Marshall Guitar Amps - The Perfect Variety

By David Wesenburg

Are you having trouble choosing the perfect guitar amp for yourself? If so then you are not alone. In this article you are about to read, you will see a review of some of the best Marshall guitar amps. These amps range in variety from small amps to big amps. Loud amps to soft amps. By the time you are done reading this you should be able to make a decision of what type of amp you are looking for.

1 - Marshall MS2 Mini Guitar Amplifier

If you have never played with a mini guitar amp before, then you might want to check this one out! There are many benefits to playing with a mini guitar and some of those include being able to bring it with you anywhere, the incredible price, and the surprisingly loud noise these things can make! This amp is 14x11x6 cm and is the smallest amp the Marshall company produces. It feeds off of battery so you will not be needing to plug it in. If you are the kind of guitarist who just likes to play for fun then you should check this out!

2 - Marshall MS4 Not-So-Mini Mini Guitar Amplifier

This is one of the most fun amps you will ever play with. It is a "Not so mini, mini amp" and only costs around 60 dollars. This amplifier has two cabinets and an extra knob and tilt back stand. Although this is a tiny amp, it produces some great sounding music. It has 1 watt behind it and is powered by batteries. You can easily control the bass and treble.

3 - Marshall MC412A Angled Guitar Speaker Cab

Alright, enough about mini amps, let's get on to the real thing! The Marshall MC412A is a unique amplifier with many benefits and features. This amplifier has a very cheap price along with a whopping 200 watts of power! If this is not loud enough for you then I have no idea what is. The only down side to this amp is that it weighs around 75 pounds. This means transferring it around is not an easy task.

4 - Marshall 1960BV Straight Guitar Speaker Cabinet

This amp is a lot like the Marshall MC412A but it does not cost near as much. If you had your heart set on the amp above but realized it is a bit too pricey, you might want to check out the Marshall 1960BV.

In the article above, you learned of the four extremely popular amps made by Marshall. Next time you think shopping for a guitar amp is hard, remind yourself that there is always a perfect amp out there for you.

Find The Perfect Guitar Amp

There are many Marshall Guitar Amps available today. Find The Perfect One For You!

http://electricguitaramps.info/marshall-guitar-amp

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The Gibson Flying V Guitar

By Tao Schencks

When you think of rock music, heavy guitars and power chords you can almost picture the infamous Flying V guitar in your mind. Slung low over the shoulder of the lead guitarist with his head down, long hair moshing to the beat.

The Gibson Flying V is certainly one of the rock guitars that will go down in history as being one of the most unique designs ever. Originally built and launched by the guitar company back in 1958 and then relaunched in 1967, the mahogany bodied flying V took the world of rock by storm.

The models that were created on and around 1967 are considered to be the 'classic' design and are the most collectible amongst vintage guitar collectors. This older design is known as the 'V Factor" rather than the flying V. Gibson does still make the guitar under the name of 'Tribal V' and they also make a flying V bass guitar too!

The V has been used by so many different rock gods in it's time that it is hard to think of just one performer who stands out from the crowd. The Foo Fighters, ZZ Top, Marc Bolan and T-Rex used the flying V design and Jimi Hendrix loved the model so much he even worked with the Gibson people to make his own signature model, designing and making the paisley image that adorns the guitar himself.

If you were to go out and buy a brand new model today, the Tribal V would be the one to look for. Gibson have only manufactured this as a limited edition run of 350 units, so finding one may be difficult. Not impossible though if you check out good local shops and places like eBay. If you want the real deal, you will be looking for the older models from the late 1960's and early 1970's, when the V was at the height of it's popularity.

The Tribal V is bang up to date with all of the latest technology and components. It features a modern tribal tattoo graphic and is usually sold in plain white with chrome components.

There have been other makers of the V style guitar through the years. Ibanez for one copied the look and design when they released their own version. Rumor has it that Gibson had to step in with their lawyers to prevent these guitars from being made and sold, such was the strength and quality of the copiers design.

The Flying V certainly has made it's mark on the ethos and mythology of rock music and guitar based rock. It's image is immediately recognizable and the Gibson quality, design and perfection make the guitar one of the best rock guitars ever.

Guitar players such as Hendrix and bands like Led Zeppelin took the art of rock guitar to new, amazing heights using top class equipment from makers and manufacturers like Gibson, Ibanez and Fender. Where would music be today without these innovators and designers.

Learn more from this author about the Gibson Flying V and other guitars over at the Buy A Rock Guitar site where you can get information and great deals on other classic guitars such as the Fender Telecaster.

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Epiphone Les Paul Ultra Review

By Pedro Rocha

Ultra

This electric guitar has a series of modifications to the classic design of this instrument aimed at making it more comfortable to play. It has acoustic chambers in the mahogany body that reduce the weight of the guitar down to 5.5 lbs. The neck has been slightly reduced in thickness and so has the nut in width. The back of the body even has a belly rest in the style of a Stratocaster.

Another feature of this guitar is the satin finish on the back of the neck. This is not my personal favorite but a lot of players do like this kind of feel on the neck.The maple top of the Ultra features a quilted top and all the hardware, including the Grover tuners, is gold plated.

This guitar feels a lot easier to play than the Standard Plus, and the sound has a sort of semi acoustic tone that is very unique. When this electric guitar came out it was promoted by Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson. This lead many players to believe that this was a signature instrument.

After a while Epiphone stopped featuring ads or any form of marketing with Ms. Wilson and the Les Paul Ultra. But at a VH1 tribute show where Alice in Chains and Gretchen Wilson give a monster performance of Barracuda you can see one of the rare occasions where Nancy Wilson is actually playing this guitar live.

Ultra II

Following on the popularity of the first one Epiphone released the Ultra II. This guitar differs from the original by featuring an acoustic pickup in combination with the electric sound. There's a pair of output jacks for stereo or mono operation.

With 2 cables you can access the acoustic signal produced by a pick up located right after the last fret. This acoustic pickup is powered by a D battery installed in a clip in the middle of the controls cavity and has its own preamp to dial gain, bass and treble for the acoustic signal.

