Guitarsite News

The Best Acoustic Guitar Pickup | The Results Are In

The Best Acoustic Guitar Pickups for Steel & Nylon Strings Are you wondering what the best acoustic guitar pickup is for your particular needs? Here, we’ll give you our thoughts on our top picks for the best acoustic guitar pickups for steel and nylon strings. Best Hybrid Pickup LR Baggs Anthem Tru-Mic Active Acoustic Guitar Pickup The LR Baggs Anthem is a high-fidelity acoustic pickup that blends a piezo system with microphone signals. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Passive Pickup DiMarzio Black Angel DP234 DiMarzio, often associated with electric pickups, gets our recommendation with their bright sounding and feedback resistant Black Angel acoustic pickup. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Humbucker Pickup Fishman Rare Earth Humbucking Pickup With Mic The Fishman’s Rare Earth is a soundhole pickup with incredible clarity and great sounding warm tones, which works well for stage and recording use. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best For Beginners Seymour Duncan Woody SA-3 HC Hum-Cancelling Pickup The Woody SA-3 is a premium wooden pickup that delivers consistent, noiseless tones while being easy to install and use, ideal for beginners. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Bridge Plate Pickup LR Baggs iBeam Active The LR Baggs iBeam is a good alternative to

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The 10 Best Guitar Effects & Pedals

Guitar effects have come a long way… This page is sponsored by Sweetwater so you can click through to get the full specifications, the latest price, and purchase any of the effects and pedals that we here at GuitarSite.com have selected. From the first ever tremolo standalone effect unit, to the complex amp and effects modelers of today. Soon we will probably be plugging into a guitar hero modeler, which will convert our playing technique to that of the guitar hero profile we selected! While waiting for this level of technology to come along we decided to name the best guitar effects pedals currently available, from the most feature packed multi-effects units to time tested classic analog pedals. Top 10 Guitar Effects Overview This table shows you all of the guitar effects and pedals in our top 10 list – scroll down below to read our extended reviews for each of these effects. # Image Link to Sweetwater Short Description Long Description 1. Fractal Audio Axe-FX II The Axe-FXII is the most sought after guitar processor in the market, supported by some of the biggest names in the guitar industry. If you can imagine a guitar rig, chances are this

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Best Multi Effects Pedal Processors 2024 – Our Recommended List

Best Multi Effects Pedal Processors 2024 – Our Recommended List The quality of multi-effects pedal has jumped tremendously since they were first introduced. These days, you’ll often find the best multi effects pedal processors on stages and in studios, used by musicians pros and enthusiasts alike. Best Multi Effect Pedal (Overall) Line 6 Helix Floor Line 6’s flagship multi-effects pedal combines impressive tone, versatile control, and superior build quality. Sweetwater Read Review Best Multi Effect Pedal (Value for Money) Hotone Ampero A cheap and portable multi-effects pedal that can go toe to toe with more expensive digital guitar processors. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Multi Effect Pedal (Compact) Line 6 HX Stomp Streamlined and compact version of the popular Line 6 Helix, with essential effects and features covered. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Multi Effect Pedal (Cutting-Edge) Neural DSP Quad Cortex This new comer is redefining what a multi-effects pedal can do. Beating established brands with its sound quality. Sweetwater Read Review Best Multi Effect Pedal (Tone Quality) Kemper Profiler The game changing amp profiling technology of Kemper, packed in a compact floor based guitar processor. Sweetwater Read Review We’re reader-supported. When you click product links on our site, we

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The Best Phaser Pedals

Be it for psychedelic warble, high end shimmer, or for jet plane swoosh, phaser pedals have provided guitarists with a unique voice that has changed the musical landscape. This page is sponsored by Sweetwater so you can click through to get the full specifications, the latest price, and purchase any of the Phaser Pedals stocked by Sweetwater that we have recommended. Iconic guitarists like Brian May and Eddie Van Halen have put this effect to good use, forever immortalized in tracks that now serve as anthems for many players. Even keyboardists got a piece of the action, with artists like Tony Banks and Billy Joel incorporating the effect into their favorite tracks. But it doesn’t stop there because you too can add spice to your riffs and licks by employing a good phaser pedal. This is where we come in with our updated list of the best phaser pedals available. Things To Consider When Buying a Phaser Shifter Pedal Stop, Look & Listen Before buying modulation effects, it is best to at least have a clear idea of how you want to use the effect. Listening to how your favorite artists used phaser is a good starting point, you can

