ProAudioLand Musician News

One of the more exciting aspects of being a guitar player is the sheer amount of manufacturers, companies that are not afraid to experiment with their creations and think outside the box. With that in mind, I'd like to shine a light on one of my personal favorite pickup manufacturers that I feel doesn't get as much love as they deserve: Rio Grande Pickups. Whether you’re playing Chicago or Texas Blues -- or even West-Coast Jazz -- Rio Grande has some vintage, American-made, hand-wound pickups to fit the bill. Below, we take a look at a few of our favorite pickups from Rio Grande. Continue reading →

Quite possibly the most popular pickups in all of hard rock, the EMG 81/85 combo is used by hundreds of hard rock guitarists around the world. Known for their distinct tone, these pickups give metal players the extra boost of signal power made available through their active setup while producing a smooth control at higher levels in comparison to most standard pickup models. This means better high gain control and less feedback when pumping it up to 11. These pickups are so popular several notable guitar manufacturers feature them as stock for several of their models including ESP, Schecter, Dean, Epiphone, B.C. Rich, Jackson, and Paul Reed Smith. Below, we take a look at both the EMG 81 and EMG 85 pickups to shed some light on why exactly they are one of the most popular bridge and pickup combinations in rock. Continue reading →

Fender might be better known for their collection of iconic instruments but that doesn't mean they don't know how to construct a high-quality amplifier. Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly model that doesn't skimp on tone or a modern machine with plenty of features, Fender's combo amplifier lineup has you covered. If you're in the market for a brand new amp, why not give one of these a try? Continue reading →

Packing great tone, superb versatility, and top-quality, hand-built craftsmanship, Walrus Audio pedals don’t just offer ways to color your instrument’s sound but are an assortment of tools that push your tone to the next level. From the Voyager and its unique preamp and overdrive design to the insane amount of sonic possibilities packed into the Descent Reverb, Walrus Audio effects never fail to impress us. Today, we're taking the Jupiter Fuzz for a spin, a gritty thick and loud pedal that should please plenty of die-hard fuzz fans. Continue reading →

The Electro-Voice ZX1-90 is a 2-way unpowered loudspeaker designed to deliver the premium sound and experience of a larger system in a portable package. While no one familiar with the brand would deny that E.V. knows how to make a great loudspeaker, the fact that the ZX1-90 is priced a little higher than similar sized system might make some feel like they would be better suited looking elsewhere. But after putting the ZX1-90 through its paces, we can say that it's well worth the price of admission. Continue reading →