Guitar / Bass Amplifier Info & Education

Should You Bring a Backup Amp? A Discussion of More Portable Alternatives

December 04, 2019 3 Comments

Awhile back, we discussed gigging items you should bring backups for, and that included a backup amp. However, amps aren’t lightweight and portable like cables, accessories, or even an extra guitar or bass. In most cases, lugging a backup amp means another trip back to the car and one more thing to carry in and out of the venue (unless you have roadies, of course!). For that reason, many gigging musicians choose to forgo the backup amp and place their faith in their main amp.

Six Tips For Painless Pedalboard Building

September 02, 2019 2 Comments

Whether you are starting from scratch or re-working the order and layout, building pedalboards is a regular part of life for the gigging guitarist. Sometimes these building sessions can be filled with a lot of frustration. In this article, we’ll offer up our favorite tips to ensure that your next pedalboard building session goes off without a hitch. Most of these tips assume that you already have a pedalboard and several pedals…if you want some more tips on starting from scratch, let us know in the comments section. Here we go…

Five Pedals Every Guitarist Should Own

August 20, 2019 9 Comments

If you can’t tell by our previous articles, we love pedals! All kinds, shapes and sizes are welcome in our rigs. The vast array of options available are dizzying. Many guitarists don’t know where to start. This week, we want to share with you the five effects pedals that we feel EVERY guitarist should own.

Your Tone Knob Misses You…

August 16, 2019 4 Comments

We guitarists are always in search of “the perfect tone.” That phrase means something different to every guitarist but, in our opinion, “the perfect tone” should also be versatile. Some would say that versatility comes from having a well curated guitar rig. We’d argue that versatility can be had without acquiring tons of equipment. In fact, there’s something you most likely have already that can succeed in getting you more tones than you’ve probably imagined: your TONE KNOB! Yes, the guitar tone knob; often underused and misunderstood and a powerful tool waiting to be taken advantage of. We hope that once you’re done reading you’ll go pick up your guitar and start exploring what your tone knob can do. But first, let’s establish what the Tone Knob is actually doing…

All Amps Are Pedal Friendly: Part 3

August 01, 2019 2 Comments

Greetings friends! Welcome to the third and final chapter of our “Pedal Friendly” amp exploration. If you haven’t had the chance to read the first two parts of this series you may want to get caught up.

All Amps Are Pedal Friendly: Part 2

July 24, 2019 1 Comment

Hey everyone! Today we continue our journey to find out how ANY guitar amplifier can be pedal friendly. Today we go across the “pond” and visit our friends in England to explore the ever popular “British” style amplifiers.

All Amps Are Pedal Friendly: Part 1

July 19, 2019 4 Comments

Who doesn’t love effects pedals? From the simple to the complex, to every shade of overdrive and modulation...they’re so much fun and can be endlessly inspiring. But not everyone feels the same way. Many guitarists are asked why they don’t enjoy them and the answer is almost always the same: I can’t get them to sound good with my amp.

Overcoming Stage Fright

July 11, 2019 6 Comments

Have you ever been in the recording studio and you can’t get that riff down? How about being on stage and messing up that important solo even though you NAILED it in rehearsal? What you’ve experienced goes by many names but is most commonly referred to as “stage fright.”

FRFR vs. PA Speaker For Amp Modelers

July 04, 2019 6 Comments

Guitar amp modeling is all the rage! The technology has allowed guitarists to access a huge collection of amps and achieve tones that would have been otherwise out of reach. But with any new technology comes new challenges.

WG5 Wireless Demo Video: Acoustic Guitar with Active Pickup

June 28, 2019

The WG5 Wireless Guitar/Bass System is demoed in this video with an acoustic guitar with an active pickup. The benefits of the system are also discussed here.

Choosing the Right Cable Length for Your Setup

June 26, 2019 2 Comments

Using instrument cables of the proper length can both help your sound and make your stage setup look neater. They can also help you perform better too, as having to stand close to your amp or pedalboard because you didn’t bring long enough cables can really put a damper on your show. There are a few simple guidelines to follow, whether you’re putting together your first gig rig or re-evaluating your current setup.

Seven Habits That Will Make You a Better Musician, Part 3

May 30, 2019

Practice the Art of Being a Team Player

In the same way that learning the other players' parts will help you to fit in well, so too will learning to become a team player. Any guitarist can tell you that your amp sounds great when it's shaking the rafters. But if you crank up indiscriminately, it makes it hard for the other musicians to play at their best. Remember, they need to be able to hear as well. So, when they tell you they need you to adjust your volume, try to accommodate them to the extent possible. A good stage mix allows the whole band to hear not only themselves, but all the other parts as well. It does not require the ultimate guitar tone; that is essential out front, but it isn't always the top priority on stage.