Guitar Reviews Blog

Featured Products

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  Fender American Vintage '57 Stratocaster Electric Guitar Surf Green

  The Fender American Vintage '57 Stratocaster Electric Guitar meticulously re-creates a famous design. It's true to all the original specs and detailing, including neck and headstock shapes, body contours - even the original hand-beveled pickup magnets. Comes fitted with American Vintage pickups, the original synchronized tremolo (with ashtray included), nickel silver frets, and other vintage appointments. Maple fretboard. Includes tweed hardshell case.

  $1499.99

  
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  THD Univalve Rackmounted Guitar Amp Head Green

  The THD UniValve Rackmounted Guitar Amplifier Head is a single-ended class A amplifier head with a single output tube that can be switched at will among many octal-based power tubes, including 6L6, EL34, 6550, KT90, KT88, KT77 and KT66, for different tones without re-biasing the amp. Likewise, the two preamp tubes can be any combination of 12AX7, 12AT7, 12AU7, 12AY7 or 12AZ7. The UniValve delivers tones from smooth and clear to very aggressive overdrive. It is quite small and light, yet easily capable of driving a 4 x 12" cabinet. It has a built-in hot plate power attenuator that allows for full output distortion at almost any volume. And it doesn't cost as much as you might think.What is a Class A? Class A is a term given to an amp that runs its tubes at full current all the time, unlike most tube amps that alternate between running one set of tubes and the other set, each for one half of the wave. The set not in use is turned off by a positive swing of the grid voltage. Single-ended output stages always operate in Class A. Most push-pull amplifiers, including the venerated Vox AC-30 operate in Class AB when overdriven, even if they are in Class A while clean. The upshot is that Class A operation has its own unique tone characteristics that set it apart from other tube amp classes. Class A amps sound great at low volumes, and even better as you turn them up. Thus, with the relatively low wattage of the UniValve you can turn up the amplifier to take full advantage of its stunning output distortion tone without deafening anyone. Why the self-biasing feature? The UniValve's circuitry senses the current needs of the output tube and provides the correct bias volt-age to the cathode of the output tube regardless of tube type or wear. This means that, without any trip to an amp technician, you can simply replace the output tube with one that has different sound characteristics. (Of course, you can also change the preamp tubes at will for even more tonal variations.) For example, a 6550 will stay cleaner at higher volumes, but when overdriven, yields an astoundingly "woody" character to the overdrive. On the other hand, an EL34 will break up earlier than a 6550 and gives a more British sound. The ever-popular 6L6 family of tubes gives a tight overdrive with less power than a 6550 but more detail than an EL34. Even within the same type of output tube there are "harder" and "softer" tubes, so two guitarists playing with the same guitar through the same UniValve, but simply switching the tubes to their preference, can have noticeably different tones.Controls and Features The UniValve has two inputs: one for high gain and one for low gain ranges. The low gain input with 12AX7 preamp tubes in the amp gives a wide range of clean sounds from country clean and crisp to jazz warmth. With the controls pegged and a relatively high-output humbucker, the low-gain input can deliver a very convincing Texas blues type of ov

  $1119.00

  
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  Fender American Standard Telecaster Left-Handed Electric Guitar 3-Tone Sunburst Maple Fretboard

  The Fender American Standard Telecaster Lefty Electric Guitar is a pro player's axe that delivers authentic Tele vibe. American Series pickups and deluxe hardware with original '52 ash or alder body dimensions deliver more resonance and tone. The maple neck has a modern C shape with rolled edges and highly finished frets for easier playability. The detailed nut eliminates rattles and improves tuning stability. Custom staggered tuning machines eliminate the need for one of the string trees. Staggered pole pieces in the pickups provide balanced output across all strings, and especially improves tone for the G-stringThe return of the American Standard Series Telecaster continues Fender's tradition of commitment to the people who play Fender instruments out there in the real world. Today's American Standard Telecaster guitars are worthy heirs of their revered ancestors-mindful of player needs and taking full advantage of modern advances, yet remaining completely true to the elements and spirit that made these instruments legendary in the first place. Improvements include redesigned bridges, neck and body finishes, and a Fender-exclusive high-tech molded case. Still there are the beloved hand-rolled fingerboard edges, alnico V pickups and staggered tuning machines for tone and stability guaranteed to last a lifetime (with its limited lifetime warranty)! So make history with the redesigned American Standard!American Standard Tele® Bridge Gives sought-after tone with modern improvements (no ashtray edges, 6 saddle adjustability). Redesigned plate features a classic styled Fender stamp on chrome plated brass. Brass and steel are the secrets to the Tele sound! Bridge Component Specifics 'American Standard' saddles- The original vintage-style Fender bent steel adjustable saddle is one of the components that give vintage Fenders their tonal 'mojo'. Fender conducted tone comparison tests, and fell in love with them all over again. They have a wider tonal range and more character many other saddles. Then Fender improved them; narrowing the spacing to afford more room (and complement the bigger frets and rolled edges), and also elongated the string slot to reduce friction and string breakage, while improving the string break angle over the primary contact point.Bridge plate- The combination of steel saddles with a brass plate harks back to the magic combination of the most sought-after vintage Tele guitars (which had steel plate/brass saddles). The plate also features two extra mounting screws to improve resonance and body contact (as well as eliminating squeals'), and a stylized Fender logo to class up the instrument and nod to the design of 60s era Fenders (like Jaguar and Mustang bridges). Neck Gloss and Tint Seemingly a small or less important feature, this is a major feature. The old necks were satin all over primarily for the feel of the back of the neck. On these American Standards Fender kept the satin neck back

  $999.99