Tweed Couch Guitar Therapy Session

It is not everyday that you get to go to a stellar guitar shop. It is not everyday that you get to go with a friend. It is not everyday that you get a great story and it is not everyday that you get VIP treatment… and today all of this came true and it came true at nearly all six guitar shops in the St. Louis area. But why was I in St. Louis? Did I buy any new gear? What kind of VIP treatment are...

Today on the Tweed Couch we are counseling on “Inear Monitoring Systems: Trusting Your Gig to a Belt Pack” There is no doubt that how well you hear yourself and others affects how well you play the show. Of course the method you chose to hear yourself can vary. Some use floor wedges, some use inears, and some just play with the sound system cranked behind them. I have been using in ear monitors fo...

I love going to guitar shops. It's fun to go, enjoy, play, and experience what is out on the market. I cannot think of a single shop I go to that doesn't have at least 1 guitar that inspires me when I pick it up.  Of course this is usually out of a selection of 50 to 1000 guitars of my choosing because I am right handed. My buddies Barber and Swags are a different story because they are le...

If you have been listening to the podcast for a while then you know that each year my family and I head up to Oshkosh, WI to run what, I understand to be, the largest Christian Music Festival in the world.  Of course, each year is filled with new stories about artists, staff, volunteers, setup, tear down, shenanigans, and the awesome gear we see! But what could actually go wrong? Could an artist l...

A few months ago I went on a quest to find the perfect PRS DGT. I took my 17 year-old cork sniffer along and was incredibly surprised by the outcomes and results. While we planned to make this podcast about our tonal quest, our plans changed when our local guitar shop (Tone Shop Guitars) sent an invite to a free David Grissom clinic. The stars aligned and we waited to meet the man behind the guita...

I remember seeing the Edge and James Hetfield with an Explorer. Billy Gibbons and Jimi Hendrix with a Flying V. Johnny Winter and Allen Collins with a Firebird… Such fascinating tones from such fascinating players.  Of course I wouldn’t call these guitars traditional by any stretch of the imagination. Simply put… they look awkward, clunky, and like something out of a sci-fi movie. That said… I cur...

Nothing can beat a charismatic frontman. Then again, there are some Side Players that give them a run for their money. I mean… who is Bono without Edge? Freddie Mercury without Brian May? Roth or Haggar without Eddie Van Halen? Robert Plant without Jimmy Page? Anthony Kiedis without John Frusciante? Bon Scott or Brian Johnson without Angus & Malcolm? Or Mick Jagger without Keith Richards. Of c...

I am fortunate enough to live in an area that not only has amazing guitar shops, but 1-2 times a year guitar shops from around the nation will come to buy, sell, trade, and showcase musical gear all under 1 roof. Occasionally you’ll see a celebrity. Get a chance to listen to some live music. And possibly touch a true holy grail piece. I grew up going to these shows and now I get to take my own chi...

This has been a fun annual event to do each year. I enjoy the anticipation, the fun in the forums, and the chance to get something I normally would not pick out myself. I would also say that I am a consumer of Premier Guitar’s content and for me this is a small way to support what they do. Of course, not all people feel this way. Many believe it to be a disgrace and an irresponsible way to spend m...

As you just heard in the intro, Jason is now a licensed therapist in Texas. Although this podcast has never been about true scientific therapy and the advice here was never meant to treat anything but an entertainment deficiency.  My hope was always that you left here encouraged, happier, and motivated to be a better person and musician… then in which you came. And all of this at no charge. Which...

We all have passions. When I was a kid I loved playing sports and collecting baseball and football cards. As a young adult I was into playing guitar and music. Now as a middle age adult I love being with my wife and kids. Teaching and learning. Being in the music industry. And obviously I love collecting, playing, and fixing guitars.  Of course not all of these things can make us money. And if I’m...

Back in 1954, Leo Fender once again created a guitar that would revolutionize popular music. Although many changes have occurred over the last 7 decades… at the heart of it… the Stratocaster is still just as revolutionary today as it was back then. Of course it has been a long journey since then. In 1965 the headstock was enlarged. In 1971 the 3 bolt neck began. In 1977 the 5 way switch became the...

