Other Gear Guides | Equipboard®

5 Best Ukuleles: A Guide for Beginners

The ukulele is used to either provide extra texture to a song (like how modern country uses the mandolin) or to give a song a more Hawaiian feel.

Last updated July 2019

Top 5 Digital Pianos

If you’ve had a hard time selecting the right digital piano, you’ve come to the right place. In addition to laying out our top 5 picks, this article breaks down some of the terminology associated with the instrument and gives you a guide to the general features you should look for.

Last updated July 2019

5 Best Bass Headphones: A Guide to Bass Headphones

Urban Dictionary defines a "basshead" as someone who enjoys an excess amount of bass in music. In this guide we break down what makes a bass headphone special, and review 5 basshead-approved models...

Last updated July 2019

Top USB Microphones: Mic Options for Excellent Audio

Let Equipboard guide you to finding out the best USB microphone for podcasting, recording vocals, guitar, voiceover use, and more. Some of the price-points will surprise you!

Last updated July 2019

5 Best Keyboard Amps

The best keyboard amps if you play keyboards, synths, and digital pianos. A keyboard amp is essential for live performances, and can also be a great companion in your home or studio to bring the best out of your keyboards.

Last updated July 2019

Funk Fragment's Julian Wolf on Gear, Gigs & More

Julian Wolf is one of the very first moderators of Equipboard. He's been around since early days of the site as an inspired Eric Clapton fan, and is releasing an album and planning an upcoming tour. In this piece, we catch up about his personal gear collection, his upcoming album release, winning the SchoolJam competition, and performing at Musikmesse.

Last updated December 2018

3 Best Vocal Lessons: Top Singing Lessons Online

Something that many people don’t really consider is the fact that the human voice is an instrument, just the same as a guitar or a piano. It takes years of practice and dedication to learn to “play” the voice, and just like other instruments using it improperly or using poor technique can result in serious consequences. While many musician may not respect the voice as much as they do the guitar or piano, there’s still a ton of online resources dedicated to helping aspiring vocalists learn how to manipulate their voice. However, different exercises and teachers may not work for everyone. So to learn more about what you should look for in an online vocal instructor, continue reading this article.

Last updated July 2019

5 Best Trumpets: Top Student to Professional Horns

From the raw and aggressive jazz playing of greats like Louis Armstrong and Chet Baker to the slick and intricate work of classical musicians playing in an orchestra, the trumpet is easily one of the most endearing and notable instruments in western music. Here we talk about what to look for in a trumpet, from student to professional models, to help you find the best trumpet for your needs.

Last updated July 2019

5 Best Wireless Headphones: Huge Sounds, No Cord

Now sliced bread was a great invention, but wireless headphones might just be the best thing since. No more tangled web of wires or accidentally yanking out earphones while boogying to your favourite tunes. The latest wireless headphones provide a better sound than ever before so, while audiophiles might pick up a slight difference, for the majority of people, the sound quality is easily comparable to that of the best wired headphones.

Last updated May 2019

5 Best Music Stands: Musicians Take a Stand

The best music stands are built from quality materials, have solid components like threading mechanisms, and are the correct balance or stability and portability for your needs. These music stands are a good balance of rugged, portable, and usable. We review some of the most popular music stands on the market and give you the pros and cons of each model.

Last updated July 2019

5 Best Keyboard Stands: Support Your Keys

Choosing a keyboard stand may seem like a mundane task, but when you stack up all the variables against your preferences you’ll realize that getting the right stand will directly affect your playing, regardless of the situation or venue. It is an important choice to make! Beyond that, you’ve already spent so much time finding the right set of keys, of course you want to set them up in the best possible way, so you’ll be comfortable and able to play without even thinking (or worrying) about the stand. And when you’re relaxed and feeling good, you play better and probably (if you’re like me) enjoy yourself more. To make your choice you’ll need to consider a handful of variables.

