I recently caught up with Mark, the founder and luthier behind Kepler Guitars, to chat about building purpose-driven instruments for metal players, competing directly with US and Japanese boutique custom shops without the brutal import markup. Before we get there, don’t forget, I am trying to keep up with small builders, with a focus on […]
You can get pretty much anything if you live in the States, from an American Fender Stratocaster through to PRS S2ex and others, but due to transport costs, duties, exchange rate and tax (as well as the fact that shops have to make a profit) we get considerably less bang for our buck here. So
Size matters! I usually talk about electric guitars, but a lot of people start out with an acoustic guitar in their beginner journey. Believe it or not, too, there is a massive range of guitarist sizes out there! I think it’s time to tackle a question that pops up heaps in guitar communities – finding
There’s always a moment when you see it : A tidy electric guitar. Decent brand. “Hardly played.” Priced well below retail. You think: This is the one. And sometimes it is but sometimes it’s an absolute nightmare that you have just inherited from someone else’s storage unit. I’ve bought and sold enough secondhand electric guitars
I’ve been looking at builders of late and doing some profiles to help shine a light on the small builder guitar and gear industry (make sure to check out the Map of Australian Guitar and Gear Builders) After recent chats with great local and local-ish makers like Mr Glyn’s Pickups, Tonecat Pedals and Wyong Road,
“What’s the best guitar to start learning on?” Whether you’re eyeing up an acoustic for campfire sessions or dreaming of shredding on an electric, choosing your first beginner guitar can make or break your musical journey. Let me share some of my ideas about picking the right piece of gear to start your guitar adventure,
Last Updated: 26 February 2026 This week I talked to Allan and Heath from Artist Guitars about their products and how the company came about. Artist hits a great middle ground for beginner, intermediate and working guitarists, offering great prices for excellent quality (I will be releasing a review of one of their popular models
I went camping a few weeks back and my small workshop is also partly my storage shed for the camp gear. Dust had settled everywhere, in camp chairs, nooks and crannies and just anywhere that it could. Unfortunately, my solution of ‘just sweep regularly’ isn’t exactly the best way of keeping dust down and with
Finding the best practice amps for your home setup doesn’t have to be difficult, so I put a little guide together about some great options that are out there. I’ve always loved loud amps — that chest-thumping growl you get when a speaker gets pushed a little too far. But I have to admit, that
Hands-on review of the Artist Guitars Cherry58 (2026). See why this $349 semi-hollow is Australia’s best budget ES-335-style guitar for blues and classic rock.