Latest articles by Daryl Robertson
“There is a warmth to this pedal that is genuinely satisfying to play through”: Fender Hammertone Breakup Drive review
Fender’s latest addition to its Hammertone pedal range proves that some breakups are worth going through
Best Stratocasters: The best Strats for every budget and playing style
Find your fit with our top pick of the best Fender Strats
Best Christmas gifts for guitar players 2026: the ultimate festive gift guide for guitarists
Treat them right this Christmas with our pick of the 46 must-have guitar items, essential accessories, clever gadgets and instruments for every budget
Sweetwater isn't waiting for Black Friday – and neither should you, with up to $600 off one of my all-time favourite Les Pauls and loads more in their Early Access Black Friday sale
With big reductions on popular models from Gibson to PRS, Fender to Strandberg, and so much more, why wait until Black Friday itself?
Best Christmas gifts for bass players 2026: the ultimate festive gift guide for lovers of low-end
Show your bass-playing buddy, parent, or partner some love this Christmas with 15 brilliant gift ideas for bass players
Mitch Rowland on treading the line between pop superstars and sublime folk fingerstyle – and why touring doesn’t add-up
The Grammy award-winning songwriter and guitarist talks about collaborating with Harry Styles, preferring to “move some air” with real amps on stage, and gets candid about the reality of touring as a solo artist in 2025
Good Charlotte's Benji Madden walks us through the gear that has defined his career, and teases a new signature model with Suhr
The Good Charlotte guitarist lifts the lid on the secrets of his tone, the multi-effects unit that he thinks is a “game-changer,” and why he was “too young” for his first signature model
Prime Day guitar deals 2025: Amazon's Big Deal Days is officially over
October Prime Day is over now, but if you're late to the party there's still some deals hanging around
Quick! 3 of our top-rated Positive Grid Spark amps have hefty Prime Day discounts until the end of today – and they all scored 4.5 stars in our reviews
If you're on the hunt for a budget practice amp, today is your last chance to score big savings at Amazon
I've recommended this beginner acoustic countless times, and with $136 off, it's an even easier choice – don't hang about, though, the sale ends today!
Guitar Center's massive Guitar-A-Thon sale ends today, but there is still time to pick up this stunning D'Angelico Premier Gramercy for an unbeatable price
Amazon has failed to deliver any truly good Prime Day deals for guitar players – I'm shopping the Musician's Friend Rocktober sale instead, with up to 40% off guitar gear
Save big this Fall with discounts on a host of guitar gear from the biggest names in the business
Quick! Guitar Center's epic Guitar-A-Thon sale leaves Amazon Prime Day in the shade, with up to $900 off Taylor and $500 off Gibson models – but the deals are ending soon
Guitar Center is slashing up to 35% off guitar gear from now until October 9, and these are the 11 deals we have our eye on
My favorite ever signature model just got a cool $100 off, making it a must buy for grunge fans
As well as slashing the price of the Soundgarden guitarist's signature axe, you can also save big a slew of Polara models, including the highly rated Deluxe
Best acoustic guitars under $1,000: expert picks for great tone on a budget
Enjoy superb playability and sound with our guide to the top mid-priced acoustics
Best overdrive pedals 2025: from mid-hump to transparent tone
My pick of the top-rated overdrive pedals will get your gain tones on point
From Green Day to Eric Clapton, meet the Taylor acoustic guitar you didn't know was responsible for some of the biggest songs in the world
Rob Cavallo's Taylor was dubbed Excalibur by Billie Joe Armstrong and has been making hit songs for nearly 30 years
7 guitarists you didn't know started on an acoustic guitar
From Alex Lifeson to Peter Frampton, Mark Morton to Michael Schenker, we share the stories of famous guitarists' first guitars in their own words
The Imaginaries’ Shane Henry on his eye for vintage gear, recruiting Vince Gill – and trading trucks with Joe Bonamassa
From once-in-a-lifetime collaborations to buying a slew of vintage guitars and starting his own pedal company, Shane Henry is living most guitarists’ wildest dreams
Jimmy Page's 5 most iconic guitars, in his own words
Jimmy Page tells all, sharing the stories behind his most significant guitars – plus we tell you how to nail his iconic tone at home at various price points
"Back then, I was pretty much a nobody, so Gibson sold it to me at cost!" Slash's 5 most iconic guitars, in his own words
Slash talks through his most significant guitars in his own words – plus we tell you how to nail his iconic tone at home at various price points
"I've tested loads of pedals for reviews, and it’s not often I come across one that feels this inspiring": Hotone NC-200 Verbera reverb pedal review
Combining algorithmic and IR convolution reverbs to create lush soundscapes, this may be the most impressive reverb pedal of the year
"The true star here is the pickup configuration": PRS SE Studio review
Modern electrics can be criticized for trying to be all things to all people, but the SE Studio may just be one of the few to pull it off
I thought I was done buying Gibsons, but with a massive up to $450 off everything from my favorite Explorer to a newly released Les Paul in the Musician’s Friend Labor Day sale, I’m about to add another
The Musician's Friend Labor Day sale has just dropped, and it includes over $400 off the newly released Double Trouble Les Paul!
Best beginner guitar amps 2025: my top picks from over a decade working in music retail
After nearly ten years working in a busy high-street music store, I’ve seen which beginner amps truly deliver, offering the best value, most useful features, and long-lasting popularity from brands like Blackstar, Fender, Positive Grid, and more