For more reviews of the different Epiphone Les Paul electric guitars please visit my Squidoo page --> Epiphone LP Reviews

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Guitar Foot Pedals - Distortion and Overdrive Effects

By Lynne May

There is often quite a bit of confusion between the terms "overdrive" and "distortion". Let's try to clear that up a bit.

Overdrive

Overdrive inherently involves distorting the sound coming from your amp, but it is different from what we have come to call "Guitar Distortion". Overdrive is simply a boosting of the the signal of your guitar before it enters the amplifier. Basically, you can think of it as a very big signal trying to get through a smaller opening. In the early days--and sometimes still--, overdrive was achieved by turning the volume on the amp DOWN and the volume on the guitar UP. This forces the large signal of the guitar into the smaller output capacity of the amp. (Think of a garden hose where the water is forced into a smaller power nozzle.)

The sound that you get with overdrive is a kind of warm, dirty, "beefed up" sound. It is not meant to add massive amounts of screaming metal distortion. Rather, it is an overall boost to the guitar signal without any added tonal coloration. The sound is similar to that of a tube amp when it is "cranked up". If you are doing blues and rock then maybe an overdrive pedal will give you the sound that you want.

Distortion

Distortion is a more intense overdriven sound with added tonal coloration. There are as many types of distortion as there are players.It all depends upon taste--anything from a fuzz tone to a full-on, notched-out midrange, death metal wall of noise. Digital distortion has a more metallic, raspy sound which works well for heavy metal, grunge, or reliving your 80's hair band days. Analog tube distortion gives a good, all-around rock tone, such as the sound of a Marshall stack cranked to the MAX.

Overdrive and Distortion Pedals

There is a countless variety of overdrive and distortion guitar effects pedals on the market. Most of these pedals are geared toward a specific type of musical sound. There are pedals for Metal, pedals for a Classic Rock Sound and pedals for the "Overdrive Crunch" enthusiast, just to name a few. While some pedals have three simple knobs,--Tone, Level, and Distortion--others have many more controllable parameters.

In addition to the individual overdrive and distortion pedals, these effects are also available in a wide variety of "Multi-Effects" pedals. With all that is available to today's guitarist, there is absolutely nothing to stop you from developing your "signature sound". You just have to look around a bit. For a more detailed discussion of overdrive, distortion and other guitar effects pedals as well as purchasing resources and pedal recommendations, visit:

www.may-studio-music-lessons.com/guitar-foot-pedals.html

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A Close Look at Fender Guitar Amplifiers

By Brian Garvinand Jeff W

When shopping for an amplifier that will give you a quality sound and bears a familiar name you should first look at Fender Guitar Amplifiers. Make sure you visit an authorized dealer so they can answer all your questions up front that way you can plug into one and give it a chance to howl.

The most recognizable Fender Guitar Amplifiers are the ones that were played in the 50s; the black box with a grey mesh grill front is a staple among identifiable amplifiers. The sound that comes out is unmistakable too. Whether you want the tube tone or clean sound, the famous Fender reverb is designed for home, studio or gig use. It might look like an old school amp but a classic never goes out of style, no matter what type of music is being played through it.

The newest look for Fender Guitar Amplifiers is the Hot Rod Series, the colors have changed and the watts crank out at 15, they come with an all tube type and weigh in at 31 pounds. They are easy enough to transport from gig to gig and sturdy enough to take on a footswitch an as option. If you want a different color besides black or tweed, you can check out the Fender Frontman, its red and couples nicely with a red Fender Stratocaster.

One of the most important aspects of Fender Guitar Amplifiers is the wattage, it depends on how much you want to use and what type of music you will be playing. Some of the vintage amps are designed for a guitar with a foot pedal. Some of the newer amps have inputs for drum machines and outputs for sound equipment. Front controls and jack inputs help to make Fender as musician ready as possible.

Because Fender Guitar Amplifiers are the most recognizable on the market they are also the most played. There are many familiar names attached to them and when you research the list you will find at least a few guitar players that you admire who play a Fender amplifier. The clean channel has your standard controls, volume, treble, and bass. The drive channel gives you the freedom to create a signature sound all your own.

Since music keeps changing the demand for more innovation from Fender Guitar Amplifiers becomes evident. Celestion, chorus, vibrato, delay effects and for those who are looking for a more aggressive sound can find what they are searching for with Fender. If you have Fender amp under your boot while on stage the crowd knows you mean dirty business.

Amplifiers should accompany your instrument as well. The stylish tough look of Fender Guitar Amplifiers says that you know what you want from your guitar and you are willing to share that sound with others. Distortion is one of the most popular sounds that guitar players want from their amp. Fender has plenty of useable distortion and if you want to play classic rock or the blues a Fender amplifier is the one two punch you need.

For those who want to add a little more Fender to their day can invest in an amplifier head. This addition sits atop your Fender amplifier and gives you 40 watts of power. It's got the familiar silver grill and black covering and it's got more effects such as delay, mix, repeat, and chorus. You can control the depth and switch between two channels, clean and drive. It's half the weight of standard Fender Guitar Amplifiers so it's easy to transport when you need to do studio work or want to jam with your peers. It's also known as a stomp box.

Another thing to look at is cost, most musicians see buying Fender Guitar Amplifiers as an investment in their musical career. Even if you never head line a show because you prefer to play among friends, the choice of which amplifier you buy says a lot about who you are. Everybody who plays guitar starts at the basic level, when you get better you want to own better equipment, the beginner can find a Fender amplifier that will give them a great head start without breaking the bank. Likewise, the seasoned professional can find Fender amplification that pushes their guitar prowess even further.

For the beginning guitar player, Fender has plenty of guitar and amplifier combos to help you keep playing while getting the best sound available. If you are shopping for a guitar player let the qualified Fender dealer know about your situation. They can offer extras like headphones, strings, instrument cables, everything you would need to help set up a new player and make them feel appreciated.

