Music Gear Guides

We analyze feedback from tens of thousands of music gear owners and process that data with the Gearank Algorithm to produce rating scores out of 100 for thousands of individual musical instruments and equipment.

Our results and recommendations are presented and explained in Gear Guides like these:

Studio Condenser Mics - Small to Large Diaphragm

Lauten Audio's LA-320 tied with Shure's KSM44A for the highest rated large diaphragm condenser microphone.

Microphone Preamps - All Prices up to $1000

Grace Design's m101 is the overall highest rated while the Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre topped the Under $500 section.

88 Key MIDI Controller Keyboards

The Kawai VPC1 takes the overall top spot having held it for 4 years now, while Arturia's KeyLab 88 MKII is the highest rated option with DAW controller features.

Electronic Drum Sets Under $1000

The $500 Roland TD-1K managed an impressive feat coming in equal first with the more up-market Yamaha DTX532K that sells for $1000.

Combo Guitar Amps - From $200 to $300

The Orange Crush 35RT topped the Digital and Solid State section with Vox claiming the two equal highest rated in the Hybrid & Tube Amps section.

Guitar Compressor Pedals - All Prices

An ego swelling performance from Wampler coming in first and second with their Ego V2 and Mini Ego + solid results for the Xotic SP and Boss CP-1X.

Guitar Headphone Amps - Bug, Belt, Desktop & Floor

Vox got the highest rating again for the second year in a row, but with a different one to last time when their Vox amPlug 2 Metal just edged out the Valeton Rushead Max.

Acoustic Guitar Strings - Extra Light to Heavy Gauge

Elixir Strings Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze Light achieved the highest score in the light gauge category with a Gearank rating of 94 based on over 1,800 guitarist ratings.

Keyboard Stands - X, T, Column & A-Frame

We analyzed 60 models with up to 3 tiers, and more than 12,500 rating sources, to uncover the highest rated Single X, Double X, Table, Z, Column and A-Frame stands.