Retail Field Guides
A Guitar Evaluation You Can Repeat
A repeatable guitar evaluation for dealers and school buyers, covering use, fit, condition, demonstration, and complete cost.
The String Sale Starts with the Guitar
A dealer guide to guitar-string selection: identify the instrument, read all gauges, discuss construction, and record the fitted set.
A Twelve-String Needs a Longer Conversation
Evaluate a 12-string guitar through player fit, course tuning, approved strings, setup, amplified use, and a clear handoff.
Demonstrate the Acoustic-Electric as a Working System
Test an acoustic-electric guitar as a working system, from unplugged fit to pickup power, signal path, controls, and output.
Make Room for the Left-Handed Player
A dealer process for left-handed guitar fitting, honest demonstrations, exact ordering details, and lesson support.
Name the Part, Ask the Better Question
An illustrated guitar-parts guide that helps retail staff describe symptoms clearly and prepare useful service notes.
Picks and Capos: Fit Them Before You Sell Them
A practical fitting guide for guitar picks and capos, with a repeatable phrase test and checks for placement, pressure, and tuning.
Bass Strings: Measure Before You Match
Match bass strings by instrument, bridge routing, winding length, construction, tuning, and the requirements of every string.
CAGED Belongs in a Musical Lesson
Use the CAGED system in a store lesson program to connect roots, chord tones, voicings, and a short musical phrase.
Which Snare Drum Does the Job?
Choose a snare drum by application, response, preparation, support hardware, care, and the complete working setup.
Donner Debuts Starfold, OURA J100, PlugOne, Viva and more new pianos and guitars
HUSH XLIVE selected for the show's "Future Species" showcase SHANGHAI, CHINA – Oct. 31, 2026 – Donner, the China-based instrument brand and manufacturer, introduced a lineup of new digital pianos…
Friedman Amplification releases VX-30 series inspired by 1960s British amps
Friedman Amplification has introduced the VX Series, a new line of all-tube guitar amplifiers inspired by early 1960s British EL84 designs, according to Premier Guitar. The series includes the VX-30…
Fender player fusion series reaches retail availability
Fender's Player Fusion series of electric guitars and basses, built for hard rock and metal players, is now available at retail. According to Guitar.com, the four-instrument lineup was unveiled in…
Vader Sound names grant Henderson road sales rep for northern England and Ireland
UK musical instrument distributor Vader Sound has appointed Grant Henderson as a road-based sales representative covering northern England and Ireland, according to Music Instrument News. Henderson previously worked for UK…
Martin Guitar adds John Mayer Signature acoustic-electrics to Road Series
C. F. Martin & Co. has introduced two acoustic-electric guitars to its Road Series: the OM-13E John Mayer and OMC-13E John Mayer, both priced at $1,999.99 USD. According to Premier…
Universal audio releases Capitol Studios reverb plug-in for daws
Universal Audio has released Capitol Studios, a native room modeling and reverb plug-in for macOS and Windows that brings the Hollywood studio's rooms, microphones, processors, consoles and underground echo chambers…
Journey instruments releases comfort elevate acoustic line
Journey Instruments has launched a new line of Comfort Elevate models, extending its ergonomic wedge-body and arm-bevel design to full-sized acoustic guitars with traditional dreadnought and grand auditorium shapes, according…
Cookes band instruments director cites old-fashioned retailing for growth
Cookes Band Instruments director Mark Hedge attributes the store's recent growth to what he calls old-fashioned retailing, mia.org.uk reported. Hedge said he spent roughly two years reorganizing inventory, converting dead…
Steinberg ships cubase 16 with layered instruments and upgraded stem separation
Steinberg has launched Cubase 16, the newest version of its digital audio workstation, in three editions spanning Pro, Artist and Elements. According to mixonline.com, the Hamburg-based developer has added new…
Steinberg releases Cubase 16 with instrument stacks and six-stem separation
Steinberg has released Cubase 16, the newest version of its digital audio workstation. Monthly Mixing reported that the update introduces Instrument Stacks, allowing users to combine multiple VST instruments, Sampler…
Yamaha releases ACompass60 acoustic amplifier for singer-songwriters
Yamaha Music UK has launched the ACompass60, a premium acoustic guitar amplifier aimed at solo singer-songwriters, according to the Music Industries Association. The product is designed to provide a complete…
Fender celebrates Brent Mason's Nashville legacy with new Telecaster finish
Fender, in collaboration with Brent Mason, expands its Stories Collection with the introduction of the Limited Edition Brent Mason Telecaster® in Black, bringing a new finish to the celebrated signature…