You have questions. We have answers! The AMS Gear Nerds have been hard at work picking apart all the best equipment and knowledge the music industry has to offer to build out the AMS content library. Whether you want to know how to pick the perfect guitar, which drum heads work best for your style, or what the heck a contactless magnetic fader is, we’ve got you covered.
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A guide to keyboard action
From weighted keys and spring action to flat keys and touchpads, this guide will help you decipher all the terms related to keyboard action.
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A chat with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai
AMS got to talk to the ultimate shredders in person and got to ask Satch and Vai all about their careers, take them down memory lane, and ask them about gear.
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Victor Wooten interview
Victor Wooten stopped by American Musical Supply to teach us a thing or two about music, jammed on Hartke gear, and played with the AMS band. Check it out!
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A day in the life of a touring sound engineer
What’s it like to be a touring sound engineer? Here’s what an average day looks like when you’re in charge of speakers, subs, mixers, and more!
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Digital vs. analog mixers
Every artist needs a good mixer. But which is right for you? Learn the difference between analog and digital mixers to find which fits your musical needs.
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Our top 10 favorite things from NAMM 2024
NAMM is always a good time. There’s so much to see! And while we couldn’t list everything, we did come up with our 10 favorite things we saw at NAMM 2024.
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John 5 interview and rig rundown
The AMS team traveled to the Gramercy Theatre to talk to the incredible John 5 about his career and take a look at his infamous rig.
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Tracking drums in a home studio
Recording drums in a small studio is never easy, but it’s not impossible! Try out these three proven methods for tracking drums in your home studio.
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One (Zakk) Wylde interview
AMS got to sit down with Zakk Wylde and JD DeServio before a Zakk Sabbath show to talk about metal, all his collaborations, and of course lots of gear.
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Tips to learn an instrument as an adult
It’s never too late to pick up an instrument. Learn the joys of music regardless of age with these helpful tips for adult beginners.
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Sound in Motion with Logan Beaver – FOH for Motionless in White
Logan Beaver has been in charge of Motionless in White’s front of house sound for almost a decade, and we got to talk to him about gear, mixing, and more!
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Step into the Lerxst Limelight with Alex Lifeson
The AMS crew went to Montreal to visit legendary Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson and learn all about his latest signature model: the Lerxst Limelight.
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The Reasons Why Ariel Posen writes
Ariel Posen visits the AMS Tone Labs to talk about his latest album, Reasons Why, his songwriting process, playing Crossroads, and all things music.
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The difference between active and passive PA speakers
One needs power, and one doesn’t. But there are more differences between just a power cable. Learn about passive vs. active PA speakers to build your perfect setup.
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AMS last-minute Holiday Gift Guide 2023
Any last-minute shoppers out there? Check out the 2023 AMS Holiday Gift Guide for musicians with plenty of stocking stuffers you can get in a hurry.
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Austin Meade releases new single “Blackout”
Austin Meade released a new single called “Blackout,” and he was nice enough to talk to us about it! Check out the interview straight from Asbury Park, NJ.
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AMS presents: Game of Tones
Musicians put their skills to the test to replicate a guitar tone using an assortment of gear. Whoever gets the closest is crowned Game of Tones champion.
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Big Wreck releases new EP: Pages
The rock band Big Wreck released a new EP called Pages, and we got Ian Thornley and Dave McMillan in the AMS studios to talk about it. Watch the interview now!
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AMS is now an official supplier of Bad Cat amplifiers
AMS is proud to announce that we are now an official supplier of Bad Cat amplifiers. Shop a wide selection of Bad Cat amps, now at AmericanMusical.com.
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How to build a pedalboard
Guitar and bass effects pedals can be daunting. Where do you start with building a pedalboard? Right here at AMS!
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Rabea Massaad live and in-person at the AMS Tone Labs
Rabea Massaad joined us in the AMS Tone Labs to answer for a friendly chat about gear, songwriting, his newest EP, and when he started growing his ‘fro.
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AMS “Pest”ers Daffo about new EP release
Indie/folk sensation Daffo visited us in the AMS Studio to talk about their latest EP release, musical inspirations, creative processes, and more!
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A Guide to the UAFX 1176 Studio Compressor Pedal
It’s back! The legendary 1176 compressor from Universal Audio is returning as a stompbox pedal, and it has some amazing new tone-making features.
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Best Travel Headphones for Commuters
Looking for the best travel headphones to make your morning commute more bearable? Learn how to pick the perfect headphones and earbuds for your travel style.
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Beginner Acoustic Guitar Buyer's Guide
Wherever future endeavors may take you - the stage, the studio, the comfy living room couch - the first step in embarking on a wonderful journey is purchasing a guitar.
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Guitar String Buyer's Guide
There are tons of different types of guitar strings out there. Learn about the different build materials, gauges, and what they do to find the right strings for your style.
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How to build a DJ rig
Ready to make your DJ dreams a reality? Learn how to put together the ultimate DJ rig to mix and scratch your way to success.
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Beginner Electric Guitar Buyer’s Guide
Ready to rock but not sure where to start? Learn how to pick the perfect electric guitar to fulfill all your rockstar desires.
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A very Extreme interview
We sit down with Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt and Pat Badger to talk about their latest studio album Six, thoughts on songwriting, and why every song title is capitalized.
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The Heavy Metal Periodic Table
There are so many styles of metal it’s hard to even count. But we’ll give it a try! Check out this epic breakdown of some of the most popular types of metal.
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How many channels do you need on a mixer?
Three? Eight? Fourteen? How many channels do you really need on your mixer. Take a deep dive into the world of mixers to find out.
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Intervals’ Jacob Umansky interview
Prog-metal band Intervals has a new single and upcoming album, and we got to talk with bassist Jacob Umansky in an interview brought to you by Darkglass Electronics.
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How to pick the right keyboard controller
It’s easy to get bogged down in features when looking for the perfect keyboard controller. Learn how to pick the perfect controller to fit your musical needs.
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Demystifying the multiscale bass guitar
Fanned frets? Whoever heard of such a thing!? They might look weird, but multi-scale necks come with plenty of benefits to players who like to take things down a notch.
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Parts of a drum set explained
Drum sets make lots of different sounds. Learn what makes every beat, bump, bang, and crash with a breakdown of the various parts on a drum kit.
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Pedal flow 101: How to organize your pedalboard
There are a few “rules” when it comes to organizing your pedalboard signal flow, but do you really need to follow them? Listen to us or not, the choice is yours!
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Tube amps vs. solid-state amps
What kind of amp is best for your sound? Find out for yourself as we discuss the differences between tube amps and solid-state amps.
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New amp release: Victory VX Kraken MkII
Victory has unveiled the newest addition to the ever-popular Kraken series, the Victory VX Kraken MkII. And we got to talk to Rabea Massaad about it!
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Workstation vs. arranger keyboards
What’s the difference between workstation and arranger keyboards? They have many of the same features but are designed for very different musicians.
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