Dipped In Tone

Dipped in Tone

Rhett Shull and Zach Broyles combine their music and gear industry knowledge for this weekly podcast. Together they discuss news, talk gear, debunk myths, and much more. read less

Looking For Inspiration? Try Getting Some New Gear
3d ago
Looking For Inspiration? Try Getting Some New Gear
On this episode, Rhett and Zach discuss the relationship that they each have with the guitar at this point in their careers. Making a living doing the thing you love is great—in fact, it’s something that so many players aspire to. But it changes the relationship between player and instrument when the instrument is a source of work. How do they stay excited about their work? And how do they get excited when they’re in a lull? What keeps their creativity flowing? These are big questions, but our hosts are both having their own renaissances with their guitars. And—surprise!—it’s because they’ve both come into some new key pieces of gear.Zach reports that he has been rippin’ totally sweet Metallica licks on his sick new ESP LTD Kirk Hammett Signature Series KH-602. He’s a longtime fan of the band—and has conveniently fallen back in love with Kill ’Em All and Ride the Lightning—and says he’s wanted a Hammett signature guitar for his entire guitar-playing life. When he saw this one at Nashville’s Guitars To Be Played, he fell in love with everything, from the skull and crossbones fret markers to the Floyd Rose. And you know what? The Floyd Rose isn’t hard to set up. This guitar, Zach says, is kickstarting his “love of the guitar again.”Meanwhile, Rhett has been enjoying his new Soldano SLO-100 head and matching 4x12 cabinet, even if he does keep the cab a few flights below his control room. He’s stoked about the story of Soldano, who he admires for being one of the early boutique amp builders, and has been playing this new 100-watter all week.When it’s time to dip a rig, it’s hard to find any faults. No spoilers, but it’s a nice one (and an easy gig load).And in the shill zone, Zach talks about the importance of running a brown box for owners of older amps and talks briefly about the difference between the Brown Box and a Variac.Subscribe, like, and leave us a commentSign up on our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/iaCee5Support us on Patreon for access to our discord server and other perks! https://www.patreon.com/dippedintoneMERCH: https://teespring.com/stores/dipped-in-toneFollow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dippedintone Dipped in Tone is:Rhett Shull  https://www.rhettshull.com/Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals  https://mythospedals.comPremier Guitar https://www.premierguitar.com/
Andy Powers' Lessons in Tonewoods
May 22 2023
Andy Powers' Lessons in Tonewoods
The new DIT episode kicks off as Rhett and Zack celebrate Zack’s close encounter with special effects mogul Adam Savage, of Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Matrix, and Tested fame. (Nerd alert: Zack and his wife have Ghostbusters uniforms—which they wore that day. There’s a photo. Take a screenshot it in case you need to blackmail him later.) Rhett talks about the first single from his latest band, Good Trouble, who now have a YouTube channel. The dynamic duo also gives a seasonal warning about guitar maintenance. And then it’s time for the main event: Andy Powers, CEO and chief guitar designer of Taylor Guitars.The SoCal native—and surfer—Powers provides his backstory in guitar design and building, starting with his hobbyist-musician parents and their friends. His first build … exploded, but he’s done considerably better since! By the time he was a teenager, he was building and selling guitars on his own, as well as doing repairs for local music shops. But even before that, he’d gotten in trouble with the IRS for making too much money as a luthier. Later, van life, as a touring player, didn’t satisfy him, but after he graduated college he already had a two-to-three-year waiting list of guitar orders. From there, it was a short twist of luck—and multiple encounters with company founder Bob Taylor—that brought him to Taylor Guitars.Powers also addresses conservatism in guitar design, and how to break the cycle while participating in the tradition. And yes, he dives into the tonewood controversy …. and tells a “basic truth” about guitars: neck woods and shapes do matter. As do personal touches, including the occasional crack in a top … and the bumper sticker covering it! Andy also comments on the difference between acoustic and electric players, and notes that “some of the best acoustic guitar sounds I’ve ever heard start with a microphone.” Powers observes: “It’s pretty easy to go down those rabbit holes.” And these guys do! Especially when they talk how to get to best live acoustic guitar tone. And the grand finale: Andy, Rhett, and Zack dip a rig … and explain duplex scaling.00:18 Zach Met Adam Savage04:37 Noah Guthrie and Good Trouble Update10:36 Andy Powers joins the show!12:38 How did Andy Powers get started building guitars?24:18 Advice to people starting their careers30:22 How do you design something new? 35:07 Tonewoods. You knew it was coming. 41:15 A story about tonewoods44:46 What are you missing in your acoustic rig? 53:05 Tips for getting a good live acoustic sound58:41 Will Taylor ever make a pedal? 1:06:27 Andy dips a rigBig thanks to StewMac for sponsoring this episode. Head to http://stewmac.com/dippedintone to get 10% off!Subscribe, like, and leave us a commentSign up on our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/iaCee5Support us on Patreon for access to our discord server and other perks! https://www.patreon.com/dippedintoneMERCH: https://teespring.com/stores/dipped-in-toneFollow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dippedintone Dipped in Tone is:Rhett Shull  https://www.rhettshull.com/Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals  https://mythospedals.comPremier...
