Want to learn more?

Keen to keep up with the latest gear gossip? Stick our gear news page in your bookmarks. Or get properly clued up with the deep‑dives and how‑to guides in our learn section.

The post 5 reasons why Tobias basses rock! appeared first on Andertons Blog.

How does the Tone King Royalist Preamp sound?

The Tone King Royalist Tube Preamp pedal mimics the feel and tone of the Royalist MKIII amplifier. It’s their most faithful tribute to those classic black‑and‑gold British amps, ranging from sweet, chiming JTM45 tones through unmistakable Plexi crunch, all the way up to scorching Super Lead roar. Basically, it crams the entire British‑rock family tree into a pedalboard‑friendly box!

Each of its two independent channels features the amp’s FAT switch and a three‑way 1964/1967/1970 voicing selector, recreating the gain structure, tone stack and feel of each era with impressive authenticity. So, whether you’re after bold cleans, punchy classic rock drive or full‑tilt molten lead tones, the Tone King Royalist pedal has you covered.

There’s no built‑in tremolo like you get with the Imperial Preamp, but a foot‑switchable reverb lets you add some instant ambience whenever you need it. Tone King have used the extra front‑panel space to give you a more tweakable EQ section instead, with treble, middle and bass controls for each channel.

Which Tone King preamp pedal should you choose?

If you’re chasing clean‑to‑crunch versatility, the Imperial Preamp is simply awesome. Its blend of ’50s tweed warmth, ’60s blackface sparkle and a hint of British grit makes it a proper all‑rounder, especially with that built‑in tremolo and reverb. It’s the more “American‑voiced” of the two and perfect if you want big headroom, glossy cleans and classic edge‑of‑breakup tones. That also means it’s a fantastic pedal platform.

But if your heart leans more British, the Tone King Royalist Preamp is a riot and easily one of the best Marshall‑style pedals we’ve ever heard. JTM45 chime, Plexi‑style drive, Super Lead firepower — it’s all here. There’s more gain on tap than the Imperial, so it’s great for heavier rock or if you’re more of a lead player. And the extra EQ flexibility (plus the three voicing modes) gives you loads of room to dial in your perfect flavour of British bark.

You can’t really go wrong with either. Both pedals deliver genuine valve tone in a tiny package, so it just comes down to taste. Imperial for smooth, vintage American sweetness. Royalist for roaring British crunch.

Want to learn more?

If you loved this amp-in-a-box shootout, we’ve got loads of great learn articles on similar gear right here on the Andertons blog. If you’re hunting for another pedalboard amp contender for your shortlist, especially if you’re running a modeller, make sure to check out this piece: Victory PowerValve 200: Perfect partner for Quad Cortex?

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The post Tone King Royalist Preamp vs. Imperial Preamp appeared first on Andertons Blog.

How do you set up the Victory PowerValve 200?

Getting the Victory PowerValve 200 up and running couldn’t be simpler:

1. Take the output from your modeller, preamp or the end of your pedalboard chain via a 1/4″ jack cable.
2. Plug it into the Victory PV200’s balanced input.
3. Set your input level and EQ (you get Resonance, Body and Presence controls).
4. Engage the valve signal path via the VRC switch on the front panel.
5. Run the output into your guitar cabinet.

And that’s it. If you prefer a clean and transparent response, you can also bypass the valve stage and run a pure linear transistor signal path with zero colouration.

For silent practice or direct recording, the PowerValve 200 includes a 3.5 mm headphone output and an analogue cab sim via XLR — perfect for front of house, livestreams or tracking. Better still, the headphone/cab sim level is independent of the main speaker output. That means you can adjust your stage (cab) volume without upsetting the sound guy sorting the PA mix!

How big is the Victory PowerValve 200?

The Victory PowerValve 200 measures 130 x 300 x 295 mm and weighs only 2.4 kg. That makes it pretty pedalboard‑friendly, or you can simply pop it on top of your speaker cab. Thanks to its zinc‑plated steel chassis, it’s tough enough to handle life on the road too.

Does the Victory PowerValve 200 work well with a Quad Cortex?

