Gibson lovers will appreciate the new reissue Gibson SG classic guitar. The classic shape that made the SG so popular back in its early days is back in a fresh new package. This time around it’s equipped with P90 pickups that revisit the tones of the 50s and 60s. For single coil, the P90s are great.

The finishes on the Gibson SG classic P90 models are your typical heritage cherry and ebony black colors that we’re all so accustomed to seeing on the SG over the years. USA made guitars always seem to have perfect routered edges and the classic model is right up there with the other top quality USA Gibsons.

The 22 fret neck from this Gibson SG classic review was perfectly set up right out of the box and did not need any additional adjustments. Gibson has had several neck designs over the last few decades and this one is a modern taper that’s a combination of the flat style and the vintage style. The fretboard is rosewood as what comes equipped on many other Gibson guitars. Upon first playing, the neck was quite comfortable and easy to play on; slightly neck heavy but not an issue overall.

I really love the surf sound of the late 50s and early 60s and when you play your SG classic through these P90s on a clean”ish” amp you’ll be really impressed by the midrange that this guitar can put out. The P90 single coil definitely has a niche sort of a sound so don’t go expecting to get high levels of heavy thump distortion out of them. Stick to the single tones of the lower output styles of music and the Gibson SG Classic will shine.

For a classic reissue of a vintage masterpiece, not many people will argue that the Gibson SG Classic is NOT worth the couple of thousand dollar price tag. There are many guitar instruments that are cheaper and maybe even do some thing better than the SG but this guitar is a legend and to buy Gibson SG Classic P90 edition adds to a class of history loving guitarists that know quality.

I own a 60s model SG and also the reissue and they both show their USA made appeal that has made Gibson so famous for all these decades. Nostalgic guitars may not be for everyone but if you appreciate classic reissues then you will not be disappointed with the Gibson SG Classic P90.

The Ibanez Black Eagle bass is a cult classic, not only for its classic tone and feel, but also for its unique design and looks. It was 1975 when the first Black Eagle bass was manufactured and put on sale for the public and the legend was instantly created. Many will attest that this is merely a Jazz bass copy at its roots, which could be true, but it looks and sounds different enough to have solidified its own place in bass guitar history.

What gives the Ibanez Eagle bass its uniqueness? The asymmetrical hip and curled-in horns give it a look like no other guitar (bass or 6-string) in history. Another feature that makes the Black Eagle bass stand out is how deep it resonates. Many other Ibanez bass guitar models are much brighter in their tone.

The construction of the body is exclusively a dense grade of top mahogany. Known for its weight as well, mahogany bodied guitars can be a little fatiguing to play foe extended sessions but only in the beginning. You’ll soon get used to the weight of the Ibanez Black Eagle and trust me; the rewarding tone it produces is well worth its extra weight.

The neck on the Black Eagle bass is all maple with an unfinished maple fretboard. The scale length is 33”, which is pretty average for a bass guitar. The head-stock on the black eagle can be prone to breaking, as this was the only real flaw in the design of the guitar. Be sure to inspect the neck and stock thoroughly if you’ve found one you might purchase. You want to make sure the neck isn’t twisted and the head-stock is not cracked or worse, broken with a band-aid repair. Another thing to remember, cross-reference the serial number with Ibanez Guitars as there seem to be a lot of fakes floating around these days.

A lot of people are asking about what an Ibanez Black Eagle bass price typically is. For one that is in good to great shape, you could expect to pay $500 – $700. For one that needs some work, such as refinishing, new electronics or fret/neck work, you might find one for $150 – $500 (it’s a broad range, but that’s the best I can give you). If you’re looking for an Ibanez Black Eagle for sale online, there are several sites that see them come and go periodically, otherwise your best bet is to keep an eye out in your local pawn and guitar shops, or any business that sells new and used guitar instruments.

For playing Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Black Metal, etc, it’s ideal to have a guitar that can dish out the high gain tone before the distortion of the amp takes over. All models of the Schecter Hellraiser guitar are capable of this feat. The Schecter Hellraiser is a series of guitar that comes equipped with a sleek and classy body, a fast style neck and high gain humbuckers right out of the box. You get a true metal axe without any unnecessary upgrading.

Schecter offers four of their most popular guitar shapes for the Hellraiser series including the: V, C, Solo and Avenger models. Each model comes with their own variations but the standard features are the same on all of them such as EMG powered pickups, a slim 24-fret neck and locking tuners.

You have the option on the Schecter Hellraiser guitar series to have a hardtail string-through or a tremolo system if so desired. The Tremolo is made by Floyd Rose, which needs no hyping up, as they are still the best in the biz. The EMG humbuckers are beautifully matched to the selected mahogany bodies and sound great at high or low amounts of distortion. Schecter really does a nice job on all their guitars of setting the necks in a way that allows you to get high on the 24 frets without straining yourself.

Although I’ve never broken any of my Schecters you still have to treat them with respect, as they are a beautiful creation of guitar. Having said that, the electronics and hardware have always worked perfectly on my Schecter instruments and the solid, slim neck has never needed an adjustment outside of the very first setup. The locking tuners do a great job of keeping the guitar in tune and they haven’t loosened over time.

If you like 7 and 8-string instruments you’ll be very happy with the Schecter Hellraiser guitars and their easy to play on necks. Playing on an 8-string isn’t easy but Schecter does a great job of making the neck as slim as possible. Still, slightly bigger hands are always an asset for these bad boys .

The Schecter C1 Hellraiser electric guitar is still my favorite of the group but I would take any of these models in a heartbeat, and I do own several others…lol. Don’t waste your money on overpriced guitar instruments that don’t do nearly as much as what the Schecter Hellraiser will do.

The Flying V shaped guitar has been a favorite of Heavy Metal musicians since the 70s. The Schecter Hellraiser V1 is a modern version of the old classic with 24 frets, high output pickups and the option for a whammy bar. The Hellraiser V is also available in 7-string and 8-string models.

