Please Step Here: Keeley Caverns V2

 Ask any guitar player and they will likely tell you the same thing: You need reverb and delay pedals on your pedal board. Not only are they versatile and you will likely hear both of the effects used from Pop and Blues, to Punk, Grunge, and Metal. A Majority of Guitar players will use Reverb in either an amplifier that has built in Reverb, or use a pedal while Delay is the most commonly used when you want to add some Ambience to a song. If you want to have individual pedals for each effect, there is that option, but Keeley Electronics have made the Caverns pedals to help save space on your board and have both effects in the same pedal.

Keeley Electronics, founded by Robert Keeley in 2001, has become known for high quality Boutique pedals along the same price range as JHS, Walrus, and Earthquaker Devices. A new company, but has picked up attention from many pedal enthusiast, guitar players including Eric Johnson and Dweezil Zappa, and recently announced some new pedals in collaboration with Andy Timmons. Maybe I will talk about those pedals, if I can get my hands on them. Let's get back to the Caverns though, because I love this pedal.

The Caverns V2 is not too different from the V1. The knobs are a little bigger and the artwork on it is different, but they keep the majority of the setting options and changed very little, so if you prefer the V1, good luck finding one on Reverb, because the V2 has officially replaced it on Retail stores that carry Keeley Electronics pedals.

For this test, I used both my Boss Katana 50 and Marshall DSL40C, and my most recently playthrough of the pedal was used with a Squier Contemporary HH Strat that has been modified with Seymour Duncan Pickups and a previously reviewed Gretsch Streamliner Centerblock.

The pedal is still available for $199 through a majority of retailers. Making it a little more affordable than it would if you bought 2 separate pedals, unless you were buying something from TC Electronics or Mooer. Which is an option, but it is worth the price.

The Caverns features individual on/off buttons for each effect, so if you want only Reverb or Delay, you can do that without any issue and they work very well by themselves. The Reverb side offers 4 control knobs (Blend, Warmth, Decay, and Rate) and a switch for Reverb Type (Shimmer, Spring, and Modulated). My experience with this has me going from a simple background Reverb that is subtle and works well with Fuzz and High Gain, to a crazy Ambient reverb you would hear on a 90's U2 album. The Delay side also having 4 control knobs (Blend, Time, Rate, and Repeats) and a Modulation selection switch (Off, Light, and Deep). Just like the Reverb side, this is very versatile, especially with how the Mod select switch works, making either crazy delays that can last for minutes on a single note to a subtle delay you would hear from someone like Mark Tremonti or Eddy Van Halen.

Overall, this is another pedal I have on my board and it replaced the Reverb in both of my amplifiers because of how much I loved how it sounds. If you want something for all of your ambience in a single pedal, this is definitely one worth checking out.

Pros:

- Individual effect controls

- Well priced

- Versatile

- All Metal Pedal box

Con:

- Slightly awkward placement of top mounted jacks towards the center of the pedal.

 

Southpaw Melody: Taylor GS Mini Mahogany

Founded in 1974, Taylor guitars are fairly young in the world of acoustic guitars (especially compared to Gibson and Martin), but they quickly made a name for themselves with high quality, comfortable, and great sounded acoustic guitars. While an American made guitar from them start around $2000 nowadays, they also feature Foreign built guitars from Mexico that run for a better price.

As far as they got for Left handed guitars, Taylor tends to keep it rather simple and offer only a few models for Left handed players. However, one of the the Mexican Made guitars stood out for me in particular and that is the GS Mini Mahogany guitar.

Introduced in 2019, the GS Mini line features 3 models: The Rosewood (with a Spruce Top), The Koa, and the Mahogany. All 3 having a standard acoustic and an acoustic/electric option, with the ability to buy the electronics separately if you are on a budget. 

While the Koa is also available left handed, I want to focus on the one I own, which is the Mahogany made version. This particular guitar features a Tropical Mahogany top, with Sapele (African Mahogany) back and sides, which makes is a guitar with more low end and sounds deeper compared to a Maple or Koa built acoustic. Best way to tell the difference is just by looking at it. Every model is distinct from the visuals alone. 

In regards to it being called the GS Mini, This is a slightly smaller guitar than a Parlor acoustic, but a little bigger than a Travel size acoustic and a similar shape to a Jumbo, giving it a distinct sound all of it's own. I do have to mention, I am a tall person (I am 6' 1"), but I found the guitar extremely comfortable to play and closure in size to what I like with my electric guitars. On top of that, it is a perfect size for traveling and fantastic tones.

