Gear

The last time Orange Amplifiers dropped an ad featuring Mastodon's Troy Sanders and Hellyeah's Kyle Sanders, the brothers were duking it out in a dramatic "bass-off," which ultimately "ended" Troy's career. This time, "Bass Brothers" Colonel and Toy Sanders are back to host their very own talk show.

The guys and Alexxx from Orange answer off-beat phone calls from fans in this comedic new clip from the brand.

Watch "Bass Brothers" below and tell us which part made you laugh the hardest.

With hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of vintage guitars serving as his backdrop, Zakk Wylde is seated on the cozy stage of the Vintage Room at Guitar Center's Hollywood, California, location. The guitar he's wielding, though, is far from old—it's one of his brand-new signature-series Wylde Audio solidbodies (the Odin model). And he's absolutely shredding on it. With no less than four 4x12 cabinets behind him, the sound is ferocious and immense.

The cabs, however, are just there for looks. None of them is actually plugged in.

In actuality, the powerful sound filling the room is coming from the tiny, boot-high Marshall practice amp at Wylde's feet (which is miked up and running through the room's modest P.A. system). As is the case with any true titan of guitar, Wylde doesn't need heavy sonic weaponry to deliver heavy tones. He gets his power and ferocity from one place and one place only—his fingers.

"How's everybody doing?" the always unpredictable guitar hero asks the small crowd in attendance after he finally stops playing. Wylde is keeping things fun and informal—very informal.

"I have a surprise for you," jokes Wylde. "After we do this and maybe a jam a little bit, we're all going out for an anal bleaching appointment on me. Bleaching is part of the music business as well."

That, of course, is not the sort of topic the roguish guitarist is actually here to address. Today, Wylde is holding his first official guitar master class, and, even by Hollywood standards, it's an exclusive affair. Aside from Guitar Center Artist Relations manager Jake Cheung (who is also the event's emcee); Michael Cirovolo (President of Schecter Guitar Research, the company that distributes Wylde's new guitars); Rob "Blasko" Nicholson (Wylde's personal manager), a few camera operators and staffers, and this journalist, there are only five attendees present—the five people Wylde has chosen to attend.

The lucky quintet—Warleyson Jose, Daniel Mahanger, Emily Hastings, Adrian Carey, and Dana Bradshaw—were among the thousands of entrants who submitted renditions of Wylde's new single, "Sleeping Dogs," in hopes of a scoring a free trip to California to hang with Mr. Wylde for special this master class. Clearly, Wylde felt their performances were the most kick-ass of the bunch. Now, they're face to face with one of their heroes, watching him blaze up and down the neck as he fills the air with white-hot blues/metal fusillades.

"Years ago, I made a list of things everyone else was doing, and consciously stopped doing those things," says Wylde when the topic of how he forged his style comes up. "I thought, 'No more whammy bar. And I'll get rid of the tapping, so I don't sound like Ed or Randy. No harmonic minor stuff or diminished runs. No sweep picking, and no arpeggios.' I did that to separate myself from everyone else. Basically, the only thing left was pentatonic scales. And when I saw my first Albert Lee video, the hybrid-picking country plucking stuff he was doing sounded so amazing, I started incorporating it into my playing as well."

Several questions about building a brand in the social media age arise. For instance, how much personal cash should a young musician sink into launching his/her band?

"If you're thinking of opening a Hooters restaurant or investing in your band, well, the restaurant might be the best bet," Wylde cautions. "The good part, though, is that as soon as you start really building your band, other people will likely step in to help, because it's already got some legs."

While the five attendees will surely cherish the day they got to watch their hero demonstrate his famous Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society solos mere feet from their faces—and will also surely treasure the Wylde Audio Odin model guitar and Dunlop, EMG, Monster Cable, and MXR gear they were each awarded—it is likely that it will be Wylde's optimistic life coaching they will remember most.

"Back in the day," Wylde tells them, "if you didn't get a record deal by the time you were 30 years old, it was almost like, 'The dream is over. I guess I gotta quit music and get a crummy job.' Nowadays, though, that's not the case. If you love music and you want to do it, you can make a living doing it, because you have access to social media, which Zeppelin and Sabbath never had. Back then, you only had that level of reach if you were on a major label. Young bands today are often really good at social media. For instance, check out the Black Veil Brides. They're a perfect example of how you can build things yourself, do things on your own terms, and play the music you want to play."

