Latest articles by Matt McCracken
9 AI guitar amp features we predict will revolutionize the way you interact with your amp
What does the future look like for our precious guitar amps, and how will AI shape your guitar tone
"Delivers on all fronts heavy and looks phenomenal whilst doing so": Jackson X Series Rhoads RRX24 review
A purebred shred machine with a Floyd Rose and Seymour Duncans, all for less than a grand
“A ravishing instrument”: Taylor 50th Anniversary GS Mini-E Rosewood review
Taylor's compact top-seller gets the 50th Anniversary makeover treatment and it has never looked – or sounded – better
“Delivers a stunning sound with bags of sustain and a complex tonal profile”: Sheeran by Lowden W05 review
Ed Sheeran's collaboration with Lowden brings us a comfortable acoustic guitar made in Northern Ireland
Best acoustic bass guitars 2025: Unplug and play with our pick of top acoustic basses
Our expert guide to the best acoustic bass guitars will instantly boost your low-end game, and enable you to play at home or on the go
Best bass compressor pedals 2025: our pick of pedals to get your low-end in line
We look at the best compressors for bass, from some of the biggest names around including Origin Effects, Empress Effects, Boss, and more
Best 12-string guitars 2025: our pick of 12-string acoustic and electric guitars
Our expert guide to the best 12-string guitars from Taylor, Rickenbacker, Fender, and others
Best acoustic guitar pickups 2025: electrify your acoustic with our expert picks
Whether it be for performing live or recording at home, the best acoustic guitar pickups from LR Baggs, Fishman and others will help you enhance your tone
“It is more evolution than revolution, but Positive Grid have delivered everything guitarists have been asking for and more”: Positive Grid Spark 2 review
PG’s groundbreaking desktop amp finally gets an update, and we got our hands on it pre-launch
Best Precision Bass 2025: P-Basses from Fender and beyond
Our top picks of the most recognizable bass in history, including models from Fender, Sire, Sterling by Music Man and more
Best high-end electric guitars 2025: the finest guitars money can buy
If money were no object, this is the all-star list of high-end axes from Gibson, PRS, Fender, and more that you’ll want in your collection
These 5 easy upgrades will supercharge your Strat – and they're all on sale for Amazon Prime Day
Take your Stratocaster to the next level with these 5 essential mods
Accessorize your guitar playing with these 5 cheap early Prime Day deals
Streamline your practice and performance with these cheap deals on guitar accessories
“Right up there with the big-name brands”: Soloking MS-1 Custom review
A great-value guitar looking to clash headstocks with the big boys. Stainless steel frets, roasted maple neck, Wilkinson hardware and coil-splitting humbuckers? Where do we sign up?
Forget waiting for Prime Day to start, here are 5 massive savings on guitar pedals available right now at Amazon
Don’t wait around to get your hands on a good deal, we’ve spotted some excellent deals on Catalinbread, MXR, Way Huge, and more
Best ukuleles 2025: Acoustic and electric ukes for all budgets and playing styles
Get started with our pick of the best ukes from Mahalo, Martin and Cordoba, plus a cool Fender Jazzmaster ukulele
“Two stone-cold classics that provide effortless playability and iconic guitar tones at a pretty reasonable price”: Fender Player II Stratocaster & Telecaster review
Fender's best-selling Player Series guitars receive a much-awaited update, but is it revolutionary or evolutionary?
Best Martin guitars 2025: we rank the legendary acoustics of an industry icon
Our expert pick of the best Martin acoustics from one of the oldest instrument makers on the planet
Do I need a different guitar cable for studio, live, and practice?
We look at how your choice of guitar cable can affect your tone, and demystify the misinformation around cable lengths, capacitance, and tone suck
Instrument cable vs speaker cable: what’s the difference?
Not all cables are created equally. Here’s how to avoid damaging your amp or impacting your tone
“A handy addition to your pedalboard if you're playing shows with poor monitoring”: Cloudvocal EverSync Wireless IEM review
This reasonably priced in-ear-monitor system aims to offer live guitar players the monitor sound they’ve been dreaming of
Guitar Center just dropped their Fourth of July sale more than a week early - get massive savings of up to 30% off gear
Save yourself hundreds of dollars on gear with this amazing sale at Guitar Center
Best 3/4 acoustic guitars 2025: small-bodied, short scale sensations from Taylor, Martin, Fender and more
From beginner nylon string models to solid electro-acoustic travel guitars, there’s a 3/4 option here for every style of player
