We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links. The LA Times editorial staff was not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more

Guitars & Accessories

  • Well into the 20th century, the electric guitar has been a symbol of all that is cool, rebellious, innovative, and creative. Nearly every genre of popular Western music employs the electric guitar while utilized by some of the most popular and significant musical icons in existence. While many musical greats have used it to carve out their legacy and shape the evolution of music, it’s still an instrument used in garage rehearsals by countless artists who may change music in the years which lie ahead. If you’re looking to buy an electric guitar, you have a wide range of options to choose from. We’ve outlined some important things to keep in mind in our electric guitar buyer’s guide below. Check out our list of the best electric guitars in 2022.
    June 15, 2015
  • While effects pedals may be more commonly associated with guitars, there are also numerous effects specifically designed to enhance and transform the sound of the bass guitar. These effects pedals can play a big part in the tone and style of bassists in a variety of musical genres; truth be told, most of popular music’s most prominent bass players owe part of their signature sounds to their effects. Navigating the sheer amount of bass pedals on the market can be a daunting task, but fear not, we’ve laid out some important guidelines for you to follow in our buyer’s guide provided below. 
    May 29, 2015
  • Most bassists find themselves taking part in an on-going quest to find the best tone they can get out of their instrument. And while there’s a variety of factors playing a part in shaping the sound of a bass guitar, there’s nothing more crucial than choosing the right bass strings. Because certain players and styles of music call for different attributes, there are many options to choose from when shopping for bass strings, and sometimes it can get a bit overwhelming. We’ve outlined considerations you should take into account when purchasing new bass strings in our buyer’s guide listed below.
    May 29, 2015
  • Bass pickups may be the unsung heroes in the world of bassists. While other factors, such as the type of bass guitar, strings, and amplifiers, obviously all make a significant impact on the sound and tone of the instrument, the type of pickups used to play a much more subtle yet no less important role in the end result. By capturing and processing the vibration of the bass guitar strings and routing that signal so it can be processed, amplified, and heard by the human ear, these small devices are an undeniably crucial component of the signal flow. There are quite a few options available on the market and we've selected the best bass pickups in 2022 for bassists. We’ve also outlined some important factors to keep in mind in our buyer’s guide below.
    May 29, 2015
  • The ringing sound of a guitar chord channeled through a guitar drive pedal doesn’t just sound cool, it’s also the foundation for dozens of genres and styles of music. The implementation of drive pedals ultimately changed the sound of music forever. While the origin of the over-driven guitar tone first occurred accidentally when amplifier tubes were turned up too loud, the effect has since been implemented into the rigs of guitarists worldwide seeking to have notes sustain longer, showcase more character, and sometimes take on an effect that’s unable to be contained. If you’re a guitarist, you simply need a drive pedal, we’ve gathered the best guitar drive pedals in 2022 and outlined what you need to look for in our buyer’s guide below.
    May 19, 2015
  • There are many guitar effects pedals which are instantly recognizable and identifiable to the average listener’s ears. However, truth of the matter is modulation effects have prominently contributed to the sounds of some of the most beloved guitar riffs of all-time. They may be used sparingly for a subtle effect or employed to fully engulf a signal to provide a completely wet, phase-soaked, flanging, or tremolo-heavy sound. These pedals can enhance a guitarist’s recordings or live performances and inspire the way they write and play music. There are many considerations you should take when purchasing a guitar modulation pedal, so we gathered the best guitar modulation pedals in 2022 and we’ve outlined them in our buyer’s guide below.
    May 19, 2015
  • What good is a guitarist without strings? Though it may seem obvious, great strings really make a world of a difference for guitar players, and not just because they’re literally needed in order to produce sound. Playing with the right kind of strings can transform tone as well as seriously influence style and performance. There are tons of options for guitarists to choose so we gathered the best guitar strings in 2022 and outlined the basic information everyone should start off with in our buyer’s guide below.
    May 13, 2015
  • If you’ve ever admired a guitar player’s tone and overall sound, there’s a good chance a significant part is thanks to their guitar pickups. Small as they may be, these tiny transducers capture and process the vibration of a guitar’s strings and have helped shape the signature sounds of some of the most legendary guitarists of all-time. To put it bluntly, a great guitar player is nothing without good pickups. There are several different factors to consider when selecting pickups but we’ve gathered the best guitar pickups in 2022 and outlined everything you need to know in our buyer’s guide provided below.
    May 13, 2015
  • Whether it’s being used on stage or in the studio, the right delay/reverb pedal can be an essential tool for guitarists in every genre of music. With the right settings dialed in, a guitar part can sound huge, have a shimmering cave-like delay, or be steeped in a complex polyrhythmic echo. The effect can subtly color the tone of a performance, or it can be used as a driving force behind a songs composition and sound. There are many different options on the market to choose from, so we gathered the best guitar delay / reverb pedals in 2022 and be sure to check out our buyer’s guide listed below for additional guidance.
    April 29, 2015