Edge of Breakup
Video Categories
Black Volt Sparrow 5w Tube Amp with P90s — Feat. Wide Sky Guitars P125c
The Black Volt Amplification Sparrow returns — this time with P90s and the Wide Sky Guitars P125C. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Black Volt Amplification Sparrow 5W takes a third run — featuring the Wide Sky Guitars P125C Cutaway with Curtis Novak P90s and Emerson Custom Treble Bleeds, with the R2R Electric x Waterslide Guitars Time-O-Lite Fuzz and Effectrode Tube Vibe.
Watch the first Sparrow demo with the Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul: https://youtu.be/y_IdcyLuOz0 Watch the second Sparrow demo with the 1967 Gibson ES-335 / Humbuckers: https://youtu.be/gQGczTbZIbE Buy a Black Volt Sparrow with R2R Electric Booster Channel: https://blackvoltamplification.com/products/the-sparrow-amplifier Follow Black Volt: https://www.instagram.com/blackvoltamplification/
Giovanni "Gio" Loria builds Black Volt Amplification completely by hand in Los Angeles. The Sparrow was born from a specific Gibson GA5 that Johnny Depp left with Gio for repair — that amp's character, combined with the Fender Tweed Champ and Princeton, became the circuit foundation. 5 watts, one 6V6, one 12AX7, custom 10" speaker on this unit. One Volume, one Tone. Hand-wired in LA.
Three demos, three very different guitars and pickup types. The first covered solid mahogany with humbuckers — the Les Paul's density and output pushing the Sparrow hard. The second covered semi-hollow laminate maple with vintage humbuckers — the ES-335's acoustic bloom and open midrange against a cranked 5W single-ended circuit. This third demo covers a P90-equipped semi-hollow with a solid Spanish Cedar body — the Wide Sky Guitars P125C with Curtis Novak P90s, a combination that brings the Sparrow's GA5-inspired circuit something fundamentally different from the first two videos: the P90's raw, aggressive upper-mid bite and the P125C's acoustic projection working together.
The R2R Electric x Waterslide Guitars Time-O-Lite Fuzz enters from 09:37 — the 25-unit collaboration between Chris Vincent (@djlavalamp) and Waterslide Guitars, built into vintage darkroom light timer enclosures with NOS 1950s and 1960s OC44 or AC107 germanium transistors. Fuzz Face tones with P90s into a cranked 5W amp is a very specific combination. The R2R Electric Booster Channel built into the Sparrow comes on at 18:45 — the Rangemaster-style boost designed specifically for this amp's input stage.
🔊 Black Volt Amplification: https://blackvoltamplification.com 🎸 Wide Sky Guitars: https://www.wideskyguitars.com 🎸 Curtis Novak Pickups: https://www.curtisnovak.com
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 Wide Sky Guitars P125C | Curtis Novak P90s | Emerson Custom Treble Bleeds 🎛️ R2R Electric x Waterslide Time-O-Lite Fuzz | NOS OC44/AC107 Ge | Effectrode Tube Vibe 🎛️ Black Volt x R2R Electric Booster Channel (built-in) 🔊 Black Volt Amplification Sparrow | 5W | 6V6 | 12AX7 | Custom 10" Speaker | Hand-Wired in LA
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12
Ron Ellis Pickups Signature Humbuckers
Ron Ellis Pickups makes its channel debut — and the Signature Humbuckers in the R8 Historic are something special. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Ron Ellis Pickups Signature Humbucker Set takes center stage — installed in the 2002 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul R8 Historic, wired with the Emerson Custom x Edge of Breakup Les Paul Prewired Kit and Emerson Custom Treble Bleeds on both volume pots, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. R2R Electric Rangemaster, Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact, Effectrode Tube Vibe, and Echo Fix EF-X3 all feature.
Get the EoB x Emerson Custom Les Paul Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/eob-les-paul-prewired-kit-premier-pro?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG
Learn more about Ron Ellis Pickups: https://www.ronellispickups.com/collections/humbuckers/products/signature-humbucker
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/ronellispickups/
Ron Ellis is an engineer by profession — over 35 years of experience in materials and mechanical design — based in Carlsbad, California. In 2004 he began using high-tech laboratory equipment, including spectrometers, to reverse-engineer the materials used in 1950s and 1960s guitar pickups at the molecular level. Rather than simply copying vintage wire types or old winding machines, Ron identifies what materials actually make a measurable difference in the final sound and selects them accordingly. Each set is hand-wound in Carlsbad.
The Signature set is Ron's own recipe rather than a PAF clone. Where his LRP set aims for a traditional old PAF sound with a stronger signal into the amp's front end, the Signature deliberately reduces midrange content — hitting the preamp less aggressively and allowing greater headroom, clarity, and note separation. Bridge 10K / Neck 9K, but they don't sound overwound in any conventional sense. The higher resistance number doesn't translate to the compressed, thick midrange of a typically overwound pickup. Historically correct nickel silver covers.
In Ron's own words: "The Signature set is the result of finding single-coil clarity in the humbucker format. It clearly articulates both high and low notes to create a clean and melodic tonal signature. It's great for articulate playing and works well in combination with Telecaster, Stratocaster, and P90 pickups."
Notable players who use Ron Ellis humbuckers: Ariel Posen, Doyle Bramhall II, Guthrie Trapp, Joey Landreth, Kirk Fletcher, Bill Frisell.
🎸 Ron Ellis Pickups: https://www.ronellispickups.com
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 2002 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul R8 Historic | Ron Ellis Signature Humbuckers (Bridge 10K / Neck 9K) | Emerson Custom EoB LP Kit + 2x Treble Bleed
🎛️ R2R Electric Rangemaster | Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact | Effectrode Tube Vibe | Echo Fix EF-X3
🔊 Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" | Scumback H75-PVC 65W | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12
Curtis Novak Strat-V Cojones Bridge & Strat-V High Wind Pickup Set — Fender Stratocaster Upgrade
Curtis Novak Pickups returns — this time with the Strat-V Cojones in the bridge, paired with Strat-V High Wind in the neck and middle. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Curtis Novak Strat-V Cojones Bridge + Strat-V High Wind (Neck + Middle) take center stage — installed in the Fender Custom Shop 1960 Journeyman Relic Stratocaster with Emerson Custom S5B Blender 5-Way Wiring Kit and Treble Bleed, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. R2R Electric Rangemaster OC44, Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact, and Effectrode Tube Vibe all feature.
Get the Strat-V Cojones bridge: https://www.curtisnovak.com/shop/strat-v/ Get the Strat-V High Wind neck and middle: https://www.curtisnovak.com/shop/strat-v/
The Strat-V family covers three wind levels: Vintage Low, Vintage High, and Cojones — each available in any position, though the Cojones is designed specifically for the bridge. The Strat-V Vintage High Wind has been the bridge pickup in the Journeyman across previous demos on the channel. The Cojones steps above it in output — same vintage-voiced Strat-V character, same dynamic response and chimey vintage quality, but with more power to push an amp at lower volume settings and more body in the bridge position where single coils are naturally thinnest.
