Latest articles by Ross Holder
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
"A simple move up the neck can open up new voicings, textures, and moods you would never get from standard open chords": 5 creative ways to use a capo
A capo can offer your playing so much more than a key change. Here are my favorite creative ways to use a capo
Best guitar tuners 2025: my pick of chromatic, polyphonic and strobe options
Stay in tune whatever your budget, with my top picks from Boss, Korg, TC Electronic, D’Addario and more
Best basses for metal 2025: our selection of the best basses for heavy music across all budgets
From Rickenbacker to Ibanez and Schecter, our picks of the best metal basses will help you sound heavier than ever before
Best 5-string bass guitars 2025: from budget workhorses to high-end boutique beasts
Need that low B? We’ve handpicked the best 5-string bass guitars from Yamaha, Fender, Ibanez, and more – whatever your price range
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
There are few things in life I hate more than re-stringing my guitars, but with packs from as little as 83 cents per string this Prime Day, I've run out of excuses
Prime Day is the place to make bulk-buy savings on your favorite strings right now, including models for electric, acoustic and bass
I bought the HX Stomp years ago and it's still one of my smartest gear purchases - get up to $200 off Line 6 in the Sweetwater sale
Most Line 6 purchases will also come bundled with a free Eminence IR sampler pack
These are the best 4th of July acoustic guitar deals I’ve ever seen – here’s the 9 models I’d buy
Forget Prime Day! From Taylor and Martin to Yamaha and Alhambra, the best 4th of July acoustic guitar deals are here and they’re up to 40% off
Best guitar slides 2025: every budget and material covered, plus how to choose the right slide for you
Getting into the bluesy world of slide guitar? From Shubb and Dunlop, to Taylor and Ernie Ball, these are our top choices
Best cheap looper pedals 2025: bang-for-your-buck loopers for your ’board
Score a looper for under $80 and spark your creativity with our pick of the best budget pedals from TC Electronic, Electro-Harmonix, Boss 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 guitars for beginners 2025: epic entry-level acoustic and electric guitars
Start playing today with our pick of great beginner guitars from Squier, Ibanez, Yamaha and more
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 Strat-style guitars 2025: Our choice of the finest S-style guitars for all budgets and players
Don’t want a Fender? Here’s our expert pick of the top Strat-style electric guitars from the likes of Ibanez, Yamaha, G&L, PRS and more
Best pitch shifter pedals 2025: an essential tool for channeling Tom Morello, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani
For face-melting solos and keeping your audience on their toes, pitch shifters are a surefire way to inject something different into your tone
6 signs it's time to upgrade from your first acoustic guitar
Is your first acoustic guitar holding you back? Here are six signs that it is time to upgrade your starter instrument to something better
5 common excuses for not learning the guitar – and 5 body and mind-boosting reasons you should
Always wanted to learn the guitar, but keep making excuses? These are the most common ones I've heard – and why they don’t hold up
Best budget multi-effects pedals 2025: access a world of effects at a reasonable price
More is more with these budget do-it-all bargains from Zoom, Line 6, Mooer and NUX
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
Best clip-on guitar tuners 2025: hit the right note with these 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
Best FRFR speakers 2025: transparent tone for multi-effects and amp modelers
From on-the-go options to arena-filling mammoths, our pick of the best FRFR speakers for guitar is sure to have every musician covered
Best Telecasters 2025: 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
