Latest articles by Ross Holder
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 parlor guitars 2025: sofa-strumming acoustics for every budget
The grandfather of acoustic guitars – our top parlor guitar picks from Gibson, Martin, Yamaha, and more
“Trust me, the Hizumitas isn’t just a pedal – it’s an experience”: I swore off pedals, but Sweetwater’s time-limited 20% off EarthQuaker Devices Cyber Monday sale is too tempting to ignore
With 57 EarthQuaker Devices pedals on sale, this Cyber Monday is set to fill pedalboards across the land – here are my top picks
We think the Boss Gen 3 Katanas are some of the very best amps in the business – and there's still enough time to get up to 25% off these do-it-all amps
From the brand new Katana 50 Gen 3 to the gig-ready Katana-110 for bassists, Sweetwater has cut prices on a range of the best-selling amps
The ultimate Superstrat just got an amazing discount in the Sweetwater Black Friday sale – save a huge $400
There are massive savings to be had on select Charvel models at Sweetwater, including $300 off a 4.5-star model we rate
Our highest-rated online guitar lessons service just launched its best subscription bundle of the year – and it includes a massive $800 in savings
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better Black Friday guitar lessons deal than Guitar Tricks’ full-access annual membership for only $99
A Taylor acoustic for the price of a pair of sneakers? Buy one Taylor and get a second for as little as $99 in the ultimate Black Friday deal for acoustic players
Buy a Taylor 300 or 400 series and get a Baby Taylor for $99, GS Mini for $199, or an Academy model from $299
Guitar Center just kicked off this year’s Black Friday Epiphone deals super early with up to $150 off Les Pauls, SGs and ES-335s
Here’s my personal pick of four unique Epiphone models, offering pro features and player-friendly prices, with options for both starters and seasoned guitarists
7 stocking filler gift ideas under $20 that guitar players actually need
These recommendations come with our junk-free guarantee
I just found the first Boss Gen 3 Katana amp discounts in the wild ahead of Black Friday
From the brand new Katana 50 Gen 3 to the gig-ready Katana-110 for bassists, Sweetwater has cut prices on a range of the best-selling amps
Best bass guitar picks 2025: our pick of perfect plectrums for bass players
From extra heavy acrylic picks to surprisingly slim signature options by Dunlop, Ernie Ball, D’Addario and more
Best budget bass amps 2025: 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 Fender amps 2025: famous tube combos to digital headphone amps
From beginner practice amps to touring-grade tube combos, these are the best amplifiers from the industry's most famous brand
"With an incredibly smooth, fast-playing neck and low action right out of the factory, there’s little to dislike": Taylor 414ce review
The Taylor 414ce balances beautiful aesthetics with an all-encompassing acoustic tone that can truly do it all
“A masterclass in versatility, seamlessly bridging the gap between practice and performance”: Boss Katana Gen 3 Head review
Is there a more versatile, all-round amplifier on the market today than the Katana Head Gen 3? Let’s find out
Yamaha CG192C review
At the top end of Yamaha’s popular CG series, does the CG192C live up to the range’s reputation? We find out
Best ukuleles for beginners 2025: top picks from soprano to tenor
The best beginner ukuleles from Fender, Epiphone, Martin, Kala, Gretsch and more – prices starting from $30
Best guitars for jazz 2025: 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
"With its incredibly low action, flat fingerboard radius, slim neck, and smooth finish, this guitar almost seems to play itself": Yamaha CG182SF review
Is the Yamaha CG182SF one of the best flamenco classical guitars under $1000? We dive in to find out