Are Today's Pedals Too Weird?
May 8 2023
Are Today's Pedals Too Weird?
Rhett and Zach are rolling old school. No guests today, just our two hosts, chatting about all things gear and tone. Today, the guys are talking about modern pedals.These days, pedals are getting weirder and more complicated than we could have ever imagined, even just a few years ago, as loads of new models draw inspiration from modular synthesis, drum machines, and big leaps in technology.Some pedals make things more complicated—with buttons on buttons, operating systems that need updates, and user interfaces that are both unique and sometimes confusing—while others may help you simplify your rig—imagine a distortion pedal with an LFO that might replace your need for a separate tremolo unit. Basically, there are few limits on what you can do with a pedalboard if you’re willing to do a deep dive. And if you can’t find a pedal that does what you want, it might be on the way.But our hosts have differing opinions. Rhett is down to do a deep dive on options, while Zach likes to keep things a little simpler. They suss out their differences and share their own takes, with shout-outs to Chase Bliss, Beetronics, Acorn, and Intensive Care Audio. They also discuss what they think is coming next in pedal and guitar design, and what they’d like to see come along (guitars using control voltage, please).Later, they dip a rig based around a cool Eastman that catches Rhett’s eye, and a Line 6 HX Effects. With key pieces from Fender, Gibson, Boss, and more, what could be improved?In shill mode, Zach hypes his Two-Rock Joey Landreth head, and Rhett is all-in on his Chase Bliss Mood.Rhett and Zach want to know which guests you’d like to see! Post your requests in the comments on YouTube to help them brainstorm future episodes.01:12 Zach Gets to Met His Hero02:49 Positron Collider 03:52 Update on Rhett's Studio Build and New Music05:05 A Challenge?06:45 Are Guitar Pedals Getting Too Weird?09:10 Mythos' New Chorus Prototype09:41 Josh Smith's POLY Overdrive11:42 Empress ZOIA31:45 Chase Bliss Mood MkII39:14 Beetronics40:02 Acord Solid State41:50 Intensive Care Audio Fideleater42:10 Westerland Boost42:57 Final Thoughts on Weird Pedals47:55 Time to Dip a Rig58:07 Shill of the WeekBig thanks to StewMac for sponsoring this episode. Head to http://stewmac.com/dippedintone to get 10% off!Subscribe, like, and leave us a commentSign up on our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/iaCee5Support us on Patreon for access to our discord server and other perks! https://www.patreon.com/dippedintoneMERCH: https://teespring.com/stores/dipped-in-toneFollow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dippedintone Dipped in Tone is:Rhett Shull  https://www.rhettshull.com/Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals  https://mythospedals.comPremier Guitar https://www.premierguitar.com/
NAMM 2023 Recap with Danish Pete Honoré
Apr 21 2023
NAMM 2023 Recap with Danish Pete Honoré
"There's no money in non-diatonic notes!"—a validating cheeky word to the minor-pentatonic shredder guests at NAMM. In this ep, Rhett and Zach sit down with "Danish Pete" Honoré to talk NAMM highlights, geek out on Pete's new Chapman T-style signature guitar—it has a neck profile based on a 3D scan of his favorite—and discuss maintaining integrity in gear review videos.One of the best parts of NAMM is the industry community it assembles, and in the absence of the full-fledged convention the past few years, that sure has been missed. Danish Pete's puckish personality adds to the fun as the three guys get into other topics like Zounds Industries' acquirement of Marshall, various amp favorites, and the sea of purple guitars found at the convention. That's all after Pete shares that he no longer cries in the shower over the demands of his 25-year touring career (sometimes, he wishes he played more non-diatonic notes). Stay positive, Pete!Big thanks to StewMac for sponsoring this episode. Head to http://stewmac.com/dippedintone to get 10% off!Subscribe, like, and leave us a commentSign up on our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/iaCee5Support us on Patreon for access to our discord server and other perks! https://www.patreon.com/dippedintoneMERCH: https://teespring.com/stores/dipped-in-toneFollow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dippedintone Dipped in Tone is:Rhett Shull  https://www.rhettshull.com/Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals  https://mythospedals.comPremier Guitar https://www.premierguitar.com/