Though the group-bleaching appointment Wylde has promised never actually transpires, the afternoon is still a success, and Wylde is happy.

"I love showing people solos that I've done, and I'm always happy to show people scales and stuff," says Wylde after the event. "But my whole thing is, 'What if I was able to sit down with Frank Marino or John McLaughlin or Al Di Meola or any of my other heroes when I was coming up and just ask them questions about what they do?' I would have loved that. So, my favorite part of today was just hanging with everybody, talking with them."

Guitar World presents Gear Up For Fall! One lucky winner will go home with all the great prizes on this page. Check out what you can win, and enter below. Contest ends October 31, 2016.

108 Rock Star Guitars book
The rich saturation of color in Lisa S. Johnson's ground-breaking photographic vision documents not only some of culture's most important rock star guitars, it also recounts how the instrument itself has become the essential symbol of rock. Johnson accompanies her images with text cultivated from her experiences and interviews that personify the musician who plays the instrument. Here, the guitar is made exotic, sensuous, and evocative - it transforms from an instrument into an artwork. Some of the guitars included are those of Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Billy Gibbons, Rick Nielsen, Zakk Wylde, Chrissie Hynde, Ace Frehley, Keith Richards, Eric Johnson and many others. Foreword by the late, legendary Les Paul.
 
MSRP: $54.00 | MORE INFO

Andrew White Guitars - Production Series
This Freja 103J is equipped with Jatoba back and sides and a Solid Jatoba soundboard. The guitar has a 25.5" scale length, an Indian Rosewood Fretboard and Bridge, a 1 11/16" nut width, and a very nice inlay of crop circle on the fretboard – a beautiful instrument all around.  

MSRP: $989.99 | MORE INFO

Carvin V3M 3 Channel All Tube Micro Head
The V3M amp was a huge hit at the 2011 NAMM Show, with players raving about the amazing sound and versatility. It was awarded Best of Show.  The small size and selectable power output makes the V3M ideal for dorms, apartments, as well as live performances and recording when mic'd or connected directly to the board. The 50-watt V3M amp is the musician's dream, delivering awesome power with incredible tone including lush reverb. Nearly half the size of the V3 100w head, the V3M offers nearly the same features. Its powerful 50w output easily drives a 4 X 12 half stack, while the 7 or 22-watt setting delivers sweet saturation at low levels. The all-tube channels can be engaged with your footswitch for normal shimmering highs and deep bass. Switch the channel to classic rock with the deepest metal crunch or continuous sustain. Never before has there been so much tone and power from a micro series.
 
Price: $699 | MORE INFO

EarthQuaker Devices - Avalanche Run delay and reverb
The Avalanche Run is a dreamy sonic discovery device with up to 2 seconds of delay time and a lush reverb. Using a high-powered, proprietary DSP platform to recreate all the characteristics of all our old favorite delay and reverb machines, it features complete, intuitive control over delay time, repeats, mix and voice (with the tone control), as well as control over the reverb length and mix. It can run in one of three different modes: Normal, Reverse and Swell. The Avalanche Run features stereo in and out capabilities, along with an expression jack that can be assigned to one of six different controls using the "EXP" selector switch. It also features Tap Tempo with six different ratios accessed via the "Ratio" selector switch. The Avalanche Run can also be run in "True Bypass" mode or "Buffered Bypass" mode for trails and features five different tail lengths, including "Infinite" for lo-fi and continuously degrading pseudo-looping. While in Normal and Swell mode, you can send the Avalanche Run into self-oscillation by holding down the "Tap" footswitch. In Reverse mode, holding down the Tap switch will flip the delay back into Normal mode and return to Reverse mode once released! Each and every Avalanche Run is completely assembled, wired and tested by total human beans in the tiny tundra town of Akron, Ohio.

Street price: $295 | MORE INFO

Empress Effects  – 'Reverb'   
Realistic simulations of spaces, as well as never-before-heard surreal ambiances are represented with stunning sound quality. Sporting stereo ins and outs, a small footprint and all the controls at your finger-tips, it strikes the perfect balance of control and ease of use, avoiding laborious menus. Presets, the versatile control port, and MIDI open up a world of possibilities for live performances. Whether you're looking for a classic spring, realistic room or new sonic flavors to expand your creativity, this pedal delivers. And....it's got a beer mode!

