Author Archive for Marc Johnson
Marc published his first novel Becoming in 2010. It’s a kick-ass book with monsters and dreams and stuff, and you should buy it. Since then, he’s written thousands of articles for TheToneKing.com, many of which have been picked up for circulation by manufacturers and other news outlets. His next book, Drugs and Pancakes, should be available early 2014 if his alcoholic editor can find time to work on it in-between destroying his liver and screaming about punctuation. He graduated from Roosevelt University with honors, which means that he’s not as dumb as he looks. He’s been playing guitar for over 25 years, which is almost twice as long as most of his students have been alive.
Grudge Match: 6L6 Vs. EL34
6L6 vs. EL34 Power Tubes. A story by Marc Johnson. Check it out!!
You’d Better Get That Thing Looked At!
The most common maintenance is called a set-up. This is basic ‘oil-change’ type maintenance that you want to get done twice a year with the change in seasons. It involves straightening out your neck (Guitars are made of wood. Those necks move whether you play them or not), a restring, and setting your intonation (making sure the thing plays in tune all over the neck). A good shop will offer a fret-file and leveling as well.
Eminence Speakers Helps Players Get Better Tone at Lower Volume
Eminence FDM Speakers : In addition to attenuating your signal, the FDM will also allow you to accentuate the tones that you already get from your amp. When you add more attenuation, your tone will get warmer as your volume goes down, and when you remove attenuation, your tone will get brighter as you get louder. This feature will give players the ability to actually manipulate the characteristics of the speaker, providing them with more options and dynamics.
The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of: TTK interviews Jim Lewis of Strictly 7 Guitars
At The Tone King, we always keep our ears to the ground for new talent. Although we love the veterans, we want to see what the new talent has in store for us. One company that you will soon be hearing a lot about is Strictly 7 Guitars. Initially building only seven-string guitars, Strictly 7 founder Jim Lewis has since expanded his business to include six and eight-string guitars. In 2010, Jim intends to expand his company further by offering basses as well. Recently, TheToneKing.com had a chance to have a sit down with Jim Lewis to discuss Strictly 7 and where he plans to take it from here.
Small Package, Big Tone; The Tone King Checks Out The Z.Vex Nano
The Nano is the world’s smallest tube amplifier. It is a one-half watt amp that can power any 4×12 cab (or any 8 to 16 ohm speaker).
Hey! Where Do You Think You’re Going? TTK Demos the Line 6 Relay G30 Wireless Guitar System
All of us here at TheToneKing.com have had our own share of wireless mishaps, but there is something new on the horizon from Line 6. And it may be the holy grail of wireless systems.
TTK Reviews the Pro Co 1985 Whiteface Reissue RAT
The thing that really got me going, though, was when I started rolling the gain back up again. The first thing I thought of was Van Halen Circa ‘78-’85 and instantly wished that I had taken the time to learn “Eruption” all the way through. It had all the articulation and dimension of Eddie’s ‘Brown’ sound with a real bite.
From Clean to Scream: The Tone King Reviews the Randall RT100
The Randall RT100 is a 100w 3-channel amp with real spring reverb. The first channel gives you anything from a sparkling clean to a high overdrive; the second gives mild grit to full saturation; and the third gives a full hi-gain tone.
What’s That In Your Pocket? Review of Electro-Harmonix (EHX) 22 Caliber Guitar Amp Head
Yep, it’s an amp that fits in your pocket. We know what you’re saying. “How does it sound?” Well, TheToneKing.com recently got our hands on the Electro-Harmonix 22 Caliber guitar amp, and we have to say: “It sounds pretty damn good.”
5 Guitar Builders You Need To Know!
At The Tone King, we’re always keeping tabs of the next big thing in the music industry. Sometimes the next big thing comes from a big name like Fender or Gibson, but sometimes it comes from guys who you wouldn’t necessarily recognize walking down the street. We love these guys because they are the guys who are moving against the grain and are in it for the love of the instrument rather than a fat bottom line. TheToneKing.com will keep watching these luthiers closely, hopefully before they get too big and don’t want to talk to us anymore.
