Tag: Electric guitar

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4 Best Distortion Pedals For Dirty Sound

The best distortion pedals

Distortion is the heart and soul of metal and rock ‘n’ roll. However, distortion is a nuanced effect, and finding the right pedal is vital for your sound. To help in your search for dirt, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best distortion pedals you can get today. Whether you crave light gains or full-blown snarls, these pedals have you covered. Read on and find your match.

1. Pro Co RAT 2 Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal

Pro Co RAT2

The Pro Co RAT 2 covers all the bases: distortion, sustain, fuzz, and overdrive. This legendary pedal is perfect for those wanting a versatile distortion pedal that sounds thick and aggressive. While it excels at higher gain settings, it can also be used as a lower-gain boost. If you crave filthy gains with a hint of fuzz, you’ll love the affordable Pro Co RAT 2.

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2. TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal

TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal

TC Electronic was inspired by the powerful roar of the Marshall Plexi. The result – the extremely versatile TC Electronic Dark Matter distortion stompbox. This pedal offers an enormous range of gritty and rich distortion sounds, covering everything from light fuzz to a roaring Plexi pushed into overdrive. No matter how much grit you crave, the extremely affordable TC Electronic Dark Matter will be sure to satiate. 

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3. Keeley Electronics Filaments Distortion

Keeley Filaments High Gain Distortion Effects Pedal

Metalheads, look no further than the Keeley Electronics Filaments distortion pedal. Although it is marketed as a high-gain drive pedal, it brilliantly dials in everything from light gain drive to crunching metal. With three toggles for Boost, Sag, and Crunch, you can fine-tune your desired tone. Experience everything the Keeley Electronics Filaments distortion pedal has to offer today.

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4. Boss MD-2 Mega Distortion

Boss MD-2 Mega Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal

The Boss MD-2 Mega Distortion is every modern metal guitarist’s dream come true. The secret weapon of this box is its dual-stage distortion circuit with an added Gain Boost, plus Bottom and Tone controls for crushing distortion with massive low end. Craft extreme new-school metal sounds with the Boss MD-2 Mega Distortion pedal today!

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Get Down and Dirty

A distortion pedal is arguably one of the most important effects for any metal or rock guitarist. No matter how much dirt you crave, you’ll be impressed with any of the pedals on this list. Want to browse more guitar effects pedals? Check out our extensive range of stompboxes for your choosing.

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6 Best Budget-Friendly Guitar Effects Pedals

 

Three guitar pedals on dark background.

Guitar effects pedals present endless opportunities for guitarists to shape their sounds. However, with this comes one big constraint – your budget.

Fortunately, there are many guitar effects pedals from top brands that deliver great sound without breaking the bank. Here are our choices of some of the best budget-friendly guitar effects pedals you should add to your pedalboard.

1. Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini Overdrive Pedal

 

Tube Screamer Mini

The Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini packs the iconic tone of the original Tube Screamer into a compact package. The Tube Screamer Mini comes with all of the features that made the TS808 legendary, including Overdrive, Tone, and Level controls, analog circuitry, and the JRC4558 IC chip. This highly affordable pedal is a must-have for those chasing the growling overdrive that made the original so famous.

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2. Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi Fuzz Pedal

Electro-Harmonix Classic Big Muff PI Distortion / Sustainer Guitar Effects Pedal

The Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi is famous for its rich, creamy, violin-like sustain. With Volume, Sustain, and Tone controls, you can dial into blissful distortion/sustain. For an affordable pedal trusted by legends such as Jimi Hendrix and Santana, get a piece of the Pi.

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3. Mooer Black Secret Distortion Pedal

Mooer Black Secret MDS1 Distortion Micro Series Guitar Effects Pedal

The Mooer Black Secret captures the legendary “Rat” distortion tone from the ’70s and ’80s. The pedal features two tones: Vintage and Turbo. Vintage delivers a raspy thinner distortion without overpowering your tone, while Turbo thickens up your tone to give you a beefy, modern sound. And thanks to its small stature, this pedal can easily find room on your pedalboard. Bring the Mooer Black Secret home today!

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4. Electro-Harmonix Neo Clone Analog Chorus Effects Pedal

Electro-Harmonix Neo Clone Guitar Effects Pedal

The Electro-Harmonix Neo Clone has been on countless tracks, including Nirvana’s Nevermind. With the same features and sounds found in the original Small Clone, you can easily achieve glassy chorus tones. And thanks to its simple and intuitive layout, shaping your tone is easy with the rate knob and depth switch. Add the Electro-Harmonix Neo Clone to your pedalboard today!

