Here’s a quick challenge: You want to make the most dramatic change possible in both the look and sound of a guitar rig, but can only change one item. What do you choose? Hands up all those who said speaker cabinet? It may not have been the first thing that came to mind, but think about how much of… Read More »Speak to Me
When I was a kid learning about engineering and electronics, the magazines that we read in the pre-internet days were full of articles, projects, and kits promising hours of enjoyment and even the proposition of making money from our favorite pastime. Electronics kit building kind of fell out of favor during the computer age as the home based technology enthusiasts… Read More »Building Pedals for Fun and Profit
Volume is an odd concept. You would think it to be straightforward enough that a volume control makes things louder or quieter, and in the case of guitar amplifiers, one rated at a higher power should be louder. Of course, it’s a fair bit more complicated than that. Let’s first remind ourselves of a basic definition of sound.Sound starts with… Read More »The Science of Volume
Last week, we talked about the history of electric guitars and how the first ones came to be. However, we may be forgetting about one very important item used for playing electric guitars; amplifiers. Amplifiers have some interesting history behind them, too, and they weren’t always as advanced and reliable as they are now. Let’s take a look at the… Read More »Early History of the Amplifier
So, summer NAMM was cancelled and it’s unclear if the winter show in 2021 will proceed or in what form. This could put a stop to a show tradition for me visiting Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar for some Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki (five Tikis) Rum cocktails. You may ask what this has to do with this column, but… Read More »Nuclear Secrets of the Tiki Room
At their heart, computer processors run machine code. This is the series of 1s and 0s called bits(Binary digITS) that the device translates into voltage highs and lows used to control the display, keyboard, motor, switches, lights and so forth, in whatever system it’s being used. This is true whether the device is the CPU in your laptop, the microcontroller… Read More »The Basics of Programming
Some people believe that modern switching power supplies and DC-DC converters are noisier, and that using a traditional larger AC power supply is going to be quieter. Others think that using a battery and isolating the pedalboard from wall power is going to avoid AC noise, ground loops etc, and so this will be quieter. So, which is correct? To… Read More »Power Supplies: Which is More Quiet?
A digital multimeter (DMM) is an invaluable piece of equipment for any guitar player. One suitable for most guitar related duties will be under $20, and $90 will get a good one that should last a lifetime. Even if you are not particularly technically inclined, there are a number of simple multimeter tests that can save countless hours in set-up,… Read More »Multimeter: The Invaluable Tool
Here’s a quick challenge: You want to make the most dramatic change possible in both the look and sound of a guitar rig, but can only change one item. What do you choose? Hands up all those who said speaker cabinet. It may not have been the first thing that came to mind, but think about it. How much of… Read More »The Power of Speakers
You may not have thought about it, but when you turn a volume or tone knob on a guitar, or a setting on an effects pedal or amp, some complicated things happen. The little potentiometer that’s hiding behind the knob has some interesting properties. There are already some excellent articles on the web about how pots work, so there’s no… Read More »Of Pots and Tapers