Graham Grimaldi is a guitarist based in Manchester, Connecticut. He plays in the alternative/midwest emo band Bluepenny, which performs regularly around New England and is releasing their debut full-length LP in Fall 2025. Graham is also working on a solo progressive math rock project, and creates guitar covers and content for social media. Graham is…
Interview: The Tines
Read moreThe Tines are a band from New Haven, CT, who according to their Bandcamp profile "play cleverly crafted indie rock that focuses on the balance of tension and beauty", which sums them up pretty perfectly. Their newly-released self-titled album is a real pleasure to listen to and features excellent guitar playing by Sam Carlson and…
Var Guitar's Unofficial List of Klon Dealers
Read moreThe legendary Klon Centaur has many imitators, but only the Klon KTR, designed by KIon originator Bill Finnegan, can be said to officially carry on its legacy. On the top of each Klon KTR is inscribed the following: “Kindly remember: the ridiculous hype that offends so many is not of my making”. Perhaps this was…
Interview: Kaz Kawamura (One Control, Animals Pedal)
Read moreKaz Kawamura runs the Japanese gear company LEP International, whose brands include One Control and Animals Pedal.
NAMM 2021 Gear Highlights
Read moreDue to the still-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 NAMM show was held online. This was somewhat of a letdown; trying out new gear and meeting new people at NAMM 2020 was the treat of a lifetime. Neverthless the world’s gearmakers put on a great show for the 2021 "Believe in Music" event. Here are Var…
Interview: Kai Tachibana (Nobels, Nordland Electronics)
Read moreKai Tachibana is the Hamburg-based engineer behind the legendary Nobels ODR-1, which he's recently refined and released as the ODR-C. He shared his story with Var Guitar.
Korg OD-S NuTube Overdrive
Read moreThe Korg OD-S Nutube Overdrive is a game-changing drive pedal unlike anything else.
Interview: Ekaterina Gorbacheva
Read moreEkaterina Gorbacheva is an LA-based photographer who takes incredible concert photos.
5 Japan-only Fender Guitars Worth Traveling For
Read morePlanning a trip? There are a lot of Fender guitars that you can only buy in Japan. Here's our pick of the coolest Japan-only Fender guitars.
Interview: Jeff Wright (Unconditional Arms)
Read moreJeff Wright is the musician behind the Unconditional Arms project. I interviewed him shortly after the release of his 2020 album "Formation".
Interview: Ryan Clarke (Dr Scientist)
Read moreRyan Clarke is the founder of Dr Scientist, the Canadian pedal company responsible for such pedals as the Atmosphere reverb and Dusk filter.
Interview: Zack Slater (Birmingham Sounds)
Read moreZack Slater is a Maryland pedalbuilder who builds the Twentyseventeen under the name Birmingham Sounds.
Dophix David Overdistortion
Read moreThe Dophix David Overdistortion is a drive pedal unlike anything on your board.
Interview: Ryan McGill (Vongon Electronics)
Read moreRyan McGill builds gear under the name Vongon Electronics and records music as Ryan Von Gonten. Vongon's latest pedal Paragraphs is an extremely flexible filter and envelope generator. I chatted with Ryan over email about his music and gear. Tell me about yourself and your musical journey. I’m an engineer and musician based in Oakland,…
Interview: Steve Demedash (Demedash Effects)
Read moreSteve Demedash, of Demedash Effects, is the man behind the T-120 Videotape Echo and the 112+ Drive Channel. Despite Steve's recent entry to the pedal market, the VHS-inspired T-120 has exploded in popularity, with a waitlist over a year long. I reached out to Steve to learn about his background, the inspiration behind the T-120,…
NAMM 2020 Gear Highlights
Read moreThe NAMM Show held each January is the biggest event in the gear world, and this year I was able to attend for the first time. For the few days I was there, I was in guitar gear heaven. I met lots of wonderful people (including the one and only Seymour Duncan), I paid my…
Interview: Joe Popp
Read moreThe best part of guitar blogging is making friends along the way. I met Joe Popp, a New York City-based pedal maker, by way of his Instagram page. His feed grabbed my attention with his colorful creations, the quality of his handiwork, and the oft-terrifying sounds his pedals make. I thought he’d be a great…
Nobels ODR-1 Overdrive
Read moreThe ODR-1 Overdrive is a pedal from German manufacturer Nobels. Nobels is not a widely known brand in the USA, but nevertheless the ODR-1 has attained a legendary reputation amongst guitarists in the Nashville scene. A quick glance at Nobel’s Instagram will show a huge range of country guitarists who use the ODR-1 as their…
Joyo BanTamP BlueJay
Read moreThe Joyo BanTamP BlueJay is a lunchbox-sized amp head from China’s Joyo. It offers classic clean tones in a tiny, budget-friendly package. The BlueJay is part of Joyo’s BanTamP range of amplifiers, which emulate various classic amp tones. Joyo disavows that the BanTamPs are based on specific amps, but the promo literature provides a cheeky…
Boss DS-1 Distortion
Read moreThe Boss DS-1 is the most famous guitar pedal in history, and it still kicks ass after 40 years. Read the Var Guitar review here.
