Instruments & Gear Reviews & Tutorials

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.

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

Learn about the Mexican-made (MIM) Fender Standard Stratocaster and decide if the HSS or SSS if better for you and your sound.

Takamine guitars of Japan are well known for their fabulous and interesting limited edition guitars. Here are their 40th and 50th anniversary limited edition models.

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!

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.

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

Want to play guitar, but never have? Wonder what goes along with it? How hard is it to learn guitar? What are the obstacles and challenges of learning guitar? Find a good portion of your answers here!

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.

Madagascar rosewood dreadnoughts are some of the hottest items in the world of guitars. Here is why, and here are five of the very finest dreadnought guitars of Madagascar rosewood made anywhere.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Discover the difference between Fender and Ibanez and learn how to choose the best guitar or bass for your style and genre.

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

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

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.

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.

Here are 5 of the best Fender Stratocaster models available. 4 are signature series or Artist series. Hendrix is dead, you know - and one is the new HSS Shawbucker, something desired widely.

Iconic, back-breaking, sustaining, brash and pricey, the Gibson Les Paul is a one of a kind guitar. Just don't stumble and lose your head.

Check out my review of the Schecter Omen 6, one of the best electric guitars for the money on the market today.

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.

Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai have been two of the most well known guitar virtuoso in the entire world for several decades. Well, here are the exact guitars they are each playing today.

Read my hands-on review of the Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded T electric guitar and decide if this affordable instrument is right for you!

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

Ron Wood has been a professional musician for more than 50 years now. He's been with The Rolling Stones for more than 40 years, and music is just one of his artistic pursuits.

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

Compare the 10 best electric guitars under $500 and decide which top-rated instrument is right for you.

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.

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

What's the fastest and easiest way to memorize a piano song? Is it a good idea, and if so, what benefits will it bring? Look inside to find out more.

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

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.

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

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...

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Martin and Taylor are two of the finest acoustic guitar builders in the entire world. This article compares their flagship rosewood body acoustic/electric dreadnoughts.

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

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

Here’s a look at the EVH 5150 Overdrive from MXR, a pedal designed in conjunction with legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen.

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.

Here's a review of the Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jazz Bass series, five of the best bass guitars under or around $300.

This review can help you choose the best mini guitar amp. Here are five cool little micro amps for practice, jamming or just plain fun.

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 what to look for when choosing a guitar amplifier for a beginner. Get advice on brands, speakers, wattage and more.

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

Jumbo sized acoustic guitars were created for folks who wanted even more volume out of their acoustic guitars than the large dreadnought design could offer. These are some of the best of the best.

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.

The short list of best bass guitars for under $500. If you are a bassist on a budget here are the top basses for the money.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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 under $300! Perfect for beginners and intermediate guitarists, but good enough to impress the veterans!

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Check out the top acoustic guitars for serious beginners who are looking for something better than the average starter instrument.

Radio station managers know that sound quality is part of everyday operations. But what is the audience actually hearing? Poor sound and shoddy production may lead to lost messages.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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