Latest articles by Richard Blenkinsop
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 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 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 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
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: 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
"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
Best bass effects pedals: 11 of the best pedals for every type of bassist
Our guide to the finest sounding effects pedals for bass players, including fuzz, compressors and multi-effects
"With a unit this affordable, are the effects any good? Yes! They really are": Zoom MS-50G+ Multistomp review
A compact and functional multi-effects pedal that knocks it out of the park for value where it matters
"If you’re looking for a no-nonsense giggable tube head that covers a lot of ground, there isn’t much that beats the Dual Terror at this price point": Orange Dual Terror review
A fuss-free dual-channel tube head that delivers some of the best tones available at this price point – and higher
Best parlor guitars: sofa-strumming acoustics for every budget
The grandfather of acoustic guitars – our top parlor guitar picks from Gibson, Martin, Yamaha, and more
Best acoustic guitar picks: our choice of picks for acoustic playing from Dunlop, D'Addario, and more
Get the connection between player and strings right with the best acoustic guitar picks
Best budget bass amps: brilliant bass tone without a hefty price
Keep your low-end punchy and your bank balance healthy with our pick of the best budget bass amps from Fender, Orange, Ampeg and beyond!
Best guitars for jazz: smooth swinging options for jazz cats
From archtops to solid bodies, these are the best jazz guitars on the market today from top brands like D’Angelico, Gibson, Squier, and more
"This is an excellent, compact pedal that helps you tune accurately and quickly": Peterson StroboStomp Mini review
A super accurate, sturdy, and reliable tuner with ‘sweetened’ options for those who want them
Fender vs Squier: what’s the difference?
Everything you need to know about the Big F and its budget-friendly sister company – a guide to the history, spec and tone differences between Fender and Squier
Best humbucker pickups: buck up your guitar with mellow lows and punchy mids
From PAF replicas to modern day active tone monsters, our experts pick the best humbucker pickups on offer right now
