Matt McCracken
Matt is a Junior Deals Writer here at Guitar World. He regularly tests and reviews music gear with a focus on guitars, amps, pedals, modelers, and pretty much anything else guitar-related. Responsible for over 60 buying guides, a large part of his role is helping guitarists find the best deals on gear. Matt worked in music retail for 5 years at Dawsons Music and Northwest Guitars and has written for various music sites, including MusicRadar, Guitar Player, Guitar.com, Ultimate Guitar, and Thomann’s t.blog.
A regularly gigging guitarist with over 20 years of experience playing live and writing and recording in bands, he's performed everything from jazz to djent, gigging all over the UK in more dingy venues than you can shake a drop-tuned guitar at. When he's not holed up in his home studio recording new songs or tweaking pedal settings, you'll find him making a racket with northern noise punks Never Better.
Latest articles by Matt McCracken

By Alex Lynham last updated
Unwanted noise in your chain? A noise gate pedal could be the solution

By Matt McCracken last updated
Navigate scale lengths, active pickups, and multiscale fretboards with our expert-vetted selection of the best seven-string guitars

By Rob Laing last updated
Enjoy superb playability and sound with our guide to the top mid-priced acoustics from the likes of Epiphone, Fender, Martin and more

By Matt McCracken Published
This mini practice amp doesn't tether you to your smartphone, but there are some growing pains

By Jonathan Horsley last updated
My pick of the best guitar compressor pedals will enhance your tone with options from Boss, Keeley, MXR, and more

By Matt McCracken Published
The Telecaster’s “asshole cousin” trades traditional twang for a boutique growl that looks as sharp as it sounds

By Ross Holder last updated
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

By Matt McCracken Published
Everything you need to know about the tech, tones, and tools that define your sound

By Matt McCracken Published
The Amazon spring sale just gave me the perfect opportunity to upgrade my pedalboard for a lot less

By Matt McCracken Published
The Amazon Spring Sale has launched with some awesome deals on strings, picks, clip-on tuners, and loads more accessories for guitar players

By Ross Holder last updated
Stay in tune whatever your budget, with my tuner must-buys from Boss, Korg, TC Electronic, D’Addario and more

By Matt McCracken Published
With well over 600 discounts on guitar gear, the Thomann Spring Sale might just be the kickstart your music-making needs for 2026

By Amit Sharma last updated
Find your fit with our top pick of the best Fender Strats

By Matt McCracken last updated
Get more for your money with my pick of the top-rated electric guitars below the $1,000 mark

By Matt McCracken Published
Blackstar swerves the touchscreen for a tactile, amp-style workflow

By Matt McCracken Published
I visited a sold-out UK Guitar Show to check out the latest and greatest from the wide world of guitar gear

By Alex Lynham last updated
Whether you prefer digital or analog delay pedals, the options in this round-up will help boost your creativity on the guitar

By Matt McCracken Published
Amazon doesn’t always have the best deals for guitarists, but there are some great savings on guitar gear this Presidents’ Day

By Matt McCracken Published
Bag a saving on a period-correct Fender guitar sans the humongous price tag

By Matt McCracken Published
The first foray into guitar amps from JBL combines room-shaking volume with the ability to dismantle your favorite tracks in real-time

By Matt McCracken Published
Celebrate National Guitar Day with a big saving on some fresh gear in the early Presidents' Day sale at Musician's Friend

By Chris Corfield last updated
From classical, flamenco and crossover, to acoustic-electric models and beyond, these are the best nylon-string guitars around right now

By Jonathan Horsley last updated
The best beginner basses for young players, newcomers, and the budget-conscious, picked by our experts – featuring Yamaha, Squier, Ibanez and more
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