Yes, and not just according to Victory. Neural DSP have put the PowerValve 200 through extensive testing with the Quad Cortex, and the feedback is glowing:

“PowerValve 200 genuinely exceeded our expectations. The response, feel and tone — especially when paired with the Quad Cortex — were outstanding. With the flip of a switch, the added tube stage (VRC) delivers an immediate, audible improvement to the signal.” — Ryan Morgan, Head of Global Sales, Neural DSP

If you want to create a more compact fly rig, teaming it up with the new Quad Cortex Mini is a great shout. Stick ‘em both on a board and you’ve got a lightweight, valve‑enhanced digital setup ready for any gig or session. Go direct to FOH with the PV200’s analogue cab sim, plug into the venue’s cabinet or run it through one of Victory’s lightweight Lunchbox guitar cabs. Speaking of…

Which cab goes best with the Victory PowerValve 200?

Victory’s Lunchbox 1×12″ cab (loaded with a Celestion Seventy 80) is an ideal match for the PowerValve 200. Together they create a tiny yet full‑sounding, valve‑reactive rig that works as brilliantly at home as it does in the studio or on stage. Neural DSP were impressed with this combo too:

 “We were particularly surprised by how effective the compact 1×12” Lunchbox cab was; the Celestion Seventy 80 sounded fantastic with IRs on or off.” — Ryan Morgan, Head of Global Sales, Neural DSP

Who uses the Victory PowerValve 200?

The Victory PV200 might be new, but some heavy‑hitters already love it (and we expect to see this thing popping up on a lot more pro boards soon). Rabea Massaad has been putting it through its paces with his Quad Cortex setup. And our very own Andertons TV maestro John Connearn (AKA “Digital John”) has been wowed by what the PowerValve 200 can do. Here’s what they had to say:

• “The Valve React Circuit really brings my presets to life and gives them that extra tube-amp style thump that feels great under the fingers.” — Rabea Massaad
• “PowerValve 200 allows me to have a valve-powered digital rig with huge hi-fidelity sound. More portable, powerful and affordable than any valve head I’ve seen.” — John Connearn

Victory PowerValve 200 vs. Seymour Duncan PowerStage 200

The Seymour Duncan PowerStage 200 has been the go‑to pedalboard power amp for years. So, how does Victory’s new contender stack up? Here’s a quick side‑by‑side look at the specs:

Victory PowerValve 200 on Andertons TV

We’ve talked a lot about the PV200 — now it’s time to hear it in action! Watch Lee and Pete test drive the Victory PowerValve 200 with the Neural Quad Cortex and some other glorious gear:

Want to learn more?

We’ve got loads more learn articles here on the Andertons blog. Can’t decide which Neural modeller to pair up with the Victory PowerValve 200? Our Quad Cortex vs. Quad Cortex Mini vs. Nano: comparison guide will help you find the ultimate companion.

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The post Victory PowerValve 200: Perfect partner for Quad Cortex? appeared first on Andertons Blog.

How much does the doom community influence your designs?

Quite a bit. I stay very involved in the community. I go to shows, talk with people, read forums and follow what people are discussing online. That helps me understand what players are looking for and where there might be gaps in the market.

Because we work closely with Nick Williams, we can build some fairly unique and complex analogue circuits, so we try to create things that the community does not already have.

Are there any dream collaborations you would like to do next?

I’ve already been incredibly lucky to collaborate with two of my musical heroes, Jimmy Bower and Matt Pike. Both have been huge influences on me since my teenage years. We’ve worked together on signature guitars through Woodrite, as well as pedals like the Masochist and the Bower Power overdrive.

Looking ahead, there are definitely more collaborations I would love to make happen. We are already talking with a few artists and have some ideas in development.

Has any band surprised you by using your pedals?

One of the coolest surprises was Gary Holt from Exodus using the Doomsaw. That pedal was originally built as a very aggressive single-knob circuit inspired by the classic Swedish death metal sound. Gary ended up putting one on his touring board and taking it around the world with Exodus. Seeing a legendary thrash guitarist using one of our pedals was something we definitely didn’t expect and it was a great moment for us.

What can fans expect from Does It Doom in the near future?

First of all, we are extremely excited to have Does It Doom products available at Andertons. It’s one of the most respected music shops in the world and we are very proud to be working together. In terms of what’s next, we usually aim to release three to four pedals a year. We kicked this year off with the Giza Dva and already have several new designs and collaborations in the works. The goal is to keep pushing forward and continue bringing the doom to players everywhere.