From loud, proud to small, and sweet, Fender Guitar Amplifiers can't be beat. If you are planning a road trip and listening to the same 500 songs on your MP3 player over and over makes you dread the drive, grab a mini deluxe amplifier from Fender. It has 1 watt of power and with a headphone out jack you can play guitar until the 9-volt battery runs dry. It would make a great gift to yourself or somebody you know that plays guitar all the time, even in the car.

Some Fender Guitar Amplifiers are made for certain types of music. If you play the blues, you might want to consider a Hot Rod Blues Junior. This little amp boasts 15 watts of power and has the coveted "Fat" switch to give you a superb blues tone. Its warm sound comes from two groove tubes, it has a footswitch that allows you to be remote when it's time to showcase your talent.

The Hot Rod series allows you more choices in color as well. Black, white blonde, surf green, or Texas red are a few of the colors available. Plug into one and see if you can't turn some heads. Fender Guitar Amplifiers have so many choices it can be hard to make a decision. Whether you want the deluxe, the mini twin or just a junior amplifier Fender has it all.

Let Brian Garvin & Jeff West teach you more about the Wooden Katana and the Ninja Katana on our Colinzi website today.

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Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster Review - The Most Versatile Guitar Ever?

By R. S. Rasnick

In the past several years, Fender has released a number of Artist-related instruments, mostly electric guitars, to diversify the tonal palette of their already huge offerings. Surely the most common model to have Artist offerings is their cherished Stratocaster. One of the first such guitars was the Eric Clapton Stratocaster, which has had a few changes since its initial presentation, though it remains one of their best-selling models. It stays a highly versatile and desired instrument.

Since most musicians browsing for a Clapton guitar are already familiar with the primary Stratocaster features, it's likely best to concentrate on what makes the Clapton Stratocaster unique.

For starters, there's the electronics. Throughout his great career, Eric Clapton has used a variety of instruments, including a Gibson Les Paul, a Gibson SG, a Gibson ES-335, and, of course, a Fender Stratocaster. So it goes without saying that Slowhand needs a guitar that can cover a lot of sonic territory.

Fender has obliged with an astounding amount of sonic versatility in a single guitar. For starters, there's an active mid-boost control (powered by a 9-volt battery).

Matched with the Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups and the master TBX tone control, this mid-boost gives this guitar unheard of tonal versatility. In fact, the Eric Clapton model Stratocaster is one of the most multifaceted instruments we've ever played, bar none.

The sounds are only part of the picture, though. The playability is top rate as well, owing in no little part to the V-shaped neck with 9.5" radius. The neck is fabulously smooth and notes fret and bend with ease. It truly is one of the most comfortable necks we've ever seen.

We have to be honest and say that this guitar is also one of the best playing guitars we've ever reviewed. It's really that good.

That's not to say we wouldn't have some suggestions should Mr. Clapton ask our views. While the vintage-style tuners add an air of old-school appeal to the model, we think that locking tuners would be a more proper choice for such a contemporary guitar.

Similarly, it would be nice if the vibrato wasn't blocked by default, but that's the way Clapton likes it, so that's the way it is.

The minor "problems" are not really worth worrying about. The Clapton Strat is really an amazing instrument, and we recommend it highly. It's a keeper!

The Fender Clapton Stratocaster is one of the most multifaceted instruments you can buy today. If you're looking for the best price on a Clapton Strat, then you should visit Ray's Guitar Shop, your number one online Guitar Store. Ray's Guitar Shop has the best prices on both new and used electric guitars available on the Internet. Visit them today!

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Gibson ES-339 Review - How Versatile is It?

By R. S. Rasnick

At first glance, the Gibson ES-339 looks just like its "big brother," the ES-335. Upon closer inspection, though, you realize it shares its body size with another best-selling Gibson model, the Les Paul. So, what you've got with an ES-339 is the ES-335 look and sound with the feel of a Les Paul. Sounds wonderful in theory, right? Let's look at the particulars a little more carefully.

The ES-339 body and top feature a maple/poplar/maple laminate while the neck is made of mahogany with a rosewood fretboard and 22 frets. The bridge is the tune-o-matic and stop tailpiece variety, and the guitar is also outfitted with Kluson tuners and '57 Classic Humbuckers in both the bridge and neck as well as chrome hardware. Some ES-339 particular features include "Memphis Tone" electronics and a 30/60 neck profile.

The working value of the "Memphis Tone" electronics is plain. For starters, when you turn the volume down, the guitar's highs stay seamless throughout the taper. Normally, you lose high end when you decrease a guitar's volume, so this is a welcome add-on. The volume decreases logarithmically, so the volume lessening is quite smooth and even, comparable with the actual volume knob numbers!

The neck is called a "30/60" because it has a 60's style neck, but with an extra.030" back to front. This neck profile helps keep that basic Gibson semi-hollowbody tone while enhancing playability. Really nice. As we put the ES-339 through its paces, that's really the thing that stood out to us, the playability. Both chording and lead work were exceptional. It was a nice change to get ES-335 tones from a Les Paul sized instrument.

Regarding the sounds, we were delighted with the distinct diversity available. Although it will chiefly appeal to blues and jazz guitarists, this is an instrument that could conceivably appeal to guitarists from a broad range of styles. To be sure, though, there are some great semi-hollowbody tones available here!

Feedback was useful and easy to control when we cranked it up. We plainly couldn't get a bad sound out of the ES-339. From rock and blues to jazz and country, this is one of the most complete and well-playing guitars we've critiqued in a while. We particularly liked the "Memphis Tone" feature. Call it what you will, it's no selling ploy. We really enjoyed getting different settings out of the volume and tone control settings.

It was refreshing not to feel compelled to swap out the pickups right away as well. The Classic Humbuckers unquestionably did the trick, as did the 30/60 neck, which made for some effortless chording and fast runs. We can't conceive of anything to improve on this guitar. The fit and finish were faultless from the factory, and is a testimonial to the quality of the Gibson Custom Shop. We commend this instrument highly.

The Gibson ES-339 is an incredibly versatile instrument. If you need to purchase yours today, then you should head on over to Ray's Guitar Shop, which offers the best prices on all used and new acoustic and electric guitars. It doesn't matter if you need a Gibson Les Paul, a Fender Telecaster, or a PRS Mira, they offer the best deals online.