Street price: $449 | MORE INFO

GODLYKE – TWA Wah Rocker®
Based on the vintage Guyatone WR-3 circuit, the TWA Wah Rocker® nails the squawky, slippery, super-funked-up envelope filtering of the vintage version.  Hand-assembled in the USA, the TWA Wah Rocker features several updates that greatly improve on its functionality and performance compared to the original.
 
Street Price:  $189 | MORE INFO

Guitar Shop Tees – T-Shirt Club for Guitarists
Wear your passion for all things guitar with a subscription to GUITAR SHOP TEES. Each month, subscribers receive a limited edition T-shirt from one of the world's very best guitar shops, along with special offers and amazing extras! Perfect for every guitar player, collector and fan!

Price: $22 per month | MORE INFO

Kiesel Guitars – Lee McKinney Signature Series LPM7C 7-string guitar
Kiesel Guitars and the Carvin Guitars Custom Shop is excited to team up with Born of Osiris guitarist Lee McKinney to announce the Lee McKinney Signature Series LPM7C 7-string guitar. The LPM7C is made in the USA and loaded with features, along with having Kiesel Guitars' full complement of Custom Shop options available. Equipped with a Floyd Rose tremolo with acoustic saddles and separate acoustic output, plus Lee's personal 12th fret mother-of-pearl inlay. It's a boutique instrument without the boutique price.
 
Direct sale price: $1249 | MORE INFO

Lollar  – Raw Power Pickups
The Stooges Raw Power album released in 1973 with guitarist James Williamson eventually gained a cult following. Like its predecessor, 1970's Fun House, it's generally considered an influential forerunner of punk rock. James left the Les Paul Custom used on Raw Power at the Lollar shop for a number of weeks during which they took the '60s T-Top pickups apart and recorded detailed measurements. With James' permission, Lollar are offering duplications of this original pickup set. According to James, "My 1969 Les Paul Custom was used to record Raw Power with Iggy and the Stooges and pretty much every other record I've ever made. I sent this guitar to Jason Lollar and he matched the characteristics of these pickups so that I could get the same sound in all of my touring guitars (I never take this one on the road). Jason did an incredible job of replicating these pickups and I have told him he could sell them with my blessing to anyone who wants to get my kind of sound."

Price (for pair): $370 | MORE INFO

LR Baggs – Stadium DI™ Studio-Grade Bass DI for the Stage
Originally developed by the bass-playing engineers at LR Baggs for their own use, the Stadium Electric Bass DI infuses your signal with a blend of studio-grade circuitry and a vibrant palette of unique, tone shaping tools. Composed of carefully selected, "top shelf" components, the all-discrete electronics provide a level of fidelity that rivals even the most sought after studio DIs. Engage the effects to unveil an expansive range of colorful tones shaped by just a few powerful and easy-to-use controls. Built in a rugged enclosure constructed of aluminum, steel, and ABS plastic, the Stadium DI ensures over-the-top reliability for life on the road. Hand assembled in California.

Price: $249 Street | MORE INFO

S.I.T. –  Power Wound Nickel-Plated Steel Electric guitar strings (20 sets)
Nickel-plated cover wrap over a hard-tempered hex core. Our most popular and widely used electric guitar set. Great tone and longevity, suitable for almost all applications. They are also available in the widest variety of gauges and combinations. Made in the USA.
 
Price: $6.99 per set | MORE INFO

Tone Bakery  – Crème de la Crème pedal
The Tone Bakery Crème de la Crème is a smooth, open-sounding boost-overdrive with a separately footswitchable gain stage. The gain stage can be used either for clipping, through a pair of NOS Tungsram OA1160 germanium diodes, or for a second stage of transparent clean boost.  Users include:
•    Matt Beck (Gwen Stefani, Rob Thomas, Andy Grammer)
•    Brian Layson (Dierks Bentley)
•    Aaron Andersen (One Republic, Christina Aguilera)
•    Dwayne Larring (Kelly Clarkson, Nick Carter, Audio Adrenaline, Sonicflood, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes)
•    Stu G (Delirious, Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman)
•    Christopher James (Zella Day)