With the most common guitars being scaled at 24.75" or 25.5", this guitar is at 23.5" and only a few will be able to even tell the difference. I have had no issues going from my Fender Strat, to my Gretsch Jet, and then to this. Playing this guitar was extremely easy to do.

It is priced at $599 for the standard acoustic version with the electrics available for $99. Sadly, it is not available to buy as an acoustic electric, but it is hard to get mad at it for having it optional and when the time comes, I will post an update on what I think of the electronic update.

Overall, Taylor really found some magic with this particular line and this guitar. Whether you are a young beginner, or a seasoned player wanting something for traveling, this is a go to acoustic. This has become not only a songwriting tool, but also a guitar that has gone traveling with me on more than 1 occasion and I plan to continuously use it. I recommend the GS Mini line for anyone looking for a new acoustic guitar.

Pros:

- Deep and rich tone from the wood

- Lightweight

- Comfortable to play

- Comes with Padded Gig Bag

Cons:

- Electronics do need to be purchased separately.

Crank It or Yank It: Boss Katana 50 Mk:II

 For anyone who is a fan of guitar pedals, BOSS is a company that needs no introduction. They have lead the way in making sturdy and affordable pedals used by both beginners and professionals throughout the years. However in 2016, when amp modeling started to really rise and get more attention outside of just the Line 6 Spider series of amps or the Roland Cube home practice amps, Boss Released the Katana series of solid state amplifiers that are not only on a budget, but also sound great. In 2019, they went a step beyond and created the MK:II series adding more versatility and sounds to the amp and continuing to dominate the world of amplifiers. Now the series has an amp Head, a mini version, two 100 Watt versions, an Artist version for touring acts, and what I am going to talk about today and one of the best selling amps in the market, the 50 watt combo.

Now, I have owned this amp since 2020 and have played my old Schecter Solo 6 standard in Drop C# tuning, as well as my Gretsch Streamliner Centerblock that I previously talked about, and many others back when I worked in retail selling guitars and amplifiers. No matter what I used on the amp, I always got a good sound out of it. The amp has 5 different amp settings, Acoustic (Which turns the amp into a Preamp for Acoustic/Electric guitars), Clean, Crunch, Lead, and Brown. Each setting adding more gain with the Brown Amp being the highest form of Gain and Distortion without using the effects. On top of that comes Volume and Gain knobs for adjusting, plus your standard, Bass, Mid, and Treble that you find on most amplifiers, and five extra knobs each one for designated Boost, Mod, FX, Delay, and Reverb. Each of these also come with additional buttons for selecting the different type of effect from the knob set up with three colors: Green, Yellow, and Red. For more versatility, the MK:II added a Variation button with the amp styles to add more tonal options to the amp type and gain setting by switching the voices on the amp with the button. 

With all this in mind is a Master Knob to also help tone shaping, and a wattage control for 50, 25, 0.5, or Standby mode for power from the amp. at 0.5 watts, this is a perfect bedroom practice amp that can be used without bothering anyone you live it and going up to 50, makes it possible to play with a drummer and get plenty of volume. Also added was a Power Amp port on the back, so you can add a Power amp and get even more volume out of it's 12 inch Speaker. The Standby mode keeps the speaker off, but with the headphone jack in the back of the amp, it keeps it perfectly quiet and you can play without anyone hearing you. 

Along with a standard Panel mode, are also 2 savable channels, where if you find a sound you want to go back to, just hold the button down until lights start to flash and it saves the setting you can go back to, until you save over it with something else.

With the USB port on the back, the amp can be plugged into a computer, accessing all the built in effects, further tune the sounds you want, and even record your own tracks, given you have the most up to date software. The Updates are free on the Boss Website for anyone that may need it in the future. This specific model runs for $269.99 via most retailers and it is also possible to get a demo model or a used one for a little less, but it is a lot of amp for not a lot of money.

While using this, I also put my pedal board in front of the amp and it accepted pedals far more than other Solid State amps I have used in the past, my experience being the Randall RX120, Marshall MC50, and Peavey Bandit. This even takes more aggressive sounding pedals like Fuzz and Distortion. Even using something as subtle as an EQ made a massive different. I was genuinely impressed by how well this amp took pedals.  