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All You Wanted to Know About 12 String Guitar!

By Zach Eapen

The string pairs in the bass courses are usually tuned an OCTAVE apart and the Treble course strings (i.e. GgBbEe) are tuned in unison. However some guitar players prefer to tune the higher G in a very high octave to get that high and ringing tone. This guitar is essentially used for getting that Rich and Ringing Tone that is otherwise impossible with a regular 6 String guitar. The subtle differences in the octaves of the strings in bass courses creates a beautiful choral effect to it's sound. There are some guitarists who prefer to take out the strings from the bass courses to ease out the playing bass riffs much easily where as keeping the treble courses as it is for strumming chords.

Rickenbacker 360/12 is the most popular 12 String Electric Guitar popularized by George Harrison of 'The Beatles'. Because of the immense tension on the body of the 12 String Guitar, it usually bends over and breaks in a matter of 2-3 years, so many guitarists prefer to tune their guitars much lower than the usual open string tuning. But few other guitarists prefer to maintain the open string tuning to retain that rich, ringing and near orchestral sound.

The role of this Guitar is in Rhythm and Accompaniment in an orchestra and is used mostly in folk songs and other pop music. Because plucking and playing individual notes on a string becomes quite difficult on this guitar.This guitar is used mainly by some progressive rock and hard rock guitarists use 12 String Guitar in a double necked form to easily switch between a 12 and 6 String Guitar sounds.

Though 12 String Guitars are being used by some rockers for it's deep ringing tone and choral effect, most of them use a 6 string guitar as the primary guitar, because this Guitar can only be used for the role rhythm guitar and cannot be used to play different techniques like bending, tapping and playing bass riffs.

Popular Songs and Guitarists who popularized 12 String Guitar

12 String Guitars became popular in the early 1920s and 30s when Blind Willie McTell in started using it, and in the early '60s, guitarists like Mike Pender of The Searchers and Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, kept it on the spotlight for more than a decade, In the 80s this instrument was used by alternative rockers such as Robert Smith of The Cure, Slash of Guns N' Roses, Dave Gregory of XTC, Peter Buck of R.E.M., Marty Willson-Piper of The Church, and Johnny Marr of The Smiths. The most popular electric 12 string guitar since the 1960s has been the Rickenbacker 360/12, which was first popularized by George Harrison. In modern rock music 12 string guitars took the form of double necked guitars so that the musicians could switch between tones during live performances, for example, when playing Stairway to Heaven, Hotel California or Xanad

I am Zach Eapen and I have been playing guitar for over 10 years now and plays different genres and styles. Keeping the needs in mind of a budding guitarist struggling to find the best suited course online, I have created a website that has reviewed the best online guitar schools that you can review and choose.

My website address is http://www.onlineguitarschools.com

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Gibson Les Paul Standard - Ebony

By Pedro Rocha

Ebony is one of the most popular finishes for the Gibson Les Paul Standard electric guitar. It normally costs much less than fancier sunburst finishes featured in the Plus models while offering the same quality.

Gibson Les Paul Standard Traditional Pro Review

The new breed of these electric guitars has something that many players consider to detract from the full sound associated with Les Paul guitars, a chambered mahogany body.

What many players like about Les Paul guitars is the full and thick sound you get from them. The Traditional Pro has a full mahogany body below a solid maple top.

The pickups are the Gibson 57' Classic and Burstbucker 3'. I found the Burstbucker 3' to be very pleasing with an added edge in the high mids compared to the regular Burstbucker Pro. The 57' Classic in the neck is very good as well, not as bass heavy as past neck models.

The Plek'd set up has put the consistency of these necks in a different league. My job requires me to visit several music stores weekly and you go from one end of town to the other, grab a Les Paul and the neck feels almost identically good.

Particular to the Traditional Pro is the 60's profile neck which is thinner than the 50's, also the ability to split the coils for single coil sounds and the locking Grover tuners.

Gibson Les Paul Standard Traditional Review

This one is almost identical to the Pro, the pickups are both 57' Classic both closer to the original P.A.F. sound. if you try them I think you'll agree that they are not as vintage as they make them out to be.

The neck is the thicker 50s shape and the tuners are vintage Kluson style. An almost insignificant difference is the nut being 0.005 mm wider but you won't even notice that.

Other than that it is exactly the same guitar, so I really don't understand why this Gibson Les Paul Standard is more expensive than the Traditional Pro.

Gibson Les Paul Standard Review

This guitar has always been an incredibly popular instrument. But it has suffered from a specific complaint all along, its weight. This new version has a chambered body for weight relief.

I know it might seem counter active to get less wood and pay more, but it's a lot more work to dig those little chambers in the body. A very nice feature of this guitar is the asymmetrical shape of the neck. It's more comfortable than the 50s design without being as thin as the 60's.

Another feature of this guitar is the Burstbucker Pro pickups. This set of pickups in my opinion sound very good, I've owned them for close to 6 years and I'm still very much into their sound.

The bridge is the popular locking Tonepros, I've had to get used to always leave the first and last when changing strings to my Les Paul guitar, that way the bridge doesn't fall and the intonation is not messed up. With this bridge I wouldn't have to do that.

For more reviews about Les Paul electric guitars please visit my Squidoo page --> Gibson LP Reviews

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How to Find the Right Guitar Amp

By George Manty

Choosing the right amplifier for your guitar is by no means an easy task. Usually a guitarist will think of style, as well as price first, when considering options. Assuming you have bought a guitar recently, this guide will suggest a few tips, for buying a new or used amplifier. There are dozens on the market - with low to "sky's the limit" prices. Assuming that you are a beginning or aspiring guitarist, this guide should give you some guidance. Perhaps you have just bought a Fender, Epiphone, Gibson, Dean, Ibanez, Kramer or other guitar, of fairly good to good quality, you will need a good amp to compliment your style.

