
Daryl Robertson
Daryl is a Senior Deals Writer at Guitar World, where he creates and maintains our 200+ buyer's guides, finds the best deals on guitar products, and tests the latest gear. His reviews have been featured in prominent publications like Total Guitar, Future Music magazine, and MusicRadar.com.
During his career, he has been lucky enough to talk to many of his musical heroes, having interviewed Slash and members of Sum 41, Foo Fighters, The Offspring, Feeder, Thrice, and more. In a past life, he worked in music retail. For a little under a decade, he advised everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned pros on the right gear for their needs.
Daryl's world doesn't just revolve around guitars either; he also has a passion for live sound. Daryl is a fully qualified sound engineer who holds a first-class Bachelor's degree in Creative Sound Production from the University of Abertay and has plenty of experience working in various venues around Scotland.
Latest articles by Daryl Robertson

These Boss favorites are still on sale for Prime Day, including the beloved Boss DS-1W – but hurry, the deals end tonight!
By Daryl Robertson last updated
Save big on everything from the Katana Artist-Head to Boss compact pedals, and much more this Prime Day

Amazon still has dirt-cheap guitar pedals starting from only $20.79, but the Prime Day deals end today – give your 'board a budget boost while you can
By Daryl Robertson last updated
There's discounts on pedals from Electro-Harmonix, Donner, Mooer and more. But are they too cheap? Here's my thoughts and 6 top recommendations

Guitar World deals of the week: your last chance to grab a Prime Day saving – a face-melting EHX octave fuzz for less than $40, $94 off a bonkers Squier and loads more
By Matt McCracken published
Prime Day special! Get your hands on all the biggest guitar gear savings in one place

Prime Day guitar deals 2025: Final day to save! This is your last chance to shop the best Prime Day deals on guitars, amps, pedals, accessories, and more
By Chris Barnes last updated
As we enter the final day of Prime, we’re hand-picking all the biggest guitar bargains, from budget accessories and restockable essentials, to gear from Fender, Gibson, Music Man, PRS, and more

Sweetwater is looking to Seek & Destroy Amazon with the very best Prime Day guitar deal for Metallica fans – save $359 off the iconic Kirk Hammett White Zombie
By Daryl Robertson published
The Thing That Should Not Be... a massive $359 saving on the eye-popping Kirk Hammett White Zombie guitar

Guitar Center is taking the fight to Amazon this Prime Day with 25% off an "endless" selection of electric guitars - including $200 off a Player II Strat!
By Daryl Robertson published
Forget Amazon, if you are seeking sizable discounts on popular models from Fender, Epiphone, Gretsch, and more, Guitar Center is the place to go

Here are the 13 must-try guitar accessories for under $25 this Prime Day - including the Hetfield-approved Dunlop Black Fang guitar picks for only $8.25!
By Daryl Robertson published
From picks to tuners, slides to strings, these are our choices for the best guitar-related items under $25 on sale right now at Amazon

"This is the kind of guitar that encourages you to play your best, allowing you to perform faster, smoother, and more expressively than you thought possible": Gibson Marcus King ES-345 review
By Daryl Robertson published
Marcus King delivers a royal reimagining of an ES classic – and it may take the crown as the finest signature guitar of the year

Shhhh... Donner's 4.5-star Hush-X travel guitar just dropped by a chunky 20%, making practice at home or on vacation more family-friendly
By Daryl Robertson published
This Prime Day, you can bag an electric travel guitar that sounds so good you won't believe it isn't a regular solidbody

Guitar god Eric Johnson thinks "every guitarist should learn the piano," and with Prime Day discounts on models from Roland, Yamaha, and Casio, it's never been cheaper to learn
By Daryl Robertson published
Have you always wanted to expand your musical horizons? Well, these seriously discounted pianos will help you do that for a whole lot less this Prime Day

