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Loop Performer 2026: This Gear is a Perfect Match

🗓️ February 20, 2026 | Source: Gear News

What does it take to captivate a live audience as a loop performer? Here are three essential picks for aspiring loop artists - a perfect match. The post Loop Performer 2026: This Gear is a Perfect Match appeared first on gearnews.com.

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Chinese Synths, New Analog Drum Machine, Breakcore Eurorack: Synth Journal

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Gear News

Learn about Chinese synths, discover the world’s first generative analog drum machine, turn your Eurorack rig into a breakcore studio, more. The post Chinese Synths, New Analog Drum Machine, Breakcore Eurorack: Synth Journal appeared first on gearnews.com.

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The Best Free DAWs: Freeware For Music Production

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Gear News

With the best free DAWs, you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars just to edit audio or record some of your song ideas. The post The Best Free DAWs: Freeware For Music Production appeared first on gearnews.com.

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Arturia FX Collection 6: Expands with 2 New Effects Plugins

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Gear News

The Arturia FX Collection 6 has expanded even further, adding some of Arturia's key plugin releases to the bundle along with two new plugins. The post Arturia FX Collection 6: Expands with 2 New Effects Plugins appeared first on gearnews.com.

“I had to learn how to get the sound. I was just hooked”: Driven by a Van Halen obsession, Jacob Deraps is a YouTube shred superstar on a mission to bring catchy rock ‘n’ roll back to the mainstream

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

This is the origin story of Jacob Deraps, the player whose brain exploded when he heard Eddie Van Halen for the first time, and he never looked back

“The drums, the guitar and the bass are already in there. What we didn’t have is a vocalist”: Alex Van Halen says a new Van Halen record was virtually finished before Eddie passed away

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

The Van Halen drummer has also shed more light on Steve Lukather's involvement in the project

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Radial Voco-Loco Mk2: An Update for the Preamp and FX Loop Pedal

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Gear News

The Radial Voco-Loco Mk2 is a new-look version of the popular preamp pedal that lets you interface with an endless range of guitar effects pedals. The post Radial Voco-Loco Mk2: An Update for the Preamp and FX Loop Pedal appeared first on gearnews.com.

What constitutes “fake” guitar playing?

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

Separate viral videos in recent months have accused multiple young, ultra-popular, social media-savvy guitarists of being “fake”. But what does that mean in this day and age? And what makes that label a new phenomenon?

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Steinberg Absolute 7: New Drum, Guitar, Piano, and Orchestral Instruments

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Gear News

In Steinberg Absolute 7, you get Groove Agent 6, the Axe Machina guitar instrument, and a range of other tools for music production and film scoring. The post Steinberg Absolute 7: New Drum, Guitar, Piano, and Orchestral Instruments appeared first on gearnews.com.

“They said, ‘You're playing heavy metal.’ I said, ‘Heavy metal… what's that?’” Why Tony Iommi shunned the heavy metal tag during Black Sabbath's early days

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

The Godfather of Heavy Metal was trying to channel the horror films he and bassist Geezer Butler used to watch – and that, in turn, would give birth to an entire genre

“The craft is faultless… the range of sounds that it can produce is quite extraordinary”: Swannell Guitars makes an electric like an acoustic with tones that will blow your mind

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

Jamie Swannell makes some seriously high-end acoustics and has applied that knowhow to the IA, a super-versatile, vibey electric that might just be the boutique slide machine of your dreams

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New Windows MIDI Services: Windows 11 Finally Brings MIDI 2.0, Multi-Client Support, and More Precise Timing to Your Studio

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Gear News

Windows MIDI Services bring MIDI 2.0, multi-client support, and precise timing to Windows 11 — less routing hassle, more studio control. The post New Windows MIDI Services: Windows 11 Finally Brings MIDI 2.0, Multi-Client Support, and More Precise Timing to Your Studio appeared first on gearnews.com.

“It went totally sour. After we did the album thing, it was like, ‘This isn’t happening’”: Why Nile Rodgers and John Mayer’s collaboration was derailed – because of a Rolling Stones album

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

Rodgers and Mayer swapped albums ahead of a potential partnership – but their differing tastes at the time meant it all fell apart

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A New MacBook A18 Pro is Coming Soon! Apple’s Cheapest Laptop Ever?