Does It Doom pedals on Andertons TV

Watch Oz put the Does It Doom lineup through its paces with Lee. Warning: it might get loud!

And if you wanna really hear these stomps in action, Oz teamed up with Tay on drums to shake the studio floorboards with full‑on doom carnage — get ready to headbang…

Follow Does It Doom online

Loving the sound of these pedals? Stay up to date with Steve’s latest doom‑soaked riffs, lessons and gear demos:

• Subscribe to Does It Doom? on YouTube
• Follow @doesitdoom on Instagram
• Follow @doesitdoom on Facebook
• Follow @doesitdoom on TikTok

And while you’re here, make sure to bookmark the Andertons Blog. We’re always dropping fresh content to help you learn about the latest products, discover how to sound like your favourite artists and stay in the loop with all the hottest gear news.

Shop Does It Doom pedals

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The post Does It Doom pedals: Interview with founder Steve Reis appeared first on Andertons Blog.

The Neural DSP Nano Cortex

The Nano Cortex is a portable pedal-sized modeller, loaded with plenty of flagship-quality tone, IR’s and amp & pedal capture functionality that pushes the boundaries of guitar tone technology. With a signal chain with over 50 effects and utilities to choose from, you can select and customise your signal chain into the 7 device slots (technically 8 if you are going to use the noise-gate at the start of the signal chain), using the Neural DSP Nano Cortex smartphone app to customise.

Nano Cortex Key Features

• Neural DSP Power In A Pedal – Industry-leading sound quality and DSP power housed in a sleek, hard-wearing stompbox enclosure that fits on your pedalboard.
• 7-Channel USB Audio Interface – The Nano Cortex is a 7-channel audio interface perfect for recording on the go.
• Thousands Of Premium Tones – Between the built-in library and the Cortex Cloud, you can seamlessly switch between readymade guitar & bass tones for any style, any occasion in seconds.
• Capture & Create Your Own Rig – It only takes a few minutes to capture any amp or pedal, A/B test its sound, and save it as part of your own custom rig without ever leaving the Nano Cortex’s easy controls.
• Simple, Versatile Signal Chain – The Nano Cortex keeps it simple & creative with two pre-FX slots, two slots to choose an amp & IR combination, plus 3 post-FX slots to add rich atmosphere.
• Smart Connectivity – Effortlessly hook the Nano Cortex up to your setup with full stereo outs, MIDI control, USB-C, and Bluetooth for app-based tone customisation. You can even record straight into your DAW with low-latency USB audio!

NanOS Update 2.2.0

The NanOS 2.2.0. introduces the Neural Capture Version 2 Player, along with several highly requested features including a new Tremolo effect, summed outputs, and other improvements that enhance usability and performance of Nano Cortex. Neural Capture V2 is the next evolution of Neural Capture, enhanced & trained via Cortex Cloud for higher resolution and more detailed results. Try the freshest, highest resolution V2 captures 669 added to the library with 41 new device types to instantly expand your tonal palette.

The Neural DSP Quad Cortex

The Quad Cortex is an ultra-powerful, action-packed floor guitar amp and effects modeller – this thing really does it all. It’s earned a reputation as the go-to modelling unit for professionals and tone-conscious players. The Quad Cortex is also notably hailed as one of the most intuitive and versatile multi-effects hardware out there. With numerous free updates since launch, including the ability to run Neural DSP plugins, you can always be sure that you’ll have the latest technology to deliver inspiring tone.

The Quad Cortex is capable of hosting hundreds of amps and effects without breaking a sweat. This is largely thanks to its impressive 2GHz Quad-Core SHARC architecture, undoubtedly the future of amp modelling technology. This ludicrous amount of processing capacity provides limitless sound design possibilities!

