Instruments & Gear Reviews & Tutorials

Here are a few names: Danny Bonaduce. Derek Smalls. Bobby Dall. Gene Simmons. I think you can see where I'm going with this. Maybe? No? Oh...just read the article, already.

When it comes to vintage American guitars the big three will always come to mind. Now, everyone has heard of the big three American automobile companies, but we Americans have a big three for guitars as well, Martin, Gibson, and Fender. C.F. Martin...

Discover the best heavy metal guitars under $300, great options from brands like Jackson, Dean, Schecter and B.C. Rich.

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.

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.

Small bodied acoustic guitars with mahogany tops were the guitars of choice for most during the great depression. Well, they sound great today too. Here are five of the best mahogany top small bodies.

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

From playing with Duane and Gregg Allman, to his extraordinary solo career, Dickey Betts has been one of the cornerstones of southern rock. Here is a review of his beautiful Les Paul Goldtop, as well as a brief history Dickey's career.

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!

Learn the difference between the Fender Stratocaster vs the Telecaster and decide which guitar is best for your needs.

Check out this review of the Jackson JS32 Series. They're affordable versions of classic designs such as the Rhoads, King V, Dinky, Warrior and Kelly.

Tonewoods are a key selling point for electric guitars, so why do some guitar players say they don’t even matter?

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

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.

A Gibson Les Paul Custom with 3 pickups is forever an extremely desirable and also expensive guitar. Here are 5 of the best available.

Chris Cornell was one of the best vocalist in the history of rock music, and also one of its most intriguing songwriters. Gibson produced two different and very rare ES-335 models for Chris, and here's the rest of the story.

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

David Gilmour's glassy Strat tone has been a part of over two hundred and fifty million albums sold world wide. Here's what you need to know if you're attempting to get a Strat with that exact sound.

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.

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

Learn whether a beginner should choose an electric or acoustic guitar when starting out, and discover the differences between each type of guitar

Looking for a Stratocaster guitar but want to stay away from Fender? Here are five of the most well thought of non Fender Stratocaster manufacturers.

Learn how to hold your guitar in minutes with Ben Sielaff, Guitarist and Teacher. From acoustic guitar to electric guitar, you can master the basic techniques in posture and playing.

Here's a review of my Heartfield Talon II guitar, a Fender superstrat made in Japan that has become a strange sort of classic in the guitar world.

Read this review and learn why the affordable Fender Rumble 15 v3 is the best bass amp for practice, jamming with friends or small gigs.

If you're looking for the best guitar amp under $500 check out these 5 great options, all with plenty of power for gigs and rehearsals.

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

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.

When you are a serious guitarist, but your day job requires you to travel, you need a guitar you can take on the road. Here are five of the best travel guitars.

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

Learn to choose the best guitar strings for electric and acoustic guitar, plus get tips for beginners on changing strings and guitar maintenance.

The best portable guitar amp combines cool features with great sounds in a small, battery-powered package. Here are 5 awesome choices.

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?

Learn the difference between classical and acoustic guitars and discover the pros and cons of each for beginners.

Compare and review the best electric guitar starter packs for beginners, affordable kits from the most respected names in the guitar industry.

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!

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

This beginner's guide to EZ Drummer will help you get started on that virtual percussion fix you so dearly crave.

Compare the best acoustic guitars under $500 and learn why you don't need to spend a fortune to land a great instrument!

Check out the best Yamaha acoustic guitars, top-rated instruments perfect for beginners but good enough for intermediate and advanced guitarists.

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.

Learn how to choose an affordable Gibson Les Paul, find the best Les Paul copy or evaluate a non-Gibson, budget-friendly alternative made by another guitar company.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The best metal and hard rock guitar has to not only look the part, but sound amazing too. Here are a few guitars that make the cut.

Every guitarist needs an acoustic/electric which is good enough to use in the studio and on stage. But a working musician also requires affordability in their road worthy guitar. Here are five.

Gibson Les Paul or Fender Stratocaster? Read this review to help decide which guitar is best for you and your playing style.

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.

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

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.

Compare the top electric guitars that are best for intermediate players and guitarists who are just beginning their climb to the top.

Review and compare 5 of the best bass combo amps under $500 from some of the biggest names in the industry and find the perfect amp for your needs.

A semi-hollow body electric guitar has a bit of acoustical variance not available to a solid body guitar. They especially excel at clean tones, but they need not be limited. Here are 5 great new ones.

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.

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.

In this review you'll discover why the Fender Standard HSS Stratocaster is among the top electric guitars for the money.

Check out this list of best bass guitar brands for 2018 and get help finding an instrument that’s perfect for you.

Check out the best acoustic guitars for beginners, all under $200 and from some of the top brands in the guitar world

Recording software is notorious for costing even more than some instruments, but that doesn't have to be the case. Here are five digital audio workstations under $100 that will do the job just fine.

Check out five of the best hollow-body jazz guitars for under $1000. If you’re looking for the ultimate jazz box start your search here!

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.

Here’s a review of my Fender Highway One Stratocaster, an American-made guitar I grabbed for a super affordable price back in 2003.

Here's a detailed list of the 33 best guitar brands. Anyone looking for the top electric or acoustic guitars in 2018 will find this guide useful.

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!

Trying to decide if you should learn guitar or drums? Discover the pros and cons of each and make the best decision for you!

Compare 5 of the best bass amps for beginners, top-rated amplifiers from some of the biggest brand names in the bass guitar world.

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.

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.

Five of the finest of all Jumbo sized steel string acoustic guitars from five of the finest makers of steel string acoustic guitars. These are big acoustic guitars for people wanting a big sound.

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.

Confused by guitar specs when it comes to buying your first beginner guitar? Read this guide to basic terms and definitions.

Discover the top ten electric guitars that are best for beginners, all under $200 and from big names in the guitar world.

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

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.

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

Here are five of the best acoustic-electric guitars on the market for under $1000. If you’re looking for a new guitar start your search here!

There are lots of things to consider when buying a guitar. Here's a bunch of them.

Check out this Peavey 6505+ 112 Combo review and find out why I think it is the best combo guitar amp for metal. It has legendary 6505 tone, and all the power you need in a compact package. Learn how it compares to the 6505+ head and the 6505 MH mini head.

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.

Here’s a review of the Fender American Special Stratocaster and Telecaster, affordable American-made instruments with classic vibes.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Check out some of the best travel guitars: Acoustic, Electric and Acoustic-Electric guitars made to pack up and take on the road.

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.

A quick and authoritative guide to buying a music keyboard for a child or beginner. Common mistakes, prices, and reviews from years of first-hand experience.

Learn about the top small tube amps. They’re low-wattage combos perfect for playing at home, recording, or low-volume gigs.

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

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

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.

Find out what other guitarists say makes an electric guitar sound good or bad and cast your own votes in this online guitar poll.

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.