This is the third distinct bridge pickup configuration on the Journeyman Strat across this pickup demo series: the Strat-V High Wind (previous demo), the Strat-TB Telecaster-style bridge (previous demo), and now the Strat-V Cojones — all with the same Strat-V High Wind neck and middle. The Cojones sits between the Strat-V High Wind and the Strat-TB tonally: more thickness and output than the High Wind, but with the Strat-V's vintage single coil character rather than the Strat-TB's Telecaster-influenced midrange push.
The Emerson Custom Blender wiring is explored from 03:53 and 09:02 — blending the Cojones bridge into neck and bridge/middle combinations not available on a standard 5-way. The Rangemaster into cranked Monarch from 12:31 is where the Cojones output makes the biggest difference over the High Wind, with a fatter, more authoritative cleanup sweep and more signal available to drive the boost.
Get the Emerson Custom Strat Blender Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/s5b-blender-5-way-strat-prewired-kit?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG Treble Bleed: https://emersoncustom.com/products/2017-treble-bleed-circuit-volume-mod?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG
🎸 Curtis Novak Pickups: https://www.curtisnovak.com 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 Fender Custom Shop '60 Journeyman Relic Strat | Curtis Novak Strat-V High Wind (Neck + Middle) + Strat-V Cojones (Bridge) | Emerson Custom S5B Blender + Treble Bleed 🎛️ R2R Electric Rangemaster OC44 | Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact | Effectrode Tube Vibe 🔊 Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12
Black Volt Sparrow Amplifier w/ R2R Electric Booster Channel — Feat. 1967 Gibson Guitars ES-335
The Black Volt Amplification Sparrow returns — this time with the 1967 Gibson ES-335 and semi-hollow tones. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Black Volt Amplification Sparrow takes a second run — featuring the 1967 Gibson ES-335, with the R2R Electric Booster Channel, R2R Electric Time-O-Lite Fuzz, and Effectrode Tube Vibe.
Watch the first Sparrow demo with the Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul: https://youtu.be/y_IdcyLuOz0 Buy a Black Volt Sparrow with R2R Electric Booster Channel: https://blackvoltamplification.com/products/the-sparrow-amplifier Follow Black Volt: https://www.instagram.com/blackvoltamplification/
Giovanni "Gio" Loria builds Black Volt Amplification completely by hand in Los Angeles. The Sparrow was born from a specific Gibson GA5 that Johnny Depp left with Gio for repair — that amp's character, combined with the Fender Tweed Champ and Princeton, became the circuit foundation. 5 watts, one 6V6, one 12AX7, custom 10" speaker on this unit. One Volume, one Tone. Hand-wired in LA from the highest quality components.
The optional R2R Electric Booster Channel — designed by Chris Vincent (@djlavalamp) specifically for this amp's input stage — is explored at length from 01:48. At lower Boost settings it pushes the 6V6 into warm, singing breakup. Cranked, it delivers super-distortion and fuzz territory. Bypassed from 10:04, the Normal Channel cranked shows the Sparrow's natural voice — which is equally compelling, and where the 1967 ES-335's acoustic resonance and semi-hollow character comes through most clearly.
The first demo with the Custom Shop Les Paul showed what the Sparrow does with a solid mahogany instrument. This demo is the other side: a 1967 ES-335, maple/mahogany laminate semi-hollow with its own acoustic projection and bloom. The semi-hollow body adds a different kind of complexity to the interaction with the Sparrow's 5-watt single-ended circuit — particularly in the fuzz cleanup sections, where the ES-335's natural sustain and open midrange character give the Time-O-Lite Fuzz (explored from 14:41) a different starting point than the Les Paul provided.
🔊 Black Volt Amplification: https://blackvoltamplification.com 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 1967 Gibson ES-335 🎛️ Black Volt x R2R Electric Booster Channel (built-in) | R2R Electric Time-O-Lite Fuzz | Effectrode Tube Vibe 🔊 Black Volt Amplification Sparrow | 5W | 6V6 | 12AX7 | Custom 10" Speaker | Hand-Wired in LA
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12
Black Bobbin Phantone
Black Bobbin Chicago returns to the channel with a brand new model — the Phantone. Get ready to see this one in a lot of upcoming videos. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Black Bobbin Chicago Phantone takes its channel debut — Aged Seafoam Green nitrocellulose lacquer with beautiful finish checking, Black Bobbin Lollar JM Pickups, Mastery hardware throughout — into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" with Scumback H75-PVC 65W speakers via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. R2R Electric Rangemaster OC44, Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact, Effectrode Tube Vibe, and Echo Fix EF-X3 all feature.
In Shelby's words:
"Designed in partnership with Carlos Lopez, the Black Bobbin Phantone takes inspiration from the rich history of instrument manufacturing in Chicago during the 1950s and 1960s. The guitars and basses produced during that era left a lasting impression on the culture and were used on some of the most fundamental music of that time. Drawing influence from our favorite mid-century guitars, the Phantone design is centered around our exclusive Lollar JM pickups and an offset-waist body for unmatched tone and comfort. Equipped with Mastery Bridge hardware, the Phantone plays smooth and effortlessly.
With the legacy of Harmony and Kay instrument manufacturing nearly forgotten by the people of Chicago, we are introducing the Phantone to help honor and celebrate the deeply rooted connection between electric guitar and this city. Just a few miles from Black Bobbin, at the end of an elevated pedestrian pathway, sits one of many long-gone Harmony factory sites — completely devoid of any acknowledgment of what once stood in its place. The Black Bobbin Phantone is assembled in Chicago continuing the storied heritage of guitar making in this city."
Full specs: Aged Seafoam Green nitrocellulose lacquer, light relic, finish checking. Alder body with offset waist and arm contour. Roasted Quarter-Sawn Maple neck, Vanguard tint. Jescar 51100 fretwire. 25.5" scale length. 12" fretboard radius. 1.67" nut width. Black Bobbin Lollar JM Pickups. Vintage-inspired 280K pots. NOS K40Y-9 33nF capacitor. Mastery M1 Bridge, Mastery OMV, Mastery STV. Mono Vertigo gig bag.
🎸 Black Bobbin Chicago: https://blackbobbin.com 🎸 Lollar Pickups: https://www.lollarguitars.com/lollar-pickups 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 Black Bobbin Chicago Phantone | Aged Seafoam Green Nitro | Alder | Roasted QS Maple Neck | Lollar JM Pickups | 280K Pots | NOS K40Y-9 Cap | Mastery M1 + OMV + STV | 25.5" Scale 🎛️ R2R Electric Rangemaster OC44 | Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact | Effectrode Tube Vibe | Echo Fix EF-X3 🔊 Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" | Scumback H75-PVC 65W | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R121 & R10 | Ableton Live 12
Fender Custom Shop Journeyman '63 Jaguar
The 2022 Fender Custom Shop Journeyman '63 Jaguar in Taos Turquoise — stock, as-delivered, before any mods touch it. Would you mod it or keep it as-is? Let me know in the comments, and stay tuned for the follow-up video where I get into the mods. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the 2022 Fender Custom Shop 1963 Jaguar Journeyman Relic takes center stage — stock Custom Shop parts, pickups, and components throughout — into the Benson Amps Monarch and Benson 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. R2R Electric Rangemaster OC44, Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact, Effectrode Tube Vibe, and Echo Fix EF-X3 all feature.
