Latest articles by Matt McCracken
“Despite its toy-like dimensions, it comes across as a very grown-up guitar indeed”: Taylor BT1e Baby Taylor review
Has Taylor’s travel pioneer retained the top spot three decades on? We get hands-on to find out if it’s still the best sofa strummer out there
"Just the thing to fight back against the rise of amp modeling": Two Notes Torpedo Captor X Plus review
Two Notes' uber-popular tube amp companion just got even more powerful thanks to a swathe of additional features
“It does those Spaghetti Western sounds just as well as it does the crushingly heavy stuff”: Sterling by Music Man StingRay Baritone review
The iconic StringRay shape makes its debut in the new world of baritone guitar with some seriously impressive results
Best ukuleles 2026: Acoustic and electric ukes for all budgets and playing styles
Get started or find your next upgrade with our pick of the best ukes from Mahalo, Martin and Cordoba, plus a cool Fender Jazzmaster ukulele
Calling all guitarists! You have less than 24 hours to secure up to 30% off at the Guitar Center Guitar-A-Thon – here's 11 of the best final-day deals including a massive $700 discount on a flagship Gibson Les Paul
Guitar-A-Thon is due to end on April 29th, so move quickly if you want to bag a great deal on guitar gear
Best overdrive pedals 2026: from mid-hump to transparent tone
My pick of the top-rated overdrive pedals will get your gain tones on point
“I find it to be a very playable guitar indeed, despite its huge dimensions”: Danelectro Dan O Cool Baritone review
This retro-inspired semi-hollow baritone offers a refreshing departure from your typical extended range guitar
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
"Modeling tech has gotten so good I doubt many guitarists would be able to tell the difference": Analog vs. digital rig build challenge - here’s how two very different players would spend $2,500
One player puts his stake in tubes and pedals; the other in IRs and FRFRs. We gave them both $2,500 to build the ultimate mid-tier rig
Best Telecasters 2026: top Teles for all tastes
Whether it’s your first Telecaster or you’ve walked in the boots of guitar-playing royalty, our top Telecasters will help you get your twang on
Best noise gate pedals 2026: clean up your signal with the best noise gate pedals for guitar
Unwanted noise in your chain? A noise gate pedal could be the solution
Best 7-string guitars 2026: the ultimate guide to extended range instruments
Navigate scale lengths, active pickups, and multiscale fretboards with our expert-vetted selection of the best seven-string guitars
Best beginner guitar amps 2026: my top picks from over a decade working in music retail
After nearly 10 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
Best acoustic guitars under $1,000 in 2026: great tone for less
Enjoy superb playability and sound with our guide to the top mid-priced acoustics from the likes of Epiphone, Fender, Martin and more
Best clip-on guitar tuners 2026: hit the right note with my top pick of cost-effective tuners
Whether you play acoustic, electric, or bass, these clip-on tuners offer a quick, easy, and affordable way to achieve concert pitch every time you pick up your instrument
“It can get loud enough to annoy my partner, which is good enough for home use”: Laney Prism-Mini review
This mini practice amp doesn't tether you to your smartphone, but there are some growing pains
Best compressor pedals 2026: control your tone with the must-have utility pedal
My pick of the best guitar compressor pedals will enhance your tone with options from Boss, Keeley, MXR, and more
“A high-octane character that’s occasionally stubborn, but it stands out from the crowd”: Fender 75th Anniversary American Professional Classic Cabronita Telecaster review
The Telecaster’s “asshole cousin” trades traditional twang for a boutique growl that looks as sharp as it sounds
Best chorus pedals 2026: My pick of choices for your 'board at every price point
From analog to digital, and shimmery to subtle, let me show you the top chorus pedals you can buy today from the likes of Boss, Ibanez, MXR and Walrus Audio
The ultimate guide to guitar amps: from vintage vacuum tubes to modeling marvels
Everything you need to know about the tech, tones, and tools that define your sound
I’m rebuilding my pedalboard for my first gig of 2026 and these 9 essential items in the Amazon Big Spring Sale will ensure I’m gig-ready from just $4.49
The Amazon spring sale just gave me the perfect opportunity to upgrade my pedalboard for a lot less
I normally tell guitarists to skip the Amazon Big Spring Sale but this year I’m happy to be proven wrong – here’s 7 essential accessories to kickstart your year in guitar from just $6.49
The Amazon Spring Sale has launched with some awesome deals on strings, picks, clip-on tuners, and loads more accessories for guitar players
Best bass amps for practice 2026: top combos for working on your chops at home
Get the most out of your playing at home with one of these great bass practice amps
Best guitar tuners 2026: my road-tested pick of chromatic, polyphonic and strobe options
Stay in tune whatever your budget, with my tuner must-buys from Boss, Korg, TC Electronic, D’Addario and more
With £542 off an ESP LTD, the Thomann Spring Sale is just the boost you need to pull you out of the winter lull – save up to 60% on a huge range of guitars, pedals, and amps
With well over 600 discounts on guitar gear, the Thomann Spring Sale might just be the kickstart your music-making needs for 2026
