May 21st, 2009 by CME

Tone hounds in the know, especially those who have spent any time chasing great sounds in professional studios, have understood for years that one of the best ways to get a huge-sounding guitar track is to stick a good mic in front of a small tube amp and crank the thing up. These same players rarely use such small amps live, however, so we usually aren’t let in on the secret. Let’s open the door on the live room with the green light on and the tape running, and discover some powerful tones achieved on pint-sized amplifiers.

May 21st, 2009 by Gibson Lifestyle

The ultimate “legendary guitar” is that great instrument that a groundbreaking player latches onto and loves deeply throughout his or her career — devoting the vast bulk of their art to just that one guitar, a six-string with no parallel among its peers, in their estimation at least. With this in mind, Brian May’s “Red Special” has not only been his partner in the vast majority of his noteworthy work, but he himself created it to embody precisely what he was looking for from an instrument.

May 21st, 2009 by Gibson Lifestyle

Upon its release back in 1961 the SG Standard was one of the most radical designs the guitar world had ever seen, and it still makes a bold statement today.

May 20th, 2009 by Gibson Lifestyle

Assuming you have learned to play the guitar a little on your own, getting out and playing with other musicians can be an extremely rewarding endeavor. There’s nothing like the feeling — and sound — of making music with other human beings, translating what you’ve learned on your own instrument into a group effort that produces something real. It’s magical. And you don’t even have to be an expert on the guitar yourself to get out there and have fun with others. Provided you know a few chords at least, and understand how to learn new ones that friends might show you, playing with other like-minded beginner or novice musicians can often help you improve faster than you would all on your own, however hard you work at it. There’s nothing like the team effort of rehearsing together to help you develop your sense of rhythm, melody, dynamics, and overall timing. However good you feel you’re getting all on your lonesome in the bedroom or basement, you never really know how you’re coming along as a musician until you throw down with a few others.

May 5th, 2009 by CME

Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum says Axl Rose should not use the Guns N’ Roses band name when he goes on tour with the group’s current lineup.

May 5th, 2009 by CME

So you’ve rehearsed your hearts out, got your set down tight and landed your band’s first gig. What now? You need to get gig ready, that’s what! Sure, being able to put on a show is a big part of the battle, but it also helps to have a handful of insider’s tips at the ready — a list of all the little things that can help the gig go smoothly — so you don’t spoil a potentially great performance with some small, avoidable glitch. This installment of Back to Basics gives you a quick guide to having both your gear and your attitude in the right condition to pull off that first gig, and every one after it, like a pro.