A lot of the old Vs were made of mahogany or korina. The V1 Hellraiser is an all mahogany design that has a nice warm to mid range type of a tone when played clean through an amp. When the gain is turned up on the distortion channel you get a modern tone that seems like a mix of 80s right through to present day.

The EMG pickups are today’s choice for many modern metal guitarists and with good reason. Having this extra boost at the pickup level means you can get that much more distortion at the other end, being the amp. Schecter has done a great job of balancing the electronics with the guitar design on the Schecter Hellraiser V1 and this is very evident when tested on numerous different amps.

If you like playing tremolo style, then you will be interested in the Schecter Hellraiser V1 FR model (wow that’s a long title). The Floyd Rose made tremolo is very precise under strenuous conditions and is capable of extreme dive bombs and still stays in tune, which is exactly what I would expect from a Floyd.

Schecter is rapidly becoming one of the top designers of high quality, fast, slim and strong necks. The Hellraiser series has a 3-piece all-mahogany neck with 24 frets and a rosewood fretboard. Like other Vs, the Schecter Hellraiser V1 has decent access for playing the high frets even though it has no cutouts. I tested it out for a good 3 hours playing multiple genres of music at varying speeds and my comfort level was excellent without any stress on my fingers or wrists. In the 3 hours that I played I didn’t have to tune it. This is most likely in part to the well-designed locking tuners it comes equipped with.

The V1 is one of many Schecter Hellraiser models that just seem to have everything going for them. It’s priced well, has fantastic tone and is stunning to look at. I own many guitar instruments and I’m sure I will own many more before I check out and I have to say that the Hellraiser guitars are a very special breed that don’t come around very often.

Schecter Hellraiser V-1FR Guitar (Gloss White)

Hellraiser V-1FR WHITE

Rating: / 5.0

Metal Maniacs, listen up please. If you’re tired of your old guitar that just doesn’t seem to put out enough distortion or play fast enough then you might be in need of an Ibanez RG1570. The RG1570 price is typically around $1000, but for a top quality, 100% Japanese-made guitar, this is a steal.

Top Quality Construction
The RG1570 Ibanez flagship model of Prestige guitar is a slim body made up of top quality basswood. The long double cutaway horn design is a super-strat appearance, which allows the guitarist to play quite easily on the highest part of the neck. The Japanese Prestige series are Ibanez’ best quality guitars and will go up against the very best instruments in the business.

The Wizard Neck
For extremely fast playing, it’s always nice to have a slim neck to shred on. The RG1570 is equipped with what many in the Heavy Metal world consider to be the best neck in history: the Wizard 2. With its lightning fast and strong 5-piece maple neck, the Ibanez RG1570 electric guitar is a challenging beast to keep up with but with a little practice you’ll be shredding with the best of them in no time at all. The cavity for the bolt-on style neck has been greatly improved to reduce the size of the heel, making it much more comfortable to play on. Something I really like about the rosewood fingerboard are the pearl dot inlays. They are simple yet effective, not fancy.

How Heavy Is It?
At around the 22lb mark, the RG1570 is decently light and is comfortable to play during longer jam sessions. I’ve played on lighter guitars that weren’t as well balanced as the RG that were much more uncomfortable to play.

Electronics and Hardware
This guitar is loaded with 3 pickups: a single coil middle, and 2 humbuckers in the bridge and neck positions. These Ibanez designed pickups have extremely high output and are perfect for Metal and other music that requires higher gain. There are 5 possible combinations you can select for the pickups, but if you know your wiring (or alternatively you can get an expert to do it) you can achieve more combinations with a little bit of tweaking. The Edge Pro tremolo system is considered to be among the best in the industry, right up there with Floyd Rose originals.

Sound
Once you hear how good the RG1570 sounds on a distortion channel, you’ll question yourself why you didn’t buy one sooner. The right combination of wood, thickness and pickups is very important for achieving a well balanced tone and the RG1570 has accomplished that. The sound is very articulate, crisp and clear, leaving you with endless possibilities in your playing style.

If Metal is your game, there are very few other guitar instruments on the market that can match the RG series in quality for the money. Ibanez has been making these guitars since 1987 and they just keep getting better with each revision.

Ibanez RG1570BK – Black Finish Electric Guitar with Case

The Ibanez RG1570 Electric Guitar has a light and resonant basswood body that makes it easy to shoulder through long gigs. Wizard neck with jumbo frets…

Rating: / 5.0

The Ibanez Jem was born back in the late 1980s from a collaborative effort of Steve Vai and Ibanez. The heavy demands on his guitars left him searching for an instrument that could take the abuse and still deliver his signature sound. There are a few different variants of the Jem; one of them being the Ibanez Jem 555. The 555 model is made in Korea and is targeted at a demographic of guitarists that love the Jem model but don’t have the $2,500+ to spend on the higher quality models. The Ibanez Jem 555 price tag is usually around the $1,000 range but still carries many of the high quality features that make the Jem so elite.

When the demand went through the roof for the Jem 555 Ibanez reintroduced it back to the USA. The American basswood body of the guitar has a really deep tone to it and resonates beautifully. But, to get the real sense of how great this instrument sounds you really need to plug it in. The Evolution pickups are a bit of a masterpiece of electronic genius. I’ve never played on a pickup that has so much harmonics to it in my life. You really have to have a smooth fret technique as these pickups hear EVERYTHING. All your little imperfections will become apparent, though, the cleaner of an amp you play through. Not to worry as this will only improve your technique and will help you to become a better guitarist.

What does Ibanez, Steve Vai, Jem 555 and RGs have in common? Fast guitar necks. The wizard neck will blow you away when you first play on one. The Ibanez Jem 555 may be made in a lesser quality environment but you still get the great features that make the Jem so elite. Not all the 555 necks come with the Tree Of Life; some come with simple dot inlays but still do the trick. The Jems are known for their low action and the Edge 2 tremolo really allows you to get that action down to the lowest possible height without any string buzz. The tremolo also stays in perfect tune under hard sessions of playing.

