Guitarsite News

Roundup of the Best Fuzz Pedals

Although sometimes interchanged with overdrive and distortion, fuzz is distinct from the two. It offers more dynamics than distortion, and more grit than overdrive, and it is well deserving of a spot on your pedalboard. Here we feature the best modern and classic fuzz pedals available in 2016 so you can pick one that fits your style. Fuzz pedals generally fall under two types, Germanium based and Silicon transistor based. Germanium based fuzz pedals are known for midrange-rich vintage-sounding fuzz tones, ideal for adding more crunch to your rhythm tones and violin like sustain to your lead lines. Silicon based fuzz pedals offer higher gain, with a relatively tamer, scooped and edgy flavor. These fuzz pedals are great for mixing with your existing overdrive or distortion pedal, and ideal for adding subtle grit that will not override your original tone too much. Whatever your preference maybe, you will find the best fuzz pedal for your needs right here: The Best Fuzz Pedals This table shows you all of the Fuzz Pedals that we recommend – scroll down below to read our extended reviews for each one. Image Link to Amazon Overview Detailed Description Dunlop JD-F2 Dallas-Arbiter Fuzz Face There wouldn’t

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The Best Delay Pedals for Guitar

Here is our recommended list of the best delay pedals, whether you are looking for the inspiring warmth of analog delays or you need the precision and versatility of digital delays, you can find what you want in this list. Analog Delay Pedals are mostly based on bucket brigade delay circuits that were introduced in the ’70s. These circuits eventually replaced high maintenance tape-head-based delays. Compared to their digital counterpart, analog delays produce shorter and stiffer echoes, but they trump modern tech with their natural sounding and warm tone. If you’re going for classic or old school vibe, then these are the pedals that you should be eyeing. Digital Delay Pedals utilize the latest in digital sound processing technology to produce longer and more transparent sounding delays. Following the steps of amp modeling, some digital delay pedals can mimic analog delays and even go as far as emulating old tape head echoes. Digital delays offer flexibility and extensive control over your sound, crucial features that tipped the scales in their favor for many guitarists. If you want total control over your sound, or if you don’t want your original tone colored by the delay effect, then go for a good

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Battery Powered Guitar Amp Roundup

Make great sounding riffs wherever you go with one of these highly recommended battery powered guitar amps. Manufacturers tend to pack more and more features into smaller and more affordable packages, this makes portable amps more versatile, accessible and budget friendly. We have sorted through the bulk of battery powered amps to find the best of the bunch to help you in your selection process. We picked out the ones that are most fun to use, having the right combination of versatility, tone quality, portability and affordability. Roland Micro Cube RX The Roland Micro Cube RX is an easy top pick and popular opinion agrees with us. For something small, it comes packed with all the features that Roland can fit in, including COSM DSP that features built-in beat maker, tuner, 8 amp models and 6 effects (my favorite of which is the black panel model and the tremolo effect). However, what sets the Micro Cube RX apart from the others are the two stereo amplifiers that drive 4×4″ speakers, giving it a fuller sound that other single-speaker portable amps can’t provide. Amazingly, the amp can runs for 13 hours straight on just six AA batteries. If you want nothing

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The Best Electric Guitars Under $1000

The $1000 price range is the sweet spot for finding great guitars with exceptional value. Here you will find the best budget-friendly workhorse guitars in this price range, particularly those that come close to more expensive models, without the hefty price tag. The guitars listed here have tone, features and specifications that matches, if not rival, more expensive models. Wood configuration, profile and playability is comparable, with the main difference being in the aesthetics aspect, which is trimmed down to reduce the cost. To keep things interesting, we made sure that various guitar shapes and configurations are well represented, to cater to the many different musical styles and preferences. Whatever your playing style is, you will find a great value viable instrument that will suit your needs right here. Fender American Special Stratocaster With its iconic looks, vintage vibe and upgraded pickups, the Stratocaster is a truly powerful workhorse instrument. It helped establish rock icons by helping them create some of the best guitar music available – including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Eric Johnson John Mayer and many more. The Stratocaster continues to be the go-to choice for musicians that require a versatile instrument for various musical genres