Sadler Vaden vs. Tube Screamers
Apr 3 2023
Sadler Vaden vs. Tube Screamers
Rhett returns from Europe to chat with “guitar player’s guitar player” Sadler Vaden of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. The trio jump right into their takes on the whole Bad Monkey saga, then dig into a detailed interview about how a Crazy Horse concert changed Sadler’s life, some tips for guitarists (spoiler alert: rhythm guitar is important!), and they discuss the band’s upcoming release, Weathervanes, unpacking the writing and recording process.When the conversation turns to gear (you knew it was coming), Sadler answers questions about his gig rig, shouts out his favorite guitar stores to hit up on tour, and then it’s time to dip a rig (cue the Tube Screamer Talk).Along the way, we find out if Oasis is really Sadler’s favorite band and what kind of U2 concert he really wants to see (hey Bono and Edge, you guys listening?), and talks about what it was like to see Prince live (and how far he drove).Finally, Rhett shares the improbable story of his newest acquisition, a Tascam 388.Thanks to Sweetwater for sponsoring this episode.Head to http://sweetwater.com/dippedintone to enter to win one of 2 rigs hand-picked by Rhett and Zach! Giveaway ends May 21, 2023Sadler Links: https://www.sadlervaden.comhttps://www.jasonisbell.comIsbell Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op-EEnArgqcSubscribe, like, and leave us a commentSign up on our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/iaCee5Support us on Patreon for access to our discord server and other perks! https://www.patreon.com/dippedintoneMERCH: https://teespring.com/stores/dipped-in-toneFollow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dippedintone Dipped in Tone is:Rhett Shull  https://www.rhettshull.com/Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals  https://mythospedals.comPremier Guitar https://www.premierguitar.com/
How to Get the Gig!
Jan 30 2023
How to Get the Gig!
Wondering how to join a band and get some sweet gigs? Then this ep’s for you. Rhett and Zach share their advice, from how to get in front of audiences and make more connections—if it’s all about who you know, how do you get to know the right people? And how do you impress them enough to hire you?—to the skills you’ll need to hone to get the job done. Sure, knowing your way around your instrument is really important, but it’s not just about scales, arpeggios, and chord voicings. And different gigs—cover bands, wedding bands, singer/songwriters—require different skills. (Hint: Know how to get a good sound out of the gear you already have!) Bad gig stories—from unappreciative wedding guests, to festivals who serve all beer and no water, to playing in the rain and getting all your stuff covered in mud—are just part of the fun, because all experience is valuable, at least in the beginning, and Rhett tells the story of how a single bad gig led to a wealth of connections and opportunity that landed him here today.Along the way, the duo dip Patreon supporter Ryan Paterson’s vintage plus Strymon rig—dig that 1959 Gibson ES-345—and they pay their respects to the recently departed Jeff Beck and David Crosby. Plus, Rhett shows off the mystery amp (“a tweed amp on steroids”) he just bought, but he needs your help to figure out where it came from. Who built this thing? If you know, drop him a line!Thanks to Sweetwater for sponsoring this video. Click this link to head to the Guitar Gallery: https://imp.i114863.net/QOB7Z9Subscribe, like, and leave us a commentSign up on our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/iaCee5Support us on Patreon for access to our discord server and other perks! https://www.patreon.com/dippedintone Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dippedintoneProduced by Jason ShadrickDipped in Tone is:Rhett Shull https://www.rhettshull.com/Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals https://mythospedals.comPremier Guitar https://www.premierguitar.com/#guitarpodcast #dippedintone #electricguitar
Chris Shiflett Strikes Back!
