Explore every episode of the podcast That Guitar Lover

This is a pretty common topic, so I did my research and you may find what I learned surprising. Please become a Patron on Patreon to support my work.

In this episode I explore the different types of modulation effects that we find in pedals for live play and for recording and in plugins to use in the studio. Please become a patron on Patreon to support my work. Your small monthly donation matters a great deal.

About a year ago, I did an episode on Impulse Response systems. Time has passed, they have become even more prevalent and a lack of clear information has created a fog of confusion around IRs, Amp Sims and pedals that do both to directly feed a PA without any actual guitar or bass amplifiers involved. So that’s what this episode is all about.

The use of a great delay expands your soundscape and helps you as a musician tell your story. In this episode I go through the four primary delay types to provide some core knowledge that might help you find the delay that fits your needs best. Please support my work by becoming a Patron on Patreon. Your small monthly donation makes a big difference to me.

As guitarists we are (most of us) always happy to spend time in a real guitar shop, looking around, and perhaps having a play on a guitar that strikes our fancy. Yet, when I ask players who have decided to own multiple guitars, I rarely hear of a baritone guitar. Twelve different Strats, for sure, or a number of different six string acoustics. Maybe the odd mandolin, or a 12 string, but baritones are rarer. Why is that? In this episode, let’s spend some time on the subject of the wonderful baritone guitar.

I have to admit that I get tired of the endless spew of BS that I hear thrown around at high velocity by people with strong opinions who are also unemcumbered by facts. Asking the right questions will result in a buyer getting the best instrument for his or her needs, but not asking the right questions can result in a customer who ends up not playing. This time, I want to provide a bit of insight into what might make a short scale electric bass the best choice for you. If you like what I do here, please become a patron on Patreon.

Welcome! In this episode I talk about what I call the China Syndrome, the widely found delusion that guitars made in China or other parts of Asia are inherently garbage. Please support the channel by becoming a Patreon member.

Hello folks. In this episode, I am joined by Will Bertram and we discuss the viability of modellers and profilers as amplifier and cabinet alternatives and when using them as such makes sense.

Welcome! In this episode we close out our recent home recording series with the topic of plugins to be used in your DAW. There are myriad different plugin deliverables and tons of options. So I try to clarify things to make your recording and production lives easier and also save you money. Please become a supporter on Patreon. Your small monthly donation makes a big difference here.

We continue the series on equipment and tools for home recording. In this episode I discuss studio monitors and headphones for studio use. If you like what I do, please become a sponsor of the channel on Patreon.

Hello everyone. This is the third episode in our series on recording your yourself or your band. This time we dive into microphones, where to start and what are good options. Please support the channel by becoming a donor on Patreon. Your support makes a serious difference.

Greetings! In this episode I cover the next piece in the home / band recording pantheon, that of the interface between your instruments and microphones and the computer. I’m keeping the price options low, because the options are great and so is the quality.

In this episode, I propose consideration of Universal Audio’s LUNA as your Digital Audio Workstation. When there are so many good ones, why LUNA? Have a listen and you might be convinced to give it a try.

Hello listeners. In this episode, I am joined by Drake Metcalf, a fine young gentleman who is both a working musician and sales professional with Cosmo Music in Richmond Hill, Ontario. We talk about the value proposition of playing your instrument live with other musicians, in a jam, in a band or at a gig. Please support the channel by becoming a supporter on Patreon

This episode, I am joined by my friend Mark Collins and we discuss the considerations in choosing your next acoustic guitar. The guidance is oriented for folks starting out, but is applicable to players at all levels.

This episode is a thought exercise. I’ve been exposed to incredibly fast players who leave me tired, and more emotive players who use the space between the notes for magic. Please have a listen and see if you align to this idea. Please do sign up to support the channel on Patreon. Your monthly donation makes a big difference here.

Hey listeners. This episode is a bit of a rant, so fair warning. The statement that one can use AI to make useful music is a lie. Real music is created by humans, not by machines copying the work of humans. You make your own decision whether to agree or disagree. But do have a listen.

This past weekend, I had the pleasure to help a young player and his parents purchase his next guitar. it was a great experience for me, and the young man was very happy as well. Have a listen to the story. If you are currently not supporting the channel on Patreon, please consider doing so by clicking this link. Your monthly donation makes a big difference here. Thank you to all our current Patreon members.

This is a very common question that I get. The answer is yes. Or no. Listen to the episode to find out why. If you are currently not supporting the channel on Patreon, please consider doing so by clicking this link. Your monthly donation makes a big difference here. Thank you to all our current Patreon members.

In this episode I dive into the emerging trend to have a single amp in a single pedal and to use it without another amplifier, instead going direct to the PA, to FRFR speakers or to a recording interface

When playing instruments that have high impedance outputs and needing long cable runs, we suffer signal loss. A DI box converts that high impedance, unbalanced signal to a low impedance, balanced signal that supports longer cable runs and provides significant noise and interference reduction. If you play live through a distant PA, acoustic amp or to a recording interface, an inexpensive DI box can be a game changing thing,

If you are recording your own music, or for your band or your friends, you have already figured out that the mastering component is a very important process. It’s also a skill developed over time and with practice, but having a good place to start that is SIMPLE is always a benefit because you can hear what is happening, see the settings, play with them and learn by doing what each does. In this episode I talk about a great tool to get great sounding recordings quickly while learning the craft of mastering. Introducing the tc electronic Master X HD.

