TMRZoo

There are many fun pickups out there, and the Hot ’59 Clone is one of them. A prior evaluation of the Mojotone 59 Clone bridge humbucker is a primer for the DNA of the Hot ’59 Clone: “a nicely balanced tone. An open vibe that remains firmly grounded.” And then take it all up a notch. This is the great part....

Storm season is upon us in many parts of the country. As hurricane season winds down in the southeast, Nor’easters are starting to form in the north. One constant you will see in the images of these devastating storms is utility workers with chainsaws. Since moving to rural New Hampshire, I have been the owner of a couple of chainsaws....

The RTM is the first Custom Shop model that I tried. The first time seeing Custom Shop Manager Maricela Juarez (“MJ”) at a guitar show, you quickly learn that you will be taking home at least one new pickup. LOL! There is just no other way about it. In fact, I can’t think of someone that has gotten away...

Ralph’s Diner in Worcester is one of the best old school (as in The Rat, The Club, Jaspers, Jumbos, Club Bohemia, the original Paradise) rock clubs in the world. Following up the superb party that was Human Sexual Response and Unnatural Axe at the House of Blues in Boston, November 3, is another Friday night extravaganza with scene veterans...

Since Fractal Audio Systems released the first Axe-Fx over a decade ago, it has become a touchstone in guitar amp and effects processing. Fractal’s artist roster spans every imaginable genre, full of players known for having access to whatever gear they desire… and using Fractal. Some of the players using the Axe-Fx that add valued legitimacy to me include Pete...

Salisbury Beach is one of my favorite places on the entire planet, and how could it not be?  In 1973 I watched the Sidewinders (purportedly WITH Billy Squier) open for Aerosmith at the wonderful Frolics Ballroom, which is now so much sand "under the boardwalk," the brand new boardwalk along the beach 44 years later in 2017.  Salisbury has traded...

While certain segments of the beer category demonstrated strong gains in 2016, the overall category decreased by 0.3% to end the year with 2.83 billion 2.25-gallon cases, according to the Beverage Information Group's 2017 Beer Handbook.  Continued economic growth, employment gains, and evolving consumer preferences are contributing factors in the evolution of the beer industry. The Imported beer segment enjoyed another...

Bud Light's campaign "Famous Among Friends" aims to bring friends, new and old, together over a crisp, refreshing Bud Light. The brand's two newest advertisements, "The Hero's Return" and "Supplies", expand on the campaign to show that good friends are always willing to go to great lengths for Bud Light. The first of Bud Light's two new spots, "The Hero's...

In the music world, we have many times when form follows function. The first Les Paul looked like a log. A few years later it was a work of art featuring beautifully figured tops and brilliant sunburst finishes. However, every flashy guitar, amp, or gadget to hit the markets has not proven itself to be as functional as the...

Videogame Roundtable Episode 314: Portal’s Huge Success This week's Gaming Flashback has no cake -- instead, it's the history of Portal. The guys try to keep the podcast meme-free as they discuss Valve's first-person puzzle platformer. There's also non-Portal related news items, too: Chris Avellone may be teasing a new Fallout game Street Fighter 5 will finally get an arcade mode in...