Nov 1, 2026tone
AMPWELD — three amps, one capture
I built a free tool that welds up to three neural amp captures into one new tone. Here's how it works and how to use it.
Read →The Journal · Notes from MrDees
JOURNAL
Thoughts on tone, gear, the craft of playing and life as a working session guitarist — from the soul, for the soul.
Oct 2, 2026tone
The Congolese Seben Delay Secret
Soukous guitar tone — the universal two-delay recipe, with the real knob settings, plus my exact Helix patch to download free.
Read →Aug 15, 2026mixing
Why Your Stereo Mix Needs DEES TAPE
Your mix sounds "digital" — a little stiff, a little harsh, the parts not quite glued together. Here's why tape fixes that, and how I use my own DEES TAPE on the stereo bus to make mixes sound finished.
Read →Aug 3, 2026modeling
Neural Hybrid Tech Just Changed Amp Sims (Mercuriall Ampbox)
SPICE circuit modeling plus real-time neural networks, at zero latency — Mercuriall's Ampbox caught me completely off guard. Here's why it might be the best amp sim you've never heard of.
Read →Jul 3, 2026modeling
The NAM A2 Takeover — Fractal, Darkglass, Soran & More
The open-source amp-capture revolution just hit professional hardware. Darkglass proved it works, Fractal is bringing it to next-gen gear, and the holdouts are running out of time.
Read →Jun 27, 2026mixing
Preamp War — Is Jim Lill Right About the Color Box?
Jim Lill says your preamp barely matters. Andrew Chapman pushed back. I'm stepping in — because they're both partly right, and Andrew is still wrong about the JHS Color Box.
Read →Jun 26, 2026modeling
The Nokia Mistake — Why Big Modelers Are Ignoring NAM
Nokia ignored Android and lost everything. Line 6, Neural DSP and Kemper are making the same bet against open-source NAM A2 right now — and the smart brands are already moving.
Read →Jun 13, 2026modeling
Does a $75 Pedal Beat the Helix? (GP5 Blind Test)
I put the $75 Valeton GP5 head-to-head with a $2,500 Line 6 Helix rig in a blind test — loaded with NAM captures. The result makes you question what you're really paying for.
Read →Jun 11, 2026modeling
NAM A2 vs Helix Proxy — The Free One Wins
I've been a Helix fan for years. But a free, open-source capture format running on a $3 chip just beat Helix Proxy in a blind test of 1,000+ people. Here's the uncomfortable truth.
Read →Feb 18, 2026modeling
Quad Cortex vs Helix Stadium — The Rant Nobody Asked For
New Helix Stadium XL, Quad Cortex temptation, and rumors of an HX Stomp "Mini." After 5+ years on HX Stomp, here's where I've actually landed — and why I'm still waiting.
Read →Dec 22, 2025gear
The Zoom R4 Changed How I Record (Honest Review)
It looks like a field recorder. It's actually a pocket studio — 4-track, 32-bit float, amp sims and a 6-hour battery. Here's why it became my go-to for catching ideas away from the laptop.
Read →Nov 15, 2025gear
Every Wireless Guitar System, Tested So You Don't Have To
Cheap wireless, boutique wireless, and everything between — I ran the popular guitar systems head-to-head on tone, latency, range and reliability. The price-vs-performance winner surprised me.
Read →Aug 16, 2025mixing
Best Headphones for Mixing Guitar — I Tested 7
Not all studio headphones mix guitar the same. I put 7 popular pairs through frequency, comfort and price-vs-performance tests to find the ones that actually tell you the truth.
Read →Jul 21, 2025studio
Transform Your Desk Setup With One Trick
Cables everywhere, bad lighting, constant clutter — my studio desk was a mess. One simple change fixed the clutter, the look, and my video quality all at once.
Read →Jun 30, 2025gear
Fake SM57 vs Real Shure — How I Got Scammed
I unknowingly bought a counterfeit Shure SM57 online. Here's how it compared to the real thing, the physical red flags, and exactly how to protect yourself (and get a refund).
Read →Apr 12, 2025gear
The Best Portable Recorder for Musicians (Buyer's Guide)
Zoom, Tascam, Sony — the portable recorder market is a maze. As a touring musician I tested the top models to find which one actually fits how YOU work.
Read →Apr 2, 2025modeling
How to Import NAM Captures to Hotone Pedals (Step by Step)
NAM (Neural Amp Modeler) captures sound incredible — and your Hotone pedal can run them. Here's the clean, no-stress way to load them and build a patch around them.
Read →Mar 31, 2025tone
The Most Versatile Boost — JHS vs Sonicake
A $20 JHS boost against a boutique Sonicake — can a budget pedal really stand up to the pricey one? I put them head-to-head on tone and value. The winner surprised me.
Read →Dec 6, 2024tone
Why the JHS Color Box V2 + Plugins Beats a Modeler
Amp sims nail the sound but still fight you on "feel." Pairing the JHS Color Box V2 with a good amp plugin gives you the tactile response of a real rig — here's how and why.
Read →Apr 25, 2024modeling
Tonex One vs Pod Express — Budget Modeler Shootout
Two tiny, affordable modelers aimed at the same player — but they take opposite approaches. Here's how IK's Tonex One and the Line 6 Pod Express actually compare, and which one is right for you.
Read →Apr 5, 2024modeling
Is the Line 6 Helix Really Worth It?
Everyone's dumping their Helix for the next shiny modeler. I've gigged and recorded with mine for years — here's my honest take on whether it's still worth the money.
Read →Jun 10, 2023tone
George Benson's Jazz Tone on the Helix (Free Preset)
How to get George Benson's warm, singing jazz-guitar tone on a Line 6 Helix or HX Stomp — the concept, the starting points, and my exact patch to download free.
Read →Sep 30, 2015notes
Welcome to the Journal
Why I'm writing this down — notes on tone, gear and the craft, from the soul.
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