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5. Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Delay Pedal With Modulation

Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Guitar Effects Pedal

The Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy presents a pure analog delay for musicians who demand thick sound. With up to 550ms of delay time, you can easily add more depth and dimension to your sound. Also, you get the option of adding lush modulation to your sonic. The Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy is pedalboard- and budget-friendly, making it easy to add it to your collection.

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6. TC Electronic Spark Mini Booster

TC Electronic Spark Mini Booster Guitar Effects Pedal

Kick your playing into high gear with the TC Electronic Spark Mini Booster. This stompbox wonder delivers a completely clean boost and tone enhancement without degrading your tone. And thanks to its compact design, it can easily find a home on your pedalboard. Whether you need a subtle volume boost or want to send your amp into overdrive, the TC Electronic Spark Mini Booster has you covered. 

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Big Sounds At A Small Cost

Thankfully, it’s easy to craft your sound even when you’re on a tight budget. Add some effects pedals to your pedalboard today to supercharge your tone. If you want to see more options, check out our extensive range of guitar effects pedals.

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4 Best Reverb Pedals For Ambient Guitar Sounds

Best reverb pedals

So, you’re looking for one of the best reverb pedals to add to your pedalboard arsenal. Great choice.

Reverb is arguably one of the most popular guitar effects available. Simply put, this effect gives your guitar sound ambience and emulates the sounds of playing in different spaces. Whether you want to sound like you’re performing in a studio or a cathedral, this effect has you covered.

Today, there are many flavours of reverb you can try, including spring, plate, hall, shimmer, and more. With so many options out there, finding one that suits your style can be challenging. Worry not; we’ve compiled a list of some of the best reverb pedals, from classic spring reverbs to more exotic types.

1. Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12 Reverb Pedal

 

Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12

With 12 different reverb styles in one affordable pedal, the Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12 is every reverb enthusiast’s dream.

This pedal features both ends of the spectrum with classic and exotic reverb sounds. Players can enjoy 12 different settings, including room, hall, spring, plate, reverse, echo, tremolo, modulated, dynamic, auto-infinite, shimmer, polyphonic, and resonant. For even more creative expression, most of the pedals have several modes, and you can run the dual stereo reverb engines in series or parallel. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll love the creative potential of the Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12 reverb pedal.

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2. TC Electronic Hall of Fame Reverb Pedal

TC Electronic Hall Of Fame Reverb TonePrint Series Guitar Effects Pedal

The TC Electronic Hall of Fame reverb pedal packs versatility into a compact stompbox. The 10 different reverb types consist of spring, hall, plate, room, church, ambiance, modulation, lo-fi, tile, gate, and TonePrint. And with three sound-crafting controls, including decay, effects level, and tone, you’ll love experimenting with this pedal. 

One of the truly unique features of the Hall of Fame pedal is TonePrint, which allows you to import custom tunings into the pedal. Whether you’re a beginner looking for basic sound tweaking or an advanced player craving more, you’ll find something to love in the TC Electronic Hall of Fame reverb pedal.

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3. Keeley Caverns V2 Delay Reverb Pedal

Keeley KCAVERNS Caverns V2 Delay/Reverb Effects Pedal

Keeley’s Caverns combines delay and reverb into one versatile stompbox. It features Keeley’s analog-style tape delay with modulation options. Then, 650ms of warm delay combine with spring, shimmer, or modulated reverb. Both sides can be activated independently and blended for perfect bliss. For a modern pedal with traditional reverb and delay sounds, add the Keeley Caverns v2 delay/reverb pedal to your pedalboard today.

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4. Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano Reverb Pedal

Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal

The Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano packs the legendary sounds of the original into a bite-sized stompbox. With classic spring, hall, and “flerb”, a flanged reverb with haunting spatial definition, this nano chassis is ready when you are. For a legendary reverb pedal with classic sounds, add the Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano reverb pedal to your pedalboard today. 

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 The reverb effect is an essential sound for any guitarist. No matter what tone you’re after, there is an option on our list for you.

Want to browse more guitar effects pedals? Check out our entire line of reverb and other effects.

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5 Best Guitar Combo Amplifiers To Find Your Style

 The best combo amps in 2021

An amp is one of the most significant purchases a guitarist will make. An amp helps shape your sound, so it’s important to choose the right one for your playing style.

Combo amps are useful for their simplicity and ease of use. However, if you’re in the market for a combo amp, you’ll find that there are a seemingly endless amount of options out there. To help, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best guitar combo amps you can buy right now.

