Guitarsite News

The Top 10 Best Compressor Pedals

Although the same volume balancing principle is used by all of these pedals, their approach, methodology and flexibility can vary. As such, your needs will depend on your playing style, be it versatility or simplicity and modern transparency or vintage style “warm” compression. Whatever your preference maybe, you will find a fitting compressor pedal right here in this list. What a Guitar Compressor Pedal Does A compressor pedal balances your sound by lowering the level of loud strings and increasing the sound of quieter strings. It does this by “squeezing” your guitar sound to make it more dynamically (volume) consistent. This uniformity is ideal for studio work to avoid sudden spikes in volume which can be problematic, and it also works in live situations for rounding off the edges of your guitar sound. The consistency and sustain of compressor pedals can get you from balanced clean to country quack and from funky highs to tight bottom end. Another common use is for adding singing sustain to your lead lines and chords. If you are going for a bluesy solo with lots of micro-tonal and micro-volume nuances, you’re better off with minimal if not zero compression, for funky chime or country

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The Top 10 Guitars of All Time!

Here are the top 10 guitars of all time – instruments that shaped the guitar industry and revolutionized music. We have squeezed in all the guitars that made a big difference and we covered a range of musical styles. Note that there are usually cheaper versions of the guitars on this list so don’t despair if you don’t have the budget. There are Squire Strats, Epiphone Les Pauls, Gretsch Electromatics and other affordable alternatives for the budget conscious. Fender-Stratocaster American Standard Stratocaster When you say electric guitar, the most probable picture that comes to people’s minds is that of the humble Strat. The Fender Stratocaster has simply become the most familiar guitar in the world – bearing its distinct shape and practical setup. Its simple yet flexible combination of three single coil pickups is able tackle various musical genres. Its design was so successful that it has been the basis of many of the “super strats” and rock guitars that we see today. Thanks to its great playability, versatility and its relatively affordable price, the Strat has become a staple in the music world. From the closet rocker to Jimi Hendrix – it’s hard to deny that this guitar is

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The Top Tremolo Pedals for Guitar

From adding subtle dynamics to your slow musical lines to going all out surf with your fast riffs, these top tremolo pedals are up for the job. The shimmering, wavering tremolo effect is simply created by circuitry that causes the volume to go up and down. You probably don’t even realize how many songs use tremolo effects but quite a number of guitarists use it sparingly just to mildly color their tone, making it almost unnoticeable. Countless blues, country, rock and even pop style music have utilized this strategy to great effect. On the other hand, Rockabilly and Surf music takes this effect to extremes, making a standard guitar sound almost like a choppy synthesizer. guitarists of almost every genre, from Vic Flick, to Robert Plant, to Brian Setzer and even Greed Day, use it to add wavering tones and color to their guitar sound. We have taken a good look at available Tremolo Pedals and have come up with a list of impressive standouts. Fulltone Supa-Trem ST-1 Manufacturer: Fulltone The unassuming Supa Trem pedal gets the top spot in this list, thanks to its impressive classic-sounding Tremolo effect. Fulltone was able to replicate the warm tremolo sound found in

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Guitar Bridge Pins

Replacing your guitar bridge pins will improve the looks of your guitar, and help improve sustain, clarity and tone. Many players and guitar manufacturers attest that replacing your bridge pins is a simple, inexpensive, and non-intrusive way of enhancing aesthetics, stability and tone. Thanks to technology, there are a myriad of options available to pick for your upgrade. We recommend that you pick those with tapered stems to avoid having to drill your bridge holes for the string mass. The main types are: 1. Bone Bridge Pins 2. Metal Bridge Pins 3. Wood Bridge Pins 4. Plastic Bridge Pins Bone Bridge Pins: Exotic bone materials are rare and expensive for obvious reasons, these pins are said to add a bit more bottom end and sustain. Mammoth Ivory with Abalone 6pk Talk about historic, these pins come from Fossilized Mammoth Ivory (FMI) and is very expensive. They feature great looking abalone on the heads and are known for impressive durability. Many professional players attribute improved sustain, volume, and richness with these Mammoth Ivory pins. Some even claim increased harmonic overtones which greatly improves guitar tone. Manufacturer: Maurysmusic Buffalo Horn with Abalone 6pK The Buffalo Horn 6pk set is a black alternative