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2024 Best Overdrive Pedal Selection

We have updated our selection of the best overdrive pedals, and added tips on how to find the right one that fits your taste and tone shaping needs. This guide is sponsored by Sweetwater so you can click through to get the full specifications, the latest price, and purchase any of the Overdrive Pedals stocked by Sweetwater that we have recommended. Overdrive pedals can have distinct tonal characteristics. And this makes direct comparisons challenging. But particular OD (Overdrive) pedals stand out for their excellent tone, reliability, and intuitive design. And out of the lot, we showcase the top few that deserve closer inspection. Overdrive Pedals vs Distortion and Fuzz Pedals Overdrive pedals are sometimes confused with fuzz and distortion pedals. This is understandable, given the similarities, but there are important distinctions. Overdrive pedals push the signal to a warm natural breakup, similar to a cranked tube amp. This is what makes ODs sound more transparent. They preserve more of your core tone and playing nuances. And this expressiveness is essential in many musical styles, including blues, rock, pop, and more. On the other hand, distortion and fuzz pedals apply aggressive clipping, which gives them their thicker and more saturated sound. Clipping

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The Top 9 Best Distortion Pedals

Best Distortion Pedal Per Category – Our Top 12 List Uncovered Distortion pedals are devices that alter the sound of a guitar by clipping the signal, creating a distorted or fuzzy tone. The best distortion pedals add character, dynamics, and expression to the sound. Distortion pedals can also create rock, metal, blues, and punk musical genres. Best Classic ProCo RAT The RAT is a classic pedal that can tackle a multitude of genres as exemplified by its roster of notable users. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best for 90s Rock and Grunge Boss DS-1 Distortion The Boss DS-1 is a bestseller for a reason. It’s a classic sound that both virtuosos and punks can enjoy. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best for Indie and Alternative Electro-Harmonix Big Muff An alt-rock darling, The Electro-Harmonix Big Muff’s thick aggressive sound makes it a genre-defining pedal for any guitarist. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best for Modern Rock Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Fender Pugilist The Pugilist is a highly tweakable gain pedal with two gain stages that can be run in series or parallel for a variety of tones. Best of Headline MXR Super Badass The MXR Super Badass Distortion is your ultimate solution for achieving

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Best Modeling Amp on a Budget

Thanks to modeling amplifiers, we can enjoy the flexibility of having multiple amps and effects without emptying our wallets. Big name guitarists and even producers are now embracing the magic that amp modeling technology brings, and this in turn pushes the quality of amp modelers to new heights. Here we look at the best modeling amps that offer amazing value for your money, focusing on amps that sit below the $400 mark. This guide has been updated for 2017 with a new section that discusses the features that you need to look for in modeling amplifiers. This roundup is sponsored by Sweetwater so you can click through for the full specifications, latest price, and purchase any of the Guitar Amplifiers stocked by Sweetwater that we have recommended. Line 6 Spider V Peavey Vypyr VIP 3 Fender Mustang I V.2 78 amp and 101 effects models combined with over 100 song-based and artist created presets. 36 amp models including 6 bass amps and 6 acoustic amps to combine with 26 different effects. 18 amp models and 37 effects including models of some of Fender’s most famous guitar amps. Read more… Read more… Read more… Sweetwater’s Price Sweetwater’s Price Sweetwater’s Price What

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The Best Electric Guitars Under $500

These are the best budget friendly electric guitars starting from just $110. Not only will you sound good playing these – you’ll look good too! This page is sponsored by Sweetwater so you can click through to get the full specifications, the latest price, and purchase any of the Electric Guitars stocked by Sweetwater that we have recommended. Thanks to computer aided design and modernized factories around the world with precision engineering equipment you can now get budget guitars at a level of quality not possible a couple of decades ago, and our updated recommendations below reflect that. Here are our best recommendations broken down into two price brackets: 1. Best Under $200 2. Best Under $500 The Best Electric Guitars Under $200 This table shows you all of the guitars we recommend – scroll down below to read our extended reviews for each one. Image Link to Sweetwater Overview Link to Details Squier Bullet Strat HSS Squier are owned by Fender and it was Leo Fender himself with the help of Freddie Tavares who originally designed the famous Stratocaster back in 1954. Now the Strat is available in various price brackets, with this one being the most versatile entry

