Today on the Tweed Couch we are counseling on “Buying and Selling”. Although the people on this podcast probably think of Jason and I as buyers only, we do sell as well. After 25 years of buying and selling in person and online the stories have racked up and today we will need a whole lot of group therapy to get over it! But how is the current guitar market? Is it better to buy and sell online? Which platform is the best? Would you rather buy and sell with a friend? Are trades okay? What good an...
Apr 03, 2022•54 min•Season 4Ep. 10
I love the sparkle binding on my White Falcon, the gold hardware on my ES355, the artist top on my P22, and the features of my HX Effects. But I also love the simplicity of my Kretzmann, the traditional features of my Strat, the no electronics in my Gibson LG0 acoustic, and the single channel on my Marshall or Vox. Sometimes the frills are worth the extra money and sometimes they just get in the way. But how do you decide what is worth paying for? Will you regret your choice? Is this only a guit...
Mar 13, 2022•50 min•Season 4Ep. 9
Today on the Tweed Couch we are counseling on “Guitar Technology, Yay or Nay” Purists scoff at new technology while many modern players look at it as a useful tool. Both Jason and I agree that new technology must have functionality and tone while fitting the look that inspires us. But which new technology do we agree on? Can we turn this into a game? Do we know each other well enough to predict each other’s likes and dislikes? How many Journey & Sir Mix-A-Lot lyrics can we slip in? And… Bren...
Feb 27, 2022•46 min•Season 4Ep. 8
When I was first starting out, I had a saying. “I get 10% better with every new piece of gear I get.” Of course that statement is not really true or accurate at all. Sure some pieces of gear helped me gain more confidence, experience, and interest which all led me to playing more and getting better. On the other hand, some pieces of gear have done the opposite of making me better. But what gear have we purchased for inspiration? Why did we decide to get it? Which purchases have backfired? Does i...
Feb 20, 2022•57 min•Season 4Ep. 7
I love my Gibson’s, I love my PRS’s, I love my Fender’s, I love my Kretzmann… but the expectations I have out of each guitar is different. Every guitar company has their known quality control issues. From tuning stability, to fret sprout, to finish rejection, to dead on arrival electronics. Although this is an issue, we as players are willing to overlook these shortcomings each manufacturer or guitar has simply because of the name on the headstock or cost behind it. But… Why do we have double st...
Feb 13, 2022•47 min•Season 4Ep. 6
According to verywellminded.com 77% of the people in the world deal with a fear of public speaking. Standing up, making a statement, telling a story, or playing music causes more anxiety than death itself. Of Course, there are different variables that can aid stress. Preparedness, experience, audience members, and even size of the venue can change the perception. But… How do we cope with anxiety? Will you ever get used to it? How do you prepare yourself? Is there a right and wrong way to do it? ...
Feb 06, 2022•54 min•Season 4Ep. 5
The first band I played in had 3 electric guitar players and a drummer. I was not the best guitarist… but I also wasn’t the worst. So my buddy, by default, decided to buy a bass and started learning. But what basses are good for beginners? Should you use a pick? What other gear do you need? Do you need a special case? What are the 2 kinds of bass players? And what Gibson bass did my dad, a guitar player, buy from a pawn shop back in 1966 that I used on these solo albums? Well we will discuss thi...
Jan 30, 2022•56 min•Season 4Ep. 3
I am a sucker for a good deal. Tickets to a popular concert with 2-3 bands costs anywhere from $30 in the back of a venue to $400+ to get decent floor seats. As an artist, putting on your own tour, there are struggles too. This is why I love Music Festivals. As a concert attendee or as a band I get the best of all worlds. But… What makes a Festival so different? Which ones should I go to? Are there any drawbacks? Why should you go and what should you expect? And… What is the full story on how Dr...
Jan 23, 2022•59 min•Season 4Ep. 2
3 pickup guitars are amazing. 2 pickup guitars are also glorious. But are 1 pickup guitars better? Are they just as versatile? Who plays a 1 pickup guitar? Does the neck pickup affect tone when it’s not on? What’s a dummy pickup? And is 1 pickup all you need? Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with Jason, on the Tweed Couch
Jan 16, 2022•49 min•Season 4Ep. 2
As we ring in another new year, many people may feel compelled to reflect on their previous year. Some tried to kick a bad habit. Some tried to take on a good routine... Some realized they completed all of their new years resolutions and others realized they gave up too quick. But how did Dr. T & Jason do on their New Years Resolutions? Do they have new ones for 2022? How has the podcast done over the past year? Whatever happened to the Gloknob? And New Year New Tone… whats on the list? Well...
