Ah, a classic scene from This is Spinal Tap (1984) – a half docu/mocumentary about the comeback of heavy metal band Spinal Tap, who were infamous as the world’s loudest band.  But how do they earn this title?  By turning their amps up to 11 of course, when everyone else is at 10.

Bringing your guitar amp off the ground and pointed in an optimal direction has a few benefits.  For a start, the controls will probably be more accessible to you.  Also, because an amp’s output is quite directional, it often helps you hear your playing better by angling it towards you.  Finally, when performing on stage, giving it a bit of tilt may help project the sound towards your audience better. I often lean my amp back against a wall for…

I’ve always admired buskers – I pass a few every morning on the walk from the train to the office. After their raw talent washes over me, the next question that always pops into my mind is – how do they power their amps? Well, the Roland Mobile Cube is one such solution. This handsome, half-cubic-foot beastie is battery powered, with 15 hours of juice to sustain the high-quality stereo reverb and chorus effects. Don’t expect too much from its…