Category: Blog

Posted on by

Best Budget Studio Headphones

Best budget studio headphones

A good set of headphones is an essential tool for recording and mixing music. But what if you can’t afford to spend a lot on professional-quality cans? Luckily, plenty of exceptional options on the market won’t break the bank. Let’s go over some of the best budget studio headphones you can buy today.

Best budget studio headphones under $250

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Headphones

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x professional headphones are a fan favourite thanks to their overall great sound and low price. With a detachable cable and three supplied cables and comfortable earcups, you can mix for hours in complete comfort. 

For excellent all-rounder headphones, check out the ATH-M50x. And if you prefer wireless listening, the ATH-M50xBT BlueTooth model might be right for you. However, if these fantastic cans are still out of budget, continue reading to find the right pair for you.

Read more about the ATH-M50x

Best budget studio headphones under $150

Sennheiser HD 280 PRO DJ Headphone

Sennheiser HD 280 PRO DJ Headphones

The Sennheiser HD 280 PRO headphones are closed-back and circumaural, making them suitable for high-noise environments where noise cancellation is important. The HD 280 delivers excellent and accurate sound quality across the frequency spectrum., with clean bass, clear mids, and smooth highs. And they’re extremely comfortable and versatile too, thanks to their collapsable, rotating earpieces. For professional quality at a low price point, check out the Sennheiser HD 280!

Read more about the HD 280

Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-M30x

The Audio-Technica ATH-M30x are leaders of the midrange headphones. Boosting a strong mid-range definition specifically for monitoring, these cans will be your best friend in the studio. And with great detailed sound, you get a taste of the M50x’s quality without immense sacrifice. And with fantastic isolation and a collapsable design, you can use these in the field and for live monitoring.

Read more about the M30x

PreSonus HD9

PreSonus HD9

PreSonus is held in high regard for its affordable, quality home recording gear, and the PreSonus HD9 is no exception. Featuring dynamic, neodymium drivers and a tailored frequency response from 10 Hz to 26 kHz, the HD9 delivers clear, accurate audio with surprising bass. And thanks to its closed-back, circumaural acoustic design, these cans sit comfortably on your head for long periods of time. Get maximum value for a minimum price with the PreSonus HD9!

Read more about the HD9

Best budget studio headphones under $100

PreSonus HD7

PreSonus HD7 Professional Studio Headphones

Another exceptional budget model from PreSonus is the HD7. With a less than $100 price point, these headphones deliver immense value thanks to their high resolution, neodymium drivers. They are also semi-open, meaning they are suitable for several listening activities like tracking, mixing, or listening. Get mixing with the PreSonus HD7!

Read more about the HD7

More for less

As you can see, there are plenty of great budget studio headphones you can get that won’t break the bank. These headphones offer excellent sound quality, durability, and comfort for their price points. Want to explore more options? Check out our extensive line of headphones!

Shop Headphones

Posted on by

Best Guitar Effects For Blues

Bearded blues player playing guitar. We go over the best pedals for blues.

In recent years, blues players have turned to guitar effects pedals for tone-crafting capabilities. Although you don’t need a whole range of guitar pedals to achieve your sound, there are a few types of effects that will go a long way in shaping your tone. So let’s go over the best guitar effects for blues to help you achieve your desired sound.

Best Guitar Effects for Blues

The most popular guitar effects for blues used by modern players are as follow:

  • Boost
  • Overdrive
  • Wah-wah

Boost

 

TC Electronic Spark Booster Guitar Effects Pedal
TC Electronic Spark Booster

Of all of the guitar effects for blues, the boost people is one of the most important. Essentially, a boost pedal intensifies the signal from your guitar before it reaches your amp. Even if these pedals may seem simple, they are incredibly versatile. For example, using a boost pedal, you can:

  • Increase your volume, letting your solos and riffs shine through.
  • Push your amp into overdrive to create a beautiful blues tone.
  • Increase your overdrive pedal’s volume without altering your tone.

Best Boost Pedals for Blues

Overdrive

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808 Guitar Pedal
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808

A slightly overdriven tone is an essential component of blues sounds. While this effect used to be produced by the amp itself, nowadays, buying a dedicated overdrive pedal is the optimal choice. Some of the benefits of overdrive pedals include:

  • The ability to switch between distorted and clean tones.
  • The capability to play overdriven tones at lower volumes.
  • Endless tone-crafting potentials.

