Author Archives: Jeff

Roland Introduces JC-22 Jazz Chorus Guitar Amp

Posted on by
Reply

I can’t yet tell if I love this or hate it.  I do like the idea of a smaller brother to the amazing JC-120 and the smart & sensible JC-40.

This might be the perfect practice amp for Jazz guitarists and those playing small “coffee house” sized venues.

What I wish it had:

  1. USB out for direct digital recording (Yes, I realize this amp has line out and USB might really jack up the price… But that doesn’t mean I can’t still WANT something.)
  2. 10″ Speakers.  6.5″ speakers feel really out of sync with the rest of the specs on this amp, especially because the big selling point is the huge multi diminutional 3D sound it is supposed to provide… From 6.5 inch speakers?  hummmm.  I would really like to hear this in person.

Check prices on Amazon for the JC-22, and the larger JC-40 and JC-120

DryBell Vibe Machine V-2 demo

Posted on by
Reply

Holy Shiznit! This demo for the DryBell Vibe Machine V-2 is just amazing. I’m a big fan of the Univibe effect and I have (and love) my Fulltone DejaVibe. But I have to say, this pedal by DryBell sounds killer. And, the playing by Kruno Doma?inovi? is just OUTSTANDING. You have to listen to this. Jimi would be proud!

Check prices:
DryBell Vibe Machine V-2 on Amazon.
FullTone DejaVibe on Amazon

Boss announces AD-2 Acoustic Preamp & BOSS CP-1X Compressor

Posted on by
Reply

Boss CP-1X Compressor
CP-1X is a new type of multiband compressor for guitar. AKA: Yes, we need this! I really like the idea behind this pedal & it’s simplicity.

Boss AD-2 Acoustic Preamp:
This is an interesting new pedal from Boss. I’m not sure how much this demo excites me, so I’ll be curious to hear what pops up on youtube in the next few months as people start to try them out. Thoughts?

Raga Yaman Alap Practice 10-27-16

Posted on by
Reply

In this video I am practicing my opening phrases to the Alap for Raga Yaman.

This is difficult stuff!

I struggled with some pitch issues and my attack on some notes is a little rough but this is all part of the learning process. Hopefully this is an improvement over my last Alap video.

Please leave comments and let me know what you think. I love to read feedback.

If you like this video and want to follow my progress learning the sitar, please subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/notbadfilms?sub_confirmation=1

Blues Lunchbox Head Shootout

Posted on by
Reply

As someone who likes to think of themselves as a blues player and a fan of amps that facilitate that tone, I really enjoyed this video by Andertons Music demoing a bunch of Blues sounding Lunchbox sized amps.

I would have liked to see the Fender Super Champ X2 Head in this shoot out. It’s 15 watts, fairly low cost and the cleans sound amazing. It takes pedals really well too!

I own the Super Champ combo version with a 10 inch speaker and it’s great for playing small club shows. But, having it as a head and just showing up and using the house back line cabinet would be great. And, hell, having that much less to carry in a NYC taxi would be amazing.

Here is a nice video comparing the Super Champ x2 to the very beloved (and expensive) Fender Princeton RI.

Filter Freakout: Line 6 FM4, Moog MF Flange, Buddy Guy Wah, Blues Driver

Posted on by
Reply

Hi, I’m Jeff Starr, a filmmaker who also loves guitars and gear, especially the Line 6 FM4. This video is part of my series of improvised guitar solos.

This recording is very much influenced by Frank Zappa and the sounds he used on Ship Ahoy. I’m also happy with some of the deep bends I made and how I really worked one fret to see how much I could get from a single position. I felt like this was a carry over from my sitar lessons.

Note that I put the Moog flanger at the start of the signal chain. Previously I had been using this at the end or in the effects loop. I really liked how this early placement influenced the tone and how the blues driver accepted it and pushed it.

The star of this video is the Line 6 FM4 and it’s wacky sounds.

This song is called: Filter Freakout

Gear Used (click links to check prices):
Moog MF Flange: http://amzn.to/29NjGU
Boss Blues Driver: http://amzn.to/2e35VSc
Buddy Guy Wah: http://amzn.to/2drwkub
Line 6 FM4 http://amzn.to/2evW8Uf
Boss RC-2 looper: http://amzn.to/27R1qjl

PedalTrain Pedal Board: http://amzn.to/1rveVDG
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus Power Supply: http://amzn.to/1YyVV4u

Fender Stratocaster: http://amzn.to/29zse2t
Guitar Amp: Fender Mustang 3 http://amzn.to/1T1Ex5I I love the ease of the USB interface for recording.

Recorded in LogicX.

Super Fun Guitar Looper: Moog MF Flange, Blues Driver & Buddy Guy Wah

Posted on by
Reply

Am I recording? I’m going to try to make a weekly improvised guitar video.

Tonight I had a super fun time with my guitar looper.

I call this song: “DAD’S SHIRT”

Gear Used (click links to check prices):
Moog MF Flange: http://amzn.to/29NjGU
Boss Blues Driver: http://amzn.to/2e35VSc
Buddy Guy Wah: http://amzn.to/2drwkub
Line 6 FM4 (not used in this recording) http://amzn.to/2evW8Uf
Boss RC-2 looper: http://amzn.to/27R1qjl

PedalTrain Pedal Board: http://amzn.to/1rveVDG
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus Power Supply: http://amzn.to/1YyVV4u

Fender Strat: http://amzn.to/29zse2t
Guitar Amp: Fender Mustang 3 http://amzn.to/1T1Ex5I I love the ease of the USB interface for recording.

Recorded in LogicX.

Wah Pedal Placement: before or after gain? – High Quality Demo!

Posted on by
Reply

Do you have questions about wah pedal placement?

Should you put your wah wah pedal before or after your overdrive/distortion/fuzz pedal? In this demo you can hear the vocal throaty sound you get by having the Wah after your overdrive (acts as an EQ boost) and compare it to the honking “wicka-wicka” sound you get when you have the wah before the drive pedal (acts as a tone control).

— — — — —

Gear Used (click links to check prices):
Buddy Guy Wah: http://amzn.to/2drwkub
If you want to know more about the CryBaby Mini Wah that I mentioned you can find it here: http://amzn.to/2eeJlti
Boss Blues Driver: http://amzn.to/2dgtBEW

PedalTrain Pedal Board: http://amzn.to/1rveVDG
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus Power Supply: http://amzn.to/1YyVV4u

Fender Strat: http://amzn.to/29zse2t
Guitar Amp: Fender Mustang 3 http://amzn.to/1T1Ex5I I love the ease of the USB interface for recording.

Recorded in LogicX. No EQ or effects have been added in post.

— — — — —
Related videos
Buddy Guy Wah Review: https://youtu.be/f__uztJHflM
How many tones can a Blues Driver Make: https://youtu.be/JGbzV55RmWY

Easy Sitar Taans? Let’s find out…

Posted on by
Reply

I have been struggling with these two “easy” sitar taans.

Well, they SHOULD be easy but they are very deceiving and require a lot of accuracy.  I give all my my Sitar Taans nicknames. I call these “Run from Ni” and “Run from Re.”

I am working to build up speed as my teacher wants me to play at 250 beats per minute (BPM). Let’s see how fast I can get today!

I took my first sitar lesson on January 27th, 2012.