While a footswitch port in on the amp, the Footswitch is sold separately. So, keep that in mind, if you are looking to use the footswitch. The last thing to mention is while some beginner amps do have a built in tuner, this amp does not. It isn't a major thing with clip on tuners being so affordable, but some people might have an issue with it. There are some competitors that do offer it, but I always found those to be unreliable at times.

Overall, This is an easy amp to recommend to all players. You can go online and see a variety of Artist using them both at home or at shows. The Boss Katana has still been a top seller on Retail sites and stores even with some competition form other companies (EX. Line 6 Catalyst, Fender Champion, and Blackstar Silverline), but this is the easy one to recommend to beginners in terms of ease of use and volume. I'd say... Crank It!

Pros:

- Super Versatile

- Easy to pick up and move

- Good great at all volumes

- User Friendly

- Really nice visuals, with some options.

Cons:

- Footswitch Sold Separately

Southpaw Melody: Gretsch G2622LH Streamliner Centerblock Guitar

 If you have been involved in the world of instruments, you would instantly recognize the name Gretsch. Founded in 1883, making Banjos, Tambourines, and Drums, Gretsch is not only one of the oldest in the business, but are distinct in design, especially in the world of electric guitars. If you see one, you know what it is. Keeping a line of traditional guitars has been a major thing for them since electric guitars came into the market. So, in light of them celebrating 140 years as a company, I figured it is a good chance to talk about a lefty that is both great in price and quality. Only because, the anniversary models are only right handed.

Introduced in 2016, as an affordable line outside the Electromatic series, the Streamliner line of Gretsch is already a massive series for the company. Staying between $300-$600, it is a real deal for the quality you are getting at that price range. While they do offer a lot in the range, only one model is available for my fellow Left Handed guitar players, the G62622LH, and personally one of my favorite guitars in my collection.

Before anyone says anything, let me make this clear. No, this is not a guitar for Heavy Metal genres. However, do not dismiss it right away. Gretsch has a history working in most other genres, such as Blues, Jazz, Country, Classic Rock, even Grunge, Punk, and Post-Hardcore (Keely Davis from At The Drive In plays a right handed version of this model specifically). Unless you play only metal, do not dismiss this brand or these guitar, like I did a long time ago.

This is a Centerblock (aka Semi-Hollow) guitar, meaning the middle is solid wood, while the sides are hollow, making this a surprisingly versatile guitar. It is a Maple body, which if it was solid, would be very heavy, but the Centerblock design allows for it to be light weight and helps the wood give a nice bright sound throughout. The neck is made of Nato wood, which is a more affordable alternative to Mahogany, and a Laurel (affordable alternative to Rosewood) fretboard with Medium Jumbo Frets that is very comfortable to play with the neck shape being a thin "U" shape. To make it simpler, the neck is not as thin as you would find on something like an Ibanez RG, but it does have a bit of flatness on the back, making resting the thumb on it feel really nice. 

The electronics on the guitar features two Broad'tron Humbucker pickups (which works great for crunchy gains and fuzz), a 3 way selector switch, individual volume knobs for each pickup, a master tone knob, and (Gretsch's specialty) a master volume for both pickups. It sounds confusing, but it is not as tough as you think once you get the hang of it. Personally, I enjoy having the Master Volume where it is closer to the neck and in the bottom corner of the body to quickly adjust the volume as needed and have the main volume knobs set and ready to go with how I like the individual pickups to sound.

Unlike other brands that offer one or 2 finishes for lefties, Gretsch has been nice to offer it in 3 finishes, Gunmetal, Single Barrel Stain, and Torino Green (All pictured on the bottom). Variety is something that is greatly appreciated and helped push me to check out this guitar and eventually get one.

The versatility is crazy on this guitar, especially at the price. I got clean Jazz and Country sounds using either the Boss Katana 50 or the Marshall DSL40C, and even at a light gain setting able to get Blues, Pop, and even Punk sounds that remind me of old school Punk bands, like the Clash or Rancid, and on a lead setting with the gain at a low setting, the old school Grunge sound is fully present with very little feedback, which is common with Semi-Hollow guitars at any price. I love how the humbuckers, with the body shape and size takes pedals, even running heavy effects, like Fuzz and Chorus was not an issue for this guitar. Oh, I forgot to mention the price. 