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Best Classical Guitar

Here is our selection of the best classical guitars, covering both boutique instruments built by small scale luthiers (as opposed to small scale classical guitars) and readily available mass produced guitars. This page is sponsored by Sweetwater so you can click through to get the full specifications, the latest price, and purchase any of the Classical Guitars stocked by Sweetwater that we have recommended. Professional classical guitarists almost exclusively play handmade “boutique” instruments that are designed and built by small scale guitar makers. This way quality is ensured and it gives them a say on the build or material used, but it comes with a hefty price tag and a long wait time that not everyone can afford. We have selected the most influential, iconic, and widely used guitars from among these elite bunch for you to feast your eyes and ears on. Since many don’t have access to the the kind of luthiers mentioned above, our list also includes the best among the mass production classical guitars in the market today. They can serve as great starting points to narrow down your choices if you are looking to procure a classical guitar. If nothing else, you can also use

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The Best Acoustic Electric Guitar under 500

Finding the Best Acoustic Electric Guitar Under $500 Are you looking for the best acoustic electric guitar under 500? Our expert selection includes affordable and reliable workhorse acoustic guitars with built-in electronics. Best Under $200 Washburn WA90CE An affordable acoustic- electric guitar with surprisingly good quality hardware, and a nice balanced sound. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Under $300 Ibanez PF15ECE An easy-to-play standard dreadnought cutaway acoustic-electric guitar with Ibanez’ brand of craftsmanship. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Under $300 Epiphone Dove Studio The affordable sibling of the Gibson Dove, complete with the Dove’s unique pickguard and bridge designs. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Under $200 Guild D-240E A pickup-equipped, solid spruce top acoustic guitar with Guild’s vintage style aesthetics and Fishman electronics. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Under $500 Yamaha FGX800C Yamaha’s student-friendly design is showcased in this stage-ready solid-top acoustic-electric guitar. Sweetwater Amazon 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. The competition in the sub-$500 price range is stiff, with manufacturers regularly releasing new models or updating their current lineup to get an edge. No wonder this price range is brimming

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Best Guitar Headphone Amp 2024 – Guitarsite Results

Best Guitar Headphone Amp 2024 – Guitarsite Results Make your practice productive and less disruptive by using the best guitar headphone amp. Choose from our selection of the best guitar headphone amps, and get tips on what features to look for. Best Overall Fender Mustang Micro Fender cleans plus other amp models in a compact bug type amp format, with onboard effects. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Rock Tone VOX AmPlug 2 Get the classic rock vibe with this compact headphone amp. Great mids and crunchy overdrive tones, straight to your headphones. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Value Valeton Rushead Max A guitar headphone amplifier with a range of voicings that expand your tonal palette as you quietly practice. Amazon Read Review Best Features Boss Pocket GT Boasting the best editing and play-along features. The Boss Pocket GT’s full capabilities are unleashed via a mobile app. Amazon Read Review Best in Innovation Boss Waza-Air Integrating Boss’ Waza engineering into a headphone amp with a gyroscope feature for the most immersive practice experience. Sweetwater Amazon 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. As the

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The Top 10 Best Guitar Amps Under $500 – Tube & Solid State

Here we present you with our updated selection of the best guitar amps under $500, covering both tube and solid state combo amps. This page is sponsored by Sweetwater so you can click through to get the full specifications, the latest price, and purchase any of the Amps that we here at GuitarSite.com have selected below. This selection features the best among the top rated amps in this price range, many of which rival the quality of more expensive amplifiers, in terms of tone, functionality and appearance. The scope of this list is limited to combo amplifiers, because they give you more value for you money (you won’t have to spend more on a speaker cabinet). To better organize the list, we’ve divided it into two sections: first of which feature the best solid state amps, followed by a section dedicated to the best tube amps. Rev2 Contents The Top 10 Best Guitar Amps Under $500 – Tube & Solid State Solid State Guitar Amplifiers Tube Guitar Amplifiers What to Look For in a Guitar Amplifier Best Solid State Guitar Amps Under $500 Picture View on Sweetwater Overview Detailed Description Fender Mustang GT 40 The GT 40 is a modeling

