A Hang With Rabea [Strats, Pedalboard Update, Music Man, Neural, Real Amps, Stormzy & More!]

A long overdue catch-up with the man who has it all going on!

Welcome to the show!
The rise and rise of Rabea Massaad is a heartwarming testament to sheer passion, talent and dedication to doing what you love. A familiar face on the internet, Bea has been a key figure in the success of veritable six-string institutions including Andertons TV, Chapman Guitars, Victory Amps and more.
2023 sees him continue the ascendency to fully-fledged artist as he prepares for new projects, a place in the Ernie Ball Music Man artist family and plenty more cool stuff besides. It’s our absolute pleasure to welcome him back to TPS to chat about it all.

If the rig explanation leaves you confused, basically…
• All drives and compression go into the front of the Kraken.
• Out of the Kraken FX loop into the wet effects on the board.
• L-R out of the wet effects into the Mesa Stereo Power amp and Zilla stereo cab.
• The Kraken’s preamp signal is carried all the way through the wet effects as well.
• There are no wet effects in the Kraken and Marshall cab.
• The stereo Mesa and Zilla stereo 412 are panned hard left and right.

Some links:

Enjoy the show…

Pedals & stuff in this episode…

• Boss TU-3s

• MXR M199 Tap Tempo

• Mission Engineering SP-25M-PRO Aero

• Mission Engineering SP25L Pro Aero with LED Base

• Origin Effects Cali 76 Stacked Edition

• Coopersonic Germaniac

• Fortin Tempest Architects Signature Overdrive

• Stone Deaf PDF-1X Ghost Edition

• Origin Effects Halcyon Green Overdrive

• Electro-Harmonix Micro Pog Octave

• Mr Black Thunderclaw Distortion Pedal

• JHS Bender Fuzz

• Strymon BigSky

• Strymon Timeline

• Strymon Möbius

• Strymon Volante

• Lehle P-Split II - Link to latest version

• TheGigRig G3

Interesting bits & go-to sections
0:00 Intro playing
0:50 Hello & welcome
3:40 The Stormzy/Reading story
7:30 Leo Frogleap, big & small gigs
10:43 Today’s rig
12:30 Basic board settings
15:40 Stone Deaf PDF-1X
18:50 Thunderclaw & Bender & POG!
20:40 Single coils?
22:20 Halcyon and Tempest ODs
25:30 Neural, modellers, flying beast
38:00 Strats and pickups
44:10 Pickguard makes a difference
46:00 Pickup sounds with some lovely ambience
50:40 1970 Strat & Rabea’s ’55 CS
54:56 Chapman & Music Man
1:01:45 Band activity?
1:04:30 Pickguard/pickups comparison
1:13:18 Rabea plays us out

Guitars in this video
• Fender Custom Shop ’55 Relic Stratocaster
• 1970 Fender Stratocaster
• Fender Custom Shop ’62 Relic Stratocaster

Amps in this episode
• Victory VX The Kraken head

• Marshall 2061cx 212 cab with Celestion G12H Anniversary speakers
No longer made

• Mesa 50:50 Stereo Power Amp
No longer made

• Zilla Custom 412 with 2 x Jensen Raptor 100 and 2 x Celestion V30 speakers

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[andsoistopped]

Another example of a quality human in the world of guitars, tones and gear.

[davedavem]

Rabea- my guitar hero.
Nuno- Rabea's guitar hero.
Eddie- Nuno's guitar hero.
All of them - amazing rhythm-first guitar players that started as drummers.
Me - occasionally annoy my kids by beat-boxing 😂

[leftchicago]

Not a metal guy at all, but I respect and admire the hell out of Rabea. So massively talented, and yet so humble. Massive success to you, brother.

[Gaslight.Guitar]

Rabea is one of my fav players of all time. He is so unique and humble. Great dude!

[nathanmontover]

Rabea deserves every bit of the success he has earned 🤘

[mmsis]

Bea is one of those new age guitar gods that don't intimidate but instead inspire. He does his own thing really stellar. And that's what we should strive for. Being the best me.

[sixslinger]

I'm an old dude and love his style. Very inspirational playing. His note choices and phrasing are top notch.

[ccaputa]

No matter what style Rabea plays, he always plays with such feel, emotion, melody and rhythm.

[JacktheSadArmadillo]

Love how happy Rabea sounded when Mick said they did a great job with his guitar

[bscheirman]

I think Rabea is THE person to convince Dan & Mick that QC can hold its own against these huge rigs. Here's a vote for another appearance!

[puli]

the smile on Mick's face when Rabea starts playing. Priceless

[markharris]

Rabea is such a killer player, and so humble about it. Mick's kindness and precision with the flying beast shows what a company of awesome humans you all are. Thank you for a great episode!

[dolan]

Watching Mick and Dan's reactions to Bea's playing is the ultimate. You can feel the level of respect there, my god what a player. Rabea absolutely crushes.

[evanmiller]

You three together on a Friday....doesn't get much better than that! What a great show and incredible tones. I bet it was loud and epic in the room. Well done.

[stuart_rose]

I’m far from a high gain fandangler, but, there’s something so moving about Rabea’s voicings and vocabulary that brings me to tears of joy ❤️

[shfnderrock]

Rabea is an absolute beast, his style and playing is mesmerizing

[jeffreyradick]

Rabea just keeps getting better and better!

[lotusmark]

I've known Bea for many years, you couldn't ask for a more genuine guy!

[danpechacek]

Amazing how time passes. That last Rabea video was eye opening in the early pandemic days - I’ve revisited it multiple times since. Great to see you three catching up and think about all the ways we’ve changed/grown in these last few years!

[HALman]

The joy on Mick's face whenever Rabea plays is wonderful.