I bought the Vox DA20 mainly to use for practising. This amp does not have valves/tubes in it and it is a digital modelling amp [wait! don't write it off just yet]. At the shop, I did have the choice of the “AD15 Valvetronix” amp but since I’m a student, I didn’t want to bother with tube amps-mainly due to maintenance concerns.

front view

I gather from reviews of the valvetronix line of amps that many don’t like the front “metal grill” style view. But its fine with me. Don’t mind the reflections in the metal grill in the above picture. The 2×8″ speakers you can see is the coolest bit of the amp IMO.

The controls section is divided into two–the ‘amp section’ and the ‘effects section’. Overview of the controls of the amp (with pictures) after the break…

Overall view of the controls

The “amp” section consists of the input jack, the modelling amp selector, gain, tone, and master volume knobs. This section is enlarged below…

The amp section

The blues amp models were excellent with the “Blues 3″ model very SRV-like. I also liked the “HiGain 3″ model; Playing in dropped tunings, it takes you to Metal heaven. The tone is unmistakable; It is also great for soloing. The overall sound of the amp models are organic in its character too.

A thing I loved about the amp models is that they were sensitive to picking dynamics and also to volume roll-off in the guitar. I was genuinely surprised by this because, from my previous experience with multi-effects pedals (like Zoom G2), I did not believe this was possible. In the blues and crunch models, you keep the Gain a bit past half-way to achieve this.

You must have noticed that there isn’t an EQ. Yep, there isn’t any; instead, it is replaced with the Tone knob which works exactly the same way as the one in your guitar. I don’t miss that feature very much at all since I’m using the amp only for practice. Now, on to the effects section…

the effects section

It should be noted that there is no way to control or switch between the effects or the amp models by using a foot-switch. Other than that this is a very decent set of effects for practising. The auto-wah is quite cool, though again since there is no way to switch between different effects without taking your hands off the guitar, its use is very limited. You can bypass or turn off the effects altogether with the bypass button. The “tap” button is used to set the delay time and parameters like that in other effects. The unique features of this amp are at its back…

the cool bits

On the right you see an input for your mic with its own volume adjuster adjacent to it. The ‘Line/Phone’ and ‘Aux In’ are self-explanatory. By far the best feature is the Power Selector in the left. This is literally a life saver as you can basically practise at midnight through the amp speakers without disturbing a person in the same room. I know, ’cause I’ve done it! And I’m not a good guitarist by any means. So far, I’ve never felt the need to change from 0.5 watts while practising alone; its plenty loud already. I never actually realised how much power that puny 0.5w is until I played through this amp. It’ll be interesting to see if I’ll need to increase the power when practising with a drummer, a bass guitarist and a rhythm guitarist. I’ll have to wait till I get back to uni for that though.

Since, I really like this amp for practice I’m going to be using it in one gig at least. I’m constrained to use only one tone. I don’t need a gazillion different tones anyway (I play Lead). And I’ll pick “Blues 3″ with a little delay or reverb for that. Rock On!

Lyrics after the break….

Bone Diggers – Apologetix (a parody band)

They make a monkey right out of me — Yes, they’ve been tryin’ endlessly
Overeager bonediggers — they never found that jigsaw piece
They make a monkey right out of me — It makes for funky biology
I’m not the kid of some hominid, who comes from a lizard, whose mama was a fish

Now I ain’t hatin’ on the bone diggers, but I say evolution don’t figure
Now, I ain’t hatin’ on the bone diggers, but I ain’t never seen no holes bigger
It sounds like no evidence found, it sounds like their heads in the ground
It sounds like they’re just too proud, it sounds quite boneheaded

You need to ponder whether evolution is wrong
Whether maybe you was put on under cover of dawn
They said, “We can tell from rocks, we tell by the carbon”
‘Cause this world has gotta flock of descendants of Charles Robert Darwin
But I’m lookin’ for the odds at casinos
That life could come to be from random acids amino
Zero — we know it’s hocus pocus
And they wanna make all of that an accidental process?
O.K., let’s pretend a fishy got some kids
That stood up on their fins and crawled up on land
Without evidence and here we are today
If you’re trustin’ in this worldview you better have faith
You know why? They make too much of nothin’
Stuff that I’ve heard it should have been on Mythbusters
Their best forensic samples couldn’t cut the mustard
You don’t care what none of us say you still trust it

(They make a monkey) Now I ain’t hatin’ on the bone diggers (right out of me)
But I say evolution don’t figure (It makes for funky)
Now, I ain’t hatin’ on the bone diggers (biology)
But I ain’t never seen no holes bigger (I’m not the kid)
It sounds like no evidence found (of some hominid)
It sounds like their heads in the ground (who comes from a lizard)
It sounds like they’re just too proud (whose mama was a fish)
It sounds quite boneheaded

1859′s the fateful year — they’ve had 150 years to prove their great new theory
I know some funny ways they found support for some of it, kids
They made some hominids from parts of gibbons and pigs
Your museums are deceiving when you visit one they
Take a couple bones pawn it off as a primate
They were s’posed to find all sorts of life forms we could study
They went to the rocks and got dinosaurs in the muddy
They’re talkin’ down actin’ like the Bible is so funny
Could’ve got dinos sooner if they tried Job 41-y
If it ain’t no bunk, holler “We want proof now, we want proof now, yeah!”
It’s somethin’ that’ll make you mad
Cause all the links they had were either weak or bad
Great big digs since the 1860′s
And after waiting and searchin’ they found out it doesn’t exist?