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Archtop Jazz Guitars

Take a look at the archtop jazz guitars that top cats use, great instruments to start your own quest of finding your jazzbox. Distinguished by its arched top, warm tones and elegant looks, the archtop or “jazzbox” continues to be a staple in Jazz music. As a testament to the efficiency of its design, archtops have stayed pretty much the same through the years, with only a few aesthetic and tonal variations. Gibson’s iconic hollow body guitars continue to dominate in this market, thankfully there are now more alternative and affordable options from other manufacturers. Since we’ve done all the legwork, all you have to do is sit back and relax, while we present you with the guitars that the jazz masters use, we’ve also provided some useful videos for reference as well as affordable alternatives. Gibson L5 Wes with his Gibson L5 Gibson Wes Montgomery L-5 CES Gibson L5 is the quintessential “jazzbox” and is certainly the most influential archtop jazz guitar. It was initially introduced as an acoustic archtop but was later modified to have a pair of P-90 pickups and was named L5 CES. The Gibson L5 CES then went on to be the standard on which

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The Best 12 String Acoustic Guitars

Here are the best 12-string acoustic guitars that we highly recommend, rich sounding and great looking acoustics that are worthy investments. Since we have tempted you with great 12-string electrics – we now move on to our highly recommended 12-string acoustic guitars. The chorusing effect that 12-string acoustic guitars generate are much more balanced compared to their electric counterpart, making for smooth and rich sounding rhythms and melodies. Sine we only picked the cream of the crop, these 12-string guitars are priced quite highly. However, their great looks, craftsmanship, sound and overall value easily make them worth saving up for. Breedlove Master Class Classic XII If you want the very best 12-string acoustic and budget is not an issue, then the Breedlove Master Class Classic XII is specially made for you. This guitar is the latest metamorphosis of the Classic XII series, featuring outstanding craftsmanship, matched by its rich and lush sound. Those that are lucky enough to own or at least try this 12-string acoustic are simply overwhelmed by the Classic XII’s artistic look and amazing musicality. With its combination of great looking tonewoods and modern acoustic guitar construction, it is easy to see why many claim that this

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Get Out of the Garage 2013 Contest

Get Out of the Garage is a competition that aims to discover and assist deserving independent artists by giving them a chance to record at the Converse Rubber Tracks Studio Make Better Contest Entries:Soundproof your Room This competition was created by Converse and Guitar Center, and it is supported by multiple big name guitar manufacturers including Fender, Martin, Vox, Ernie Ball, Dunlop and many more. The winning artist will literally get the chance to “get out of the garage”, to record a 3-song EP at Converse Rubber Tracks in Brooklyn, in collaboration with writer and producer Dev Hynes, who is known for his work as Blood Orange. The recording will then be digitally distributed by Tunecore as part of the prize package. After recording, the deserving independent artist will take the stage in Austin at the Fader Fort event presented by Converse in 2013. This is a four day event dedicated for new talents, it has helped many then-unknowns such as The Black Keys, Kendrick Lamar, Florence and the Machine, Yelaworlf, M.I.A., Odd Future, Cold War Kids, Kid Cudi, Feist and many more. To get them ready for the performance, the artists will be outfitted with new gear from Fender,

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Best Blues Amp Buyer’s Guide

With so many amps to choose from, getting the right blues amp can be a little daunting. Thankfully modern day amp manufacturers continue to make reproductions of classic amps that iconic guitarists of the past actually used. And since these amps worked for them, you can trust these classics to provide the same sonic quality that inspired you to take up the blues. Superb note clarity, dynamics and articulation are characteristics that all great blues amps have. The faithful reproduction of nuances allow for a more emotional and organic tone, important trademarks of true blues music. And to get amps with these important qualities, the safest pick is to go for tried and tested classic designs. As such, the blues amps that we have selected for this guide, after reviewing many options, are all ones based on classic amp designs. In fact some of them are arguably better than the original amps they are based on due to superior component manufacturing these days – everything from speakers to tubes are now produced to more exacting specs. Fender Hot Rod Blues Junior III Blues amplification starts and ends with Fender amps, thanks to their transparent, dynamic and detailed tonality. So to

