Instruments & Gear Reviews & Tutorials

This article will help you choose between a combo amp and a head and cabinet setup for guitar or bass. There are pros and cons to each whether you play at home or in a band, and one or the other is likely the best option for you.

Here’s a review of the Fender Standard (MIM) Telecaster. This guitar might be made in Mexico, but the MIM Tele is a real Fender through and through.

At some point or another most people who are into music wish to play an instrument, or see if they can - and the guitar is the most common instrument found in modern music. Here are five of the very best acoustic guitars for under five hundred dollars. These guitars are all very good instruments that won't need to be replaced until a musician reaches a higher skill level, and even then these are guitars that are keepers for a lifetime if they are properly cared for.

Here's my list of best bass guitars for under $500. If you are a bassist on a budget here are the top basses for the money. They're affordable, they sound great and they are made by some of the best bass guitar companies of all time.

If you've always wanted to own a Telecaster, and have a maximum of five hundred dollars to spend, then this information is for you. Here are 5 of the single best options.

Precision Bass vs Jazz Bass: Compare two Fender classics in this review and learn the difference in sound, construction, and specs. Find out which is better for you, your sound and your goals.

These five small body acoustic guitars are outstanding instruments of tremendous value, but they are instruments for the serious amateur or professional only.

There are a lot of distortion pedals out there, but not every one of them is a classic. These five are what I consider to be the five true classics.

If you’re trying to choose between the Gibson SG and Les Paul this article can help you sort out the differences and decide which is better for you.

The Gibson SG Standard is an amazing guitar, and no question about it. But if you want an SG's vibe, but something just a bit different, then here are your five very best options or alternatives.

Learn about the difference between the Epiphone Les Paul 100, Special II and Studio and find out which electric guitar is best for you.

Compare the Fender Mexican (MIM) Player Strat and American (MIA) Professional Stratocasters and decide which guitar is better for you and your budget.

Learn the difference between a maple or rosewood fretboard for guitar and decide which is better for your sound and playing style.

Recommendations for the best acoustic guitars currently available that are suitable for beginners.

Learn what to look for when buying your first acoustic guitar in this comprehensive guide for beginners.

Is Squier a good guitar brand? This review takes a look at Squier by Fender and lays out the good, the bad and the ugly.

The world of the acoustic steel string guitarist is totally in love with the Martin D-28 Herringbone guitars. It has been this way since the 1930's, and it will be this way for long to come. While there are many different varieties, makes, and models of the high X D-28 from various and sundry manufacturers, this article examines five of the best without trying to encourage breaking the bank and spending someone's inheritance

Here is a list of the top 20 guitars for metal. The best heavy metal and hard rock guitar has to not only look the part, but sound amazing too. Learn which instruments made the cut, and how to choose the right guitar for metal.

The Gibson ES-335 debuted in 1958, and instantly became one of the world's most desired guitars. It was the first semi-hollow body electric with an arched top. Here are 5 of the best signature series ES-335s.

Do you have a stack of records around, but don’t know how to properly clean and restore them? Here are some useful tips and solutions on how to restore your vinyl collection.

Learn more about the Standard Precision Bass by Fender, a quality Mexican-made version of a classic bass guitar.

The mbira is a traditional African instrument that is played in North America. An instrument based on the mbira can be used to detect the presence of counterfeit medicines.

Check out some of the best little mini acoustics. These small-bodied guitars are great for travel, kids and adults with small hands, and jamming when space is limited or just for having fun.

The hydraulophone is an interesting instrument. Pressurized water moves through a tube and out of a series of holes. Placing a finger over a hole produces a sound.

Discover the best heavy metal guitars under $300, great options from brands like Jackson, Schecter and Ibanez.

A pair of spoons can be used as a folk and percussion instrument. A variety of playing techniques are possible and a range of rhythms and sounds can be produced.

Learn about the Martin D-15M, an all-mahogany dreadnought acoustic guitar. This review looks at the unique sound and style of this amazing instrument.

Martin 16 series dreadnought guitars offer all the great play-ability and tones of far more expensive models at less cost. These all solid wood Martin guitars are bluegrass cannons.

This is a review of the BlumWay USB Cassette to MP3 Converter, a player that digitizes audio and stores direct to a USB flash drive without a computer or software.

Kurt Cobain was a hot burning star that went supernova. As a parting gift he gave us the MTV Unplugged concert. Here's the story of his guitar, and what similar guitars are available today.

Check out my review of the Marshall DSL40C guitar amp. It’s a powerful, versatile tube combo from a legendary name in the guitar world.

All over the world mahogany body dreadnought guitars are sought after for their bright, woody tonality. These are the cream of the crop in mahogany body dreadnought guitars.

