OzzFest, the Pulse, and More
Jim shot out an email to a bunch of us to let us know Metallica was headlining this year's OzzFest, and within hours, we began scrambling to figure out a plan to go. One quirk with this year's event is that it's only going to be one show — no more gigs across the States — so the assumption is that it'll be packed. No worries, though. Tickets go on sale the 31st, and we're already looking forward to the road trip.
From the previews, it looks like this next Metallica album will see them drifting back to their best roots (the Black Album and Justice...), so it will be awesome to see them live again. I've seen them twice, and both shows were awesome.
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Phillip made himself a little tap-tempo switch a while back, and it got me to thinking about adding something similar to my effects lineup. I did some research on what's available on the market, and it turns out that everybody and their brother makes these little buggers. Truth be told, this is mainly due to their simplicity: a switch and a jack and shell. There's nothing fancy about it, no wiring to speak of (4 solder joints) and it's about as "beginner" as you can get — but I decided to add mine to the flooded market, anyway. Yes, there are already loads out there — but mine will look the coolest. =)
That said, here's a shot of the basic paint job, sans logo graphics:
This little bugger is named the Pulse™, and yes, you'd expect it to be red — but I already have a red pedal. Besides, I'll probably offer it in a variety of colors and schemes, so it'll be a moot point. The above is the basic version, and I'll also have one with little-bitty toggle switch for changing polarity (BOSS's tap-tempo has theirs on the inside for some crazy reason). I thought about adding an LED, but this tap controls a second effect, and the tempo will be displayed on that effect anyway — so it's kind of redundant. However, I may offer a version with an LED that lights when you tap, just so you can see the flash and know the tempo is registering.
You can see a really big version of this pic at its Flicker page.
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Speaking of effects and names, you may have noticed the trademark symbol next to the Pulse's name above. I've been going through the trademark red tape for all my effects, and the approvals are finally coming through. This is a pretty expensive process, but it makes sure no one else can use names like io, The Peach, PURE, Switcha-Rooski, SLACR — and other names I'll be using in the future — for their guitar effect-related products.
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We just bought tickets (for my wife, her Mom, and a friend) to go see Third Day in October. Talk about selling tickets early. They're playing at The Woodlands, and we snagged seats on Row M in the right section, close to the aisle — so they're pretty dadgum good.
••••••••
I went by our local Buc-ees to grab a blueberry muffin for breakfast, and as I waited, I noticed the lady in front of me had three dogs in her car with her. As if that's not bad enough, two of the little creatures were poking their heads out the car window, trying to score a pet from the Girl At The Window. The third mongrel was just sitting in the passenger seat, getting butt all over everything.
So the lady gets her coffee, and I think she's done — but wait...Girl At The Window is handing her something...a lid...with whip cream on it? And another. And, yes, another. I'll be dadgummed.
She finally pulled away and when I got to the window, I asked Girl At The Window if that lady just got whip-cream lids for the dogs, and she told me the lady does it every day.
To each his own.
Comments:
Yep.
On the tap-tempo-thingy… I like an LED light. I’m a visual person. 
Since Metallica is headlining, shouldn’t it be MetFest? Just sayin’...
I’m going to rig one up with an LED tonight (if I get a chance).
I don’t think you really need an LED since (like Maury said) your delay pedal should already have a tempo indicator light. The little tap box is not going to keep blinking or anything. I personally think that it makes the whole thing a lot more trouble/expense than it’s worth, what with the LED and the power that it would require.
That’s just me, though =)
Not exactly. First, one good thing about the blink when tapping is that it works for people that are more visual than tactile, like Jim.
Second, there’s no power required. Think about it and you’ll understand why…
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