About Ivor Arbiter: The Man Behind the Pedal Ivor Arbiter wasn’t an engineer—he was a shop owner with good instincts and great timing. Running multiple music shops in West London, he was right in the middle of the British Invasion. One of his most famous moments came when he quickly sketched the Beatles logo on […]
The P.A.F. that got away—vintage clarity with modern punch. The Wolfetone Marshallhead is Wolfe McLeod’s love letter to the rare “hot P.A.F.s” that rolled out of Gibson’s Kalamazoo factory by happy accident in the late ’50s. Back then, coils were wound by hand, and not every pickup came out exactly the same. Some were just […]
I remember first hearing the name Tube Screamer around 1980. Even before I knew what it did, the name itself jumped out at me—there was just something raw and electrifying about it. Decades later, I’m still amazed at how this little green box has become one of the most iconic and enduring overdrive pedals in […]
The wah-wah pedal is known for its expressive, vocal-like wails, squawks, and crying tones—sounds that have become essential to genres like rock, funk, blues, and soul. Originally designed to mimic the muted trumpet’s crying effect, the wah pedal revolutionized guitar music. When it hit the scene, it quickly became synonymous with one name: Cry Baby. […]
Let’s take a look at the Soldano SLO Super Lead Overdrive. To understand this pedal we have to go back for a moment and take a super condensed look at the humble roots of its predecessor, and how this pedal came into being. Its creator Mike Soldano began his career in the amplifier industry in […]
How many times have we heard this? “Don’t touch your truss rod, you might damage your guitar!” Or how about this one – “Truss rod adjustment should only be left to qualified professionals!” Well, that’s a load of hogwash! Or has this ever happened, you pick up your favorite axe and the action and feel […]
If you look back at the past 50 to 60 years of Western Rock and Pop music, you’ll find that there are a few pieces of gear that have genuinely made their marks. These pieces of gear were used across various genres in different generations, many of which remain relevant today. Some of the most […]
Let me just start this off by saying I love fuzz pedals. Fuzz is, without a doubt, my favorite guitar effect out there. In a way, you could call it my “desert island” effect pedal. In my experience as a guitarist, I’ve bought, sold, and collected dozens of fuzz pedals. I’ve become somewhat of a […]
Guitar players, more than any other musicians I know, are addicted to buying new guitar gear. Who wouldn’t want to have a Strat, a Tele, AND a Les Paul in their arsenal? Of course, throwing your life savings away on thirty guitars might not be the best move… In truth, you only need a few […]
The Tone Control Capacitor The tone control capacitor is often one of the most misunderstood components of the electric guitar. In this short guide, we’ll discuss how it works and how to choose the one that’s best for your instrument.
We’ve all been there. You pick up your favorite guitar, you get ready to start playing, and then *bleh*… It’s wildly out of tune. In spite of everything you do, you just can’t get it to stay in tune. Unfortunately, this is something that can affect just about any guitar regardless of style, construction, or […]
Guitar Tone What is it? Why do so many guitarists talk about it? What does it entail? The idea of “tone” is quite a mystery; like most things in music, it’s intangible. We can’t hear tone, yet one might point out a tone that is bad or good. Depending on which guitarist you are talking […]
The Floyd Rose was invented back in 1976 and rose to popularity during the early 1980s. The world began seeing these double-locking tremolo systems fitted to the guitars of some of the industry’s most iconic players. Even now, the Floyd Rose brand is a fashionable choice for guitar makers and players alike.
In the wonderful world of music gear, the word ‘boutique’ is one of the best examples of pretentiousness. We’re often told that ‘boutique’ is synonymous with ‘high-quality,’ which is one of the reasons that so many eager guitarists spend thousands of dollars on amps, pedals, and guitars that the next guy has never heard of. […]