Instruments & Gear Reviews & Tutorials

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 the pros and cons of cheap acoustic and electric guitars and the difference between low-budget and expensive models.

Check out the 12 best guitar amps under $500, with top picks in the solid-state, tube, and modeling amp categories.They're affordable amplifiers for gigs, practice, or just jamming at home.

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.

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.

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.

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

John Fogerty is one of the greatest of all American songwriters, and he's penned numbers which will transcend centuries, and become folk songs. Hundreds of years from now, his songs will live on. He primarily played those songs on a Gibson Les Paul Custom.

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.

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

Here is a list of the 20 top-rated 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.

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

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

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

Which guitar players have the best tone? Here are a few who knew what it takes to get some amazing sounds out of an electric guitar and amp.

Get advice on choosing the best Epiphone Les Paul electric guitar for a beginner and learn why Epiphone is a top brand name for newbies.

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.

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.

Check out this list of best bass guitar brands in the world for 2020 and get help finding an instrument that’s perfect for you.

Learn the difference between the Ibanez RG and S Series and decide which guitar is better for you and your music.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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 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 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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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...

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

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

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.

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.

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

Check out this review of the Ibanez Soundgear SR400, SR505 and Premium bass guitars. Beginner or pro, you’ll find the right bass in the Soundgear lineup.

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.

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

Check out this review of the Epiphone Les Paul Custom PRO. Compare to Gibson and discover if it's the right guitar for you.

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

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!

Here's a detailed list of the 36 best guitar brands. Anyone looking for the top electric or acoustic guitars in 2020 will find this guide useful.

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

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.

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.

Learn the difference between the Fender Stratocaster vs the Telecaster when it comes to tone, versatility, neck profile, and more so you can decide which guitar is better for your needs.

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

Find out how to many watts you need in a bass amp for gigging, jamming at home, practicing your chops, and playing with a band.

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

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.

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!

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!

Check out the best tube combo amps for under $1000. Whether you're into rock, metal, country or blues this article can help you find your sound.

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

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.

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

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 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.

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

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

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.

Fear not, killer tone is already at your fingertips!

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

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

Discover the top electric guitars for blues and rock. If you play blues guitar, you need the best instrument for the job.

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!

Compare the best low-budget electric guitars under $300. They're affordable instruments but never call them cheap! They are made by some of the top names in the guitar world.

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.

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.

Compare the 10 best electric guitars under $500 and decide which top-rated instrument is right for you in 2020. These are affordable, budget guitars for intermediate players, but good enough for the pros.

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.

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.

If you're looking for the best heavy metal guitar under $500 here are the top electric guitars you need to consider.

A great parlor guitar will always be small, and never be cheap. These are not backpacking or travel guitars, but fine fine small acoustic guitars for serious players and consumers.

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

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.

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 some of the best Flying V guitars! This review looks at the classic Gibson Flying V and alternatives from Dean, Jackson and ESP LTD.

Everyone knows you've lusted over a PRS guitar at least once in your life. There is, however, the matter of price. So are these works of art truly worth the price?

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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!