The Story Behind Fret Sprout
You pick up your guitar that you’ve had sitting in the stand for a few weeks and suddenly you feel it: the “sharp” frets are sticking out from the fretboard! Or worse yet, you pull a brand-new guitar you just ordered out of the box and the setup is all off and you feel the […]
zZounds Studio Take: Taylor GS Mini-e Bass
Today we are taking a look at the highly anticipated darling of NAMM 2017, the Taylor GS Mini-e Bass guitar. Four strings on a GS Mini has long been a dream for many bass players, and now they can rejoice, because now they can have the best of both “travel” and “full-sized” worlds! This shrunken […]
Legends of Tone: The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
“You’ve NEVER heard Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band before?” I used to hear this sentence countless times growing up. But to be honest, I didn’t enjoy the music of the Beatles all that much then. The only problem was that I thought I knew their music – “She Loves You” right? I couldn’t have […]
What’s the Matter with Musical Meter?
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 outlined a very important concept to think about when composing music: tempo. Today, we take one more step […]
Using Two Microphones to Record Electric Guitar
Using two or more microphones when recording electric guitars is a great way to expand your tonal options during the final mixdown. Different microphones impart their own personality on your guitar’s sound and using more than one can help bring out tones that you wouldn’t be able to do with just a single mic. For […]
Behind the Design: Alesis Strike Pro Kit
While designing the Strike and Strike Pro kits, Alesis engineers had two goals in mind: to provide drummers with their most powerful module yet, and to make an electronic kit that finally delivers on the promise of feeling like a real acoustic drum set. Josh Cuadra, Alesis National Sales Manager and Dan Recchia, Alesis Project Manager, recently paid […]
zZounds Accessory Look Book: Guitar
Welcome to the zZounds Accessory Look Book! This visual guide shows off some of the most unique, innovative accessories we have to offer. In this edition, we’re taking a look at top guitar accessories that make gigging a breeze for the mobile guitarist (or bassist!) From straps to cables, stands and more, there’s a lot […]
Building a Guitar, Part 2: Choosing Body and Neck Wood
When constructing a guitar, one of the most important aspects to consider is the wood that the body and neck are made from. With the massive array of wood species available today to choose from, it can no doubt be a seriously difficult decision to make. But have no fear – this wood buying guide […]
zZounds Studio Take: Ernie Ball Music Man Valentine
In studio today we’ve got the Ernie Ball Music Man James Valentine Signature Guitar. Valentine is the guitarist for Maroon 5, a very eclectically voiced band with tracks ranging from R&B to pop to rock. Released last year by Ernie Ball Music Man, the Valentine Signature is one of the most comfortable signature guitars I’ve ever had the […]
