Headroom

Q&A

Answers to common gear questions.

· 1 min read

Can I Use Guitar Pedals on Bass Guitar?

Short Answer: Yes! You can use guitar effect pedals on a bass guitar. Using effect pedals made for electric guitars with bass guitars will not damage your pedals. Many pedal brands make...

· 2 min read

What Does a Compressor Effect Pedal Do?

Short Answer: A compressor effect pedal normalizes signal levels, making louder inputs quieter and quieter inputs louder. Resulting in a distinct audio effect that "rounds out" output levels, compressor guitar pedals assist...

· 2 min read · Video

Does Roy Clark Get a Close-Up?

Probably the most prevalent piece of film of Roy Clark – as it pertained to his guitar playing – is of the guitarist performing the ragtime standard "Twelfth Street Rag" on The...

· 3 min read

Doubling Down with Hair Metal

Rock scholars talk about the birth of punk in a way that's become pretty well canonized. The rock titans that made it to the late '70s became too big, too indulgent. Seduced...

· 3 min read

Should Paul McCartney Be Included Here?

Rolling Stone's entry number one hundred and seventy-three of their The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time article begins: "Paul McCartney is a legend for so many things – songwriter, singer, bassist,...

· 1 min read

Where Are Taylor Guitars Made?

Short Answer: Taylor acoustic guitars are made in two main factories: one in El Cajon, California, and one in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico. The two factories as the main source for Taylor...

· 1 min read

Where Did Fender Guitars Originate?

Short Answer: Fender guitars originated from Fullerton, California in 1946, founded by inventor Leo Fender. Fender's original market, musical instrument amplifiers, eventually welcomed new, groundbreaking electric guitar models starting with the Precision...

· 2 min read

Where Did Gibson Guitars Originate?

Short Answer: Gibson electric guitars date all the way back to 1894 with founder Orville Gibson. Gibson's original market, mandolins, gave way to electric instruments after the turn of the century before...

· 2 min read

What Is a Fender Custom Shop Relic Finish?

Short Answer: A Fender Custom Shop Relic finish is a type of treatment a Fender Custom Shop guitar's lacquer finish is subjected to, resulting in simulated wear and damage. The Fender Custom...

· 2 min read

What Do Martin Guitar Models' Letters and Numbers Mean?

Short Answer: Martin Guitar acoustic guitars utilize different number and letter codes to designate different body shapes, material specifications, and appointment styles. Long Answer: Everyone's favorite part of shopping around for Martin...

· 2 min read

Where Does H.E.R. Go After a Super Bowl Halftime Show?

In an interview with Guitar Center, Gabriella Wilson lounged on an empty windowsill beside someone's picturesque vision of a Hollywood hills mansion's garden. Wilson, known professionally as H.E.R., strummed and sang alongside...