It is not everyday that you get to go to a stellar guitar shop. It is not everyday that you get to go with a friend. It is not everyday that you get a great story and it is not everyday that you get VIP treatment… and today all of this came true and it came true at nearly all six guitar shops in the St. Louis area.

But why was I in St. Louis? Did I buy any new gear? What kind of VIP treatment are we talking about? Did I need an appointment? What do they keep in the backroom? What do they keep in the basement? Can I just walk into a luthier’s shop? Should I get a tetanus shot? Who is Obeid Kahn? Are K-Line guitars anygood? What happens when Lloyd plays a Murphy Lab for the first time˙? And Chainsaw’s in a guitar store… is Jakyl in town?

Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with Lloyd, on the Tweed Couch.

Today on the Tweed Couch we are counseling on “Inear Monitoring Systems: Trusting Your Gig to a Belt Pack”

There is no doubt that how well you hear yourself and others affects how well you play the show. Of course the method you chose to hear yourself can vary. Some use floor wedges, some use inears, and some just play with the sound system cranked behind them. I have been using in ear monitors for 25 years and one thing can be said… they are not all created equal.

But which in ear system is superior? What features matter most? How have the systems changed over time? Do you have to spend a million dollars? Should I even go wireless? Are in ears better than floor wedges? Do the earbuds make a difference? How often do they fail? Can in ears make the band sound better to the crowd? And older musicians… in ears are essentially hearing aids with a chord right?

Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with John, on the Tweed Couch.

I love going to guitar shops. It's fun to go, enjoy, play, and experience what is out on the market. I cannot think of a single shop I go to that doesn't have at least 1 guitar that inspires me when I pick it up.

Of course this is usually out of a selection of 50 to 1000 guitars of my choosing because I am right handed. My buddies Barber and Swags are a different story because they are lefties. This is why I’ve offered to take either of them on a roadtrip to Houston, TX to shop at South Paw Guitars. A guitar sanctuary solely dedicated to stocking high quality left handed instruments.

But how far is it to Houston? Did we make any stops along the way? Why are we looking for a new guitar? Should you trade in the old one? How quickly can you bond with a new piece of gear? Can it make you play better? What does Guitar Hero have to do with all of this? Can you put a right handed guitar in a left handed case? And he didn’t choose lefty… lefty chose him.

Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with Swags, on the Tweed Couch.

If you have been listening to the podcast for a while then you know that each year my family and I head up to Oshkosh, WI to run what, I understand to be, the largest Christian Music Festival in the world.

Of course, each year is filled with new stories about artists, staff, volunteers, setup, tear down, shenanigans, and the awesome gear we see!

But what could actually go wrong? Could an artist lose all of their gear on a flight? How quickly can we get a sound system set up? Where can we find a balloon for Jason Gray? How did we go from Zombies to Mermaids in 3 acts? What does wheels to Jesus mean? How much time did Owen spend talking with artists talking about gear? Why on earth do we need a DVD player? Did Owen fall out of a cart? How does our tired stage production leprechaun like to load a trailer? And dead carcasses… should it be a festival souvenir?

Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with Owen & Eli, on the Tweed Couch.

A few months ago I went on a quest to find the perfect PRS DGT. I took my 17 year-old cork sniffer along and was incredibly surprised by the outcomes and results. While we planned to make this podcast about our tonal quest, our plans changed when our local guitar shop (Tone Shop Guitars) sent an invite to a free David Grissom clinic. The stars aligned and we waited to meet the man behind the guitars and amps, hear the stories, and become reinspired all over again…

But did we learn anything from David Grissom? Which hand is more important with regards to technique? What about tone… did he develop it playing live or in the studio? Can we really buy the amp he actually plays? Did we go home with any PRS DGT gear? Do we have any validations or real take-aways from his wisdom? Which is better… the core or the SE model? And boundaries… did Owen really manhandle David’s #1 guitar without him knowing?

Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with Owen, on the Tweed Couch.

I remember seeing the Edge and James Hetfield with an Explorer. Billy Gibbons and Jimi Hendrix with a Flying V. Johnny Winter and Allen Collins with a Firebird… Such fascinating tones from such fascinating players.

Of course I wouldn’t call these guitars traditional by any stretch of the imagination. Simply put… they look awkward, clunky, and like something out of a sci-fi movie. That said… I currently own the Gibson versions of an Explorer… Flying V… and Firebird… and they are probably some of the best sounding guitars I own.

But… Why did these guitars fail early in production? Were they before their time? What keeps them from being popular now? Are they built any different than a Les Paul? Do they have a unique sound? What artists are using them? Are they worth having in a guitar collection? Can they be a guitar players #1? And size… Do they fit in the trunk of my car?

Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with Barber, on the Tweed Couch.

Nothing can beat a charismatic frontman. Then again, there are some Side Players that give them a run for their money. I mean… who is Bono without Edge? Freddie Mercury without Brian May? Roth or Haggar without Eddie Van Halen? Robert Plant without Jimmy Page? Anthony Kiedis without John Frusciante? Bon Scott or Brian Johnson without Angus & Malcolm? Or Mick Jagger without Keith Richards.

Of course I would be remiss not to mention the few charismatic Frontmen that are also ripping guitarists. Like Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, John Mayer, Jimi Hendrix, Either of the Vaughn Brothers, Derek Trucks, Prince, Eric Clapton, Chet Atkins, Mark Knopfler, Vince Gill… and lets just say ALL of the Kings.

But which is it better to be, a Frontman or a Side Player? Can you be both? Which carries more stress? Which carries more fame? Does one roll have more significance than the other? Who has the bigger influence on the sound? If we could give some advice, what would it be? When I think of a band, which member comes to mind? And… job security… did I just get fired?

Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with Lloyd, on the Tweed Couch.

I am fortunate enough to live in an area that not only has amazing guitar shops, but 1-2 times a year guitar shops from around the nation will come to buy, sell, trade, and showcase musical gear all under 1 roof. Occasionally you’ll see a celebrity. Get a chance to listen to some live music. And possibly touch a true holy grail piece. I grew up going to these shows and now I get to take my own children.

Of course this may sound like heaven but I assure you it has its downfalls. High prices, loud rooms, tiny isles, and sensory overload can leave you drained and exhausted after just an hour.

But… What exactly is a guitar show? Does it cost anything to attend? How is it different from going to a guitar shop? Can you play the instruments? What kind of people do you find there? Is there anything worth buying? How many guitar shops make it? Do the vendors even have to be about guitar gear? What would you buy if you had the money? Do they have special deals? And Les Paul’s… ya… they weren't around in 1886.

Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with Owen my 17 year old cork sniffer, on the Tweed Couch.