The Jaguar debuted in 1962 as Fender's top-of-the-line offset — more features, shorter scale, and more complex circuitry than anything else in the lineup at the time. Individual pickup on/off switches, a separate rhythm circuit with its own volume and tone thumbwheels, shielded pickups for reduced hum, a string mute, and a distinctive floating tremolo system. The 1963 Journeyman Relic recreates those originals faithfully, with the Journeyman Relic finish representing the middle ground in Fender Custom Shop's relic spectrum — played-in but not abused.
Full specs: Taos Turquoise Journeyman Relic nitrocellulose lacquer. 2-piece Select Alder body. Quarter-Sawn Maple neck with '62 Jaguar C profile (.820"-.900"). Round-Lam Rosewood fingerboard. 24" short scale. 9.5" radius. 22 narrow tall 6105 frets. Bone nut, 1.650" width. Handwound Custom Shop '62 Jaguar Flat Magnet pickups — shielded, hum-reduced. Individual pickup on/off switches. Lead circuit (Volume + Tone) and Rhythm circuit (two thumbwheel Volume + Tone) with circuit selector. Strangle switch (tone circuit bypass — explored at 09:43). Vintage-style floating tremolo. RSD Jaguar adjustable bridge. Vintage-style tuning machines.
The Strangle switch is explored at 09:43 — it bypasses the tone capacitor in the lead circuit, removing the high-frequency rolloff that the Jaguar's circuit inherently produces. The result is a brighter, more cutting top end that was considered an unusual feature in 1962 and remains one of the most distinctive sounds in the offset guitar world.
🎸 Fender Custom Shop: https://shop.fender.com
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 2022 Fender Custom Shop '63 Jaguar Journeyman Relic | Taos Turquoise | Handwound '62 Jaguar Flat Magnet Pickups | Floating Tremolo | 24" Scale | Quarter-Sawn Maple | Stock
🎛️ R2R Electric Rangemaster OC44 | Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact | Effectrode Tube Vibe | Echo Fix EF-X3
🔊 Benson Amps Monarch | Boss Waza TAE | Benson 2x12"
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12
Black Volt Sparrow Amplifier with R2R Electric Booster Channel Feat. Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul R8
Black Volt Amplification makes its channel debut with the Sparrow — a 5-watt hand-wired gem with a very special origin story. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Black Volt Amplification Sparrow takes center stage — with the optional R2R Electric Booster Channel installed, featuring a Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul with Ron Ellis Signature Humbuckers wired with the Emerson Custom x Edge of Breakup Les Paul Prewired Kit and Emerson Custom Treble Bleeds. The R2R Electric Time-O-Lite Fuzz and Effectrode Tube Vibe also feature.
Buy a Black Volt Sparrow with R2R Electric Booster Channel: https://blackvoltamplification.com/products/the-sparrow-amplifier
Get the EoB x Emerson Custom Les Paul Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/eob-les-paul-prewired-kit-premier-pro?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG
Black Volt Amplification is Giovanni "Gio" Loria, building completely by hand in Los Angeles since 2014. A professional musician with over two decades of experience — including early work with Atban Klann, the precursor to The Black Eyed Peas — Gio trained under electronics restoration expert David Riddle before channeling deep vintage circuit knowledge into his own amplifiers. Every Black Volt amp is hand-wired using a combination of new and vintage components, housed in cabinets built from reclaimed century-old barn wood.
The Sparrow name has a specific origin: a Gibson GA5 that Johnny Depp left with Gio for repair. That amp — and its unique overdriven character — became the primary inspiration for the Sparrow's circuit. Gio blended the best qualities of the Gibson GA5, Fender Tweed Champ, and Fender Tweed Princeton into one coherent voice, filtered through the Black Volt lens. The result is a 5-watt, 1x8" Jensen Alnico combo that is small enough to take anywhere and loud enough to play with a full band. However, this unit has a 10" speaker in it - this is a customization available upon ordering from Black Volt.
One Volume, one Tone. One 6V6 power tube, one 12AX7 preamp tube. 8" or 10” Jensen Alnico speaker. Completely hand-made and hand-wired in Los Angeles.
The optional R2R Electric Booster Channel is a built-in collaboration with Chris Vincent (@djlavalamp) — a Rangemaster/fuzz style booster circuit designed specifically for this amp's input stage. On/Off switch and Boost control knob on the amp face. At lower Boost settings it pushes the 6V6 into warm, singing breakup. Cranked, it sends the amp into super-distortion and fuzz territory — explored in depth from 02:40 onward. The R2R Electric Time-O-Lite Fuzz (from the Waterslide Guitars collaboration) then adds another fuzz layer from 08:50.
🔊 Black Volt Amplification: https://blackvoltamplification.com
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul | Ron Ellis Signature Humbuckers | Emerson Custom EoB LP Kit + 2x Treble Bleed
🎛️ Black Volt x R2R Electric Booster Channel (built-in) | R2R Electric Time-O-Lite Fuzz | Effectrode Tube Vibe
🔊 Black Volt Amplification Sparrow | 5W | 6V6 | 12AX7 | Custom 10" Speaker | Hand-Wired in LA | Gibson GA5 / Tweed Champ / Princeton Inspired
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 12
Thorpy FX Heavy Water Boost
ThorpyFX returns to the channel — this time with the Heavy Water, a dual boost that starts subtle and ends with your amp absolutely smashed. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the ThorpyFX Heavy Water Dual Boost takes center stage — featuring the Moon Guitars Moon Burn with Lambertones Lamber'Tron pickups, into the Benson Amps Monarch via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander set to the edge of breakup.
Get a ThorpyFX Heavy Water: https://thorpyfx.com/en-us/products/heavy-water-double-booster
Follow ThorpyFX: https://www.instagram.com/thorpyfx/
The Heavy Water was born from player demand for the boost side of The Dane to be its own pedal. Adrian Thorpe being Adrian Thorpe, he didn't stop there — he paired it with a second boost featuring germanium diodes, giving the Heavy Water three genuinely distinct voices from two footswitches.
Right side (The Dane Boost): the same high headroom, transparent clean boost from The Dane. At low levels it sweetens and enhances without altering the core tone. Push the Boost knob and it drives the front of the amp progressively harder. The Lows control adds or removes low-end content — useful for fattening up single coils, tightening humbuckers into a drive pedal, or focusing the character of a cranked amp.