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Best Cheap Acoustic Guitars Under $200

Whether you’re a beginner, or a more experienced player looking for a budget option to play around the campfire, you’ll find just what you need in this guide. I’ve based our recommendations partly on my 30+ years of guitar playing experience, and partly from what I’ve learned over the last few years as the main editor and overseer of product research for Gearank. Although I did take Gearank Ratings into account when selecting the guitars recommended below, I also gave a little extra preference to guitars that are well suited for beginners to learn and practice on. If you want, you can skip past the recommendations to our buying guide: What to Look for in a Budget Acoustic Guitar or to About the Author. Top 5 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $200 Order Picture View on Amazon Overview Detailed Description 1. Ibanez AW54 This is the Highest Rated Acoustic Guitar Under $200. It comes with a solid okoume mahogany top, fast action, and full dreadnought size – in fact I wouldn’t be surprised if they raise the price above $200 at some future time. See our detailed description below 2. Epiphone DR-100 This has been Epiphone’s top selling acoustic guitar for

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Cheap Electric Guitar Roundup

Get great sounding quality instruments at ridiculously low prices, with our Cheap Electric Guitar Buyers Guide. We have sorted through a staggering number of cheap guitars to pick out the ones that sound and look great. Aside from the obvious price consideration, we considered build quality, tone, and user feedback – to come up with a list of cheap electric guitars that will give you the most bang per buck. These inexpensive guitars are ideal for beginners and the budget conscious, advanced players who want to have affordable project guitars will also find this list quite handy. We tried our best to pick out guitars that represent popular shapes and styles, covering multiple genres from classic blues to modern metal. Starcaster Strat The Starcaster series of instruments are affordable guitars designed for students/beginners, marketed by Fender. But here is the thing, it uses similar parts and design as the standard Squier Strat, only cheaper – so you are basically getting a working Squier Strat with a different branding, for less. The Starcaster Strat comes in four finishes that also matches the quality of Squier Stratocasters. Other features include a rosewood fingerboard with medium jumbo frets and a traditional 3 single-coil

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Gifts for Guitar Players

Christmas 2017 is fast approaching, and since we have taken it upon ourselves to save guitarists from awkward presents – we have updated our gift recommendations. This guide is meant to help those wanting to buy gifts for guitarists but don’t quite know what to get. Guitarists tend to be picky, so we made every effort to select gift items that will be unique yet still acceptable for the majority of guitar players. With these items, you can be sure that the lucky guitarist who receives your gift will take your kind gesture to heart. If you’re interested in our suggestions you can click on the pictures or the links and they’ll take you through to Amazon.com. Featured Guitarist Gift: The History of the American Guitar Filled with great photos of historic guitars and the stories that they come with, this coffee table book is a must have for any guitarist. Students and experienced players alike are mesmerized by its photography, which include hundreds of guitars from the early 1800s to modern day production. If your friend is a guitarist, or is interested in guitars, then this will make a great gift. Check the latest price and reviews at Amazon.com.

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Best Semi Hollow Body Guitar

Based on our experience and research, these are the stand-out semi hollow body brands & models, elegant instruments that deliver great sounding versatile tones. Semi hollow guitars give you the best of both worlds – they have high output sounds with feedback resistance much like that of solid bodies, and they have the same elegant look and warm tones of full hollow body guitars. To help you find your perfect all-in-one axe, we picked out the top models, and included some affordable alternatives for those working within a budget. We also included video demonstrations for each guitar to give you a better idea of how they sound like. Gibson ES-335 Manufacturer: Gibson The Gibson ES-335 is undeniably the best semi hollow body guitar. The ES(Electric Spanish)-335 is considered as the first commercial semi-hollow guitar, making it the most iconic and instantly recognizable instrument in this list. It features a double cutaway shape that had some hollow cavities to help reduce weight and add resonance. This seemingly simply design continues to be the go-to build for semi-hollow guitars, even competing manufacturers base – if not copy – their designs from the ES-335. Although it started out as an attempt to find