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Gear News

On March 4, 2026, Apple is expected to unveil a more affordable MacBook A18 Pro - the first iPhone chip in a Mac, delivering M1-level performance. The post A New MacBook A18 Pro is Coming Soon! Apple’s Cheapest Laptop Ever? appeared first on gearnews.com.

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Jackson Pro Plus Pure Metal Stealth: 3 Limited Editions

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Gear News

Jackson Soloist SL1A, Kelly KE1A, and Rhoads RR1A with Bare Knuckle Holy Diver and Floyd Rose The post Jackson Pro Plus Pure Metal Stealth: 3 Limited Editions appeared first on gearnews.com.

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Studio Monitors With a Coaxial Design: What Are the Advantages?

🗓️ February 19, 2026 | Source: Gear News

What Is a Coaxial Design in Studio Monitors, and What Advantages Does It Offer? We’ll Take a Closer Look at the Palmer ORBIT 11. The post Studio Monitors With a Coaxial Design: What Are the Advantages? appeared first on gearnews.com.

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Gibson Custom Debuts the Gary Clark Jr. ES-355

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Premier Guitar

Gibson Custom today proudly unveils the new Gary Clark Jr. ES‑355™, a striking signature model created in close collaboration with the four‑time GRAMMY® Award–winning guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Austin-born and globally celebrated for his electrifying live performances, Gary Clark Jr. has long blended blues, rock, soul, and hip hop into a sound entirely his own. His previous Gibson and Epiphone signature instruments—the SG™ and Casino™—each captured facets of his musical identity, but the...

"There’s clarity where you want it, and a glorious wall of noise when you need it": Laney Black Country Customs Billy Corgan Supergrace Loudpedal review

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

Laney distills Billy Corgan's legendary rig into a pedalboard-friendly amp that goes way beyond Smashing Pumpkins tones

“You do feel violated, and it was really sad and disturbing to watch the video”: Police in search of robbers who stole $15,000 vintage Martin D-28 from Maryland music store

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

The four suspects allegedly walked into the local family-owned business, concealed the acoustic guitar, and nonchalantly walked off

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How To Use Clipping: An Essential Mixing Tool

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Gear News

Traditionally, clipping was something to be avoided at all costs. However, when we know how to use clipping deliberately, it becomes a versatile tool. The post How To Use Clipping: An Essential Mixing Tool appeared first on gearnews.com.

“The best-sounding, most powerful, and most flexible processing Line 6 has ever offered”: Line 6’s Helix Stadium Floor is finally shipping – 8 months after it was first unveiled

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

The smaller Helix Stadium Floor variant offers the same powerful modeling and unique live rig features, but with a more compact footprint

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Rig Rundown: Spiritbox

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Premier Guitar

Ahead of Spiritbox’s recent show at Nashville’s Pinnacle, PG’s Chris Kies spent some time with the Canadian alt-metal giants’ guitarist Mike Stringer and bassist Josh Gilbert to get the story on their down-tuned mayhem. See about the highlights below, and watch the full Rig Rundown for more.Brought to you by D’Addario. Signature 7Stringer’s signature Aristides STX guitars, like this 7-string, are the first axes he reaches for. Inspired by Kurt Cobain’s Jag-Stang, the STX comes in 6-, 7-, and 8-s...

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Charvel Pro Mod Plus Dinky DK24: The Most Beautiful Dinky Models Ever!

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Gear News

Charvel Pro Mod Plus Dinky DK24 adds a host of new colors and variants with exciting additions. Take a look! The post Charvel Pro Mod Plus Dinky DK24: The Most Beautiful Dinky Models Ever! appeared first on gearnews.com.