One cannot think of a guitarist performing live, without thinking about their guitar to some extent. Visualizing Jimi Hendrix's "Stratocaster" with a wall of amplifiers behind him, - yes the much emulated and desired Marshall Stacks, which are quite expensive. Eric Clapton, in his early years, preferred Marshalls as well, though he did also prefer to play a Les Paul, or his legendary "The Fool" SG, before he switched over to a Stratocaster as well. Speaking of "The Fool's" current owner, Todd Rundgren, who prefers an old Fender Mustang, is known to like the crispness of Peavey amplifiers. I have owned several Peavey amplifiers, including a P.A. and must admit, they are really hard to beat for clarity of sound. I also owned a Marshall Stack 100 Watts at one time, and attribute much hearing loss from it. Honestly, I think the same classic sound, with less decibels can be achieved, through smaller amps.

Really you must ask yourself, in relation to the guitar you have, what kind of sound are you wishing to project? Will this be acoustic? Straight ahead Rock and Roll? Country? Blues? Heavy Metal?

What kind of budget are you on? If you are like me, I would rather start with a smaller amplifier to get a feel, for how I like the sound and how it sounds with the guitar.

SOLID STATE VS. TUBE AMPLIFIERS

There are many guitar purists who swear by tube amplifiers over solid state. They want that warm crunch or presence of vintage tube analog sound. The cost of a vintage amplifier is expensive. One can also emulate or simulate the sound of a tube amplifier, from effects pedals, such as Ibanez Tube Screamer, which is quite popular, for this purpose. Behringer and Peavey have smaller amps which sound fairly good, with trans-tube technology, in relation to the vintage Fenders, Vox, and Marshalls. But for our purposes, we shall focus on solid state amplifiers due to cost for the beginner, versatility, and the simple fact, that digitally the sound can be reproduced, to an extent, only a professional would notice.

$100 Budget

Let us assume that you have $100 to spend on an amplifier at this time. Note, you can always add effects pedals. In addition, due to digital technology, you can also purchase pedals which will simulate all the classic and vintage amplifiers.

There are inexpensive practice amplifiers out there ranging from $30-80, but it would be safe to say, that the bedroom, backstage or den is the only context you will be able to use them in. Usually they are about 10 Watts of power, although good in tone, you may want to consider something that can be used in other atmospheres, such as jamming along with friends, or even having enough power for small clubs, or coffeehouses. Among those smaller amps for practice:

Rogue, Peavey Audition, Rocktron, Ibanez, Behringer V Tone, Kustom, Fender Frontman 15G, Behringer Ultracoustic, Pignose, even a 10 Watt Marshall.

These amplifiers may be what you are seeking if you are considering to mic them through a P.A. System, or you really just want an amplifier, to jam along with songs in the comfort of your bedroom, but it is best to consider amps starting in the 15 watt range and going up from there.

By the way, don't feel embarrassed by the use of pedals and effects you will find that most guitarists use them.

Lastly, you may want to get a custom handmade amp built for you by someone like Jack at jacksaxe.com. Custom amps have the advantage of being built to your desires and needs.

Whatever you do, make sure that you have done your research before buying an amp. You will be glad you did.

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Fender Precision is the Bass Guitar For Beginners

By Or Keinan

It is vital to know the type of bass you playing and as much about its background as possible. Getting to know your bass will help you to understand much more about it as well as learn how to better take care of it. For instance, one of the very best bass guitars for beginners might be the Fender Precision.

If you have selected the Fender Precision as the bass guitar for beginner to play on, then you will want to find out all you can about that bass. You will want to know that the Fender Precision was created by The Fender Company and that the Precision was actually the very first bass that they produced and it is still one of the most popular basses on the market today.

The reason for this is simply the bass tone that the Fender bass is able to produce. It is the most recorded bass tone. In fact, as far as a line that basses are judged on the Fender Precision guitar sets that line. All other basses judge their bass tone by the Fender Precision bass guitar, and if you are playing this bass guitar for beginner then you are setting the margin for other bass players.

However, you would not have know that if you would not have studied or researched the bass you are playing. In fact, the Fender bass is responsible for defining the sound of the bass in the rock band arena. So, so far you have found through your research of your bass that it has set the world standard, it is easy to play, and it is the most popular on the market.

One thing about the Fender Precision bass is that if you can not make it sound good, then the only real thing wrong with it other than it needs to be tuned is that this is a bass guitar for beginner who needs to practice. This is a an excellent instrument for a beginner to learn on, plus it will give you a professional quality sound.

With the Fender Precision bass guitar, even the older ones seem to go up in value. This is a bass that you can learn on as well play for life, because it is that high of a quality bass. The Fender Precision is now available in two different styles. The original, which is known as the Standard Precision, and the American Precision. With two different styles you have much more to of a selection to choose from.

As we mention in the article, bass guitar instruction is very important if you want to learn the right way.
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Epiphone G-400 Review - A Worthy SG Replacement?

By R. S. Rasnick

Although it may not have as much weight (figuratively speaking) as the iconic Fender Stratocaster or the Gibson Les Paul, the Gibson SG is still a noticeable part of rock and roll history, as Angus Young can attest.

Everyone from Eric Clapton to Tony Iommi has adopted the Gibson SG for its piercing sound. Since not everyone can afford the $1,200 street price for a Gibson, however, their sister company Epiphone makes an affordable SG model, the G-400.

Since the Epiphone G-400 is plainly more inexpensive, we have to discover how well it "stacks up" to its big brother, the Gibson SG.

We have zero niggles with respect to the cherry finish, which is just plain beautiful and looks fantastic on the instrument's mahogany body. The SG shape itself is perfect. If it weren't for the name on the headstock, the instrument would be a dead ringer for a Gibson SG.

The mother-of-pearl inlays are wonderfully done, though we did discover some small traces of glue residue near the edges. Similarly, we noticed some minute traces of glue holding the neck joint in place, but these squabbles aside, we determined the construction quality to be really well done.

The instrument's intonation was easy to set and was very good, though we wish the bridge saddles weren't as cutting as they are. The instrument held its tuning very well, even after some pretty radical bending.

