The more things change...

... the more they stay the same.

So for the past couple of weeks I've been reading through old Guitar mags at bedtime. Puts me right to sleep. Anyway, the period of these periodicals was between 1992 - 1997. Really not that long ago if you think about it.

Guitar For The Pratcing Musician (GFTPM) was still in publication. The "Seattle" sound was everywhere (remember when the Grunge pedal was introduced?) And about the only digital stompboxes were either delays, or the products Zoom made. Rackmount digital effects were still somewhat popular, but new floor mounted products had much more steam a la Digitech RP-1, RP6. DIY was non-existent (or more properly, underground.)

I kept catching myself glancing at ads to see their website address. Not there. You were lucky if there was a phone or (ugh) fax number. Usually just a mailing address. Countless bands and products are now non-existent. Billy Sheehan had ads in GUITAR mags all over the place. My latest issue of Guitar World with the Van Halen Von Trapp's on the cover has a full page ad for better sex secrets and Honda Elements all over. Give me back Billy Sheehan! Please!

What struck me the most (other than the lack of web addresses) was that the ones that were "classics" then are still today, but not in a relic sort of way. I'm talking about the staying power of good products: GOOD stompboxes that were made then, while undergoing a revision or two, are still available today and are just as flexible as ever. A good tube driven amp that was almost shunned by ads then is still a much better product today, and finally no one debates it anymore (validly, at least.)

So I'll leave you with this: The ad that caught my attention most was the Line6 AxSys 2x12 amp. All Digital. All crap. None of us miss it, but they almost had a lot of us convinced for a moment that this was the way we were destined to go. Nowadays Line6 teamed up with Bogner, and if you've heard that piece of crap amp at your local Guitar Center, you will rest soundly knowing it was just as bad 15 years ago as it is today. Poor Reinhold...

Keep building these great effects here! DIY is where it will always be at for the best in guitar sound. Keep the faith my brothers (and sister)

***This post is a re-post I wrote March 18 2008 on diystompboxes.com's forum. I really like it when I go back and read something I stated, and don't feel like I need to change a word of it.