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Best Guitar Amp Under 200

Best Guitar Amp Under 200 With quality at an all-time high in the entry-level market, now is an excellent time to hunt for low-cost amplifiers. Here is our list of the best guitar amp under 200. Best Overall Fender Mustang LT25 Fender’s core clean tone and then some, in a portable and affordable combo amplifier. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Value Boss Katana Mini 7W A compact 7-watt combo amp with Boss Katana’s streamlined yet high-quality amp modeling and effects. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Old-School Amp Orange Crush 20RT There is no amp modeling, presets, or various effects—just a simple 2-channel clean/dirty channel. This amplifier is as old-school as it gets. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best for High-Gain Blackstar ID: Core 10 V3 Blackstars’ ID: Core 10 V3 has nice high-gain tones, known to the brand.New effects, and voicings along with its patented Architect editing software. Sweetwater Amazon Read Review Best Feature Set Line 6 Spider V 20 MkII Streamlined design with Line 6’s rich arsenal of effects for extensive tone-shaping. Sweetwater Amazon 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. Due to

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The Best Cheap Tube Amp Roundup

Cheap doesn’t have to mean low quality – so here we take a look at the best cheap tube amps that deliver great guitar tones without going over budget. This page is sponsored by Sweetwater so you can click through to get the full specifications, the latest price, and purchase any of the Tube Amps stocked by Sweetwater that we have recommended. Thanks to their organic tone, tube amp technology never goes out of fashion, but they do continue to get more expensive. Thankfully, there are still a number of good quality amps in the sub $200 price range, the best of which are listed here. They are ideal for practice, small venue gigs and even for recording. Stretching your budget a bit further to the sub $500 price range opens up your options to include top rated tube amps from reputable brands like Fender, Marshall and Vox. These amps allow for more volume, tone shaping, and connectivity options. Whatever your budget and preference maybe, this guide will help you find a suitable and budget-friendly tube amp. Things to Consider When Buying Affordable Tube Amps Power Rating Power rating dictates the amp’s volume and projection. It goes without saying that

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The 5 Best Acoustic Electric Guitars Under $1,000

Take your acoustic guitar playing to new heights with our selection of the best sub $1000 acoustic-electric guitars. This page is sponsored by Sweetwater so you can click through to get the full specifications, the latest price, and purchase any of the Acoustic Guitars stocked by Sweetwater that we have recommended. Before making big investments, one must count the cost and expect gains. This is exactly what we did when we updated this list to feature the best acoustic-electric guitars that you can get for under $1000. We narrowed the list down to just the top five, featuring guitars that outclass others in terms of tone, build quality, and overall playing experience. They also give you more value for your money since they are very similar to high-end instruments, albeit built using more cost-effective materials and methods, and with stripped down aesthetics. This means that you are getting a premium sounding and feeling instruments at more modest price points. Contents The 5 Best Acoustic-Electric Guitars Under $1,000 What to Look for in a sub $1000 Acoustic-Electric Guitar Tonewood Pickup and Preamp System Guitar Body Shape and Size Playability (Neck specifications) Aesthetics The 5 Best Acoustic-Electric Guitars Under $1,000 Picture View

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Gearfest 2016 – Includes Some Exciting Guitarists…

Sweetwater’s 15th annual music gear event will be held in Fort Wayne, Indiana on June 17 and 18 this year. Related Feature:G4 Experience 2016 Guitar Camp Disclosure: Sweetwater are a sponsor of GuitarSite.com but this article does not form any part of their advertising program with us. Even if Sweetwater weren’t one of our sponsors we’d still be bringing you this news because it looks like it’s going to be quite an eventful couple of days based on the lineup of presenters, workshops and exhibitors scheduled this year. Presenters Here are just a few of the presenters who will be of interest to guitarists: Andy Timmons – Andy has worked with the likes of Simon Phillips, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Ted Nugent, and The Beach Boys, and he will be presenting a workshop on behalf of Ibanez. Bunny Brunel – Bunny is accredited with being one of the founders of the jazz-fusion bass movement and he will be showing off his extraordinary talent and discussing some of the evolutionary instruments he has crafted for ESP. Greg Koch – Greg is an accomplished guitarist and clinician who Tom Wheeler from Guitar

