Latest articles by Matt McCracken
“Can absolutely replace going the traditional route of a practice amp”: Positive Grid Spark Neo Core review
PG's follow-up to its first wireless amp-headphone solution for guitar gives players a massive price cut, but it doesn't get everything right
Best clip-on guitar tuners 2025: 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
Best guitar straps 2025: play in comfort and secure your guitar in style – top picks from a guitar salesman
My expert pick of straps for electric, acoustic and bass, covering all budgets and materials
Best mini amps for guitar 2025: power up your practice with these tiny towers of tone – these are my top picks
Short on space? Practice anywhere with these small guitar amps that pack a punch
Best guitar strap locks 2025: safeguard your axe from a nasty fall
Our pick of the finest fasteners from Schaller, Loxx, Jim Dunlop and more
"No matter what type of fuzz you enjoy, you’ll find something to love here": Kernom Moho Fuzz review
Kernom delivers a detailed sweep through the many faces of fuzz
25 Prime Day guitar gear deals still live right now – including 60% off EHX pedals
Don't worry if you missed out on the October Prime day sales, these are all the best deals that are still live right now
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
You won't find your next guitar in Amazon's Prime Day sale, but I've looked through 280+ deals and found 6 unmissable accessory savings from $6.49 that will end tonight
Forget big-ticket items, in my opinion it's all about the essentials in the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale
With $160 off a five-star rated PRS SE, this mega sale is the best place to shop for a properly great Prime Day guitar deal
With a bunch of our favorite PRS' on sale every but Amazon, it's the perfect time to pick up a guitar that punches well above its weight
"A really clever bit of kit that makes playing along with drum beats an absolute breeze": Singular Sound BeatBuddy 2 review
The BeatBuddy is back with a host of new features that might have you wondering whether it’s finally time to sack your drummer
5 of my go-to Universal Audio plugins just got heavily discounted in the monster Rocktober sale – glow up your recordings from as little as $24
This plugin sale at Universal Audio is a great way to get ahead of the Prime Day plugin deals
Best guitar stands and guitar hangers 2025: options for single and multiple acoustic and electric guitars
Hang about! These are the best stands and hangers for your guitars right now
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
Best budget reverb pedals 2025: wallet-friendly ‘board buys for the thrifty guitar player
Pick up an essential piece of gear without dropping big bucks - our list of the best budget reverb pedals
"One of the best ways to quickly and easily record your music alongside your smartphone": Blackstar Polar Go review
Blackstar’s smallest interface brings slick video integration that makes phone-based recording effortless – and that includes Android users at last
Thomann just dropped a guitar sale that's bold as love with a whopping £309 off Hendrix's iconic Love Drops Epiphone Flying V, as well as up to 70% a host of other gear
I've been digging through the Thomann Guitar Days sale and these are the biggest savings on the best gear
“The pickups on this guitar are geared for the loud and lewd stuff”: Gretsch Electromatic CVT review
Gretsch revives a 1960s cult-classic, delivering sharp looks and aggressive tones at a price that’s accessible for all
If you want to sound better live, three of our top-rated in-ear monitors just got some mega discounts in the Thomann In-Ear Days sale - save up to 30% on pro-level live sound
Time to level up your live sound for less with this awesome sale on IEMs at Thomann
Save up to 30% on gear you won't find anywhere else in the Guitar Center Labor Day sale, including $500 off a Gibson Les Paul
Including a slew of limited edition finishes, the Guitar Center Labor Day sale is the place to go to stand out from the crowd
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
There's no need to wait for the weekend with up to 60% off gear in the Musician's Friend early Labor Day sale - save $500 on a Supro tube amp
I've dug through the whole sale to find the best savings before anyone else gets to them
