Latest articles by Richard Blenkinsop
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
Best Squier guitars 2025: Stratocasters, Telecasters, Jaguars and more for the budget-conscious player
From budget Teles, to vintage-spec’d Strats, I look at the best Squiers available today
Best volume pedals 2025: control your tone with these essential pedal picks
It might get loud! Our pick of the best volume pedals from Mission, Ernie Ball, Lehle and more
Best guitars for small hands 2025: compact, thinline and slim-necked options for all ages
Here's Guitar World's pick of the best compact electric and acoustic models from Fender, Taylor, Epiphone and more
Best dreadnought guitars 2025: big body acoustics for powerful tone
Looking for bassy lows and crystal clear top end from your acoustic? These budget-spanning dreadnoughts all fit the bill
“Perfect for home use and has some excellent features on board”: Mooer SD10i Intelligent Amp review
A mini amp with 52 amp modes, 49 effects, tuner, drum machine and recording interface all in a compact, portable package
Best in-ear monitors for guitar players 2025: stay in tune and on time
Plug yourself in with the best in-ear monitors for guitar players from Shure, Sennheiser and more
Best headphone amps for guitar 2025: portable practice solutions
You don’t need to sacrifice tone to practice quietly with my expert pick of the best headphone amps for guitar players
Best acoustic guitar pedals 2025: pedals to transform your tone and boost creativity
Improve and shape your tone with the best acoustic guitar pedals from the likes of Boss, Fishman, MXR & LR Baggs
Best hollowbody electric guitars 2025: Our pick of the greatest hollowbody guitars you can buy today
Want increased resonance and a beefier sound, all the while looking spectacularly cool? You’ll want one of the best hollowbody electric guitars then
Best guitar wireless systems 2025: set your playing free, from the rehearsal room to the stage
Fed up with cumbersome cables? Here's my pick of the best wireless guitar systems for every budget
Best modeling amps 2025: get iconic amp tones at your fingertips with these top picks
I break down the best modeling amps available, covering a range of budgets, brands and sizes
Best cheap acoustic guitars 2025: budget acoustics with genuine pedigree
Great tone doesn’t have to break the bank – these are the best cheap acoustic guitars from Fender, Yamaha, Alvarez and more
“A well-made, reasonably-priced power supply”: Harley Benton PowerPlant ISO-10AC Pro review
Thomann's affordable brand takes on the big boys and knocks it out of the park
“For the price, it’s pretty much unbeatable”: Harley Benton JAMster Guitar review
Two channels, bluetooth connectivity, mains and battery powered operation for less than $40!
“The perfect first guitar for any style of player”: Mooer MSC10 Pro review
Mooer enters the world of traditional-style, budget electric guitars making very few compromises
Best solid state amps 2025: Our amp picks for those who play, dirty, clean, or anything in between
Save your back and your wallet with the best solid state amps from the likes of Fender, Boss, Yamaha and more
Best mini amps for guitar 2025: power up your practice with these tiny towers of tone
Short on space? Practice anywhere with these small guitar amps that pack a punch
Best electric guitars under $1,000 in 2025: 8 killer options for beginners and pros
Find the ultimate workhorse with our pick of the best electric guitars you can currently buy for less than $1,000
Best desktop guitar amps 2025: my top choice amps for portable practice
Improve your guitar playing with my pick of the most powerful yet portable amp solutions
I tested the Boss Katana Mini and Katana Mini X side-by-side to find out which is best and whether it's worth upgrading from the original portable amp
We’ve put these two compact amps head to head to see which one offers the best features, tones and build quality for the money
Best combo amps 2025: the best all-in-one amps for every budget
The ultimate tube, solid state, and modeling combo amps for every genre, from Motown to metal and everything in between
Best delay pedals 2025: our pick of the coolest delay pedals for your pedalboard
Whether you prefer digital or analog delay pedals, the options in this round-up will help boost your creativity on the guitar
Best acoustic guitar strings 2025: our best rated strings for your acoustic
Top picks from the best acoustic guitar string brands including Ernie Ball, D’Addario, Elixir, and more
"It sounds good; you’re not getting superb clarity or a broad, rich frequency range – you get the sound of your guitar’s pickup amplified": Harley Benton TableAmp V2 Bluetooth review
An affordable, Bluetooth-equipped desktop amp designed with electro-acoustic instruments and vocalists in mind – but with scope for amp modelers too