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Tone Wizards eBook

Here’s a book for tone freaks and gear heads, “Tone Wizards: Tone Wizards: Interviews With Top Guitarists and Gear Gurus On the Quest for the Ultimate Sound”. Related Feature:Modern Guitar Rigs 2nd Edition This new book from guitarist Curtis Fornadley features unbiased conversations that reveal how expert musicians and technicians achieve their tone, and is now available in e-book format from various online bookstores. Because he independently shouldered all the expenses of creating this book, Curtis was not clouded by sponsorship deals and the like. This allows for honest and unbiased research, and ensures that the conversations are in no way manipulated to point to a specific result, or worse a sponsor. The book features interviews with various guitar virtuoso’s, the techs that help them get their tone, and gear manufacturers. Each one of them shared their experience and snippets of the philosophy and methodology they use to achieve their distinct sounds. They also provided important practical advice that any gear head will appreciate. Example wisdom quotes from the book include: “Style is a reflection of your own creative instincts, but tone, the way you play it, can be changed” from Steve Vai. “There is a very symbiotic relationship between

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Guitar Effects Apps Finally Coming to Android!

If you’re an Android phone or tablet owner you’ve probably been frustrated seeing all the great virtual amp, effects, and cabinet simulator apps for iOS and wondered why they aren’t available on Android. Related Feature:Android Apps for Guitar The problem isn’t with software developers, it’s actually Android itself which has caused the problem due to its inability to provide a reliable low latency signal path for audio. However, that problem is now being overcome… USB On-The-Go Often called USB OTG for short, this specification which is now being supported by some Android devices running version 4.0 or later, can enable your smart phone or tablet to act as a USB host. In short, this means you can now plug USB Audio Interfaces directly into your device, and then plug your guitar into the interface, and get the sound working with relatively low latency. usbEffect So far this is the leading Android App to take advantage of the USB OTG specification. The developer, Githara Studios, calls it a “Virtual Amp App”, however it’s primarily an effects app at this stage because it doesn’t provide a range of amp simulations like many of the iOS apps. Here’s a list of the main

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Woodstock ’99 on Disc

The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire,” which closed out the riotous Woodstock ’99 festival, also will close the first disc of the upcoming Woodstock 99 double-CD set. The 32-song album, due Oct. 19, also will include tracks from Bush, Everclear, Dave Matthews Band, Chemical Brothers. The set is divided into a “Red Disc” of more aggressive material and “Blue Disc” of comparatively mellow tracks. Among the cuts on the red CD are Korn’s “Blind”, along with Limp Bizkit’s “Show Me What You Got,” Rage Against the Machine’s “Bulls on Parade” and Metallica’s “Creeping Death.” The first disc also includes Creed’s cover of the Doors’ Roadhouse Blues,” for which the rock band was joined by former Doors guitarist Robby Krieger. A “Woodstock 99” DVD also will be released Oct. 19. The full track listing: Red disc Korn, “Blind”; Offspring, “The Kids Aren’t Alright”; Lit,”For”; Buckcherry, “Lit Up”; Kid Rock, “Bawitdaba”; Limp Bizkit, “Show Me What You Got”; Rage Against the Machine, “Bulls on Parade”; Metallica, “Creeping Death”; Creed, “Roadhouse Blues”; Sevendust, “Bitch”; DMX, “Stop Being Greedy”; Godsmack, “Keep Away”; Megadeth, “A Secret Place”; Bush, “Everything Zen”; Live, “I Alone”; and Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Fire.” Blue disc

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Remembering Johnny Allen Hendrix – AKA James Marshall Hendrix – AKA Jimi Hendrix

The 18th of September is a sad day – it was on this day in 1970 that Jimi Hendrix died in London. [Jimi Hendrix Experience Winterland 5 CD Box Set] The story of how Jimi died has been told and re-told many different times in different ways – the main thing we know is that he took sleeping pills which were possibly a much stronger type than he realized, became unconscious and asphyxiated on his own vomit. There are a number of conspiracy theories surrounding Jimi Hendrix’s death, however I won’t bother listing them here because each one I’ve looked at was woefully lacking in any substantive evidence to back them up – all hearsay and rumor. Of much more interest, well things that can be verified at least, is that the 41st anniversary of Jimi’s death is being marked in a number of interesting ways. London’s Tin Pan Alley Festival will be holding a special tribute to Jimi at midnight on the 17th. It will be held simultaneously in 3 venues: The Borderline, The 12Bar Club, The Alleycat – worth a look if you’re in London on the day. If you are on the other side of the pond,

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