Gear 7
Using the Rode Wireless PRO Recording System
Touted by Rode as “crystal clear” and “incredibly stable”, the Wireless PRO dual-channel recording system is positioned as a fully featured and affordable solution for audio-for-video. But what is it like to use in a real-world situation? With an upcoming video shoot involving interviews and two live performances, I snagged two Wireless PRO systems with […]
Inside Martin’s Storied Legacy: Factory and Museum Tour
In November of 2025, the zZounds crew traveled to Nazareth, PA, to embark on an exciting journey through Martin’s world-renowned factory and museum. During our factory tour, we witnessed Martin’s time-tested processes, which incorporate remarkable manual craftsmanship complemented by a small handful of pre-programmed machines. The museum, which sits mere feet from the entrance to […]
Martin Jason Isbell 0-10E Retro Exclusive Demo
Jason Isbell’s understated acoustic-guitar style serves as the gentle sonic wind beneath his captivating lyrics. Now, he’s teamed up with Martin for a signature so you can capture his heartfelt Americana sound for your rig. Isbell’s signature Martin 0-10E Retro is an inspired and accessible recreation of the historic 1940 0-17 that graced his recent […]
Our 3 Favorite Overdrive Pedals
There’s nothing like an amplifier on the edge of breakup. But most of the time you can’t “dime out” your amp to get that great tone, and that’s where overdrive pedals come in. Watch as our zZounds crew sits down to talk about their 3 favorite pedals for overdrive tones!
Our Top 3 Pedals For Shoegaze Tone
Bands like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, and Lush built the guitar-based, wall-of-noise genre shoegaze into what is it today with their powerful tones. Now with more options than ever before, it’s easy to get lost in the mix of what you need to play a part in this incredible genre. That’s where zZounds experts come […]
Why Teenage Engineering Is More Than Just a “Hipster Brand”
You know, the more I research Teenage Engineering, the more I picture peeling back an onion. For an instrument company, Teenage Engineering seem to aspire to be more than that. Whether functioning as a pseudo-design house—working for clients like the “Nothing” brand or IKEA, taking on little-known commissions for figures like the late, great fashion […]
Ultra-Low-Latency Wireless Headphones Arrive
If you’ve ever tried to DJ or play an instrument while monitoring your performance on Bluetooth wireless headphones, you’ve likely run into latency issues. That’s why wired headphones have long been the standard for DJing or any monitoring application that requires precise timing. But now that ultra-low-latency wireless headphones like the AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ Wireless, […]
How Does PRS Build Guitars? Take a Factory Tour With Us!
This past October, the zZounds crew had the opportunity to tour the PRS factory in Stevensville, Maryland, about an hour outside Baltimore. During our walkthrough, we received a deep history lesson on the company, factory operations, and Paul Reed Smith himself. We experienced every part of the build process associated with crafting a PRS guitar, […]
Idles’ Lee Kiernan Helps Design a Pedal for EarthQuaker Devices, Names It Gary
A simple request from Idles’ Lee Kiernan for a compact version of EarthQuaker Devices‘ now discontinued Gray Channel has turned into a fuzz-packed, overdrive-heavy, speaker-ripping (simulated), monster named Gary. Gary offers a vast range of dirty tones, and some that aren’t dirty at all. From ripping, phase-shifted fuzz to a clean boost with a little […]