This guide can help you find the best guitar amp for the money. Beginner or pro, you need the right amp for your budget and style.

Discover the differences in the roles of lead guitar and rhythm guitar in a band and learn more about the skills required for both styles.

The Gibson Marauder and S-1 guitars were crossover instruments where Gibson tried to steal some market share from Fender. These are somewhat rare birds, but very fine instruments should you find one.

If you play electric guitar and want to start building a pedal board, here are some tips on where to start.

Check out this list of the 10 best sounding acoustic guitars for under $1000, amazing instruments from the top guitar makers in the world.

Find out how worrying too much about expensive gear can hurt your guitar playing, not to mention your wallet. Don't be a guitar gear snob!

In the 1970s Gibson guitars relaxed their quality standards and sold some things they should not have. The Japanese took notice and started building Les Paul copies. Here are five of the best brands.

Try to decide between guitar and drums? Compare guitar vs drums difficulty and differences and discover the pros and cons of each and make the best decision for you!

Conch shells come from large sea snails and are used as wind instruments. The shells are played at ceremonies and in jazz. They produce a loud and eerie sound.

Are you a heavy metal guitarist, a shredder or riff master? These Super Strat guitars are the heavy metal virtuoso's dream come true.

You are looking for building a home recording studio, but your budget is tight? Here are a few affordable ideas...

Discover the 10 best guitar brands for heavy metal and learn which companies make the gear you want to get the hardcore sounds you need.

All mahogany dreadnoughts offer a great counterpoint to the typical spruce top guitars. They have a unique voice too. They are most especially great for a singer songwriter who loves to play rhythm.

These are five top notch and less expensive solid wood alternatives to a Martin D-28. Rosewood and spruce in a dreadnought design is something very desirable, but not all can afford a D-28.

Check out the best acoustic guitar brands for intermediate players. These are companies with reputations for making quality instruments with amazing sound.

Here's my list of the best acoustic and electric guitar brands for players on a budget. Whether you are a beginner looking for a cheap starter guitar or a veteran guitarist who wants an affordable instrument you’d be smart to look to one of these brands.

These 5 essential guitar effects pedals are classic must-have stomp boxes, found on the pedal boards of some of the best guitarists in history.

Check out this review of Jackson’s best guitars: The King V, Soloist, Rhoads, Dinky and Kelly. If you're metal, how do you choose only one?

The best and most famous Fender Stratocaster players in rock history played Strats as unique as the guitarists themselves.

The Gibson Les Paul is one of the most copied guitars in the world. Here are ten great ones, some more exact copies than others, from ten different manufacturers of electric guitars

The Martin D 18 acoustic guitar is less expensive than the Martin D 28, D 35, and D 45 - it's FAR less expensive than the D 50 or D 100 - but the Martin D 18 may very well be a BETTER guitar than any of it's more expensive cousins.

In this buying guide you’ll learn how to choose the right guitar for extreme metal, hard rock, classic metal and shred. Get advice on 7-string guitars, pickups, tonewoods and more.

Dreadnought guitars crafted from Brazilian rosewood are highly sought after, very expensive, and absolute treasures to own and enjoy. Here are my pics for the best of the best of them.

Discover which bass guitars are best under $300. Find a bass that keeps you under budget but still sounds amazing!

Learn about the pros and cons of the Floyd Rose tremolo bridge, one of the most significant inventions in the history of electric guitar.

We can't all afford a $1500 Les Paul Standard, but with a bit of time and money, we can make a cheap guitar sound less... cheap.

One of the 4 most iconic solid body electric guitars in the world, the Gibson SG is far less expensive than the other 3. This is also the most successful guitar Gibson has ever produced

If you want your 6-string guitar to sound like a 12-string guitar, this may just be the guitar effects pedal for you.

Learn the difference between the Epiphone Les Paul Standard, Standard PRO, Studio and Custom PRO electric guitars in this review.

Check out this list of best bass guitar brands for 2019 and get help finding an instrument that’s perfect for you.

Learn the difference between a tube amp and solid state amp and decide which best meets your needs as a guitar player.

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Johnson are both monster guitarists from Texas. They also each have Fender Artist Series Stratocaster guitars made after and for them. Here's a close look at both.

Learn how many watts you need for a guitar amp based on your goals. Get advice on amplifiers for home use, playing in a band, recording and more.

The Gibson Les Paul Studio is a great guitar, but how does it match up with the Les Paul Standard or Epiphone Les Paul? This review explains all!

Check out the best acoustic guitars for beginners, all under $200 and from some of the top brands in the guitar world. Thest guitars are affordable but not cheap!

