#Buying Guides
Your Guide to Hollowbody & Semi-Hollowbody Guitars
When you’re new to the world of guitars, hollow might seem like an unusual descriptor. What could it mean? Aren’t guitars supposed to be solid? How does a hollowbody differ from a semi-hollowbody? It’s fine, we’ve all been there. That’s why we’re giving you this brief rundown of hollowbody and… Read more
#Buying Guides
MIDI Controllers Guide: Keys and Pads
So you’re putting together a recording studio. Next on your purchase list? A MIDI controller. The only catch is that you're not quite sure what you should be looking out for. That’s where this article comes in. We’ll give you a brief run-through on all things MIDI. You’ll practically be… Read more
#Gear & Tech Tips
Why Everyone Should Own A Travel Guitar
Days will soon arrive when we’ll be jetting off again for one reason or another. And let’s face it. Being far away from your guitar is torture. Drowning in your loneliness, a travel guitar starts to sound like a sensible purchase. However, you’re not one to make hasty decisions. For… Read more
#Buying Guides
Studio Recording Gear: A Beginner Buyer’s Guide
In this age of DIY advocacy, you’ve no doubt seen how convenient it is to assemble your own home studio. Indie musicians, Youtube personalities, podcasters – it seems like everyone’s got one. It’s a huge 180 from how it used to be. Older studio recording gear setups once ran up… Read more
#Buying Guides
The Best MIDI Controllers for Under $300 for 2022
Just starting out with music production? Your journey will see you explore a whole range of gear on your way to a fully functional studio space. You’ve got your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and studio monitors. Still, there might not be anything as indispensable as a MIDI controller – so… Read more
#Gear & Tech Tips
Custom Shop Guitars: Fender Custom Shop
Fender Custom Shop. Those three words evoke a thrill in guitarists everywhere. We can’t help it. Some of history’s most iconic instruments were crafted in this very division for equally awe-inspiring hands. Remember Hendrix and his beguiling Voodoo Child Strat? Psychedelic man Jimmy Page, Signature Telecaster in tow? The rumbly… Read more
#Buying Guides
The Best Rock-Ready Guitars for Under $500, $1,000, and $2,500
What makes a rock guitar, y'know, rock? We can debate hardware and build all day long, but it boils down to one thing – sound. Glassy cleans. Colossal distortion. All the staples of your favourite rock song, pumped out by the sexiest stringed instrument in town. These days, competition between… Read more
#New Arrivals
Lowden Guitars: Boutique Acoustic Guitars from Northern Ireland
Remember how we welcomed Ed Sheeran by Lowden to Swee Lee a couple of months ago? Now, it’s Lowden Guitars' turn, and it's about time! No, you're not seeing double. Lowden Guitars are collaborators behind Ed Sheeran's signature guitars. While Sheeran's instruments retain the Lowden integrity, they're a lot more… Read more
#New Arrivals
Fender 2022 New Arrivals
Take us on a Fender bender any day. Their offerings keep getting better and better each year, and for one good reason. The company stays loyal to its roots, but is also bold enough to embrace industry advancements. The result? Revamped versions of old favourites that can hold their own… Read more
#Inspiration
Marian Carmel’s Favourite Vinyl, Latest Album and an Exclusive Beverage
Like many of you, we’re no stranger to local singer-songwriter Marian Carmel and her ethereal voice and infectious personality, having had the pleasure of listening to her live (yes, pre-covid things) performances at The Star Vista a couple of times. To find out more about the music that inspires her,… Read more
#Buying Guides
From John Mayer to John Petrucci: The Best Signature Guitars at Swee Lee
It’s oh-so-natural to obsess over your favourite artists' gear. Even brands go crazy when they see their best guitars on stage in front of millions of people. That’s why it’s become even more common that brands rope in these famous artists to collaborate on developing their very own signature guitar… Read more
#Inspiration
joan Answers Your Questions on Songwriting, Dad Life, EPs, and More!
If you're missing the radio vibes from the late 1990s and early 2000s – Arkansas-based pop duo, joan, just might be the ones to scratch that nostalgic itch! Fusing together retro sounds with modern pop sensibilities, Alan Benjamin Thomas and Steven Rutherford have spent the past 4 years building a… Read more