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Best Volume Pedal Round-up

This will help you find the best volume pedal to let your feet gain full control of your volume in live performances. When looking for the best guitar volume pedal, things to look out for are build, transparency and taper. Since you’ll be stepping on this pedal more so than your other pedals during live performances, it has to be built like a tank and it should not easily wear out. Smooth Taper is a no-brainer, you want your swells to sound continuous. The best volume pedals have adjustable tapers for picky guitarists that want a say on the range of the volume swell. Last but not the least, you want one that does the least coloration to your tone. Complaints about tone suck and coloration are common, which gave birth to a number of pedal modifications that improve the transparency of your favorite mass produced volume effects pedals. Morley PVO+ A majority of volume pedal owners have used their hard earned cash to buy the Morley PVO+, which essentially makes it the best volume pedal for guitar. And it’s easy to see why, this pedal combines functionality, quality and durability in one package. It uses Electro-Optical technology which means

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Guitar Synth Pedal Guide

Our guitar synth pedal guide will help you go beyond conventional tones via the use of wacky, out-of-this-world synth pedals. Synth pedals work like a keyboard synthesizer, they turn your guitar signal into electrical waves that control and trigger synth sounds and filter effects. It gives you the capability to imitate other instrument sounds or generate your own new timbres. We have focused on synth pedals that do not require special pickups or a MIDI connection. We have included video demos to give you an idea of how these pedals sound. Electro-Harmonix Hog Electro-Harmonix Hog If you are willing to shell out big bucks for the best guitar synth pedal, then prepare to open up to a whole new plethora of sounds with the Electro-Harmonix HOG, a polyphonic guitar synthesizer pedal that require no special pickup. This is a full featured synthesizer pedal which gives you complete control of up to 10 interval pitches including fifth and third intervals, filter sweeps, and crazy pitch bends. It features dedicated filtering and envelope controls, with essential setup options that make creating synth sounds a breeze. EHX Hog also comes with an expression pedal for even more control over your synth sounds. Checkout

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Best Acoustic Bass Guitar Round-Up

Following up on The Best Bass Guitar Brands, we bring you the best Acoustic Bass guitar along with worthy runner-ups. Acoustic bass guitars are easily drowned by other instruments when played unplugged because of its understandably weak projection. However, they shine when amplified or plugged in, giving off a unique “woody” tone that works really well in many musical genres. Godin A5 Fretless Other brands may claim that they are king, but the Godin A5 is the queen of acoustic basses. It is the best in terms of features, sporting a fretless neck, solid cedar top, LR Baggs electronics and a 13-pin output jack for MIDI and synth connectivity. Its wide range of tonal flavors, its unique look and its feedback suppression design helped the A5 outrank the competition. Its small body, which is just slightly larger than a solidbody bass, gives out a very weak unplugged sound, but once you plug it in, you will be surprised as to how this relatively small acoustic bass can provide big bass sounds. Godin A5 Fretless The unique chambered body design also suppresses feedback. Other features include rock maple neck, ebony fingerboard, 16″ fingerboard radius, 34″ scale and a maple body. Seeing

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The Best Hollow Body Guitar Brands

Here are the best hollow body guitars that will be sure to catch your attention with their classic looks and their acclaimed warm and clean tones. Hollow body guitars, also called semi-acoustic, are not to be confused with acoustic-electric guitars. These electric guitars are designed with a single hollow cavity within the body. They can produce low volume acoustic sounds when unplugged, but their true character shines when plugged in. Although mostly associated with jazz music, hollow body guitars have left their mark on all styles of music including country, pop, rockabilly and even hard rock. Gretsch When you think of hollow body guitars, the first thing that will usually come to mind is Gretsch. Although Gretsch was not the first in the market, they have improved on the classic design to the point of making the hollow body style their own. Their quality and intricately designed instruments became popular and widely used. The most popular of which is the Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins model, which is arguably the best hollow body guitar. Up to this time, it continues to be favored and used by many professional guitarists. Gretsch G6120 Chet Atkins Hollow Body (Gretsch G6120 Chet Atkins Hollow Body