Price: $129 | MORE INFO

Volume & Tone – Guitar Straps and Pick Key Fob
The Volume & Tone Signature Guitar Strap in Slate Gray Bridle leather–
The Signature guitar strap is a Volume & Tone exclusive. Designed by Creative Director Lane Tabb, this inventive strap features a unique extension system using antique brass collar buttons inspired by military and cavalry hardware. Stylish and sleek, this strap is made of one piece of solid vegetable-tanned Bridle leather, which is traditionally used for saddle making. It molds to your body over time and will last a lifetime with proper care. Due to the natural finishing of this leather, it distresses over time and is part of the beauty of the strap. Comes in regular length or XL.

Price: $69.50
 
Volume & Tone Standard Guitar Strap Distressed with Studs in color Brick–
The Standard is our best-selling strap and a classic. Supple vegetable-tanned, hand-finished leather. It will break in beautifully over time and will last the lifetime of your guitar. This special edition of the Standard Strap has a vintage, aged, distressed edge with antique brass studding - all done by hand by our Volume & Tone artisans. Comes in regular length or XL

Price: $79.50

The Pick Key Fob in Natural Vegetable Tanned Leather –
Always have your pick handy. This rock 'n' roll inspired Key Fob is made with our signature vegetable-tanned Bridle leather and solid brass finishings.

Price: $22.50 | MORE INFO

Walrus Audio – 385 Overdrive  
Dynamic, responsive, tube-like, and amp-like. Walrus Audio is extremely excited to announce the new 385 Overdrive that is boastfully responsible for all those adjectives. For decades now, guitarists in search of pure tone have been taking the tube-powered audio sections of vintage film projectors and using it as a guitar amp. Head's up – it sounds amazing. After endless hours of research on vintage Bell and Howell 385 Filmosound projector, Walrus has created a fantastic new overdrive modeled after the projector's tone. The Bell and Howell 385 gracefully lends itself to create an amazing guitar amp. Its simple, but effective controls, plus dual 6V6 output section make for a simple and extremely responsive amp that has an amazing compressed overdrive when cranked.
 
This was the sound and feel Walrus needed to shoot for in an amp-like pedal. The 385 was developed to have the same simple but effective tone control as its grandfather. The amp has this as well, but bass and treble are stacked behind the single tone knob. With our design breaking them up, we allow for a much wider array of tones to be achieved. The user is able to boost and cut bass and treble, allowing them to be creative with mid-frequency scoops and bumps. The pedal is internally running at 18v, which helps us nail the same dynamic feel of the amp in a stomp box. This means it is extremely sensitive to how hard you dig in – just like the amp.
 
Price: $199 | MORE INFO

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In a hilarious new video segment from Orange Amps, brothers Troy Sanders (Mastodon) and Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah) duke it out in a bass face off.

Set in the distant future, an aged Troy Sanders can be seen living in squalor as he engorges on fried chicken and beer. The bassist was flipping through the channels when he came across the footage of the battle that ended his career. In the clip, the brothers had squared off in an epic bass battle. While Troy was fighting to keep his championship title, Kyle was there to claim the title for himself.

The hilarious five minute video not only pokes fun at sportscaster commentary, but it also depicts the musical titans decked out in clothing from 1970 while they do hilarious stretches and poses in preparation for their head to head battle.

The bass playing duo engaged in their battle using a plethora of Orange gear. While Kyle hooked up to two 4 Stroke 500's through an OBC810 Cab, his opponent uses his double OB1-500 amps through a OBC115 and OBC410H full stack. According to the video, "the advantage of the 4 Stroke is a class AB solid state amp with all analogue circuitry. It features a full-tone stack which allows for an unparalleled level of control over EQ." As for Troy's gear "the key to the OB1's unique sound is Orange's footswitchable blend circuit which adds a veneer of controllable gain and increases harmonic content at the upper register of the input signal."

Watch the climatic ending of the battle below to see how Troy Sanders lost his title.

Welcome to your new home for all things heavy, stylin' and wicked. Here, in this Affliction curated blog, you'll find a special collection of selected material that only we could bring you. Here is where you'll find your mix of music, fashion, rockstars, motorcycles, live shows, and the hottest ladies this side of the metal curtain.

