Top 5 Alex Lifeson Solos
This month’s Legends of Tone feature is very near and dear to me, because of who we are showcasing: Alex Lifeson of Rush. Lifeson is such an important figure in my life in regards to music, in fact, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for his music and guitar playing. Simply put, I started […]
Beat Production Tool: Ableton Simpler
Welcome to Beat Connection, a series dedicated to promoting modern and vintage dance styles the only way we know how…by providing you a musical starting point to help you create that beat. In our previous post, we took an in-depth look at one of Ableton Live’s most important beat production tools: Sampler. Today, we explore […]
Building a Guitar Part 3: Applying a Custom Neck Finish
In this installment of Building a Guitar, I’d like to focus on one of the most important aspects of any guitar: the neck. The neck is the literal “feel” of the guitar, as you manipulate it most from this area as you play. Because of this, a lot of care and attention to detail is […]
Interview with Tom Jones of TV Jones
Tom “TV” Jones is one of a handful of elite luthiers and pickup winders guitarists know by name. His interpretation of the classic Filter’Tron pickups found in vintage Gretsch guitars are regarded as the best out there –Gretsch themselves commissioned Jones to develop pickups for their higher end models, and TV Jones pickups are loved by […]
Gibson Announces New Slash Les Paul in Anaconda Burst
With the recent news that Gibson had named guitarist Slash as its global brand ambassador, the timing seems perfect that the Gibson Custom Shop is releasing a new version of perhaps the most famous signature model of Les Paul’s signature model. This Gibson Custom Shop Slash Les Paul features a stunning and bold new finish […]
EHX Announces Green Russian Big Muff
As much as The Dude is synonymous with his favorite cocktail, the White Russian, fans of heavy riffage have flocked to the so-called “Green Russian Big Muff” — a variant of the famed Big Muff Pi pedal produced by Sovtek in Russia in the mid-’90s. Beloved for its low-end growl, this variant has become a […]
Play Guitar Through Your DAW
If you’re a beginning guitarist, you’ll quickly find that playing through a real amp is exhilarating, but can also be frustrating, especially if you have neighbors close by. There’s almost nothing like the sound of a real guitar amp, but digital options have come a long way in the last decade. Playing guitar through a […]
How to Install a Pre-Wired Pickguard
Perhaps the most drastic way to change your guitar’s tone is by installing a new set of pickups. And whether you’re making a big change in the type of pickup — like going from a single-coil pickup to a humbucker, or installing active pickups where you had passive pickups — or just installing a different […]
Passive vs. Active Pickups
Even though both passive and active pickups have now been around for decades, some players still don’t know the true differences between the two types. Pickups happen to be one of the most — if not the most — fundamental tone-shaping parts on your electric guitar. Knowing how they work and the different tones they […]
