r/gear4music_official

Some PA speakers sound amazing for a year… then start rattling the second they see a pub gig or a damp van floor. We were talking about this after seeing an old pair of Yamaha speakers still going strong after what looked like decades of abuse.

What’s the toughest PA speaker you’ve ever owned or used? The kind that survives constant loading, sketchy venues, outdoor gigs, and still works perfectly.

Plus, if you're in the market for a durable PA speaker, we've compiled a list of some of our favourites!

Feels like every band has that story eventually.

Everything seems fine, rehearsals are booked, gigs are coming together… then suddenly someone drops the “I’m done” message and disappears overnight.

What’s the most unexpected band breakup or member exit you’ve experienced?

Summer feels like the perfect time to get outside and capture sounds you’d never hear sitting at a desk!

Rain, trains, crowds, birds, random street noise… anything.

Has anyone here used a field recorder for music production or sampling? Curious what sounds you’ve captured that actually made it into a track. We’ve also put together a guide on some great field recorders here!

Feels like every guitarist has heard the same comments over and over again.

“Anyway, here’s Wonderwall.”

“Play something we know.”

Some songs and requests seem to follow guitarists around for life.

So what’s the one thing people say or ask that instantly makes you roll your eyes?

Happy Beatles Day!!!

Every Beatles discussion seems to end up here eventually.....

Lennon gave us some of the most iconic and introspective tracks, McCartney had an unbelievable knack for melody, Harrison wrote some absolute classics later on, and even Ringo had his moments.

If you had to pick one member based purely on songwriting, who gets your vote?

It would have been Mick Ronson's 80th birthday last week, and it got us thinking....

How much of the Ziggy Stardust and Spiders from Mars sound was actually down to Ronson?

Could Bowie have achieved something similar with another guitarist, or was Ronson completely irreplaceable in shaping that era?

Curious to hear what people think.

Johnny Marr is auctioning dozens of guitars connected to major moments in his career, saying he'd rather see them inspire other musicians than sit in storage.

What do we think? Should iconic instruments end up in museums and collections, or is it better when they find their way into the hands of players who'll actually use them?

Curious where everyone lands on this one.

When you’re new, everything feels a bit unfamiliar. What did you find hardest in the beginning? Drums, melodies, arranging, mixing?

If you wanted to start making hip-hop beats this summer with zero experience, how simple can it be? If you're struggling (and have two minutes to spare), we’ve put together a list of hip-hop production tips to help you get started.....but keen to hear what we might’ve missed.