Vol. 27, No. 6
April 2026
Players, Gear & Sound — The Inside
ToneQuest holds the moment where legacy tone is passed forward—through the hands, the gear, and the choices behind every note. From the long-awaited completion of David Wilson’s final Strat to the decisions that shape what we actually hear, this issue follows the signal path with intention. Speakers, circuits, and hands—all working together to reveal something greater than the sum of the parts. Along the way, we’re reminded that tone is a human pursuit—shaped by the hands, refined through experience, and carried forward by those who know what to listen for. We’ve learned this over decades—great tone isn’t assembled. It reveals itself through feel, discipline, and a trained ear. When everything aligns, you don’t just hear it… you feel it. You know it. —The Author of Tone®
PLAYERS, GEAR & SOUND
The Inside
Seeking Gold
By Riverhorse. A tribute to ToneQuest founder David Wilson, told through the assembly of his unfinished gold Stratocaster — a labor of love completed by friends and sent home to Georgia as part of his enduring legacy.
Revealed, Not Assembled
By Greg Talley. A golden sparkle Stratocaster conceived by the late David Wilson — complete with '59 sliders, Callaham bridge, and a soft-V maple neck — finally comes to life through Riverhorse, feeling revealed rather than assembled. Playing it is an emotional continuation of a close friend's unfinished vision.
FANE CRESCENDO AE DRIVER
A Conversation With Tim Pratt And Fouad Abidi
By Scott Ulrichs. ToneQuest sits down with Fane's Head of Marketing Tim Pratt and Lead Engineer Fouad Abidi to explore the newly released Crescendo AE Anniversary Edition — a modern take on the legendary British driver made famous in Hiwatt cabinets and beloved by players like David Gilmour. From its glass-fiber voice coil heritage to the meticulous iterative voicing process, learn what makes this high-powered speaker a worthy heir to the Crescendo name.
FANE CRESCENDO AE REVIEW
Dimensional Drivers From Across The Pond
By Scott Ulrichs. The Fane Crescendo AE is a big, bold, beautifully round-sounding British speaker that handles everything from sparkling clean to driven saggy Plexi tones with impressive chameleon-like versatility. ToneQuest puts it through its paces across multiple amplifiers and cabinets to find out if it earns a permanent spot in the rotation.
ROBERT KEELEY STRIKES AGAIN
Talking Stereo Modulation
By Scott Ulrichs. Robert Keeley sits down with ToneQuest to discuss the new Oaxa Dual Phaser, Rotary, and Nocturne Reverb stereo pedals — revealing the engineering philosophy, star-studded endorsements, and upcoming releases that are keeping Keeley Electronics at the cutting edge.
KEELEY OAXA, ROTARY, AND NOCTURNE REVIEW
Swirly Vibes, Organ Oscillations, And Decadent Decays
By Scott Ulrichs. ToneQuest puts three of Keeley Electronics' newest platform pedals — the Oaxa phaser, Keeley Rotary, and Nocturne reverb — through their paces, exploring swirling stereo phasers, Leslie-like rotary tones, and lush, multi-mode reverbs that transform even the simplest amp rigs.
R2R ELECTRIC’S CHRIS VINCENT
Building The Right Frequencies Into Each R2R
By Scott Ulrichs. Chris Vincent of R2R Electric talks NOS parts, Germanium transistors, and the simple elegance of Rangemaster-style treble boosters — and how a player's obsession with vintage tone led him to build some of the most sought-after small-batch boost pedals available today.
R2R ELECTRIC TWO KNOB TREBLE BOOSTER
Circuit Art For The Soul
By Scott Ulrichs. The R2R Two Knob Treble Booster, built by Chris with all-NOS parts including a Mullard AC107 Germanium transistor, offers a far more flexible take on the classic Rangemaster circuit — expanding its single-capacitor design into six selectable frequency ranges for endless sustain and bloom.
© 2026 Mountainview Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. The ToneQuest Report® is presented as a collective work. Individual contributions may be separately protected by copyrights held by their respective authors.