Guitar / Bass Amplifier Info & Education

Building A Compelling Set

October 28, 2020 3 Comments

When it comes to live music, there’s one sure way to make sure nobody listens, follows your social media, or buys merch and that’s to simply line up a random list of songs and play through them. Sure, a bar may be happy for you to play human jukebox, and that may be fine by you too. But if your goal is to really compel people, then you have to put on a show.

Making the Most Out of Not Much Gear

September 28, 2020 2 Comments

Music is a funny business. It can be one of the toughest ways to make money, yet instruments, PA gear, and recording equipment can be notoriously expensive. Plus, it seems the amount of gear you need to put together a great record or an awesome show gets to be more and more every year.

Go into a typical commercial or home recording studio or band rehearsal space, and you’re liable to lay eyes on thousands upon thousands of dollars of value.

But what if you don’t have the scratch to accumulate that much gear? You’ll have to make the most of what you've got. It turns out this is very doable.

Here are a few tips for making the most out of not much gear.

Writer’s Block 101 For Musicians

September 24, 2020 2 Comments

There are no artists who don’t suffer from writer’s block occasionally. It may seem that some don’t, because they consistently generate great work, but they’re human too. In reality, professional songwriters simply have tools they can use to get out of a slump, and to prevent writer’s block in the first place.

Tubes In Pedals: How to Avoid Gimmicks and Spend Your Money Wisely

Tubes In Pedals: How to Avoid Gimmicks & Spend Your Money Wisely

September 16, 2020 2 Comments

If there’s one thing that the majority of guitarists can agree upon it’s this: tubes are awesome! The vacuum tube, or “valve” to our European friends, has been at the center of guitar tone since the advent of the electric guitar. And even as technology evolves and seeks to replace the tube, guitarists have fought back and have continued to give the tube relevance to this day. Of course, new and exciting tube amps are being made every year but one other usage tubes have found is tube-powered effects pedals.

5 Ways to Pare Down a Song

September 14, 2020

COVID-19 has forced us all to adjust. Luckily, musicians are already good at that. If you’ve found yourself having to make do with smaller gigs, having to stay away from your bandmates, or if you just want to expand your options, then you may want to explore alternative ways to play your songs. Rearrangement can give you an opportunity to play quieter venues, utilize different personnel, and even record various versions.

Can’t Gig? Alternative Income For Live Musicians

September 10, 2020 2 Comments

With concert venues closed, tours cancelled, and live music in general in an unprecedented slump due to COVID-19 restrictions, it’s not a secret that live musicians are struggling. Especially if playing out is your main or only source of income, you’ll need an alternative, at least for a while, so we’ve gathered up a list of some of the best ways a musician can make money without going out.

Protecting Your Hearing On Stage

July 23, 2020 2 Comments

If you’re like most rock-n-rollers, you like it loud. And who doesn’t? But if you’re serious about making music for a long time, you’ll want to protect your ears from long term damage. Contrary to popular belief, your ears don’t “get used” to being exposed to super loud music over time. Instead, they get damaged, and eventually, that damage can become permanent, leaving you at a disadvantage on stage or in the studio.

Keeping Your Stage Organized

July 13, 2020 1 Comment

Picture this: your lead singer gets excited and decides to do an Irish river dance during your guitar solo. In an ecstatic frenzy, he leaps and careens. The crowd goes berserk. People scream, people dance, your solo turns into an exalted triumph never-before seen in your state…

Up Your Practice Routine

July 07, 2020 3 Comments

We hope you’ve all been staying well these past few months. With not much to do but stay inside or close to home there’s lots of time available to practice our favorite instrument. But with our sense of normal being challenged on an almost daily basis it can be hard to find the proper inspiration to practice or the proper direction in our practice.

Start With The Drums: Cleaning Up Your Stage Sound From The Ground Up

July 02, 2020 2 Comments

It’s not a lot of bands who take the extra time to address how drums work in a room, but when it's done, everything else tends to fall in place. Guitars can sit in the mix, bass can thump, and vocals can cut through without over-compressing.

Why (And How) You Might Want To Turn Your Amp Down On Stage

June 26, 2020 13 Comments

It’s no secret house sound engineers fight with guitarists about the volume of amps on stage, especially in small venues. It may even be a bit of a cliché to mention it. “Turn it down!” often becomes “I’ll turn it down for you!” and “I need it louder!” turns into “I’ll just sneak over here and turn this up…”.

Tips For Setting Up Quickly On Stage

June 11, 2020 11 Comments

Nothing saps your energy on stage like running late and being in a rush. To boot, you can’t always get into a venue at 9AM like the big shows do and set up. So, getting your stage set up done quickly and efficiently is crucial to ongoing success as a gigging musician.

Here are some of our best tips for getting your setup done quickly and easily, so you might have a chance at a good sound check and a little break before rocking the crowd.

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