Gear & Rigs
Deep-dive into the setups that define rock and metal. Guitars, amps, pedals, pickups, and full signal chains — analyzed, explained and recreated. Learn exactly how the pros built their legendary tone.
Mesa/Boogie Road King II Head: Four Channels, Twelve Modes, and Five Power Amps in One Box
Mesa/Boogie Road King II Head: four channels, 12 modes, Progressive Linkage power tube switching. Verified players, tone recipes, specs, buying guide.
Sixty Years of Chime, Soldered by Hand: The Vox AC30HW2 Hand-Wired
The Vox AC30HW2 Hand-Wired brought turret board construction back to the AC30 in 2010. Discontinued but legendary — specs, tone, and buying guide.
The Amp That Started Everything: Marshall Studio JTM ST20H and the Circuit That Rewrote Rock
Marshall Studio JTM ST20H: the JTM45-circuit 20W head in the Studio series. Full specs, verified players, tone recipes, and honest buying guide for 2026.
Twenty Watts of Pure Fury: The Peavey 6505 MH Mini Head
All-tube 20W mini head with switchable power, MSDI DI and USB recording. Verified player connections, tone recipes and buying guide for the Peavey 6505 MH.
The Last Amp Eddie Van Halen Ever Played on Stage: The EVH 5150III 100S Stealth Head
The EVH 5150III 100S was Eddie Van Halen's last touring amp. Specs, Shuguang 6L6 power tubes, re-voiced channels, and comparisons explained.
Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR: Born to Shred, Built to Last
The Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR carries Sunset Strip DNA into a modern superstrat. Seymour Duncan pickups, Floyd Rose, and full guide.
