Honest, hands-on guitar gear reviews
Buyer’s guides, reviews and comparisons for guitars, amps, pedals, pickups and recording gear — tested and rated by working players.
Buyer’s guides
Our “best of” roundups — ranked and explained by players who use the gear.
GuitarsThe Best Intermediate Electric Guitars (2026)Ready to step up from your first guitar? The mid-priced electrics that deliver real build quality, tone and versatility for $450–$900.
GuitarsThe Best Guitars for Metal (2026)Fast necks, hot pickups and tuning stability for the heavy stuff — the metal guitars we'd actually gig, from budget shredders to pro machines.
PedalsThe Best Reverb Pedals (2026)From a simple spring to vast ambient washes — the reverb pedals we'd actually put on our boards, ranked for every budget and style.
AmpsThe Best Tube Amps Under $1000 (2026)Real valve tone you can afford — the best tube combos under a grand for blues, rock, metal and everything in between.
PedalsThe Best Delay Pedals (2026)Warm analog echo, pristine digital repeats and studio-grade multi-engine machines — the delays we'd buy at every budget.
PedalsThe Best Fuzz Pedals (2026)From wall-of-sound sustain to gated chaos — the fuzz pedals we'd actually put on our boards, ranked for every style and budget.
Featured reviews
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Latest from the team
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Dreadnought vs OM vs parlour: acoustic body shapes explainedA dreadnought isn't just louder, it's a different instrument to an OM or parlour. Here's what actually changes in tone, feel and playability.By Jez
Fuzz pedals with a noise gate: why the two rarely get alongFuzz and noise gates fight over the same territory. Here's why gating a fuzz kills the thing that makes it sound good, and what to do instead.By Daz
Bass string gauge and tension: why heavier isn't always fatterBass string gauge changes tension, feel and fundamental more than most players expect. Here's how to pick a set that actually sits in the pocket.By Sheildon- A basic setup checklist every beginner guitarist should knowA plain-English checklist for spotting when your guitar needs a setup, plus what you can check yourself before paying a tech.By Rob
- Combo, head and cab, or modelling amp: which type actually suits you?Combo, head-and-cab, or modelling amp? Here's the plain-English breakdown of which amp type actually fits your situation, not your fantasy gig.By Rob
- Fuzz pedals on acoustic-electric guitars: what works and what doesn'tFuzz on an acoustic-electric can sound glorious or fall apart completely. Doug explains why the pickup type decides everything, and what to try first.By Doug
The team
All contributors →- DazHigh-Gain & Modelling EditorBirmingham, UK
- DougAcoustic & Fingerstyle EditorAsheville, USA
- JezAmps & Valve Tone EditorManchester, UK
- MarcJazz & Clean-Tone ContributorNew York, USA
- MartinPedals & Effects EditorBristol, UK
- RobBeginner Gear & Teaching EditorBrisbane, AU
- SheildonBass & Low-End EditorMelbourne, AU