Jan 09, 2022•52 min•Season 4Ep. 1
It seems there is always something. Managing the home, kids activities, maintenance of vehicles, work, sleep... There is always something that can get in the way of becoming a better player or simply getting to play the instrument that we love. Of course, it's not that these things aren’t important either. A matter fact they are likely more important which is why it is so frustrating to not be able to get the time to practice and see your gear collect dust. This can leave you discouraged and uni...
Dec 26, 2021•57 min•Season 3Ep. 17
My start into the music world came as a teenager playing campfire songs for my friends in the church youth group. Soon that turned to playing in a garage band with some friends. We played a pretty eclectic catalog of Skynyrd, Nirvana, Police, Sublime, Tom Petty… My brother joined a music ministry group and that is when I started really paying attention to Christian music like Jars of Clay, Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, and Third Day. Of course at that time, late 90 and early 2000’s, worship music ...
Nov 28, 2021•57 min•Season 3Ep. 16
As mentioned in the podcast intro, I am not a licensed therapist. What I am is a Doctor of Chiropractic. With that said, I couldn’t get anyone to do a group therapy session with me… so I think I will do another ailment that plagues the musician and this problem is: Low Back issues. But what causes low back problems? Should I go see a doctor? Can low back problems be prevented? Is there a way to treat it at home? Can you play with a brace? And did Web MD really diagnose low back pain as subacute ...
Nov 07, 2021•44 min•Season 3Ep. 15
For years I have wanted the much hyped Gibson Les Paul 1959 Reissue. Of Course, there are many reasons to want this iconic, desirable Holy Grail guitar. And honestly there were even more reasons that held me back from purchasing but today was my day! But… What makes an R9 different? How close is it to the real deal? Is it really worth about $7k usd? Did I actually pay that much? What compelled me to get an R9 now? Did I have to sell gear to get it? Where did I buy it? And… Is it worth the hype? ...
Oct 24, 2021•41 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Fender guitars have been an icon for as long as the solid body electric guitar has been around. The telecaster was the innovation people were looking for. The stratocaster was the look people loved. Then the Jaguar and Jazmaster wowed the world with glitz and style. Of course where would they be without a quality amp behind them. Fender amplifiers have also been there from the beginning. Inspiring not only musicians around the world but also manufacturers. But… How far back does the influence of...
Oct 11, 2021•50 min•Season 3Ep. 13
There are times in everyone's life when they know exactly what they want and this is no different for a guitar player. It could be a guitar like their hero, an amp with all the features, the pedals with the cool name and sound, or other gear that fits the look and mojo. Whether it be for tone or the aesthetics, we are puting compromise aside and diving in deep to the what and the why of no compromise purchases. But how do you decide what you should be picky about? Is it really worth it? What if ...
Oct 03, 2021•55 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Have you ever owned a guitar that you loved but wished were a little different? Maybe you wanted a guitar you couldn’t necessarily afford. It could be that you have particular wants but the guitar doesn’t exist. If any of this sounds like you then you are probably in the market for a Partscaster. But what is a parstscaster? Are there any iconic players who use them? What have we owned and why? Does a partscaster have to come from a Fender guitar? Do they make them in lefty? At what point does a ...
Sep 20, 2021•47 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Back in the last week of July, my 13 year old cork sniffer Owen and I traveled to Nashville, Tennessee and visited 6 guitar shops in one day. We checked out the iconic stores of Gruhn’s and Carter Vintage. We toured the more modern stores of Gibson Garage and Guitar Center. We looked outside the box and made our way to Corner Music and Fanny’s House of Music . But what are these guitar stores like? Should you go? Are they able to create their own identity in a town filled with guitar shops? What...
Sep 13, 2021•32 min•Season 3Ep. 10
There is nothing more frustrating than putting your heart and soul into a guitar performance just to find out afterwards that you were barely heard. It is easy to blame the drummer banging on their skins. It is easy to blame the bass player who thinks the low end is where you find the energy. Its easiest to blame the keyboard player who believes they need to play all the bass notes and the middle melody… but most likely the person we blame the most... is the sound guy out front. But is it true t...