Read on to see our top picks!

1. Orange Rocker 32

Orange Rocker 32 30W Twin Channel Guitar Combo Amp

The Orange Rocker 32 stereo all-tube combo amp is the partner you’ve been waiting for. At the heart of this beast is its stereo effects loop, which opens up endless possibilities for your pedalboard. The Natural channel boasts glassy and clean tones with a volume control, while the Dirty channel has 3-band EQ, gain, and volume controls, allowing for different flavours of British crunch. No matter your style, you will love rocking with the Orange Rocker 32.

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2. Vox AC30C2

VOX AC30C2

The Vox AC30 has shaped the music industry, with legends such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, and Radiohead, amongst many others, relying on this combo amp. This is a great all-rounder amp, suiting every style from country to heavy metal.

The AC30C2 offers two channels, Normal and Top Boost. The Top Boost channel sports treble and bass controls, allowing you to shape your own classic sound. And thanks to the onboard reverb and tremolo, you get an endless range of sounds for experimentation. Plug into the versatile Vox AC30C2 combo amp and experience new sonics!

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3. Vox AC4C1-12

Vox AC4C1-12 4W 1x12" Classic Limited Edition Tube Guitar Combo Amp

The highly portable Vox AC4C1-12 offers the big AC30 sound in a small package. If you want classic Vox sounds but need something more lightweight, the Vox AC4C1-12 is the perfect option.

Dial in clean, chimney tones or crank into overdrive with the volume, treble, bass, and gain controls. Best of all, you can easily take this mini amp to rehearsals or gig at home without compromising on the incredible tone. See why so many guitarists love the versatility and portability of the Vox AC4C1-12 combo amp today.

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4. Marshall ORI20C

Marshall ORIGIN20C Amp

The Marshall ORI20C valve combo amp delivers vintage Marshall tones through powerful simplicity. The Gain and Master knobs control your crunch, and the Presence control and 3-band EQ shape your tone. You can also use the unique Tilt control to blend bright and normal sounds. No matter your style, you can find yourself in the Marshall ORI20C valve combo amp. 

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5. Marshall MG50GFX

Marshall MG50GFX Guitar Amp

The Marshall MG50GFX packs fat Marshall tones into a small, portable package. With four channels – Clean, Crunch, OD1, and OD2 – shapeable with a 3-band EQ, and integrated reverb, delay, and digital effects, you have everything you need to get rockin’. And since it has 50 watts of power, it’s perfect for at-home use or smaller gigs. Plug into the Marshall MG50GFX today!

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Ready To Rock

Hopefully, now you have a better idea of which combo amp you would like to buy. The most important part is that you get one that matches your style. 

If you would like to browse more combo amps, check out our entire range of guitar combo amplifiers. 

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7 Best Microphones For Home And Live Recordings

Set-up of microphone and headset.

When recording your vocals or instruments, your microphone can make or break your production. There are many microphones on the market, and sorting through them is difficult and time-consuming. Worry not, we’ve got you covered with our list of some of the best microphones for home and live recordings. 

Best Home Office Microphones

Shure MV5 Digital Condenser Mic

Shure MV5-DIG MOTIV MV5 Digital Condenser Microphone (Grey/Silver)

Connection: USB, Lightning
Pickup Pattern: Cardioid 

If you want a stylish retro microphone that delivers excellent sound quality, look no further than the Shure MV5. It is Apple MFi certified, meaning you can plug it into any iOS device with a Lightning port, and comes with both a USB cable and a Lightning cable. The microphone is also equipped with a headphone jack for real-time monitoring and three preset DSP modes. If you need a budget-friendly microphone for your home office, consider the Shure MV5.

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Audio-Technica AT2020USB+

Audio-Technica AT2020 USB+ Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone

Connection: USB
Pickup Pattern: Cardioid

Audio-Technica is highly-regarded in the professional audio industry, and for good reason. They’ve produced many iconic microphones for users of all levels. The AT2020USB+ is the USB version of their popular AT2020 microphone. This microphone features a headphone jack for live monitoring and mix control to blend your microphone signal with pre-recorded audio. Compatible with most computers, this microphone is an excellent choice for audio recordings and Zoom meetings.

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 Best Microphones For Recording Vocals

Shure SM58

Shure SM58-LC Cardioid Vocal Microphone

Connection: XLR
Pickup Pattern: Cardioid

The Shure SM58 cardioid vocal microphone is one of the most popular microphones worldwide. In fact, famous singers use them worldwide in their performances every day. So, why are pro studios with massive budgets using this microphone? Well, it’s excellent at eliminating feedback, and its rugged construction makes it perfect for live performances. If you want a legendary vocal recording microphone that pros around the world trust, the Shure SM58 is the obvious choice.

