The Bigsby vibrato was the first successful whammy bar to make its way onto electric guitars. Seen most often on guitars made by Gretsch, Bigsby vibratos have a smoother vibrato sound than the tremolo bridge found on Fender guitars—for sonic reference, it’s the vibrato on Neil Young’s early ’50s Gibson Les Paul. Unlike tremolo bridges, […]
Continue reading →Stoner rock and stoner metal are really some of the most exciting genres. It’s the simplicity and the overall groove that make them so appealing. By implementing those slow or mid-paced tempos, along with steady and heavy pentatonic riffs, you get a very groovy vibe and an overall very exciting music. But in order to […]
Continue reading →If your Strat neck breaks, it’s absolutely heartbreaking since it’s so integral to playing the instrument effectively. There’s no need to despair, though. Replacing a neck isn’t a difficult repair, and since the Strat is such a popular, iconic guitar, you can find a lot of new neck aftermarket options. Depending on your instrument, you […]
Continue reading →PRS Guitars stands for Paul Reed Smith, a Maryland-based guitar and amp manufacturer that’s been around since the mid-’80s. The company’s emphasis is on hand-crafted designs from top-quality materials. Most of the staff are players themselves, so they’re designed by musicians, for musicians—one of the main reasons these guitars are so coveted. Of course, the […]
Continue reading →Psychedelic trance, or psytrance, gets its energy and complexity from layering melodies on top of each other, pairing them with up-tempo riffs that are ideal for dancing. While there’s a lot of variety in the genre when it comes to the mood and overall style, one constant is the importance of the synth in creating […]
Continue reading →The fast tempos of black metal put a lot of demands on the drummer—and on the equipment he plays. Most out of the box drum kits are going to need some modifications, most notably the addition of a double bass drum and an array of extra cymbals. Having said that, you can find some kits […]
Continue reading →Getting the right guitar for funk is all about the groove. The tight rhythms demand precise articulation from every instrument in the band. When you’re shopping for a funk guitar, you’re looking for one that’s easy to strum and gives you a sparkling clean tone, with the front-end punch that keeps you in the pocket. […]
Continue reading →A classic synth arpeggiation effect is a staple of electronic genres. You’ll also hear it used in classic rock, prog rock, and a plethora of other popular styles. Many modern synths offer some kind of arpeggiator, although they vary widely in quality and how much control you get over the effect. These days, a lot […]
Continue reading →The singer/songwriter with an electric guitar—not exactly the stereotypical image, which usually has the person holding an acoustic instrument. However, there are a lot of good reasons to go electric instead. The various effects and settings on your amp give you a lot more tonal options to play with. Even if you choose not to […]
Continue reading →Finding comfortable guitar necks is harder than it seems since player comfort isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition. The length of your fingers, overall size of your hands, and specifics of your technique will all play a role in which guitar you find the most comfortable to play. This is the reason luthiers offer so many different […]
Continue reading →