Red White and Blues speaker, capturing “the transatlantic trade of blues tone”.
- Legend GB-128: For hard-hitting volume and low- to medium-gain tones, this IR captures a “cleaner brand of British power”.
- Legend EM-12: Has a neutral voice that helps emphasise your guitar and amp.
The Helix Stadium and the XL version offer a competitive rival to the beloved Neural DSP Quad Cortex. They bring a range of highly-anticipated upgrades with them including entirely new modelling tech, cloning capabilities, and high-resolution touch screens.
This new modelling tech is called Agoura, and it replaces Helix’s HX modelling for improved authenticity when modelling physical amps, as well as offering increased accuracy when it comes to how amps respond to the way you play.
Since the announcement, Line 6 has been drip feeding us plenty of teasers and videos on what we can expect from the Stadium duo. Just recently, it released a video in which you can hear its Marshall-inspired ‘Brit Plexi’ amp, and another of its US Double Black. Check them out below:
To pre-order the Line 6 Helix Stadium and get a free Eminence sample pack, head over to Sweetwater.
The post The Line 6 Helix Stadium is nearly here – and if you preorder now at Sweetwater you get a free IR sample pack appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
“If airlines can damage professional-grade instruments and then refuse to take responsibility, it puts every traveling musician at risk”: Emily Wolfe’s signature guitar smashed inside hardcase during flight – airline taking no responsibility
“I was a Marshall guy back then. Now I literally cannot listen to Marshalls”: How Jeff Beck inspired former Joan Jett and the Blackhearts guitarist Ricky Byrd to switch from Marshall stacks to Fender combos
“It is impossible for me to adapt to that role”: Classic rock supergroup parts ways with their new guitarist – after just one gig
“They said, ‘Now it’s time to play the solo.’ I just came up with it on the spot”: Remembering Rick Derringer – the B.C. Rich-toting maverick who brought the fire to Johnny Winters’ band, and was a one-take ace for Steely Dan and more
“I’m like, ‘Where does this stuff come from?’”: Sharon Osbourne says claims that Black Sabbath’s final show raised £140 million for charity are “just ridiculous”
Sharon Osbourne says reports that Black Sabbath generated £140 million for charity through their Back to the Beginning farewell show are “just ridiculous”.
The sold-out show was also livestreamed on pay-per-view, with 100% of the proceeds going to Acorns Children’s Hospice, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Cure Parkinson’s. The pay-per-view was priced at £24.99, and The Guardian reported last month that more than five million people tuned in.
5 million multiplied by £24.99 is a little under £125 million, so in the ball park of the figure quoted, before accounting for physical ticket sales, merch sales and so on.
Following the event, Billboard magazine also reported that the event had raised over $190 million, while Tom Morello – who served as the event’s musical director – posted a selection of photos on Instagram, one of which read: “More than 190 million will be donated to houses and hospitals for children.”
Now, in a new interview with Pollstar, Sharon Osbourne – Ozzy Osbourne’s wife and long-time manager – says the figures quoted aren’t exactly accurate.
“One of the things that’s frightening me is all this false press about [how] we’ve made £140 million and all of this, and I’m like, ‘God, I wish we could have, for one gig.’
“It’s just ridiculous, the different stories. I went on the internet the next morning and it was like, $140 million, $160 million. And I’m like, ‘Where does this stuff come from?’
“It takes a really long time [to work out how much was made], because we’ve had all of the bands that we had come in and their expenses, and it’ll take a good six weeks to get the final number.”
Though she’s hesitant to comment on how much the event made before the official figures are available, Sharon says the event was a “huge success”.
“It was a phenomenal event,” she says. “It was the first time, I think, that anybody’s gone into retirement and done it, where the show is streamed and it goes to charity. So it’s the first time anybody has said goodnight like that. It’s the perfect way, when you’ve had such a long career, to end it.
“I never wanted Ozzy to just disappear without some big event.”
Aside from hosting Black Sabbath’s swansong performance, Back to the Beginning saw performances from a plethora of heavy metal’s elite, including Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Mastodon, Yungblud, Lamb of God and so many more.
The post “I’m like, ‘Where does this stuff come from?’”: Sharon Osbourne says claims that Black Sabbath’s final show raised £140 million for charity are “just ridiculous” appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
“Working on Jimmy Page’s guitar was bucket list stuff for me”: Bare Knuckles’ Tim Mills on how he built the biggest indie pickup brand in the world – and why Page’s ‘Number One’ Les Paul sounds like Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Strat
“I thought, ‘I’m going to get this guitar, make a few videos then sell it.’ But I found my place as a guitarist”: Rob Scallon on the eight-string that changed his life – and how it helped him become one of YouTube’s OG guitar stars
Beetronics Larva review – a speed-ramping phaser with a couple of twists
£239/$249, beetronicsfx.com
What do you see when you look at the Beetronics Larva? A large pedal with a daunting number of knobs and switches? Extravagantly ornate styling that calls to mind the LA company’s two zaniest and most complicated creations, the Zzombee and Seabee? Relax – it’s all an optical illusion.
What is the Beetronics Larva?