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MIDI Guitar Pickup Guide

MIDI guitar pickups require minimal modification to your guitar most of the time, and often none at all. Some MIDI pickups are simply installed or attached to the bridge saddle, while other pickup models replace the actual saddles with piezo equipped ones. Those that require no modifications will have their electronic components attached to the body of the guitar, while others might require you to drill holes to place the parts in. Once installed, you can simply connect it to a MIDI synthesizer, sequencer or computer to get the sounds you want. Roland GK-3 Divided Pickup This is a reasonably affordable and easy to install MIDI guitar pickup system from Roland. The Roland GK-3 can easily attach to any steel string electric guitar without any drilling or modification. It allows you to get individual signals from each of your guitar strings to GK compatible devices, letting you play chords and harmonies. The GK-3 has a GK knob and a select switch for mixing or changing between synth and normal guitar tone. It might get in the way of your right hand but this is still highly recommended for those that need MIDI without having to modify their beloved axes. A

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Best Cheap Guitar Pedals 2024 – Guitarsite Results

Best Cheap Guitar Pedals 2024: Guitarsite Results We present to you the best cheap guitar pedals, where quality comes at a reasonable and affordable price. These pedals give you the same sound but with a more streamlined plug-and-play interface. Best Cheap Pedals – Legendary Status MXR Phase 90 The phaser has been a pedalboard mainstay for decades, used by regular gigging musicians and even rock legends. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Cheap Pedals – Iconic Electro-Harmonix Nano Big Muff Pi A compact version of the iconic Big Muff dirt pedal, which is still surprisingly versatile for the price. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Cheap Guitar Multi Effects Pedal Mooer GE100 Multi-Effects Guitar Pedal A versatile multi-effects pedal loaded with innovative features that inspire creativity and promote learning. Amazon Read Review Vintage Compression TC Electronic Forcefield Compressor Pedal An analog compressor pedal that provides vintage compression in a durable, compact form. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Cheap Pedals – Value for Money Behringer UC200 Ultra Chorus Pedal This stompbox has all the essential chorus controls, while keeping the price accessible. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review We’re reader-supported. When you click product links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at

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The Best Bass Guitar Brands

Not all bass guitars were created equal, however that hasn’t stopped our experts from naming the ultimate bass guitar brands. We selected the top bass guitar brands based on popularity with musicians, influence, historical significance and quality. The top 5 bass brands are: Fender, Hofner, Rickenbacker, Music Man, Warwick. Fender Some might argue that many of the boutique bass guitars out there are better, but Fender still rightfully sits at the top as the best bass guitar brand. This is because of Fender’s popularity and significance, as well as quality. The Fender Precision Bass and Fender Jazz Bass continue to be staples in many a bass player’s gig bag, and continue to be popularly used in many song productions. Fender has achieved iconic status, and other manufacturers continue to use these classic Fender basses as their foundation for improved designs. Fender ’50s Precision Bass The Fender Precision Bass was introduced in 1951 and was the first mass-produced electric bass guitar. It became popular with musicians and has become an industry standard ever since. The Fender P-bass continues its bass guitar legacy because of its simple yet effective design. Jaco Pastorius Signature Fretless Jazz Bass Another favorite from the Fender brand

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Best Acoustic Guitar Under $1000

We present to you GuitarSite’s award for the best acoustic guitar under $1000, along with some equally impressive runner-ups! There are a number of great acoustics in the sub $1000 price range, which is great from the point of view of having variety, but it can make it difficult to choose. But don’t worry, we’ve used our considerable experience to present you with the best options under $1000, along with some details to help you decide on which one to buy. These guitars feature tone woods, durability, attention to detail, and sounds that are comparable to many more expensive models. The Best! Martin DSR2 It was a close call, but ultimately, the Martin DSR2 tops all the best acoustic guitars under 1000 dollars. Although the runner-ups did come close and can arguably beat it on some aspects, this well rounded guitar served as our standard to which other guitars were measured. If you are looking for a great all around acoustic guitar, best get it from one of the oldest and biggest brands – C.F. Martin & Co. Getting a full featured and great sounding Martin guitar at a retail price of less than $1000 is already a very sweet

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The Best Amp Simulators for Guitarists: A Comprehensive Review

