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This issue celebrates the craft of tone through players, builders, and real-world decisions. Commemorating 25 years of Fuchs Amplifiers, Andy Fuchs and Joe Bonamassa explain the vital concept of “rate of recovery,” and the ODH Hybrid is presented as a lightweight amp that preserves that immediate response. Reviews include Charles Luke’s MOSFET-driven Sweet Breakup pedal, praised for clarity under gain, and a hands-on take of the ODH Hybrid’s tube-preamp/ICEpower combo delivering articulate cleans and smooth overdrive. Features rethink vintage assumptions—Pete Prown rescues ’70s Strats from undeserved reputations—while Ryan Madora makes the Precision Bass’s role in Nashville’s studio and stage culture unmistakable. Scott Sharrard of Little Feat emphasizes song-focused tone and phrasing ahead of the band’s final tour, and the recurring Author of Tone® Q&A offers practical guidance on keeping responsive gear musical when adding reverb, delay, and modulation. Across the issue, touch, response, and musical authority guide every choice.
Choosing the best in real-world tone.
We begin with 25 years of Fuchs Amplifiers, where Andy Fuchs and Joe Bonamassa define the critical element of “rate of recovery”—how quickly an amp answers the next note. The ODH Hybrid delivers that immediacy in a modern, lightweight platform. Riverhorse evaluates clarity under gain with the Sweet Breakup, Pete Prown challenges assumptions around ’70s Stratocasters, and Ryan Madora affirms the Precision Bass as Nashville’s standard. Scott Sharrard of Little Feat brings it back to the song, and the Author of Tone® Q&A closes with real-world decisions that preserve touch, response, and musical authority.
Celebrating 25 Years of Fuchs Amplifiers
With Andy Fuchs And Joe Bonamassa
Scott Ulrichs
“At some point, it stopped being what would Alexander do, in favor of what does Andy want.”
At the center of Dumble-inspired tone is response—and control of it. Joe Bonamassa defines it as “rate of recovery”—how quickly an amp is ready for the next note. Andy Fuchs has spent decades refining that principle into amplifiers that deliver articulation, warmth, and usable headroom. From ODS circuits to the JB-ODS and ODH, these are tools that reward the player with bloom, sustain, and clarity.
Power And Punch In A Lightweight Package
Scott Ulrichs
“This is a fun, no-nonsense amplifier…”
The ODH Hybrid delivers Dumble-style articulation in a compact, gig-ready format. A tube-driven preamp paired with ICEpower produces “produced” clean and overdrive tones—smooth, articulate, and highly responsive under the fingers. With wide headroom, effective EQ toggles, and pedal-friendly design, it moves from black-panel-inspired cleans to fluid sustain without excess weight.
Gizmo Audio
Riverhorse
“The dance between clean and overdrive.”
Charles Luke returns with a MOSFET-driven design built on clarity at every gain stage. The Sweet Breakup responds directly to touch without collapsing into noise, with elevated headroom, balanced circuitry, and purposeful EQ shaping. It delivers tube-like feel in a pedal—quiet, dynamic, and expressive.
Pete Prown
“There are good ones, bad ones, and killer Strats from the Me Decade.”
Pete Prown dismantles the myth of “bad” CBS-era Strats, pointing instead to the players who made them sing—Trower, Beck, Blackmore, and more. With proper setup, these guitars deliver “bell-like tones” and inspiring playability—proof that great instruments exist in every era.
Why It’s A Requirement In The Nashville Scene
Ryan Madora
“It’s practice and maturity, memory and execution.”
In Nashville, the Precision Bass is not optional—it’s expected. Ryan Madora traces her evolution from Jazz bass player to P-Bass devotee, citing its consistency, simplicity, and ability to “occupy the right sonic space.” Producers trust it, engineers move quickly with it, and players rely on it to anchor the groove with authority.
A Great Song With Scott Sharrard
Adam McIntyre
“If you take care of the music, it will take care of you…”
Scott Sharrard discusses his approach to tone, his work on stage and in the studio, and his years with Gregg Allman and Little Feat. Drawing on that experience, he focuses on phrasing, touch, and the musical decisions that shape performance. With Little Feat’s final tour set to begin in May 2026, his perspective reflects a seasoned player grounded in feel and musical awareness.
Trainwreck, Reverb & Uni-Vibe Favorites
Riverhorse
“For us, personally, we cannot go a day without reverb and tremolo on.”
A ToneQuest original—our friend from Jacksonville, Florida, Les, with us since our first issue, November 1999—checks in on preserving the integrity of a responsive Trainwreck while adding reverb, delay and modulation, with Riverhorse responding from real-world experience.