It is $549. That is insane bang for the buck. However, at that price, it does not come with a case or a gig bag, so make sure you have a stand or safe place to put it until you can get one. I was able to get a Semi-hollow universal padded gig bag after it was purchased, so it was not an issue.

Overall: If you are looking for something versatile and at a great price, this is hard to beat. Out of the box, I had no issues with the setup and the setup didn't need to get redone until a couple years later (I had mine since 2019). Gretsch is known for consistency in their instruments and I personally encourage everyone to try any from the Streamliner line, but this particular model is my biggest go to guitar at the time of writing this article.

Pros:

- Versatile

- Lightweight

- Easy To Play

- Well Set up out of the box

Cons:

- Not for someone wanting to play Metal

Please Step Here: Maestro FZ-M fuzz pedal

 For any Music Historian, Maestro would be a name you probably remember. In 1962, The Maestro FZ-1 was one of the first pedals made for distribution and was famously used by Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones on the song, Satisfaction. In 1979, Maestro discontinued the pedal production and fell into the vault of other companies Gibson owned. In 2022, Gibson revived the Maestro name with a line of new pedals for today's musicians and while they all caught peoples attention, the one that stood out the most, was the FZ-M Fuzz pedal; A new fuzz pedal for fans of both a classic sounding fuzz or a new modern sound.

It has the same knobs and controls you would see on the classic FZ-1, Level, Tone, and Attack, as well as a Modern/Classic switch for more versatility. For the test, I used both a Boss Katana 50 and a Marshall DSL40C to see how it would do with both solid state and tube amps. Luckily, both amps sounded great with this pedal in front of the amps. I also used a Gretsch Electromatic Jet and a Schecter Solo 6 Standard tuned to Drop C# to see what it was able to do. To my surprise, the Modern/Classic switch works perfectly for getting that "Satisfaction" fuzz or going into Modern for more Punk or Doom vibes with lower tunings. I had a blast when I first got this pedal. I even went a little further and tried it on a Schecter Stilleto Extreme 4 string bass through an Ampeg Rocket 108 amp. If you want a great fuzz in a bass tone, this nails that too. I even went a step further and pluged headphones into both the Boss Katana and the Ampeg Rocket to see how it would sound through headphones and not an amp speaker. It sounded exactly the same, so getting the exact fuzz sound I wanted out of it was super easy, compared to others I have tried.

Not to mention it is in an all metal casing with the LED lights being next to the footswitch on the pedal showing nice and bright, but not enough to be distracting. these new Maestro pedals are built to be stepped on for gigs. It currently sells for $149.99 at retailers, so it is a little on the pricey side (but not as much as other Fuzz pedals this versatile), so it is reasonable and worth the value.

Overall: I personally have this pedal on my board set up in a way that blows minds when they hear it. This is a great pedal for players that are wanting to experiment with Fuzz or are just happy trying to get that classic fuzz sound from the 60s.

Pros:

- Easy to Use

- Sturdy Design

- Versatile

Cons:

- Pedal Design is not for everyone.

Introduction

Welcome, one and all, to the Guitar Room. I am DustyThePunk, and this is the blog where I let my guitar nerd side fully shine and share my thoughts on gear and do some written guides for anyone looking for anything new in the world of Guitar, Amplifiers, and Effects Pedals. 

Keep an eye out for my guitar reviews, Southpaw Melody (I am left handed, so all guitars I review will be available both Right Handed and Left handed), where I describe a specific guitar, talk about the process and what I did while demoing it, and share what I liked and what I disliked about the Instrument. This will including, Acoustic, Electric, and Bass guitars.

Along with that, is my Amplifier review, Crank It or Yank It, where I do the same for amplifiers. I will talk about the features the amp has, talk about what I used when I tested it, and share my thoughts on the amp while making a guess as to what kind of player would enjoy it.

Lastly, my Pedal review, Please Step Here. I will go into specific pedals in terms of design, history, and my feelings when I tested it. This is the biggest one, as pedals are usually more affordable than guitars and amps, and both beginners and professionals always keep an eye out for effect pedals. I will also go into what guitars and amps I use when I am testing the pedal to decide how versatile and effective it is.

I will officially be posting after the 2022 Holidays and the goal is to have the first official post coming in the first week of 2023, for anyone who only gets money for Christmas.

KEEP ROCKIN!!!!