Tweed Couch Guitar Therapy Session

We’ve all had them. The aha moment when all of a sudden you realize something that changes your perspective on tone forever. Of course the epiphanies are generally not new. For many they are a no brainer and seem obvious but there is nothing like the aha moment, the epiphany, when you are the one who discovered or possibly rediscovered it. But what is a gear epiphany? Should you act on it immediat...

Today of the Tweed Couch we are counseling on “Relic Guitars” Some love them and some hate them but nobody can deny their controversy in the guitar community. Some love relics because they look old or think they sound better. While others despise relics because it shows a lack of care or it tells a story that the guitar or guitarist didn’t earn. But… Why do people relic? Is it a money thing? Can a...

Dumble’s, Pelxi’s, Tweed’s, Boutique, Rare, Vintage, High Gain... All of these amp types are amazing, expensive, loud and some are rare! I’d love to have an amp collection but don’t have the room or the money to support that new endeavor. Of course amp modelers remedy most of those excuses. I can profile, capture, or emulate any one of these amps for a fraction of the cost and space. Then there is...

Today on the Tweed Couch we are counseling on “Lifest Music City, TN 2022” This is the second year on Johnny Cash’s Hide Away Farm doing a music festival and it did not disappoint! Yes there were less stages but the quality of performer went up. Casting Crowns, Zack Williams, Steven Curtis Chapman, Skillet, Sidewalk Prophets, Swenless, and the list goes on… But, what changed this year at the festi...

Last year, before Lifest Music City, TN, Owen and I went into Nashville and visited some guitar stores. We had such a great time we brought our buddies Lloyd, Thomas, & Dave along with us this year. We visited Gruhn’s Guitars, Rumble Seat Music, Carter Vintage, Gibson Garage, and two different Guitar Centers. But, was it as much fun as last year? Did we buy any gear? What were Lloyd’s thoughts...

Some people stay home and vacation. Some like to go to the beach. Some enjoy camping. Others like to sight see. My family likes to do Lifest. It is probably the only working trip that feels more like a family reunion. Of course my experience is unique. I am an artist, as well as a production team member. I get the best of both worlds and the worst of both worlds… But what is a Fluffy White Bunny?...

When I’m not playing my gear, I’m talking about gear. When I’m not talking about gear, I’m thinking about gear. When I’m not thinking about gear, I’m reading about gear. When I’m not reading about gear, I am watching gear on YouTube. It is apart of me. I love it. I want it. I need it. But what makes someone a gearhead? Is it a bad thing? Should I feel guilty? Is there a checklist to determine my g...

Jason and I recently went to an estate sale and picked up some great stuff for a great deal. This got me thinking about my life and the gear I have purchased over time. The deals that swayed my tone and the feeling of finding them. But when is a deal more like a steal? Should you tell someone they priced too low? What did we buy at the Estate Sale? Is this the first time we’ve gotten deals like th...

I love supporting up and coming manufacturers when I can. Working with Martin Kretzmann of Kretzmann Guitars, Bob Weil of Visual Sound (Now Truetone), or Keith Vonderhulls of Build Your Own Clone has been a great joy as I have watched them grow and cheered them on every step of the way.  Now Jason has done this FAR more than I have and today we talk about his New Guitar Day of his Custom Orde...

I remember the first time I modded a guitar. Putting my dad’s soldering iron to the volume pot of my Fender Stratocaster. It was nerve racking and liberating at the same time. I also helped a friend strip a lefty Stratocaster… Of course I had to stop that modification when my dad, rightfully,  told me to leave that guitar alone for someone who could actually use it. I assume he meant a lefty....

Access to a local guitar store is cool. Access to a local guitar store that has good gear is awesome. Access to a local guitar store that has good gear and actively finds ways for you to succeed in your musical passion is AMAZING! But… What kind of guitar store do you want to be? Why haven’t you done it yet? How will you be different from other shops? Is the goal to be profitable? Who is the band...

Tweaking guitars has always been interesting to me. Changing strings, doing setup, tightening loose parts, and changing pickups and pots. Now there are some things I don’t like doing. Like fretwork, headstock repair, or finish touch ups. On top of that, there is the fear of damaging the guitar worse than it was already. But does my insurance cover stupidity? Should I do my own guitar work? When do...

