Matt McCracken

Matt McCracken

Junior Deals Writer

Matt is a Junior Deals Writer here at Guitar Player. He regularly tests and reviews music gear with a focus on guitars, amps, pedals, modelers, and pretty much anything else guitar-related. Responsible for over 60 buying guides, a large part of his role is helping guitarists find the best deals on gear. Matt worked in music retail for 5 years at Dawsons Music and Northwest Guitars and has written for many music sites including MusicRadar, Guitar World, Guitar.com, Ultimate Guitar, and Thomann’s t.blog.

A regularly gigging guitarist with over 20 years of experience playing live and writing and recording in bands, he's performed everything from jazz to djent, gigging all over the UK in more dingy venues than you can shake a drop-tuned guitar at. When he's not holed up in his practice space jamming new songs or ogling yet another guitar, you’ll find him making a racket with Northern noise punks Never Better.

Latest articles by Matt McCracken

An older man plays acoustic guitar on the sofa
Get a year’s worth of guitar lessons for only $99 with Guitar Tricks' epic Summer Black Friday offer

By Matt McCracken Published

Our top-rated guitar lessons platform is an absolute steal and comes loaded with free gifts – including a custom lesson plan – taking the bundle value up to $500

Lessons
A Boss RE-202 Space Echo on a red background
Guitar Center’s Fourth of July sale just dropped early with huge savings of up to 30% off gear

By Matt McCracken Published

Get your hands on an early deal with huge discounts on the best gear at Guitar Center

Gear
Two Positive Grid Spark Go mini guitar amps next to each other on a red and pink background
With an epic up to 40% off, Positive Grid’s Father’s Day sale is the best place for smart amp and software savings

By Matt McCracken Published

Get your dad the perfect gift this Father’s Day with big savings on Spark, Spark Mini, Spark Go, and loads more

Amps
Three guitar pedals on a purple gradient background
Sweetwater has the biggest pedal sale around this Memorial Day – here are 5 top picks from a stompbox expert

By Matt McCracken Last updated

Get yourself money off EQD, Line 6, JHS, and loads more in the massive Sweetwater Memorial Day pedal sale

Pedals & Pedalboards
Grab epic guitar gear savings up to 40% off in the best-ever Musician’s Friend Memorial Day sale

By Matt McCracken Published

The deals have landed early at Musician’s Friend with big money off Fender, Sterling by Music Man, Electro Harmonix, Epiphone, and loads more

Gear
A laptop with Positive Grid BIAS FX 2 and a Positive Grid Riff audio interface on a red and white background
Positive Grid's huge guitar month sale continues - buy BIAS FX 2 Elite with $120 off and get a RIFF audio interface completely free

By Matt McCracken Last updated

With loads of excellent discounts and free shipping on absolutely everything, it's a great time to bag a saving on smart amps and software

Amps
A Fender HSS Strat on a blue and pink background
Musician’s Friend Guitar Fest sale has started with up to 40% off guitar gear - including $600 off a Gibson Les Paul

By Matt McCracken Published

Bag yourself some fresh new guitar gear with huge discounts on Fender, Gibson, Electro-Harmonix, and more

Gear
A variety of Fender replacement necks on a colorful background
Wait! Don't buy that new guitar, Fender is offering a massive 20% off parts and pickups at the Fender shop

By Matt McCracken Published

Here are the four upgrades we'd choose with big money off at the Fender parts sale

Gear
A man uses a laptop while playing acoustic guitar
This one-day-only Fender Play deal is the cheapest we’ve ever seen - get a year’s worth of top-notch guitar lessons for just $29

By Matt McCracken Published

Get a year’s worth of expert tuition for less with this phenomenal value one-day deal from Fender

Lessons
Two Fender Player Stratocasters on an orange and red background
Calling all Strat fans - Fender's Presidents’ Day sale sees up to 50% off guitar gear and a massive $399 off one of our favorite models

By Matt McCracken Last updated

There are some stunning deals available over at the official Fender shop - but act fast, the sale ends on 02/19

Gear
A Line 6 Helix LT amp modeler on a concrete floor with an electric guitar
Line 6 is rolling back the clock, discounting the Helix Floor and LT to its original launch price - save a mega $200!

