Guides

Evergreen explainers that sit behind Guitar Radar’s daily coverage. Each guide is based on manufacturers’ own documentation, attributes vendor claims to the vendor, and does not claim hands-on testing. For how the daily stories are made, see How Guitar Radar works.

• Amp Modeling, Profiling and Neural Capture Explained

  Modelers, profilers and neural-capture platforms can all put amp tones in a pedal, plugin or floorboard, but they do not necessarily get there the same way. Here is what the terms mean, where impulse responses fit in, and what those differences change for the player.

  Published October 10, 2026

• Cab Sims, IRs and FRFR: What Each Part of a Modeler Rig Does

  Amp models, cabinet simulations, impulse responses and FRFR speakers all shape a digital guitar rig, but they do very different jobs. Here is how the signal chain fits together, and when a virtual cabinet should stay on or be switched off.

  Published October 10, 2026

• How to Read a Guitar Gear Announcement

  “Announced,” “available now,” “pre-order,” “MSRP” and “new” can look precise in a gear press release, but they often describe different things. Here is how to separate the announcement, the actual availability, the price claim and the real product change.

  Published October 10, 2026

• Signature Guitar, Artist Model, Custom Shop and Limited Run: What the Labels Mean

  Signature, artist model, Custom Shop and limited edition can sound like precise categories, but guitar makers do not use them in one standardized way. Here is what the labels can tell you, and what still has to be checked separately.

  Published October 10, 2026