From my earliest days as a guitar player, even growing up admiring the work of players like John Frusciante and Stevie Ray Vaughn, the distinctive spank of a single-coil pickup never spoke to me like the thick, robust sound of a humbucker. I’ve always been drawn to humbuckers, an attraction I attribute to my childhood […]
For many Les Paul enthusiasts, the ’70s era Les Paul Custom has remained one of the most prized instruments in their collection. From small but noticeable tweaks in design to the beginning of Gibson’s rich history of production in Nashville, these guitars had something special. Now, Gibson has reintroduced the Les Paul Custom 70s so […]
Rotary speaker cabinets have been the source of incredibly unique tones for decades. But their size and weight make them impractical for use on the go. That’s where Boss comes in! The Boss RT-2 Rotary Ensemble pedal distills the tones and textures from a rotary speaker setup into a compact stompbox. The Boss RT-2 features […]
The new SSL Revival 4000 analog channel strip is turning heads for its recreation of the sound of the early ’80s SL 4000 Series mixing console, as well as its versatile feature set. With a dynamics section based on the E Series, four-band EQ, high and low pass filters, and even a de-esser onboard, the […]
Some pedals are born out of nostalgia, but the JHS 424 Gain Stage is rooted in obsession. For years, producers and guitarists have been chasing the gritty, colorful saturation of the TASCAM 424 Portastudio, the four-track cassette machine that defined an era of lo-fi records. From indie bands layering tape hiss into their mixes to […]
When you think of percussion in a recording, you probably picture a drum kit, maybe a conga player if things are getting spicy. But auxiliary percussion — a wide-ranging category that encompasses items like tambourines, shakers, cowbells, and wood blocks — is where you can quietly take a track from “good groove” to “why does […]
In this day and age, content is king — enter the Rode Wireless Micro system. Whether you are creating shortform content, need an easy-to-use wireless lav system for long-form videos, or want a creative and compact solution for recording singer-songwriter demos and videos in the wild, this plug-and-play wireless system has you covered. In this […]
What happens when you’ve got 10 unique classic distortion pedals and one slick riff? What type of overdrive or distortion works best with the riff, and how do you know what pedal works best? Well it’s all about how it sounds, so we tested 10 unique classic dirt pedals on a single riff. Which tone […]
Sounding great at the local honky tonk doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg! Perfect for the working musician, the weekend warrior, or even the seasoned vet, our five choices for top country electric guitars for under $1,000 are sure to hit every nuance you’re looking for. Whether you crave the classic Telecaster […]