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Guides

Vinyl VS Record: Are They the Same Thing? What About an LP?

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
Vinyl vs Record vs LP

When several different words like vinyl, record, and LP are thrown around as casually as a baseball, it’s easy to get confused. In modern society, most people are talking about … Read more

Categories Guides, Turntables

How to Fix a Warped Record: Is it Possible to Unwarp Vinyl?

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
How to Fix a Warped Record

If you’re in the unfortunate situation of dealing with a warped vinyl record, it’s no surprise that you’ve come looking for answers on how to fix it. Depending on how … Read more

Categories Guides, Turntables

How Much is a Record Player? Are They Worth the Cost?

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
How Much is a Record Player

Undoubtedly, record players are a wonderful way to enjoy your music. But you may still be skeptical about whether or not they are worth the hit to your wallet and … Read more

Categories Guides, Turntables

What is a Vinyl Record & What are Vinyls Made Of?

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
What is a Vinyl Record and What are they Made of

Whether you’ve seen them buried in your parents’ belongings, hanging around a thrift store, or in old movies, you’re bound to have come across vinyl records at least once before. … Read more

Categories Guides, Turntables

How To Repair a Record Player – DIY Tips to Fix (With Images)

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
How to Repair a Record Player

Whether you’re a newbie who just found an old record player tucked in the garage or you’ve been using one for years, it’s helpful to know some basic repair methods … Read more

Categories Guides, Turntables

Why Is My Record Skipping? & How To Fix It

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
Why is My Record Skipping

We all know the mind-bending aggravation of a record that keeps on skipping. In some cases, it can be fixed, but the first step towards fixing the problem is knowing … Read more

Categories Guides, Turntables

How to Use a Record Player? Instructions For First Timers

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
How to Use a Record Player

So you just bought your first record player and can’t wait to dive in? If you’re a first-timer, you might be wondering where everything goes and how everything works. This … Read more

Categories Guides, Turntables

How To Clean Vinyl Records Safely & Without Damaging Them

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
How to Clean Vinyl Records

Are you sick and tired of all the dust and gunk building up on your records but don’t want to damage your precious collection with sketchy DIY cleaning hacks? We … Read more

Categories Guides, Turntables

Storing Vinyl Records – Vertically, Horizontally & In Heat

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
Storing Vinyl Records

If you’re a vinyl enthusiast, you’re probably wondering how to keep your precious records in good shape. Apart from how you handle the records and how your record player equipment … Read more

Categories Guides, Turntables

Parts of a Record Player – Full Turntable Anatomy Explained (With Pics)

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
Parts of a Record Player

Ever looked at a record player with a complete loss of words and felt a bit silly trying to describe the spinning part or the rod with a pin on … Read more

Categories Guides, Turntables

Turntable Vs Record Player – Key Differences Explained

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
Turntable VS Record Player

Contrary to popular belief, a turntable and a record player is not the same thing. The terms may be used interchangeably in many contexts but there are important key differences … Read more

Categories Guides, Turntables

What Does 7.1 Channel Mean for a Surround Sound Setup?

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
What Does 7.1 Channel Mean for a Surround Sound Setup

Wondering what the 7.1 channel specification means for a surround sound setup? Read on for a concise explanation. 7.1 channel means that the setup has seven main outputs and one … Read more

Categories Guides, Speakers

What Does 5.1 Channel Mean for Surround Sound Home Theater?

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
What Does 5.1 Channel Mean

If you’re confused by what 5.1 channel means in the context of home theater sound systems, you’re in exactly the right place. We’ll gladly provide a simple explanation! A 5.1 … Read more

Categories Guides, Speakers

What Does 3.1 Channel Mean for Sound Systems?

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
What Does 3.1 Channel Mean for Sound Systems

We are going to clear up any misunderstandings around 3.1 channel for sound systems. Essentially, 3.1 channel means that the sound system has three main audio output channels with one … Read more

Categories Guides, Speakers

What Does 2.1 Channel Mean for Speakers & Soundbars?

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
What Does 2.1 Channel Mean for Speakers and Soundbars

So you are the new proud owner of a 2.1 channel speaker set! Or maybe you are scoping the soundbar market and keep coming across a 2.1 channel specification? Whichever … Read more

Categories Guides, Speakers

Lead Guitar vs Rhythm Guitar (What Is The Difference?)

by Davis Wilton Bader
Lead Guitar VS Rhythm Guitar

If you’ve ever gone online to look for a band that needs a guitar player, you may have noticed that some ads ask for Rhythm Guitarists and some ask for … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar

Bass Amp vs Guitar Amp (Everything You Need to Know)

by Davis Wilton Bader
Bass Amp VS Guitar Amp

Do you want to know how to tell the difference between a bass amp and a guitar amp? Can you plug a guitar into a bass amp? What about a … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Amps

3/4 Guitar Vs Full Size (The Differences & Which is Best?)

by Davis Wilton Bader
Three Quarter Versus Full Sized Guitars

The two most common size guitars that players use are the normal “Full Size” and the smaller “3/4 Size” guitars. What do these size differences mean and how do they … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar

Nylon String Guitar Vs Steel String (Which is Better?)

by Davis Wilton Bader
Nylon String Guitar VS Steel Strings

Are you looking to pick out your first acoustic guitar? You could easily be forgiven for not realizing that there are two distinct types of acoustic guitar worth considering. In … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar

Guitar Amp Noise Troubleshooting (Fixing Buzz, Hiss & Hum)

by Davis Wilton Bader
Guitar Amp Noise Troubleshooting - Buzzing, Humming and Hissing

There’s nothing more troublesome or worrying for an electric guitarist than hearing strange noises coming from their amplifier. We’re musicians, not technicians… How do you know what is causing the … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Amps

How Does A Guitar Amp Work? (Everything You Need to Know)

by Davis Wilton Bader
How Does a Guitar Amp Work

You may have noticed when you strum an unplugged electric guitar that the instrument sounds uncharacteristically quiet. Not exactly the sound that’s ready to rock a stadium, is it? There … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Amps

What Is Gain On A Guitar Amp (Compared to Volume & Distortion)

by Davis Wilton Bader
What is Gain on a Guitar Amp

Gain. It’s a word that gets thrown around in the guitar world quite often, yet there is a lot of misunderstanding around the word. Not knowing exactly what gain is … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Amps

How To Make A Fuzz Pedal At Home (Full Guide With Videos)

by Davis Wilton Bader
How to Make a Fuzz Pedal

Are you a fuzz pedal fanatic? So much so that you are interested in making your own design? Are you fascinated by pedal circuitry and looking for a place to … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Pedals

How To Use An Effects Loop On A Guitar Amp

by Davis Wilton Bader
How to Use an Effects Loop on a Guitar Amp

Have you ever looked on the back of your favorite tube amplifier and seen two ¼ inch jacks labeled “FX Send” and “FX Return” and wondered – what do these … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Amps

What Does An Overdrive Pedal Do? (Plus 5 Cool Types of Overdrive)

by Davis Wilton Bader
What Does an Overdrive Pedal Do

Are you are beginner wanting to know what overdrive pedals do to the sound of your guitar? Have you been using overdrives for years but want to learn more about … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Pedals

How To Use A Compressor Pedal & 6 Awesome Ways To Use Compression

by Davis Wilton Bader
How to Use a Compressor Pedal

Are you wanting to buy your first compressor pedal, but don’t know how to use it? Maybe you’ve had compressor pedals before, but always ended up ditching them because the … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Pedals

What Does A Wah Pedal Do?

by Davis Wilton Bader
What Does a Wah Pedal Do

When watching guitarists play live, you may notice that when it comes time for a funky rhythm section or for a ripping solo that they rock their foot back and … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Pedals

What Does A Compressor Pedal Do & How Do They Work?

by Davis Wilton Bader
What Does a Compressor Pedal Do

Compression is often one of the most confusing effects to understand. This isn’t just for beginners, by the way. Even many professional guitarists don’t really know how to work their … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Pedals

Guitar Effects Pedals Explained (How They Work & Our Favorites)

by Davis Wilton Bader
Guitar Effects Pedals Explained

When you pick up classical instruments like the trumpet, flute, or piano, even an acoustic guitar, you have everything you need to play the instrument there in your hands. There … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Pedals

What Does A Chorus Pedal Do?

by Davis Wilton Bader
What Does a Chorus Pedal Do

If you’ve ever listened to recordings from the 80’s, you’re almost guaranteed to have heard a chorus pedal at work. Chorus was on everything at the time, to the point … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Pedals

Can You Use Guitar Pedals For Bass? (Find Out The Difference & Our Favorites)

by Davis Wilton Bader
Can You Use Guitar Pedals For Bass

If you are a bass player, you may have noticed that there are some effects pedals that have the word “Bass” labeled on them. This label has created a separation … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Pedals

First Guitar Pedal To Buy – Extensive Guide To Getting Started With Effects

by Davis Wilton Bader
First Guitar Pedal to Buy - Getting Started with Effects

You have an electric guitar, a cable, and an amplifier. Awesome! You officially own everything that you need to play the electric guitar. However, there is a lot more that … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Pedals

Guitar Pedal Order – How To Correctly Organize Your Pedalboard

by Davis Wilton Bader
Guitar Pedal Order - How to Correctly Organize Your Pedalboard

As a guitarist you’ve more than likely collected a few effects pedals (OK, maybe more than just a few) and you might be asking yourself… Can pedals be thrown together … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar Pedals

Ukulele vs Mandolin – Which Should You Learn & What Is The Difference?

by Fiona
Ukulele vs Mandolin - Which One Should You Learn and What’s the Difference

Fancy learning to play a new instrument? Great idea! The only question is, which one should you start with? Beginners are often drawn to instruments like the ukulele and the … Read more

Categories Guides, Ukuleles

10 Different Types Of Ukulele Explored & Explained

by Fiona
Types of Ukulele

I know what you’re thinking, “10 different types?! What?!”. Yup, that’s right! Buckle up. If you’ve recently taken a trip down ukulele lane and realized there’s a lot you didn’t … Read more