Please become a member on Patreon to support this channel. Your small monthly donation makes a big difference!

Hello folks. In this episode I explore the considerations that go into defining the best acoustic pedal board for you. Have a listen and feel free to send in comments or questions. Please become a channel member and support me on Patreon.

Hello folks. The use of channel strip plugins in your DAW can make your recording easier, quicker and less confusing, Join me in this episode as I discuss these options. Please be sure to support the channel on Patreon by becoming a member.

Hi everyone! In this episode we consider the often ignored EQ pedal and I offer ideas why every serious musician can benefit from having one. Please support the channel by becoming a member on Patreon.

Hello all. Channel Supporter David wrote me to ask why many guitarists have more than one pedal board and what pieces are needed in addition to your choice of pedals. So that’s this episode.

These simple upgrades can make a really significant improvement in the tone of your acoustic guitar. Have a listen to see how these upgrades may benefit you.

In this episode, we go a bit farther into the world of pickups. Please consider supporting the channel by becoming a member on Patreon.

In this episode, I go through how a pickup works, the components therein and how passive and active pickups differ. I hope that you find the episode worth your time. Please support the channel by becoming a member on Patreon.

Hello! In this episode, I welcome young musician Will Bertram as we talk about getting younger people into playing guitar and bass and Will shares his thoughts on keeping these people engaged.

In this episode, I explain what each of these phrases mean, what they do and why they matter, especially if you are recording your own music.

In this episode, I provide an introduction to the idea of resonator guitars. I apologize in advance for the shaky short intro, but we all have those kinds of days. For those who care, the slide is ceramic, the strings are Curt Mangan resonator strings and the guitar is an old Epiphone, all of which proved to be better than me this day. I hope that you enjoy the episode.

Hey listeners. In this episode we visit Birdland, the home I name for one of my favourite guitars and favourite basses. Please listen in to hear what I am talking about

Hey folks! This time I am joined by professional musician Shane Sukhu to talk about the idea of backpackable floorboard style amps and preamps. We’ll speak in depth about the Blackstar AMPED 3 and the TECH21NYC Ritchie Kotzen FlyRig 5 v2.

When you hear the phrase “S Shaped Object” in the context of guitars, it’s natural to think of guitars that look like Fender’s venerable Stratocaster. But what if you want everything that the Stratocaster SHOULD be? Listen in for my answer.

In this episode, I look at using plugins in the studio and live and the real world benefits of a hardware controller for a plugin, with emphasis on the TC 2290 Dynamic Digital Delay.

There is always web and YouTube chatter about real amps and cabinets vs amplifier and cabinet simulations. When it comes to really good amp and cabinet sims, can you hear a difference? They may be different, but the majority cannot tell which is which. In this episode, I talk about why the concern in actually irrelevant in the real world.

Today’s IR pedals are incredibly powerful and great sounding devices. In this episode, I explain what they are, how they do what they do and offer reasons why you might need one.

Hi listeners. Find in this episode my predictions for 2024. Some are rather dark, but there are opportunities for growth and money savings for all of us.

Hey folks, in this recap episode for the year end, I talk about some of the great successes in gear and tools that I discovered in the last twelve months. Please be aware that I made an error in the recording when I touched briefly on my build. I said Seymour Duncan pickups when I actually used DiMarzio PIAs.

Hey folks, this episode is my review of the musical instrument industry for 2023. A future episode will cover my 2024 prognostications, and another my favourite gear of 2023.

Hello listeners. In my quest to find the best sounding (to me) bass strings for my Fender Precision US Ultra (what most people call a PJ as it has both Precision and Jazz bass pickups), I want to share my experience with a new string type to me, those strings referred to as Tapewound.

Hey everyone. In this episode we explore the need for and the use of the noise gate pedal, to improve the playing and listening experience and to eradicate, hiss and hum.

Hey listeners. In this episode I provide guidance on selection and placement for the one microphone every recordist show have to record amplifiers, of any kind at home. Listen in to learn more and be ready to record your work.

In this episode I look at amps that exist in your computer, that sound like the real thing, that you can play back through monitors or through headphones and also use for silent recording. This may be the least expensive amplifier that you encounter.

In this episode I explore the less travelled road of nylon string guitars. Join me, won’t you?

Hello listeners. In this episode I talk about the increasing problem of counterfeit strings.

Hey folks. This episode I do a brief exploration on the growing world of pedal amplifiers. These tools may be just the thing to suit you.

In this episode, I share what some may call the path of heresy.

In this episode, I take a deep dive into Impulse Response. What IR files are, why you might use them, how they are made and IR makers that I have had success with.