To kick it all off Michael Starr and Stix Zadinia, of neo-legendary rockers Steel Panther, stopped by our New Jersey Affliction store to talk to our main man Jose Mangin about what it takes to jump on stage and rock the masses as only they can. Not only do they break down their fashion, but they gave us a little insight into the mindset you have to be in to look that good, rock that hard and take that many names…at every show you rock!

Check out the interview below:

Punk and country artist Hank 3 has been getting tattoos as far back as when he was living with his mom. But one tattoo the sometime Superjoint Ritual member will never forget getting is the goat-mule beast that artist Paul Booth placed on his left arm.

"The night before, someone put a shot onstage, and I guess they dosed it with a bunch of acid," he recalls. "I couldn't shake it off. Sure enough, with no sleep, I freaked out in Paul Booth's chair."

Equally memorable are the cowboy and punk skulls on his arms, which he refers to as Jekyll and Hyde. "There's something about them that fans feel connected to," he says, "and we have to keep making them proud."

Below, he discusses the artists and events that influenced him to get inked.

1. Unknown Hinson
"He's a musician-slash-genius, as far as the characters that he's created, like on [the Adult Swim show] Squidbillies. I've known him quite a while. He's always in character. The only time I've ever talked to him out of character was when he called me a few months ago when he was having some personal stuff go down. But he said, 'Hoss, I always appreciate all the respect you gave me.' He was just very humble."

2. Smiling Sun
"That's my first tattoo. It's a straight-up Deadhead tattoo. The Grateful Dead were a country-western band in their own little way. I totally identified with that."

3. Hank III Logo with Checkered Flag & Pistols
"I got this after I won a truck-racing video game called Monster Truck Madness out of 40,000 people. I made it into the Final Four contestants, and the other three were, like, computer nerds. I was trying to psych them out, like, 'Well, y'all never been onstage in front of a bunch of people and I have, so don't get the jitters up there.' We raced in front of the whole Toyota factory, with the game up on a screen. My racing name was Rip Buzzed. I won a Toyota Tundra. I ended up having to sell it to a guy in Montana for the money to keep doing what we're doing. It was an awesome memory, man."

4. "Risin' Outlaw"
"That's what I wanted to name my first record. The record label, of course, is giving me shit. They wanted to call it Hank Williams III. The image is just flash art."

5. "Honky Tonkin'" Native-American Design
"My grandfather had [Cherokee and Creek] in his blood just a little bit. That tattoo is just trying to pay respects to them in my own way, trying to say, 'hats off,' to them. It looks more like an Eskimo, though. 'Honky Tonkin'' on the Harley badge is just because I've always played to a lot of bikers. I've played in every bike club that's out there."

SUBMIT YOUR TATTOO! Do you have a tribute tattoo dedicated to your favorite band or artist? Email a photo of your ink (along with your name and the name of the tattoo shop/artist) to submit@revolvermag.com.

Are there any fans out there who are more intense and dedicated than Slayer's? If so, we haven't seen them.

Although most Slayer fans thankfully don't go as far as the dude who actually cut Slayer's logo into his arm, many have had the band's name, emblems, and T-shirt designs, and even the guitarist's signature, permanently etched onto their bodies.

Here's our tribute to a few of our favorite Slayer tributes.

SUBMIT YOUR TATTOO! Do you have a tribute tattoo dedicated to your favorite band or artist? Email a photo of your ink (along with your name and the name of the tattoo shop/artist) to submit@revolvermag.com.

"I don't get tattoos to present some image of myself to somebody else," says Scott Lewis, vocalist for the deathcore group Carnifex. "They're just for me, so they're not gonna make sense to anybody but me."

Lewis is nevertheless happy to oblige us in talking about his ink, which he has been getting since he was 16. In the years since he's become a professional musician, though, he's had to to take a break from going under the needle.

"I'd like to finish all the unfinished stuff I have," he says. "Being in a metal band means you don't make any money. So unless there are tattooists that wanna do it for free—which there aren't—it just is what it is, until I go back to working." - Anna Blumenthal

1. The Chances We Take
"A lot of my tattoos deal with everyday life. You know, you quit that good job and you go out on tour, and you don't know how it's gonna work out, but that's just life, making decisions and taking chances. I got this one almost six years ago, before every other guy in a band had throat tattoos," he laughs.