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Shure SM7B

Shure SM7B Large Diaphragm Cardioid Dynamic MicrophoneConnection: XLR

Pickup Pattern: Cardioid

The Shure SM7B microphone has been used by music legends such as Michael Jackson over the years. It provides a rich, balanced tone and virtually eliminates feedback. Not only that, but its rugged construction and excellent cartridge protection mean you can rely on this legendary microphone for years to come. 

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 Best Microphones For Recording Guitar

Shure SM57

Shure SM57-LC Instrument Microphone

Connection: XLR
Pickup Pattern: Cardioid

Many regard the Shure SM57 as the industry standard for recording guitar amps. This microphone handles high sound pressure levels easily and picks up on high and low frequencies. It also has high feedback before gain functionality, making it perfect for stage use. The Shure SM57 is practical, cheap, and packs a punch, making it the standard microphone for many, including the President of the United States’ official podium. 

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Sennheiser e 609

Sennheiser E 609 Silver Dynamic Supercardioid Guitar Amplifier Microphone

Connection: XLR
Pickup Pattern: Supercardioid

Explicitly designed for miking guitar cabs close to the source, the Sennheiser e 609 has the features you need to record your electric guitar. First, the flat design of this microphone allows it to kiss your amp. Second, the supercardioid polar pattern isolates the instrument from other sounds, which is especially useful for on-stage performances. So, if you’re looking for one of the best microphones for recording your guitar, look no further than the Sennheiser e 609. 

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Shure SM81-LC

Shure SM81-LC Instrument Microphone

Connection: XLR
Pickup Pattern: Cardioid

For isolating your acoustic guitar, the Shure SM81-LC microphone is a fantastic choice. The frequency response is flat; however, the selectable low-frequency response is an option if you wish. Since it is a condenser microphone, it does requires a phantom power source with a decent pre-amp to get an optimal sound level out of the mic. However, if you want a great microphone for recording live acoustic guitar, consider the Shure SM81-LC. 

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Pick up one of these great microphones to sound your best in your next recording session. Hopefully, our list helps you find the best microphone for home and live recording needs. Want to browse more microphones? Check out our wide range of recording devices!

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Best Guitar Effects For Jazz

Fender Jazz Bass guitar with pedals

Jazzy tones are renowned for their clean, simple, and transparent tones. However, many jazz players turn to guitar pedals for character and flavour to enhance a mellow tone. We’ll go over some of the best guitar effects for jazz that you can get right now.

Best Guitar Effects For Jazz

There are many guitar effects out there. Some are used more often by jazz players than others. The most popular guitar effects for jazz are as follow:

  • Chorus
  • Compression
  • Delay
  • Octave
  • Reverb

Chorus

TC Electronic Corona Chorus TonePrint Series Effects Pedal
TC Electronic Corona Chorus

Chorus gives your playing the illusion of two guitar signals, providing texture to an otherwise clean tone. It also provides ambience and lush sounds that are essential when it comes to jazz. To add a different dimension to your clean jazzy tones, consider picking up a chorus pedal.

Best Chorus Pedals

Delay

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

Delay is an incredibly versatile effect suitable for any jazz player. From lengthy, echoing nuances to slapback tones, this effect allows you to create larger-than-life sounds, especially when combined with other effects. Every jazzist should have a delay pedal in their arsenal to unlock thicker, more emotional tones.

Best Delay Pedals

Octave

Electro-Harmonix EHX Nano Pog Polyphonic Octave Generator Guitar Effects Pedal
Electro-Harmonix EHX Nano Pog

An octave pedal unlocks massive creative potential for jazz players. The most useful feature of the octave effect is the ability to mimic the sound of bass using a regular guitar. You can also create the illusion of a full band with different rhythmic cords.

Best Octave Pedals

Reverb

 

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

Reverb provides the illusion of space and gives your playing texture and ambience. This effect is considered an essential effect in the jazz scene because it adds depth and texture to clean tones. For instance, many players traditionally rely on a lush spring reverb for pristine texture and ambience.

Best Reverb Pedals

Add Some Texture

Now, you should have a better idea of what guitar effects are best for jazz music. However, you can experiment with other effects if you would like more creative liberty. If you would like to see more options, browse our entire line of guitar effects pedals.

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