Latest articles by Matt McCracken
“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 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 in 2025: get great tone for less
Enjoy superb playability and sound with our guide to the top mid-priced acoustics
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
Best Yamaha acoustic guitars 2025: our pick of Yamaha acoustics to suit all players
Our top picks from perhaps the most under-rated of the big acoustic brands
8 ways to make your beginner acoustic guitar play and sound better
Our expert tips will help unlock the full potential of your beginner acoustic
Best travel guitars 2025: top acoustic and electric travel guitars for portability and performance
Top travel guitar choices and buying advice for musicians on the move
Best reverb pedals 2025: from spring to shimmer, these are our top picks for your pedalboard
Take a deep dive into the cavernous world of 'verb and explore the best reverb pedals for every budget
Show your dad he rocks this Father's Day with Positive Grid and up to 40% off the Spark, Spark Mini, Spark Go, and more
Save big on smart amps with the perfect gift for dads that rock this Father’s Day
I review pedals for a living and Sweetwater’s awesome Memorial Day pedal sale has got my attention – here are the 5 pedals you should be looking at
Sweetwater’s super pedal sale is the place to shop for effects lovers with a huge selection of pedals from EarthQuaker Devices, Walrus Audio, Catalinbread, and loads more
Musician’s Friend's up to 40% off Memorial Day sale just dropped 6 days early – save big on Schecter, Electro-Harmonix and more
Grab yourself some super savings on guitars, pedals, accessories, and loads more
Everything you need to know about fretwraps: what are they and do you need one?
Get the low down on this simple yet essential tool for guitarists
“Plenty of great functionality to make your life easier and assuage any fears of signal or battery loss”: Boss WL-50 review
We put Boss’ pedalboard-friendly wireless guitar system to the test, seeing how it holds up to some stiff competition
“Very much at home with syncopated djent chugs, fast thrashy power chord riffing, and blazingly quick lead work”: Jackson JS22-7 DKA Dinky HT review
Should a beginner choose a 7-string as their first instrument? This extended-range guitar from Jackson looks to make its case
Best amps for metal 2025: our 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