The instrument plays well, suitable for pretty much any style of music. We did notice a a couple of buzzes and rattles here and there, but we did set the action fairly low, and we didn't observe any of these sounds through an amplifier.

I'm of the belief that a good electric guitar has to sound superb unplugged, and the G-400 doesn't let down in this domain either. It's vibrant, resonant, and offers substantial sustain, stunning given the guitar's low weight.

The guitar's acoustic tones were, pardon the pun, "amplified" when we plugged into our test amplifier, a Dr. Z MAZ-18 NR. The pickups of the G-400 offered very balanced tones, useful for numerous distinct styles.

We auditioned the pickups in all three toggle settings and found the tones useful in all settings using both clean and distorted amp/pedal sounds. When we really went for a metal sound (using a Visual Sound Jekyll and Hyde pedal), we thought the instrument was a bit muddy sounding, but's not really a criticism, considering how toppingly warm this guitar is overall.

So, if you wish to play this instrument in a Judas Priest tribute band, you'll probably want to put in some hotter pickups with a bit more treble bite.

There's not much more to say. The Epiphone G-400 is a splendid guitar at a superb price. If you want an inexpensive instrument that can cover a lot of sonic ground, you can't go wrong with the G-400.

If you are searching for the lowest available price on a used or new Epiphone G-400, then you need to search no more! Ray's Guitar Shop offers the lowest prices on all used and new guitars (acoustic and electric) available anywhere online. Go visit Ray's Guitar Shop today!

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Fender American Stratocaster Review

By Pedro Rocha

I've always found interesting the fact that Leo Fender was not a guitar player. Ideas like bolting the neck, the position of the knobs and the tremolo bar were all a combination of listening to his friends and figuring out how to mass produce.

But what this guitar did was unprecedented, opening doors into techniques previously unknown. The Fender Stratocaster, which won an award among the best inventions of the 20th century, is by far the most imitated electric guitar.

Like in the Gibson Les Paul guitar, the Standard model is the closest to the real thing. It has the classic combination of alder body, bolted maple neck and single coil pickups that give this guitar its unique tone.

Fender Standard Stratocaster

This option is made in Mexico, this guitar has proven to be incredibly successful. Since I started working with guitars I can't believe how long this guitar can go with no change, and year after year more and more people request it.

The main differences between this and the American version are: the plastic based lacquer, the quality of the pickups, the 6 screws classic tremolo bridge and the body being made of basswood.

This is one of the most modified guitars by owners, there are hundreds of accessories specially made for this guitar.

Fender American Standard Stratocaster

This version is a way more refined instrument than the last, its finish is organic and just by touching it you can tell the difference. The neck also has a light finish that is smoother that the Mexican version and its edges are nicely rolled making it very comfortable to play.

The tremolo bridge is a more modern 2 point pivot machine with steel saddles that don't have screws scratching your palm. And the pickups sound much nicer than in the regular Standard.

Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster

This one is identical in design to the American Standard but it comes with a few extra goodies: It has locking tuners, the dots in the neck are made of abalone and the pickups have a no hum design which makes them friendlier with distortion.

But the most valuable of them all is the S1 switch, with a simple push button in the top of the volume knob, a guitar that seemed like a dinosaur became a transformer.

For a review of the possible mods for this electric guitars please visit my Squidoo page Fender Stratocaster Review

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Epiphone Casino Review - Vintage Class

By R. S. Rasnick

It's effortless to think that guitar makers like Fender and Gibson have always been the top-selling musical instruments they are now, but that's in reality not the case. Believe it or not, for many years Epiphone really dominated the electric guitar universe, thanks mainly to a group of young musicians from Liverpool (the Beatles, in case you don't know your music history really well).

George and John were not the only guitarists who could be seen playing Epiphone Casinos. The Casino's fresh, dynamic tones could be found in tons of concerts and recordings. Though it's improbable you'll be able to pick up a real 1960's Casino, you can grab a current reissue model that is worth a look. Here are just a few of the details of the current model.

One of the most distinguishing features of the Epiphone Casino is its lightness. Regarding its construction, the top, sides, and back are all made of a laminated maple. The neck is mahogany and the fingerboard is rosewood and has 22 frets on a 24 3/4" scale. The nut is a comfortable 1.68."

The Casino boasts 2 Alnico V P-90 vintage-style pickups with a trademark tune-o-matic bridge and trapeze tailpiece. Parallelogram inlays and body-neck binding with chrome hardware complete the cosmetic adornments.

The Epiphone Casino is an apparent example of classy elegance.

As you test a new Epiphone Casino, you'll in all probability observe at least a couple of things. First things first. The Casino is very lightweight, owing to its semi-hollow design. If you're used to playing a Les Paul, the Casino feels like a feather by comparison.

The second thing you'll likely notice is the sound itself. "Crisp" is probably the best adjective I can use to describe it. It doesn't have the usual Gibson or Fender tone, but that's not a bad thing. It's unique, its own animal.

We were really satisfied with the tones we got from the Epiphone Casino. It can get some outstanding clean or classic rock tones, but don't anticipate any "Iron Maiden" licks to sound authentic. The P90 pickups have some great tones, even if they're not hum-cancelling (but they're not really noisy anyway).

When we first played the Casino, we discovered it needed a fast setup. After we adjusted the bridge and neck, the Casino played very well. The neck especially is really comfortable.

If you're blessed enough to buy a new Epiphone Casino, don't be astounded if you start rattling off some of your favored Beatles' tunes. We played our Epiphone through a new Vox AC-15 and were very encouraged with the warm, rich sounds we got.

Since the street cost is only around $599 (much less if you can find it used), it's difficult to find grounds not to pick up an Epiphone Casino today. If you need a particular, versatile instrument for blues, rock, or jazz, the Epiphone Casino is a sure thing.

If you are searching for the best available price on an Epiphone Casino, then you need to search no further. Ray's Guitar Shop has the best prices on all acoustic and electric guitars, including the Epiphone Casino. You won't find any better prices on the Internet anywhere, so check out Ray's Guitar Shop today!

