Articles
How-tos, gear explainers and playing tips from the Guitar Gear team. Looking for “best of” roundups? See our buyer’s guides.
How to place a fuzz pedal in your signal chain (and why position changes everything)Where you put a fuzz in your signal chain changes how it sounds and responds. Here's how to think through the options clearly.
How to set up an electric guitar: a practical guide to action, intonation and neck reliefA good setup transforms how an electric guitar feels and sounds. Here's how to work through action, neck relief and intonation at home.
How to use fuzz on bass: keeping the low end locked while getting the dirtFuzz on bass sounds huge — until it eats your fundamental. Here's how to pick the right fuzz, set it up, and keep the groove sitting where it should.
How to care for an acoustic guitar: humidity, cleaning and seasonal changesWood moves with the seasons. Doug explains how to protect your acoustic from humidity swings, how to clean it properly, and what to watch for year-round.
How to get a good guitar tone recording direct: DI, amp sims and signal chain basicsRecording guitar direct doesn't mean compromising on tone. Here's how to think through your DI and amp-sim signal chain and get results that hold up.
Acoustic guitar body shapes explained: how size and depth affect tone and playabilityFrom parlour to jumbo, acoustic body shapes change how a guitar feels under your arm and how it reproduces low-end. Here's what to listen for.
How your plucking-hand technique shapes your bass tone (and your gear choices)Where and how you pluck the string changes your bass tone more than most gear swaps. Sheildon explains why technique should drive your equipment decisions.
Plugging in an acoustic-electric: how to choose the right amp for your plugged-in soundNot every amp flatters an acoustic-electric. Doug walks through what to look for — and what to avoid — when you need to amplify a plugged-in acoustic.
How your picking attack shapes amp tone (and why technique is your best tone control)The way you strike the string does more for your tone than most gear swaps. Jez explains how picking dynamics interact with valve amps.
How to use an overdrive pedal to boost your amp (and why it works)Confused about using an overdrive as a boost rather than a distortion? Rob explains the technique in plain English — no jargon, just results.
When Should You Upgrade Your Guitar? Signs You're ReadyHow to know when your first guitar is holding you back — and what a step-up instrument actually gets you for the money.
What Makes a Good Metal Guitar? Pickups, Necks and TuningActive vs passive pickups, fast necks, and the hardware that keeps you in tune through drop tunings — what actually matters in a metal guitar.
Reverb Types Explained: Spring, Hall, Plate and BeyondSpring, room, hall, plate, shimmer — what the reverb modes on your pedal actually do, and when to reach for each.
Your First Tube Amp: What to Look ForWattage, channels, attenuators and pedal-friendliness — a plain-English guide to buying your first valve amp without overspending or over-volume-ing.
Scale length explained: how it affects feel, tone, and tuning stabilityScale length changes how a guitar feels under your fingers, how it sounds, and how well it holds tune in drop or extended range. Here's what you need to know.
Analog vs Digital Delay: Which Should You Buy?Warm and dark or clean and precise? The real differences between analog and digital delay, and how to pick the right one for your sound.
What Is a Fuzz Pedal? Big Muff vs Fuzz Face ExplainedThe oldest dirt sound in rock, demystified — what fuzz actually does, and how the two great fuzz families differ.
How to Choose Your First Acoustic GuitarSolid vs laminate tops, body shapes, and the setup that makes or breaks a beginner guitar — a friendly walkthrough to buying your first acoustic.
Tube vs Solid-State vs Modelling Amps: Which Should You Buy?The three families of guitar amp explained in plain English — how they sound, what they cost to run, and which one is right for you.
Overdrive vs Distortion vs Fuzz: What’s the Difference?Three flavours of “dirt”, three different jobs. A plain-English guide to the pedals that make your guitar growl — and when to reach for each.
How to Build Your First PedalboardSignal chain order, power, patch cables and the mistakes everyone makes first time. A friendly walkthrough to building a board that actually works.
Single Coils vs Humbuckers: Which Pickups Are Right for You?The two great pickup families, and how they shape everything about your tone. A clear, practical guide to choosing the right voice for your playing.
How Many Watts Do You Actually Need? Guitar Amp Wattage ExplainedWhy a 100-watt amp isn’t twice as loud as a 50, why valve and solid-state watts aren’t the same, and how much power you really need at home and on stage.