Articles

Understanding the impact of your acoustic guitar’s nut width is key in picking the right guitar for your playing. We take a look.

Knowing the pros and cons of neck shapes is essential in picking up the right guitar for your hands. We run down the list.

If your finding the buzzing on your guitar is no longer responding to repair, it might be time for a refret. Here’s the breakdown of cost.

Fret wraps, also known as string dampeners, are wildly popular with some guitarists and ridiculed by others. We take a look.

If you’re swapping out speakers to find the best one for a clean tone on guitar, we have three perfect options for you. Check it!

There are tens of thousands of free and commercial profiles available for the Kemper – here are 9 of the best profile makers.

When you’re getting into the nitty gritty of a great playing guitar, fret wire is the first port of call. Here’s some info on sizes.

People hear all kinds of things in the news and start to wonder “Is Guitar Center legit?” We take a look (spoiler alert: they are).

While a tool kit can cover a lot, sometimes you need a specific guitar tool for the job. We walk you through the essentials.

World Musical Instruments Korea have been the manufacturer of choice for budget models of a huge number of brands over the years. While giving an exact list of who exactly those brands are is a slippery eel, we provide the best list of these brands available in 2022.

In our roundup of the best electric guitars under $1000, we find a ton of amazing options in all genres – why pay more?

We take a look at all the different models of Martin guitars made in Mexico and help you to understand the key differences!

if you’re in the market for a new Les Paul, and you can’t work out how the Les Paul Traditional is different to the Standard – we’ve got you!

We run down the differences between 6l6 and EL34 tubes, why you might want each, and some of our favorite amps for each tube.

In our Yamaha FG830 Review, we check out one of the most popular and yet affordable guitars on the market today.

Guitars are ubiquitous in modern music – but how far back do they go? We look at when the guitar was invented, and it’s history over the ages!

In our guide to 7 String Guitar Tuning, we discuss some of the most popular tunings, bands that use them, and songs to check out!

In this article we tell you everything you need to know about guitar pedals – all the types and sizes of pedal, plus all the terms you’ll come across.

We run down eight of our favorite YouTube channels for free guitar lessons – so much knowledge out there for free!

No stairway – denied! We look at why Stairway To Heaven (aka The Forbidden Riff) is allegedly banned in guitar stores – and more!

With chorus pedals making a comeback, the best chorus pedals for your board can be both cheap and cheerful!

Chibson Guitars – and specifically Chibson Les Pauls – are the bane of the Gibson lover’s life – but how to spot them?

A lot is made about the Standard vs Player series Fenders – but where exactly are the player series guitars made? We take a look.

In our rundown of the best DIY guitar kits, we find that building your own guitar can be achieved at almost any budget.

If you’re wondering what is the difference between a left handed guitar and a right handed guitar, we walk you through the signs!

If you’re wondering should I learn to play the guitar right or left handed, we walk you through every consideration!

If you’re new to guitar, the differences in lead vs rhythm guitar might be a little confusing! We walk you through each with a ton of examples.

We look at ten of the top acoustic guitar brands on the market today, showing you their flagship models at each price point.

We answer your questions about Epiphone Les Paul strings, like the best string gauge and what strings come on them!

While there are many different materials for guitar nuts, most people find themselves choosing primarily between bone and Tusq. However, if you want a bright sound with good volume and sustain, and you want all of the strings to be consistent, there’s only one choice. Let’s find out which that is!

In our guide to guitar part names, we walk you through every different part that makes up a guitar, from headstock to strap lock.

If you need an electrical contact cleaner substitute for your guitar or any other electronics, we walk you through your options.

Choosing between single coil and humbucker pickups will have a massive difference on your sound. We explain why!

If you’re trying to buy an electric guitar but getting overwhelmed by brands, we have the guide for you! We look at the prominent brands!

Fender is known for making guitars with skunk stripes on the back of the neck, but what purpose do they serve? We take a look!

If you’re new to amps, the choice between tube amps and solid state amps might not be obvious – we explain the differences!

Even if you’ve been playing guitar for decades, you might be changing strings the hard way! We show you how the pros do it.

Choosing between a straight up acoustic and one with some sort of pickup system built into it can be a head scratcher.

Choosing between an electric and an acoustic guitar is the first step in taking up the instrument. We walk you through the finer points.

