The Ground Wire Podcast
The Ground Wire
All episodes
Best episodes
Seasons
Top 10 The Ground Wire Podcast Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Ground Wire Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Ground Wire Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Ground Wire Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Amp vs Speaker
The Ground Wire Podcast
12/23/21 • 74 min
How many amps do you need to own to get all the sounds in your head? For some of us, that answer could be many. But what if the biggest difference between amps was not in fact the amps themselves, but the types of speakers and cabinets that were used? Also, if you own a bunch of amp heads, but run them all through the same speaker cabinet, will they end up sounding quite similar?
Well, these are the questions we are tackling today. We will compare 3 classic combo amps, each through their own cab/speaker, and then start swapping cabs/speakers to see whether it is in fact the amp itself, or the cabinet that makes the most difference.
To be clear, you cannot make a high gain metal amp sound like a 70’s Silverface by swapping speakers. We are talking about relatively similar styles of amps here, however, this is especially useful if you have ever wondered if you need a Deluxe Reverb and an AC15, or a Marshall and an Orange.
Speakers are probably one of the most overlooked elements of the tonal signal path (at least here at the Ground Wire). Many guitarists will change pickups, overdrive pedals, and even cables, before considering a speaker swap. Have a listen, and let us know what you think. We found the results to be rather surprising.
Gear Used:
1965 Fender Deluxe Reverb- Jupiter 12LC
1983 Marshall JCM800 4010 Combo- Original Celestion G1265
1962 Fender Princeton- Celestion G10 Greenback
“Control Cab”- Mesa/Boogie 1x12 Thiele Ported Cab with EVM12L
Custom Built “Tele”
Custom Built “Strat”
Gibson SG
Subscribe in your podcast app of choice to be notified of new episodes and follow us at the links below!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOkc8WaTJZBRr-o6WCx0hFg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundwirepodcast/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@groundwirepod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groundwirepodcast
Super Bass vs JCM 800
The Ground Wire Podcast
09/01/22 • 67 min
Marshall amplifiers. The sound of Rock n’ Roll? At the very least, we can certainly say that Marshall has played an important role in defining the sound of the electric guitar, and especially rock guitar.
In this episode, we are looking at two of Marshall’s most classic amplifiers, from about a decade apart. The first captured the sound of classic rock in the late 60’s and 70’s. The second helped spawn the next generation of 80’s hard rock, metal, and beyond.
The first is the towering titan that is the “plexi” amp. In this case, it’s a Metal Panel Super Bass 100 from 1973. Generally, a “plexi” Marshall is considered to be Non-Master Volume amp with 4 bridgeable inputs.
The second amp is the venerable JCM 800. This one is the Single Channel 50 Watt Model from 1984. In head form it is called the Model 2204. This one is a combo Model 4010.
The general understanding is that the earlier amps were lower gain and were a bit more versatile, while the later JCM800’s were higher gain and a bit of a one-trick pony. We put these notions, and others to the test, sampling everything from clean tones, to crunch, to cranked up devastation. We think you will find the results interesting.
Gear Used:
1973 Marshall Superbass 100
1984 Marshall JCM800 4010
Late 70’s Marshall 4x12 Cabinet with original Celestion G12H30 Blackback Speakers
Custom Built “Tele”
Smitty Custom Classic “Strat”
Gibson SG
Subscribe in your podcast app of choice to be notified of new episodes and follow us at the links below!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOkc8WaTJZBRr-o6WCx0hFg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundwirepodcast/
Feedback Loop: the Loud Lounge, the Supernatural sound, and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness!
The Ground Wire Podcast
05/24/22 • 65 min
It's another Feedback Loop episode! This time around we touch on the drawbacks of the Loud Lounge, a secret weapon for getting that Supernatural sound , the mid-90's rock opus Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, and much more!
Tweed vs Brownface vs Blackface
The Ground Wire Podcast
03/09/22 • 85 min
What is more classic than a Blackface Fender Amp? A Tweed Fender Amp perhaps? What about the Brown Fenders, which are experiencing a renaissance in popularity?
