Guitar & bass knowledge. No strings attached.

Fender Custom Shop: The History of the Dream Factory

May 9, 2024

Since 1987, the Fender Custom Shop has built the best Strats, Teles, P & J Basses in the world. Here's the history behind the "Dream Factory.

Alternate Guitar Tunings: The Ultimate Guide

May 1, 2024

Stuck in a rut? There are countless alternate guitar tunings to help you break bad habits or develop an original style all your own. Try a few of these alternate tunings, and find yourself exploring your guitar in all new ways!

The Guitars of Kevin Shields

April 21, 2024

Though Kevin Shields is most known for his large pedalboards and Jazzmasters, he’s utilized a wide variety of guitars over his career.

The History of Baritone Acoustic Guitars

April 11, 2024

Baritone acoustic guitars are incredible instruments that have been tragically under utilized in music. Let's dive into their history.

The Guitars of Stevie Ray Vaughan

April 5, 2024

Stevie Ray Vaughan played numerous guitars throughout his career—and not all just Stratocasters like many might assume.

The History of Orange Amps

March 29, 2024

Though nearly everyone knows about Orange amps these days, fewer know about the story behind these iconic amps.

What Was the Lawsuit Era of Guitars?

March 1, 2024

But what’s the real story behind the infamous “lawsuit” guitars? How did they come about? Are they really as good as some people claim?

The History of the Tube Screamer

February 20, 2024

From SRV and John Mayer to Kirk Hammett and John Frusciante, the Tube Screamer has been used by countless greats throughout the years.

Going Electric: The History of Acoustic-Electric Guitars

February 8, 2024

Acoustic-electric guitars are an essential these days, but where did they come from? How did we go from acoustics with no electronics to acoustics that have built-in pickups, tone controls, tuners, and more?

The Alternate Tunings of Sonic Youth: A Primer

January 13, 2024

Sonic Youth has used dozens upon dozens of different tunings over the years. In this article, we look at five of the most well-known.

Two Handed Tapping: Our Top 8 Tappers of All Time

January 10, 2024

From Eddie Van Halen to Victor Wooten, here are our top 8 Two Handed Tapping practitioners of all time, on both guitar & bass.

Are These the 10 Most Popular Guitar Pedals of All Time?

December 21, 2023

From wahs and fuzz to tuners, there are some expected and unexpected entries on our best-guess list of the 10 most popular guitar pedals of all time.

Can Sweep Picking be Tasteful? You Bet.

December 17, 2023

From jazz to country, sweep picking is a more varied and useful technique than you might think at first glance.

Holiday Gifts for Guitarists 2023

December 6, 2023

Diminished Chords for Guitar: The Ultimate Guide

November 19, 2023

We cover what diminished chords are, how to play them, and most importantly—how to use them.

The Top 10 Weirdest Fender Guitars Ever Made

November 3, 2023

Fender has made tons of offbeat, unique, and surprising guitars over the years. Here are the 10 most surprising Fender guitars ever made.