JHS Emperor V2 Chorus/Vibrato
Read moreThe JHS Emperor V2 guitar pedal is an analog chorus and vibrato pedal from Kansas City’s premiere pedalsmiths at JHS Pedals. It has an abundance of features, sounds great, and its attractive little penguin logo and lavender enclosure will look good on your pedalboard. After my review of the budget Behringer UC200 chorus, I thought…
Way Huge Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz
Read moreThe Way Huge Swollen Pickle is a whole lotta fuzz in a tiny package, but is it right for you? Read this review and find out.
Behringer UC200 Ultra Chorus Pedal
Read moreThe Behringer UC200 Ultra Chorus is a fantastic chorus pedal available for a fraction of the price of the Boss Super Chorus CH-1 it clones. If you’re looking for a classic analog chorus at a bargain price, the UC200 can’t be beaten. Check them out on Sweetwater here. The JHS Bump In the online guitar…
Boss GT-1 Guitar Effects Processor
Read moreBoss is the quintessential stompbox company, with a reputation for reliable, quality guitar effects. They're best known for their iconic standalone effects, but they also make the GT series of digital multi-fx units, great for getting a lot of guitar sounds in a compact package. The Boss GT-1 Guitar Effects Processor is the smallest member…
Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb / Delay
Read moreEarlier this year, I sold my trusty, versatile MXR Reverb. In its place I bought a Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb / Delay, a pedal that’s been out of production for nearly two decades, with a mere four reverb modes and a chunk missing out of the footswitch. It’s not unreasonable to ask… why? Surely, in…
Electro-Harmonix Canyon Delay & Looper
Read moreThe Electro-Harmonix Canyon Delay and Looper exemplifies EHX's reputation for quality guitar pedals. This small white box is a Swiss army knife of superb time-based effects, featuring reverbs, delay, and a looper for good measure. It's one of the best pedals around, and now that its big brother the Grand Canyon has been released, it's…
Replace the Squier Jaguar Bridge on a Budget
Read moreI spent $13 on a replacement bridge for my Squier Jaguar and I kinda like it. Click here for a video tutorial on how to install your own.
Squier Jaguar
Read moreThe Squier Jaguar is a really good guitar. Read this review, think about it, then go to the guitar store and buy one.
Danelectro Fish and Chips EQ Pedal
Read moreI recently bought a Danelectro Fish and Chips EQ pedal in an attempt to tighten up my tone. I really like mine, so I've written this article to help convince you to buy one. Over the course of this review, I'll explain the purpose of an equalizer pedal – what it does and why you…
Dunlop Volume (X) Pedal
Read moreIf you want to adjust your guitar's volume without interrupting your playing, you need to use a volume pedal, and if you're in the market for one an excellent choice is the Dunlop Volume (X) Pedal (also known as the DVP4). Why buy a volume pedal? Volume pedals are extremely simple. As they sweep from…
Electro-Harmonix Soul Food
Read moreThe Electro-Harmonix Soul Food overdrive is a great pedal that provides a taste of the Klon Centaur's legendary clean boost at a fraction of the price.
MXR Reverb
Read moreThe MXR Reverb (sometimes referred to as the M300) is pedal legends MXR’s entry into the crowded reverb pedal market. In this review, I'll describe the MXR Reverb's features, some of the things I like about it, and some areas I think could be better. Let's begin! Features The MXR Reverb offers mono/stereo in/out. It…
Boss RC-1 Loop Station
Read moreThe Boss RC-1 Loop Station is Boss's entry-level looper pedal. It stores one loop of up to 12 minutes, which provides lots of flexibility for practicing, composing, and sonic experimentation. The RC-1 has stereo inputs and outputs. Although all the loop modes are available through the inbuilt switch, it supports an external one-or-two-button footswitch for…
Behringer VD400 Vintage Delay
Read moreThe Behringer VD400 analog delay pedal promises a lot of functionality at a low price, but does it deliver? Read our review to find out.
Roland Micro Cube GX
Read moreThe Roland Micro Cube GX, released in 2013, is the latest edition in Roland's legendary series of Micro Cube portable guitar amplifiers. The Micro Cube GX weighs about 6 pounds and has a carry strap, so it's extremely portable. It features battery-powered operation – it takes six AA batteries, which Roland claim will power it…