2. Bettie Page
"A buddy of mine was apprenticing and I had some space so we went at it. It's not finished, obviously—it's been lines for, like, five and a half years. I just think she's pretty and I've been looking at her pictures ever since I was growing up. Everyone thinks she's doing something… She just has her hands in her lap! It's a little ambiguous, 'cause it's just lines, but if you saw the photo it's copied from, you see her hands are just in her lap."

3. Cradle Of Filth, Cruelty And The Beast, Special Edition Cover Art
"Cradle of Filth are one of my favorite bands, and that record in particular is one of my favorite records. That record has had a lot of influence on me musically. Plus that cover art is amazing."

4. Only Love Can Fill The Void
"Those are lyrics by [now-defunct Christian hardcore band] Strongarm. When I was getting into heavy music, they were one of the early bands I heard. The angel saving somebody is just a representation of love."

5. Stay True And Lost In Love
"I'm straightedge, so 'Stay True' is a representation of that. My knuckles say 'Lost in Love.' The reason I got it like that is because it can be Lost Love or Lost In Love, just as easy. It comes and goes."

6. Unashamed/This Is Conviction
"'This is Conviction' are Hatebreed lyrics off the Perseverance record. I'm not really a hardcore fan but there are a couple hardcore bands out there that are amazing, Hatebreed being one of them. And that Perseverance album is just awesome. You can't listen to that record and not feel inspired. It's the best hardcore record ever written, in my opinion. The 'Unashamed' with the three X's is a hardcore piece. I got sober in April 2004 and in December I made the commitment to take on the three-X symbol for straightedge and everything that goes with it."

If your favorite band is a bunch of masked maniacs who regularly punish their bodies onstage and retch out their emotional torment in the studio, all for your sick amusement, you pretty much owe it to them to go through a little pain yourself in gratitude.

And many Slipknot fans have done just that, going under the tattoo needle, waiting and bleeding as it inks their devotion to the Nine permanently into their skins. You crazy Maggots.

SUBMIT YOUR TATTOO! Do you have a tribute tattoo dedicated to your favorite band or artist? Email a photo of your ink (along with your name and the name of the tattoo shop/artist) to letters@revolvermag.com

"I would definitely say I have a collector's mentality," Demon Hunter singer Ryan Clark says. "When I was younger, it was baseball cards. For two seconds, it was stamps. Then it was comic books, and after that, it became music. I can get pretty obsessive."

Currently, Clark's obsessive tendencies are equally balanced between the visual and audial. His dual interests are reflected in the pieces that make up his personal collection. - Richard Bienstock

1. Favorite Music Medium: Vinyl
"I worked at a record store for about three years, and I would spend my entire paycheck there. I probably have somewhere between 5,000 and 8,000 CDs, but I also have a lot of vinyl. In general, I'm pretty selective with my vinyl. I like the larger format. For the most part, I have to dig the artwork as well as the music. Any record that fit both of those bills I'm gonna have, like Dark Side of the Moon or the first Danzig album."

2. Favorite Hog: Harley-Davidson
"I bought this '79 Ironhead Sportster about two years ago, and I'm pretty obsessed with it. I put on the sissy bar, changed the seat, and did a few other minor changes."

3. Favorite Random S**T: Oddities
"I like little oddity-type things, creepy stuff you'd find in an old shop—like doll heads, skulls, anatomical pieces. A lot of this stuff winds up being used in designs for album packaging and other things. I'll buy something for a cover then just keep it for my collection."

4. Favorite Clothing Item: T-shirts
"If I'm at a show and digging the band, I'll usually pick up a shirt or two. At this point I probably have between 150 and 200 band shirts. You can't really see it, but here I'm wearing an At the Gates shirt with the original logo."

5. Favorite Trophies: Grammy Medallions
"I have two. I got them for my nominations for design work on Norma Jean's O God, the Aftermath and Fair's The Best Worst-Case Scenario. Anyone who's nominated for a Grammy gets a medal. They're pretty rad."

6. Favorite Playthings: Invisible Creature toys
"I have tons of toys, but this is one of my favorites. It's called Leroy. We started doing these about a year-and-a-half ago as a collaboration with Super7. We're working on a few new toys together now, but this one's special because it's the first one we did."