Update: This mystery guitar was unveiled some months after publication to be the Gibson Modern DC, produced by the Gibson Custom Shop. One cool feature we didn’t realize at the time is that the Modern DC features a neck volute — this technically not-so-modern feature helps prevent the headstock from snapping off the neck. Still, […]
A guitar familiar to anyone who has seen Nirvana’s famous 1993 MTV Unplugged session is in the middle of a nasty ownership battle, and its fate could be determined in court. A 1959 Martin D-18E which once belonged to Kurt Cobain is currently in the possession of Isaiah Silva, the estranged husband of Cobain’s daughter, Frances Bean. […]
To close out 2016, we’re taking a look at some of the gear we think made a big impact among musicians this year. We’re not saying this gear was the “best” of the year, but whether they intrigued us personally or stirred up a bunch of discussion on forums and Facebook groups, this gear definitely made […]
There’s almost nothing like plugging into a big tube amp, cranking the volume, setting the gain just right, and letting that thing rip. It’s that x-factor, the “you know it when you hear it” sound, that keeps you coming back for more. There’s something going on among the combination of tubes, capacitors, resistors, transformers, etc. […]
When it comes to tuner pedals, most guitarists agree that the absolute most important quality is accuracy. If you can’t trust your tuner, you have nothing. Thankfully, just about any tuner you find today is going to be accurate to a degree of under 1 cent. That’s pretty darn precise — for reference, there are 100 cents between each half-step, […]
Korg just announced the new Monologue monophonic analog synthesizer today, putting countless rumors to rest. The company had teased a Nov. 1 product launch earlier on social media, but had removed the teaser graphics. With little clues to work with, fans guessed the new product could have been anything from an ARP 2600 reissue, a mini […]
Like a lot of other guitarists who gig for art or work, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about which guitar is going to fit my style the best, or how many tube watts will I need to fit in with “x” band. While these pursuits are definitely central to getting your sound right, their […]
Here are a few things you’re likely not to read often: thousands descended last week on the great city of Schaumburg, Illinois for a three-day convention full of unique synthesizer companies and aficionados. I may be overselling the event itself, but Knobcon holds a legitimately unique scene you won’t see anywhere else. So, what is Knobcon? Here’s a definition from […]
Whether it was on Abbey Road or Master of Puppets, multi-tracking is a widely-used studio technique that has given countless recordings the instantly recognizable sound of massive guitars. By recording the same part multiple times, then layering them on top of each other, engineers create a wall of sound. And with each take, subtle differences […]