Neural DSP Quad Cortex Key Features

• The Most Powerful Floor Modeller on the planet
• The most natural-sounding capture solution with near-limitless tonal options
• Want to run four different amplifier models and loads of effects at the same time? No problem!
• Capture, share and download your favourite rigs with Neural Capture
• Use compatible plugins directly on the Quad Cortex
• 50+ onboard amps, 70+ effects, 1000+ IRs
• Tactile and intuitive 7″ multi-touch display

Neural DSP Quad Cortex, Quad Cortex Mini & Nano Cortex Comparison Table

In a nutshell, the Nano Cortex is a compact pedal with a fixed signal chain involving pre-FX, captures, IRs, and post-FX, while the Quad Cortex is a full-blown modeller and FX processor with heaps of power. Still, we’ve compared the main features of the 3 multi-fx to give you all the answers:

Conclusion

So there you have it. In summary:

The Neural Quad Cortex mini delivers the same processing power, audio quality, Neural Capture technology, and CorOS software as Quad Cortex, with no compromises in sound or performance. Quad Cortex mini features a footprint reduced by more than 50 percent, making it easier to integrate into compact pedalboards, desk setups, and rack systems.

Choose Quad Cortex mini for the full Quad Cortex sound in a more compact, portable format. Choose Quad Cortex for a full-size floorboard with more physical space and connectivity on stage.

If you want to practice and play small gigs with the smallest footprint, The Nano Cortex is the right choice. The Nano gives you industry-leading sound quality and DSP power housed in a sleek, hard-wearing stompbox enclosure that fits on your pedalboard.

Want to Learn More?

• Shop all Neural DSP
• Shop all Modelling Amps
• What is an Ampless Guitar Rig?
• The Ultimate Guide to Multi-FX
• What is an FRFR Speaker Cabinet?

The post Neural Quad Cortex vs Quad Cortex Mini vs Nano: 2026 Comparison Guide appeared first on Andertons Blog.

Alternative Bigsby Re-stringing methods

I don’t mean you shouldn’t re-string your guitar. You should always re-string your guitar – it’ll just sound better. Trust me!

But there are some ways around the conventional method of re-stringing your guitar.  For example, the Vibramate String Spoiler system, which locks onto the Bigsby and enables you to attach the string to the bridge via a far more conventional, top-loading method.

Or you could try the Duesenberg trem. This isn’t a solution if you already have a Bigsby, but it allows you to replace your tune-o-matic bridge with a Duesenberg Trem without damaging the guitar! Neat right?

• Duesenberg Les Trem II Gold
• Duesenberg Les Trem II Nickel
• Duesenberg Les Trem II Chrome

What’s the difference between Bigsby B3, Bigsby B5, Bigsby B7 and more?

The Bigsby Trem range is vast and includes many different types of the same thing, designed to match specific guitar body shapes. For example: You’d need a different Bigsby for a Fender Telecaster or Fender Stratocaster (yes, they do exist!) than you would for a Danelectro or a Gibson guitar.

• Bigsby B3 – The Bigsby B3 is designed for use on thin electric hollow or semi-hollow guitars. This includes Gibson Memphis hollowbodies and semi-hollows like the ES-335.
• Bigsby B5 – The Bigsby B5 is designed for use on flat top electric guitars like a Telecaster.
• Bigsby B7 and B12 – Another popular branch of the Bigsby family, the Bigsby B7 and Bigsby B12 are designed for use on arch top electric guitars.
• Bigsby Lightning Series – The Lightning series offer a cheaper alternative to the standard Bigsby range. Produced in the Far East, they are made with die-cast aluminium, with series numbers designated B30 – B700.

Conclusion

Hopefully, after reading this guide you’ll feel more confident with re-stringing Bigsby-equipped guitars. It’s probably easier than you think but a bit of practice always helps!

Are you curious about how long it can take to restring a Bigsby-style bridge? Check out our ‘How Long Does It Take To Restring a Bigsby & Floyd Rose?‘ article, comparing two of the trickiest tremolos!

Let us know in the comments below if you have any other ways of re-stringing your Bigsby, or if you prefer to get a tech to do it!

Interested in finding out more about music gear and expanding your knowledge? Click here to view all of our Learn articles.

The post How to Restring a Bigsby Guitar appeared first on Andertons Blog.

Walrus Audio Pedals

Browse Walrus Audio Pedals

Tap Tempo Sync

Any Walrus pedal with a tap tempo switch can sync up with another tap tempo pedal. This means rather than setting an accurate tempo for each individual pedal, you can use a Walrus pedal’s switch to set it for both, saving yourself a few extra very precise taps.