The Ibanez 555 Steve Vai helped create is a jewel in an all-star lineup of famous guitar instruments. You can still show off your monkey grip that makes the Ibanez Jem instantly recognizable at first sight, yet still save yourself a couple thousand dollars from owning a 7v. Don’t underestimate it, it is still one fantastic guitar and is really great value in my opinion.

It’s easy to think that there are only a few types of different guitar instruments available to use, such as a six string guitar; but, how about a 7-string? The Schecter C7 Hellraiser is one of those instruments that only come along once in most people’s lifetime. With its above average output, killer good looks and state of the art engineering and hardware, The Schecter Hellraiser C7 will satisfy those metal heads whose musical style incorporates a 7th string into the mix.

The Makeup Of The Schecter C7 Hellraiser
Schecter Guitar Research is well known for visually appealing and high quality guitars and has been since the late 70s. The C7 is one Schecter Hellraiser model out of many that has gained extreme notoriety amongst the newer style of metal being played these days.

A solid, strat-style body, constructed of very high grade dense mahogany is where it all starts. From there, you have a choice of adding a quilted cut of maple wood for the cap, which comes in a black cherry finish of glimmering beauty.

If you love EMG pickups then you will be thrilled with the specially designed, 7-string electronics that come standard on all C7 Hellraiser guitars. Full height adjustability and are coil tapped by use of the push/pull pot of the volume dial.

For obvious reasons, a 7-string neck is not going to be quite as fast as a 6-string, but the C7 is pretty damn close. Schecter puts in the extra effort in the design category to come up with a flat, slim neck that is strong and still accommodates those of you with smaller hands.

Tremolo bridges have been going through design innovations for decades and the whammy on the Schecter C7 Hellraiser Fr model is by far at the top of that innovative curve. Floyd Rose makes the tremolo on the Schecter Hellraiser C7 FR and has done a bang-up job of making a bridge that stays in tune even under the heaviest of usage and abuse. It should be noted that the non-tremolo models of the C7 are hardtails with string-through bodies and have sustain that seems to last forever.

How Great Do They Sound?
Four different amps, with each having a clean and distorted channel, were used for the testing. Each amp’s distortion qualities ranged from medium output to ultra-high. The clear articulation of the pickups when played cleanly on each amp was quite evident. This is definitely not a one-trick pony.

When played distorted is where the Schecter C7 Hellraiser really comes alive and nearly melts the amps. The balance of the pickups with the wood choice of the body is perfect. Transitioning from chord to chord and note to note was very clear with no muddiness. A muddy tone is something you can expect from a lot of other guitars that claim to be able to handle high output pickups well but don’t.

Wrapping It All Together
At around the $850 range, it really seems like Schecter is giving the C7 Hellraiser away. There are a few other brands of guitar out there that are more than twice that amount of money yet are under delivering by a long shot. The Schecter C7 Hellraiser is a true 7-string guitarists dream come true and will prove that day in and day out.

Schecter Hellraiser C-7 7-StringElectric Guitar (Black Cherry)

Schecter Hellraiser C-7 7-StringElectric Guitar Black Cherry (BCH)

Rating: / 5.0

What Does A Schecter Hellraiser Avenger Have That My Current Guitar Doesn’t Have?
There are many guitars on the market today that just don’t live up to the quality and tone standards that a Schecter Hellraiser Avenger has. Built with a unique design un-similar to other guitars, this instrument, along with the other Schecter Hellraiser models, has great access to the highest frets that you may be struggling to play on your current guitar?

I used to get really frustrated with non-optimized necks on some of my other guitars, but the Schecter Avenger Hellraiser necks are thin and are extremely easy to play very fast on. Had trouble with breaking the necks on your guitars? The 3-piece laminate mahogany neck on the Hellraiser is strong like iron and takes a lot of abuse while still staying straight and true.And if you can’t find a guitar tremolo needs, the Schecter Hellraiser Avenger FR model addresses the need for tremolo style playing with a Floyd Rose designed whammy bridge.

If you’ve had trouble hitting those deep lows and screaming distortion levels then you will be pleasantly surprised at how far the EMG active pickups can push the limits on the Hellraiser series.

Why Haven’t I Changed My Situation?
Almost always, it’s price that stops us from getting the things we want in life. You might’ve been dying to get your hands on a Schecter Hellraiser Avenger for a long time but couldn’t justify spending roughly $750? Considering that in the long run you could spend more repairing cheap guitars and adding extra gear to the mix in order to achieve the tones you want, $750 doesn’t seem that outrageous for such a high quality guitar.

Will My Playing Improve?
Don’t be surprised if after getting an Avenger that you start seeing a sharp increase in your skills on the fretboard. After my 1st Schecter Hellraiser Avenger review I felt a tight synergy between picking and fretting. Your whole tone will be a lot more versatile, allowing you to playing very crisp clean music through an un-colored amp, or blazing distorted riffs on a dirty channel.

What Changed For Me?
Since I started playing on Schecter guitar instruments I have really raised my level of expertise and my enjoyment factor has increased 100-fold. Not all guitars are created equal and I had struggled with this for years. Having one guitar that covers many different styles and tones of music was the most important thing for me.

Where Do I get One?
If you’ve decided on a Schecter Hellraiser Avenger, or other Hellraiser model, there are many online offers that are really worth exploring. Adding one of these elite guitars to your lineup is really a lot easier than you think.

Schecter Hellraiser Avenger Electric Guitar (Black Cherry)

Schecter Hellraiser Avenger Electric Guitar Black Cherry (BCH)

Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

The Schecter C1 Hellraiser is a 6-string model of solid body construction from Schecter guitar research. Many advocates of Heavy Metal think of the Hellraiser as the go-to guitar for the genre. It is high output, fast to play and looks/feels great. If you’re trying to find your place in the heavy metal scene then read on to find out how to solve that problem.