Few amp companies have more than one classic amplifier design. Incredibly, Fender has at least a dozen classic amps, and three entirely distinct era’s; each unique both sonically and aesthetically.
Today we are diving deep into each of these classic amplifier eras (with apologies to the Silverface era, which we consider to be mostly similar sonically to the Blackface amps- see our Blackface vs Silverface Episode), to discover what makes each one distinctive, and learn the strengths and weaknesses of each. We have a low/mid powered example from each era, and a lot of ground to cover.
Think Tweed amps can only do raunchy overdrive? Think Blackface amps are scooped and overly bright? Press play and prepare to open your ears and your mind.
Gear Used:
1954 Fender 5D3 Deluxe- Original Jensen P12R
1962 Fender Princeton- Celestion G10 Greenback
1965 Fender Deluxe Reverb- Jupiter 12LC
Custom Built “Tele”
Custom Built “Strat”
Gibson SG
Gibson ES-335
Subscribe in your podcast app of choice to be notified of new episodes and follow us at the links below!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOkc8WaTJZBRr-o6WCx0hFg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundwirepodcast/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@groundwirepod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groundwirepodcast
Feedback Loop: the importance of speaker choice, tiny setup changes for maximum playability, Revolver, and more!
The Ground Wire Podcast
01/25/22 • 45 min
Put down that soldering iron - it's a new Ground Wire Feedback Loop episode! This time around we chat about the surprising difference a speaker change can make, the benefits of even the smallest of setup tweaks, and a little-known release from a British Invasion band!
Feedback Loop: The creative potential of fuzz, two amps are better than one, and Real Emotional Trash!
The Ground Wire Podcast
11/24/21 • 43 min
It's time for another Feedback Loop! This time around we share our final thoughts on the three classic fuzz variations, Nick explains the benefits of his two-amp setup, and we share why Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks' guitar opus Real Emotional Trash is worth repeat listens.
Subscribe in your podcast app of choice to be notified of new episodes and follow us at the links below!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOkc8WaTJZBRr-o6WCx0hFg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundwirepodcast/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@groundwirepod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groundwirepodcast
Three Pillars of Fuzz
The Ground Wire Podcast
11/08/21 • 99 min
Welcome to season 2 of the Ground Wire Podcast. We're kicking off with the Three Pillars of Fuzz. Most modern fuzz pedal circuits are based, at some level, on one of three iconic fuzz designs: the Tonebender, Fuzz Face, and Big Muff Pi (nevermind that the very first fuzz design was the Maestro Fuzz Tone, and that it inspired the Tone Bender, which inspired the Fuzz Face... that is the subject of a whole other podcast) which all sound very different, and are each responsible for some majorly iconic tones.
From Hendrix to Page, Ronno to Gilmour, Corgan to Mascis, these Fuzz designs have created the sonic foundation for some of our favorite music. So let’s dive deep, in true Ground WIre fashion. We are comparing these fuzzes, into small, medium, and high powered amps, with various guitars, and seeing how they stack with other pedals. We put each one into, and out of, it’s comfort zone. We also compare them in a band mix with bass and drums.
Hopefully this episode will provide some insight on the merits of each, and help you determine which fit your playing style, and for which applications. Now let’s get fuzzy...
Gear Used:
Expresso FX Fuzz Bender MKII - Tonebender MKII Clone
Jam Pedals Fuzz Phrase- Germanium Fuzz Face Clone
MJM Foxey Fuzz- Triangle Big Muff Clone
Vick Audio Mt. Pleasant OD- Marshall Bluesbreaker Clone
1965 Fender Deluxe Reverb
1983 Marshall JCM800 4010 Combo
1962 Fender Princeton
Custom Built “Tele”
Custom Built “Strat”
Gibson SG Subscribe in your podcast app of choice to be notified of new episodes and follow us at the links below!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOkc8WaTJZBRr-o6WCx0hFg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundwirepodcast/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@groundwirepod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groundwirepodcast
Feedback Loop: The episode that nearly killed us, the Speaker Search, Jailbreak, and more...