The Best Amp Simulator for Guitarists: A Comprehensive Review Turn your computer into a virtual amplifier with our review of the best guitar amp modeling software. Best All-Around Amp Sim Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro 26 amp sims, customizable presets, sleek UI—perfect for guitarists seeking to experiment with both conventional and unconventional guitar tones. Sweetwater Read Review Best intuitive Amp Sim IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5 57 models, 130+ stomp boxes, and intuitive drag-and-drop functionality are great for pros and starters alike. Sweetwater Read Review Best High-Gain Sim Neural DSP-Soldano SLO 100 Experience the iconic Soldano SLO-100 amp’s legendary sound with Neural DSP’s faithful recreation, perfect for high-gain enthusiasts Read Review Best Guitar-Matching Sim Sweetwater Read Review Positive Grid Bias FX 2 Elite With 50,000 tones and customizable pedals, this plugin gives you the feeling of being in a guitar store. Best Affordable Amp Sim Waves PRS SuperModels Authentic amp tones, budget-friendly price. Ideal for starters seeking quality without overwhelming features. Exceptional value. Sweetwater Read Review We’re reader-supported. When you click product links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Amp modeling has become an integral part of modern music production. This

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2023 Best Travel Guitar – Acoustic & Electric Guitar On The Road

2024 Best Travel Guitar – Acoustic & Electric Guitar On The Road In this era of mobility, keeping your chops up and working on musical ideas can be challenging if you carry a regular-sized guitar. Here, we’ll help you find the best travel guitar you can conveniently carry and play anywhere. Best Travel Acoustic Guitar Martin Backpacker Gives you a taste of Martin’s build quality and tone in a backpack-friendly and affordable profile. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Nylon String Travel Guitar Cordoba Mini II MH Enjoy the sweet tone of nylon strings anywhere you go with this portable nylong string travel guitar. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Value Travel Acoustic Guitar Washburn Rover Travel Guitar This super affordable travel guitar sports a compact body, reminiscent of old parlor guitars. Amazon Read Review Best Full Scale Travel Electric Guitar Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe A fully functional travel guitar, with HSH pickups, floating tremolo, and a headless design. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Compact Travel Electric Guitar Traveler Guitar Speedster Electric Guitar A full-scale travel electric guitar with a removable lap rest and a built-in headphone amp. Amazon Read Review We’re reader-supported. When you click product links on our site, we

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Best Guitar Stand Guide

This guide will show you some insights on the most popular and highly rated stands, to help you decide which is the best guitar stand to buy. Guitar stands are handy when we want to put a guitar down safely while keeping it within convenient reach. But heed this caution – when not in use, it is always safest to put your guitar in its case. Some of the foam and rubber used on guitar stands might cause discoloration or even damage to your guitar’s finish. Thin finishes like Nitrocellulose which are found on expensive guitars are said to be more susceptible. To be safe, many guitar players employ cloth coverings on all contact points, but to be truly safe, do not leave your guitar on a stand for too long. Hercules GS414B AGS Guitar Stand The Hercules brand is home to some of the best guitar stands, and the GS414B is one of them. Its AGS or Auto Grip System, uses the weight of the guitar to automatically secure and lock your instrument on the guitar stand, allowing you to operate it with one hand. Another plus is its wood patterned veneer, which unlike the usual black color, makes

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10 of the Best Guitar Cables

When you consider how much time and effort you put into getting your rig to sound just the way you want, it makes sense to ensure your guitar cables are also up to the job – after all they’re an important part of the tone chain. Also remember that occasionally things will go wrong, so always carry at least one spare cable to gigs and rehearsals. What to Consider When Buying Guitar Cables Related Gearank Guide:The Best XLR Cables First and foremost, you have to consider the guitar cable’s durability and shielding. This is where cheap cables usually fail, but don’t get too hyped up on expensive cables either. If you don’t want awkward silence during your solo, you will want to invest in ones with quality connectors, sturdy cables and proper shielding. Take it from me, I’ve had my fair share of cheap cable experiences, and it’s not good. Next thing to look out for is the cable’s length and capacitance. If you move around during gigs then you have no choice but to get a longer cable or a wireless system, if not then get a shorter cable. Shorter cables allow your signal to travel a shorter distance,