“I had a poster on my wall of B.B. King playing Lucille. I always wanted one of those guitars”: Gary Clark Jr. comes full circle with a new signature Gibson ES-355 that pays homage to his hero

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

The stunning signature is a recreation of Gary Clark Jr.'s one-of-one Custom Shop model – and it channels his love for B.B. King

“I showed it to John Paul Jones. He laughed. And then he played it. He went from giggling to joy”: When Josh Homme introduced a Led Zeppelin legend to his secret-weapon amp

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

The Led Zeppelin bassist had low expectations for the unassuming gear pick, but quickly discovered why it’s crucial to Homme’s sound

“I spent a lot of shows in the beginning wondering if he was upset”: John Mayer opens up on his early Dead & Company insecurities – and learning to share the stage with his hero, Bob Weir

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

The Grateful Dead icon, who passed away in January, became one of Mayer's closest collaborators during the latter years of his career

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Gretsch Broadcaster LX: New 2026 Flame Maple

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Gear News

Gretsch Broadcaster LX Collection adds new flame maple bodies to their lineup for 2026 The post Gretsch Broadcaster LX: New 2026 Flame Maple appeared first on gearnews.com.

“People want real experiences. There’s a backlash to this era of perfect music, and I appreciate it”: Converge’s Kurt Ballou on mixing pedals with amp modelers, guitar recording hacks and reclaiming metal’s authenticity

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

Fifth album Love is Not Enough sees the producer-guitarist embracing modern gear while opposing modern music’s “data-entry” trends – and returning to a jam space filled with Christmas lights and Iron Maiden flags

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Valeton GP-150: The New Benchmark of Affordable Multi-Effect Floorboards?

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Gear News

Is the Valeton GP-150 the new benchmark among affordable floorboards? We've got all the details on the new multi-effect! The post Valeton GP-150: The New Benchmark of Affordable Multi-Effect Floorboards? appeared first on gearnews.com.

“I wandered into a Guitar Center vintage room, plugged it in and it just floored me. People literally started coming in asking what amp I was playing”: Inside Fender’s mission to bring the ’62 Super Amp back from the dead

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

Long hidden in the shadows of Fender history, the early ’60s brown-panel Super Amp has reemerged. Senior product manager, Rick Heins, talks us through its rebirth

“I love the sound of acoustics and electrics, which is why I try to merge the two… I prefer bigger textures”: How Pavey Ark are reinventing acoustic guitar with pedals, fake nails and a $60 nylon-string that holds its own in any company

🗓️ February 18, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

Neil Thomas’ adventurous playing and ear for unorthodox tuning finds the English collective exist between two worlds of traditional and neo-folk

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Love Hultén Deckard’s Dream X2: How Beautiful Is This Yamaha CS-50-Inspired Custom Synth?

🗓️ February 17, 2026 | Source: Gear News

What do you get when you combine 3 beautiful synthesizers and 2 effects units in a single custom cabinet? Love Hultén Deckard’s Dream, of course. The post Love Hultén Deckard’s Dream X2: How Beautiful Is This Yamaha CS-50-Inspired Custom Synth? appeared first on gearnews.com.

"A triumphant first all-analog pedal from Strymon, which will inject your rig with some impressively usable and versatile drive tones": Strymon Fairfax Class A Output Stage Drive pedal review

🗓️ February 17, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

Strymon's unexpected departure from its usual DSP-led design is a recreation of Randy Bachman's Garnet Herzog – and the result is something rather stellar

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Guitar Journal: Matt Bellamy £30k Black Edition & More

🗓️ February 17, 2026 | Source: Gear News

Manson’s £30k Matt Bellamy "Black Edition," the Dophix Magnifico Dual Boost, and Gibson’s radical Leo Scala '58 Addiction Explorers. The post Guitar Journal: Matt Bellamy £30k Black Edition & More appeared first on gearnews.com.

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u-he, Rhodes, IK Multimedia: 3 Limited-Time Software Deals You Shouldn’t Miss

🗓️ February 17, 2026 | Source: Gear News

Limited-time deals from u-he, Rhodes, and IK Multimedia: three software instruments, from synths to organs, at bargain prices. The post u-he, Rhodes, IK Multimedia: 3 Limited-Time Software Deals You Shouldn’t Miss appeared first on gearnews.com.

“Gene and Paul came back to the studio with their jaws on the floor. Gene said, ‘No-one has ever turned down Kiss’“: The glam-rock guitarist who accidentally turned down Kiss

🗓️ February 17, 2026 | Source: Guitar World

Punky Meadows, best known as the guitarist for glam-rock outfit Angel, sets the record straight on auditioning for Kiss, being chosen on the spot, but never actually making the band…