BACK TO BASICS

“I can’t speak for anyone else, but the lockdown months have changed my approach to the guitar: I’ve come out the other end with a definite lessis-more approach. The first casualty of this new mindset was my pedalboard. Instead, I strapped on my Les Paul, plugged straight into my amp and clipped on a headstock tuner. “Of course,working like this puts extra focus on your volume and tone controls (not to mention your amp!). I’ve always used them, but with no solo boost I now need to make the guitar do everything. I’m winding the volume way down for my cleaner rhythm tones, so I can edge it up a little for more crunch – then full up for maximum bluster. The tone control needs to earn its living, too. “When you think about it, those four potentiometers that’ll cost you under 30 quid are pretty important. And that might mean a bit of experimentation in values and tapers. Check out next issue’s Mod Squad for more thoughts on those! Liberating times.”