Latest articles by Richard Blenkinsop
Best desktop guitar amps 2025: my top desktop amps for portable practice
Improve your guitar playing with my pick of the most powerful yet portable practice solutions
I tested the Boss Katana Mini and Katana Mini X side-by-side to find out which is best and whether it's worth upgrading from the original portable amp
We’ve put these two compact amps head to head to see which one offers the best features, tones and build quality for the money
Best guitar cables 2025: recommended instrument cables for electric, acoustic, and bass guitar
Plug in with confidence using our expert guide to the best instrument cables from, Mogami, Ernie Ball, George L’s, and more
Best combo amps 2025: the best all-in-one amps for every budget
The ultimate tube, solid state, and modeling combo amps for every genre, from Motown to metal and everything in between
Best delay pedals 2025: our pick of the coolest delay pedals for your pedalboard
Whether you prefer digital or analog delay pedals, the options in this round-up will help boost your creativity on the guitar
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
"It sounds good; you’re not getting superb clarity or a broad, rich frequency range – you get the sound of your guitar’s pickup amplified": Harley Benton TableAmp V2 Bluetooth review
An affordable, Bluetooth-equipped desktop amp designed with electro-acoustic instruments and vocalists in mind – but with scope for amp modelers too
Best electric guitar strings 2025: our top-rated strings for your electric
Keep your axe feeling fresh with the best guitar strings for electric guitar
Best beginner guitar amps 2025: top guitar amplifiers for beginners
Looking for one of the best guitar amps for beginners? We’ve rounded up our favorites for players of any style from brands including Blackstar, Orange, Boss, and more
Best looper pedals 2025: go it alone with the greatest loop pedals for practice, live performance and jamming
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
Best bass effects pedals 2025: 11 of the best pedals for every type of bassist
Our guide to the finest sounding effects pedals for bass players, including fuzz, compressors and multi-effects
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
"With a unit this affordable, are the effects any good? Yes! They really are": Zoom MS-50G+ Multistomp review
A compact and functional multi-effects pedal that knocks it out of the park for value where it matters
"If you’re looking for a no-nonsense giggable tube head that covers a lot of ground, there isn’t much that beats the Dual Terror at this price point": Orange Dual Terror review
A fuss-free dual-channel tube head that delivers some of the best tones available at this price point – and higher
Best Christmas gifts for guitar players 2025: the ultimate festive gift guide for guitarists
Treat them right this Christmas with our pick of the 46 must-have guitar items, essential accessories, clever gadgets and instruments for every budget
Best acoustic electric guitars 2025: electro-acoustic picks for every type of player
Know your piezos from your transducers and experience the best of both worlds with models for beginners to pros and for every budget
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
Best beginner bass guitars 2025: starter basses for beginners
The best beginner basses for young players, newcomers and the budget-conscious – featuring Yamaha, Squier, Ibanez and more
Best acoustic guitar picks 2025: our choice of picks for acoustic playing from Dunlop, D'Addario, and more
Get the connection between player and strings right with the best acoustic guitar picks
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 metal guitars 2025: hell-raising electrics for shredders on any budget
From extended-range guitars to Flying Vs, here's our pick of killer metal guitars from Jackson, ESP, Ibanez, and more
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
