Charvel Desolation Skatecaster SK-3 ST

Posted on 01/12/2026 by Guitar Gear

The semi-hollow Charvel Surfcaster left us too soon. Introduced in the early ’90s, this oddball guitar was a refreshing change, but in the end, it was just too bizarre. Today the Charvel Desolation Skatecaster is a new modern version of the guitar.

Five years after it was discontinued, Charvel is taking another shot with the Skatecaster model, which borrows the Surfcaster’s original body shape, though it doesn’t have the semi-hollow design. There is a slightly fuzzy quality to the Desolation humbuckers that’ll make you want to tweak your amp’s treble control.

With its name, matte-black finish, snub-nosed shape, and simple one-volume setup, early indications show that the Skatecaster SK-3 is targeting the mall-goer in the hoodie. It’s puzzling, then, that this guitar also features a compound-radius fretboard, double-octave neck, and jumbo fretwire – all elements that suggest it’s meant for skilled players.

Out of the box the Charvel Desolation Skatecaster setup needed a slight adjustment to remedy fret buzz. This is my first “passive” pickup guitar and is a great guitar for metal or hard rock, however, it does lack clarity and crispness that I’ve been accustomed to with my LP’s.

The Charvel Desolation Skatecaster appearance, quality, and craftsmanship of the Blue Smear are outstanding. The Abalone “Keystone” position inlays, along with the abalone binding on the body and headstock, are beautifully detailed. The neck is slim and quick, significantly smaller than that of the LP. The locking Charvel tuners maintain excellent tuning stability and simplify string changes. The oiled Mahogany neck offers a unique feel, but it’s easy to adapt to. This guitar boasts an elegant design and is reminiscent of the Fender Jaguar.

John E. Davis is a Texas Rock Guitarist offering FREE guitar lessons videos and covers guitar equipment, concert and music news. Visit the website for information on Guitar Lessons, Guitar Repair and Live Music Performance videos.

Marshall Lead 12 Micro Guitar Stack

Posted on 01/10/2026 by Guitar Gear

The Marshall Lead 12 Micro Guitar Stack in good condition, featuring a solid-state 12-watt head and matching angled 1×10″ cabinet. Renowned for delivering classic Marshall tone in a compact form, this vintage micro stack includes volume, gain, treble, and bass controls, along with a headphone output for silent practice. Perfect for collectors or players seeking iconic British sound in a small, stylish package that punches above its weight.

The Marshall Lead 12 Micro Stack (commonly referred to as model 3005) is a vintage solid-state amplifier from the 1980s, celebrated for delivering genuine, “plexi-style” Marshall rock tones within a compact 12-watt head and a corresponding 1×10″ or 2×10″ cabinet. Made in England, this collectible, powerful, and easily transportable setup is perfect for practice and recording, showcasing classic design elements along with volume, gain, and 3-band EQ controls.

I owned a Marshall Lead 12 Micro Stack briefly in the 80s; I exchanged it for Lead 30 for it and later regretted that decision. The Lead 30 was a superior amplifier. While the micro stacks do sound good, their 12 watts made them less loud and powerful compared to the ss Lead 30 (which utilized mosfet technology). Additionally, it had a bit too much bass response with the two 1×10 cabinets. I had a red model, which was visually striking. However, I consider it somewhat of a novelty. It is said that Billy Gibbons used one, but he ran it in front of a power amp as part of a rack setup.

The Marshall Lead 12 Micro Stacks are becoming somewhat collectible so I thought I should grab one while I could…and from a local store so I wouldn’t get hit with shipping charges. I want something I can play at home that can get that classic Marshall gain sound but also be easy to transport and I wanted to be able to plug the guitar straight into the amp with no pedals and get a nice signature Marshall sound.

Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 Watt Head

Posted on 01/09/2026 by Guitar Gear

I have used Marshall tube amplification for more than 20 years. Though temperamental, I have found Marshalls to offer great tube distortion with maximum gain and crunch. I have found the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL great for both live recording and studio use. I have the 100-watt model.

So… how does it sound?
The the Marshall JCM 2000 clean channel at low bedroom volumes sounds great. Also, driven at high, concert level volumes, the distortion and tube crunch is clear and punchy. NOTE: The unit reviewed is a 100-watt model and is really meant to be DRIVEN at high volumes and preferably with a tube pre-amp on the front end or through the effects loop.

This amp has tons of gain and the head offers four channels of distortion to choose from. Everything from AC/DC crunch to soaring death metal, mid-scooped distortion. If you like the sound of a Mesa then STAY AWAY. This amp is 100% Marshall JCM sounding.

Major Drawback: The Effects Loop
The Marshall JCM 2000 effects loop is a little undesirable as you do not have a volume knob control, but rather a -/+ DB cut button that only offers you only two choices: loud and louder. You would have to run the effects loop like a power amp and control the amount of volume with an external volume control. This issue can be nasty in a small club or your apartment where you want to use the effects loop with low volumes, but not have to run an external volume control.

Summary Conclusion
This amp is very versatile with four different channels of tube crunch to choose from. My 100-watt model has been rode hard and has been very reliable for both live concert and studio use over the years. The prices on these units have dropped into the mid $500’s on EBAY, so the price is very competitive verses a Soldano Hot Rod 50 or a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier. If you can live with just a two volume options in the effects loop, or don’t use the effects loop at all, pick one of these units up and pair the head with a Marshall/Celestion cab. You won’t be disappointed.

— Johnny D.

John E. Davis is a Texas Rock Guitarist offering FREE guitar lessons videos. Visit TexasRockGuitarist.com for information on Guitar Lessons, Guitar Repair and Live Music Performance.

The Gibson Les Paul Standard

Posted on 01/07/2026 by Guitar Gear

The Gibson Les Paul Standard represents the ultimate Les Paul, featuring its signature mahogany body. In addition, offering a beautifully carved maple top, dual humbucker™ pickups, and a set neck. For musicians seeking the most genuine and authentic Les Paul experience, the Standard is the ideal choice. Every aspect of the current Les Paul Standard is designed to replicate the same playing feel and sound as the Les Pauls from Gibson’s golden era.

The first Gibson Les Paul Standard to showcase the famous Cherry Sunburst finish was launched in 1958. Although the Les Paul model made its debut in 1952 with P-90 pickups and a trapeze tailpiece, the 1957 Goldtop, equipped with humbucking pickups and a Tune-O-Matic™ bridge, paved the way for the Standard we recognize today. In addition, introduction of the Sunburst finish marked a significant design evolution for the Les Paul, and the Les Paul Standards manufactured between 1958 and 1960—affectionately known as Bursts—are considered some of the finest solidbody electric guitars ever created.

The Gibson Les Paul Standard Specs:

The Gibson Les Paul Standard is a legendary solid body electric guitar made in America, priced between $2,299 and $3,100+. It is celebrated for its rich tone, mahogany body, maple top, and dual humbuckers. Moreover, notable models for 2025 feature the ’50s version (with a vintage neck and nickel hardware). Moreover, the ’60s version (featuring a SlimTaper neck and Grover tuners), along with choices for AAA maple tops, P-90 pickups, and a variety of finishes.

Gibson Les Paul Standard features a carefully selected range of premium guitars, which includes exclusive, limited-edition, and handcrafted models. Custom shop reissues and specialized amplifier series are also offered. When purchasing Gibson guitars and amplifiers together, an extended service period is usually provided.