Left side (Germanium Boost): the same circuit architecture but with germanium diodes in the clipping stage. The result is a grittier, slightly compressed, more saturated boost character — more aggressive than the clean side, with a chewy warmth that the transparent right side doesn't produce. Higher output than the clean side at equivalent Boost knob settings.
Both sides combined (explored from 08:29): the clean boost runs into the Ge boost, combining the transparent level-lifting of the right side with the germanium grit of the left. Into an amp already at the edge of breakup, both sides stacked produces results that range from heavy saturation to genuinely intense amp-smashing distortion. Each side independently set allows enormous range of stacked character.
Four controls total: Boost and Lows per side. Independent footswitches. Built in Adrian Thorpe's signature custom stainless steel enclosure — bulletproof construction, top-mounted jacks, compact footprint. 9V DC center negative only. No battery.
🎛️ ThorpyFX Heavy Water: https://thorpyfx.com/en-us/products/heavy-water-double-booster
🎸 Moon Guitars: https://www.moon-guitars.com
🎸 Lambertones: https://lambertones.store
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 Moon Guitars Moon Burn | Lambertones Lamber'Tron Pickups
🎛️ ThorpyFX Heavy Water | Dane Clean Boost + Ge Diode Boost | Boost + Lows per Side | Independent Footswitches | Stackable
🔊 Benson Amps Monarch | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 12
Curtis Novak Pickups Strat-V High Wind Pickup Set — Essential Fender Stratocaster Upgrade
Curtis Novak Pickups returns to the channel — this time with a full Strat-V High Wind set in all three positions. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Curtis Novak Strat-V High Wind Pickup Set takes center stage — all three positions, installed in the Fender Custom Shop 1960 Journeyman Relic Stratocaster with Emerson Custom S5B Blender 5-Way Wiring Kit and Treble Bleed, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact, R2R Electric Rangemaster OC44, and Effectrode Tube Vibe feature in the second half.
Get a Curtis Novak Strat-V High Wind set: https://www.curtisnovak.com/shop/strat-v/
The Strat-V is Curtis Novak's vintage-specification Stratocaster single coil — voiced for the warm, chimey, bloom-heavy character of a classic '60s Strat. The High Wind variant adds output compared to the standard Strat-V, pushing the amp harder at lower volume settings and delivering more body and fullness across all five positions. Middle pickup is reverse-wound/reverse-polarity for hum cancellation in positions 2 and 4.
This demo contrasts with the previous Curtis Novak Strat video, which featured the Strat-V High Wind neck and middle paired with the Strat-TB Telecaster-style bridge pickup. Here, the Strat-V High Wind runs in all three positions — a more consistent tonal character across the full sweep of the 5-way, with the bridge position showing what a high-wind vintage-voiced single coil sounds like against the beefier Strat-TB alternative from the previous demo.
The Emerson Custom Blender wiring is explored from 08:21 — blending the neck pickup into the bridge and bridge middle positions, giving parallel neck+bridge combinations unavailable on standard Strat wiring. The Rangemaster into pushed Monarch combination from 12:00 is where the High Wind output shines most: more input level to the boost means a wider cleanup sweep and a fatter, more authoritative fuzz character.
Grab an Emerson Custom Treble Bleed: https://emersoncustom.com/products/2017-treble-bleed-circuit-volume-mod?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG
Emerson Custom Strat Blender Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/s5b-blender-5-way-strat-prewired-kit?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG
🎸 Curtis Novak Pickups: https://www.curtisnovak.com
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 Fender Custom Shop '60 Journeyman Relic Strat | Curtis Novak Strat-V High Wind (All 3 Positions) | Emerson Custom S5B Blender + Treble Bleed
🎛️ Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact | R2R Electric Rangemaster OC44 | Effectrode Tube Vibe
🔊 Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 12
Lollar Pickups High Wind Imperial PAF Humbuckers // Feat. Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul R8
Lollar Pickups returns to the channel — this time with the High Wind Imperial PAF Humbuckers, the hotter sibling of the legendary Low Wind. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Lollar High Wind Imperial PAF Humbuckers take center stage — installed in the 2002 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul R8 Historic, freshly wired with the Emerson Custom x Edge of Breakup Les Paul Prewired Kit and two Emerson Custom Treble Bleeds, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact, R2R Electric Rangemaster, and Effectrode Tube Vibe all feature.
Grab a set: https://www.lollarguitars.com/lollar-humbucker-pickups/lollar-imperial-humbucker Get the EoB x Emerson Custom Les Paul Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/eob-les-paul-prewired-kit-premier-pro?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG Treble Bleed Mod: https://emersoncustom.com/products/2017-treble-bleed-circuit-volume-mod?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG
The Lollar Low Wind Imperial is one of the most well-known boutique PAF humbuckers on the market — open, airy, dynamic, with a bloom and clarity that rewards touch sensitivity. The High Wind Imperial keeps the same fundamental voicing — drawn from the long-revered qualities of the original 1950s PAF — but adds winding to both the neck and bridge, pushing the output higher while staying within the vintage PAF specification range.
What this means in practice: the High Wind pushes your amp into overdrive territory at lower volume settings. The same amp that sounds clean with a Low Wind Imperial will sound fuller and more pushed with the High Wind at the same volume knob position. Clean tones have more body and girth. Cranked tones arrive earlier and with more authority. The overdrive interaction with the Revival Drive Compact is more saturated, and the R2R Electric Rangemaster stacking — explored from 11:03 — has an even broader range of cleanup tones available because there's more signal level to roll back into.
The R8 Historic platform is particularly well-suited to High Wind Imperials. The hide glue neck joint, long tenon, and solid mahogany construction are already voiced for warmth and sustain — the High Wind's added output gives the guitar's natural resonance more input signal to push the amp with, resulting in a more consistently singing, harmonically rich character even at modest volume settings.
Grab an Emerson Custom Les Paul Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/les-paul-prewired-kit?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG Emerson Custom Strat Blender Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/s5b-blender-5-way-strat-prewired-kit?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG
🎸 Lollar Pickups: https://www.lollarguitars.com/lollar-pickups 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 2002 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul R8 Historic | Lollar High Wind Imperial PAF Humbuckers | Emerson Custom EoB LP Kit | 2x Treble Bleed | '50s Wiring | P/O Caps 🎛️ Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact | R2R Electric Rangemaster | Effectrode Tube Vibe 🔊 Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 12
Greer Amps Thunderbolt30 Gen2 Tube Amplifier | Feat. Frank Brothers Ultra Light
Greer Amps returns to the channel — this time with the Thunderbolt30 Gen2, their best selling amp head. And Expresso FX makes its channel debut alongside it. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Greer Amps Thunderbolt30 Gen2 takes center stage — featuring the Frank Brothers Ultralight Semi-Hollow with Lollar El Rayo Humbuckers (neck and bridge), Lollar Firebird middle (blender knob with Emerson Custom Treble Bleeds), into the Benson Amps 2x12" cabinet with Celestion G12H 30W speakers via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. The Expresso FX Dual Ge/Si Fuzz and Germanium Boost Mini join from 13:06 onward.
