Latest articles by Matt McCracken
Best acoustic guitars 2026: 10 top options for guitarists of all ages and abilities
Guitar World’s pick of the best acoustic guitars from Fender, Gibson, Martin, Taylor, Epiphone and more
The guitarist's guide to MIDI: how to get more from your pedalboard and stop the tap dancing
A no-nonsense guide to switching presets, automating tone changes, and fully utilizing your digital pedals
I've found serious shredders, iconic amps, and dirt-cheap pedals in Guitar Center's huge up to 25% off guitar sale – including $288 off a shred-ready Schecter
Guitar Center's latest sale promises big discounts on shred-ready electrics
"It’s deceptively versatile”: Jackson Pro Series Signature Wes Borland King V review
The Limp Bizkit guitarist's new signature is a single-pickup riff machine designed for live playing, and it's capable of more than you might think
Best multi-effects pedals 2026: replace your entire rig with our top-rated multi-FX units
From the high-end Neural DSP Quad Cortex to the budget NUX MG-300, we’ve tested 17 multi-effects pedals to help you replace your rig with a single unit
What's the best guitar cable in 2026? These are the tried & tested options I'd recommend to any player
There's a lot of snake oil when it comes to the top guitar cables – I'm a professional guitar gear reviewer and I've tested 11 of the best to help you find your perfect match
This weekend’s 4th of July guitar sales blowout is officially the biggest wave of discounting I’ve seen outside of Black Friday – shop 10 mega sales with up to 60% off here
The 4th of July sales are in full flow, and it's one of your biggest chances to save on guitar gear in 2026
Best phaser pedals 2026: add swirling guitar tones to your rig with our expert guide
Looking to create that swirling sound effect? These are the best phaser pedals to try from MXR, Electro-Harmonix, Walrus Audio and more
"Very well put together, and fantastic value for money": Baum Guitars Carve review
Is this Danish-designed, P-90-equipped double cut the ultimate retro-modern rock machine for under $1,000?
"A tale of two halves – I found the clean tones to be quite lackluster": Gretsch Electromatic Jet Baritone review
Gretsch's gargantuan scale metal machine gives players an option to downtune without resorting to a 7 or 8 string, but it surprisingly leaves traditional tones in the dark
Prime Day guitar deals 2026 LIVE: last chance to save on guitar gear at Amazon, Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Fender and beyond
I'm rounding up all the hottest guitar, amp, pedal, and accessory deals throughout the final day of the Prime Day sales. Stick with me for all of the biggest news, deals, tips, and tricks for saving money. But remember: today is your last day to save!
I've set up hundreds of guitars with these 7 essential tools, and the final hours of Prime Day are your last chance to get them at a discount – deals start from just $8.99
These expert-picked Prime Day deals will ensure your guitar is always playing its best
Boss stompbox prices just dropped even further for the final day of Prime Day – you've got less than 24 hours to pick up one of 13 iconic Boss pedals still on sale
There's still time to save big on Boss guitar pedals with some amazing savings in the Amazon Prime Day sales
Time is ticking on Prime Day, so this is your last chance to stockpile accessories – I've hunted down 11 affordable guitar essentials, starting from as low as $4.99
Who says playing guitar needs to be expensive? These Prime Day deals show that Amazon is still the best place to shop for accessories
We bought, tested, and ranked 8 dirt-cheap Amazon pedals – now 7 of them have hit a new low price in the Prime Day sale, but hurry, you only have a few hours to grab one!
Pedalboard snobs look away now! These are the budget pedals you should be picking up for Prime Day
Prime Day guitar deals 2026: expert vetted deals from the final day of the Prime Day sale
Guitar World's gear experts are here to help you separate the real bargains from the filler with the best savings on guitars, amps, pedals, accessories, and more
Prime Day guitar deals 2026 LIVE: last chance to save on guitar gear at Amazon, Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Fender and beyond
I'm rounding up all the hottest guitar, amp, pedal, and accessory deals throughout the final day of the Prime Day sales. Stick with me for all of the biggest news, deals, tips, and tricks for saving money. But remember: today is your last day to save!
Guitar World deals of the week: grab the best early Prime Day guitar deals with essential guitar gear starting from just $4.99, plus the ideal last-minute Father's Day gift for guitar-playing dads
Our gear experts track down the best weekly deals on guitar gear, bringing you hand-picked savings on guitars, pedals, amps, and more
Best bass compressor pedals 2026: expert picks for the ultimate in low-end control
From studio-style levelers to stompboxes that squash, we put the market-leading compressor pedals for bass to the test
Best amps for metal 2026: my top picks for high-gain heroes
These powerhouse metal amps from PRS, Orange, Friedman, EVH, and more will have you primed to seek and destroy
Best pedal amps 2026: top preamps, power amps, and amp modelers
We rank and review the best guitar amp pedals from Strymon, Universal Audio, Blackstar, and more
Best guitar plugins 2026: my top plugins to level up your recorded guitar tones
Get better guitar tones for recording and practice with my pick of the best guitar amp plugins
Best guitar straps 2026: play in comfort and secure your guitar in style – budget-spanning choices from a guitar salesman
My expert pick of straps for electric, acoustic and bass, covering all budgets and materials. Plus, buying advice to help you decide
