Michael RossSocial Links Navigation Latest articles by Michael Ross “When I switched to guitar, I still had the piano in me, so I developed the two-handed tapping technique to play the guitar more like a piano”: Stanley Jordan on playing piano and guitar simultaneously, and the pitfalls of higher (and lower) frets By Michael Ross published 4 March 24 Speaking to GP in 2008, the maestro discusses the particulars of his signature Vigier guitars, and how they avoid the tonal drawbacks one might encounter when two-hand tapping on other models “I’m Always Searching for Something That Reminds Me of the Early Days in Rock and Roll”: Robbie Robertson Raises the Ghosts of His Youth on His Latest Solo Album, ‘Sinematic’ By Michael Ross published 26 April 23 “I write songs and record music when I’ve got something up my sleeve,” says the pioneering guitarist “It Was a Horrible Little Setup Upstairs, in the Corner of Our Bedroom”: How Americana Icons Buddy and Julie Miller Crafted Their ’Breakdown on 20th Avenue South’ Album Using a Laptop By Michael Ross published 25 April 23 The LP’s pristine sounds reveal how they were able to transcend the limits of a home recording setup Jacques Prisoner BBD Analog Delay Review By Michael Ross published 14 September 22 Redolent of the Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man, this stompbox has a sound of its own Electro-Harmonix Nano Pulsar Review By Michael Ross last updated 26 August 22 Thanks to the interaction between its shape, depth, and rate controls, the Pulsar presents an abundance of cool sounds that can’t be achieved with standard amp tremolo. Josh Smith: "It Was Really Important to Keep it as Old-School Live as Possible. Kenny Burrell Didn’t Go Back and Fix Any of His Solos, So I Wasn’t Even Tempted" By Michael Ross published 16 August 22 The genre-fusing guitar veteran reveals how he expanded his usual horn section to an all-brass big band on his adventurous, swinging new album, 'Bird of Passage.' Joey Landreth: "I Hoped if People Listened on Headphones, They Would Feel Like They Were in the Booth" By Michael Ross published 22 July 22 The Canadian guitar great reveals how a group of unique boutique guitars (and circumstances) helped make 'Come Morning' the most thrillingly intimate Bros. Landreth album yet. Source Audio Zio Booster Pedal Review By Michael Ross last updated 15 July 22 This impressively versatile and powerful boost can serve a wide variety of tonal purposes. With 3 Solo Albums in 2 Years, Steve Dawson Hasn’t Let a Worldwide Health Disaster Slow Him Down By Michael Ross published 7 June 22 The Canadian artist, engineer, producer and podcaster has found the early '20s to be some of his most productive years. Joey Landreth Proves He's Got It All With New Bros. Landreth Album 'Come Morning' By Michael Ross published 1 June 22 The handsome devil displays angelic chops on his band's latest release. Crazy Tube Circuits (Phi) Golden Ratio Review By Michael Ross last updated 1 June 22 This neat little stompbox brings studio quality compression to the pedalboard. Adrian Belew on Alternate Tuning Inspirations, 35-voice Strats, and Why His DigiTech iStomp Remains a Pedalboard Staple By Michael Ross last updated 13 May 22 Prog-rock’s perennial superpower makes a feel-good album for hard-luck times. “I’m Sick of All of the Existential, Post-Apocalyptic Doom”: Rick Holmstrom Reacts to the Current Crazy with ‘Get It!’ By Michael Ross published 4 May 22 With a joyful noise this rapid release is all about having a good time. Nashville Session Ace Kenny Greenberg Releases First Solo Record, ‘Blues for Arash’ By Michael Ross published 14 April 22 Music for a film that never was, this cinematic guitar album features Wally Wilson, Juldeh Camara and Justin Adams of Robert Plant’s Sensational Shape Shifters. Crazy Tube Circuits Crossfire Review By Michael Ross published 5 April 22 Delivering Fender blackface and Ibanez Tube Screamer tones this Stevie Ray Vaughan-voiced dual-effect unit is no one trick pony. Fender Mustang Micro Review By Michael Ross last updated 28 March 22 A very, very small guitar amplifier and effect modeling system offering 12 amp models, 12 effect combinations and more. “The Way We Talk is Never in 4/4”: Naia Izumi Speaks His Unique Musical Language on ‘A Residency in the Los Angeles Area’ By