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Best Portable Bass Amp

Carry convincing and inspiring bass tones with you wherever you go, see our list of highly recommended portable bass amps. While beginners and students get the most benefit from portable amps, professionals will also find them to be practical alternatives to bulky amps in many situations, such as songwriting, practicing and small venue gigs. So whatever your skill level is, you’ll want to consider having one of these compact amps ready for when inspiration strikes at odd places, or for quick jammings. Like last time, we considered important factors like weight, size and portability features that include durability, reliability and the ability to be battery powered. Also prioritized are amps that sound good for both individual practice and for low volume jamming. If you’re looking for full sized amps then check out our roundup of the Best Bass Amps instead. Roland Micro Cube Bass RX Roland’s portable amp Cube series is very popular because they are affordable, flexible and reliable, and they are packed in lightweight and convenient cube combo amp configuration. This practical and effective design is also applied to the Roland Micro Cube Bass RX, helping it secure the top spot in this best portable bass amp roundup.

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Best Acoustic Guitar Amp

We have taken a good look at the best acoustic amps, amplfiers with “wooden hearts” that faithfully reproduce minute details of your acoustic guitar sound and playing. While electric guitar amps add their sonic signatures to guitar tones, acoustic guitar amps should faithfully capture your playing technique and excel in transparency. The resulting sound should have a natural wooden tone that is as crisp and clear as possible. With this in mind, we have selected the most sought after and well received acoustic guitar amplifiers, while considering important gigging factors like aesthetics, build quality, built-in effects, EQ and road worthiness. The recommendations below are based on our research, experience, opinions and feedback we’ve received. For a different approach there is a similar guide on Gearank.com which lists the best acoustic amplifiers based upon a statistical analysis of over 3,800 customer, user and expert reviews, and ratings and forum discussions – The Best Acoustic Guitar Amps – Under 50W, 100W & 100W+. AER Domino 3

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Mini Guitar Effects

These select mini guitar effects will let you save on cash and precious pedalboard space without sacrificing your tone. Mini guitar pedals are popular because of their portability and set up convenience. We have listed down the small guitar pedals that will let you consistently carry your tone anywhere, without breaking your bank and your back. Note that being small will have its drawbacks, these pedals may compromise some tone shaping controls in order to be smaller and lightweight. However this loss of control can also be a good thing, as it can simplify setup and shorten tweaking time. Our selected mini effects pedals cover all essential effect types including distortion, booster, modulation, wah and delay. Electro-Harmonix Nano LPB-1 If you are looking for an affordable booster pedal that does not color your tone and does not take too much space on your rig, you should give the Electro-Harmonix Nano LPB-1 pedal a try. This humble pedal is a reissue of the LPB-1 (Linear Power Booster) circuit, a sought after circuit design that is still being used as base, if not outright cloned, by many “boutique” pedals. This is a straightforward booster pedal, with just a single boost knob and

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Acoustic Guitar Pedal Favorites

After featuring the best multi effects for acoustic guitars, we follow up by bringing you our acoustic guitar pedal favorites. Here at GuitarSite, we have decided to make it easier for you to piece together the best acoustic guitar rig for both live performance or for recording. We have provided a list of the best pedals that are specifically designed to highlight the natural percussive tone of acoustic guitars. Adventurous players that are looking for tone flexibility will love the modulation and acoustic guitar modeling pedals that are listed here, while those that want to simply improve their acoustic tone should go for preamps and audio exciters that provide good EQ and compression. Fishman Aura Spectrum DI With big name guitar manufacturers trusting Fishman brand electronics, it is not surprising that the Fishman Aura Spectrum DI tops the other acoustic guitar pedals in this list. This great looking pedal specifically targets acoustic guitar users, providing basic tools as well as modern digital audio modeling. Essential features include a 3-band EQ, compressor, automatic feedback suppression and chromatic tuner, all housed in a rock solid housing. The most notable feature of this pedal is the Aura Acoustic Imaging technology, it shapes your

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Acoustic Guitar Multi Effects Pedal Roundup