You’ll find this nifty feature in the ARP-87 digital delay, Monument tremolo, Julianna chorus and Mako MkII delay. This function normally works with any tap tempo stompbox. Simply connect the two with a patch cable and you’ll be right on beat.

Eons Five-State Fuzz Adjustable Noise Gate

Walrus first introduced the noise gate with the gritty, thick-sounding fuzz Jupter V2 pedal and they’ve carried that functionality over to the super flexible Eons. A lot of pedals aim for the  stuttering ‘dying battery’ effect but there aren’t many that cover all the fuzz flavours the Eons packs in.

The Eons has an internal trim pot gate control you could use either to dial down the fuzzy aggression or implement hard cut-offs. This way you don’t have to power the pedal from a noisy non-isolated source or use a virtual battery to achieve the same effect.

Fathom Reverb’s Huge Momentary Burst

Create a massive surge of decaying reverb with the Fathom reverb. This effect is great during a crescendo or intense finale to a song. Not only is the Fathom a super adaptable reverb, but it can also turn your tone into a chaotic, swampy, beautiful noise.

With your Fathom turned off, press both the bypass and sustain switches at the same time. This will turn the pedal on abruptly (yet still smooth in transition) and hit you with a trail of reverb longer than where you’ve set the decay knob.

Mako and Melee distortion/reverb ramp up

Ramp is a feature that’s normally exclusive to an effect like tremolo as is the case with the Mako MkII, but Walrus Audio have implemented it into their unique reverb/distortion generator pedal, the Melee.

Essentially, ramp means to increasingly speed up the rate of the tremolo, or intensify an effect like reverb. Hold down the bypass to progressively accelerate the effect to make for some extremely climatic moments in your playing. If applied to tremolo you can adjust the build time, so the ramp will take longer hit peak speed the lower your set the base tempo. Let go of the bypass for the rate or intensity to drop back down again to where you’ve set your controls.

Smart Momentary Bypass

Smart momentary bypass has been a consistent feature in Walrus Audio’s pedals since the Lillian phaser and ambient Slö reverb. Simply hold down on the bypass switch for as long as you’d like to activate the effect. It’s a feature that a lot of companies have adopted, as it simply makes it possible to inject a short burst of the effect without the need to press twice on a pedal.

Ambient, texture-like sounding pedals like the Lillian and Slö benefit greatly for momentary bypass. You’re able to create a bed of trailing phaser or reverb and then add layers of playing on top as it floats underneath a lead line.

Want to learn more?

I hope you get to use these fun effects to their fullest potential! Enjoyed this read? Make sure to have a browse of our Industry and Learn articles.

Shop All Walrus Audio Pedals

The post Walrus Audio Pedals: 5 Amazing Hidden Features appeared first on Andertons Blog.

Consider buying a hygrometer (humidity monitor)

Because you can’t see humidity and often don’t even realize what it’s doing to your prized acoustic until it’s too late, it helps to be able to measure it with something known as a Hygrometer (sometimes called a Humidity Monitor).

A hygrometer measures the amount of moisture in the air compared to the amount of moisture air can hold before it actually becomes water (Relative Humility, or RH). We don’t need to go too far into the realms of science here but there are some basic principles:

• Cold air won’t carry as much moisture as hot air, so when air temperature rises, so does its ability to hold more moisture.
• The way we heat our homes reduces the moisture content of the air.  Essentially, we dry it out, because we aren’t adding an additional source of moisture as it heats.

So if you, or more importantly your guitar, lives in a particularly cold house that needs a lot of heating, or in a particularly hot and dry area, then you need to be aware that the RH level will be low, and you might need to take steps to protect your guitar from what is usually referred to as ‘Low Humidity Damage’.

Invest in a good solid guitar case

A solid guitar case will protect the guitar from rapid changes in RH, and that sort of rapid change is a particularly bad idea. If you’re out and about with your guitar a solid case is a good investment. Even when at home, leaving your guitar inside a solid case is the way to go. Soft gig bags will help for short periods, but long term you’ll want something sturdy.

Acoustic Guitar Hard Cases

Browse Acoustic Guitar Hard Cases

Conclusion

In short, if you don’t monitor the environments that your guitars live in and end up subjecting them to harmful RH levels, the quality of the construction will soon start to disappear. This in turn will affect playability and tone, and, ultimately, your sanity.