First things first, what is morphing? Basically it’s Leslie-style ramping from one sound to another. Switch the Larva on and you’re dealing with a simple phaser, controlled by the rate and depth knobs at top-left; now hold down the left footswitch for a moment and it will start morphing into a second setting, controlled by a matching pair of knobs on the right. Congratulations, you are now a fully qualified morpher.
Image: Adam Gasson for Guitar.com
The two slightly smaller dials are for adjusting that transition time and the intensity of the phaser’s resonance, while two mini-knobs in the centre look after the input gain – the Moogerfooger-inspired preamp has some proper overdrive on tap – and output level.
That just leaves two toggle switches – one for selecting how the morphing feature moves back and forth, and one for the operating mode: standard phaser, extra-wobbly vibe or, strangely, just the preamp without any modulation. In case anyone’s in the market for a non-phasing phaser…
Image: Adam Gasson for Guitar.com
And the LEDs? They just move across from left to right, and turn from blue to pink, to indicate morphing status. They are cute.
What does the Beetronics Larva sound like?
Sorry, bit of a spoiler earlier on – but ‘just really nice’ is the best way to describe virtually everything this phaser does. The obvious way to set it up is with a slow, shallow sweep on one side and a rapid wibble on the other; in both cases the core tone will be sweet and musical, with resonance dialled in to taste. Extra-slow morphing is the most fun, but you can actually double-tap on the bypass footswitch for instant hopping between your two settings.
Part of the reason for that innate sweetness is the preamp – it’s warm and fluffy, keeping everything smooth and preventing any harshness at the top of the phaser’s arc. It ranges from clean-ish to quite heavily overdriven; the only snag, arguably quite a big one, is that you can’t switch it off or dial it out completely to hear the phasing effect pure and uncoloured.
And here’s another snag, necessitated by that double-tap feature on the bypass switch: hit it once to turn the Larva off, and it’ll take a moment to respond because it has to wait to see if a second tap is coming. This probably isn’t going to ruin anyone’s night, but it’s frickin’ annoying and should surely have been avoided somehow.
Should I buy the Beetronics Larva?
Yes, you should buy the Larva because it’s absolutely gorgeous. But then again, no, you shouldn’t buy the Larva because it’s absolutely infuriating. Can you tell I’m a little bit torn here? But that’s what it boils down to: if you only care about the tones, you’ll struggle to find a nicer phaser than this; but if you demand technical perfection in all areas of stompbox functionality, it might just drive you mad.
Beetronics Larva alternatives
It’s a very different beast to the Larva, but the Heptode Virtuoso (€192) is a beautiful-sounding phaser that offers ramping between slow, medium and fast speeds. You might also look at the Caroline Arigato ($219/£229) and SolidGoldFX Aurras ($209/£189.99).
The post Beetronics Larva review – a speed-ramping phaser with a couple of twists appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
“I thought it was quite funny-sounding. It was very good as well, though. I’ve gotten used to it”: Dave Davies on Van Halen’s rendition of this career-making Kinks track
Fundamentals of Chord Melody with Molly Miller | Workshop Replay
“Three guitars with pretty much the same sonic range: which is best? Well, that could lead to quite a discussion”: PRS Special Semi-Hollow, S2 Special Semi-Hollow and SE Special Semi-Hollow review
“Bob wanted me to help him not only learn guitar but learn to arrange. I think he caught on!” Ska and reggae pioneer Ernest Ranglin played with everyone from Bob Marley to Jimmy Cliff. At 93, he plans to secure his legacy
"A modern rock machine providing up-to-date tones and plenty of fun features at a reasonable price": Manson Meta MBM-2H Sustainiac review
Sheptone Pickups Revives Coveted AB Custom Humbuckers
Sheptone announces the reissue of its coveted AB Custom humbuckers. Revered by tone chasers, professional touring musicians, and collectors alike, the AB Custom humbuckers return with all the hallmarks that made it a modern classic—and more.
Built entirely by hand, one at a time, by long-time industry figure and proprietor Josh Vittek, each Sheptone pickup reflects a relentless commitment to tone, authenticity, and craftsmanship. The AB Custom humbuckers are no exception, offering unmatched responsiveness, musical articulation, and the nuanced dynamic range players have come to expect from Sheptone. As the first variation on the original Sheptone Tribute set that launched the business back in 2007, these are considered a medium output PAF-style humbucker providing that little extra push that guitar players just love.
Featuring proprietary butyrate bobbins, 42 AWG plain enamel wire, rough cast Alnico 5 magnets, a maple wood spacer, and nickel silver baseplates, the AB Custom humbuckers are built with period-correct components and the highest-quality materials available. Measuring an average of 8.5k in the bridge and 8.0k in the neck, each set delivers vintage-inspired clarity, warmth, and punch making them a top choice for players seeking the elusive "magic" found in the most iconic recordings.
Customers can choose from double black, zebra, reverse zebra, or covered configurations with nickel or gold-plated period correct nickel steel covers, offering aesthetic versatility without compromising tone. The AB Custom humbuckers are a premium choice for discerning players who demand the best—whether in the studio, on stage, or in their personal woodshed.
Sheptone pickups have long been the secret weapon behind some of todays most beloved tones. With the return of the AB Custom, that legacy continues—one note at a time.
To learn more or to order, visit www.sheptone.com
Prices start at $818.00 USD per set.
 |
|---|
Pages
