Guitarsite News
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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,
NAMM 2011 – Taylor Guitars co-founder Bob Taylor signing copies of his book
Bob Taylor, co-founder of Taylor Guitars, offers strategies for success in life and business in his book Guitar Lessons: A Life’s Journey Turning Passion into Business. During the NAMM Show, fans can purchase a copy of Guitar Lessons and have it autographed by Bob Taylor. Starting at 11:00 a.m., Thursday through Saturday of the show in the Taylor room, Bob will be on hand to sign books, chat about all things guitar, and take photos with fans. Copies of the book will be available for purchase in the Taylor room, located in Room 213ABC on the second floor of the Anaheim Convention Center.
Bohemian Gravity by Timothy Blais
Here’s one for the geeks in the house… OK, so there are no actual guitars in this a cappella song, but I think it’s a brilliant example of creativity which reminds us that great ideas really do stand out from the crowd. The artist is Timothy Blais and you can follow him on Facebook.
7 reasons to know Vic Flick (and then read his biography)
by Kaiser Nelson As if being responsible for the famous James Bond theme twang wasn't enough, here's seven other reasons to know Vic Flick and then read his biography. 7: His biography isn't just a list of chemicals he's taken I waited for them, I waited patiently, they just never came. Vic Flick played guitar without turning to hardcore hallucinagens? I've obviously been reading too many rocker biographies, I've come to think that sex, drugs and rock&roll were mainstream parts of any guitarist's life. Thankfully I've been proven wrong, you can play guitar without ruining your liver, or your kidneys, or your brain… 6: You'll see a side of music they don't show on MTV Seriously, load yourself up with anecdotes from this book. It'll make you look like you own a memorabilia store dedicated to the history of Rock. Vic was on the ground floor as the guitar grew up. He saw, if not worked with, some of the biggest names of the era in action. Not all of them are as you'd expect. 5: You'll get an idea about how much work it takes to be a paid guitarist The first thing you'll notice about Vic is
Guide to a Basic Home Recording Setup
The purpose of this guide is to give you an understanding of the basic equipment you’ll want to have for recording at home to your computer. Image credit: midiman This guide isn’t about recording platinum albums, instead it provides you with what you need for these purposes: Getting your ideas recorded so you don’t forget them; Demo recordings for getting gigs or sending to record labels; Producing your tracks for SoundCloud, YouTube videos or for release through services like iTunes; And finally, but no less important, practicing your recording skills so that you’ll be more proficient when it comes time to record in a professional recording studio. Your Computer These days most off-the-shelf PCs and Macs will do just fine for recording so I won’t go into too much detail because the computer you already own is probably good enough to begin recording with. The one thing I will say is that it’s good to have plenty of RAM. You may be able to get by with as little as 2GB for basic purposes, but if you start loading up lots of plugins for effects or virtual instruments then you might want to look at expanding the amount of memory
Capo Lane
One thing I have yet to mention in my articles is the use of capos. I use them all the time. All my playing career I have put up with abuse from those who consider the use of capos some form of cheating. What crap! I think they’re the most wonderful invention since tea bags. The guitar was designed and tuned with certain keys in mind — like A and G and C and D and E. Why would anyone bother with a chord progression like Eb / Ab / Cm / Eb / Bb when it can be played as a ringing D / G / Bm / D / A just by strapping that little capo on the first fret? My hands have never been able to do a barre C shape and make it ring. I’ve always looked for ways of making playing easier, and capos definitely help. The tuning I use, drop D, also makes the key of E rather awkward ( I know, E is supposed to be the easiest guitar key). If I want a low root note, I’ve got to go to the second fret. So I whack the capo on the second
Best Guitar Effects Software
This selection represents the best guitar effects software to help you turn your computer into a full featured effects processor. Since we have already covered amp modeling software, this time we will focus on software that provides quality guitar effects. These popular software effects applications will get you as close as technologically possible to your favorite stomp box and rack mount effects – minus the bulk, weight and the hassle. Note that certain packages excel in specific effect types, so do check out your favorite effect types via the demos before you decide on which is your top pick. We have included both paid and free guitar effects software for you to sink your teeth, and mouse, into. Guitar Effects Software – PAID These are the top commercially available guitar effects programs. Most of them are considered as amp modeling software as well, because they usually include both amp and effects modeling in one package. Guitar Rig More info: Although not as dominating in amp modeling, Guitar Rig takes the top spot in our guitar effects software list. It leads the pack with its meticulously detailed effects modeling. Its 54 modeled effects closely follow the behavior of legendary stompboxes and
Five Tempting 12 String Electric Guitars
Here are some great 12 string electric guitars that we’ve looked at for you – this is a good starting point if you’re looking to buy a 12-string. The unique jangle sound of a 12 string guitar has inspired a number of songs that spans various musical genres, including the Beatles’ “A Hard Days Night”, The Byrds’ “Turn! Turn! Turn!”, Mahavishnu Orchestra’s “You Know You Know” and many more. This unique sound is produced when a course or pair of strings are plucked together. The first four pairs (also called courses) of strings are tuned in octaves while the highest two strings (high B and E) are tuned in unison. This pairing creates a natural chorus effect because the minute differences in pitch and timbre of the paired strings converge and are heard as one. Although it is commonly used for rhythm and accompaniment, guitar greats like Jimmy Page and George Harrison have shown that with sufficient imagination and skill, the 12 string guitar can do so much more than just play chords. Rickenbacker 360/12 Rickenbacker 360/12 The Rickenbacker 360/12 is one of the first electric twelve string guitars produced. It was made popular back in the ’60s by George
Eight Cool 8 String Guitars
If 6 strings are not enough and 7 strings barely satisfy then check out these eight cool 8 string guitars. We have come up with a list of 8 String guitars that will surely take your music beyond the 7th heaven. You can compare specs, performance, and the most superficially important aspect of all – cool looks. In the past, 8 string guitars were rare and expensive because they were only available via custom shops. Thankfully guitar manufacturers have caught the 8 string fever, thus producing a wide variety of affordable and mass produced 8 string guitars for us to choose from. The Default tuning for an eight string guitar is F# / B / E / A / D / G / B / E. 8 string guitars are enjoying a resurgence thanks to popular metal bands like Deftones, Animals as Leaders, Meshuggah among many others. They utilize the extended bass range of the eight string guitar to produce the signature low “chug” rhythm sounds of modern metal. Jazz artists like Charlie Hunter, Terje Rypdalwere and others also loved the one man band capabilities of the 8 string and were some of the first to showcase the 8 string