Thanks to Coast Sonic for sending the Thunderbolt30 Gen2: https://coastsonic.com/search?q=greer+amps Follow Coast Sonic: https://www.instagram.com/coastsonic/ Follow Greer Amps: https://www.instagram.com/greeramps
Nick Greer builds in Athens, Georgia. The Thunderbolt30 is Greer Amps' best-selling head — 30 watts blending AC-type, JTM-type, and Matchless-type circuits into one coherent voice. Two EL34 power tubes, cathode biased, Class A. Two 12AX7 preamp tubes. 5AR4 rectifier. Custom Mercury Magnetics output transformer (8 and 16 ohm). Hand-wired throughout.
Two genuinely distinct inputs. Input 1: higher gain, snap and bite (02:54). Input 2: softer midrange, less gain, more polite tonal range (18:57). Three knobs: Volume, Tone, Master. Volume controls gain, Master controls output level. Both cranked delivers the full 30 Class A watts. Volume up with Master lower gives maximum headroom and a clean pedal platform. Gen2 brings a new logo and small circuit refinements from Nick.
Expresso FX is Sof, building by hand in the UK — every transistor hand-selected and auditioned, zero compromise on components.
The Dual Ge/Si Fuzz (Charcoal) is a Fuzz Face-style circuit with Q1 switchable between a Newmarket NKT271 germanium and a Mullard OC202 silicon transistor, with a Mullard AC188 in Q3. The NKT271 is the same transistor family found in the earliest original Fuzz Faces. The OC202 delivers a temperature-stable, grittier alternative at the flick of a switch.
The Germanium Boost Mini (Gold) is a compact Rangemaster-style boost with a Philips OC141 — NPN, negative ground, daisy-chain friendly. Creamy and well-balanced. NOS Mullard Tropical Fish and Philips caps. Genuine Hammond enclosure.
Grab an Emerson Custom Treble Bleed: https://emersoncustom.com/products/2017-treble-bleed-circuit-volume-mod?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG Emerson Custom Les Paul Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/les-paul-prewired-kit?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG Emerson Custom Strat Blender Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/s5b-blender-5-way-strat-prewired-kit?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG
🔊 Greer Amps Thunderbolt30 Gen2: https://www.greeramps.com/products/thunderbolt30-gen2 🎛️ Expresso FX: https://expressofx.com 🎸 Frank Brothers Guitar Company: https://www.frankbrothersguitars.com 🎸 Lollar Pickups: https://www.lollarguitars.com/lollar-pickups
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 Frank Brothers Ultralight Semi-Hollow | Lollar El Rayo (Neck + Bridge) + Lollar Firebird (Middle Blender) | Emerson Custom Treble Bleeds 🎛️ Expresso FX Dual Ge/Si Fuzz (Charcoal) | NKT271 Ge + OC202 Si (Q1 Switch) | Mullard AC188 (Q3) 🎛️ Expresso FX Germanium Boost Mini (Gold) | Philips OC141 | NOS Mullard Caps | Hammond Enclosure 🔊 Greer Amps Thunderbolt30 Gen2 | EL34 Class A | 5AR4 Rect. | Mercury Magnetics | 2 Inputs | Volume / Tone / Master 🔊 Benson Amps 2x12" | Celestion G12H 30W | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 12
Which R2R Electric Fuzz to Get? Ge Distorter NKT, Ge Distorter, Si Distorter TFK & Si Distorter
Very excited to welcome R2R Electric back to the channel, this time with a look across Chris Vincent's Distorter Fuzz line - - the Ge Distorter NKT (50s/60s Newmarket NKT27U Transistor Fuzz Face), - the Ge Distorter (blend of Germanium Schaller and Fuzz Face), - the Si Distorter TFK (50s/60s Telefunken Silicon Transistors), and - and the Si Distorter (blend of Silicon Schaller and Fuzz Face). Go follow R2R Electric on Instagram and join the R2R Electric email list for new drops of custom made pedals crafted from NOS vintage parts. https://www.instagram.com/djlavalamp/ https://www.r2relectric.com I thought it would be massively fun to compare the Distorter models from Ge to Ge NKT, Si to Si TFK, Ge to Si, Ge NKT to Ge TFK, and so on... I compared them across full fuzz gain with the guitar volume maxed and the bridge pickup roaring, but also with the volume knob cleaning up with the fuzzes to show the introcacies of how they react to your guitar's controls. I picked up a bufferless switcher from The Gig Rig (Dan from That Pedal Show) so I can seamlessly switch between the different transistor sets. Today I am featuring my Custom Shop Fender Stratocaster Journeyman '60 with Curtis Novak Pickups Strat-V Neck and Middle / Strat-TB Cojones bridge (this is a brand new Curtis Novak Protoype Strat Bridge pickup 🤫), wired up with an Emerson Custom 5-Way Strat Blender Wiring Kit and Treble Bleed, into the Benson Monarch and a 2x12" cabinet with 4 mics on it, into a Universal Audio x4 and Ableton Live.
Civil Math | Mask Audio Electronics
Delighted to welcome Mask Audio Electronics to the channel with their Civil Math Fuzz! The Civil Math will cover all your russian big muff / civil war big muff needs and then some, with an expanded feature set expertly tuned by Alex of MAE. An added Boost pushes the already plentiful gain even harder, and a switch to control what MAE calls "Blowout" takes "caving in" to a new level... your amp is not ready for this. 🤣
Grab one here: https://maskaudioelectronics.com/products/civil-math
Today I am featuring the Civil Math with my @Kauerguitars Gripen, loaded with @WolfetonePickups Humbuckers, @EmersonCustomUSA Pots, and Emerson Treble Bleed into my @BensonAmps Monarch with 2x12" @CelestionUK G12H speakers, into an array of 4 mics ( @royerlabs R10, Royer R121, @sennheiser E906, @LautenAudio LS-208) into a @UniversalAudio Apollo x4 and @Ableton Live 12.
R2R Electric & Waterslide Time-O-Lite Fuzz / Fuzz Face Shootout! / GeFace Deluxe & Ge Distorter NKT
R2R Electric returns with something genuinely one of a kind — a Waterslide Guitars collaboration, a three-way fuzz face shootout, and the most unique pedal enclosure I've ever seen. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the R2R Electric x Waterslide Guitars Time-O-Lite Fuzz takes center stage — alongside the R2R Electric GeFace Deluxe (AC107 Ge) and the R2R Electric Ge Distorter NKT (NKT72U/NKT278) — featuring the Fender Custom Shop 1960 Journeyman Relic Stratocaster with Curtis Novak Strat-V High Wind (Neck + Middle) and Curtis Novak Strat-TB (Bridge), Emerson Custom S5B Blender 5-Way Wiring Kit and Treble Bleed, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. The Gig Rig bufferless switcher handles seamless pedal switching between the three fuzzes throughout.