One of the key concepts when purchasing a guitar is getting the right size to fit your body shape and the sound you need. Here’s all of them.

The Gibson Les Paul Standard is considered by most to be as good as it gets for an LP, and if you like slim necks, this is your guitar!

Maple vs rosewood – what are the differences and which is better on a fretboard? We take a deep dive on this crucial choice!

Neck pickups have a distinct tonal difference to bridge pickups – we discuss why that is, and when to use one or the other!

If you’re wondering which to go for between a Telecaster and a Stratocaster, we have the part by part walkthrough for you!

We take a look at the world of non fungible tokens (NFTs) and figure out how guitars fit into this new tech buzz word!

If you’re thinking of picking up a 3/4 sized guitar – acoustic, classical or electric – we have the guide for you!

Guitar calluses are a natural part of a guitarist’s life – but will they disappear if you play less? We talk you through everything you need to know!

If you’re trying to track down a hurdy gurdy, we have the guide for you! We have a full buyer’s guide for this most unique instrument!

Taking a guitar on a plane can be stressful – but you can reduce stress by following our simple guide on things to be aware of!

What happened to Firefly guitars? For a while they were all over YouTube and forums and then they disappeared. We explain all.

In our review of Sweetwater Vs Musician’s friend, we line up everyone’s favorite online guitar retailer against Guitar Center’s little bro!

Is Zzounds Legit? We walk you through everything you need to know about Zzounds, from selection to refunds and everything in between!

In our head to head of Zzounds Vs Sweetwater, we look at these two musical instrument giants and come out with a winner!

We explain the key differences between volume pedals and expression pedals, how to use them and where they go in your chain.

In our round up of online guitar stores, we share the best place to buy a guitar online and near you, as well as the best marketplaces for used guitars!

We take a look at one of the biggest online musical instrument retailers in the US and answer the question – is reverb legit?

Is Sam Ash a legit website/store to buy from? We take an in depth look at one of the biggest musical instrument retailers in the US!

If you’re trying to cure your GAS (guitar acquisition syndrome) with some accessories, we cover every type there is!

In our ultimate guide to guitar amps, we cover everything you could need to know, from types of amps to what’s up with tubes.

With so many sites selling guitars online these days, you might be wondering if Musican’s Friend is legit? We have the answers.

Sweetwater and Guitar Center are the two biggest retailers for guitarists – but which one do we recommend? Read on to find out!

We take a look at the Sweetwater Credit Card, and answer all of your questions about one of the best ways to afford gear today!

If you’re trying to understand the differences between echo and delay for guitarists – we have the answers! Check it out.

We talk about what makes a riff a riff, plus we give you some of our favorite riffs as well as tell you how to create your own!

Guitar fretboard dots/inlays/markers are helpful for beginners, but also provide amazing customization options. We take a look.

Wondering what the key differences are between reverb and delay? We go into what to use when, plus a few delay tricks!

What is a preamp pedal? Do I need a preamp pedal? How do you use a preamp pedal? These questions and more – answered!

We cover all types of guitar from types of electric to types of acoustic, bass, pedal steel and more – with illustrations, pictures and more!

A common debate among guitarists – do you need to burn in your guitar amp speakers? We say yes! And tell you how!

Every musician knows they feel better when they’re playing music – but did you know studies show that music is literally good for you?

We take a look at three examples of how long it takes to learn guitar – it all depends of course on your learning method!

Long forgotten about, the Ibanez Roadstar series was a stepping stone to the modern RG guitar, and is still a hot second hand bargain.

We take a look at Ed Sheeran’s favorite loop pedals, as well as some of the other gear he uses.

We take a look at the preferred delay pedal of Tool bass player Justin Chancellor, as well as some of his other bits of gear.

We take a look at Rob Scallon’s delay pedal of choice as well as some of the other gear the famous YouTuber uses to make music!

If you’re looking for a set of strings that’s light in some places and heavy in others, you’re looking for hybrid strings.

If you’re looking to keep the sound of your Yamaha alive with the same strings, we have the info you need!

How long is a piece of string? And how much does it cost to change one? We take a look at the price to DIY or take it to a store.

You may be surprised to find that Fender use almost the same strings across both Fender and Squire lines. We take a look.

If you just got a new Taylor and want to keep the sound consistent through the first string change, we have the guide for you.

Sometime the simplest question has to be asked! We go over the basics of your choice on the number of strings on a guitar.