To meet the specific tone and performance demands of acoustic guitarists, we bring you our acoustic guitar multi effects pedal roundup. Regular multi-effects pedals will generally work with acoustic guitars but they may not offer the things that matter most to singer-songwriters, singer guitarists, or folk guitar musicians. To get the most value out of your money, we have listed down the best multi-effects processors that offer tone shaping and live performance features that specifically benefits acoustic guitar players. Zoom A2.1u Acoustic Guitar Multi-Effects Our top pick belongs to the Zoom A2.1u, this simple looking multi-effects pedal brings all the essential acoustic guitar tone shaping and controls into a compact and portable package. As expected from Zoom, this unit comes with overkill features – 40 preset effects, 40 programmable patches, 45 effects grouped in 7 effect modules and 12 acoustic guitar preamp “models” based on popular mic’ed acoustic guitars. Another nifty feature of the A2.1u is its built-in drum machine with 40 rhythm variations, good for practicing or for adding percussion to your solo performances. The addition of an expression pedal gives you even more real-time control. Other features include anti-feedback, a USB out for recording and an integrated chromatic

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Best Wah Pedal

Here are our top wah wah picks to help you find the best wah pedal for your rig to keep your sound expressive and exciting. The wah wah effect, or simply wah pedal, was originally designed to mimic the crying tone of a muted trumpet. It ended up altering sound as if mimicking a human voice, which worked really well with a guitar. Now, even though they are still sparingly used, the wah pedal is a staple in many pedalboards. Whether you want expressive solos or you want to add funk and soul to your riffs, our selected wah pedals will get the job done. Dunlop Cry Baby Wah GCB95 The Cry Baby Wah GCB95, aka Original Cry Baby, is at the top of our list because of its efficiency and simplicity. It is simply the most popular and viral of all the wah pedals. There are no bells and whistles to waste the battery and no controls to complicate your tone – just pure ’70s style wah sounds. The Cry Baby Wah is no push-over, it is housed in a road worthy case. Other Cry Baby models are available if you are looking for versatility, you can check out

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Best Chorus Pedal

To help you find the best chorus pedal for your rig, we present you with the top chorus pedals that are currently available on the market. Chorus pedals are among the most commonly used guitar effect by professional guitarists. Its versatility makes it useful in a variety of musical styles, and can be applied to clean, effected and distorted sounds. Whether you want subtle chorusing to get bell like clean tones, or if you aim to bring back the ’80s era with a heavily chorused lead tone, you will find a chorus pedal that’s right for you in this pedal roundup. Boss CH-1 Super Chorus Our pick for the best chorus pedal goes to the humble Boss CH-1 Super Chorus. It is simple and straightforward, offering sufficient chorus control and versatility. It may not have the extreme chorus sounds that other expensive pedals specialize in, but it more than makes up for with its clean sound and versatility. With just a few knob tweaks, this pedal will simply get the job done, every time. Since its a boss pedal, integrating into a rig is never a problem, and its tried and tested design is sure to be road worthy. Get

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Best Flanger Pedal Roundup

Add excitement to you’re guitar sound by employing quality flange effect. From subtle swirl to uninhibited jet like swoosh, these highly recommended flangers will help you break out from the usual clean and overdriven guitar tone. What is the Flange Effect? Like chorus, it duplicates your guitar signal and combines them together – but with flange one signal is slightly delayed at changing intervals. This sweeping delay variation is perceived by our ears as the swooshing sound that has made its mark in music, and it is now an essential tool for many guitarists. My personal favorite example of putting the flanger into good use is Eric Johnson’s “High Landrons”, where his trademark singing violin-like fuzz tone, and bell-like clean tone are flanged to achieve a truly jaw dropping sound. With the right flanger, you can accentuate your tone with mild oscillation or get sounds that range from subtle vibrato to the popular jet plane take-off swoosh. Here we feature the best flanger pedal along with its close competitors: Electro-Harmonix Stereo Electric Mistress The Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress was the first flanger in pedal form and with the help of big names including David Gilmour, Alex Lifeson and Andy Summers, it

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