Last updated July 2019

5 Best Cajons: Peruvian Percussion Guide

Originating as a slave instrument from the 18th century, the cajon has quickly become a fixture in both jazz fusion genres and flamenco. It’s popularity has also started to bleed over into other genres to the point where it’s not unheard of as an accompaniment for blues, pop, rock, or even funk. While the cajon is undoubtedly pretty popular, just like any other instrument it can be pretty overwhelming for the uninitiated to try and find a model that well work for their needs without stretching their budget. If you’ve ever had a hard time figuring how to choose the best cajon for your needs, you’ve come to the right place. This article will give you all the information that you need to make an informed purchase as well as give you five great recommendations.

Last updated July 2019

5 Best Mic Stands: Gear Guide to Capable Mic Stands

A good mic stand can make or break your vocal performance. Stability, comfort, and placement are huge factors. If you’re in the market for a mic stand, make sure you have all the information that you need to get the best microphone stand for your needs.

Last updated July 2019

5 Best Pop Filters: Sonic Screens for Microphones

Hard consonant sounds are the bane of a vocalist’s existence. Countless vocal tracks have been ruined by the signature pop of a “p” or “c” sound. It’s easy to avoid, and in the long run it really will not cost you much money at all. This article will give you all the information that you need to choose the best pop filter for your microphone.

Last updated July 2019

5 Best Metronomes: Gear Guide to Keeping Musical Time

Tired of being unable to stay in time with your jam buddies or band? Well my friend, it’s time to break out the metronome. Once you get the hand of it, using a metronome will transform both your sense of rhythm and your overall technique as a musician. The only downside is that it’s so dang hard to figure out how to choose the best metronome. There’s a ton of different models available, and if you don’t already know what you’re looking for it can be almost impossible to know which is going to work best for you. If you’ve ever had a hard time figuring out how to choose a metronome, you’ve come to the right place. This article will give you all the information that you need to make an informed decision, as well as give you five great recommendations to help aid you in your search.

Last updated July 2019

5 Best Mandolins: A Complete Guide

There are dozens of different brands at a staggering amount of different price points, all of which have their associated pros and cons.

Last updated July 2019

5 Best Banjos: How To Choose A Banjo

Choosing the best banjo can be overwhelming, but also enjoyable. Here, we will show you the different styles of banjos and associated tunings and playing styles to help you decide which options will work for you as well as recommend some great banjos as a starting point to help you buy your first banjo.

Last updated July 2019

5 Best Headphone Amplifiers: Amped Up!

The best headphone amps for a wide range of budgets. Whether your buying you're first headphone amp, or upgrading to something high end, we've got you covered.

Last updated July 2019

5 Best Harmonicas

Harmonicas are a great way to add texture and and melody to an arrangement. Here, we look at what you need to know when selecting the best harmonica for your needs and give you some recommendations for proven can't go wrong harmonicas.

Last updated July 2019

PowerBeats 3 vs. Bose SoundSport

If you’re in the market for wireless bluetooth in-ear headphones for exercise and casual listening, there’s a great chance you’ll find yourself debating between the Beats PowerBeats 3 and the Bose SoundSport. I thoroughly tested both on the grounds of fit, feel, sound, and performance. At the end of 2 weeks I picked a winner.

Last updated July 2019

Novation Peak Review

Novation called it the Peak but to me it’s the Kitchen Sink! There’s no ifs, ands or buts; Novation has created a magnificent and inspiring synthesizer with Peak. It hits a lot of the points on my wishlist and offers its 8 voices and an impressively sturdy build (I remember the original bass station, pretty flimsy) at such a reasonable price that I feel guilty asking for more. I admit the Peak is not a cheap synth, but given that it offers 8 fantastic sounding voices and huge versatility the price/performance ratio is heavily skewed in favor of performance.

Last updated July 2019

EarthQuaker Devices Transmisser Review: Reverb Pedal Review

When I saw that the mad scientists at EarthQuaker Devices had released a new reverb with a synthesizer-style resonant low-pass filter built in I was feeling excited and asked for a demo unit thinking I was the perfect guy to review this thing being a real guitar purist live but a synth and processor tinkerer in the studio. Little did I suspect that this review would turn into a fun and frustrating trip down the cavernous rabbit hole that is the Transmisser.

