Alex Lynham
Alex Lynham is a gear obsessive who's been collecting and building modern and vintage equipment since he got his first Saturday job. Besides reviewing countless pedals for Total Guitar, he's written guides on how to build your first pedal, how to build a tube amp from a kit, and briefly went viral when he released a glitch delay pedal, the Atom Smasher.
Latest articles by Alex Lynham
"This is an unusual pedal": Boss SDE-3 Dual Digital Delay review
By Alex Lynham published
Somehow Boss has condensed an iconic '80s rack unit down to a compact pedal – has something got to give?
Best overdrive pedals 2024: explore which drive pedal is right for you
By Alex Lynham last updated
Overdrive is one of the most essential guitar effects pedals. These are our top picks for every budget
Best Klon clones 2024: Our pick of the best Klon Centaur Klones for every budget
By Alex Lynham last updated
From straight-up klones to full reimaginings, here are some of the best Klon Centaur-inspired pedals on the market today
Best wah pedals 2024: add an essential tone-shaping effect to your pedalboard
By Alex Lynham last updated
Get to know your Cry Baby from your Bad Horsie and choose the best wah pedal for you
Best chorus pedals 2024: top choices for your 'board
By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
From analog to digital, and shimmery to subtle, let us show you the best chorus pedals you can buy today
Best noise gate pedals 2024: clean up your signal with the best noise gate pedals for guitar
By Alex Lynham last updated
Unwanted noise in your chain? A noise gate pedal could be the solution
Best pitch shifter pedals 2024: an essential tool for channeling Tom Morello, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani
By Alex Lynham last updated
To Whammy or not to Whammy? That is the question we’re answering with our guide to the best pitch shifters for guitarists
Best budget multi-effects pedals 2024: access a world of effects at a reasonable price
By Alex Lynham last updated
More is more with these budget do-it-all bargains from Zoom, Boss, Line 6, Mooer and NUX
Best amp modelers 2024: rack-mounted and floorboard options for every budget
By Alex Lynham last updated
Want a bunch of amp sounds packed into one unit? Start your research with our pick of the best amp modelers for guitarists
“The most powerful amp modeler for its size, bar none”: IK Multimedia TONEX ONE review
By Alex Lynham published
IK Multimedia shrinks its AI-powered modeling tech into a micro pedal – and it sounds as awesome as anything in the TONEX family
Best compressor pedals 2024: tame your tone's dynamics with compression
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
With great options from Boss, Keeley, MXR, and more, there has never been a better time to add a comp pedal to your 'board
Best distortion pedals 2024: the top 11 high-gain stompboxes for guitarists
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
Crunch, filth, mayhem! Dive into our expert round-up of the best distortion pedals available today
Best delay pedals 2024: classic analog and modern digital delays to give your tone new life
By Alex Lynham last updated
Whether you prefer digital or analog delay pedals, the options in this round-up will help boost your creativity on the guitar
Best reverb pedals 2024: from spring to shimmer, these are our top picks for your pedalboard
By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
Take a deep dive into the cavernous world of 'verb and explore the best reverb pedals for every budget
I’ve played IK Multimedia’s nano modeling amp, the TONEX One – and it could be the ultimate pocket-sized pedal platform
By Alex Lynham published
The tiny modeler is not perfect, but it’s going to solve a lot of problems – particularly for players who are willing to put in a little time upfront
Best looper pedals 2024: go it alone with the greatest loop pedals for practice, live performance and jamming
By Alex Lynham last updated
Whether you're writing songs or woodshedding solos, using a loop pedal will make you a better guitarist – these are the best looper pedals from Boss, TC Electronic, Line 6 and more
Mike Vennart influenced a generation of prog guitarists – and he’s not ruling out an Oceansize reunion
By Alex Lynham published
The Empire State Bastard riff-meister and Biffy Clyro guitarist has produced some of his best work with his latest solo album, Forgiveness & The Grain. He breaks down his otherworldly tone secrets, and explains what made The Verve’s Nick McCabe a guitar Jedi – and why the Pro Co Rat is the only distortion pedal you need
Best cheap guitar pedals 2024: killer budget stompboxes you need to try
By Alex Lynham last updated
Stock up on new sounds for less with these incredibly cheap guitar pedals from Boss, NUX, TC Electronic and more
Best multi-effects pedals 2024: top do-it-all guitar effects units
By Alex Lynham last updated
The best floorboard FX modelers on the market for all budgets, including gear from Line 6, Boss, and Neural DSP
Best guitar amps 2024: tube, solid-state and modeling amplifiers for all levels and budgets
By Chris Corfield last updated
These are the best combo amps and heads from Orange, Fender, Marshall, Boss, and more
Best patch cables 2024: tidy up your ‘board with our pick of the best patch leads
By Alex Lynham last updated
Need to organize a messy pedalboard? Patch cables are a simple and creative cable solution for your guitar pedals
Best guitar pedals for beginners: kickstart your pedalboard
By Alex Lynham last updated
Don't know your RAT from your Whammy? Your Tube Screamer from your Big Muff? We're here to help you take your first steps into the world of guitar effects
11 ways to get more from your pitch-shifter and octave pedals
By Alex Lynham published
Whether rocking a Whammy or setting up for low-end drones and glitchy madness, these approaches can yield some dramatic results
Best fuzz pedals 2024: add some filth with this guitar effects essential for your pedalboard
By Alex Lynham last updated
Want to know your Fuzz Face from your Fuzz Factory, or channel Jimi Hendrix? This guide is for you
I lived with the Fender Tone Master Pro for two weeks, and forget the tones – the way it feels is the real game-changer
By Alex Lynham published
These days, we take the tones for granted – the look and feel of modelers is the new battleground, and Fender is at the head of the pack
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!