Latest articles by Matt McCracken
Best tube amps 2026: my top valve amplifiers for home, studio, and stage
From low-wattage bedroom-friendly rigs to gig-ready classic combos, I’ve personally tested these six awesome guitar amps to find the ultimate tube tone for serious players
Calling all flat-top fanatics! Guitar Center just launched the ultimate acoustic guitar sale with an impressive 30% off super strummers from Taylor, Martin, Gibson, Yamaha, and more
Time to save big on acoustic guitars with the awesome sale over at Guitar Center
Best looper pedals 2026: my top guitar loop stations for practice and live performance
Check out the top looper pedal choices, including the Boss RC-5, TC Electronic Ditto 2, and the Boss RC-600
I’ve tracked down an amazing $599 saving on a legendary Gibson J-45 and $250 off a PRS SE Silver Sky as Guitar Center officially launches its huge 30% off Memorial Day sale
Treat yourself to a gear upgrade with some massive savings over at Guitar Center for Memorial Day
With discounts hitting up to $600 off guitars, there’s no need to wait for Memorial Day because Fender just kick-started the sales early - here’s the 5 sweetest deals with $230 off an all-solid acoustic and $74 off a fuzz pedal
Fender just got the Memorial Day party started with some sweet deals on guitar gear
Best clip-on tuners 2026: expert picks for accurate guitar tuning
From precise strobe tuners to discreet clip-ons, we give you the best clip-on guitar tuners from TC Electronic, D'Addario, Peterson, and more
Best multi-effects pedals 2026: do-it-all multi-FX for all styles and budgets
Expand your guitar-playing horizons with these multi-fx options from Line 6, Kemper, Neural DSP and more
Best wireless guitar systems 2026: unshackle yourself from cables, it’s time to go wireless
Unlock the freedom of the stage with our pick of the best wireless guitar systems from Boss, Line 6, AKG, Behringer, Sennheiser, NUX, and more
The clock is ticking on the Guitar Center Guitar-A-Thon so act fast to bag one of these 11 incredible final deals – including a massive $700 off a Gibson Les Paul
The sale officially ends on April 29th, so move quickly if you want to cash in on some great guitar gear deals
Best guitar cases and gig bags 2026: the ultimate guide to protecting your instrument
From Mono’s legendary hybrid bags to Gator’s military-grade hard shells, this is the top gear to keep your investment safe on the road or at home
Best Martin guitars 2026: top-tier acoustic guitars for all
Considering a Martin? Here's my pick of the best Martin acoustics for every type of player
Best mini amps 2026: tiny amps for powerful tones
Our pick of the best small guitar amps will get you great big tone in a teeny-tiny package
I’ve tracked down 9 professional-grade pedalboard essentials in the Amazon Big Spring Sale that will turn any messy bedroom 'board into a gig-ready rig from just $4.49
The Amazon Spring Sale just gave guitarists the perfect opportunity to upgrade their pedalboards for less
The Amazon Big Spring Sale just gave guitarists the ultimate excuse to outfit their rigs and spring clean guitar collections thanks to some huge savings on essential accessories – deals start from just $6.49
With a nice selection of discounts on accessories for guitar players, the Amazon Spring Sale is the place to stock up ahead of your next gig
Best bass amps 2026: low-end tone machines
My pick of the best bass amp combos and heads from the likes of Fender, Blackstar, Orange, Darkglass, and more
With massive discounts of up to 60% off guitars, pedals, and amps, the Thomann Spring Sale is the place to dust off the cobwebs and kick-start your music-making for the rest of the year
The Thomann Spring Sale has over 600 items discounted, making it the perfect opportunity to pick up guitar gear for less
Best combo amps 2026: my pick of solid-state and tube combos for all budgets
No matter your genre, budget or skill level, these top combo amplifiers from Fender, Orange, Blackstar, EVH, and more will make your guitar sing
Best pedalboard power supplies 2026: quiet and efficient power for your pedals
Say goodbye to unwanted hiss and ground loop hum as we hand-pick the best guitar pedal power supplies for every budget
Best guitar capos 2026: acoustic and electric options for every budget
Boost your creativity and explore new horizons with our pick of the best capos from Shubb, Ernie Ball, G7th, and more
Best beginner bass guitars 2026: starting you off on your low-end journey
Great models for budding bass stars from Squier, Ibanez, Gretsch, Sterling by Music Man and more
Best pedalboards 2026: budget-spanning 'boards to help you organize your effects
Level up your rig and get the most out of your pedals with ‘boards from the likes of Pedaltrain, Boss, Temple Audio, Friedman, and more
Best acoustic guitars under $500 in 2026: top-rated acoustic guitars for less
My wallet-friendly picks of the best acoustics under $500 from the likes of Epiphone, D'Angelico, Gretsch, Yamaha, and more
I didn’t expect much for guitarists in the Amazon Presidents’ Day sale, but these 6 deals are well worth checking out with big savings on Boss, Fender, D'Addario, and more
There are loads of deals in the Presidents' Day sale, but not all of them are great, here's my top picks to get you straight to the good stuff
The price of golden-era guitar tone just plummeted with a staggering $600 saving on a Vintera II guitar at the official Fender Presidents' Day sale
Grab yourself some historic savings on period-correct guitars at the mega Fender Presidents' Day sale
The Presidents' Day celebrations have arrived early at Musician's Friend with massive discounts of up to 60% off guitar gear, including some sweet deals on Fender, Epiphone, and Martin guitars
Get your hands on a new guitar, amp, or effects pedal at a healthy discount in this early Presidents’ Day sale
