Dylan McKerchie

How To Choose an Electric Guitar For a Beginner When I was 6 years old my Dad gave me my first acoustic guitar. It was a kid-size Stella. It hurt my fingers, and it didn't sound that great. A few months later I quit playing. I really wanted to be a drummer. A few years went by, and my dad encouraged me to try again. He gave me an import version of the legendary Fender Stratocaster. I was SOLD. 35 years later and I am still playing guitar. I still own that Stratocaster and I will never part with it. Two...

We have all seen the meme about the kid that thinks he should have been louder because he "turned his gain up". What really is the difference between gain and volume? Gain Gain -the factor by which power or voltage is increased in an amplifier or other electronic device. The purpose of a guitar amp is to take a very small voltage from the pickups and amplify it so we can hear it. The net increase is the "gain"  Volume In this conversation volume is how loud the guitar is. It seems simple. You turn the amp up and the...

Strings in the 21st Century There are subscription services for everything these days. Shaving supplies, contact lenses, clothing, food... even tampons! It only makes sense that a lot of people are ordering guitar strings on-line. I change strings quite a bit so having them just show up at the door is pretty nice. Lets face it. most of the time when you DON'T change them, it's because you don't have any. String subscriptions by mail fix that problem from the comfort of your home.  Lots of Options A bunch of companies have sprung up with the subscription idea. We tried...

For many years a really good wireless system for your guitar was quite expensive. Systems Like the Shure PGX are a bit of a financial commitment. For those of us working in the trenches every weekend, a cheaper alternative was needed.  The XVvive - An Affordable Wireless The Xvive U2 Wireless  changes the whole approach to a wireless system. There is no belt packs or adapters. It is just a small fob that plugs directly in the guitar on the transmitter side, and an identical receiver fob that plugs in to the amp. At right around $150.00 USD, it is extremely economical....