The solid mahogany body of the Schecter C1 Hellraiser electric guitar is similar in thickness to the LP and is selected from only the highest density wood. This gives a nice low to midrange growl and crunch that is perfect for high distortion and high harmonic music. I’ve been playing Heavy Metal for 20 years and the overtones of the Schecter Hellraiser C1 are simply fantastic, especially if you have an amp that delivers a nice, crisp articulation. This is a strat-like model with a dual-horn, asymmetrical design that allows excellent playability at the top of the neck. The 21^st to 24^th frets can be played with perfect ease. The regular model is a string-through style that is well known for its great sustain.

If it’s a whammy bar setup you’re looking for then the Schecter C1 Hellraiser FR is going to be the model you’re after. The Floyd Rose designed tremolo on the Schecter Hellraiser C1 FR is one of the very best on the market today and delivers deep nosedives or tremolo style bends while snapping back into to perfect tune.

The tremendously high output of the EMG pickups are what really gives this guitar its high gain tone and makes it stand out from the crowd of other Metal guitars. But, one very important difference with the Schecter C1 Hellraiser from other Heavy Metal guitars is how great it sounds when played on the clean channel of an amp. This is where versatility can separate a great guitar from a good guitar and makes an instrument like the Schecter Hellraiser such a fantastic investment.

For fast styles of playing, the necks on the Hellraisers are made from 3-piece, laminated mahogany and are very slim and strong. For playing a true 2-octave style, you will enjoy the 24-fret rosewood fingerboard. Jumbo style frets line the fretboard and are very easy to nail cleanly which sure makes playing at high speed a whole lot easier.

Are you sick of playing on guitar instruments that deliver subpar results and tone, and make you look like you don’t know what you’re doing? If so, then I’m sure that the Schecter C1 Hellraiser will bring a much-needed level of quality, tone and playability to your musical experience and elevate you to the next level.

What makes a great acoustic song? Is it the beautiful melodies, the skillful strumming, the warm tones or the heartfelt emotions that go in and out of them? It’s all of those things that make the best acoustic songs. You can get lost in great acoustic guitar songs, whether listening to them or playing them. They’re also really easy to create. A simple 3 chord progression such as any combination of “A”, “D” and “G” can make for quick and easy guitar songs.

I’ve compiled a list of the top 5 acoustic songs that have many of the above aspects to them. They’re not ranked in any particular order of difficulty or popularity; they’re just all beautiful songs that are from a few different genres of music. You may not like the bands overall, but the genius of each song must be appreciated.

#1 – Wonderwall
This is a fantastic song for strumming with a melodic rhythm to it. If you need a little practice getting your strumming into form, then this is one of the best acoustic songs for that.

#2 – Patience
Slow and soulful is what Patience is all about. Slash’s melody riffs over the beautiful strums are pure magic. This one most certainly ranks up there with the top easy acoustic songs to play. Simple yet still a masterpiece.

#3 – Yesterday
If this song doesn’t bring a tear to your eye then I’m not sure there are many other meaningful acoustic songs that can. This is a song that speaks its meaning without even having to hear the lyrics.

#4 – Nothing Else Matters
Metallica is known for their lightning fast, technical songs and heavy distortion. But, a few things that may get overlooked by the masses are their deep, meaningful lyrics and their melodic genius. This has to be finger-picked in order to play this acoustic song properly.

#5 – Wake Me Up When September Ends
Most puck bands never hit more than a couple of power chords, but Green Day is a hybrid band of superstar abilities that write amazing songs with great lyrics and even better melodies. This one takes a little practice to nail down perfectly.

The beauty of acoustic guitar instruments is their ability to be played anywhere the musician decides to park their butt. The songs are very social and there’s nothing better than to sit around with friends, strumming and singing away to acoustic songs. If you have any songs you would like to recommend, please leave a comment. It would be appreciated!

So you’ve decided to start playing guitar and now you want some easy guitar songs to play? That’s a really great choice because tackling the really hard ones first can leave you discouraged and wanting to quit. You can play these songs plugged into an amp or you can try them out acoustically; it makes no difference. After you’ve read over the list I’ve provided, you can gather up some easy guitar songs tabs to play along with.

An important reminder when you’re learning any new acoustic songs or electric, you should always play along with a metronome so you can get your timing perfect. Start it off at a pace that is easy for you to play all the notes of the song cleanly while still keeping on beat. Once you master your form and technique at a certain speed, then you can raise the beat on the metronome and master the next speed. And so on until you are playing the song at full speed. Never sacrifice form for speed. Unless you can play a song with perfect form and in time, it really makes no difference how fast you can play it.

Well enough jibber jabbering about technical stuff. Here’s your list of easy to play guitar songs, and, although I mentioned that you can play them all plugged in or unplugged, they definitely sound better and are more fun to play with the right sound, which I’ll point out.

#1 – Patience (Guns N Roses)
Some pieces just never lose their luster and this is one of those easy guitar songs that has a lot of soul and just feels good to play. If you can stick to playing this one acoustically, you will get the most out of it.

#2 – Back in Black (AC/DC)
Good old rock n roll from AC/DC. Plugged in through a clean to mildly overdriven amp sounds great for this number.

#3 – More Than a Feeling (Boston)
I have played this one for years unplugged or plugged in on any setting and you’ll really enjoy the fast chord changes.

#4 – Smoke on the Water (Deep Purple)
This has to be the first song that anyone ever learns on the guitar. A classic power chord tune that could rank #1 for “easy songs to play on guitar” that should be played with some distortion to get the full feeling.

#5 – Iron Man (Black Sabbath)
One of the most fun and easy guitar songs to learn and play. This one sounds best through an amp that has a moderate amount of distortion.

#6 – For Whom the Bell Tolls (Metallica)
Metallica makes some blazing fast music but this one is quite manageable for beginners.

#7 – Bad Moon Rising (Credence Clearwater Revival)
Play this one acoustically if you can or play it clean through an amp. The chord progression is extremely fun and can easily be used for building your own songs.

#8 – Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)
You will get good practice at “dead noting”, which Kurt Cobain was great at. This song likes distortion but is also built perfect for acoustic playing.