*CHORUS*

Now I ain’t hating on the bone digger, no, not me
I’ve found trilobites in stone and some petrified trees
You know evolution ain’t paleontology
Transition forms are lackin’ — got a hole up his sleeve
But — the other option’s not fun
So he gonna make you into a man out of that pond scum
This is his religion baby, don’t be surprised
That fishy on all fours on his jeep’s his messiah
So, let’s not fight — I won’t abuse Darwin ’cause that’s not nice
And they’re gonna keep stallin’ and tryin’ to prove they’re right though
And when you catch on we’ll lead you back to the Bible

*SECOND HALF OF CHORUS*

The album is a very good specimen of Modern Metal. One criticism is that 10 out of 11 songs kinda sounded similar in structure with that ever-present short pause between the Intro and the Verse adding to the monotony. Other than that, the guitarists are literal riff machines! Each song has at least 10 riffs–it leaves your head spinning as you come to terms with them.

I’m pleased that the band is coming to UK on a headlining tour. W00t! London, November ’08 here I come!

For those amino acids having non-polar aliphatic side chains, it was suggested that GAVLIMP as a good acronymn. For pronounciations sake it could be like:

G= Glycine

A= Alanine

Va= Valine

L= Leucine

I= Isoleucine

M= Methionine

P= Proline

Put it together, it comes to GAVa-LIMP. Thing is, the structures of the amino acids increase in complexity as you go from Glycine to Proline with Glycine having a hydrogen atom for the “R”- group while Proline has a sort of “penta-cyclic” side chain. Another way I remember this is swapping the first letters of the GAVa and LIMP to give LAVa-GIMP. Those of you that use Linux, will know that GIMP is a famous photo editing cum drawing program. So I picture the programs mascot, Wilber glowing with lava/fire!

In trying to remember the names and structure it was always helpful to observe any unusual or outstanding features of the molecule. For ones that do have such features, it was easy to remember. Only those groups of amino acids that had very subtle differences in their structures to the eye need help. For example, for the three amino acids Lysine, Histidine and Arginine in the “positively charged side chain” group I made up, LArHis (Larhis) rhymes with Lorries.

L=Lysine

Ar=Arginine

His=Histidine.

Couple of other oustanding features I found helpful were that the polar uncharged side chain containing Asparagine and Glutamine were amide versions of the negatively charged amino acids: Aspartate and Glutamate repectively. And also Cysteine and Methionine were the ones that contain Sulphur.

A side note: On the page 77 of the Lehninger Biochemistry (5th ed) book, it said that the dimer of Cysteine is called Cystine as if when one says it out loud somebody is going to notice the difference! Isn’t there enough confusion already about similar sounding names?!

You can find the structures of amino acids drawn out nicely on page 75 of Lehninger Biochem book.

Put it in my home theatre and was treated to an hour of inspiring and beautiful music. I loved the very soulful style of the lead guitarist Josh Myers. I’m one of those people who likes shredding in moderation while relying on melodies. That is exactly what one finds in Josh. This guy has inspired me quite a lot and I like to listen to this album to observe and learn how the various riffs have been put together in creating a seamless song.

The guitar tones in some of the songs made me have “Eureka” moments. In fact some of the tones represent the ideals I aspire of achieving. Let me try to describe the some things I loved in this album:

-The opening riff on the song “The Good Fight” has THE blues guitar tone from my view. Its like the tone is just in to the tipping point from clean to distortion. It was unbelievable listening to it. Makes me smile whenever I hear it.

-I loved the vibe different songs emanate in particular, “(Rise of)” and “The Color Plaid”. These songs transport the listener to a different world so to speak. Loved the harmonics in the start of The Color Plaid.

-The blues tone reappears in the very bluesy rendition of the song Amazing Grace. This album is worth just listening to that tone alone. Dang. A very refreshing version as well.

-”Takin’ Back the Farm” is a very fun song to listen to. Country vibe plus shredding. Count me in

-I really liked the bass at the start of the song “Blue Skies”.

One thing I would like to point out is in the song “The Good Fight”, from 4:08 to 4:10 there is this beautiful riff at the start of a new phrase. I would have liked that to be repeated couple more times in that part. Its like you get a glimpse of something lovely and in a moment its gone. This doesn’t in any way take any thing away from an excellent album. I will be looking forward to more stuff from this band.

Rant:[I was delighted to find that they had a separate "Gear" section in the bands website. I wish more bands do this, 'cause some of us poor guitarists would like to be just amazed by knowing _how_ our favourite tones were achieved, though we can't afford the gear professional musicians have. It is better to know that than to wallow in ignorance about the mystery guitar tone. And a thumbs up to Josh Myers Band for sharing their complete rig details. And guess what: the legendary Peavey 5150 is in there. Who'da thunk it!]

Go to the bands myspace to check out some song clips: The Josh Myers Band