Guitar / Bass Amplifier Info & Education

Guitar Pedal Anatomy

March 16, 2023

Guitar pedals are simple beasts for the most part, but there’s plenty to understand when it comes to how they do what they do. You don’t necessarily need to understand them to use them, but a little deeper dive might help achieve the sounds you want quicker, and possibly help you avoid or solve problems faster. Or perhaps you’re just curious. Either way, let’s dive into the anatomy of a guitar pedal here.

Using Modern Tube Tech to Get Classic Sounds

March 03, 2023

Whether you come from the era of classic tube amps and the gritty sound we’ve come to love or you’re a modern player with throwback intent, there’s no shortage of modern ways to achieve the classic tones. You can certainly pay a premium to get the actual old gear, but as time goes by that gear will be harder and harder to come by. Modern tube tech is readily available and has the advantage of current technology and methods to keep it fresh and integrate with new gear and techniques.

Breaking Out of a Songwriting Rut

February 21, 2023

No matter how much juice you get from writing songs, you’re just going to come across a rut here and there. Even if you’re not having full-on writer’s block, you could find yourself writing the same thing over and over and feel like you’re not progressing. Luckily there are plenty of ways to purposefully cause your writer self to break new ground.

Organizing Your Home Studio in a Tight Space

February 20, 2023

Being able to record at home is crucial for many modern musicians. But when you're crammed into a closet or a tiny bedroom, it can be hard to figure out an effective layout. Fortunately, with a little creativity, you can organize your home studio in even the tightest spaces. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Tips for More Effective Practice

January 30, 2023

If you’re like most musicians, time can get away from you. For some professionals and part-timers alike, practice often takes a back seat to other tasks like marketing, recording, billing, teaching, writing, or any number of other things. Not only that, but it’s also hard to continue growing as an artist without practice. So, facing less time to practice along with pressure to get better, it’s always a good idea to maximize your practice sessions. To that end, here are a couple of pro tips for more effective practice.

Upping Your Musical Game in 2023

January 13, 2023

Not everyone goes in for New Year’s resolutions. In fact, even among those who do, most resolutions go unfulfilled. Still, the end of one year and the beginning of another is as good a time as any to take a step back, reevaluate, and plan for improvement. Here are some thoughts on upping your musical game for 2023.

Finding the Right Gift for Musicians You Love

December 09, 2022

Musicians can be notoriously hard to buy for. Not all music equipment is equal, choices are personal, and musicians tend to snap up what they want when they want it. So, when Christmas comes around, it can be hard for loved ones to come up with the right gift. Still, it’s not impossible. Finding the right gift for a musician you love just takes a little patience and listening.

Amping Your Acoustic Guitar

December 08, 2022

Even if you’re a dyed-in-the-wool rocker, the occasional “unplugged” show is a great thing to do. If you’re a singer-songwriter with an acoustic, it’s all you do. But unplugged is pretty much always a misnomer, as it’s rare to see a totally unamplified acoustic guitar on stage.

Playing With No Bass Player

December 02, 2022

It’s hard to imagine a rock-n-roll lineup without at least one drummer, one guitar, and one bass. There’s a reason for that – bass fills in the low end and creates the foundation for a sound, and unless you’ve got some kind of nontraditional thing going, you need some kind of low-end foundation. 90% of the time that’s your bassist.

How to Work Originals Into Your Cover Band Set

November 03, 2022

The fact is, musicians are creative, and while some get all their joy from playing and none from writing, many working musicians would also like to get their own work heard. Not to mention, if you’ve got designs on creating a bigger act, playing only covers is extremely limiting. At some point, as you grow, you’ll be called upon to create your own sound.

Teaching a New Band a Song on Stage

October 28, 2022

As a singer/songwriter or solo act without a dedicated band, you may not get a lot of opportunities to rehearse and work out the “full band” version of your stuff. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t step on stage with a band and let ‘er rip. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find yourself on stage with a house band or intrepid group of pros who want to play your songs right here and now.

KOA Acoustic Guitar Preamp Review

October 26, 2022

Sean Pierce Johnson reviews the KOA Acoustic Guitar Preamp on Stompbox Saturday. The KOA Acoustic Preamp offers classic, natural acoustic tone with unprecedented tonal control and extended headroom.

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