By Matt McCracken Published

If you purchased a unit recently all is not lost - many retailers are refunding the difference

Gear
A Boss GT-1000 multi-effects pedal on an orange background
Don’t miss out on a Black Friday bargain - Sweetwater’s up to 80% off Cyber Week sale is only live for 3 more days

By Matt McCracken Published

It’s your last chance to bag a guitar gear bargain at Sweetwater, with deals on guitars, amps, pedals, and loads more

Amps
A green Fender Aerodyne Stratocaster on a grey background
These 40 huge Black Friday and Cyber Monday guitar gear deals are still live – but they won’t be around much longer

By Matt McCracken Published

Late to the Black Friday and Cyber Monday party? Don’t worry you can still grab a great deal on guitar gear

Gear
A Fender Player Jaguar on a grey background
6 of this year's hottest Black Friday sales for guitarists are already live

By Matt McCracken Published

We’ve rounded up the very best sales for a Black Friday bargain including Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Fender, and loads more

Gear
A Mesa/Boogie amplifier on a gold background
Sweetwater hits Black Friday gold with the biggest savings we’ve seen so far – up to 75% off guitar gear

By Matt McCracken Published

There are some absolutely massive savings to be had on guitars, amps, pedals, and loads more at Sweetwater

Amps
A young boy plays acoustic guitar in his bedroom
Get a year's worth of expert guitar lessons for just $99 with Guitar Tricks - plus $321 worth of extras

By Matt McCracken Published

Improve your chops for less with this brilliant Black Friday offer from one of our favorite online guitar lessons platforms

Lessons
A Fender Acoustasonic Jazzmaster in a limited edition Black Paisley finish
I've scouted out all 99 pages of the Guitar Center Black Friday sale - here are 5 guitar bargains I'm considering

By Matt McCracken Published

Guitar Center’s biggest sale of the year is here with up to 40% off a huge range of gear including Fender, Gibson, EarthQuaker Devices, PRS, and more

Gear
A Fender acoustic guitar and Epiphone Les Paul Custom on a vintage white background
I write about guitar gear for a living - here are my Top 5 bargains from the Guitar Center Holiday Sale

By Matt McCracken Published

If you’re looking for an early Black Friday deal these are the ones we’d go for

Gear
A Positive Grid Spark Go mini amp with a smartphone on a gradient yellow background
Get ahead of the Black Friday game with a $70 saving on Positive Grid's Spark 40 and 60% off BIAS software

By Matt McCracken Published

Upgrade your practice and recording regimens with Positive Grid's official Black Friday discounts on highly-rated desktop amps and modeling software

Amps
Three Fender guitars on a blue gradient background
Who Needs Black Friday? You Can Get $100 Off Fender Player Plus And $50 Off Player Series Guitars Right Now

By Matt McCracken Published

From classic Strats and Tele’s to modern offerings like the Meteora there are loads of great deals over at the official Fender shop - but only whilst stocks last

Electric Guitars
A selection of Positive Grid smart amps and accessories on a wooden desk
Why Wait For Black Friday? At Amazon Positive Grid Just Slashed The Price Of Their Spark Smart Amps

By Matt McCracken Published

Proof that the Amazon Prime Big Deals Day isn’t a dud, PG’s superb smart amps and accessories have up to 20% off

Amps
Three Fender guitars on a wooden floor
Who Needs Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days Sale? Unlock Savings Up To $350 On Fender Aerodyne And Vintera Guitars At The Fender Shop

By Matt McCracken Published

Bag the best non-Amazon deal today with massive savings on vintage and modern guitars over at the official Fender shop

Guitars
Three Fender guitars on a yellow background
The Fender Labor Day Sale Arrives Early With Up To 30% Off A Massive Range Of Guitar Gear

By Matt McCracken Published

Get huge discounts on electrics, acoustics, accessories, apparel, and loads more this Labor Day weekend

Gear
Three Fender guitars on a blue background
Save Big On Vintage-Inspired Guitars with a Massive 20% Discount on Fender Vintera Series Guitars

By Matt McCracken Published

Fender’s vintage-meets-modern guitars have got a serious discount over at the official Fender shop, but only whilst stocks last

Guitars
Best guitar amps under $1,000: great guitar tones without breaking the bank

By Matt McCracken Last updated

Make your move into serious amplification territory with the best sub-$1,000 guitar amps

Amps
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