Vol. 26, No. 2
December 2024
Players, Gear & Sound — The Inside
Lou Rosano discusses his latest amp, the Cobra 183, inspired by the sought-after Dumble Overdrive Special. Gordon Kennedy praises his shift to Wizard Amplification for its user-friendly design and sound. A player’s perspective celebrates Nash Guitar’s T-52 HN Telecaster. Rediscover the intoxicating sound and response of a vintage 1959 Fender Jazzmaster. Bart Postlewait continues the Echoplex legacy, emphasizing the critical role of tape in sound production. Keeley Electronics’ Zoma Stereo Reverb and Tremolo pedal merges multiple effects into a compact unit for various musical styles. Finally, Pete Prown’s new book highlights over 150 influential blues guitarists and their lasting impact.
PLAYERS, GEAR & SOUND
The Inside
LOUIS ELECTRIC AMPLIFIERS COBRA 183
Snake Don’t Taste Like Chicken
By Scott Ulrichs. Lou Rosano's Cobra 183 is Louis Electric's meticulous take on the legendary Dumble Overdrive Special serial number 183 — a 100-watt EL-34 monster that delivers massive cleans, harmonically rich overdrive, and the elusive Dumble DNA that has captivated players for decades. ToneQuest Report puts it through its paces and sits down with Lou to learn how this grandiloquent amplifier came to be.
INTERVIEW: GORDON KENNEDY
The Wizard Of Nashville
By Oscar Jordan. Multi-Grammy Award-winning producer, songwriter, and guitarist Gordon Kennedy discusses his new relationship with Wizard Amplification and how their handcrafted heads have transformed his tone on the road with Garth Brooks.
NASH T-52 HN
A Player’s Perspective
By Pete Prown. Pete Prown offers a player's firsthand take on the Nash T-52 HN, a blackguard-style Telecaster loaded with Lollar pickups and finished in Nash's signature aged nitrocellulose lacquer. With input from builder Bill Nash himself, the review covers tone, playability, tonewood, and the philosophy behind Nash's celebrated relic process.
1959 FENDER JAZZMASTER
Surfin’ The Bebop
By Scott Ulrichs. A 1959 Fender Jazzmaster on loan from Music Villa in Bozeman, Montana gets a 24-hour home audition — revealing surprisingly addictive tones through a Benson Monarch and a '64 Vibrolux Reverb. Scott Ulrichs explores what makes this vintage offset tick, from its paper-thin frets and hand-shaped neck to its uniquely growling rhythm circuit.
BART POSTLEWAIT
Echoplex: The Legacy Continues
By Oscar Jordan. Bart Postlewait inherited the Echoplex legacy from his grandfather-in-law, inventor Mike Battle, and carries on the tradition of servicing and championing the iconic tape delay unit. In this interview, Postlewait shares stories of working side by side with Battle and reflects on why the Echoplex remains irreplaceable.
THE TREASURED ECHOPLEX
It All Starts With The Tape
By Bart Postlewait. Tape is the guitar string of the Echoplex — a treasured, irreplaceable component that defines the machine's character. Veteran repairman Bart Postlewait shares six essential tips for getting the most out of your Echoplex tape loop.
KEELEY ELECTRONICS
Zoma Stereo Reverb And Tremolo
By Oscar Jordan. Keeley Electronics' Zoma Stereo Reverb And Tremolo combines spring and plate reverbs with sine tremolo, harmonic tremolo, and vibrato in a compact, easy-to-use stereo pedal. At $299, it delivers lush vintage tones and modern flexibility in equal measure.
THE ULTIMATE BOOK OF BLUES GUITAR LEGENDS
The Players And Guitars That Shaped The Music
By Tom Guerra. Veteran guitar author Pete Prown discusses his latest book, a sweeping survey of over 150 blues and blues-rock guitarists spanning a century of music, covering the players, instruments, and tones that shaped the genre.
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