#9 – Wonderwall – (Oasis)
I prefer to play Wonderwall acoustically or on a clean amp. This will really get your strumming technique into high gear, which is a very important skill to learn. One of the great acoustic guitar songs to play.

#10 – Born to be Wild (Steppenwolf)
A very simple chord progression, BTBW will do wonders for your timing and will naturally get your feet tapping.

Well there you have it, 10 easy songs to play on the guitar. There are literally thousands of songs that fall into this category but these are 10 that I really like and I think you’ll enjoy learning and playing them too. Don’t worry too much about which guitar instruments to play these or any other songs on. Just playing the easy guitar songs to the best of your ability is all that matters.

When it comes to acoustic guitar strings, the list of potential choices is seemingly endless. What gauge, alloy, type of winding and brand are all questions that will come up. A great way to find out all of these answers would obviously be to try a broad selection and see which ones work best for your setup and playing style. The drawback to this method is it’s going to take some time and will cost a few bucks. Searching through reviews, such as this one, can save you a lot of time and money. In the end you’re still going to want to try some different acoustic guitar strings because trying first-hand is still the best method but at least you’ll have a narrowed down list to go off of.

Steel acoustic guitar strings are still the most used type and offer a much broader range of tones than the nylon string. There are different alloys that go into a guitar string with bronze being the most popular because of its strength and tonal qualities. The bronze style acoustic guitar string holds its tone for a much longer period of time because of its ability to withstand the dirt and oils from the guitarists fingers. When choosing acoustic electric guitar strings, the steel versions have a slight edge in tone over the bronze style.

The thickness, or gauge, of the string is a very important detail to consider. The range of thickness from thin to thick has their pros and cons. Thinner gauge strings will cost you a bit less than heavy gauge and will be easier to fret cleanly. They are also a lot more forgiving on the body and neck of the guitar. Heavy gauge on the other hand cost a few more bucks and can put extra strain on the guitar. The upside to the heavier gauge guitar strings is their ability to have a deeper, more powerful tone that has great sustain and brightness. They also tend to last longer because of their lack of stretch.

One thing to remember if you are an acoustic bass player, acoustic bass guitar strings are heavier than 6-string versions and will really require some perfect matching so as to not damage your instrument and not put unnecessary strain on your fingers.

After many years of playing, with many periods of trial and error on different acoustic guitar strings, I’ve narrowed down some brands that have been very good for me over different genres of music as well as different brands of acoustic guitar instruments. Below are some choices of the best acoustic guitar strings that I’ve used over the years.

Elixir Acoustic Guitar Strings

Fender Acoustic Guitar Strings

GHS Acoustic Guitar Strings

Martin Acoustic Guitar Strings

D Addario Acoustic Guitar Strings

Let’s Get Started
The Fender Super Champ XD is a re-birthed model of the now discontinued Super Champ, which was a 10”, 18 watt combo amp. The new school Fender Super Champ XD is also a 10” combo but is slightly powered down to 15 watts. Like its predecessor, the Champ XD uses a combo of tubes and solid state technology to achieve the sparkling cleans and smooth distortion. The big difference is that the Super Champ XD only uses 1 preamp tube and 2 power tubes and has amp modeling technology implemented to achieve many more possibilities of tones than the old model could.

Some Key Features
Amp and effects modeling is really what today’s amps are all about. The Fender Super Champ XD amplifier is capable of adding many different guitar effects and amp models into your everyday playing. You can play around with 16 different preset voicings that are of different vintage and modern day Fender and Marshall amps. The different effects include 16 combos of delay, reverb, vibratone, chorus and tremolo.

The controls for the EQ (bass and treble) and effects are global, meaning they control the clean channel and the distortion/voicing channel together. The Super Champ XD also comes with two volume controls (one for each channel), a gain dial and a selector switch for channel 1 and 2.

The amp gets its power from a combination of tubes and solid state technology. Two 6v6 power tubes make up the Super Champ XD power section while a single 12AX7 adds a little bit of preamp distortion.

A single 10” speaker of overseas origin comes standard on the Super Champ XD. Fender designed this neutral sounding speaker to work with the many different amp/speaker models that are preloaded into the amp.

You have 1 input jack for your guitar and effects chain, 1 external speaker jack and also 1 auxiliary input for a footswitch, should you desire to add one.

The Sound You Can Expect
Overall, I was very impressed with the tones that I could get out of the amp. The Fender champ was very well known for the sparkling clean tones that it output and the Super Champ XD is no exception. Two different guitars were used for the review: an Ibanez S470 and a Gibson LP with aftermarket EMG pickups installed.

The Ibanez sounded the best played through the clean channel, especially switched to the single coil pickup. The sound was bright and clear with no unnecessary hum or buzz. Other Fender Super Champ XD reviews I have read stated similar stats on single coil use.

With the gain turned up on the clean and on the modeled settings, the LP absolutely screamed, beautifully. I was very impressed by how well it sounded and the powered pickups just added to the overall tone and experience. Digital distortion is not always ideal sounding but with the added preamp tube of the Super Champ XD, you can really hear the tube-like buzz cutting through. The Fender super champ xd voicings really shine with a little fine tuning of the EQ and gain settings.

A Few Words On Reliability
Ten different musicians were polled on the reliability of their Champ XD amps. The consensus was consistent that over the period of 3 years, the amp had no problems with electronics, speaker crackle and hardware. The amp was used by a few of the musicians as a full time use amp and the durability of the exterior as well as the internals seems to be of top quality. The model we borrowed for testing was kept for just over a month with absolutely no problems.

The Decision
The Fender Super Champ XD distortion was “Exceptional”, and at 15 watts, this is the perfect little combo amp for use at home, in the studio or for small venues. With the help of old school tube technology, digital amp and effects modeling have really gotten to a high level of usability. For a hobby guitarist or someone just starting out, this is really a great amp that works for many different styles of music and with all types of guitar instruments. For around the $300 mark, you can get yourself a top quality tube amp that is also able to achieve many different tones and effects without the added cost of purchasing guitar pedals.