Follow R2R Electric: https://www.instagram.com/djlavalamp/ R2R Electric mailing list: https://www.r2relectric.com Follow Waterslide Guitars: https://www.instagram.com/waterslideguitars/ Waterslide Guitars: http://www.waterslideguitars.com
Grab an Emerson Custom Treble Bleed: https://emersoncustom.com/products/2017-treble-bleed-circuit-volume-mod?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG
Emerson Custom Strat 5-Way Blender Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/s5b-blender-5-way-strat-prewired-kit?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG
The Time-O-Lite is a collaboration between R2R Electric (Chris Vincent, @djlavalamp) and Waterslide Guitars — a run of 25 units built into genuine vintage darkroom photographic light timer enclosures, the kind used in film developing labs in the 1950s and 1960s. The enclosures are original hardware, sourced and converted into guitar pedals filled with NOS 1950s and 1960s OC44 or AC107 germanium transistors (this video features the OC44 variant). Steampunk aesthetics that are genuinely vintage, not manufactured to look vintage. Each of the 25 units is unique.
The shootout format puts three distinct NOS germanium transistor voicings directly against each other using The Gig Rig's bufferless switching — essential for fuzz face circuits, which are extremely sensitive to any buffered signal preceding them. Three different transistor families, three distinct characters:
Time-O-Lite (OC44 in this video, or the AC107 variant that I will eventually own as well 😉): The OC44 is the transistor used in the original 1966 Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face — full, warm, musical. The AC107 is the transistor Chris Vincent uses in the R2RGeMaster — sweeter top end, slightly more complex harmonic character. Both are NOS 1950s/60s stock.
GeFace Deluxe (AC107): Chris's standard GeFace Deluxe build — AC107 transistors in his faithful Fuzz Face circuit with NOS passive components throughout. Period-correct paper-in-oil and mylar caps, Allen-Bradley and Piher carbon comp resistors, vintage CTS potentiometers.
Ge Distorter NKT (NKT72U/NKT278): Newmarket NKT transistors — the transistor family used in many of the earliest British Fuzz Faces and Tone Benders. The NKT72U and NKT278 have a grittier, more aggressive character than the OC44 or AC107 — more snarl in the upper midrange, less rounded bloom.
The rapid fire comparison section at 14:26 puts all three side by side on identical settings for the most direct transistor character comparison on the channel.
🎛️ R2R Electric: https://www.r2relectric.com 🎸 Curtis Novak Pickups: https://www.curtisnovak.com 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 Fender Custom Shop '60 Journeyman Relic Strat | Curtis Novak Strat-V (Neck + Middle) + Strat-TB (Bridge) | Emerson Custom S5B Blender + Treble Bleed 🎛️ R2R x Waterslide Time-O-Lite (OC44/AC107) | R2R GeFace Deluxe (AC107) | R2R Ge Distorter NKT (NKT72U/NKT278) | All NOS Ge | Point-to-Point | 25 Units Only 🔊 Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" | Boss Waza TAE | The Gig Rig Bufferless Switcher
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 12
Other R2R Electric videos you might like:
https://www.edgeofbreakup.studio/latest-videos/the-best-nos-fuzz-face-r2r-electric-geface-deluxe
https://www.edgeofbreakup.studio/latest-videos/r2r-electric-uniform-fuzz
https://www.edgeofbreakup.studio/latest-videos/electric-machine-fuzz-r2r-electric-zonk-machine
https://www.edgeofbreakup.studio/latest-videos/1959-fender-tweed-deluxe-5e3-vintage-amp-showcase
https://www.edgeofbreakup.studio/latest-videos/r2r-electric-pkiii-fuzz
https://www.edgeofbreakup.studio/latest-videos/r2r-electric-mki-pro-fuzz
https://www.edgeofbreakup.studio/latest-videos/r2r-electric-pre-amp-vintage-wah
Analog Noir Moon Lion Germanium Fuzz & Boost
Analog Noir returns to the channel — this time with the Moon Lion, a dual pedal combining a Square Face-spec Fuzz Face and a Rangemaster Treble Booster in one box. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Analog Noir Moon Lion takes center stage — featuring the Fender Custom Shop 1960 Journeyman Relic Stratocaster with Curtis Novak Strat-V High Wind (Neck + Middle) and Curtis Novak Strat-TB (Bridge) and Emerson Custom Wiring and Treble Bleed, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander with the Echo Fix EF-X3 Chorus Echo.
Get a Moon Lion: https://www.analognoirelectric.com/shop/p/dual-rangemaster-fuzz-face All Analog Noir pedals: https://www.analognoirelectric.com/shop
Also on the channel: the Analog Noir MKI Tone Bender.
The concept of the Moon Lion is simple and powerful: the Fuzz Face and the Rangemaster Treble Booster are the two most important germanium circuits in British guitar history. The Fuzz Face came first — Jimi Hendrix's defining dirt circuit. The Rangemaster shaped Clapton's woman tone on the Beano record, Tony Iommi's thick early Sabbath crunch, and Brian May's entire guitar voice. Putting them in one box with independent footswitches means you don't have to choose which one goes first in the chain — you can run Fuzz Face alone, Rangemaster alone, or stack the Fuzz Face into the Rangemaster together.
The Fuzz Face side is built to Cesar Diaz's Square Face specification. Cesar Diaz was Stevie Ray Vaughan's amp tech — known as "The Amp Doctor" — and worked with Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Neil Young. SRV's original round Fuzz Faces were unreliable, so Diaz built him modified versions in rectangular enclosures with true bypass switching and circuit modifications that became known as the Square Face. Analog Noir's version is loaded with Mullard GET113 and CV7355 mil spec germanium transistors. Vintage TRW polypropylene film capacitors. Vintage carbon composition resistors. Full point-to-point hand-wired construction. Bias knob for dialing in the sweet spot or inducing gated and spitting textures (explored from 04:25).
The Rangemaster side is a faithful reproduction of the 1965 Dallas Arbiter Rangemaster Treble Booster with a three-position EQ switch — High (the original Rangemaster setting), Mid (boosting mid frequencies into the amp), Low (extending the boost into the low end for a fuller range push). Explored from 13:51 through 18:20. The sweet spot of Rangemaster into a pushed amp at the edge of breakup is exactly what this demo is about.
Both sides stacked from 19:20 — Fuzz Face into Rangemaster — with volume knob cleanup explored from 20:24.
