All the kids want to know about Matt Bellamy’s rig.

“What’s in the rig? Can I get one of those guitars? How do I build a KAOSS pad into my guitar? Did I ask what’s in the rig?” Crazy kids.

Well, wonder no longer (well, about the rig at least – the KAOSS might need a bit more planning).  Dunlop’s channel on YouTube has an interview with Jason Baskin, Bellamy’s guitar tech.  It concentrates more on the rig and effects and, if you’ve an interest in getting a Musey sound, you might find it interesting.  It would certainly have been nice to see more of the instruments made for Bellamy by Hugh Manson bit this still has some

Here, take a look-see and then head over and take a look at the Dunlop channel.

Honestly.

Here, just have a read of the blurb:

…The Dunlop Volume Pedal features a patent pending Steel Band Drive that creates a low-friction environment with no strings or ratchet gears attached – allowing you to achieve thick, luscious volume swells in one smooth motion without the fear of breaking. With fully adjustable tension and high-quality low-noise electronic components, the sound is as clean and transparent as the feel is smooth. Housed in a lightweight but durable aluminum chassis, the pedal features a rocker pedal that is slightly curved for ergonomics, with an aggressive non-slip tread that keeps your foot firmly in place.

While we’re not completely sure about language like ‘thick and luscious’, we are pleased to see a clever development in getting a volume pedal that works well.  The steel band drive sounds like a fine ‘step’ forward (ha! I made a foot pedal joke).

Electro-Harmonix have introduced the Deluxe Memory Boy analogue delay pedal.  And it’s got a tap-tempo footswitch to allow more accurate sync with your songs.

There’s also an expression pedal input to allow fine-tuned external control and you’ve got a choice of five note divisions for metronomic variances.

A quick look at the specs from EHX reveals:

• Tap Tempo
• Tap Divide timing subdivisions
• Expression pedal input for flexible control
• Triangle and square wave modulation with adjustable rate and depth for superior chorus, vibratos and sweeps
• Total analog bucket brigade design
• Built in EFX loop
• Total Analog bucket brigade design

Here, have a look at a video demo.  Sweet.

Lovepedal has released a new line of mini-pedals.  These are a range of diminutive little die-cast aluminium stomp boxes that should be possible to squeeze into even the most crowded pedalboard.

First up is the AMP 50.  It’s a compact version of Lovepedal’s Church Of Tone series but its been modified for cleaner tonnes at the lower gain levels and dirtier at higher levels.  In this way it can function as a clean or dirty boost as well as an overdrive or even a fuzz-box depending on guitar, amp and settings.  The AMP 50 can be bought online from Lovepedal’s site for $129.

Next in line is the ECHO Baby.  Lovepedal say that it’s a warm, studio-quality delay with up to 760ms delay time.  The pedal features a ‘Dynamic Modulation Mode’, activated by holding the bypass down for two seconds.  What this means is that the rate and depth are automatically adjusted as you adjust delay time – as you decrease the delay time, modulation speed and depth are slightly increased.  When you exit Modulation Mode, the settings are saved for next time.  ECHO Baby costs $219.

The, wonderfully named, Pickle Vibe is the Lovepedal stop for Uni-Vibe vibe. Lovepedal claim the same big, lush vibes of the Uni-Vibe without this being a ‘copy’. As well as the big, single knob (that it shares with its siblings), the Pickle Vibe has an internal trim pot to set intensity level in a set-it-and-forget-it sort of manner.  Obviously enough, that big chicken-head handles speed.  Get Pickled for $139.

Lovepedal has also considered the practical as well as the fun.  To that end, they’ve produced a Line Driver Mini Buffer to help prevent signal loss that may result from long cable runs or bundles of effect units in your signal line.  Not so groovy as a purple Pickle Vibe but certainly useful, the Line Driver Mini Buffer can be yours for $129.

More info and videos of the pedals in action over at Lovepedal.

Over at Effects Bay, they’re giving away a stomp-box.

Check it out.  It’s the SubDecay F-Bomb fuzz pedal and you can win it.  To make the offer even more tempting, its a prototype pedal you’ll get.  The normal F-Bomb is in a green enclosure but this one, with a serial number of 0001, is splendidly colourful.

Want to read a bit about it?  Course you do.

SubDecay say (among other things):

The F-Bomb is for dirty filthy rock tone. Gear is not furniture or artifacts meant to be kept in a glass case. So plug in your guitar. Turn everything on your amp to ten and rip the knobs off. Then turn on the F-Bomb and get ready to have some fun.

Now, doesn’t that sound fun?  All you have to do to be in with a chance to win the F-Bomb is to pop over to Effects Bay and tell them what your favourite riff is.  It’s that simple, really.

Off you go then.