If you’re trying to keep the sound of your new Gretsch guitar consistent after it’s first string change, you may be disappointed…

PRS make some of the higest quality guitars on the market today, as well as some excellent affordable versions in their “CE” models. Let’s take a look at where!

If you find the strings on your new Martin guitar are losing your shine, but you really want the sound and feel of the guitar when it was new, we help you find the right strings.

The worst thing that can happen for a guitarist at a gig is breaking a string. We go through 8 reasons this happens, and how to avoid them.

The battle of the chromatic tuners – or should I sell my TU2 and get a TU3? We weigh up the pros and cons.

What makes an Ibanez a shred machine? For many, it’s the legendary Wizard neck. We take a look.

Jatoba wood saw increased use in guitars after CITES regulations had a huge impact on the availability of rosewood. We take a look at this lesser known guitar wood.

PLEK machines have been the talk of the town for the last few years, but few people have actual hands on experience with them. We walk you through what they do and whether they’re right for you.

When people think of fingerpicking, they typically think of an acoustic guitar. However, for beginners, learning to fingerpick on an electric can actually make for a much easier path. We go through some of the considerations.

Depending on what you’re trying to do with your guitar, you might find the extra price of flatwound strings is justified. We walk through some of the reasons they might be right for you.

If you’re looking to get a good natural look and feel on a guitar neck, you’re probably trying to choose between tru oil, tung oil and lacquer. We walk you through the key characteristics of each.

Understanding scale length and how it effects a guitar’s playability can be a key component of buying the right guitar for your playing style – you probably don’t want a baritone for country, or a short scale guitar for djent. We walk you through scale length and how it effects you.

While many of us throw our used strings right in the trash, there might be a more environmentally friendly option for them. We walk you through your options.

Agathis wood is the web’s least popular wood. Some say it’s a step up from plywood, but only barely. We look closer at why it’s so hated, and reveal some instances where having an agathis wood guitar is just fine.

One of the most iconic guitarists of all time, David Gilmour has made delay a key part of his sound over the years, going from some old school echo delays to modern rack units. We walk through the three units he’s most associated with.

One of the great things about music is there are no rules, right? Well, almost. Many people think of acoustic and “classical” guitars as a close paring, but swapping out the strings can be risky business. We go over the reasons why.

Chorus seems to have fallen out of fashion in the last few years, but with a resurgence of grunge and shoegazing, it’s making a resurgence. We discuss the effect (no pun) of putting it before of after your delay pedal.

Some pedal orders make total sense, and then some are really a matter of taste. EQ and compression is one of the latter, and while most go compression first, we’re going to arm you with the knowledge to decide what works best for you.

The next in our series of pedal order articles, we look at two of the effects you’ll find most often on people’s pedal boards. As always these things are down to personal preference, but we give you the knowledge to find the sound you’re looking for!

In the first of our series on individual pedal order, we look at how swapping wah and compressor in the signal chain will alter your final sound. Conventional wisdom says wah first – but what happens if you go the other way with it?

If you’ve been in an online guitar community for more than five minutes, you’ve probably seen someone sneer the phrase Blues Lawyer in someone’s direction at least few times. But what does it mean, and why can’t I stop listening to Joe Bonamassa as I approach 50? Let’s discuss.

What happens when a gifted guitarist’s promising career is brought to its knees by an incurable degenerative disease? Does he succumb to his vegetative fate of confinement to a wheelchair? Or does he go on to write music that becomes a beacon of hope for a new generation?

There’s a point where music is loud enough to blow your hair back, but there’s also a point where an amp is loud enough to blow your eardrums to shreds. We walk through the mechanics of loudness, and talk about the volume of some classic amps.

Many players look to change the characteristics of their amps by swapping out tubes to get a different warmth, or in some cases more headroom – or even less. We walk you through the differences between two of the more popular tubes on the market, the 6L6 and the 6V6.

OHSC is a common term in guitar listings – especially when you’re looking at mid four figures and up – but for newbies it can be confusing. We walk you through what OHSC means, and why it’s important.

Gibson’s VOS line represents the custom shop’s passionate tribute to the golden era of Gibson guitars. We walk you through all of the aspects of the VOS line that make it so special.

Remember Guitar Center’s String Club? We go over the history of the offer, and place it in time within GC’s long financial struggles.