🎛️ Analog Noir Effects: https://www.analognoirelectric.com 🎸 Curtis Novak Pickups: https://www.curtisnovak.com 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 Fender Custom Shop '60 Journeyman Relic Strat | Curtis Novak Strat-V (Neck + Middle) + Strat-TB (Bridge) | Emerson Custom Wiring + Treble Bleed 🎛️ Analog Noir Moon Lion | Square Face (Diaz Spec) + Rangemaster | Mullard GET113 + CV7355 Ge | TRW Film Caps | Carbon Comp | Point-to-Point | 3-Way EQ Switch 🎛️ Also: Echo Fix EF-X3 🔊 Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 12
Emerson Custom Les Paul Prewired Kit & Treble Bleeds — The Best Guitar Mod for your Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul R8 Historic returns — this time with the Emerson Custom x Edge of Breakup Les Paul Prewired Kit installed. Here's what a wiring upgrade actually sounds like on a Les Paul. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the 2002 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul R8 Historic returns with its stock Gibson Burstbucker pickups now paired with the Emerson Custom x Edge of Breakup Les Paul Prewired Kit and two Emerson Custom Treble Bleed mods, into the Benson Amps Monarch via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact, R2R Electric Si Distorter TFK, and Effectrode Tube Vibe feature in the second half.
Get the Emerson Custom x Edge of Breakup Les Paul Prewired Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/eob-les-paul-prewired-kit-premier-pro?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG Treble Bleed Mod: https://emersoncustom.com/products/2017-treble-bleed-circuit-volume-mod?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG All Emerson Prewired Kits: https://emersoncustom.com/collections/prewired-kits
Emerson Custom wiring is in nearly every guitar on this channel — the exceptions are vintage instruments I don't modify. The quality of components matters enormously and the difference is audible: CTS pots built to Emerson's exact specifications and tolerances, paper-in-oil capacitors, and '50s wiring spec throughout.
'50s wiring vs. modern wiring on a Les Paul is a meaningful tonal distinction. Modern wiring connects the tone capacitor to the wiper of the volume pot — as you turn down the volume, more high frequency content bleeds to ground, causing the tone to darken as volume decreases. '50s wiring connects the tone capacitor directly to the output lug, keeping the high frequency content stable across the volume sweep and producing a more open, resonant character even at lower volume settings. The interaction between the two volume controls and two tone controls in middle pickup position also behaves differently — the tone controls no longer load each other, giving cleaner, more independent control.
The Emerson Custom Treble Bleed adds a further layer: a frequency-specific network on each volume pot that maintains high-frequency content as volume is rolled back. On a Les Paul with two volume controls, I've installed one on each pot — so both the neck and bridge volume knobs have independent Treble Bleed circuits. The volume knob cleanup explored from 06:18 and 10:32 is the direct result of that combination.
This is a direct comparison to the stock Gibson wiring covered in the first R8 Historic video — same guitar, same pickups, same amp chain. The improvement in volume knob response is the story.
🎛️ Emerson Custom: https://emersoncustom.com 🎸 Gibson Custom Shop: https://www.gibson.com/en-US/Custom-Shop 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 2002 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul R8 Historic | Stock Burstbucker Pickups | Emerson Custom EoB LP Kit | P/O Caps | CTS Pots | '50s Wiring | 2x Treble Bleed 🎛️ Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact | R2R Electric Si Distorter TFK | Effectrode Tube Vibe 🔊 Benson Amps Monarch | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 12
Lauren Audio B100 Fuzz
Lauren Audio returns to the channel with the B100 Fuzz — a germanium fuzz derived from the preamp card inside a Neve recording console. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Lauren Audio B100 Fuzz takes center stage — featuring the Prisma Guitars Mattsonia with Lollar Standard Wind Imperial PAF Humbuckers and Emerson Custom Treble Bleed and Wiring Kit, into the Benson Amps Monarch via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander with the Echo Fix EF-X3 Chorus Echo.
Also on the channel: the Lauren Audio Aerocomet (UREI 1176 preamp).
The story behind James's approach at Lauren Audio is consistent across all his designs: find a piece of pro audio studio gear that imparts a specific coloration and character, understand why it sounds the way it does, and build a guitar pedal that delivers that quality — then push it further than the original hardware ever could. The B100 is based on the Neve B100 preamp card found in the 1053 console channel strip, the predecessor to the now-legendary 1073. When researching the B100 module, James found that the circuit topology was similar to a two-transistor fuzz. Starting from that discovery, he carried over unique circuit elements from the original Neve design that aren't typically found in fuzz pedals — creating a circuit that has the width, compression, and warmth of a vintage fuzz with the cut and focus of something more modern.
This batch uses 2N404A germanium transistors — auditioned and matched per build. Carbon film 1/2 watt resistors paired with polypropylene film caps for classic tone and fast, responsive feel. A high-grade bipolar MUSE capacitor is the only electrolytic in the audio path. Internal bias trimpot for dialing in the sweet spot or compensating for temperature effects.
Three controls: Input (affects low end — lower Input tightens and brightens, higher Input thickens and warms), Gain (affects mids and highs), Output (makeup gain stage). This three-way interaction functions as a pseudo-EQ — no dedicated tone knob is needed because the Input and Gain controls reshape the frequency character of the fuzz as they're adjusted. Explored thoroughly across the demo: warm fuzz at unity (02:21), reduced Input for brighter character (03:57), Output cranked for amp-slamming (05:17), all the way to all knobs maxed (11:44).
🎛️ Lauren Audio B100: https://www.lauren.audio/products/b100-fuzz 🎸 Prisma Guitars: https://www.prismaguitars.com 🎸 Lollar Pickups: https://www.lollarguitars.com/lollar-pickups 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 Prisma Guitars Mattsonia | Lollar Standard Wind Imperial PAF Humbuckers | Emerson Custom Treble Bleed + Wiring Kit 🎛️ Lauren Audio B100 Fuzz | Neve B100 Inspired | 2N404A Germanium | Input / Gain / Output | Internal Bias 🎛️ Also: Echo Fix EF-X3 🔊 Benson Amps Monarch | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 12
Kingtone Blues Power V2 with Humbuckers
KingTone Guitar returns to the channel with the Blues Power V2 — Jesse Davey's most versatile overdrive in a completely new form factor. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the KingTone Guitar Blues Power V2 takes center stage — featuring the Wide Sky Guitars Tawa with Curtis Novak Humbuckers and Emerson Custom Treble Bleeds, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander with the Echo Fix EF-X3 Chorus Echo. The KingTone Vibe 1968 joins from 06:00.
The Blues Power is KingTone's take on the transparent, always-on overdrive — an amp breakup pedal designed to add drive and character without changing the fundamental voice of your guitar and amp. The V2 arrives in a completely new CNC aluminum enclosure with laser engraving, protected knobs accessible from the top or side panel, silent switching, and an RGB LED. 9V to 18V DC operation (higher voltage increases headroom and dynamics).
Controls: Volume, Drive, Bass, Treble. The Drive has wide range — from clean boost to warm, glassy overdrive throughout its sweep. Bass and Treble are carefully tuned for responsive, musical EQ that doesn't fight the amp.
Three EQ voicing modes via a front-panel toggle — the key creative variable in this demo: Warm (round, full, compressed character — the most amp-like of the three, explored from 01:15), Glass (brighter, more open, emphasis on upper-mid definition — explored from 03:07), Edge (adds bite and edge to the drive character — explored from 04:27). These modes shape the frequency content going into the overdrive circuit, not after it.
