Vol. 27, No. 7
May 2026
Players, Gear & Sound — The Inside
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.
PLAYERS, GEAR & SOUND
The Inside
Celebrating 25 Years Of Fuchs Amplifiers
By Scott Ulrichs. To celebrate 25 years of Fuchs Audio Technology, ToneQuest sits down with Joe Bonamassa to discuss his love of Dumble Overdrive Specials, his stage rig, and what makes Andy Fuchs' ODS-style amplifiers a cut above the rest.
A LIFE IN SOUND
Inside The Craft With Andy Fuchs
By Scott Ulrichs. Andy Fuchs sits down to discuss his collaboration with Joe Bonamassa on the JB-ODS amp, his deep study of the Dumble ODS circuit, and the hard-won business lessons behind 25 years of Fuchs Audio.
THE FUCHS ODH HYBRID AMPLIFIER
Power And Punch In A Lightweight Package
The Fuchs ODH (Overdrive Hybrid) delivers classic Dumble ODS-style tones in a lightweight, 150-watt hybrid package, blending a tube preamp with an ICEpower module for impressive clean and overdrive versatility. At $1,350 new, it offers serious value for players seeking heavyweight tone without heavy transformers.
CHARLES LUKE & THE SWEET BREAKUP PEDAL REVIEW
Gizmo Audio
By Riverhorse. Charles Luke of Gizmo Audio returns with the Sweet Breakup, a MOSFET-based overdrive pedal born from satellite-engineering expertise and years of refinement. ToneQuest puts it through its paces and finds a studio-quality, touch-sensitive boost and breakup machine that earns a full green light.
Tales Of The Seventies Strat
By Pete Prown. The CBS-era Stratocaster has long carried an undeserved stigma, but as Pete Prown discovers through his own '75 hardtail purchase and the stories of players like Ed King, Jeff Beck, and Robin Trower, there are genuinely killer Strats hiding in the Me Decade.
THE ALLURE OF THE PRECISION BASS
Why It’s A Requirement In The Nashville Scene
By Ryan Madora. Nashville session and touring bassist Ryan Madora traces her conversion from Jazz Bass skeptic to devoted P Bass player, explaining why the Precision's simplicity, reliability, and iconic tone remain non-negotiable in country, Americana, and beyond.
GUEST IN THE QUEST ALL ACCESS
A Great Song With Scott Sharrard
By Adam McIntyre. Scott Sharrard — guitarist, producer, and bandleader known for his decade with Gregg Allman and his current role in Little Feat — talks gear, influences, the state of the music business, and what's next for him and the band.
THE AUTHOR OF TONE® Q & A
Trainwreck, Reverb & Uni-Vibe Favorites
By Riverhorse. A ToneQuest reader in Jacksonville asks Riverhorse for advice on pairing reverb, delay, and Uni-Vibe pedals with a new Trainwreck Express JMD head while preserving the amp's legendary touch sensitivity. Riverhorse offers recommendations ranging from Strymon Flint and vintage Deluxe Memory Men to the Electronic Orange Moon Vibe and a hard-won 1972 Uni-Vibe.
© 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.