Weekly Riff from The Sound and The Story - John Connolly playing "Deathstar"
10 days ago
The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the force, and the ability to learn Sevendust's "Deathstar" is unparalleled when John Connolly himself is your teacher. After all, when you have an album as heavy as "Alpha," this song is the ideal first track to start the album off with a bang!
Bridging (no pun intended) the gap between engineering and music
April 27 2021
This week, we’ll explore a wonderful relationship between Paul Reed Smith and John Mann- the man behind the hardware for the boutique guitars we know and love - it's a match that is ‘Mann-Made' in tone heaven!
Weekly Riff from The Sound and The Story - Alter Bridge playing "Waters Rising"
April 22 2021
'Waters Rising' is the eighth song on Alter Bridge's fourth studio album "Fortress."
![This latest Mustang is a true micro [tone] machine!](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1555/4315/articles/20210419_F12_StringThinkgs_00076_Fender_Mustang_Micro_Cover_R1_{width}x.jpg?v=1618860070)
![This latest Mustang is a true micro [tone] machine!](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1555/4315/articles/20210419_F12_StringThinkgs_00076_Fender_Mustang_Micro_Cover_R1_1024x1024.jpg?v=1618860070)
This latest Mustang is a true micro [tone] machine!
April 19 2021
Let’s say you have the ultimate travel guitar, or perhaps you carry your #1 go-to guitar with you everywhere. That still begs the question: what amp can sound great, provide inspiring tones, and hopefully fit in your pocket or gig bag?
IN THE DARK with Jake Girton
April 16 2021
FRET12 proudly presents, the final episode of #InTheDark, filmed live at Pilsen's legendary Thalia Hall. This closing episode features pop punk guitarist and songwriter Jake Girton.
The PocketGuitar literally puts a guitar in your pocket!
April 9 2021
For years we’ve heard about travel guitars, folding guitars, portable guitars, and practice guitars. Is this new device from Aeroband the ultimate traveling guitar?
IN THE DARK with Brother John Kattke
April 2 2021
FRET12 proudly presents, the tenth episode of #InTheDark, at Pilsen's legendary Thalia Hall featuring blues guitarist Brother John Kattke from Chicago, IL.
Make the Earth move (as well as your pedalboard) with some EarthQuaker Devices!
March 30 2021
Love pedals? You’re going to love Earthquaker Devices!
Building boutique, artistic, and cutting-edge guitar effects pedals “one-at-a-time, by hand, the hard way, in the idyllic post-apocalyptic wasteland metropolis of Akron, Ohio, USA - where the soldering smoke blocks out the sun, and the fiery Cuyahoga River pumps white-hot liquid magma into the steam engine that powers our great riff factory in the sky.”
IN THE DARK with The Cold Gawd
March 26 2021
FRET12 proudly presents, the ninth episode of #InTheDark, at Pilsen's legendary Thalia Hall featuring Matt Wainwright aka COLD GAWD, from Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
Fender brings new meaning to the term acoustic/electric with their newest ACOUSTASONIC®!
March 22 2021
In a day and age where modelers let guitarists have countless combinations of amps and effects, Fender has put a new twist on combining the worlds of acoustic and electric guitar tones (and looks) with their all-new Acoustasonic Jazzmaster!
IN THE DARK with Shaun Kure
March 19 2021
FRET12 proudly presents, the eighth episode of #InTheDark, at Pilsen's legendary Thalia Hall featuring Shaun Kure - guitarist for pushpull from Chicago, IL.
Rest in Peace to one of the all-time greats - Henry Goldrich, gear purveyor to the rock gods
March 15 2021
When asked about playing music, Henry Goldrich (of Manny’s Music in NYC) often said: “I play cash register.” Learn more about one of the most beloved and well-known music stores in history in this week’s String Thing.
IN THE DARK with Julio Bonfante
March 12 2021
FRET12 proudly presents, the seventh episode of #InTheDark, at Pilsen's Thalia Hall featuring Julio Bonfante – lead guitarist of the up-and-coming band Cali Jewls, from Chicago IL.
A Half-Dozen NTS Episodes, Hand-Picked by FRET12
March 9 2021
NTS Radio’s genre-agnostic approach to radio resonates deeply with our approach to the guitar and our belief that anyone can pick up a guitar and find their niche. We will continue to celebrate the broad range of styles and genres that the guitar can create, which is why we’ve hand-picked a half-dozen L.A.-based NTS episodes to share with you. 💥 ENJOY💥
IN THE DARK with Mike Zatezalo
March 5 2021
FRET12 proudly presents, the sixth episode of #InTheDark, filmed at Pilsen's legendary Thalia Hall featuring Mike Zatezalo from Chicago, IL - lead guitarist for Maiden Chicago (Iron Maiden Tribute), The Sam Cockrell Band, and Valius.
Give your guitar pedals the volts they need!
