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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How to place a fuzz pedal in your signal chain (and why position changes everything)Where you put a fuzz in your signal chain changes how it sounds and responds. Here's how to think through the options clearly.By Marc
How to set up an electric guitar: a practical guide to action, intonation and neck reliefA good setup transforms how an electric guitar feels and sounds. Here's how to work through action, neck relief and intonation at home.By Doug- How to use fuzz on bass: keeping the low end locked while getting the dirtFuzz on bass sounds huge — until it eats your fundamental. Here's how to pick the right fuzz, set it up, and keep the groove sitting where it should.By Sheildon
- How to care for an acoustic guitar: humidity, cleaning and seasonal changesWood moves with the seasons. Doug explains how to protect your acoustic from humidity swings, how to clean it properly, and what to watch for year-round.By Doug
- How to get a good guitar tone recording direct: DI, amp sims and signal chain basicsRecording guitar direct doesn't mean compromising on tone. Here's how to think through your DI and amp-sim signal chain and get results that hold up.By Marc
- Acoustic guitar body shapes explained: how size and depth affect tone and playabilityFrom parlour to jumbo, acoustic body shapes change how a guitar feels under your arm and how it reproduces low-end. Here's what to listen for.By Sheildon
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