Much like a fine wine or spirit, a band or even a guitar, can really find its musical palate over time. Of course there are many factors that make this aging process one that we appreciate. Whether it be the finish on the guitar, the vibration of the wood, the style of the music, or the changes made over the course of its life, we all can agree that many find vintage gear to be better. But… Does o...

There is something special about vintage gear. The history, the stories, the nostalgia… it really is not just 1 thing that makes it all so cool. But what classifies gear as vintage? Are they actually better? What makes them different than modern guitars? Why does it cost so much? Would it make a good investment? Why are they so desirable? And what vintage gear have we experienced? Well we will dis...

We’ve all seen iconic gear abuse. Jimi Hendrix setting his guitar on fire, Paul Stanley busting up prop guitars, Richie Blackmore destroying a guitar on a TV camera, or Pete Townsend smashing guitars, amps, drums, stands, microphones, monitors, really anything in sight. Of course this is the extreme. Obviously scratches and dents can happen through normal playwear and tear. Belt buckle rash, hand...

Today on the Tweed Couch we are counseling on “Buying and Selling”. Although the people on this podcast probably think of Jason and I as buyers only, we do sell as well. After 25 years of buying and selling in person and online the stories have racked up and today we will need a whole lot of group therapy to get over it! But how is the current guitar market? Is it better to buy and sell online? Wh...

I love the sparkle binding on my White Falcon, the gold hardware on my ES355, the artist top on my P22, and the features of my HX Effects. But I also love the simplicity of my Kretzmann, the traditional features of my Strat, the no electronics in my Gibson LG0 acoustic, and the single channel on my Marshall or Vox. Sometimes the frills are worth the extra money and sometimes they just get in the w...

Today on the Tweed Couch we are counseling on “Guitar Technology, Yay or Nay” Purists scoff at new technology while many modern players look at it as a useful tool. Both Jason and I agree that new technology must have functionality and tone while fitting the look that inspires us. But which new technology do we agree on?  Can we turn this into a game? Do we know each other well enough to pred...

When I was first starting out, I had a saying. “I get 10% better with every new piece of gear I get.” Of course that statement is not really true or accurate at all. Sure some pieces of gear helped me gain more confidence, experience, and interest which all led me to playing more and getting better. On the other hand, some pieces of gear have done the opposite of making me better. But what gear ha...

I love my Gibson’s, I love my PRS’s, I love my Fender’s, I love my Kretzmann… but the expectations I have out of each guitar is different. Every guitar company has their known quality control issues. From tuning stability, to fret sprout, to finish rejection, to dead on arrival electronics. Although this is an issue, we as players are willing to overlook these shortcomings each manufacturer or gui...

According to verywellminded.com 77% of the people in the world deal with a fear of public speaking. Standing up, making a statement, telling a story, or playing music causes more anxiety than death itself. Of Course, there are different variables that can aid stress. Preparedness, experience, audience members, and even size of the venue can change the perception. But… How do we cope with anxiety?...

The first band I played in had 3 electric guitar players and a drummer. I was not the best guitarist… but I also wasn’t the worst. So my buddy, by default, decided to buy a bass and started learning. But what basses are good for beginners? Should you use a pick? What other gear do you need? Do you need a special case? What are the 2 kinds of bass players? And what Gibson bass did my dad, a guitar...

I am a sucker for a good deal. Tickets to a popular concert with 2-3 bands costs anywhere from $30 in the back of a venue to $400+ to get decent floor seats. As an artist, putting on your own tour, there are struggles too. This is why I love Music Festivals. As a concert attendee or as a band I get the best of all worlds. But… What makes a Festival so different? Which ones should I go to? Are ther...

3 pickup guitars are amazing. 2 pickup guitars are also glorious.  But are 1 pickup guitars better? Are they just as versatile? Who plays a 1 pickup guitar? Does the neck pickup affect tone when it’s not on? What’s a dummy pickup? And is 1 pickup all you need? Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with Jason, on the Tweed Couch

As we ring in another new year, many people may feel compelled to reflect on their previous year. Some tried to kick a bad habit. Some tried to take on a good routine... Some realized they completed all of their new years resolutions and others realized they gave up too quick. But how did Dr. T & Jason do on their New Years Resolutions? Do they have new ones for 2022? How has the podcast done...