The dreadful “must use provided backline” or “the mysterious amp at the drummer’s house” are circumstances where we hope for the best, yet fear the worst. Backline gear is usually decent, but your biggest setback is time. The band before you swore, the crowd wanted more, and now the stage director is just swearing at everyone for going overtime!

AXL Guitars has introduced the AXL USA Hand-Aged Bulldog. Each AXL USA Hand-Aged Bulldog has been aged to perfection by AXL's craftsmen to produce a one-of-a-kind instrument. Limited to a first run of 50 pieces, the Hand-Aged Bulldog has the look and feel of a guitar that's been played for years.

In the following video, Guitar World's Paul Riario heads deep in the jungle to test out two new Slash signature pedals, the Dunlop SC95 Cry Baby Classic Slash Signature Wah and MXR SF01 Slash Signature Octave Fuzz.

There are probably more than 300 models of overdrive, distortion and fuzz pedals in production today. How do you decide which one is right for you? Well, good readers, it’s time to practice your licks and get ready to blow some tweeters as we show you 10 things you should know before you buy a fuzz box.