Best Overdrive Pedals for Blues

 

 

 Wah-Wah

Dunlop GCB-95F Cry Baby Classic Fasel Inductor Wah Guitar Effects Pedal
Dunlop GCB-95F Cry Baby

Unlike the other effects in this list, which will likely play a key role in your sound, you will use the wah-wah pedal more sparingly. This pedal produces the onomatopoeic “wah-wah” sound, adding an interesting effect to your sound. Although this pedal may not be essential for your blues sound, it adds an interesting effect you should consider.

Best Wah-Wah Pedals For Blues

Create Beautiful Blues Sounds

This list is by no means exhaustive and just gives you an idea of some of the best pedals for the blues. Using your creative liberty, you could add other effects such as reverb, delay, or chorus. Experiment with your sound and develop your own blues tones!

If you would like to browse more guitar effects pedals, check out our extensive range of pedals.

Shop Guitar Pedals

Posted on by

Best Guitar Effects Pedals For Rock

Fans at a rock show

The world of rock music is vast and exciting. As you explore your sound, you may wonder what the best guitar effects pedals for rock music are. You’ve come to the right place! Let’s go over our picks of some of the best guitar pedals for rock music so you can get rockin’!

Best Guitar Effects For Rock Music

First, let’s discuss what the best guitar effects for rock music are. There are many different guitar effects available. However, some come out ahead of others when it comes to rock music. Some of the most popular guitar effects are as follows:

  • Compression
  • Distortion
  • Overdrive
  • Reverb
  • Wah

Compression

Keeley KCOMPPLUS Compressor Plus Pedal
Keeley Compressor Plus

Compression is an often underrated effect that makes a big difference. These pedals are responsible for smoothing out the sound of your guitar, so if you strum too aggressively, you don’t get unwanted spikes in your volume. Not only that, but compression pedals also increase your tone’s sustain. Overall, this effect is crucial if you want a professional rock sound.

Best Compression Pedals

The Keeley Compressor Plus Pedal is one of the best compression pedals out there. With tone and blend controls, you have enormous sound-shaping potential. And this pedal adds a smooth, subtle effect to your playing for a truly polished and professional sound.

Distortion

Pro Co RAT2
Pro Co RAT2

Beloved by rock enthusiasts everywhere, distortion is one of the most guitar effects out there. This effect adds huge gain and sustains to your sound, which is especially important for heavier rock. Distortion dials in the perfect amount of gain – from mild overdrive to full-out fuzzy assault. No matter your play style, you’ll appreciate the effect distortion adds to your sound.

Best Distortion Pedals

There are many distortion pedals on the market today. Some of the best distortion pedals we love are as follows:

Overdrive

Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer Guitar Effects Pedal
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

Overdrive pedals imitate the sound of cranking your amp up and achieving a crackling effect. As you can imagine, this effect is beloved amongst rock enthusiasts for its unique and crunchy tone. Though this effect doesn’t massively alter your sound, it adds a delicious and distinctive flavour to your sound. For a truly classic rock ‘n’ roll tone, consider adding an overdrive pedal to your arsenal.

Best Overdrive Pedals

The Ibanez Tube Screamer is one of the most popular overdrive pedals used by guitarists worldwide. This line of pedals comes in several varieties, including:

Reverb

Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12
Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12

Reverb pedals add an echo effect to your sound that gives it tremendous depth. Think of it as though you’re playing in a large, empty room. If you think your music is lacking something, chances are it doesn’t have reverb. Most guitarists rely on reverb nearly all of the time since it gives you more presence.

Best Reverb Pedals

The Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12 Reverb Pedal is one of the best reverb pedals out there today. With twelve different reverb effects, ranging from vanilla reverbs to more spunky effects, you have access to every type of reverb you could want. And with different controls for each effect, you have vast tone-crafting capabilities.

Wah-Wah

Dunlop GCB-95F Cry Baby Classic Fasel Inductor Wah Guitar Effects Pedal
Dunlop GCB-95F Cry Baby

To achieve a classic rock sound, many guitarists turn to the wah effect. Famous users of this effect include Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Slash, and Stevie Ray Vaughn. This effect alters the tone and frequencies of the guitar signal to achieve the onomatopoeic “wah-wah” sound. Many consider this effect to be a staple for rock music and you can find this pedal on stages and in studios worldwide.

