Once again, its been a while since my last post. Super busy start to 2015. Lots of changes going on and many improvements to the course material happening all the time.
I have added some of the great testimonials sent to my by current CGL students and made some other updates in the website so make sure you go and check it out!
Over and out
I have started the process of getting some videos together for students to use as a visual aid along with there lesson sheets. This one was great fun, a little cover of ‘Come over’ by Royal Blood. Played on a Joe Trohman Squier Tele through a Backstair HT5C amp that is now used for lessons at Trevada music.
Check it out!
Here is my new pedal board from Sgt Peppers Custom Pedal boards. This is a custom board made in the UK by John Bingham.
My board is Fender tweed board with 4 neutriks jacks, two for input and output and for the effects loop on my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe iii. It also has a kettle lead input to connect my voodoo labs power plus 2 supply to.
Im hoping that the pedals that will go on this board will give me an amazing working setup that will work for lessons as well as for gigging. It’s all taken a lot of time researching difference leads, pedals and power supply’s to start getting the final board together which should be finished in the next three weeks.
In the meantime go and check out ‘Pepper pedal boards’ on facebook to see some of the great boards John is putting together.
Pics of the final board will be coming soon 😉
So for once I have not been out buying new guitar pedals, but instead have very kindly been lent these Joyo guitar pedals to try out by one of my students dads.
I currently own a Joyo ‘Us dream’ and ‘Pocket metal’ which both sound amazing. It’s not only the sound of this pedals that is great but also the price, Joyo pedals are generally priced between £22 (on ebay new) and £30. They sound great and don’t break the bank balance.
I have only briefly tried these pedals but am very impressed. The ‘vintage overdrive’ is a clone of my favourite pedal of all time, the ‘Ibanez tubescreamer – TS808’. The ‘sweet baby overdrive’ is a clone of the ‘Mad Professor – Sweet Honey’. I have yet to try the original Mad Professor but I’m very impressed with the ‘Sweet Honey’. I need to do a little more experimenting, but overall I would definitely recommend them to a fellow electric guitar player.
Detailed reviews coming very soon 🙂
It’s been a great start to 2014 with lesson slots filling up very quickly. Truro is now pretty much fully booked apart from a slot between 8-9pm on Wednesday eve and 6:30 on a Friday evening. As I am often booked fore functions gigs on a Friday this slot wouldn’t be available every week.
I still have a few slots available at Trevada music in Camborne throughout the week on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday so please email info@cornwallguitarlessons.co.uk for more information.
Marshall amps were kind enough to send Cornwall Guitar Lessons some Marshall posters, stickers and brochures for CGL students. If you would like to take any of the FREE Marshall goodies home just ask in your next guitar lesson.
Thanks Marshall amps 🙂
Here is the first Guitar pedal review of 2014! This times it’s the Boss CS3. I will start with a little info on this pedal, as many people are completely lost when it comes to Compressor pedals.
The Boss CS3 is to be used with an electric guitar; its main function is to compress the high signals and boost the low signals within your sound, helping you create sustain. The compression basically evens out your playing making notes appear to be at equal volumes regardless of how hard you attack the string. This makes it a great pedal for Funk and Country players trying to create an even and rounded sound.
The make up of the CS-3 Compression is pretty straightforward, with just four knobs that each control a different aspect of your sound. On the far right to left you have Level, Tone, Attack, Sustain, you could mess around with this pedal for hours creating different sounds. The build of the pedal is the usual Boss tank job, very sturdy and made to last. I have always liked this design as you can hit it as hard as you want when gigging and you know your not going to break it.
Price wise, this pedal is not to bad, generally costing around £65-£70 and around £35-£45 on EBay. There are a huge amount of pedals in the same price range on the market now, some even cheaper than this. But the Boss brand goes a long way! Which makes it a lot easier to sell if you don’t get on with it.
So what did I think of the pedal? Well I found it very hard to work with to be honest, I bought it on the off chance that it would sit nicely on my board and it would be an essential member of my pedal collection.
At first I loved it and thought it sounded amazing, and I felt it improved my overall guitar tone, but it did seem to create a slight hum which I couldn’t get rid off when being used with other pedals. I am a big fan of my Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face and this combined with the Boss CS3 just sounded a mess, It also sounded made my Bad Monkey overdrive sound a little muddy. I am not saying this isn’t a good pedal; it just didn’t work for the sounds I want to create. After trying it on a daily basis for over a week I decided it just wasn’t for me, and I put it back into the world of EBay and spent the money on a new pedal ☺
Overall I think the pedal was pretty great, I just struggled to find a purpose for it within the music I enjoy playing. I will continue to look for a Compression pedal that works for me; I have heard great things about the MXR dyna comp, so watch this space.
So guys and gals, a quick update on my availability at Trevada music. I am currently teaching there on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
I have some scattered slots available on both Thursday and Saturday. At the minute Tuesday is fully booked, but if this is the most suitable day for you then please get in touch to go on the CGL waiting list.
For more information on the exact slots that are available please contact info@cornwallguitarlessons or Darren on 07970 365020
Happy New Year everyone, I hope you had an amazing night wherever you were and whatever you got up to, hopefully your heads aren’t to sore today!
I brought the new year in playing cover songs at The Carbis Bay hotel, despite waking up hangover free due to driving I am aching after a 3 hour set and lifting a lot of gear in and out, otherwise my head would be as bad as many others today.
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who had lessons with Cornwall Guitar Lessons in 2013, it was a great year and it’s been a pleasure to meet every one of you. I will be starting back at Trevada music in Camborne on Tuesday 7th and in Truro on the 8th.
I’m looking forward to spreading the word of Cornwall Guitar lessons throughout 2014 and seeing some old and new faces. Enjoy your New Years Day.
Darren
It’s nearly Christmas and I have now stopped teaching guitar for the holidays. Its been a great month for Cornwall Guitar lessons and a brilliant way to end the year. I am still available to take calls and answer emails over the Christmas period and gift vouchers are still available to buy through the CGL website. Enjoy the build up to Christmas folks 🙂
Cornwall Guitar Lessons 