Check Out This Great Deal on the Fender Super Champ XD

Fender Super-Champ XD 120V Guitar Combo

Our Super-Champ XD takes the vintage Champ into a new era with classic styling, simple controls, a good variety of clean and distorted tones and unmistakable…

Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

The Model 330 from Rickenbacker is a semi-hollow body guitar that is great for acoustic and clean playing, especially in the music genres of country, bluegrass and rockabilly. The Rickenbacker 330 guitar is definitely a full-bodied instrument and is equipped with a larger neck with 24 frets. Don’t be fooled by its large look, it plays and feels like a standard size guitar with a much larger sound.

After playing on a Rickenbacker 330 Fireglo for the first time you will be very amazed at how large the sound is that comes out of the guitar. Rickenbacker has chosen 2 single coil pickups that have tremendously high output. This style of pickup is similar to another large single coil from back in the 1960s, which was nicknamed the Soapbar. The hum on the single coils is quite minimal, considering the high output and can easily be played very cleanly of any amp channel.

The 24-fret neck on the Rickenbacker 330 12 string has a beautiful select grade of rosewood that has simple pearl dot inlays for navigating the fingerboard. The neck itself is constructed of maple with a reinforced, dual-trussrod plan that is designed by Rickenbacker to alleviate unwanted twists and bends. The Rickenbacker 12 is one of the smoothest guitar instruments to play, considering that a lot of 12-string guitars are quite tricky to master. Larger hands fair quite well on the broad and deep neck and I know I sure was navigating the fretboard with relative ease when I tested it.

Finally, the beautiful body of the Rickenbacker 330 is made up of maple sides, top and back and the unique grain of the maple is meant to be seen through the lightly stained exterior. Maple is a very bright sounding wood, and with the high gain single coil pickups, this guitar plays twangy and warm toned music equally well depending on the settings and style of your amp. The double cutaway design of the Rickenbacker 330 makes for effortless access to the very highest frets when playing those double octave notes. At 8lbs, the 330 isn’t overly heavy and I didn’t expend too much energy playing standing up for an hour-long testing session.

The detailing on the 330 by Rickenbacker is a real treat to see. The high-end hardware and attention to detail on the curves and corners really make this instrument well worth the price tag. It is a true musical instrument masterpiece. I couldn’t find a single physical flaw while I was testing out the guitar and I searched pretty hard for one. These models are manufactured in the USA and are truly hand made, which is clearly evident when you have one in your hands.

The Rickenbacker 330 has been around since 1958 and has been a top selling guitar since that date. It is a chosen guitar by many top guitarists for its unique and large sound that it creates. You cannot go wrong with having one of these guitars as a studio guitar or as your workhorse for the road. They are priced between the $1,500 to $1,800 mark and are worth every penny.

Rickenbacker 330 Electric Guitar Fireglo Rickenbacker 330 Electric Guitar Fireglo

Rickenbacker 330 Electric Guitar Jetglo Rickenbacker 330 Electric Guitar Jetglo

Rickenbacker 330 Electric Guitar Midnight Blue Rickenbacker 330 Electric Guitar Midnight Blue

Rickenbacker 330 Electric Guitar Mapleglo Rickenbacker 330 Electric Guitar Mapleglo

The Schecter Hellraiser guitar series includes a few very special models, including a 7-string and an 8-string. The natural tones that come from these guitars are very LP-like and work for a very broad range of musical genres. Only the very best wood and hardware go into the Schecter Hellraiser and the guitars are touted as some of the very best in the industry. Schecter Guitars are known for making some very high end instruments and the Hellraiser is no exception.

Schecter C1 Hellraiser
This very popular model is available in a solid mahogany body with or without a quilted maple cap. The overtones are sweet, dark and very naturally overdriven. The C1 is the six-string version of the Hellraiser with the strat-like body shape. Once you plug in this masterpiece and hear the active EMG 81/89 pickups you will understand why they call it the Hellraiser. The Tonepros TOM bridge is one of the best I’ve played on and its ability to tweak the intonation and stay in perfect octaves is bang on.

Schecter C7 Hellraiser
Now we’re into an expert musicians class of guitar: the seven-string. The Schecter Hellraiser seven-string edition is pretty much identical to the C1 in all other regards except the amount of strings it possesses. It comes with the standard 3-piece mahogany neck with a rosewood 24 fret fingerboard. A slight difference in pickups as this model has EMG 707 equipped to accommodate seven strings. The locking tuners, by Schecter, add a little extra help to keep the guitar in tune.

Schecter Hellraiser Avenger
As with the other Hellraiser Schecter models, the Avenger shares the important hardware and body woods. The biggest difference is the unique body shape. You won’t find any other body style that compares to the Schecter Hellraiser Avenger. Another thing to mention about the Hellraiser line is the string-through body. This is what gives the Avenger and its brothers their fantastic sustain. As with the aforementioned models, the Avenger’s electronics come standard with a push/pull coil tap system on the volume and tone knobs for excellent versatility.

Schecter Hellraiser Solo
The Solo is similar in body style to the Gibson LP but Schecter has made some decent changes to the overall shape that does make it look unique. The big difference is that it definitely sounds unique and is in part due to the Schecter Hellraiser wood choice, that being the previously talked about, high grade mahogany.

Schecter Hellraiser V1
All V guitars are not created equal and Schecter has proven that with their very popular V1 model. Also available in 7 and 8-string variants, the V is surely to become a legend of its own while also coming with the option of hardtail and tremolo style bridges.

I own a Schecter Hellraiser, the C1 model to be exact. I’ve tried all the models in the series and I would recommend them to anyone for their top quality construction and detail, the outstanding hardware used and the vast amount of usable tones that can be squeezed out of them. Try a few different models and you will quickly see how good the Schecter Hellraiser class really is. They rank right up there with all the top guitar instruments from the very best guitar companies in the world.

