In the fickle world of the tech enthusiast, where favourite gadgets come and go, the test of time is the only sure way for a device to prove its mettle. So we asked real gadget lovers to show us the products they can't live without.
Name
David Tonkin
Occupation
Musician
Location
Bristol, England
WHY I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT MY
Big Muff distortion pedal
Why did you buy it?
To create immense amounts of really crunchy distortion on my guitar
What does it do for you?
It's quite an old-school gadget, but most people agree that the Big Muff is one of the best-sounding distortion pedals. You can get a really powerful fuzz out of the thing; it's great for pounding through a mix without sounding muddy.
Would you recommend it to others? Why?
Yes. Look at it. You can tell by the casing of the Big Muff that there's something evil going on inside there. I haven't taken it apart and examined the contents, but I'd guess there's a really ugly dead spider inside, wired up to the inputs and outputs. Passing the guitar signal through his body makes everything sound really gritty and brutal.
Name
David Tonkin
What I do
Musician
Where I live
Bristol, England
Outside Interests
Martin Scorsese
If you could design and create your ultimate product, what would it be?
A 24-track recording studio that fits in your pocket
What tech insider secret do you find most useful?
If I want to win a race, I listen to Aphex Twin on my Shuffle -- there's some extreme beats going on in his stuff.
Do you have three you can't live without? Click here
