Buying Guides | GC Riffs

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Buying Guides

A Guide to the Gibson J-45 Acoustic Guitar

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The Best Gifts for Beginner Guitarists in 2025

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Guitar-A-Thon Exclusives Roundup: Fall 2025

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What’s on My Wish List? | Max's Top 5 Music Gear Picks for 2025

In this article, I’ll share some of the gear I’ve recently added to my wish list. This includes guitar and bass amps, effects pedals and studio monitors, all intended to flesh out my collection, spark some creativity and bring even more fun to my (mis)adventures in music.

Buying Guides
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How to Choose the Best Gibson ES-335

The Gibson ES-335 is one of the most versatile guitar platforms of all time. It’s equally effective giving flight to rock, blues, funk, pop, jazz, country, prog, R&B, punk and just about any style of music you can imagine.

Buying Guides
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The Best Cases for Electric Guitar

Looking for the best electric guitar case to protect a prized instrument? We’ve assembled a variety of top picks to ensure your guitar is safe and sound on the go, or even just at home. From Stratocaster- and Les Paul-style electrics to Flying V-type models and beyond, there’s a perfect fit for every body, no matter the shape.

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The Best Ibanez Guitars for Metal

Widely regarded as a go-to purveyor of high-performance guitars for hard rock and metal, Ibanez produces a variety of instruments with sharp lines, fast necks, hot humbuckers and striking looks.

Buying Guides
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A Guide to the Ibanez JEM

The Ibanez JEM—legendary virtuoso Steve Vai’s signature guitar—is one of the most recognizable models in history. The JEM helped firmly establish Ibanez’s identity as a performance-oriented innovator in the late ’80s, and the brand hasn’t looked back since.

Buying Guides
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Labor Day 2025 Exclusive Music Gear

We’ve compiled a rundown of all our Labor Day 2025 exclusives, along with some insights from our merchants explaining the conception of each product.

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A Guide to the Martin D-28

Let's take a look at the history of the Martin D-28 and find the current D-28 variation that suits your sound.

Buying Guides
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Top 5 Most Popular Electric Guitars

A brief look at the world’s most popular electric guitars, from the Telecaster to the Les Paul.

Buying Guides
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Exclusive 4th of July Music Gear

We’ve got fresh electric guitars, effects, drums and more, bringing layers of creative flavor to your season of leisure.

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A Guide to Taylor Guitars

In this article, we're going to delve into this history of Taylor guitars and explore their current acoustic offerings.

Buying Guides
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Exclusive Memorial Day Music Gear

There’s no better way to kick off our Memorial Day celebration than to share some of the latest exclusive gear you won’t find anywhere else.

Buying Guides
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The Signature Gear of Kirk Hammett

Whether you're inspired by his higher-fret wizardry, massive chugging riffs or wah-drenched magic, this guide walks you through all of Kirk Hammett’s signature gear available at Guitar Center.

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Best Gear for Punk Rock Guitarists

We’ve compiled some of the best punk guitar gear—from guitars to amps and pedals—to help you dive gleefully into the mosh pit and get the sounds you want.

Buying Guides
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Guitar-A-Thon Roundup: Exclusive Guitars, Basses and Effects Pedals

With spring Guitar-A-Thon upon us, now’s our chance to unveil deep discounts on gear by big brands. It’s also a special season when our merchants partner closely with many of our top vendors to develop exclusive, limited-edition guitars, basses and effects only available at Guitar Center.

Buying Guides
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A Guide to Martin's Standard Series Acoustic Guitars

Though the range of models that Martin makes has expanded over the decades, the acoustic guitars of the Standard Series have been the rock behind the reputation.

Buying Guides
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The Best Classical and Flamenco Guitars of 2025

Choose from the best beginner, advanced and high-tech nylon-string guitars for classical and flamenco players. We pick 16 top models for all styles.

Buying Guides
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Guitar Center-Exclusive Gear this Holiday Season

This year’s exclusive gear is better than ever, with limited-edition instruments, pedals and drum kits that make for unforgettable gifts. From iconic guitars in unique finishes to versatile pedals and studio-worthy drum kits, this selection of Guitar Center-exclusive gear is the perfect way to elevate any musician's gear collection.

Buying Guides
24 Nov 2024

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