Michael Ross published 27 January 22 This compelling pop masterwork brings original style and showcases stellar guitar talent. Eivind Aarset Explores the Guitar’s Full Sonic Potential With His Group of Telepathic Jazzers By Michael Ross published 20 January 22 The experimental and highly prolific Norwegian guitarist discusses his latest musical endeavors. Crazy Tube Circuits Falcon and Killer V Reviews By Michael Ross last updated 14 January 22 These stompboxes add cool vintage character and respond beautifully when driven by gain pedals, just like a real amp. Valco KGB Fuzz Review By Michael Ross last updated 22 December 21 This pedal could prove invaluable for sculpting just the right grit to carve out a place in the mix. Gretsch G2627T Streamliner Review By Michael Ross last updated 15 December 21 This affordable semihollow electric references a more recent era in Gretsch tone and shapes up nicely for rock. Crazy Tube Circuits Cyclone Review By Michael Ross last updated 3 November 21 Four classic phaser flavors in one pedal to bring back that heady swirl of the Seventies. “I Think Your Style Comes More From Your Limitations Than From Being Able To Play Every Style Perfectly:” Ethan Ballinger Talks Technique & Tone By Michael Ross published 2 November 21 The country guitar maverick is forging a career as a studio player, producer and solo artist by combining the “weird” with traditional technique. “It Just Didn’t Sound Right No Matter What We Did”: Robben Ford on Abandoning His Treasured Dumble Overdrive Special By Rod Brakes, Michael Ross published 20 October 21 When a six-figure amp just doesn’t cut it. “It’s as Much About How It Feels as How It Sounds”: Tone Titan Ariel Posen Talks Gear Epiphanies By Michael Ross published 11 October 21 The slide master reveals how he found his unique sound and style. 1 2 Archives Get The Pick NewsletterAll the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors LATEST ARTICLES1Joe Satriani and Steve Vai are writing new music and will tour as the SatchVai Band 2Mick Mars on how his Motley Crüe ‘Dr. Feelgood’ tracks wreaked havoc on another great album from the 1980s3"A fun and unique guitar that’s nevertheless a sleek beast of a performer." Meet the Frank Brothers Sonar 4Rick Derringer recalls a young Eddie Van Halen and performing with Johnny Winter5Lindsay Ell talks performing with Shania Twain and finding joy in her career after 16 years
“When I switched to guitar, I still had the piano in me, so I developed the two-handed tapping technique to play the guitar more like a piano”: Stanley Jordan on playing piano and guitar simultaneously, and the pitfalls of higher (and lower) frets By Michael Ross published 4 March 24 Speaking to GP in 2008, the maestro discusses the particulars of his signature Vigier guitars, and how they avoid the tonal drawbacks one might encounter when two-hand tapping on other models
“I’m Always Searching for Something That Reminds Me of the Early Days in Rock and Roll”: Robbie Robertson Raises the Ghosts of His Youth on His Latest Solo Album, ‘Sinematic’ By Michael Ross published 26 April 23 “I write songs and record music when I’ve got something up my sleeve,” says the pioneering guitarist
“It Was a Horrible Little Setup Upstairs, in the Corner of Our Bedroom”: How Americana Icons Buddy and Julie Miller Crafted Their ’Breakdown on 20th Avenue South’ Album Using a Laptop By Michael Ross published 25 April 23 The LP’s pristine sounds reveal how they were able to transcend the limits of a home recording setup
Jacques Prisoner BBD Analog Delay Review By Michael Ross published 14 September 22 Redolent of the Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man, this stompbox has a sound of its own
Electro-Harmonix Nano Pulsar Review By Michael Ross last updated 26 August 22 Thanks to the interaction between its shape, depth, and rate controls, the Pulsar presents an abundance of cool sounds that can’t be achieved with standard amp tremolo.
Josh Smith: "It Was Really Important to Keep it as Old-School Live as Possible. Kenny Burrell Didn’t Go Back and Fix Any of His Solos, So I Wasn’t Even Tempted" By Michael Ross published 16 August 22 The genre-fusing guitar veteran reveals how he expanded his usual horn section to an all-brass big band on his adventurous, swinging new album, 'Bird of Passage.'
