Guitar

Neural DSP going mini? That's right! At NAMM 2026, we got to play with the new Neural DSP Quad Cortex Mini and see if it's really as good as its full-sized counterpart. Spoilers: It's pretty sweet. 

It was loud at the NAMM 2026 VOX booth, so we just had to wander over and take a look. Check out the latest gear releases from VOX, including some new hand-wired models, the return of Valvetronix, and the cutest stack you ever did see. 

You just got a new guitar. Congratulations! But before you shred the box to get to the goodies, check out this step-by-step guide to learn how to properly unbox a guitar. Your new instrument will thank you. 

A lot of cool stuff released in 2025. But what was the best? Check out this list of the Best Gear of 2025 to see all the top picks — in our humble opinion, at least. 

Yamaha makes a TON of different products. You name it, they make it. So where do you start? Well, how about this AMS-approved list of our top 10 favorite Yamaha products! 

Know someone who likes Taylor guitars? Do they have a birthday coming up? What about a holiday? Check out some of the AMS-approved best Taylor gifts for that special someone on your list. 

Martin makes some of the best acoustic guitars around. But which one is right for your style? Check out the AMS-approved list of the Top 10 Martin guitars to find your acoustic soulmate. 

The Fender name is legend. But their catalog is so vast, you might not know where to start. We'll give you a quick hint with this AMS-approved list of the Top 5 Fender Products available right now. 

Trying to figure out what to gift a guitarist? Even though there’s an abundance of options, we’re going to help you sort through and give you a variety of options to consider.

There's two pickups. How do you decide which one to use? Well, if you read this article, you'll know! Learn all about the differences between neck vs. bridge pickups and when to use each — even though there aren't really rules in music. 

It's the showdown of saturation. The competition of clipping. This is Overdrive vs. Distortion vs. Fuzz. Learn what these three effects really do to your tone to help you choose the right one for your style. 

Ready to live the unthethered life? Ditch the cable with the best wireless guitar systems, as chosen by the AMS Gear Nerds, and explore uncharted areas of the stage — and beyond...

Ukuleles come in all shapes and sizes. Which one is right for you? Let's take a look at the different types of ukes to find the perfect fit for your style. 

Ready to head to the underworld of guitar? No, nothing demonic. We're talking about Baritone Guitars! Learn all about baritone guitars and how they can add new dimensions to your sound. 

The wizard behind the scenes works in mysterious ways... We're talking about digital signal processing, of course! Learn all about DSP and how it powers your gear. 

Find the perfect metal guitar strings for drop tuning, heavy riffs, and brutal breakdowns. Expert reviews of top brands for maximum shred power.

Find your next guitar without breaking open your piggy bank with the official 2025 AMS ranking of best budget electric guitars. (And they're good guitars, too!)

Want great tone without breaking the piggy bank? Check out the AMS-approved list of best guitar amps under $200. Your wallet will thank you! 

It might not be the first thing you look for, but scale length plays a huge role in the playability and tone for any guitar. What is scale length, you ask? Learn all about it right here!

The way a guitar's neck attaches to the body affects more than just playability. Learn about the differences between bolt-on vs. set neck guitars to find out which one's right for your style.