The BOSS EH-2 Pedal

This is why I love the Internet!  I bought this pedal off eBay some years ago for a really great price.  In fact, I bought because of the price, not because I had any idea of how the pedal sounded.  What can I say?  I was a real BOSS fanatic back then.

Ironically, given the BOSS reputation for durability, the pedal came with a non-functioning power indicator.   That was probably enough to turn me off the pedal.  That, and the lack of a manual.  So the EH-2 simply gathered dust.

Until I saw this video.  I just finished playing my Strat through the EH-2.  Luckily, there's a second light which does work, so at least I can tell if the pedal is on.  And guess what?  Playing with the controls makes a very marked effect (pun intended) on the Strat, particularly the MIX control.  It certainly brightens up the sound.  In fact, when I stepped off the pedal, the guitar sounded muffled to my ears.  I can see this pedal coming in handy to help the Strat cut through the mix.  I'll definitely use it the next time I record.    

Who is Danny Kelly?

I needed a good reason to get my blog up and running.  What better reason than to help promote an artist who deserves some recognition?  I met Danny Kelly on Facebook.  He studied at the Joe Kubert school and has a very dynamic and passionate style.  I decided it would be fun to create a slideshow with some of his art.  It would be even more fun if I composed a song to go with the video.   

I was stuck for inspiration until I spotted this drawing Danny posted on Facebook:

Yes, that's Led Zeppelin caught under the red light!  That inspired "Lead Footed".  I used BFDeco for the drum pattern - too bad the program doesn't include some Bonham style drum patterns!  I used my Strat for the guitar, my Danelectro bass for the ... well, bass, and those other sounds?

I dug down deep, deep, deep into a closet and pulled out an Electro-Harmonix Mini-Synthesizer.  I don't remember the last time I used it, and I really didn't think it would work.   They built things to last back in the early '80s!

By the way, Danny's collection contains a lot of action shots too.  His action shots are raw and visceral, and I decided they wouldn't fit in with the overall feel of the music and the other images.  Rest assured, I will do a second slideshow when I come up with a suitable song.  Where are my fuzz pedals?