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!
Which Mythos Overdrive Pedal would you recommend for bass guitar?
The Mythos Chupacabra is great for bass guitar.
It doesn’t shelve much low end. It sounds really good with it’s voicing for bass guitar. It kind of has an Ampeg flip-top thing. Nice growl. Plenty of high end that you can roll off with the tone knob of your bass.
The Chupacabra is a really useful bass pedal.
How did Zach decide on the myths motif for the brand identity?
Zach was from a little town called Sparta. He wanted to do something Greek because of the Sparta connection. Zach himself is not Greek. (His family is German and Dutch)
He initially was going to call the brand Mythological Pedals. Zach’s buddy Mike said he should call it Mythos because it’s Greek for Myth. Zach thought this was a better name. So you can all thank Zach’s friend Mike for the name of the company.
Will Mythos build a Nobles style overdrive pedal?
No comment on this question. But you should keep watching the Pedally website for future announcements!
How do you get an ideal beard like Zach?
Zach gets a lot of complements on his beard. You have to let it grow longer than you think for the full look. Then you have to learn how to shape it. Trim the moustache. Trim the chin part a little bit to keep that under control. Shaping your beard is what makes it look nice.
How do you treat a glossy neck to transform it into a satin feel?
Zach has always used Scotchbrite pads. He has never used sandpaper. You can buy variety packs of different abrasive levels.
Use painter’s tape to mask off the parts of your guitar you don’t want to get scuffed. He recommends you start with a medium level of pad and then go lighter to polish it to a satin feel.
Will Zach be getting an 8-string guitar?
No, the necks are too wide for him to play. He has trouble turning his left wrist over to play a wide neck.
What new Mythos things are coming?
There are 4 things that Mythos is working on to be released between now and the end of the year. Some will be special release items for individual Mythos dealers. Others will be widely available. Keep your eye peeled on the Pedally website when new pedals are released!
What makes the Herculean Deluxe pedal special?
The Herculean Deluxe encompasses everything Zach has learned from making overdrive pedals. It is the ultimate expression of this type of circuit. There are dip switches inside the pedal to control a wide variety of clipping options. These inside switches allow you to get every permutation of the previously released Mythos Herc pedals.
Zach really appreciates all of the love and critical acclaim given to the Herculean Deluxe. If you’re a connoisseur of overdrive pedals, this is one you should really check out.
Recommended national places to get a Gibson guitar refinished.
RS Guitarworks out of Kentucky is a good place to look into.
Historic Makeovers has an incredible track record of working with Gibson custom shop guitars.
Recommendations for the best Rat clone
When Zach is looking for a rat pedal sound, he goes direct to the original source, the ProCo Rat. The originals are so good, this is the kind of pedal you don’t need to venture into the clones. Each iteration of the ProCo Rat is a little different. Zach’s personal favorite is the flat box Rat 2. He says “Rats sound awesome. If you want a Rat, get a Rat!”
Does Zach like the Two-Rock Vintage Deluxe amp?
Zach has the 35W Two-Rock Vintage Deluxe. It is tube rectified with a 1×15″ cab. He says this is one of the best sounding amps he has ever heard.
It doesn’t matter if he plugs in a single coil stratocaster, a telecaster, a 335 style guitar, an explorer, a Les Paul and even his guitar with active pickups. The TR Vintage Deluxe takes it all beautifully and spits out an incredible sound.
He would put this amp up against any amp with a similar voice and is willing to guarantee the Two-Rock will blow away the other amp.
It takes pedals well, it is beautiful at low volume set clean, the master volume works to get incredible gain sounds. Zach can’t say enough good things about this amp.
Will heavyweight Les Paul guitars come back into favor?
Zach doesn’t think so. The idea that heavy guitars have more tone is dead. Any guitar can have good tone. But in Zach’s experience, the ones that were the most lively, fun and better sounding were always lighter guitars.
What is Zach listening to these days?
He is diving back into old Metallica. There is a band called Arc De Soleil he really enjoys. Still enjoying Everything Everything. His son is obsessed with Megaman music. (from the Megaman video game)
That’s it for this week’s AMA with Zach of Mythos Pedals. Pedally carries a full line of Mythos Pedals for sale, free shipping, and as a small shop there is no out of state sales tax. View our collection of pedals here.