MGS - First welcome guys. We are here with John Spears from Monster Effects and Larry Rodgers from Rodgers Amplification and together as Atom Amps.
JS -Thanks Tony, it's great to be here.
LR-Thanks Tony Happy New Year!
MGS - First off can each one of you give a history of your main company and then details on your current products and current users?
JS -I'd be happy to. Monster Effects and the Swamp Thang are products of my search for the perfect tremolo. In 2002 I was jamming with a couple of friends, Scotty Kelsch and Ron Newbold and we were working on a song that needed tremolo. We had modern amps with no built in tremolo so the seach was on for the perfect tremolo. We tried just about every tremolo available at the time but the one that had "that sound" was an old plastic Kay tremolo made in the 80's. It was cheaply made with absolutly no features but it had "that sound". I've got a pretty extensive background in electronics from my career in the aerospace industry so I went to work to improve on the design and add some features. Scotty Kelsch and Ron Newbold are to this day good friends and a big part of Monster Effects. Currently we offer the Swamp Thang and Atom Amps Metroliner but with the help of Brent Hinds of Mastodon we've just developed a distortion pedal tentatively named the Mastortion.
LR-I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and at an early age began working on amps and guitars. I then moved to Florida and continued working on guitars, amps and cabinets. I moved to Charleston 5 years later where I honed my skills for 4 years and now I'm back in Florida making guitars, amps cabinets, face plates and parts. I also do allot of recovering of vintage amps.
MGS - Who were some of your biggest infulences growing up that got you into producing gear? Music influences as well.
LR - Leo Fender was a big influence on me. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones were big influences musically.
JS-I was influenced by Leo Fender as well. I've also been influenced by some of my contemporaries: Bob Sweet, Alfonso Hermida, Sean Dunnigan, Steve Carr and Doug Sewell. I'm sure there are others but these are the biggest. As far as music goes, it's Johnny Winter, Freddy King, SRV, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, the Beatles, Billy Gibbons and Keith Richards.
MGS - You guys have joined forces to start Atom Amps. How did you guys get together and can you tell us about the amp models that you offer?
JS -We got together a couple of years ago when a mutual friend and great player, Mitch Wyman, introduced us. Mitch and I took a road trip from Charleston S.C. to Florida to hang out with Larry and catch Bob Sweet's band. We also hooked up with Alfonso Hermida. It was a trip I'll never forget and I feel I made some lifelong friends on that trip. Right now we just offer the 15 watt single 12 Metroliner.
LR-We are interested in providing the serious gigging or studio guitarist with a great amp at a reasonable price. We feel the Metroliner fits the bill perfectly. We do have some things on the drawing board to expand the line though.
MGS - To each of you what are your goals with Atom Amps ? Any new models in development right now?
JS -My goal is to get rich.
LR- He's just kidding. We both feel the same on this. Our goal is to make an impact on the world of guitar amplifiers by making some great no-nonsense amps that will be accessable to virtually everyone. A great "grab and go" amp for almost any situation. New models in the planning stages include a 2x10 Metroliner, a double power Metroliner and a head model. Our web designer, Mike Helton has the prototype head model and I think it's something we want to add to our line. If we get rich along the way, we won't complain.
MGS - John ,the El Dorado was a killer overdrive pedal. Why was it discontinued?
JS - Thanks Tony, I agree. I think that the market was already flooded with great handmade overdrive pedals. Which in the scheme of things is a good thing.
MGS - I am guessing you each have some great gear sitting at home. What are some favorites?
JS - My newest guitar is a Gretsh Billy-Bo that I love. I had it pinstriped by Brian Papa of Papa Studios. Now it looks as good as it sounds. I've also got a killer 1996 relic strat I bought from Larry. In the amp department my favorites are a 1963 Fender Super, a 1953 Princeton, a 1963 Silvertone model 1474 Reverberation Twin Twelve and of course, a Metroliner.
LR-I've got 4 Teles I built and a 1966 strat. Besides the Metroliner I've got the whole blackface line of Fenders as well as the whole tweed line including the Bandmaster, Bassman, low powered Twin and high powered Twin. Depending on the gig I'd either take the Metroliner or the tweed Bandmaster.
MGS - What are some outside interests besides guitar gear?
JS -I'm a big football fan and I love my Raiders! These last couple of years have been rough. I also am a big fan of Kustom Culture, anything Art Deco and hanging out with my friends and family.
LR- I love to travel but there's nothing better than seeing good live blues and working out.
MGS - Any brushes with famous artists since each one of you began your gear ventures?
JS - Barry Richman was the first nationally known artist to give my products a chance and we've had a great relationship ever since.
I also got to meet Dick Dale which was a big thrill for me. Other great artist include Steve Rhian of Deryl Dodd's Lonesome Cowboys, Brett Danaher of Pat Green's band, Rick Derringer, Brent Hinds of Mastodon and Fiend Without a Face, blues great Rick Holmstrom, and a guy who is really appreciated in Europe, Gwyn Ashton. I was also just contacted by ex Bad Finger guitarist Joe Tansin. He's got allot of studio and Apple I-Tunes stuff he wants to use the Swamp Thang on. Local heros include Johnny Knox and Mark Johnson of Delta Moon.
LR- I built a cabinet for B.B. King. Allot of Nashville studio guys also use my gear.
