Our Soft Focus is not an exact recreation but was exhaustively compared with our own FX500 the difference is that a fairly generic fixed-time digital delay is present on the Soft Focus patch. All controls are "coupled" to the tone of the reverb to give users an expansive playing field of sounds to discover and fine tune.
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The Mod knob controls the rate of the chorus on path one, and the Symphony knob controls the level of the octave on path two.
One path contains a “symphonic” chorus modulator, another features a well-appointed octave-up mixed in with the reverb, and the third path leaves the reverb untouched. At its heart, the Soft Focus is a heavily modified plate reverb with adjustable time, which is subsequently split into three. The original unit had a very plug-and-play approach, offering no mix control, a sub-par preamp and a ghastly tone-sucking bypass signal. With its roots in that patch, the Catalinbread Soft Focus is intended to be an instant shoegaze button, while addressing the most glaring issues of the original unit.
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He took me somewhere, it was good to be there, and he pulled me all into his bright golden wings, all with his wondrous guitars.The Soft Focus patch on the Yamaha FX500 was widely used in the ‘90s by early shoegaze bands, most notably Slowdive on Souvlaki. The whole band then rejoined Bonamassa as they said farewell to us all with “Mountain Time,” with its lyrics that state “And she takes me somewhere / And it’s good to be there / And she pulls me into her bright golden wing.” With those lyrics in mind, I sit in wonder of how similar feelings have been created upon seeing Joe Bonamassa live. The evening’s music ended with “Woke Up Dreaming,” Bonamassa alone on stage with an acoustic guitar that his hands rode like a bucking bronco, fingers so fast and precise that it was magic to witness.
The two hours of performance showcased more of his original music, including “Just ‘Cos You Can Don’t Mean You Should,” “This Train,” and “How Deep This River Runs,” with the only cover being a sexy and seductive version of “I Can’t Quit You Baby” that put the Led Zeppelin version to shame. By the time he was finished with the searing blues groove of “Sloe Gin,” only halfway through the show, Bonamassa received his first of four standing ovations from the audience. The high energy progressed with “King Bee Shakedown,” then on to the gentle and heart-breaking beauty of “Self-inflicted Wounds,” his voice full, soulful, and deep. When I say, he’s a classy guy, I mean that in many ways: from his tailored blue suit, slicked-back hair, and constant use of sunglasses to his appreciation of his backing band that enfolded him with such a force of sound.īonamassa’s band is filled to the brim with incredible international talent, including Nashville recording legend Michael Rhodes (bass), Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Reese Wynans (piano/organ), Paulie Cerra (sax), Lee Thornburg (trumpet), and Jade MacRae and Juanita Tippins who delivered powerhouse vocals and synchronized dance moves for every number.īonamassa opened the night with a few songs from his latest release Redemption. As the first hints of the rocking “Evil Mama” started, the crowd went wild. His recent two-night stint at Oakland’s Paramount Theater Of The Arts was a classic blues-rock show and Bonamassa used the art-deco backdrop of the Paramount to showcase many guitars from his collection. My understanding is that his gear, vintage guitar, and amp collection needs its own building and has been affectionately named the “Bona-seam.” He is a true aficionado and self-professed gear nerd. His precise playing, his focused noodling, and his passion for the guitar places him a cut above other guitarists of his stature. He’s a classy guy with decades of technical guitar and instrument experience behind him. When one bears witness to a true master of the guitar at work, one can experience God - and so, with that preface, I introduce to you blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa.īonamassa is not one of those “I am gonna shred so hard and flaunt my ego through my fretboard” kind of guitarists. The guitar is sexy, and can make you feel things your mom told you not to feel. It can pierce your heart, your soul, and your whole being with the right combination of strings. When placed in the right hands the guitar can sing, squeal, moan, groan, and wail. Such a fabulous instrument - so versatile and emotive.