Fun & Helpful Resources

The ultimate community of online musical discussion. Much of the content shared here was first originally posted here; this, as my contribution back for all the many things I learned. Just be mindful … one will have to search through a lot of frivolous commentary on their search for the good stuff.

Don’t let the name fool you, while perhaps not as large of a community as theGearPage, this forum has vibrant discussions on all things musical gear and, often server as my solid ‘go to’ for a second opinion.

An excellent source of technical information about audio compression to include an exhaustive list of compressor/pedal reviews. While the site has not been updated in many years, Onvi Labs remains the ‘Go To’ recommendation for those wanting to better understand compression.

An excellent source of industry news; well-organized and comprehensive. A great source for all news and product launches from the NAMM annual conferences. 

The Reverb Marketplace is the one-stop-shop for Used & New Musical Instruments and Gear. While many of the major online retailers list and sell gear on Reverb, this marketplace provides great access to and, deals on, used gear from individual sellers. 

A boutique builder of utility pedals (aux switched, tap tempo, expresion, etc.), cables, and more. With a lot of custom options, they have helped complete my pedalboard with just the right part more than a few times over.

A store by musicians, for musicians and, a proud partner of DecoWaves. Based in tropical Miami Beach, Z String offers a curated selection of instruments and accessories; stuff that we would be thrilled to use on a daily basis and often do.

What feels like one of those ‘Must Visit’ stores in the states — just check out some of the pictures –, Chicago Music Exchange offers great prices and a lot of exclusive gear.

The definitive pedal, amp, guitar, and all gear music show … this is the place to start.

While Pete is certainly an accomplished guitarist, we’ve listed his channel in this section as it is heavily skewed towards gear demos which … he excels at. 

An excellent, fun and dynamic, musician and YouTube gear reviewer. I like that Jay also sprinkles in some tips and tricks with concerns to the use of effects and various tools of the trade. 

While technically a pedal company of their own, Josh is one of the top Pedal Historians addition to being an avid collector. His depth of knowledge of the circuitry is par none and, his both his professional and confidence shine through in his openness to promote other brands and products.

Surfs Up! A fun and informative gear review channel that skews more towards surf and alt-rock, Ryan may have served as a good doppleganger for Don (pre longer hair). 

Kicking back, late at night, it’s the perfect vibe for some after hours YouTube binging … 

Maybe it’s because he reminds me so much of a childhood friend but, I really enjoy Eric’s teaching style and overall demeanor. He targets a nice blend of technique and theory, while working with recognizable songs.

Yes, this isn’t a guitar channel but … a Great channel for music theory and the exploration of music composition and recording techniques. 

Adrian has been my goto instructor for learning the jazzy holiday pieces but truly, he covers so much more ground with the lessons he offers. 

While there are just a few videos that Scott has shared, I found them to be a great introduction to scale & chord theory and application thereof specific to guitar.

1/2 Music History Channel, 1/2 Tone and Gear exploration, Five Watt world is a great resource to gain a well-rounded understanding of all things guitar.

Everything, well almost, you wanted to know about the Shoegazing genre and Ambient Guitar tips and tricks. 

The creative mind that founded Z String Music, this channel is an explorative journey into the world of synths. 

The technique, the gear, the life of an Ambient loving guitarist. Your one-stop shop to prepare for trips into outer space and beyond.

A career in music production, Rick shares some great perspectives and insights as to what makes some of our favorite songs great along with discussing various considerations one might face when composing music.