Latest articles by Matt McCracken
Best guitars for small hands 2025: compact, thinline and slim-necked options for all ages
Our pick of compact electric and acoustic models from Fender, Taylor, Epiphone and more
Best acoustic guitars under $1,000 in 2025: get great tone for less
Enjoy superb playability and sound with our guide to the top mid-priced acoustics
Best 3/4 acoustic guitars 2025: small-bodied, short scale sensations from Taylor, Martin, Fender and more
From beginner nylon string models to solid electro-acoustic travel guitars, there’s a 3/4 option here for every style of player
Best Yamaha acoustic guitars 2025: our pick of Yamaha acoustics to suit all players
Our top picks from perhaps the most under-rated of the big acoustic brands
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
8 ways to make your beginner acoustic guitar play and sound better
Our expert tips will help unlock the full potential of your beginner acoustic
Best travel guitars 2025: top acoustic and electric travel guitars for portability and performance
Top travel guitar choices and buying advice for musicians on the move
Best reverb pedals 2025: from spring to shimmer, these are our top picks for your pedalboard
Take a deep dive into the cavernous world of 'verb and explore the best reverb pedals for every budget
Show your dad he rocks this Father's Day with Positive Grid and up to 40% off the Spark, Spark Mini, Spark Go, and more
Save big on smart amps with the perfect gift for dads that rock this Father’s Day
I review pedals for a living and Sweetwater’s awesome Memorial Day pedal sale has got my attention – here are the 5 pedals you should be looking at
Sweetwater’s super pedal sale is the place to shop for effects lovers with a huge selection of pedals from EarthQuaker Devices, Walrus Audio, Catalinbread, and loads more
Best Memorial Day guitar sales 2025: today's most epic deals on acoustic and electric guitars, amps, effects and more
Explore all the best Memorial Day guitar savings in one place – massive savings from Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, Sweetwater, Positive Grid and others
Musician’s Friend's up to 40% off Memorial Day sale just dropped 6 days early – save big on Schecter, Electro-Harmonix and more
Grab yourself some super savings on guitars, pedals, accessories, and loads more
Everything you need to know about fretwraps: what are they and do you need one?
Get the low down on this simple yet essential tool for guitarists
Best bass amps for practice 2025: top combos for working on your chops at home
Get the most out of your playing at home with one of these great bass practice amps
Best guitar wireless systems 2025: set your playing free, from the rehearsal room to the stage
Fed up with cumbersome cables? Here's our pick of the best wireless guitar systems for every budget
“Plenty of great functionality to make your life easier and assuage any fears of signal or battery loss”: Boss WL-50 review
We put Boss’ pedalboard-friendly wireless guitar system to the test, seeing how it holds up to some stiff competition
“Very much at home with syncopated djent chugs, fast thrashy power chord riffing, and blazingly quick lead work”: Jackson JS22-7 DKA Dinky HT review
Should a beginner choose a 7-string as their first instrument? This extended-range guitar from Jackson looks to make its case
Best amps for metal 2025: our top picks for high-gain heroes
These powerhouse metal amps from PRS, Orange, Friedman, EVH, and more will have you primed to seek and destroy
"Packed full of great sounds and options yet easy to navigate": NUX MG-300
Could this budget-friendly multi-effects pedal be the perfect match for the beginner guitar player who wants loads of tones on tap?
One of our favorite practice amps is 10% off and there's free shipping on everything in Positive Grid’s massive guitar month sale
Get your hands on some of the world’s most popular smart and desktop amps for less over at Positive Grid
“Completely shatters the expectations for a guitar geared toward modern metal”: PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN review
The Periphery guitarist’s signature model gives lovers of the low-end great specs and playability at a lower cost. We find out if it’s more than just a djent machine.
Gibson Les Paul vs Fender Stratocaster: Which is right for you?
We put these two titans of tone head to head, deep-diving into their similarities and differences so you can be sure you’re purchasing the right guitar
I use Helix Native every day for practice and recording and Line 6 just slashed $160 off the price
Line 6’s superb amp sim and effects software just got an absolutely humongous discount