Schecter Hellraiser C-1 Electric Guitar (Black Cherry)	Schecter Hellraiser C-7 FR 7-String Electric Guitar (Black Cherry, Left Handed)	Schecter Hellraiser Solo-6 Electric Guitar (Gloss Black)
Schecter Hellraiser C-1 Electric Guitar (Gloss White)	Schecter Hellraiser C-1 Electric Guitar (Gloss Black)	Schecter Hellraiser Avenger Electric Guitar (Black Cherry)

After you’ve owned any Gibson guitars for the first time you will appreciate what a high quality, USA made guitar is all about! The Gibson SG classic falls into this category of high end classic reissues that the company is famous for. This guitar sits in my band’s studio as a community instrument for all to play and has been reviewed a lot.

The benefits of owning a Gibson SG classic custom are negligible after you’ve tried the non-custom version. The differences are mostly cosmetic, but, if you’ve got the extra budget for one then you should consider at least trying one out because it is definitely a beautiful guitar with high-end, gold hardware.

Gibson SG classic P90 pickups are the stock electronics on this guitar. The P90s were famous back right up until 1957 when the PAF humbucker was introduced. The P90 still came stock on SG specials through the 1960s and were preferred but legendary guitarist Pete Townsend. The SG classic with the P90s has a strong treble tone that will bite through any mix. They are a lot clearer sounding than other single coil pickups of old.

Like the other models of SG, the classic’s body is a one piece, solid mahogany construction that has the familiar double cutaway horns. The model we have in our studio needed a slight adjust on the action to get it to a lower position but this is standard for any guitar and I would always recommend to take a new guitar for a professional setup. The heritage cherry finish on the Gibson SG classic electric guitar is flawless and it shows the grain of the high grade mahogany beautifully.

One difference on the classic is the neck. Gibson has gone from a thin and fast neck to a chunkier style neck in recent eras but the SG classic has been fitted with a more modern style tapered neck that is fast and comfortable, yet still has some size to it that feels great in your hand. The all mahogany 22 fret neck is set into the body (Gibson is famous for their set-in necks) and has extremely easy access to the highest frets. Nothing fancy on the bound rosewood fingerboard, it comes with dot style mother-of-pearl markers, which do the job just fine. The headstock on the Gibson SG classic has the white tuners I’m sure you’re familiar and has a plastic nut. The nut is the only thing I would replace on this guitar.

Well there you have your Gibson SG classic review. I have owned and had this guitar in my studio with my many other guitar instruments for a while and have been extremely happy with the quality, tone and playability of it. It comes highly recommended by the other musicians from my band and studio as well.

Gibson SG Classic Electric Guitar with P-90 Pickups, Heritage Cherry

Inspired by the 1960s SG Special, the Gibson SG Classic Electric Guitar with P-90 Pickups re-creates the look and sound of the most influential guitar…

Rating: / 5.0

Some of the most beautiful instruments are the Ibanez S series guitars. Great for rhythm and lead, which makes them very versatile. I recently tried out several for an afternoon and took some notes on what I think makes them great guitars. The 1980s saw a lot of Ibanez guitars hitting the market and this particular lineup hit the stage in 1987.

An Ibanez S series review will help you choose the right model and teach you about which features to look for as well as a few tricks for modifications down the road. It helps to not go in blind when purchasing a new guitar and the Ibanez S series guitar is no different.

The bodies on these models are made from a select grade of solid mahogany. A lot of Ibanez guitars are made from basswood but the Ibanez s-series wood bodies are known for the top grade mahogany. One key feature about the body is the fact that it is a little thinner than a lot of other mahogany bodies and this makes for a much lighter guitar. The choice in select grades of wood make for the huge, warm tone that you get out of the Ibanez S series guitar that is normally only achieved with having a thicker body. Some select models also come with a flamed maple top that adds a little brightness as well as visually pleasing maple grain, while others come with a poplar burl cap. The carved, archtop body makes for a very comfortable experience of extended sessions of playing.

The wizard neck is a true innovative masterpiece that Ibanez has created and maintained over the years. Ibanez series S guitars are equipped with this brilliant wizard 24 fret neck, complete with 25.5” scale. These necks come in 3 and 5 piece construction and consist of maple and usually walnut. What makes this neck so special is the thin, flat and lightning fast design. You will have no problems reaching the 23^rd and 24^th frets and the design will leave your fingers and wrist feeling a lot less fatigued than many other necks on the market.

Ibanez makes some very high quality pickups these days and their choice for the Ibanez s series is the perfect match for the style of music this guitar is intended for. Depending on the model, you will be equipped with Ibanez-made Inf1, Infs1 and Inf2 pickups. The Infs1 is a single coil pickup with tonal capabilities similar to strat pickups, while the humbuckers give a warm and rich, punchy tone that suits the wood overtones perfectly.

If you like tremolo equipped guitars, the Ibanez s series comes standard with a ZR locking bridge setup that is comparable to top quality Floyd Rose setups. My evaluation of this tremolo system is a 10/10 because of its capability to stay in tune under some heavy usage.

There you have it, a quick review of a fantastic model from a company that makes stellar guitar instruments. The Ibanez S series should cost you between $500 – $700 for a few different models. One of my favorite models, and one I currently own, is the Ibanez S470. It is a 3 pickup model with loads of tone and has been a very reliable guitar for me.

The Gibson SG Faded guitar is a model that is made to look like it came right out of the 1960s. It is at a lower price point than some of the classics that Gibson guitars still churns off the assembly line. The reason for the lower price tag is because there are less layers of finish and stripped down goodies.

When you see the Gibson faded SG for the first time you’ll understand what I’m taking about. It truly looks like a worn out guitar that has been played for 40 years, which is kind of the trend musicians are going for these days. Now, it hasn’t been sanded down, like a few notable guitar playing legends are doing, it just has a faded and non-shiny finish.

The Gibson SG faded special has the classic 490r and 490t pickups that made the SG famous in the late 1950s but the covers have been remove which makes the tone of this guitar a little brighter in the mid and upper ranges. You definitely hear more of a grinding tone than you would in the old school covered pickups.

