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.
NAMM 2014: Blackstar ???
I’m hoping that if I say Blackstar’s name enough times, they’ll give me a hint as to what in the hell they have planed for NAMM 2014. I’ve got reporting to do, man, and I can’t report on question marks!
Barrier Buster: TheToneKing.com Takes a Look at Peavey’s AT-200 Auto-Tune Guitar
Peavey had a choice to make. Do it the same way as everyone else, or do it their own way and really bring Auto-Tune technology to the next level at half the price.
Elegant Design: Jeff Diamant of DBZ/Diamond Guitars Talks About a Great Year and What’s Next
Most will scream in the face of innovation. Even subtle changes can scare some players, but many of us recognize that these changes are refinements that ultimately can create more elegant and playable instruments. And, that’s why DBZ/Diamond Guitars keeps moving forward. It’s been over a year since we here at TheToneKing.com talked to […]
Is Analog Dead?
If you’ve been following, you might’ve noticed that most of my articles lately have been of the what-ever-happened-to variety. That’s because the world of music is in a strange place for me. I’m old enough to remember a time when music took up tangible physical space on my shelf in the form of tapes, records, […]
The King of Tubes: Peter Watson and PM Tubes Make Their Way to US Shores
MJ for TheToneKing.com Peter Watson has been internationally known for designing quality tubes for over thirty years with his company PM Tubes. PM Tubes can be found in the biggest tube amps on the market, including: Marshall, Orange, Diamond, and Hi Watt. His strict quality standards and innovative designs have made him known as an […]
Lace up for Hysteria: The Media Gins up Hysteria over Lacey Act
Ever since the Gibson factories were raided, and then raided again, questions about how the Lacey Act is going to affect the guitar industry have been running rampant in music media outlets. TheToneKing.com wanted to take a closer look at the implications of this law and how the media seems to be going crazy train over it.
Retail Dysfunction: 3 Ways Retailers Try to Cure Purchase Anxiety
Basically, this unnamed retailer sent a letter to manufacturers, telling them to stick their MAP pricing models up their collective asses.
Where in the World?
Want to know where your guitars will be coming from and what the future of US guitar manufacturing is? Well, you’re not the only one.
50 Shades of Mascara: How ‘80’s Rock Never Really Went Away
The History was that the ‘80’s were a good ole rockin’ time until Grunge came along and told ‘80’s hair metal to find a quiet place to die. Now, more than 20 years later, bands like Mötley Crüe are some of the biggest grossing acts out there. How did they rise from the dead? Were they even dead to begin with?
A New Path: Peavey VYPYR VIP Series
Peavey has been on the forefront of guitar innovation since 1965. Peavey’s VYPYR VIP Series Modeling Amplifier gives players so many options that the only limitations they have are their own imaginations. Recently, TheToneKing.com had a chance to take the VYPYR VIP for a test drive to see what players have to look forward to from the innovators from Peavey.