If you have made a considerable investment in an acoustic guitar, it makes good sense to invest in a humidifier so that you can rest easy that the guitar is properly looked after when it’s sleeping. Not only will it help ensure that the guitar doesn’t crack or warp, but it will also ensure that it remains as playable as the day it was made.

Further Reading

Taylor have made 3 very good PDFs that cover humidity issues. Click on any of the links below for more info.

• Using a Guitar Humidifier
• Symptoms Of A Dry Guitar
• Symptoms Of A Wet Guitar

The post Guitar Humidity – Is damp in your house affecting your guitar? appeared first on Andertons Blog.

What Amplifier is Right For Me?

In this video, we demonstrate the differences between some popular practice amplifiers to help you decide what amplifier works perfectly in a home situation – after all, this is where most guitar practice takes place.

Conclusion

In summary, depending on what type of guitar you want to play dictates whether using an amplifier is needed, however, with the options available to us now, practicing the guitar has never been easier. Practice amps offer great versatility, especially with the handy smartphone apps which work with them to give you the tools you need to learn effectively, and most importantly – fun!

If you’d like to know more, check out these handy articles, guides, and collections:

• The Best Guitar Headphone Amps In 2024
• The Rising Popularity of Desktop Amplifiers! But Which One Should You Go For?
• A Guitarists Guide to Practice
• Ultimate Guide To Beginner Guitar Gear
• Shop The Best Gear For Beginners

The post Do I Need A Guitar Amp To Learn Guitar? appeared first on Andertons Blog.

What is a Headless Guitar?

The difference between a headless guitar and what we’d consider a ‘standard’ guitar, is the distinct lack of a headstock. Instead, a headless design relocates all tuning hardware to the bridge area. This grants an even weight distribution across the guitar – you won’t experience any neck dive and you don’t have to worry about denting a headstock. To string a headless guitar, you simply slide the string through the bridge up to the stump end of the fretboard, screw into place at both ends and tune up. So easy anyone could do it.

Advantages of a headless guitar

• They’re light and well balanced. That means less weight to carry on your shoulder while playing standing up and a reduced chance of playing-related injuries or niggles.
• Ergonomics – the thoughtfully designed body carves and common appointment of fanned frets make for an effortless playing experience.
• Restringing is quicker and simpler thanks to the clamps at the zero fret end.
• Smaller body = less wood makes for a more environmentally friendly building process. It’s also way easier to take travelling.
• Effortless and quick pitch fine-tuning with the tuners being right next to your picking hand.
• Headstock dive isn’t a thing. You can chuck a headless guitar around and not have to worry about hitting the headstock if you’re sitting at a desk or in a small space.

Headless guitar aesthetics

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Headless guitars might not suit your stylistic tastes and they might not be for everyone. You might think they’re a little hard to love. But if you’re in the modern guitar scene and love the look and feel of a Jackson, ESP, Music Man, Ibanez or Aristedes guitar, then a headless design might suit you.

Ergonomic design

Almost every headless guitar manufacturer adopts a series of ergonomic construction techniques. They are almost always smaller than traditional guitars and utilise the chambering method to cut out unnecessary amounts of body wood to make the instrument even lighter. You’re basically saving the planet when you buy headless. That’s probably a good enough reason as any, but you’re likely after other advantages as well.

Headless guitars adopt unique shapes, meticulously designed feel like an extension of your body. They certainly won’t strain your back muscles like a heavy Les Paul. It’s compact and easy to pack in the back of a car or take on a flight. Both Ibanez and Strandberg also make use of fanned frets to shore up on intonation and fretting comfort, following the natural curvature of your hand.

Neck dive is a real problem when playing standing up with some guitars – SGs are a major perpetrator. A headless guitar stays exactly where you want it. You only have to focus on what you’re playing, rather than holding the neck up at the same time. If headless guitars were around when Angus Young started playing, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was their biggest fan with how he jumps around the stage.

Zero fret nut

Do you ever notice how a note sounds different when you play it on a fret compared to an open string? Every type of headless guitar completely solves this problem. The strings on a standard headstock guitar are tightened across what is usually a bone or plastic nut, as opposed to the rest of the notes pushed down to a nickel or steel fret. Headless guitars use a zero fret metal nut just like a normal fret for open notes, providing a more consistent sound.

