Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

Is this done because of size considerations, that is, would a regular tube w/pins and a socket cause the unit to be too large?

Again, I'll answer, but Evan is the true source for this info. I'm just making educated guesses based on what Evan has been kind enough to tell all of us in other threads.

Regular 12AX7's aren't too large and the pin sockets aren't that big either. I don't think that had anything to do with the choice of tubes in the pedal. I think they were chosen because they give a more natural overdrive sound in this circuit than a 12AX7 or something similar. There are tons of 12AX7 tube pedals out on the market and most aren't all that great. This pedal is different and offers tonal options that aren't easy to come by using the 12AX7. These tubes are robust and they seem to sound incredible. Not many other pedals out there can offer that kind of reliability along with such good tone.

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

You're right again, Gr8scott, but dimensions were also a factor in the design criteria. We know that size and weight are big considerations when someone is buying a pedal and we knew we could make the SFX-03 smaller and lighter using the hard-wired 6021s.

But it's also all about the tone. And the 6021s really sound great. I believe they're the same tubes ZVex is using.

 

[Matt Blackett]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

Because I was an editor at Guitar Player for years, I feel I can comment on the gear review topic. For starters, GP has never given a good review in exchange for ad dollars. Having said that, I admit that advertising is what keeps the mag afloat and GP certainly values its relationship with manufacturers. The process goes like this: the mag gets a piece of gear for review and puts it through its paces. When negative things come up, they are mentioned, but not dwelled upon. The basic rule is, you can call someone ugly, just don't say it over and over. Before the review goes to print, the manufacturer gets to fact check it and they can comment on the overall vibe. If a point is made that GP thinks is fair, the review will be tweaked accordingly, again out of fairness. There is a different standard for a $3000 guitar than for a $299 guitar. Also, savvy readers know what it means when a reviewer says, "This amp is on the bright side, with a decided humbucker bias."
Ad dollars (or the lack thereof) never prevented anyone from getting reviewed--just ask McInturff Guitars, T.C. Jauernig pedals, or any number of other companies.
Wow--'nuff said! These magazine editors--current and former--sometimes don't know when to stop writing!!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

Thanks Matt, for chiming in. I guess us readers have to be skeptical when (and I have seen this in GP) the full page ads are *among the pages of the review*. Also, when reviews are nothing but a list of specs with a wishy-washy 'opinion' thrown in, we have to question it. Also, with mags like Guitar World doing the 'Cosmo thing', and having up to 20 full page ads before you get to the table of contents, the ad to content ratio has gotten very out of hand.

Still, GP is the one I read. I have always considered their reviews more than other mags. And I can't wait till the store I teach in gets this pedal in- I am sure the other guitar players in the store will fight over it before it even reaches the consumer.

 

[Matt Blackett]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

Yeah, people always talk about the ad/edit ratio. I can do without the huge blocks of 25-page ad marathons but the fact is, I've always loved the ads in guitar mags. Especially when I was a kid, I would geek on the ads every bit as much as the features: Paul Stanley sniffing his armpit in those DiMarzio Super Distortion ads, Van Halen for Kramer/Floyd Rose, Pat Martino for the Min'd Pick, Steve Vai in front of his wall of Carvin X100B's, and of course, those awesome Duncan ads like with Seymour and Jeff Beck or the Custom Custom in a block of ice. I still think ads are a good way to gauge what's going on in the industry.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

Who cares what the magazine says.....the pedal KICKS A$$ !!!


Run to your friendly neighborhood GC or go to the bathroom to retrieve your bi-weekly copy of Musicians Friend & get one of these.

If it sucks for you, they have a GREAT return policy

 

[Mincer]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

I remember those ads! But I also remember 15 page interviews with Allan Holdsworth who actually stood a chance of appearing on the cover, as well as 'no holds barred' gear shootouts that were brutally honest too. I did just as much gawking at ads as everyone else, but I don't buy guitar mags to be marketed to in the end. It is the content that gets me. Problem is, if I thumb through a mag on the shelf deciding which one to buy, and all I see is ads- I can't find the table of contents and most pages don't even have page numbers (because they are ads), it goes back on the shelf. I don't think this is what any magazine wants.

 

[Dirt123]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

.... And.... there are more pedals to come. Shhh....

Neato. If you still need a tester, send 'em to my house... I'll test 'em for ya.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

savvy readers know what it means when a reviewer says, "This amp is on the bright side, with a decided humbucker bias."

:laugh2:

 

[MDS]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

I've written reviews for a few magazines and in my experience there is virtually no influence from the editors in terms of what a review says. There is, I believe, a sort of unspoken rule that you don't trash people. For me it feels like not pissing in your own pond. Often times you're writing reviews of products or albums of people you'll probably meet some day. Tearing them a new one in a magazine wouldn't go over professionally for any writer.

With that in mind I think a lot of writers put some effort into writing reviews that say as many nice things as possible and describe the negative aspects of something in the nicest way they can. "This product is perfect if you're on a low budget and great tone isn't your highest priority" It gets harder with album reviews, "this is the perfect album for a someone who enjoys dentist's waiting rooms and the magazine Highlights."

I always take reviews with a grain of salt, but I also find it pretty easy to read between the lines in a review to see what the writer really thinks...

Mike

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

Both Puckboy and Evan have worn me down to a nub. My resistance to purchasing the SFX-03 is now gone. I've thrown my hat (er money) in the ring...

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

Cool, Gr8tscott. Let's have your review (and can I influence you by buying an ad in your magazine?).:lol:

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

Both Puckboy and Evan have worn me down to a nub. My resistance to purchasing the SFX-03 is now gone. I've thrown my hat (er money) in the ring...

I'm telling you Bro...it's the perfect pedal for the Edana.

You're gonna love it!:bigthumb:

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

Cool, Gr8tscott. Let's have your review (and can I influence you by buying and ad in your magazine?).:lol:

I've been out travelling lately and cash was short. I laid it away rather than purchase it outright. Given the shortness of the supply, I thought I would nail one down rather than want one and not be able to find one next week when I'll have the cash in hand ready to go. Purchased a silvertone 1482 on ebay in nearly mint condition and that's eating up my spending cash this week. This is more or less the same silvertone Blues Saraceno was playing in the tweakfuzz demo vid. It looks almost new. Price was right too.

 

[Brow]

Re: Guitar Player Magazine's SFX-03 Review

If/When these become available in the UK, i'll give 1 a go, see how I like it