TheToneCast.com - TheToneCast

In this episode we will be introducing a new segment entitled “Quick Clips With Chris Contreras”.  No, it won’t have the profound impact of Jack Handy’s Deep Thoughts but it will provide you a taste of some great gear being built.  Chris will be lending his chops over the course of this next year to highlight what builders are designing.  The idea of “QCCC” is to simulate how you might choose to demo a pedal when approaching it for the first time.  For example, you might simply demo a the gain extremes.  In these clips, Chirs plays a low and high grain riff and lead with both a HB and SC equipped guitar.  Finally, he takes us out with a tasty styling featuring a warm HB tone.  These clips are intended to be raw and unrehearsed.  The amp was a tweed type circuit set clean miced with a e609 about 1.5″ off the cone.  Take a listen as Chris demos the new PlushFX Plush Drive. We hope you like our new segment.   I know we do!  

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup

This will be our last episode from the ToneFest earlier this year.   Thanks again to everyone who participated. It ended up being a great way to spend an afternoon. I want to thank our sponsors again for making it possible.  Thank you to Fuchs Audio for donating several of their pedals to support the backing band and Two Rock for sending several of their amps for our players to demo.  It is obvious these companies are not only committed to quality, they are truly committed to the very foundation of the musical community.   I wanted to conclude our ToneFest series with another extemporaneous session featuring the musicians from the previous episode. Take a listen as a group of strangers continue to find common ground. 

Again, a 62 concert and a Plush FX Drive and Cream through a Two-Rock Classic Reverb.   

 

 TheToneCast Episode 36: ToneFest - Finding Common Ground: Play Now | Play in Popup

Here at TheToneCast.com we spend our time celebrating the creative and passionate minds that continue to redefine the frontiers of tone.  That being said, I don’t want to lose sight of why we all do it.  As the media continues to remind us what is wrong in the world, it seems that finding what is right becomes more and more difficult.  Taking liberty on a soap box for a second I will point out that as musicians it might be easier for us to discover that elusive space where the tides of all that is wrong begin to recede. As musicians I hope we can help those that listen to us find that same place.  At this year’s tonefest we stumbled across it in the middle of a classic…..

Take a listen to a guitarist from Chile, a bassist who has fled political unrest in Venezuela, a sax player from Austin, a drummer from Buffalo, and a guitarist and keyboardist from right here in CO show exactly what is right in the world. Most of these guys just met; it is clear they all speak the same language.   

In case you were wondering, the clean guitar was the cleanest 62 concert I have ever seen, and the dirty guitar was a either a Plush FX Cream or Plush Drive.     

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup

Take a listen as Chris Contreras gives the new Plush FX Extreme Cream a run on SRV’s Pride and Joy.   

For more information on the new line of pedals from Fuchs Audio Technology click on over to their website: http://www.fuchsaudiotechnology.com/plush.htm  

 

 TheToneCast Episode 34: ToneFest - Pride and Joy via. Plush FX Extreme Cream: Play Now | Play in Popup

The inaugural tonefest was a great success.  Thanks to all those that came out to support it.  We  would also like to thank our sponsors again for making it possible.  Thanks to Fuchs for the pedal donations. Everyone was very impressed with the new lineup of Plush-FX pedals.  And thanks again to Two-Rock for sending out several of their amps to demo.  We will continue to post the board capture over the next couple of weeks.  For now take a listen to the ToneCaster’s version of Jeff Beck’s Come Dancing featuring guitarist Chris Contreras and bassist Jorge Lopez:  Tele > Boss OC2 (to taste)> Two-Rock Kimock Sig > Two-Rock standard 2×12 Cab.   

 

 TheToneCast Episode 33: ToneFest - Come Dancing via. Two-Rock Kimock Sig: Play Now | Play in Popup

If you are looking to add some texture to a tune or turn your guitar into an organ, a good place to start would be with a volume swell.  Just drop the volume when you strike the string (this will mask the pick attack) then raise the volume and let it ring.  The delay pedal will sustain the sound so that you can drop the volume and play a note/chord again.  You don’t have to have a volume pedal you can just as easily roll your guitar volume off.  This is just another great way to expand your guitar’s horizon.


 

 

 TheToneCast Episode 26: Volume Swells: Play Now | Play in Popup

Revisiting the pedal order question from last week we decided to take a listen to thickening up your OD by putting a boost in front of it.  We used an MI Audio boost into a mild overdrive.  I am sorry to say, but this boost isn’t a normal MI Audio offering.  After speaking with Michael at NAMM this year he told me that there are only 2 of these bad boys in the world.  It was a pretty funny story. We will have to have him on to tell it.You can find more MI Audio here:  http://www.miaudio.com  

 

 TheToneCast Episode 22: Boosting an OD: Play Now | Play in Popup

There never will be a right answer to the age old question of pedal order.  It is far too subjective to make any Newtonian claims.  All we can do is offer examples of various configurations and let the creative muse decide on the setup that suits her ear.  Take a listen as we demo both configurations Vibe>OD then OD>Vibe.  We used an MI Audio Blues Pro and a Sweet Sound Mojo Vibe for these clips.   

We chose to use the Mojo Vibe to bring attention to one of our own’s battle.  If you don’t know Bob Sweet, the designer and manufacturer  of the Mojo vibe, is going though a tough fight right now.  There are charity auctions in place to support him.  Please take time to read about the battle and do what you can to help.  

You can read more here:  MusicToyz  Bob Sweet Charity Information.   

 

 TheToneCast Episode 20: Pedal Order? Vibe>OD or OD>Vibe: Play Now | Play in Popup

Herbie Hancock won a Grammy for Album of the year.  We hope the awakening in the music world continues.  To celebrate we pulled a unique pair of pedals out of the vault. Instead of thinking Maiden Voyage, we thought Head Hunters. We don’t have Mr. Hancock in studio, as you will soon find out, but here is a pairing of pedals you might consider if you are looking for some good old fashion funk.  If you would like to learn more about the man himself, check out his site: http://www.herbiehancock.com/You can find out more about Emma Effects at: http://www.emmaelectronic.com/  

 

 TheToneCast Episode 18: Analog Synthy Sounds: Play Now | Play in Popup

Based on the response form last week’s episode featuring the Robert Keeley  AD-9’s self oscillation feature, we decided to demo the pedals use as a slap-back delay.  Take a listen as we run it through some poor country cliches.  Again, you can find more information about all of Robert Keeley’s effects at his website:  http://www.rkfx.com    

 

 TheToneCast Episode 16: Slap-Back...The Keeley AD-9: Play Now | Play in Popup

Take a listen as we reveal the Robert Keeley modded AD-9’s little secret.  You might want to strap on some headphones to get the full stereo effect.  You can find Robert Keeley Effects and all his other great pedals online at www.rkfx.com.    

 

 TheToneCast Episode 14: The Keeley AD-9's Hidden Secret: Play Now | Play in Popup

Take a listen to Galo Rivera demo the new Plush Valve Job > Pure Gain > Fuchs Clean Machine. You can get more information about the new line of Plush effects pedals at: http://www.myspace.com/plushpedals

Once Galo got going, people stopped and listened. There was quite the audience at the Fuchs booth once Galo was done. And after you listen, you will know why. Make sure to check Galo out at his website: www.galorivera.com

 

 TheToneCast Episode 13: Galo Rivera and Fuchs' new Plush Pedals: Play Now | Play in Popup