These are selected questions and answers from the Ask Me Anything (AMA) that Zach from Mythos Pedals does every Friday on Instagram. The questions and answers have been edited slightly to adapt them to text format and provide context. Any errors or misunderstandings are our fault. With that said, enjoy this wealth of information from Zach at Mythos!
Do you prefer linear or audio taper pots on your guitar?
Zach prefers audio taper pots on his electric guitars because that is how the human ear perceives sound.
Pedally Commentary: There are two types of potentiometers (volume knobs) for guitars: linear and audio taper. Imagine graphing the audio strength from zero to 100. You would assume a straight line between those two points would make the most sense. But humans perceive audio in a logarithmic fashion. So having volume pots that are designed to match the human ear are the default standard used in the guitar industry.
If you could only have 3 guitar amps, which ones would you choose?
Zach would definitely start with the Two-Rock Bloomfield. This is his “desert island” amp. That is the number one amp that he loves.
Number two is the Two-Rock Vintage Deluxe. The vintage deluxe has the clean tone magic Zach likes. It feels good and is much different from the Bloomfield Drive.
Number three would be the PRS HDRX 50. This PRS amp has a classic Marshall sound. It’s different from the previous two amps. And Zach loves this amplifier too.
Which pedalboard switcher does Zach use?
Gigrig switcher, Adam S.
Devine noise cables.
How do you maintain clarity when using pedals?
If you are struggling to maintain clarity with your pedals, it could be a few things. If you have a long run of cable to your pedalboard, you might need a buffer to boost the signal from your guitar to your pedals.
Another common problem is having a bad cable. Even if using high quality cables, sometimes you get a bad one that will sonically muddy your tone.
What Zach likes to do is diagnose the problem in pieces. Start with using one pedal in your signal chain. Then try two pedals together. If that is good, add a third. Continue adding pedals together until you can suss out where the problem is happening.
What is Zach’s favorite Led Zeppelin song?
Since I’ve Been Loving You is Zach’s favorite Led Zeppelin song. It is also one of his favorite songs of all time.
Zach’s wife, Morgan, was asked the same question. She likes Ramble On.
Thoughts on Baritone Guitars
Zach likes baritone guitars. Matthew at Mythos is getting one soon. Zach doesn’t currently own one because it doesn’t fit the type of music he plays. But he says if you need that texture and low tuning, nothing sounds quite like playing a baritone guitar. Even putting heavy strings and tuning down a standard scale length guitar doesn’t match the tone from a baritone.
What is a good overdrive pedal for a tweed super amp?
The Mythos Mjolnir is great for tweed amps. You can set the gain low and use it as a boost. The Mjolnir accents the frequencies in a tweed amp really well.
Or a Luxury Drive as a boost for the tweed amp.
Would Zach choose a Two Rock Studio Signature or Victory V40 Deluxe amp?
While they may seem similar on paper, they are built differently. Zach hasn’t spent as much time with the Victory as he has with the Two-Rock amps. When Zach has spent time comparing other amps to the Two-Rock Studio Signature, he equates it to the moment in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy steps into the world of color. It’s like hearing everything and seeing everything for the first time when you play a Studio Signature.
Tips on keeping a Bigsby in tune and re-stringing advice.
First make sure that your nut is cut well. Use lubricant designed for your nut slots to make sure you aren’t getting any binding in the nut.
For re-stringing, change one string at a time. Kink the end of the string before you put it on the peg to keep it from slipping. You can also use a capo to keep the string from falling when you are putting new strings on your guitar.
Pedally Commentary: Changing one string at a time also works great for Floyd Rose style bridges. As long as you don’t need to remove everything for cleaning, change one string and then tune it as you go. The other 5 strings manage spring tension on the bridge so that you don’t need to use a whammy bar to juggle the bridge into place. The string winds on your tuning pegs also don’t get out of control when the bridge remains close to its final position.
I will play 2 or 3 songs before locking down the nut to get the major stretch out of the strings. I also will set my fine tuners out to 80% because I almost always need to raise a tone, not lower it on a new set of strings after I lock down the nut.
Would you put a Strymon Flint before or after a Line6 HX Stomp?
Zach would put the Strymon Flint after the HX Stomp. This way you free up a block on the HX and the reverb comes after the amp/drive stages.
Favorite Kirk Hammett solo.
Zach loves early Metallica. Though he feels Kirk’s solos work better for the Load and Reload albums. He likes the groove of the solos on those albums.
His favorite Kirk Hammett solo of all time is from Trapped Under Ice. It’s one of his favorite Metallica songs.
Recommendations for someone visiting Nashville.
The person asking the question already knows about the Gibson Garage, Carters and Gruhns. Zach added a few more guitar shops to check out: Fannys, Rumble Seat, East Side Music Supply.
Other things, try some hot chicken. Bolton’s, or if that seems too scary, Hattie B’s or Party Fowl..
Catch a show at the Ryman, 3rd And Lindsley, Ascend or the Bridgestone arena.
Nashville Scene or the Lightning 100 radio station will have information about what’s going on in town.
Has John Mayer accepted the invitation to be on Zach’s podcast?
No, not yet. If Mayer does come on the Dipped In Tone podcast, Zach doesn’t want to rehash old information. He would ask questions pertinent to John’s gear life right now. He would love to know how Mayer choose his sounds and what drives the search.
Would you recommend a boost pedal at the end of signal chain? (after wet effects like reverb, delay and chorus)
Zach finds the concept interesting. It will change the interaction between the time based and effects and amp. It’s not a huge interest for Zach because it will raise the volume to the amp or push the amp further into overdrive, which changes the interaction of your gear. Zach recommends trying everything because people like different things and you may stumble upon something that works really well for your style of playing.
We’re going to end it here. Thanks for reading and check out our collection of Mythos Pedals for sale!