Category: Gear Reviews
Warm Audio MOD Series Review: Centavo MOD & WA-C1 MOD Go Compact
Warm Audio just took some of its best-selling analog pedals and made them a whole lot more pedalboard friendly. The new MOD Series takes the circuits behind some of Warm Audio’s larger pedals, dramatically reduces their footprint, adds...
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Strandberg Boden Essential 6 Tremolo Review: The Upgrade We’ve Been Waiting For
Adding the Arc TILT Tremolo Made the Essential 6 Even Better! The Strandberg Boden Essential 6 has been one of my favorite headless guitars since I first reviewed it nearly two years ago. I’ve gigged with it, recorded with it, traveled with...
Read More
PRS CE 24 Alder Satin Review: A USA-Made CE 24 Under $2,000?
The Alder Satin offers a different way to get into a USA-made CE 24 for less Paul Reed Smith has made a pretty bold move with the CE 24 line. The new PRS CE 24 Alder Satin is a Guitar Center exclusive that brings a USA-made PRS down to $1,999 while...
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Martin J-16E Cream Review: Is the New 16 Series the Best Value in a USA-Made Martin?
Martin has completely reworked its 16 Series, and the new Martin J-16E is one of the most interesting guitars in the refreshed lineup. The 16 Series sits between Martin’s Road Series and Standard Series, giving players a USA-made Martin at a...
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Hotone Ampero Stage II Review & Guide: Native NAM A2 Is a Game Changer Under $700
The Hotone Ampero Stage II was already a compelling amp modeler, but native NAM A2 support makes it substantially more interesting. The Hotone Ampero Stage II is already one of the most capable amp modelers in its price range, but a recent free...
Read More
The EZBoard Review: The Solderless Guitar Wiring System That Makes Modding Easy
The EZBoard by Vitus Pickups makes guitar wiring and pickup swaps solderless. If you’ve ever paid over $100 for a simple pickup swap, waited a week or two for a shop to replace a bad pot, or avoided modifying your guitar because you...
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Martin Jeff Tweedy 00-DB vs 000 Junior E: Which Signature Acoustic Is Right for You?
Both guitars take Jeff Tweedy’s preference for smaller-bodied Martins and translate it into very different instruments. Martin has teamed up with Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy for two signature acoustic guitars that take very different...
Read More
Marshall Studio 900 Review: Is This the Most Underrated Marshall Amp?
You get the core JCM900 character in a compact 20-watt head. The Marshall Studio 900 is one of those amps that can easily get overlooked. While the legendary 100-watt JCM900 gets much of the attention, the Studio 900 packs the same JCM900 DNA into...
Read More
Guyker Hardware Review: Firebird Upgrade & Hardware Overhaul
Several of the parts added functionality while also giving the guitar a completely new look. Sometimes a guitar doesn’t need new pickups or an expensive trip to a repair shop to feel completely different. Swapping out the hardware can...
Read More
Lava Studio Gets a Massive Upgrade with NAM A2 & Tone3000
NAM A2 and direct Tone3000 integration fundamentally expands the tonal possibilities. The Lava Studio was already one of the most ambitious desktop guitar amps I’ve tested, combining a large touchscreen interface, amp modeling, effects,...
Read More
Vola JZ FRO Review: A Japanese-Built Jazzmaster-Style Guitar That Does It All
My first 10/10 guitar, it’s an unbeatable value. The Vola JZ FRO is one of those guitars that immediately makes you question how the manufacturer managed to fit so much into the price. With a Japanese-built body and neck, a baked flame maple...
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Strandberg Boden Essential 6 Long-Term Review: A Lightweight Headless Guitar That Just Works
The Strandberg Boden Essential 6 isn’t trying to be a traditional guitar, and that’s exactly why it works. The Strandberg Boden Essential 6 takes the company’s distinctive headless guitar design and puts it into a more affordable...
Read More
Warm Audio MOD Series Review: Centavo MOD & WA-C1 MOD Go Compact
Warm Audio just took some of its best-selling analog pedals and made them a whole lot more pedalboard friendly. The new MOD Series takes the circuits behind some of Warm Audio’s larger pedals, dramatically reduces their footprint, adds...
Read More
Strandberg Boden Essential 6 Tremolo Review: The Upgrade We’ve Been Waiting For
Adding the Arc TILT Tremolo Made the Essential 6 Even Better! The Strandberg Boden Essential 6 has been one of my favorite headless guitars since I first reviewed it nearly two years ago. I’ve gigged with it, recorded with it, traveled with...
Read More
PRS CE 24 Alder Satin Review: A USA-Made CE 24 Under $2,000?
The Alder Satin offers a different way to get into a USA-made CE 24 for less Paul Reed Smith has made a pretty bold move with the CE 24 line. The new PRS CE 24 Alder Satin is a Guitar Center exclusive that brings a USA-made PRS down to $1,999 while...
Read More
Martin J-16E Cream Review: Is the New 16 Series the Best Value in a USA-Made Martin?
Martin has completely reworked its 16 Series, and the new Martin J-16E is one of the most interesting guitars in the refreshed lineup. The 16 Series sits between Martin’s Road Series and Standard Series, giving players a USA-made Martin at a...
Read More
Hotone Ampero Stage II Review & Guide: Native NAM A2 Is a Game Changer Under $700
The Hotone Ampero Stage II was already a compelling amp modeler, but native NAM A2 support makes it substantially more interesting. The Hotone Ampero Stage II is already one of the most capable amp modelers in its price range, but a recent free...
Read More
The EZBoard Review: The Solderless Guitar Wiring System That Makes Modding Easy
The EZBoard by Vitus Pickups makes guitar wiring and pickup swaps solderless. If you’ve ever paid over $100 for a simple pickup swap, waited a week or two for a shop to replace a bad pot, or avoided modifying your guitar because you...
Read More
Martin Jeff Tweedy 00-DB vs 000 Junior E: Which Signature Acoustic Is Right for You?
Both guitars take Jeff Tweedy’s preference for smaller-bodied Martins and translate it into very different instruments. Martin has teamed up with Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy for two signature acoustic guitars that take very different...
Read More
Marshall Studio 900 Review: Is This the Most Underrated Marshall Amp?
You get the core JCM900 character in a compact 20-watt head. The Marshall Studio 900 is one of those amps that can easily get overlooked. While the legendary 100-watt JCM900 gets much of the attention, the Studio 900 packs the same JCM900 DNA into...
Read More
Guyker Hardware Review: Firebird Upgrade & Hardware Overhaul
Several of the parts added functionality while also giving the guitar a completely new look. Sometimes a guitar doesn’t need new pickups or an expensive trip to a repair shop to feel completely different. Swapping out the hardware can...
Read More
Lava Studio Gets a Massive Upgrade with NAM A2 & Tone3000
NAM A2 and direct Tone3000 integration fundamentally expands the tonal possibilities. The Lava Studio was already one of the most ambitious desktop guitar amps I’ve tested, combining a large touchscreen interface, amp modeling, effects,...
Read More
Vola JZ FRO Review: A Japanese-Built Jazzmaster-Style Guitar That Does It All
My first 10/10 guitar, it’s an unbeatable value. The Vola JZ FRO is one of those guitars that immediately makes you question how the manufacturer managed to fit so much into the price. With a Japanese-built body and neck, a baked flame maple...
Read More
Strandberg Boden Essential 6 Long-Term Review: A Lightweight Headless Guitar That Just Works
The Strandberg Boden Essential 6 isn’t trying to be a traditional guitar, and that’s exactly why it works. The Strandberg Boden Essential 6 takes the company’s distinctive headless guitar design and puts it into a more affordable...
Read More