Last updated July 2019

The Genius of Russell Lissack

In the first episode of the series "The Genius Ff" I'm going to discuss the guitar abilities of Russell Lissack. Russell Lissack is known for being a lead guitarist in Bloc Party, as well as lead guitarist in project Pin Me Down. He also briefly joined Irish rock band "Ash" for live performances. In my opinion, he is one of the most innovative and experimental guitarists of the 2000's. In the further paragraphs, I'm going to try and defend my opinion.

Last updated October 2019

Elixir Optiweb Strings Review

I’ve been using Elixir’s acoustic strings for over a decade so when the Fed-ex guy dropped off a little box for me last week I was excited knowing that Elixir’s new Optiweb electric guitar strings were inside. For over 25 years I have used Ernie Ball 10 to 46 Slinkies and I’ve only flirted with other roundwound 10 gauges a pack or two at a time (and one of those flirtations was with Ernie Rock n Rolls). For this reason I will make reference to Slinkies throughout the article by way of comparison.

Last updated July 2019

Sewell Silverback Roar Premium Guitar Cable Review

Is the Sewell Silverback Roar Premium Guitar Cable Review studio and gig-worthy? We put it to the test and review it!

Last updated June 2019

Cyber Monday Music Gear Deals - Guitar Pedals, VSTs, DAWs & more

We're compiling the best Cyber Monday deals on music gear.

Last updated June 2019

Black Friday Music Gear Deals - VSTs, DAWs, guitar pedals & more

We're compiling the best Black Friday deals on music gear.

Last updated June 2019

Giveaway: 5 Sets of our Favorite Acoustic Guitar Strings

We're giving away 5 free sets of acoustic guitar strings to a lucky winner in November 2016. Entering to win is free and easy. Check it out!

Last updated November 2018

The Strokes' Nick Valensi Gives Advice on Forming a Rock Band, Songwriting, and Gear

Nick Valensi - lead guitarist of The Strokes and frontman of CRX - dishes out advice on forming a rock band, songwriting, and gear.

Last updated October 2019

iLoud Micro Monitor Speakers Review

IK Multimedia's iLoud Micro Monitor speakers are in a very interesting space - they are flat, honest, and detailed like a proper monitor should be, and yet they're extremely portable. But the most important question is - how do they sound?

Last updated June 2019

Novation Circuit Review

Part synth, part groovebox, part drum machine, completely portable, and 100% inspirational. Check out our complete Novation Circuit review.

Last updated December 2018

iRig HD 2 Guitar Interface Review

In this review of the IK Multimedia iRig HD 2, we’ll cover the unboxing, features, functionality, pros, and cons of this versatile digital guitar interface.

Last updated October 2019

Plugged Crown Headphones Review

We review the Plugged Crown headphones.

Last updated August 2019

5 Best Portable External Hard Drives

Your hard drive WILL fail. It's a matter of if, not when. Equipboard makes choosing your portable external drive easy...

Last updated July 2019

Player's Guide to Buying Vintage Gear

Keep in mind that in many cases, it is better to buy a brand new guitar than to buy a similar vintage model from an off-era.

Last updated November 2018

TC Electronic Viscous Vibe Review

Describing the tone of the Viscous Vibe is a bit tricky considering how flexible it is, as well as the fact the voicing of the pedal itself can be changed through the tone print technology.

Last updated July 2019

Gear Review: Novation Launchpad Pro & MK2

It’s time to revisit the Launchpad line as a whole and see why these new models are the go-to devices for live performance as well as studio work.

Last updated December 2018

Reaper 5 DAW Review

With Reaper, there’s one version for everyone; No limitations, no gimmicks. Professionals looking to run hundreds of tracks with generous amounts of plugins are welcome to test their hardware to its operating limits.

Last updated November 2018

Your First Gig: Must Have Accessories

Would you run a marathon drunk? If not, play sober...

Last updated July 2019