The Ground Wire Podcast
08/12/21 • 35 min
Here's another Feedback Loop episode to close out Season 1! This time we around we both breathe a sign of relief that Wood vs Pickups is finished, Tim tries out a new speaker for his Reverberocket, and we just can't help but worship the rock perfection of Thin Lizzy's Jailbreak.
Subscribe in your podcast app of choice to be notified of new episodes and follow us at the links below!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOkc8WaTJZBRr-o6WCx0hFg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundwirepodcast/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@groundwirepod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groundwirepodcast
Wood vs Pickups
The Ground Wire Podcast
07/15/21 • 71 min
Making this episode nearly did us in...
This was a serious undertaking, and hopefully it was not for nothing. Trying to tackle the issue of whether the wood itself makes any difference to the sound of an electric guitar is a divisive topic to say the least. We all know that pickups make a huge sonic difference, probably more so than just about anything else. But does the wood itself contribute to the sound? Does a particular guitar have any inherent sound quality that carries over regardless of pickups?
Trying to capture these subtle differences on recording is really really challenging. Here was the basic experiment: Take two strat style guitars that are very similar, but sound different acoustically, swap out pickups between them (actually whole pickguards in order to keep it accurate as possible) and see if the inherent characteristics of the guitars carried over, of whether the sound was mostly coming from the pickups. The results? Well, you be the judge.
At The Groundwire, we generally tend to say that every ingredient in the tone chain affects the end result. Some may be more subtle than others, but the tone chase seems to always end up tackling both the macro and the micro. So, we are certainly getting granular here. Ultimately, a Strat will sound like a Strat, but maybe, just maybe, an Ash bodied Strat may inherently sound differently than an Alder bodied Strat. Maybe? Many sound clips here may help us decide.
**Headphones or High Quality Speakers will be pretty essential to getting the most of this episode (all Groundwire episodes really, but especially this one)**
Gear used:
“White Strat”- K-Line Springfield: Alder Body, Maple Neck, Rosewood Fretboard
“Red Strat”- Custom Built Partscaster: Ash Body, Roasted Maple Neck, Rosewood Fretboard
Pickups:
Don Mare Formvar 50’s
K-Line Signature
Smitty Classic 59’s
Both Guitars have the same Gotoh tuners and trem, Raw Vintage saddles and springs, CTS Pots, and Orange drop caps.
The idea here is that the only variable in play is the pickups and the actual wood of the guitar.
1965 Blackface Fender Deluxe Reverb
Pedal Doctor 4 Speed Overdrive
Subscribe in your podcast app of choice to be notified of new episodes and follow us at the links below!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOkc8WaTJZBRr-o6WCx0hFg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundwirepodcast/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@groundwirepod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groundwirepodcast
Feedback Loop: Deluxe Reverb eras, The Overdrive Search, Mudcrutch, and more...
The Ground Wire Podcast
06/06/21 • 44 min
Hope you're ready for another Feedback Loop! This time around we dream of two Deluxe Reverbs in stereo, Tim finds his new overdrive of choice, and Tom Petty takes us down the Crystal River on the self-titled first album by Mudcrutch.
Subscribe in your podcast app of choice to be notified of new episodes and follow us at the links below!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOkc8WaTJZBRr-o6WCx0hFg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundwirepodcast/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@groundwirepod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groundwirepodcast
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does The Ground Wire Podcast have?
The Ground Wire Podcast currently has 18 episodes available.
What topics does The Ground Wire Podcast cover?
The podcast is about Music, Podcasts, Arts and Guitar.
What is the most popular episode on The Ground Wire Podcast?
The episode title 'Super Bass vs JCM 800' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Ground Wire Podcast?
The average episode length on The Ground Wire Podcast is 61 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Ground Wire Podcast released?
Episodes of The Ground Wire Podcast are typically released every 26 days, 16 hours.
When was the first episode of The Ground Wire Podcast?
The first episode of The Ground Wire Podcast was released on Feb 7, 2021.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