Guitarists who play headless guitars

Headless guitars are usually found in the hands of prog rock and metal players in need of optimal playing comfort and a wide array of tones. Notable headless guitar users include Plini, Yvette Young, Ichika Nito, Jacob Collier, Born of Osiris’ Lee McKinney and Charlie Griffiths & Richard Henshall of prog metal band Haken. It’s not just a millennial thing: legendary musicians Allan Holdsworth, Mark Knopfler, Eddie Van Halen and Sting have all dabbled with the radical design over the years.

Popular headless guitar brands

Just a few of the names championing the eye-catching shape include Swedish trendsetters Strandberg, Japanese behemoths Ibanez, Sire, and even originators Steinberger. Also joining these established guitar builders is the newcomer brand HILS.

HILS Guitars

Browse HILS Guitars

HILS Guitars – part of renowned Korean guitar maker HEX – use innovative manufacturing methods that enable them to build a diverse range of affordable, high-quality instruments without compromise. Their range of headless guitars combine carefully-calculated body curves with premium features like Roasted Maple necks and ceramic pickups with push-pull circuitry. This guarantees a versatile tonal range that’s perfect for everything from your go-to performance guitar to the ultimate practice companion.

Strandberg Guitars

Browse Strandberg Guitars

Strandberg stands for the fact that not just the sound of your guitar, or how it feels to play are important components, but also how it makes you feel. Strandberg design innovative headless guitars which push the boundaries of guitar creation, and due to their lightweight ergonomic design with modern features, they are highly regarded as one of best playing experiences out there, especially thanks to the signature Endurneck.

The Strandberg Essential is the more affordable range which covers all musical styles for the open-minded musician. Representing the core of Strandberg’s ranges is the Boden & Standard. The Boden & Standard push the boundaries of guitar innovation, while the Metal & Prog range is for players who need crushing impactful tone with a solid playing experience.

The Sälen is thoughtful synthesis of the retro-classic and cutting-edge design. Classic tonewoods and construction techniques with modern design and radical features meld cohesively together into a seamless whole.

Ibanez Quest Series

Browse Ibanez Quest Series

The Ibanez Quest Series boldly announced itself in the headless scene a few years ago and it’s proven to be a massive hit. They bring a playful new look, cool collection of woods like bubinga-made necks and roasted maple fretboards, and all your fun touches like Luminlay side dots, hard-wearing Jescar fretwire and the famous, super flat Wizard neck profile. The pickups are developed from the ground up, designed specifically for the Quest to sound clearly defined and balanced for all your extended chords and nuances. They’re extremely versatile too, thanks to the switching system giving you 10 pickup variations, including single-coil modes.

Sire Larry Carlton X6 Series

Browse Sire Larry Carlton X6 Series

Sire made a huge splash in the guitar world with their Larry Carlton guitars – a catalogue designed in collaboration with the renowned guitarist who has played for the likes of Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell. The X6 however is unlike any of their other guitar shapes, fitted with just about everything the modern guitarist would love to have, like their famed rolled fretboard edges, fanned, stainless steel frets, relatively flat 16 inch fingerboard radius and modern sounding humbuckers. It’s a sleek, attractive, and even quite understated design, which might appeal to the players who like the idea of a headless guitar, but can’t get on board with many other brands’ designs. The inlays are unique and the little smattering of gold in the hardware brings a touch of class.

Summary of headless guitars

The headless guitars design philosophy turns traditional guitar construction on its head. It’s about more than just the relocation of the tuners to the bridge – it is a refocus of what is helpful to a guitarist from an ergonomic perspective. How should a guitar fit against your body? Is it comfortable playing sitting down and standing up? Where should your hand rest on the neck? And how tonally diverse can a guitar get without compromising quality? These are issues that headless guitar makers concern themselves with.

Floating bridge systems, 6, 7 or 8, strings, various pickup configurations, hollow and solid body construction – you name it, a headless guitar can do it. The final thing it comes down to is whether you love how they look.

Want to Learn More?

If you enjoyed this read, check out more of our Learn blogs.

The post Headless Guitars: Why are they so popular? appeared first on Andertons Blog.