Best Wah-Wah Pedals

The Dunlop Crybaby is by far the most popular wah-wah pedal out there. The Crybaby comes in several flavours, but the original Dunlop GCB-95F Cry Baby Classic is your best bet for classic wah sound.

Get Ready To Rock

Hopefully, now, you have a better idea of what the best guitar pedals for rock music are. So pick a few up, plug into them, and get rockin’!

If you want to browse more guitar effects pedals, check out our entire range of pedals and find your sound.

Shop Guitar Pedals

Posted on by

Best Guitar Effects For Country Music

Country guitarist playing on stage. We discuss the best pedals for country music.

While country music may seem straightforward at first glance, if you’re a country guitarist, you know how complex it can be. With lightning-fast lead playing and complex instrumentation, there’s a lot more than meets the eye. Country guitarists use guitar pedals to complement their playing and achieve different sounds. Let’s go over some of the best guitar effects for country so you can achieve that country tone!

Best Guitar Effects for Country

  • Compression
  • Overdrive
  • Reverb
  • Delay

Compression

Keeley KCOMPPLUS Compressor Plus Pedal
Keeley Compressor Plus

Country music depends on clean tones, so a compression pedal can help you achieve your desired sounds. An in-your-face compressor can give you twangy tones that most country guitarists prefer.

Best Compression Pedals for Country

Overdrive

Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer Guitar Effects Pedal
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

Although country music is generally clean, slight distortion can add an interesting effect to your sound. This is especially true if you want a more modern sound. If you want to dirty your sound a bit, consider adding an overdrive stompbox to your arsenal.

Best Overdrive Pedals for Country

Reverb

TC Electronic Hall Of Fame Reverb TonePrint Series Guitar Effects Pedal
TC Electronic Hall Of Fame

A healthy dose of reverb adds a lot to country playin’ as it offsets the single-coil clean sounds. This effect is a great way to expand your tonal capabilities with an echo effect. If you think your sound is lacking something, it is probably the lack of reverb. 

Best Reverb Pedals for Country

 

Delay

TC Electronic Flashback Delay TonePrint Series Guitar Effects Pedal
TC Electronic Flashback

Every country guitarist has a preference for a different delay pedal. However, it seems like there’s at least one analog delay in every country player’s chain. Whether you want a short slapback for chicken pickin’ or longer tails for leads, there’s an analog delay pedal out there for you.

Best Delay Pedals for Country

Get Your Country On

Although this list is by no means extensive, you now should have knowledge of the essential guitar effects for playing country. No matter your style, there are guitar pedals out there suited for you. Want to browse more options? Check out our extensive range of guitar pedals.

Shop Guitar Pedals

Posted on by

5 Gorgeous Guitars That Sound As Good As They Look

Electric guitars with varying finishes hanging from wall. These are some gorgeous guitars that sport both looks and tone!

Most people pick a guitar because of its sounds and don’t put much emphasis on its looks. But what if you could have both? You can! To prove it, we’ve compiled a list of some gorgeous guitars that sport both looks and tone. See some of these beauties for yourself!

1. Ibanez LGB30-VYS Electric Guitar

Ibanez LGB30-VYS George Benson Signature Series 6-String Hollow Body Electric Guitar with Case (Vintage Yellow Sunburst)

The Ibanez LGB30-VYS dazzles the eyes with its Vintage Yellow Sunburst finish and gold hardware. Like light cutting through the darkness, the body of this guitar is beautifully golden with an outer black shadow. If you want a stunning guitar that will turn heads, the Ibanez LGB30-VYS electric guitar is your axe. 

See More

 

2. Ibanez RG1127PBFX-CIF RG Premium Electric Guitar

Ibanez RG1127PBFX-CIF RG Premium Electric Guitar (Caribbean Islet Flat)

Take a cruise to the tropical waters of the Caribbean with the Ibanez RG1127PBFX-CIF RG electric guitar. This guitar’s gorgeous ebony fretboard is punctuated with striking mother-of-pearl inlays and Jescar EVO gold frets-sings. Get rich sound and stunning appearance in one package. Travel to paradise with the Ibanez RG1127PBFX-CIF RG premium electric guitar!

