Category: Guitar Reviews
Falling in love with the Stratocaster (again)
After many years away from the world’s most iconic electric guitar brand, my son was gifted a 20th Anniversary Squier Affinity Stratocaster. It would be rude not to at least set it up for him wouldn’t it? I’ve covered the topic of the Fender Stratocaster quite often on these pages, and in fact, had it…
Yamaha Pacifica 112J Electric Guitar Review
The Yamaha Pacifica 112J. A Fender Stratocaster copy? An upgrade? or something completely different? What I’m reviewing here is my 1997 Yamaha Pacifica 112J (as opposed to the later 112v model). Originally this guitar was billed as a Squier Stratocaster killer, featuring solid body-woods as opposed to the rumoured plywood Squiers of that time. Features…
Why the Fender Stratocaster is better than the Gibson Les Paul.
Comparing two classics of electric guitar design, The Fender Stratocaster and The Gibson Les Paul. Next up? The case for the Fender Stratocaster. Design and Ergonomics The Fender Stratocaster has been described as ‘The Perfect Electric Guitar’, an exercise in form following function. Not a single element on the instrument is superfluous, everything has a…
Epiphone ES-335 PRO Review
Budget Gibson ES-335? So what do we have here? a guitar with the exact same construction as the real deal (a 2015 Gibson Memphis ES 335). Or in other words, a laminated hollow body, with solid centre block and glued-in mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard and block inlays. What you are getting here is the…
Line 6 Variax: Still thinking about buying one?
When the Line 6 Variax was first introduced years ago they were compared to MIDI devices. What Line 6 did differently than all other MIDI predecessors was to focus primarily on guitar while excluding the need for MIDI cables. The result? A guitar that models only guitars (or cousins thereof) and the option to use…
Brian May Red Special Review
As a Queen (and Brian May) fan, the fabled Red Special was always beyond criticism… until the day I bought the Brian May Guitars Red Special. The Brian May Guitars Red Special is, of course, an ‘affordable’ version of the real thing, not even comparable to the ‘Supers’, let alone the official copies made by…
Yamaha FG850 Acoustic Review
In-depth video review of the Yamaha FG850 Acoustic Guitar. Please check out my Yamaha FG850 Acoustic Review, live from the Garden Shed! I’ve finally taken the plunge of adding a little more interaction to The Blogging Musician, in the form of our new YouTube Channel. After a few ‘practice runs’ in the shape of an…
Line 6 Variax Review – Ultimate Modelling Guitar Guide
This line 6 Variax standard review will help you to learn more about the features and whether the line 6 Variax standard guitar is right for you. This line 6 Variax standard demo will help you get a quick start with your line 6 electric guitar. The first thing you will notice about the Line…
Taylor 110e Acoustic Guitar Review
I didn’t have a single issue with my Taylor 110e acoustic guitar in the 10 years spent with it. So why did I let it go? Outdated electronics My Taylor 110e featured Taylor’s now-defunct ES-Blue pickup system, devoid of any such niceties as EQ or an even end-pin mounted jack. Battery access? well, that was…