March 2 2021
Ernie Ball brings the power to your pedals in one of the lightest and smallest power supplies yet!
IN THE DARK with Dylan Lee
February 26 2021
FRET12 proudly presents, the fifth episode of IN THE DARK, at Pilsen's Thalia Hall featuring Dylan Lee-Fulcher from Chicago, IL.
Hughes & Kettner condenses your amplifier and more into a streamlined stompbox!
February 23 2021
We’ve gone from PODs to AxeFXs to Kempers to Helix, all with a smattering of virtual amp sims and plug-ins. Hughes & Kettner is taking things to the next level by condensing the entire rig, speakers and all, into one small, flight-ready box.
Here’s a fresh new take on what may be the ultimate portable guitar rig- for only $400.
IN THE DARK featuring Mike Wheeler
February 19 2021
FRET12 proudly presents, the fourth episode of #InTheDark, at Pilsen's legendary Thalia Hall featuring Mike Wheeler - blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter from Chicago, IL.
Weekly Riff from The Sound and The Story - Alter Bridge
February 16 2021
In this edition of the FRET12 'Weekly Riff', Alter Bridge's very own Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti sit down to do an entire video playthrough of the 2013 song “Cry of Achilles”.
Hayley Williams finds the good and reconnects with the great- even in ‘hard times.’
February 16 2021
Known for her iconic voice and songwriting, the 2020 lockdown has brought Hayley Williams plenty of new music along with a return to her guitar (along with a bunch of other instruments) that you can hear on her brand-new 2021 album!
IN THE DARK featuring Jess Price
February 10 2021
FRET12 proudly presents, the third episode of #InTheDark, at Pilsen's legendary Thalia Hall featuring Jess Price from Chicago, IL.
Phasers, flangers, delays, oh my! It’s cold outside, so why not ‘Freeze’ those notes?
February 9 2021
In a world full of repeats (no pun intended), we want to shine the spotlight on some pedals that do things differently! In this week’s feature, we’ll be taking a look at the Electro-Harmonix “Freeze” - which lets guitarists get even more sustain than Nigel Tufnel’s ‘59 Les Paul!
SONIC SPACES – How to turn ‘just another room’ into your dream music room!
February 2 2021
In a time when music has been moved off the stage and very much ‘inside,’ an intimate tour of the home studio spaces of today’s most known players can be just the inspiration you need to help make your own space even more inspiring!
IN THE DARK featuring Taylor Roberts
January 29 2021
FRET12 proudly presents, the second episode of #InTheDark, at Pilsen's legendary Thalia Hall featuring Taylor Roberts - lead guitarist and vocalist of the up-and-coming band Riding With Killers, from Detroit, MI.
When it comes to guitar strings, why not try something totally new?
January 26 2021
With a surfeit of options at our fingertips, it is truly the best time to be a musi...
IN THE DARK featuring Dave Specter
January 22 2021
FRET12 proudly presents, the first episode of #InTheDark, at Pilsen's legendary Thalia Hall featuring Chicago bluesman Dave Specter. He is a critically-acclaimed guitarist born and raised in Chicago, who has performed with other musical icons like Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rogers, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Jimmy Johnson, and more!
What do John Mayer, Mark Tremonti, Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck, and Noel Gallagher all have in common?
January 19 2021
Just like the mythical beast, it was named after, the Klon Centaur Professional Overdrive is an elusive, mysterious, and fabled creation.
Weekly Riff from The Sound and The Story - Josh Rand
January 19 2021
Josh Rand is a huge part of Stone Sour's heavy, yet uniquely melodic sound. Whethe...
Detroit Electric by FRET12 – The Power of Detroit
January 14 2021
Detroit is a lot more than simply where we're from, it speaks to who we are as people, alo...
Weekly Riff with Ruben Wan / A FRET12 Pick From the Depths of YouTube
January 12 2021
This week, we are featuring the smooth sounds of @Ruben Wan who is laying down all the chill...
Pandemic? Forget that. How about, PandeMUSIC?
January 12 2021
Music is an artform, a universal language, a mode of expression. It allows us to communi...
Weekly Riff from The Sound and The Story - Mark Tremonti
January 5 2021
Alter Bridge lead guitarist Mark Tremonti takes you through one of his most well-known solos in this lesson for "Come to Life."
What are your [musical] New Year’s Resolutions?
January 5 2021
What a year it’s been, here’s a toast to the future!
Happy Holidays from FRET12
December 24 2020
We always love seeing today's artists come out with their own renditions of the holiday classics, and this year we wanted to share a few of these tunes by Mac DeMarco. So grab some hot cocoa, turn up the fire, and watch the chestnuts roast with these holiday tunes. Happy Holidays from all of us here at FRET12!
Weekly Riff with Helen Ibe / A FRET12 Pick From the Depths of YouTube
December 21 2020
We are grateful to have amazing people, guitars, and music to lean on during times like these.
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