Daft Paragon

Guitars and the sort

Solder Won’t Melt on Tone/Volume Pots – Here’s What to Do

If you've worked on guitar electronics enough, or just been really unlucky your first try, you've found a volume or tone pot with a giant wad of solder on the back. Like used chewing gum. And if you've experienced this, you've probably had a hard time getting it to...

MJT/Warmoth Super Strat

This guitar started as an MJT strat that someone else built and sold. I thought the body might be an Fender American Ultra (elite? I forget and am too lazy to look) based on the neck joint. But it doesn't have the registration marks I'm used to. Either way, it was...

Weird Gear – Christopher Cross-Owned Tom Anderson

Christopher Cross is a talented guitar player who has had some moments over the years as a songwriter. If you're middle-aged or beyond, you probably know the song Sailing, but likely couldn't name the artist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzgQoGvSKA4 And the guitar...

Strymon El Capistan Overlay is Done

Previously I did an overlay for the Strymon Deco, because it's hard to remember how to use it without a manual. The El Capistan has a similar problem. It's kind of worse in that based on the tape head option you select, the mode does something different. I suppose...

The Exhaustive List of Good Applications for Pickup Rings

The Exhaustive List of Good Applications for Pickup Rings

Hollow body guitars. That's all folks! I can't tell you how many times I've looked at a guitar that was gorgeous, EXCEPT, they drilled 8 (or more!) pointless holes into the top just for the sake of some cheap piece of plastic that makes mounting pickups 5% easier....

Strymon Deco Secondary Functions: Making Them Easier to Remember

Strymon Deco Secondary Functions: Making Them Easier to Remember

update: if you want me to print one of these and send it to you, they are available here: https://reverb.com/item/51025191-overlay-sticker-for-strymon-deco?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=51025191 The Strymon...

Green Meanie!

If you're remotely cool, you have no idea what the Green Meanie is. If you're a super guitar dork, you know exactly what it is. Should you be unfamiliar, the best encapsulation can be found here:...

Trying to Make My Perfect Guitar

My favorite guitar for over 20 years has been my Tom Anderson Classic. I got it from a friend who really should never have sold it. It's been through a lot with me and has been tweaked and whatnot to fit whatever whims I've had along the way. But the essence of it, as...

What’s With the Pedalboard These Days?

What’s With the Pedalboard These Days?

It's been a minute, so I may as well share what's going on at the moment. Everything below is in order of signal path. Arrows on the photo help make sense of which way it's moving. Basically a backwards "Z". Click to see this larger Snark Tuner. It tunes. It's...