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Guitar Effects, the Chorus Pedal

By Andy Partridge

Another guitar gadget that you can use is the chorus. This is guitar effects where individual sounds with about the same timbre and almost the same pitch converge are then converged to be played as one. When these different sounds are played, none of them will appear off key or out of tune. Instead, the sound becomes rich more enhanced. This is not what would normally happen if the sound would come from a single source. This effect is evident in sounds that would be sustained for long periods of time.

The chorus effect is something that you would normally find in string instruments. When you actually listen to a string ensemble, the instrument would sound like they are a choir of angels singing, thus the name of the effect. And since the guitar is, of course, a string instrument, the chorus is one of the best effects that could be applied onto the instrument. The chorus effect would then help enhance the sound of the guitar that comes from different moments, timed a little slightly apart from each other, seemingly coming from different locations like in the case of a full band.

Of course, the effect can be simulated with a gadget. Normally, guitar players would have a foot pedal, similar to the overdrive distortion that can be activated by stepping on the pedal. The effect can also be applied during the processing of recorded music in the recording studio.

When the chorus effect is applied, the processor then receives the audio signal from the instrument and allows it to mix with delayed and more pitch-modulated replicas of itself. These replica sounds are then moderated. The effect, in turn, becomes a little similar to flanging. The difference here would be the delays are longer and there will be no feedback present.

Sometimes, the chorus effect would be built in to the guitar. There are models of acoustic and electric guitars that would allow you to use the chorus effect with just a flip of the switch. And as what was mentioned earlier, the effect can also be applied during the post processing of the musical piece. After recording the music, you can put the desired effect when you make some edits in the piece. This will ultimately allow you to add more delays and fully enhance the musical piece. Some chorus foot pedals also allow other effects related to the chorus effect like reverbs and delays to be added in.

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Try Out a Gibson Acoustic Guitar

By Andrew Fahrenheit

I can only assume that if you were reading this particular piece, you are looking to make a purchase of a new acoustic guitar in the near future. You want to know what makes and models are the best, and for many, no one guitar is quite like a Gibson acoustic guitar. So allow me to introduce you to this company.

While it might be easy to take this person's word or that public opinion, the real story behind a guitar will come through the playing of it. You can build a reputation on a great sounding guitar, and Gibson has done just that. There are so many different makes and models to choose from, even Gibson has a lot of customizable options for their acoustic guitars.

With all of the different options that one could customize with a given acoustic model, the acoustic experience with a Gibson could be different for each and every person that plays one. For instance some prefer the acoustic electric model of Gibson, while others just like the straight unplugged sound of the dreadnought.

You can be assured that there are a slew of different brands, makes and models that you can choose from if you want a good sounding acoustic. One thing you will learn though is that there are very few companies that have built up the report and the reputation that Gibson has. Many people believed that this company only really shined in electrics, models like the Les Paul, but the acoustics have opened up a whole new market.

These guitars are made from quality materials and made from a design that is unique to the company. So with these materials together with the design, you have a sound and playing that is unlike any other acoustic guitar that is on the market. They sound like some of the highest priced guitars that are on the market, without actually being priced in that range.

So there might be more to an Gibson acoustic guitar than meets the eye. The real test, as any guitarist would know, is to try it out for yourself at the music shop. There you will be able to see how the guitar looks, feels, and sounds and you can formulate an opinion based on all of these points of consideration.

Looking to add a Gibson acoustic guitar to your collection? Andrew Fahrenheit is the man with the super inside scoop on Gibson guitars now on http://www.gibsonacoustic.net.

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Fender American Telecaster and Stratocaster Review - Best of Old and New

By R. S. Rasnick

Fender's American Stratocaster and Telecaster remain the best-selling musical instruments in the company's line, which is saying something, given the rich history this company has had over the past decades. Though Leo Fender is long gone, the newest American-made instruments that bear his name are a substantial testimonial to his guitar-building legacy. The present-day crop of instruments combines the best of the of the new and the old.

Never ones to rest on the past, Fender has actively interviewed a wide variety of players to see how Fender could build even better musical instruments. Leo Fender would indeed be proud, since he was perpetually concerned with the requirements of real working musicians as he built his products.

Fender sagely chose to retain the ingredients of their instruments that plainly didn't need changing. Let's use the Stratocaster as our first example. Still present are the Micro-Tilt neck, two point vibrato (honestly, a vast improvement over vintage designs), the four-bolt neck, 22 fret necks, 9.5" fretboard radius, and DeltaTone circuit. So, if these elements are still present, how is the time-honored Stratocaster new?

One of the best new features is a thinner paint undercoat, which actually results in clearer tone since the wood can breathe a bit more. The neck is better as well, with a satin finish on the back, giving it a much smoother feel. The neck front, by contrast, has a gloss finish, giving the instrument a really professional look.

They also wisely resolved to refine the bridge design, incorporating beloved elements from vintage-style tremolo bridges. It has a higher mass design, which results in much improved sustain.

The recent design also includes vintage-style bent steel saddles, which aid in capturing the classic vintage Strat tone. From Buddy Holly to Jimi Hendrix, it's all here.

While the stock Fender bridge doesn't supply the same level of tuning security that a locking system does, for all but the most outrageous whammying the Fender system is amazingly stable.

Likewise, the Telecaster experienced superb upgrades as well, including a redesigned bridge. The Tele includes a brass plate that, when coupled with the steel saddles, provides obvious Telecaster twang!

Both guitars include a world-class TSA lock-equipped SKB case that makes airport travel a picnic, and the case is very well-designed and could take quite a punch, we bet.

With street prices under $1,200, the Fender American Standard series is a fine choice for those searching for the merger of old and new.

If you are looking for the best prices on a new or used Fender American Telecaster or Fender American Stratocaster, then there's only one guitar shop you need to visit. Ray's Guitar Shop has the best prices on all new and used instruments on the Internet, including all Fender Musical Instruments.

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All About the Gibson Les Paul Custom Guitar

By Timmy Klein

The Gibson Les Paul guitar is one of the most iconic instruments in popular music. A number of variations of the base model have been introduced over the years, including the Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar. This is one of the pricier and highest quality guitars that Gibson makes. The LesPaul was designed by guitarist LesPaul in collaboration with Gibson in 1952.