Categories Guides, Ukuleles

Banjo Vs Ukulele – What Is The Difference & Which Is Best For You?

by Fiona
Banjo VS Ukulele - All Your Questions Answered

So, you’re trying to decide whether to buy a ukulele or a banjo. Maybe you can already play one of them and are wondering how difficult it would be to … Read more

Categories Guides, Ukuleles

Ukulele vs Guitar – How Are They Different & Which Is Best For You

by Fiona
Ukulele VS Guitar - What is the Difference and Which Should You Learn

You’re about to pick up a new hobby but you’re just not sure whether to start with the guitar or the ukulele, right? Maybe you’re a pro or a complete … Read more

Categories Guides, Ukuleles

How To Choose A Ukulele – Get The Perfect One For Your Needs

by Fiona
How to Choose a Ukulele

Let me guess… You want to buy a ukulele but after a quick internet search, you’ve realized there’s a lot more to it than just choosing a color? Well, I’m … Read more

Categories Guides, Ukuleles

How To Choose The Best Guitar Pick For Your Playing Style

by Davis Wilton Bader
How to Choose a Guitar Pick

Possibly the most overlooked piece of guitar gear is the humble guitar pick. It makes sense to me. When there are so many factors to consider that add up to … Read more

Categories Accessories, Guides

When To Change Your Guitar Strings & Why You Should

by Davis Wilton Bader
When to Replace Guitar Strings

Knowing when to change the strings on your guitar is one of the most essential and fundamental guitar maintenance skills that every guitarist should develop. The obvious follow-up question is: … Read more

Categories Accessories, Guides

7 Useful Tips To Buying A Used Electric Guitar In 2022

by Davis Wilton Bader
Buying a Used Electric Guitar

You want to get a new guitar. Congrats! Fewer things get a guitarist more excited than the prospect of purchasing a new instrument. After all, new is better right? Not … Read more

Categories Electric, Guides

Electric Guitar Buying Guide: A Beginners Guide On How To Choose

by Evie
Electric Guitar Buying Guide

If you’re new to electric guitars, you may need a hand to hold while you learn as much as you can before you buy.  You mightn’t know where to start, … Read more

Categories Electric, Guides

How to Set Up an Electric Guitar [Includes Video Demonstrations]

by Evie
How to Set Up an Electric Guitar

Having a “set up” electric guitar will unlock its full potential so that it plays and sounds like the guitar you’ve always dreamed of having. But, to get your guitar … Read more

Categories Electric, Guides

How to Clean an Electric Guitar Using Household & Professional Items

by Evie
How to Clean an Electric Guitar

With all the money and time that you’ve put into your electric guitar, give it a tune-up with a good cleaning to preserve its longevity and playability.  Whether it’s cleaning … Read more

Categories Electric, Guides

Can You Play An Electric Guitar Without An Amp?

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
Can You Play An Electric Guitar Without An Amp

Do you really need to be plugged in to be heard? Getting setup with all the must-have equipment to play the electric guitar can be an expensive pursuit.  It’s especially … Read more

Categories Electric, Guides

Pedal Tuner VS Clip-On: Which Will Be The Right Tuner For You?

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
Pedal Tuners VS Clip-On Tuners

What are the advantages of a clip-on tuner versus a pedal and vice versa? Are you plugged in or are you playing acoustic? Are you jamming at home, rocking it … Read more

Categories Guides, Tuners

Guitar Anatomy Including Parts, String Labels, Fret Numbering & More! (Infographics)

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
Guitar Anatomy 101

Have you ever run into someone you’ve met a few times but can’t ever remember their name?  Now that you’re embarrassed to ask their name again after so many run-ins, … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar

Laminate VS Solid Wood Acoustic Guitar: Which Will Be The Right Choice For You?

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
Laminate VS Solid Wood Acoustic Guitars

You may have never given thought to the different types of woods or materials a guitar can be made from. But, as you dig deeper into what kind of sound, … Read more

Categories Acoustic, Guides

How To Restring An Acoustic Guitar In 9 Easy Steps

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
9 Steps to Restring an Acoustic Guitar

Do you have to pay to restring your guitar? Don’t feel ashamed if you don’t know how to restring your guitar yourself, this is what we are here for! In … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar

When To Restring A Guitar? 5 Signs Your Acoustic Guitar Needs New Strings

by Trent 'The Sound Junky' Schug
5 Signs You Need to Restring an Acoustic Guitar

Do you put a new set of strings on when you buy a guitar? Do you only replace a broken string? Don’t feel bad if you’re a beginner and you’re … Read more

Categories Guides, Guitar
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  • Guides
    • Band Tips
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  • Headphones
  • Instruments
    • Guitar
      • Accessories
        • Guitar Amps
        • Guitar Pedals
        • Tuners
      • Acoustic Guitars
      • Classical Guitars
      • Acoustic Electric Guitars
      • Electric Guitars
    • Ukuleles
    • Violins
  • Speakers
    • Computer
    • Soundbars
  • Subwoofers
  • Sound Systems
    • Turntables