Aug 29, 2021•53 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Join Dr. T and Lloyd as they do a short story therapy session of what it was like to tour Germany right after the Berlin Wall went down.
Aug 22, 2021•24 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Unless you started playing electric guitar in the 50’s or 60’s, almost every electric guitar player starts their journey with a solid state amplifier. Some then move on to tubes, others to modelers, and some stick to solid state. Regardless of where you started or ended, no one can doubt the impact of a tube amplifier. Of course, there are vintage iconic amps from Fender, Marshall, Vox.. The modern, more suped up, renditions of Friedman, Dr. Z, Matchless... are tight contenders for incredible to...
Aug 15, 2021•59 min•Season 3Ep. 7
After over 20 years of festivals in Oshkosh Wisconsin, Life Promotions has extended Lifest to Johnny Cash’s Farm in Bon Aqua, TN. Of course, with a new region and a new venue, you can expect some new challenges to present. Fortunately for Life Promotions they have a recipe for success with bands they know, competent production companies, dedicated volunteers and workers, and a drive to make this festival thrive. But how did Johnny Cash get this farm? Why are we doing a music festival on it? Did ...
Aug 08, 2021•47 min•Season 3Ep. 6
I remember when I first learned guitar and I couldn’t afford a Fender Stratocaster. I wanted to look and sound like Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix… Eventually I ended up with a Fender Strat but it didn’t look or sound like the ones my heroes played. So I started modding. Of course, there is way more to sounding like these icons than parts and materials but that didn’t matter to me. As time went on I wanted to look and sound like other artists but didn’t have ...
Jul 25, 2021•45 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Back in July 2000 I went to a festival in Wisconsin with a band named Echelon. I still remember watching other bands like Audio Adrenaline, Third Day, Relient K, and the OC Supertones. So much fun. From 2004-2008 I started going with my own band named Second Adam where we were known to play anywhere between 5 and 7 shows over the course of the 4 day event. A few years later I became part of Stage Management, aiding in the organization and implementation of what makes up the many venues, activiti...
Jul 19, 2021•41 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Barber shares a terrible acoustic gear fail which inspires Dr. T to share his fail with an acoustic as well. Check out this episode of the Tweed Couch Guitar Therapy Session where we share a short story from the couch.
Jun 28, 2021•13 min•Season 3Ep. 3
One of the greatest compliments a guitarist can receive from a manufacturer is the opportunity to have their own signature gear made. Whether it was Les Paul, Zack Meyers, David Grissom, or Jarod James Nichols. The list goes on and all of this gear is almost as impressive as the person who inspired it. Of course, most of these instruments weren’t designed simply to just sell widgets. They were designed by a working man/woman for a working man/woman. Signature gear has more than just an artist's ...
Jun 20, 2021•40 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Jason goes on a "Guitar Safari" for a new acoustic and comes home with more. Check out this episode of the Tweed Couch Guitar Therapy Session where we share a short story from the couch.
Jun 13, 2021•13 min•Season 3Ep. 1
I remember when I was 13. I remember thinking the tone came from that sweet guitar. Slash on his Les Paul. Stevie on his Strat. Edge on his explorer. Richards on his Tele. BB on his 345. Of course, eventually I would play these guitars and wonder why I couldn’t sound like them. So I started tone chasing. Ultimately I found myself in the same place that many other budding guitarists found themselves. If you want to get better… you need to practice. As I got better, I started to play with others. ...
Jun 07, 2021•30 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Broken strings, burnt tubes, bad cables. These are all gear issues that can ruin a show. Of course, many of these problems can be prevented with proper maintenance of your gear but sometimes these things just happen. This is why having a good backup is important in the event of not just complicated problems but catastrophic failure. But how often should you change tubes? What do you do with a scratchy pot? How often do you change strings? Should you do your own maintenance? When do you take it t...
May 23, 2021•49 min•Season 2Ep. 27
If you have participated in a guitar forum. If you watch YouTube reviews. If you have talked with a sales associate at a guitar store. Then you have likely experienced cork sniffery. If you have only played a hand full of tube, modeling, or solid state amps but believe tubes create ultimate tone for all. If you believe you can only get a great tone from expensive gear. If you believe the logo on the headstock is a deciding factor in whether a piece of gear has quality tone, woods, or manufacturi...
May 16, 2021•50 min•Season 2Ep. 26
