Features 101
Talking Shop: The Best Show You’ve Ever Seen
It’s a fact: if you’ve been to two or more shows, you can talk about the best show you’ve ever seen (so far). Whether it was a band you’ve idolized since childhood, or an unknown act that blew you away, or even a perfect crowd, these shows can be a transformative experience. We asked zZounds […]
Ibanez Tube Screamer Shootout
2019 marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most iconic and most copied overdrive pedals of all time: The Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer. Designed by Maxon and re-branded by Ibanez, the Tube Screamer has been a favorite among guitarists of all genres. Whether you’re trying to get the sweet bluesy break up of Stevie […]
Talking Shop: Buying Gear Under the Influence
Endorsements are a huge sales driver in any industry. It’s why young basketball stars are wooed to sign shoe deals with brands like Nike and Adidas. Or former NBA stars like Shaq, who get courted by brands like Icy Hot and Gold Bond. Music gear is no different, with a history of artist endorsements going […]
Magnetic Field Design Pickups and the Legacy of Leo Fender
G&L was founded in 1980 by George Fullerton and the legendary Clarence “Leo” Fender. Few people know about Leo’s time after leaving Fender, in which he designed some of the first Music Man models and then founded G&L where he worked until his passing. These instruments featured some of Leo’s final innovations to the electric […]
Talking Shop: Worst Gigs
Sometimes, you play a great show. Other times…things go wrong. From smashed gear to horrific venues to audiences looking to really rage, these are tales from the shows we wish we could forget. Read these terrifying short stories if you dare, and share yours in the comments below! Mellow Against the Machine Shop One of […]
The Coolest Things We Saw at NAMM 2019
Another NAMM is in the books, but we still can’t stop talking about the awesome gear and people we saw there. Check out our rundown of the coolest things we saw this year at NAMM! Neon Vines demoing the Akai Force One of the hottest launches of the 2019 NAMM Show was the Akai Force. […]
PRS’ 2019 Roster Gets Exotic
PRS is starting off 2019 with a bang by with some hot takes on some of your favorite guitars. Enjoy the increased resonance and distinct tone of a semi-hollowbody in models like the CE 24, Custom 22, and Singlecut. The affordable and popular SE Custom 24 also gets a stunning makeover with new topwoods like […]
EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things
As you grow your pedalboard, keeping things tight and orderly can become a challenge. Maintaining your signal’s integrity as it passes through a chain of effects — some true-bypass, some not — is a whole other story. Add a tone-sucking volume pedal and a stereo amp rig to the mix and things certainly don’t get […]
The 12 Tones of Christmas
We’re counting down to Christmas one day (and pedal) at a time! Follow our Instagram to see each featured pedal and Christmas tune, and check back on the blog, where we’ll listing out each clip in order. Rock around the Christmas tree to these jams or scour our list for a few awesome gift ideas! […]