See More

3. Hagstrom Fantomen Ghost Electric Guitar

Hagstrom Fantomen Ghost Gloss Black

The beauty of the Hagstrom Fantomen comes from the slender, asymmetrical body. Sported in an all-black finish, the Fantomen Ghost sports both style and sound. And thanks to its internal electronics that allow for a varied tonal pallet, you’ll love this guitar no matter your playing style. Go ghost with the Hagstrom Fantomen Ghost, also available in Tobacco Sunburst and White.

See More

4. Ibanez MAR10-LMM Electric Guitar

Ibanez MAR10-LMM Mario Camereana Signature Electric Guitar (Lavender Metallic Matte)

The MAR10-LMM is a jaw-droppingly gorgeous axe from Ibanez. Finished in a cool Lavender Metallic Matte, you’re sure to be the envy of your sessions when you bring this guitar out of its case. And thanks to its ergonomic design, you get a comfortable and enjoyable playing experience. For a guitar with great specs and classic aesthetics, check out the Ibanez MAR10-LMM!

See More

5. Ibanez JEM77P-BFP Premium Electric Guitar

Ibanez JEM77P-BFP Steve Vai Signature JEM Premium Electric Guitar with Case (Blue Floral)

If you desire a drop-dead stunning axe that will dazzle your crowds, you need to check out the Ibanez JEM77P-BFP premium electric guitar. With a beautiful Tree of Life inlay and a Blue Floral finish, this guitar is as much of an instrument as it is an art piece. You can even perform flashy stage manoeuvres with the Steve Vai signature monkey grip!

See More

Why Not Both?

Who said you couldn’t have both looks and sound? This list proves them wrong!

If you would like to browse more beautiful electric guitars that sound amazing, check out our extensive range of axes.

Shop Electric Guitars

Posted on by

How To Get Acoustic Sounds From Your Electric Guitar

Acoustic guitar simulation effects pedals

We all have those songs that just need an acoustic touch. However, if you’re an electric guitar player, buying an acoustic axe just to achieve this tone is probably not a feasible option. Luckily, there are ways you can achieve an acoustic effect from your current guitar. Let’s go over how you can get acoustic sounds from your electric guitar using pedals.

Guitar Pedals That Will Give You An Acoustic Sound

1. Boss AC-3 Acoustic Simulator Guitar Effects Pedal

Boss AC-3 Acoustic Simulator Guitar Effects Pedal

The BOSS AC-3 is a fan favourite for its immaculate acoustic emulation. With five controls, including Level, Reverb, Body, Top, and Mode, you can fine-tune your acoustic sound to fit your guitar and pickups. You also get four onboard modes, including Standard, Jumbo, Enhance, and Piezo. Many masters of this pedal use it in conjunction with other EQs and tone components like Treble Boosters or Fuzz Faces. To bring your electric guitar tone into the woody acoustic territory, plug into the Boss AC-3!

See More

 

2. Boss GP-10GK Guitar Effects Processor Multi-Effects Pedal

Boss GP-10GK Guitar Effects Processor Multi-Effects Pedal with GK-3 Pickup

The BOSS GP10-GK lets your axe harness the power of various guitar, bass, and synth tones, including acoustic guitar effects! You can also easily edit the MIDI guitar on your computer to remove any imperfections to a greater degree than recorded sounds. Get creative with the exciting potential of the BOSS GP-10GK multi-effects processor!

See More

 

3. HOTONE OMP-5 OMNI Acoustic Simulator Guitar Effects Pedal

HOTONE Omni AC Acoustic Simulator

The HOTONE OMP-5 Omni acoustic simulator pedal looks simple but is incredibly versatile. The device itself has three controls – Master Volume, Function, and Ground Lift – and comes loaded with fifteen presets. You can further fine-tune your sound with the Omni Edit app, which includes a 4-band EQ and gain. Craft your acoustic tone with the HOTONE OMP-5!

See More

 

As you can see, there are several ways you can get an acoustic tone from your electric guitar. Although it may take some crafting and experimentation, you’ll be able to dive into acoustic territory without buying another guitar! 

If you would like to look at more guitar effects pedals, check out our extensive range:

Shop Guitar Pedals