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Silent Guitar Buyers Guide

Silent Guitars are acoustic or electric guitars that are stripped down to bare essentials, even the body becomes optional. As the name implies, Silent Guitars are designed to be played acoustically quiet, while keeping the amplified sound and playability as close to regular guitars possible. This is achieved by reducing the resonating body to minimum, while keeping the neck, pickup and strings in proper positions. Silent Guitars are different from travel guitars because they prioritize playability over portability, as exemplified by the skeletal body frames that allow for standard posture while playing. Interestingly, Silent Guitars are also being used on stage by many artists, thanks to its low maintenance design, feather like weight and feedback free performance. Yamaha silent guitars are the popular choice because of their relatively affordable price and wide scale marketing, however there are other builders that offer smaller and more travel friendly silent guitars at varying prices. Yamaha SLG130NW Yamaha SLG130NW Yamaha is the Silent Guitar manufacturer to beat, thanks to their impressive price to quality ratio. And big name artists like Brian May, Mike Stern and Lee Ritenour seem to agree. The SLG130NW is the top-of-the-line model designed to give you the true feel and

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The Best Acoustic Guitar Straps – Steel String & Classical

Don’t wait until your beloved instrument falls on the floor, or worse, on your toes, secure your guitar with a functional and stylish strap. Listed below are some of the best acoustic guitar straps available that we categorized based on their form and functionality. Advertisement: What to look for in an Acoustic Guitar Strap If you think that your guitar is safe with old/cheap/free guitar straps, think again. I for one felt the pain of having my strat fall on my toes while performing, and I don’t ever want to find out how much damage a fall like that will do to an acoustic guitar, leading me to take my guitar strap choice seriously. If you’re looking at your guitar strap right now and you have doubts, better act on it before it’s too late. In line with my little anecdote, reliability is of primary importance when looking for a guitar strap. You should choose one that fits your guitar properly, unless you want it to fall at the most inconvenient moment. So replace your beat up strap sooner to save yourself from unnecessary repair and medical expenses. Also important is how the strap looks, you can either have it

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Guitar For Beginners

If you are new to the Guitar then bookmark this page now. We update this page regularly with more information about everything from learning how to play a guitar, to the very basics of tuning, chords, tabs, and much more. Congratulations on choosing to learn how to play a guitar – it is a wonderful instrument and one of the few that you can play whole songs and sing along with at the same time – or your friends can sing along with you. As well as that it’s pretty much the best instrument you can carry around with you, take it to your friends place or the campfire. This makes the guitar a much more social instrument than something like piano or trumpet (and way cooler too!) The information here is broken down into several categories – just scroll down to the part you are looking for. Beginner Guitar Series This is a special series of articles written totally for beginners – our experts are adding to this collection of guitar wisdom every week: Guitar Stings – Their Names and Notes – introduces you to each of the strings on your guitar, and all the notes on the fretboard.

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The Best Acoustic Guitar Case for 2024

Choosing The Best Acoustic Guitar Case The market is teeming with guitar cases. Here, we’ll help you find the best acoustic guitar case to house your precious instrument. Choose from our selection of top-rated hard cases and hybrid cases. Best Value Hard Case Yamaha AG1-HC Hardshell Acoustic Guitar Case The sturdy hardshell case fits dreadnought-style guitars and offers a plush interior, secure storage, and affordability for acoustic players. Sweetwater Read Review Best Looking Hard Case Taylor Deluxe Acoustic Guitar Case – Grand Auditorium It snugly fits Grand Auditorium and other similarly designed guitars, offering sturdy protection and a plush interior for travel and gigs. Sweetwater Read Review Best Humidifier Case Cordoba HumiCase Protege A traditional case that comes with a modern built-in humidification system, with a special compartment over the soundhole that holds a humidifier pod. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Gigging Hard Case Gator GL Lightweight Acoustic Guitar Case Lighter weight and softer exterior make the Gator GL Series case more convenient to carry around, and it gives you this comfort without compromising the protection of your instrument, its overall reliability, and durability. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Most Reliable Hybrid Case Reunion Blues Continental Acoustic Guitar Case Reunion Blues

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