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If you’re thinking about buying someone their first electric guitar this Christmas, the good news is this: you don’t have to spend a fortune to get something solid. I’ve played guitar for over 55 years, toured half the world, and seen more beginner guitars than I can count, the good, the bad, and the ones that make you quit after two weeks. These five guitars are the ones I’d personally recommend to ANY beginner.They stay in tune, feel good in the hands, and make learning exc

Learning guitar is one of the best Christmas gifts anyone can receive, but knowing what  accessories to buy is another story. The good news? You don’t need expensive gear to make a beginner sound better and stay motivated. Here are five affordable, useful, and beginner-friendly gifts under $50 , available on Amazon: 1. Clip-On Guitar Tuner Every new guitarist needs a reliable tuner. Clip-on tuners make tuning fast, simple, and accurate, especially for beginners who can’t tu

If you’re shopping for a guitar player this Christmas, or you just want to expand your own pedalboard without spending a fortune, Donner pedals are some of the best deals you can get. Affordable, well-built, beginner-friendly, and every one of these is under $50 . Here are five of the best Donner pedals available right now. 1. Donner Blues Drive Overdrive Pedal Smooth, warm overdrive perfect for Texas blues, classic rock, and soulful solos.A fantastic first overdrive pedal

If you’re a musician looking for solid gear without draining your wallet, Donner has become one of the best budget brands on Amazon. Their accessories are reliable, beginner-friendly, and perfect for anyone wanting to improve their setup for under $50. Below are five Donner products I personally recommend — affordable, useful, and easy to grab on Amazon. 1. Donner Clip-On Tuner A solid, no-fuss tuner that every guitarist needs.Responsive, bright display, and works great on st

Every guitarist knows the struggle: you want the crunch of a Les Paul, the sparkle of a Strat, and  the acoustic shimmer of a Martin, but carrying three guitars to every gig just isn’t practical. That’s why piezo bridges exist. They let your electric guitar pull double duty by delivering convincing acoustic tones straight from your solid-body. Among the most respected names are LR Baggs, Fishman, and Graph Tech . In this guide, I’ll compare the leading options, LR Baggs T-B

For as long as I’ve been performing, I’ve had one foot in the Gibson world and one foot in the Epiphone world. I’ve owned both, gigged with both, and even walked out of music stores shaking my head because a Gibson nearly hypnotized me into buying it on the spot. The J-200 Experience I currently own a Gibson J-200, and I’ve also owned the Epiphone J-200 . On paper they look like siblings, same design, same heritage. And truthfully, the Epiphone held its own. With a good set

Over the years, I’ve had my hands on just about every TC Helicon vocal processor out there, the VoiceLive 1, VoiceLive 2, Play Acoustic, and Play Live. Each one impressed me, each one raised the bar, and all of them did their job beautifully on stage. But when I finally started working with the VoiceLive 3, it felt like the crown jewel of the lineup, superior in almost every way. From Good to Great to Unstoppable Every TC Helicon unit I’ve owned has lifted my performances,

Finding the perfect pickup can change everything for musicians. I spent years trying to find a pickup that captured the warmth and depth of my guitar's natural sound. That was until I discovered the LR Baggs M80 . This simple device transformed not only my acoustic tone but also my entire approach to live performances. In this post, I’ll share my journey with the M80 and explain why it has become my go-to acoustic pickup. The Search for the Perfect Pickup As a dedicated music