Check out the top rock guitar builders, companies that have proven themselves as the best of the best over the decades.

Learn how to buy a bass guitar in this guide to choosing a bass for beginners. Get advice on setting a budget, understanding pickups, strings, scale length and more.

You'll save a whopping amount of money when you follow my tips before buying a used piano. I've sold pianos for years and learned what to avoid when you're ready to buy.

You’ve heard headroom is important for bass and guitar amplifiers. Find out how it affects your sound as a bassist or guitarist, when you should care about an amp’s headroom, and when you shouldn’t.

Bob Dylan's earliest recordings were made using a small all mahogany Martin 00-17 guitar. This guitar is no longer in production, but the very very similar Martin 00-15 is inexpensive and available.

Here are the 10 best bass guitars under $200 for beginners, top-quality instruments and some of the best bass guitars for the money.

You always want an all solid wood construction dreadnought if you can afford one. Mahogany is a bright tonewood with a very woody sound, excellent for all styles of music. Here are 5 of the best.

Everyone loves a Fender Telecaster, but not all Teles out there are made by Fender. Here are 5 of the best makes of Tele out there which are not Fender guitars.

In live situations, you may prefer to use a pitch shifting pedal for drop tunings rather than bringing along an extra guitar. That’s where the DigiTech Drop Polyphonic Drop Tune Pitch-Shift Pedal comes in.

Knowing the difference between the Squier and Fender Stratocaster will help you decide which guitar is right for you and your budget.

Compare the Squier Vintage Modified and Classic Vibe Stratocasters and decide which is better for your budget and style.

Gibson Les Paul or Fender Stratocaster? Read this review to help decide which guitar is better for you based on sound, quality and differences.Learn about affordable versions of each and how to choose between them.

Check out the best acoustic guitars under $300! Perfect for beginners and intermediate guitarists, but good enough to impress the veterans!

Review and compare 5 of the best bass combo amps under $500 for small gigs and practice, from some of the biggest names in the industry.

Here's a detailed list of the 36 best guitar brands. Anyone looking for the top electric or acoustic guitars in 2019 will find this guide useful.

The Fender Telecaster was born perfect. The design is timeless and utilitarian bliss. Here are 5 of the very best Fender Telecasters anywhere.

Mystical and mysterious, the life and death of Robert Johnson are legendary. He became the king of the delta blues, and inspired countless singers and guitarists. Did he make a deal with the devil? You be the judge. He played a Gibson L-! guitar, and here is the rest of the story.

The Epiphone vs Gibson Les Paul debate has been going on for years. This review will help you decide which guitar is better for your budget and needs. Here you can compare construction, quality and sound between Epiphone and Gibson, and even learn a little history.

Tom Scholz and his Gibson Les Paul, along with some brilliant home made recording equipment, are the driving force of the band Boston. Here's the rest of the story.

Compare the best small guitar amplifiers and find the top amp for home use and practice. Beginners and pros alike love these little powerhouses.

The Gibson Les Paul is known as one of the greatest guitars in the world and with good reason. Here are 10 of those reasons!

This Fender Standard Jazz Bass review takes a look at a Made-in-Mexico (MIM) version of a classic instrument.

Discover the difference between Fender and Ibanez and learn how to choose the best guitar or bass for your style and genre. Ibanez and Fender are both excellent brands, and chances are one or the other is perfect for you.

Compare the Epiphone G-400 PRO to the Gibson SG Standard when it comes to sound, construction and value and find out which SG is right for you!

The Les Paul guitar by Gibson is a iconic electric guitar. But they make so many different ones it can be hard to know which is best. Here are 5 of the best across a range of price and style.

The Telecaster has always been associated with country and western music, and in the mid-1960s, country rock. There is no limit to what music can be created with one.

Compare the 10 best electric guitars under $500 and decide which top-rated instrument is right for you in 2019. These are affordable, budget guitars for intermediate players, but good enough for the pros.

Compare 10 of the best electric guitars under $1000 in this guide to the top instruments for under a grand, all from big names in the guitar world.

Which guitar brand is best for metal: Jackson, Ibanez, ESP LTD or Schecter? Compare construction, quality, sound, specs and more.

Find out how Marshall, Fender and Peavey, three kings of the guitar amplifier world, stack up against each other. Learn which amps are best for which genre and level of guitar player.

Here are the top ten electric guitars under $200 that are great for beginners or any player on a budget who is looking for an affordable instrument from one of the big names in the guitar world.

Find out which guitars besides the Epiphone Les Paul are among the best affordable alternatives to the Gibson Les Paul.

Here’s a review of SX bass guitars, affordable instruments for beginners or intermediate players. How does SX stack up against Squier?