Guitar Gear ReviewsWelcome to the back room, where gear has to earn its keep
Guitar Gear Reviews puts guitars, amps and pedals through the same routine my students' instruments get: a look over on the repair bench, a clean and a driven pass through a real amp, then a lesson or a gig. The score comes after the playing, never before.
Latest tags on the rail
Duesenberg Starplayer TV Deluxe CR Duesenberg · $2,699 Guitars 8.8 
Solar Guitars S1.6PP Solar Guitars · $1,366 Guitars 7.8 
Engl E412VG Pro BK Straight Engl · $1,074 Amps 8.3 
Cort KX500 PM NT Cort · $729 Guitars 7.8 
Marshall MR1960BHW Marshall · $1,099 Amps 8.3 
Cort KX307MS Open Pore Black Cort · $389 Guitars 7.8 Guides: get the basics right first
01 How to Choose Your First Electric Guitar A guitar teacher explains what matters when picking a first electric guitar: body shape, neck feel, pickups, budget bands and what can wait until later. 02 Single-Coils, Humbuckers and P90s: What Really Changes What actually changes between single-coil, humbucker and P90 pickups: sound, hum, genres, mixing them, and how to test them in a store or a demo. 03 Tube, Solid-State or Modeling Amp: Which One Fits How You Play Tube, solid-state and modeling guitar amps compared on feel, volume, upkeep and price, with plain advice on what suits home and what suits the stage. 04 How Many Watts Do You Really Need A practical look at guitar amp wattage for bedroom practice, rehearsals and small clubs: headroom, breakup, and why more watts is rarely the answer. 05 Building Your First Pedalboard: Signal Chain Order Explained Where the tuner, drive, modulation and delay pedals go on a first pedalboard, why the order matters, and the basics of buffers and power supplies. 06 Guitar Setup Basics You Can Do at Home How to check neck relief, string action, intonation and the nut on an electric guitar, which tools you need, and when the job belongs with a repair tech.
Cal Whitaker
Guitarist and guitar teacher · Asheville, NC
The man behind the bench has played for thirty years and taught for twenty. Manufacturers never read a review before it goes up, and loaner gear goes back when the test is over.
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Guitar Gear Reviews is independent of stores and manufacturers. Some links are affiliate links: when you order through one, the retailer pays this site a small commission. Your price does not change and the score does not either.