Joey Landreth: "I Hoped if People Listened on Headphones, They Would Feel Like They Were in the Booth" By Michael Ross published 22 July 22 The Canadian guitar great reveals how a group of unique boutique guitars (and circumstances) helped make 'Come Morning' the most thrillingly intimate Bros. Landreth album yet.
Source Audio Zio Booster Pedal Review By Michael Ross last updated 15 July 22 This impressively versatile and powerful boost can serve a wide variety of tonal purposes.
With 3 Solo Albums in 2 Years, Steve Dawson Hasn’t Let a Worldwide Health Disaster Slow Him Down By Michael Ross published 7 June 22 The Canadian artist, engineer, producer and podcaster has found the early '20s to be some of his most productive years.
Joey Landreth Proves He's Got It All With New Bros. Landreth Album 'Come Morning' By Michael Ross published 1 June 22 The handsome devil displays angelic chops on his band's latest release.
Crazy Tube Circuits (Phi) Golden Ratio Review By Michael Ross last updated 1 June 22 This neat little stompbox brings studio quality compression to the pedalboard.
Adrian Belew on Alternate Tuning Inspirations, 35-voice Strats, and Why His DigiTech iStomp Remains a Pedalboard Staple By Michael Ross last updated 13 May 22 Prog-rock’s perennial superpower makes a feel-good album for hard-luck times.
“I’m Sick of All of the Existential, Post-Apocalyptic Doom”: Rick Holmstrom Reacts to the Current Crazy with ‘Get It!’ By Michael Ross published 4 May 22 With a joyful noise this rapid release is all about having a good time.
Nashville Session Ace Kenny Greenberg Releases First Solo Record, ‘Blues for Arash’ By Michael Ross published 14 April 22 Music for a film that never was, this cinematic guitar album features Wally Wilson, Juldeh Camara and Justin Adams of Robert Plant’s Sensational Shape Shifters.
Crazy Tube Circuits Crossfire Review By Michael Ross published 5 April 22 Delivering Fender blackface and Ibanez Tube Screamer tones this Stevie Ray Vaughan-voiced dual-effect unit is no one trick pony.
Fender Mustang Micro Review By Michael Ross last updated 28 March 22 A very, very small guitar amplifier and effect modeling system offering 12 amp models, 12 effect combinations and more.
“The Way We Talk is Never in 4/4”: Naia Izumi Speaks His Unique Musical Language on ‘A Residency in the Los Angeles Area’ By Michael Ross published 27 January 22 This compelling pop masterwork brings original style and showcases stellar guitar talent.
Eivind Aarset Explores the Guitar’s Full Sonic Potential With His Group of Telepathic Jazzers By Michael Ross published 20 January 22 The experimental and highly prolific Norwegian guitarist discusses his latest musical endeavors.
Crazy Tube Circuits Falcon and Killer V Reviews By Michael Ross last updated 14 January 22 These stompboxes add cool vintage character and respond beautifully when driven by gain pedals, just like a real amp.
Valco KGB Fuzz Review By Michael Ross last updated 22 December 21 This pedal could prove invaluable for sculpting just the right grit to carve out a place in the mix.
Gretsch G2627T Streamliner Review By Michael Ross last updated 15 December 21 This affordable semihollow electric references a more recent era in Gretsch tone and shapes up nicely for rock.
Crazy Tube Circuits Cyclone Review By Michael Ross last updated 3 November 21 Four classic phaser flavors in one pedal to bring back that heady swirl of the Seventies.
“I Think Your Style Comes More From Your Limitations Than From Being Able To Play Every Style Perfectly:” Ethan Ballinger Talks Technique & Tone By Michael Ross published 2 November 21 The country guitar maverick is forging a career as a studio player, producer and solo artist by combining the “weird” with traditional technique.
“It Just Didn’t Sound Right No Matter What We Did”: Robben Ford on Abandoning His Treasured Dumble Overdrive Special By Rod Brakes, Michael Ross published 20 October 21 When a six-figure amp just doesn’t cut it.
“It’s as Much About How It Feels as How It Sounds”: Tone Titan Ariel Posen Talks Gear Epiphanies By Michael Ross published 11 October 21 The slide master reveals how he found his unique sound and style.