The base LesPaul guitar was a response to the Fender Telecaster, which had pioneered the single body electric guitar design that was sweeping the rock, country and blues music scenes. The LesPaul had some differences, such as the strings being attached differently than other guitars. The Les Paul also differentiated itself by coming in many boldly colored designs.

The Les Paul Custom guitar was designed from the start to be a more high quality and stately guitar. It was nicknamed the Black Beauty for its slick black design. LesPaul stated that the design was meant to be reminiscent of a tux. The guitar's surface was made from solid mahogany, instead of maple like the standard model. Starting in 1957, the Custom was outfitted with the humbucker style pickup, giving it its defining bulky and warm sound.

The Custom of today has a sharper tone due to its ebony fretboard. The frets are also somewhat lower than those on your standard guitar, which has led to some calling the Custom the fretless wonder.

Many notable popular musicians have used the Gibson Les Paul custom guitar as their instrument of choice at one point or another. Artists from Carlos Santana to Peter Frampton to Eric Clapton have used Customs.

A brand new Custom today is worth several thousand dollars. They are no longer limited to just being Black Beauties; Customs have since produced with different finished including Antique White and Silverburst.

Did you know the Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar is one of many variations of the standard LesPaul? Timmy Klein takes on the ultimate Gibson journey now on http://www.gibsonlespaulcustom.net.

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All About the Fender Jaguar Guitar

By Rick D. Jones

Originally, the Fender Jaguar Guitar was introduced in 1962. The design was based off the Jazzmaster. The way that it differed had to do with the offset waist and floating tremolo system. In addition, it was given a shorter 24 inch scale in comparison to the jazzmaster as well.

Overall, only small changes were made in comparison to the old Jazzmaster. Mostly, this had to do with small changes to the body, as well as the scale length. The Jaguar came fitted with a 22 fret neck and became the first to have this feature among the Fender guitars.

In addition, some changes were made for visual appearance. Among these changes were the addition of metal control plates. Although the changes made revolved around appearance it related to the idea of the change on how the guitar was assembled as well.

No longer were the components soldered outside of the body and to installed to the rear of the pickguard, but rather wired into each section. Additionally, the wire only had the drilled holes to pass through. Another difference featured with the Jaguar had to do with the flip mute mechanism, which had to do with other manufactures who offered this at this time.

At the time they were made, it was in the first month of the year of 1962. Many think that they were made on a promotional basis. It was not until March of 1962 that they were made in larger quantities. Many of the guitars of this kind were made in custom colors, featuring matching headstocks.

In April of that year, it was the first time they were stamped with a code that identified the model, month, and year, in addition to the nut width on them. At the start of July in the same year, the veneer rosewood, replaced the slab type. Additionally, the pontentiometers started being consistently stamped with part numbers.

By January of 1965, clay dots were no longer used. These were completely replaced with pearloid dots. Another change that occurred early in the same year had to do with the material used with the pickguard, which was changed over from a nitrate material to a vinyl material. When this happened, this caused the tortoise pickguards to change from blotchy brown and yellow to a purplish red color.

Many other changes occurred along as well. However, the Fender Jaguar Guitar was originally made to become one of the top line guitars, but never made it to that level of popularity as the Stratocaster and Telecaster did. Many additional upgrades were made to the guitar until finally laying it to rest in 1975.

The Fender Jaguar Guitar originally was produced in 1962 and is today more than ever considered a must-have for any guitar lover. Rick D. Jones takes us on the ultimate Fender Jaguar journey on http://www.fenderjaguar.org

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Why Play a Rickenbacker Guitar

By Adrian Martin

These days there are a ton of electric guitars on the market - from the prestige instruments such as the Fender Stratocaster and the Gibson Les Paul through to their myriad of replicas. With so much similarity in instruments available it takes something a little special to get you noticed or to produce a sound that's different - that's why you should look at Rickenbacker guitars.

Rickenbacker's have a tradition that harks back to the 1930's and they have produced many famous and innovative models since. For example the Rickenbacker 325 Electric guitar, famous for it's association with John Lennon and the Rickenbacker 360 12 string guitar - associated with the 60's band "The Byrds". These guitars remain iconic to this day and their sound is instantly recognizable.

Visually they look kind of like a Stratocaster on speed - with their big flat bodies - often with a traditionally shaped "go faster" sound hole, Ricky "R" bridge and unique headstock. Strap one of these on and you'll stand out from the crowd. They really have that wow factor.

But what really makes the Rickenbacker so special?

The sound! Sonically, Rickenbacker guitars have a unique sound - partly due to their quality construction but mainly due to the unique Rickenbacker pickups. During the 1960's Rickenbacker used their now famous "toaster pickups" which looked like the top of a bread toaster - recently they've used more high-gain pickups - both have emphasised the higher frequencies and have contributed to a magical chiming sound. Another attribute is that Rickenbacker's are often equipped with a "stereo" output socket (known as "rick-o-sound") which allows the guitar to be connected to different effects chains and amps . Finally the most subtle option available on Rickenbacker guitars is the blender control When either pickup is : slected, you can use it to blend the other pick-up in. So if you think the neck pickup is too dull - then mix in some honk from the bridge pickup this is really tremendous and adds some great tones to your instrument.

All these attributes make for an extremely versatile instrument and while you don't often find Rickenbacker guitars in heavy rock - they cover everything in between. Rickenbacker's evoke lovely tones suitable for Pop or alternative rock music right through to Jazz and country and there have been tons of guitarists who use these instruments from U2's the Edge and Peter Buck of REM through to Thom Yorke of Radiohead. Given such a heritage - you'll find the sounds it produces really useful whether you're a rhythm player or virtuoso soloist.

So in summary if you want a unique look together with a unique sound the next time your down a guitar store - be sure to try out a Rickenbacker guitar.

Adrian Martin runs ShanzuGuitars.com. The site offers the latest guitar news, gear resources and reviews, tools and tips for budding guitarists everywhere.

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