Dec 19 2022
Chris Shiflett Strikes Back!
​This edition of Dipped In Tone has a great guest—Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett, but … wait! There’s more! Hosts Rhett Shull and Zach Broyles tackle a pressing question: What band has recorded the most songs that you—and they—first learned on guitar? The Beatles, Foo Fighters, Metallica, Nirvana, Zeppelin, the Stones....? Who gets your vote? Also, Zach opens the mail, and it’s a box of Hotwound Dual-Rail single-coil-sized humbuckers for his 1982 Strat (with a vintage Floyd Rose) from Dipped In Tone sponsors Stew-Mac. (If you’re looking to update, mod, or build a pedal, guitar, or amp, check out stewmac.com/dippedintone for a 10-percent discount.) More important, Shiflett steps up to the plate to respond to Rhett and Zach’s “aggressive critique” of his recent Premier Guitar Rig Rundown. But before that, he joins the host in dipping a rig—submitted by courageous DIT Patreon member Rob F., who has been playing a little over a year. His rig: a hot-rodded and Plecked Squier Affinity, an Orange Dark Micro 20, two 2x12 Zilla cabs, and a pedalboard with a JHSJ Series Fuzz, a Wampler Tumnus Deluxe, a PolyTune, and a Lehle splitter to switch between Orange and Joyo heads, plus a JHS attenuator. The verdict? Listen to find out. What else? Chris tells a story about his older brother’s full stack, which became his first band’s PA. Then it’s time for him to share his thoughts on Zach and Rhett’s critique. And to talk about the new Foo Fighters rig he’s having developed—with MIDI-triggered scene changes, an off-stage switcher, and more goodies. He also talks about his current 4x12 Vox cabinets, and how one got a hole burned in its grille cloth by the Foos’ stage lasers. He also discusses about his trust issues, the Strymon Deco, his classic Les Paul Custom, vintage gear, his solo rig, and his upcoming solo album recorded in Nashville … and takes questions from listeners. Be on the watch for the next DIT in early January.Get 10% off from StewMac when you visit stewmac.com/dippedintoneSubscribe, like, and leave us a commentSign up on our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/iaCee5Support us on Patreon for access to our discord server and other perks! https://www.patreon.com/dippedintoneMERCH: https://teespring.com/stores/dipped-in-toneFollow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dippedintoneProduced by Jason ShadrickDipped in Tone is:Rhett Shull  https://www.rhettshull.com/Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals
Our Gear of the Year!
Dec 5 2022
Our Gear of the Year!
A Boss RE-202 Space Echo … on a vocal mix? A hot pink overdrive, treble boost, and echo in one pedal named SusMaryOsep—a word Filipino mothers shout at troublesome children? An Artificial Blonde—with hat’s off to Madison Cunningham—that’s a slightly pitched vibrato? Line 6’s Catalyst modeling amp—sexy or not? Amp plugins from Neural DSP and Line 6? Tone King’s royal-sounding Imperial MkII and Soldano’s SLO-30? Metallica in a box (Caroline Guitar Company’s Crom)? A Pigtronix Star Eater fuzz that looks like a wild berry Pop Tart? And have you seen the new Empress Para EQ and Origin Effects’ M-EQ Driver? Hosts Rhett Shull and Zach Broyles run down their top gear of the year. Plus, dueling Les Pauls and the eternal question: to refret or not to refret. And is a bone nut really better than nylon? And what’s a Dutchburst, anyway? Tired of questions? Well, Rhett and Zach also talk post-Thanksgiving turkey. And Zack tells about his 6-string family reunion with his first guitar and flashes the new Mythos Pedals Hephaestus, named for the Greek god of blacksmithing. What else? (Sorry, that’s another question!) Rhett opens up a box of spankin’ new pickups from Stew-Mac, and they discuss the online screeds and screeches trailing their conversation about tone woods with Paull Reed Smith in the previous episode. And yes, they do dip a rig, submitted for dissection by “Dipped in Tone” listener Kenny, whose ’90s rock setup—with stitched-rose guitar straps—sparks yet another argument about the merits of the Tube Screamer and the virtues of the Phase 90 and Phase 45 versus the Small Stone.Big thanks to StewMac for sponsoring this episode. Head to http://stewmac.com/dippedintone to get 10% off!Subscribe, like, and leave us a commentSign up on our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/iaCee5Support us on Patreon for access to our discord server and other perks! https://www.patreon.com/dippedintoneMERCH: https://teespring.com/stores/dipped-in-toneFollow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dippedintone Dipped in Tone is:Rhett Shull  https://www.rhettshull.com/Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals  https://mythospedals.comPremier Guitar https://www.premierguitar.com/