Rather than the standard pearl trapezoid inlays, the Gibson SG special faded has simple pearl dot inlays on a classic 50s style mahogany neck; no binding for the rosewood fretboard on this baby. Nothing but bare bones looks give it a really raw and unrefined look that you’re going to love.

It still comes with the solid and slim mahogany body of its Standard brother and still has that classic scream that Angus Young and Tony Iommi were famous for. You get your pick of faded cheery or brown and each colour looks magnificent, especially in a well lit setting. Just like its more expensive brothers, the Gibson SG faded has a set-in neck with a nice slim and smooth heel for easy access to the upper frets.

After playing one for several weeks as a loner, I purchased one of the guitars because of the vintage look to them. I really love the stock pickups without the covers as I like to play higher gain music and these pickups really accommodate that. The reduced price of the Gibson SG faded should be attractive to any entry level guitarists who are on a budget but have always wanted to own a USA made SG. The quality is top of the line and if you can do without a few cosmetic features as discussed above then I really think you’ll be more than happy with this guitar. There are many other guitar instruments that will match the SG faded in price but they are no match for the quality of a USA made Gibson musical instruments.

Gibson SG Special Electric Guitar,Worn Cherry Satin

Gibson SG Standard Reissue VOS Electric Guitar, Faded Cherry

Gibson SG Standard with Maestro VOS Electric Guitar, Faded Cherry

One of the most famous tales in guitar history is the journey and evolution of the Ibanez Jem Guitar. Steve Vai, who is one of the greatest and most famous guitarists of all time, is responsible for creating and bringing this masterpiece of a guitar to the world. The Ibanez Jem is a solid body with bolt-on neck and has come in various types of wood construction since its creation in 1987. No other signature guitar of the last 30 years has gained so much momentum and esteem as the Jem Ibanez produces for the world. Its monkey grip handle is unmistakable and is a feature that gives away its identity at a first glance.

The Ibanez Jem 7v is a current day model that I personally own and gig with as well. The 7v is constructed of solid alder, which is extremely light and is known for its balanced tonal characteristics. This really gives it some versatility and you can let the amp and the pickups colour the tone rather than the wood. The Ibanez 7v comes stock with Steve Vai’s signature Evolution pickups by DiMarzio. These are no ordinary pickup and are not the easiest to play on. They are very sensitive and precise and make the Ibanez Jem and true expert’s guitar in its stock form.

A very notable detail on the Ibanez Jem guitar is the Tree of Life inlay on the fretboard. This really gives the Jem a look of artistic beauty. Another unique feature to this guitar is the Ibanez Jem Prestige neck. The neck is almost identical in dimensions to the lightning fast wizard neck but it is 1mm thicker. Remember, this was a guitar created by Steve Vai for himself and this neck fits his hands perfectly.

Another model of this guitar is the Ibanez Jem 555. This one is manufactured in Korea (not Japan, like the other models) and is visibly lower in quality than its Japanese made brothers. There are many models of this guitar that are not offered in North America and this was a complaint of consumers who were hoping to own a Jem guitar at a lower price. The Ibanez Jem 555 is made of Basswood, which is much cheaper than most other wood but is still equipped with Evolution pickups and the Jem bolt-one maple neck.

I have a few other Ibanez guitars that have an Evolution pickup mounted in the bridge position but my Jem 7v is the first one that I own to have them in the neck middle and bridge. They are noisy if you don’t have the skill to use them but once they’ve been mastered your Ibanez Jem will almost start playing by itself. The tone and speed of the these guitar instruments is almost second to none and my only regret to owning one is that I never chose to but one 20 years ago. Oh well, don’t dwell on it. Just get out there and buy one if it fits your budget because it is a guitar that will always be reliable and over deliver on tone.

Ibanez JEM7V – White 6-string Steve Vai Electric Guitar

Ibanez JEM77VBK – Gloss Black 6-string Electric Guitar

Having the right guitar cases for your guitar instruments is one of the better investments you’ll make as a musician. Not only do they keep your beloved guitar protected from damage and the elements, they make it easier for you to transport your guitar and a few essential pieces of hardware, such as a cord, some picks and guitar pedals.

Choosing the right guitar cases will depend on the shape and quality of your guitar. For instance, acoustic guitar cases will require a totally different width, shape and thickness than electric guitar cases will. The acoustic guitar is especially susceptible to the elements, such as dust, dirt and moisture, so it is more of a definite need to keep these types of guitars protected.

Bass guitar cases are going to be longer that standard cases because of the increased length of the neck on these instruments. They still come in various shapes and thicknesses, which is another aspect to consider.

The shape of most guitar cases will be rectangular, general guitar shaped or actually fitted to a specific guitar. The value of your instrument will most likely determine which style of guitar case is right for you. Soft cases are most often enough for beginner guitarists who are on a budget and have entry-level guitars. A soft case has a little bit of padding and usually has a number of pockets for storage of smaller items. They also come with a shoulder strap and can sometimes come with 2 shoulder straps that turn the bag into a backpack. Backpack guitar cases are especially popular with younger guitarists and really make transporting their gear easy and hands-free.

Guitar hard cases are a lot more durable than the soft ones and they do a much better job of protecting your guitar. They are normally lined with foam or a velvet material that will not scratch your instrument. Hard cases that are rectangle shaped will house most electric guitars but will almost always leave room for the guitar to slide side to side. On the other hand, shaped guitar cases will fit your instrument perfectly and will hold it in place with no room to move around.

You want to make sure your guitar case will have a storage compartment inside to store your smaller necessity items. This comes in really handy for heading out to quick jam sessions or for just having the piece of mind that your necessities will always be in one place with your guitar.

The price of guitar cases can range from a $20 for a cheap soft case, all the way up to a few hundred dollars for a custom hard case but are really one of those musical instrument accessories that you shouldn’t go without. Make sure to take your guitar with you so you can try it out in a few different cases before you purchase one. I once made the mistake of buying a case that was on sale with no return policy without trying my guitar in it. Live and learn because when I got it home, my guitar did not fit. Don’t make this mistake .