Latest articles by Ross Holder
Best Klon clones 2026: Our pick of the best Klon Centaur Klones for every budget
From straight-up klones to full reimaginings, here are some of the best Klon Centaur-inspired pedals on the market today
Best wah pedals 2026: add an essential tone-shaping effect to your pedalboard with our expert guide
Get to know your Cry Baby from your Bad Horsie and choose the best wah pedal for you
Best fuzz pedals 2026: add some filth to your sound with these essential pedalboard effects
Want to know your Fuzz Face from your Fuzz Gun, or channel your inner Jimi Hendrix? This guide is for you
Best beginner bass guitars 2026: top starter basses for beginners
The best beginner basses for young players, newcomers, and the budget-conscious, picked by our experts – featuring Yamaha, Squier, Ibanez and more
Best guitar picks 2026: my choice of tried-and-tested plectrums to upgrade your playing
My expert guide to the best picks for electric, acoustic, and bass guitar covering new players through to guitar veterans
Best FRFR speakers 2026: transparent tone for multi-effects and amp modelers
Get the most out of your digital modeler with the best FRFR speakers, from on-the-go options to arena-filling mammoths
Best guitar tuners 2026: my road-tested pick of chromatic, polyphonic and strobe options
Stay in tune whatever your budget, with my tuner must-buys from Boss, Korg, TC Electronic, D’Addario and more
Best acoustic guitar strings: our top-rated strings for your acoustic
We pick the best guitar strings for acoustic guitar from Ernie Ball, D'Addario, Martin, and more
Best P-90 pickups 2026: Rejuvenate your guitar tone with a fresh set – here's my picks covering a range of prices and styles
The P-90 is one of the most versatile single coil pickups ever made and here's the very best from Seymour Duncan, Fishman, Mojotone and more
The best electric guitars under $500
Our top cheap electric guitars that deliver killer tones, slick playability, and serious bang for your buck from Squier, Epiphone, Yamaha and more
Best distortion pedals: the top high-gain stompboxes for guitarists
Crunch, filth, mayhem! Dive into our expert round-up of the best distortion pedals available today
"If you banish the desire for any real bass thump, there’s a lot of enjoyment to be had in the sounds you can coax out of this thing": Yamaha JR1 acoustic guitar review
Is this pint-sized dread Yamaha's ultimate beginner acoustic? Let's find out
Guitar Tricks just dropped a whole year of guitar lessons to only $99 thanks to this impressive 89% off Black Friday offer
Not only do you get an All-Access subscription, but this deal also includes 100s of dollars in bonus content to make you a better player
From Kalamazoo with love – score a colossal $1,300 off this gorgeous Heritage semi-hollow steeped in electric guitar history for Black Friday
Get your hands on custom shop spec, authenticity, style, and serious history, all with 30% off
Every single JHS pedal has been given a Black Friday discount up to 25% at Sweetwater – and yes, it includes the Color Box, Morning Glory and Angry Charlie
With 63 pedals on sale and up to $113 off, now's the time to add a JHS to your pedalboard
Looking for useful Christmas gifts for guitarists under $20? Here's my pick of 10 affordable accessories every guitar player actually needs
Supercharge your gifting with home practice and gigbag essentials that won't break the bank – recommended by a professional guitar salesman
Best Telecasters: top Teles for every taste
Whether it’s your first Telecaster or you’ve walked in the boots of guitar-playing royalty, our top Telecasters will help you get your twang on
The PRS pre-Black Friday sale is bigger than ever, with massive 40th anniversary discounts up to $220 on SE guitars and more – and yes, it includes the 5-star PRS SE NF 53
The sale covers SE, PRS Core and S2 models, alongside a selection of amps. If you've been thinking of joining the PRS crew, now's your chance to save big
Best bass strings 2025: Optimize tone, feel and lifespan
Our expert pick of strings to bring the low-end thunder from Ernie Ball, D’Addario, Rotosound and more
Best clip-on guitar tuners 2025: hit the right note with my top pick of cost-effective tuners
Whether you play acoustic, electric, or bass, these clip-on tuners offer a quick, easy, and affordable way to achieve concert pitch every time you pick up your instrument
Best guitar straps 2025: play in comfort and secure your guitar in style – top picks from a guitar salesman
My expert pick of straps for electric, acoustic and bass, covering all budgets and materials
Best mini amps for guitar 2025: power up your practice with these tiny towers of tone – these are my top picks
Short on space? Practice anywhere with these small guitar amps that pack a punch
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
