Posted on | April 26, 2026 | No Comments
by Smitty
Chris Cassone is an old and dear friend of the blog, having recorded arguably the best blues ever:
Thus, when word broke out about his new book, “ART OF THE STOMP BOX: Celebrating The Visual Artistry of Effects Pedals” I didn’t hesitate to order a copy. I have an equally old friend who is a guitarist and is getting married in June. When it arrived, I sent the book to Chris for an autograph. This volume will make a perfect wedding gift.
The book is a visually interesting snapshot of the state of the art, whether or not you are a guitarist. My personal favorite was the Shellfire Screamer, by Ulrich Dahlgren. But that’s just because I have both spent some time in Dahlgren, Virginia as an enlisted sailor and Dahlgren Hall while I was at Sing-Sing on the Severn.
Having grown up listening to rock-and-roll, I had questions. For a Wikipedia-deep review, the first stompbox to make a big impact was the 1962 Maestro Fuzz Tone in Ben Shapiro’s favorite, 1965’s (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction. I recall the double-negative in the title setting Shapiro off regarding the question of whether Jagger ever did or did not obtain satisfaction. Feel free to opine in the comments.
Later effect pedals like the MXR M-117 flanger drove Unchained by the mighty Van Halen.
Anybody who knows how to get ahold of Rick Beato, please speak up. We need him to interview Cassone.
In a world increasingly awash in the fakery of Artificial Intelligence, this book is a breath of fresh air. Real human beings are still hand-crafting unique artifacts.
Consider getting this book and finding some of the vendors mentioned and musician using their wares. Then go take in some live music. Fight the power!