Paul Reed Smith Ends the Tonewood Debate
Nov 21 2022
Paul Reed Smith Ends the Tonewood Debate
Paul Reed Smith drops in to dip a rig and unpack the facets of tone—and why he unwound—and destroyed—a set of $10k vintage Fender pickups. Plus, all the fun stuff: What’s it like working with John Mayer? Does Santana’s guitar sound like a tenor sax? Why does David Grissom need every PRS on a music-store wall to play great? And the dudes argue over the big question: What’s better a cheap guitar and an expensive amp, or an expensive guitar and a cheap amp?Big thanks to StewMac for sponsoring this episode. Head to http://stewmac.com/dippedintone to get 10% off!8:20 Shill of the Week14:49 Paul Reed Smith Interview16:59 Paul Dips a Rig (Kinda)29:04 I Can't Afford a Real Marshall, Paul32:27 The HDRX Amp and Old Marshalls38:44 Seriously, do tonewoods even matter? 47:35 What does Paul look for in a piece of wood?50:56 How do you make a good guitar great? 53:20 Paul talks about how PRS is making saddles better59:18 The Silver Sky SE1:04:58 The magic of a 1963 Stratocaster1:10:30 Expensive guitar or expensive amp? 1:20:28 We get the PRS nod1:22:07 What PRS should you start with?Subscribe, like, and leave us a commentSign up on our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/iaCee5Support us on Patreon for access to our discord server and other perks! https://www.patreon.com/dippedintoneMERCH: https://teespring.com/stores/dipped-in-toneFollow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dippedintone Dipped in Tone is:Rhett Shull  https://www.rhettshull.com/Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals  https://mythospedals.comPremier Guitar https://www.premierguitar.com/
Dipped in Nerdville with Joe Bonamassa
Oct 31 2022
Dipped in Nerdville with Joe Bonamassa
10:19 We Dip Chris Shiflett’s Rig!25:00 Zach’s New Pedal28:29 Joe Bonamassa Live from NerdvilleBig thanks to StewMac for sponsoring this episode. Head to http://stewmac.com/dippedintone to get 10% off!Go see Joe's Dumbles in person: https://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/ Dipped In Tone begins its partnership with Premier Guitar with Rhett Shull and Zack Broyles visiting Joe Bonamassa in Nerdville East, his Nashville home and museum. They talk vintage gear, guitar obsession, innovation versus tradition, and Dumbles. Many Dumbles … including a rare—even among these ultra-rare custom-built amps—example with a DI port for acoustic guitar made for the late songwriter Hoyt Axton. Bonamassa also explains his philosophy about taking guitars worth hundreds of thousands of dollars on the road and to local gigs, and what the future holds in store for his collection of 500 instruments—every one with a story. Also, our hosts “dip” Chris Shiflett’s rig, offering the Foo Fighters guitarist a few “pointers” on rebuilding his massive pedalboard while ogling his refinished 1957 Les Paul and his custom-built Telecaster called “the Cleaver.” But before they dive deep, Schull shows off his recently acquired 1989 R9 Les Paul from Norm’s Rare Guitars, and Broyles shows off the new super-Muff style Positron Cascading Amplifier Distortion.Subscribe, like, and leave us a commentSign up on our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/iaCee5Support us on Patreon for access to our discord server and other perks! https://www.patreon.com/dippedintoneMERCH: https://teespring.com/stores/dipped-in-toneFollow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dippedintone Dipped in Tone is:Rhett Shull  https://www.rhettshull.com/Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals  https://mythospedals.comPremier Guitar https://www.premierguitar.com/