Amplifiers, effects pedals, and accessories for guitar and bass players
Amplifiers and effects pedals shape the voice of electric guitars and basses. From warm tube overdrive to cosmic delay effects, guitar gear transforms raw string vibrations into the sounds that define genres.
Guitar amplification began in the 1930s as jazz guitarists sought to be heard alongside horn sections. Leo Fender and Jim Marshall pioneered iconic amp designs in the 1950s-60s. Effects pedals exploded in popularity during the psychedelic era and continue evolving today.
Tube amplifiers use vacuum tubes for warm, dynamic tone. Solid-state and digital amps offer reliability and versatility. Effects pedals alter the guitar signal with distortion, delay, reverb, modulation, and more, either individually or in multi-effects units.
Players known for iconic gear tones include Jimi Hendrix (fuzz and wah), The Edge (delay), David Gilmour (smooth overdrive and effects), Kevin Shields (reverse reverb), and Tom Morello (creative effects use).
The iconic "fuzz" distortion sound was discovered by accident in 1960 when a faulty mixing console produced a gloriously distorted guitar tone during a Nashville recording session.