JUCE, a development platform for plugins and audio applications that allows devs to deploy across all major desktop/mobile operating systems – as well as popular plugin formats such as VST, AU, AAX and more – has announced Juice 8, a leap forward for the audio development in general as it adds several highly anticipated updates, as well as the introduction of a new animation framework. Among the updates, JUCE are highlighting substantial low-level improvements to text rendering as well as lightning-fast Direct2D rendering on Windows as leaps forward for it’s users. In addition, JUCE 8 not only ..read more

There are amplifiers available for practically every purpose these days – from 200 watt tube rigs for stadium gigs through to battery powered novelty amps on belt clips, and yet despite this variety, one particular group of players has been underserved for far too long – acoustic players looking for small, low to mid powered amps. The assumption has generally been that acoustic guitars don’t need amps for lower volume situations, and their inherent acoustic properties negate the need, and while this might be partly true, using an amplifier brings about so many other benefits than volume alone ..read more

When you think of iconic rock guitarists, Saul Hudson—better known as Slash—undoubtedly stands out as a legend. His signature top hat, wild curly hair, and soulful Les Paul tones have made him a symbol of rock ‘n’ roll excellence.  Slash’s work with Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver, and his solo career has inspired countless guitarists around the world. Even legends have their heroes, and understanding the influences behind a great guitarist like Slash provides valuable insights into his playing style and musical journey. This article delves into the three guitarists who have had the most p ..read more

If you’ve been searching online for guitars or other instruments, there’s a good chance that the targeted ads that pop up on your browser are starting to direct you to a site called Guitar Center, and if you’ve never heard of them, you might be wondering whether or not this is a legit business. Looking to buy a guitar online? Check out our full guide to online guitar retailers. Is Guitar Center legit/safe to buy from? Yes, Guitar Center is a legit retailer that you should by and large feel safe to buy from. That being said, we would suggest exercising some caution as they have been known to ..read more

Modern blues guitar master Joe Bonamassa discussed his guitar preferences and pointed out why he switched from Fender Stratocasters to Gibson Les Pauls as his main guitars. And yes, we know — it’s not like Joe doesn’t own a bunch of Strats and Teles. Also, it’s not like he only uses Les Pauls. But these days, it seems that the good old single-cut models are his main weapons of choice, especially his favorite ’59, widely known as the “Skinnerburst.” As he revealed in an interview with Chris Shiflett, the switch happened sometime in the early 2000s when he was still at the beginning of his ..read more

According to Adrian Belew, there was one specific thing that made King Crimson stand out from the other progressive rock and jazz fusion bands of the era. Being a unique musician and performer, Belew got into the newly formed band led by King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp. However, despite their plans to be called Discipline instead, the band, now also featuring Bill Bruford on drums and Tony Levin on bass, adopted the King Crimson name. This quartet would end up recording three albums, the first one being 1981’s “Discipline.” Belew, who was a guitarist and singer in this new lineup, recently ..read more

The famous blues rock virtuoso Joe Bonamassa discussed some aspects of guitar playing that can’t be taught. To be fair, blues is a genre that’s all about these odd little details that cannot be learned through conventional means. In other words, you can’t learn it in the same way you’d learn Western Classical music. There are all these nuances and little details that no book can teach you about. While speaking to Premier Guitar recently, as curated by Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett, Bonamassa reflected on the matter of “feel” and whether it’s something that one can learn. When asked about this ..read more

According to Joe Satriani, electric guitars with all-maple necks, like the classic Fender Stratocasters and Fender Telecasters, just aren’t the perfect option in his eyes. We just need to note that Satch does use guitars with maple necks. It’s just that his instruments usually have rosewood fingerboards. Nonetheless, this may seem like an odd preference, especially knowing how plenty of guitar greats prefer all-maple necks. While appearing in a recent episode of the Talking Shred podcast, Joe pointed out that he doesn’t prefer these types of necks and explained why, offering (transcript via Ul ..read more

Joel Hoekstra, guitar maestro known for his work with Whitesnake, reflected on how he started playing for the legendary pop singer Cher and discussed the importance of being a versatile musician. In many ways, Joel may seem like your usual 1980s shredder. After all, that’s not unusual for someone playing in Whitesnake, isn’t it? But he’s more than just that. During his career, he also played for Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a musical collective where one really needs to be skilled and versatile. But as far as the Cher thing goes, Hoekstra revealed recently during the Denim and Leather Podcast tha ..read more

Pro bassist Philip Bynoe reflected on the modern state of guitar-oriented music and explained why he thinks lead parts aren’t as good as they could be. Byone is probably best known for his work with legendary guitar virtuoso Steve Vai and has been a constant member of his band since 2012. And we’re all more than aware that playing with someone like Vai requires incredible skill and knowledge. But apart from that, he’s also worked with Slash, Charlie Farren, and Kevin Eubanks, just to name a few. So we can safely say that Philip’s judgment on what makes a good guitar solo has solid foundations ..read more