Every year I talk about how this festival feels like a family reunion and this year was no exception. It’s not just because I get to see my normal Tweed Couch Buddies and not just because I get to perform music with my bandmates. It is because of the bond we share because of our desire to see this Christ centered event be successful. Of course, much like a family working together. There are plenty...

There is something cool about the delay effect on guitar. Sometimes you need a little to add size. Sometimes you need a lot to add texture. Sometimes you need to go backwards or wobbly to do something completely different.  Of course delay isn’t perfect… and it could cover your sloppy playing but really… when done right… It's one of the best ways to sculpt your style and create a tasty tone. ...

There is a reason why we fall in love with the tones of songs from decades ago. The player, the phrasing, the technique, the gear. All of this ignites and inspires a guitar player. Of course that gear has become harder and harder to obtain as time goes on. Plexi’s to JCM’s. Tweed to Silverface. Burst Les Paul to Korina Explorer. Pre-CBS Tele to Grunge Jagstang. If you want the real deal you will h...

Some trade their gear in and trade up. Others sell their unwanted stuff off to finance other endeavors. Some feel the clutter and just want to regain space and sanity.  Of course you never know if you might need that gear again. And most of the time, selling it off is actually more of a hassle than it's worth. Then again the ROI is often lower and you’ll never be able to buy it back for what y...

Some love them. Some hate them. Those that feel the love appreciate the history, tone, feel, and inspiration these guitars embody. Those that feel the hate. Disapprove of the hype and blinded devotion to a flawed guitar design  that reeks of terrible tuning stability, inferior quality control, headstock breakage, high price, and heavy weight. Of course these are a few examples of the extremes base...

I’ve used inear monitors for over 20 years and floor wedges for even longer. Although there is a huge price difference between these two. Depending on the venue or concert you are playing, there is definitely a clear winner.  Of course a great mix with great musicians makes all the difference when it comes to the experience of the show. On top of that, everyone has a preference that suits their ne...

By now we all know that I love Marshall amplifiers but I also love my Fender and my Vox. Of course boutique amplifiers are incredible too and I’ve really enjoyed my Dr. Z, Clark, and Mesa amps. Then there’s Lloyd with his Saldono, Reason and Naylor… and Jason’s Carr… So many… But what amps do we need? Why would we need more than one? Is every amp competing with Fender? What classifies something as...

My first overdrive was a tube screamer circuit. It turned my solid state amp into a broken up tone machine. A few years later I went with a tube amp, and although I could get it driven, nothing beat the tones I got with an overdrive pushing the front end.  Of course tone is subjective. Some love the colors an EQ or clipping can give.  Others prefer something more transparent or with a slight bump...

I’ve seen the gear reviews. I’ve joined the Facebook fan pages. I’ve updated and updated and updated software. I have captured with it. I’ve owned it for about three years and use it at least twice a week in a live setting. So I guess it's time I finally talk about it. Of course it's pretty amazing but I wouldn’t call it perfect. Being a beta tester for the last three years has only proven...

Who doesn’t like getting a package in the mail? The excitement. The anticipation. The dopamine release… Now add to it that what you ordered is a surprise and you’ve essentially doubled down on all of these emotions. Of course, “doubling down” is an interesting way to put it. The Premier Guitar Mystery Stocking is kinda like gambling. Some people get guitars. Some get pedals. Others get GloKnobs an...

Drummers are awesome. Their ability to use every limb of their body to create syncopation and energy is astounding. A seasoned drummer with finesse and dynamics can take a song from meh to amazing! Of course they do have their quirks and downfalls to us guitar/vocalists. Their high volume and massive footprint create such a confined space in a mix and on a stage that it is easy to become annoyed…...

I’m not sure if you’ve ever been in this place for gear? Content. You love what you have. It inspires you to play. Simply put, you have found your voice and you have found your mojo…  Of course, you’d love some vintage gear. Or a custom built instrument. Or a signature artist’s piece of gear. Then there are pedalboards, amps, modelers, straps, mics, interfaces… You know, maybe no one is ever done....

How do you describe tone? Seriously… how do you describe guitar tone? Lush, responsive, meaty, throaty, organic… its a never ending thesaurus of adjectives to describe the feeling we have when we hear it. Of course tone is very subjective and opinions may differ. Some like a tone that is flabby and others like it tight. Some like it scooped and others want it in your face. But… Why do we use these...