Two side-panel dipswitches: Cranked (pushes the second drive stage for richer, more saturated amp-like textures at higher gain settings) and KingTone Switch (fattens the tone and adds edge bite for a unique massive voice — active from 08:01 in the demo). Hand-wired and assembled in the USA.
🎛️ KingTone Guitar Blues Power V2: https://www.kingtoneguitar.com 🎸 Wide Sky Guitars: https://www.wideskyguitars.com 🎸 Curtis Novak Pickups: https://www.curtisnovak.com 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 Wide Sky Guitars Tawa | Curtis Novak Humbuckers | Emerson Custom Treble Bleeds 🎛️ KingTone Blues Power V2 | Warm / Glass / Edge Toggle | Bass + Treble | Cranked + KingTone Dipswitches | Wide-Range Drive 🎛️ Also: KingTone Vibe 1968 | Echo Fix EF-X3 🔊 Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 12
KGR Harmony Kurofune Fuzz
KGR Harmony returns to the channel — this time with the Kurofune Fuzz, their Ram's Head-inspired fuzz in a cast iron nambu-tekki enclosure. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the KGR Harmony Kurofune Fuzz takes center stage — featuring the Prisma Guitars Sunset with Lollar Novel Foil Neck and Lollar Low Wind Imperial PAF Humbucker Bridge, Emerson Custom wiring and Treble Bleed, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander.
Get Emerson Custom Treble Bleeds and Wiring Kits:
Treble Bleed: https://emersoncustom.com/products/2017-treble-bleed-circuit-volume-mod?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG
Potentiometers: https://emersoncustom.com/products/cts-potentiometers?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG
Les Paul Pre-Wired Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/les-paul-prewired-kit?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG
Strat Blender Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/s5b-blender-5-way-strat-prewired-kit?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG
KGR Harmony is Keijiro Fukushima, an electronic engineering graduate of Tokyo Denki University who spent over a decade researching how enclosure materials affect guitar tone before founding KGR in 2019. The brand is based in Iwate Prefecture, Japan — the same region where the nambu-tekki (南部鉄器) iron casting tradition has been practiced since the Edo period. KGR builds in partnership with Oitomi Ironworks, a cast iron forge established in 1848. Each enclosure is cast one at a time using a traditional sand mold process — Fukushima makes the molds himself, and because of this, no two enclosures are identical in surface texture.
The Kurofune — "Black Ship," referencing the black-hulled American warships that arrived in Japan in 1853 — is KGR's Ram's Head-era Big Muff-inspired fuzz. Clear, tight low end and a crunchy, full midrange that makes use of the resonant properties of the heavy cast iron housing. Three controls: Volume, Fuzz, Tone. The Tone sweep covers the range from bass-heavy dark fuzz to bright and emphasized. The enclosure weighs approximately 670g — roughly three times a standard aluminum pedal. Not true bypass.
The Prisma Guitars Sunset in this build is a two-pickup, Telecaster-outline guitar with a Les Paul-style 3-way toggle switch — a custom configuration from Nick Pourfard's shop in San Francisco. Alder body, maple C neck, reclaimed Brazilian Walnut fingerboard from the Coney Island Boardwalk, 25.5" scale, 6105 nickel frets, bone nut, nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Loaded with a Lollar Novel Foil in the neck and a Lollar Low Wind Imperial PAF-voiced humbucker in the bridge — a single coil / humbucker combination that gives the Kurofune's Ram's Head character genuinely different input material across the two pickup positions.
🎛️ KGR Harmony: https://kgrharmonyusa.com/products/kurofune-fuzz
🎸 Prisma Guitars: https://www.prismaguitars.com
🎸 Lollar Pickups: https://www.lollarguitars.com/lollar-pickups
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 Prisma Guitars Sunset | 2-Pickup Tele-Style | LP Toggle | Alder | Coney Island Boardwalk Fretboard | Lollar Novel Foil (Neck) + Lollar Low Wind Imperial (Bridge) | Emerson Custom Wiring + Treble Bleed | Nitro
🎛️ KGR Harmony Kurofune Fuzz | Ram's Head Inspired | Nambu-Tekki Cast Iron | Volume / Fuzz / Tone | Made in Iwate, Japan
🔊 Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 12
Curtis Novak Pickups Strat-TB Bridge & Strat-V High Wind Pickup Set — Fender Stratocaster Upgrade
Curtis Novak Pickups returns to the channel — this time with an unconventional Stratocaster pickup configuration that I think might be the answer to the bridge pickup problem. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Curtis Novak Strat-V High Wind Neck and Middle pickups pair with the Curtis Novak Strat-TB Telecaster-style bridge pickup — all installed in the Fender Custom Shop 1960 Journeyman Relic Stratocaster with Emerson Custom S5B Blender 5-Way wiring, into the Benson Amps Monarch via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact, R2R Electric Rangemaster OC44, and Effectrode Tube Vibe feature in the second half.
Get the Curtis Novak Strat-TB bridge: https://www.curtisnovak.com/shop/strat-tb/
Get the Curtis Novak Strat-V High Wind: https://www.curtisnovak.com/shop/strat-v/
The Strat-V High Wind pickups in the neck and middle positions are Curtis Novak's vintage-specification Stratocaster single coil — voiced for the warm, chimey, bloom-heavy character of a classic '60s Strat. High wind for extra warmth and output. The middle is reverse-wound/reverse-polarity for hum cancellation in the middle/neck and middle/bridge positions.
The bridge position is where this configuration becomes genuinely interesting. The Strat-TB is a Telecaster-style bridge pickup installed in a Stratocaster bridge position. The Telecaster bridge pickup's tonal character is fundamentally different from a Stratocaster bridge pickup: thicker, more midrange-forward, substantially less of the brittle, glassy top end that makes Strat bridge pickups difficult to use at higher amp volumes. The coil geometry and magnets of a Tele bridge pickup produce a tone that works with humbuckers and single coils alike without requiring significant tonal compensation from the amp. The bridge/middle position (05:01, 10:47) is where this becomes most compelling — the Strat-V Middle's vintage chimey character with the Strat-TB's thickness underneath is a combination a standard Strat 5-way can't produce.
The Emerson Custom Blender wiring also allows blending the neck and bridge pickups together (explored from 13:21), giving a parallel Tele-style neck+bridge combined voice — another tone unavailable on standard Strat wiring.
🎸 Curtis Novak Pickups: https://www.curtisnovak.com
🎛️ Emerson Custom: https://emersoncustom.com
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 Fender Custom Shop '60 Journeyman Relic Strat | Curtis Novak Strat-V High Wind (Neck + Middle) + Strat-TB (Bridge) | Emerson Custom S5B Blender Wiring
🎛️ Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact | R2R Electric Rangemaster OC44 | Effectrode Tube Vibe
🔊 Benson Amps Monarch | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 12