Seriously? $109.99 for a genuine Telecaster?! Fender’s Squier Debut models are the ultimate beginner guitars, and with this wallet-friendly Prime Day discount, you'll have enough left over to buy a tuner
By Daryl Robertson published
Fender’s ultra-affordable Amazon-only Strat and Tele have received a 19% reduction, making them the cheapest Squier guitars available right now

Guitar World deals of the week: save $850 on a Music Man, get $10 guitar lessons, plus all the best early Prime Day guitar deals
By Matt McCracken published
Get your hands on all the biggest savings on guitar gear in one place

With a colossal $1,200 off a wild Boss synth guitar and $200 off a Gibson Les Paul, Sweetwater may have dropped the best 4th of July sale for guitarists
By Daryl Robertson last updated
Sweetwater's 4th of July sale is here and sees up to 60% off a massive range of gear from the likes of Boss, Sire, Guild, Gretsch, and more

I already have 13 Gibson guitars in my collection, but with a massive $200 off the Les Paul Studio at Sweetwater, I'm about to add another
By Daryl Robertson published
Sweetwater's official 4th of July sale has just dropped, and it includes this mammoth Gibson offer that will make the heart of any Les Paul fan race

I was holding out for Amazon Prime Day, until Thomann's massive Music Days sale dropped up to 65% in savings on Fender, ESP, Gibson, Martin, Taylor, and more
By Daryl Robertson published
Thomann's Music Days sale looks to take on Amazon's Prime Day as the place to shop for musicians

Musician’s Friend just kicked off its 4th of July sale early, and I wasn't expecting to see a gigantic up to $850 off Music Man guitars
By Daryl Robertson published
Grab a killer deal on guitars, amps and pedals with up to 60% off at Musician's Friend this Independence Day

Best guitar slides 2025: every budget and material covered, plus how to choose the right slide for you
By Ross Holder last updated
Getting into the bluesy world of slide guitar? From Shubb and Dunlop, to Taylor and Ernie Ball, these are our top choices

"Engaging the pedal transformed my previously thin and uninspiring tone into a beautifully fat, warm, and full-bodied sound": Audio Sprockets ToneDexter II review
By Daryl Robertson published
If you're ready to get nerdy about your acoustic tone, this intelligent pre-amp is the unit for you

"With a little patience and dedication to experimenting, you’ll unlock a satisfying range of serviceable sounds": Harley Benton DNAfx GiT multi-effects pedal review
By Daryl Robertson published
Harley Benton's budget multi-stomp looks to deliver the building blocks of tone, but it requires you to tweak the presets on a molecular level

Andertons just shaved a massive £456 off one of the best-looking PRS guitars I've ever seen – and yes, the sale also includes the Custom 24 Floyd
By Daryl Robertson published
The Guildford-based retailer is currently slashing up to 40% off the PRS SE Custom 24, Custom 24 Floyd, Custom 24-08, and the Custom 24-08 Quilt in Charcoal Cherry Burst

Best beginner electric guitars 2025: top electric models for new players, reviewed and demoed by experts
By Daryl Robertson last updated
So you're a budding guitarist? Get started with our pick of the best beginner electric guitars from Squier, Yamaha, and Epiphone

Best practice amps 2025: hone your chops at home
By Matt McCracken last updated
My tried & tested pick of the best guitar practice amps to get your playing up to speed without any noise complaints

"It sounds more alive with sweetened highs, richer harmonics in the mid-range, and a tighter, more defined low-end": Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 review
By Daryl Robertson last updated
Boss cuts through the noise with its revamped practice amp

Memorial Day might be over, but one of the best guitars I've reviewed this year still has a whopping $130 off at Guitar Center
By Daryl Robertson published
"Make no mistake, this is a very good-playing guitar." I fell in love with the Fender Player II Jazzmaster when I reviewed it and now it can be yours with a massive discount

Memorial Day is over, but here are 5 heavily discounted pieces of guitar gear that are still available at Guitar Center – starting from $129
By Daryl Robertson published
The Guitar Center Memorial Day sale is live, with up to 35% off killer guitar gear from Fender, Gibson, Yamaha, Line 6, and more
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