Rob Laing

Rob Laing

Reviews Editor, Guitar World & MusicRadar guitars

Rob is the Reviews Editor for GuitarWorld.com, Guitar World magazine and MusicRadar guitars, heading up our in-house reviews team to give you in-depth and honest tests of the latest guitar gear. He eats and dreams reviews.

Rob has 20 years of experience writing, reviewing, interviewing and editing for guitar magazines and websites, including Guitarist and Total Guitar.

Over the years he's interviewed artists including Metallica, Black Sabbath, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, but he's lost count of all the guitar gear he's tested.

Latest articles by Rob Laing

Best semi-hollow guitars 2026: my top picks for tone and feel

By Rob Laing Last updated

From affordable workhorses to dream guitar purchases, these are the semi-acoustic guitars that deliver

Guitars
Wampler Tumnus
The Wampler Tumnus is the one pedal that will never leave my 'board, and its golden Klon-style overdrive goodness is now even cheaper for a limited time!

By Rob Laing Last updated

The greatest pedal investment I've ever made is only $127.47 - but the del ends soon

Pedals & Pedalboards
Fender Player II Telecaster
As a guitar reviews editor, I've discovered the Fender Player II model is the essential Telecaster for value, but somehow it's still $190 cheaper – in an exclusive finish too

By Rob Laing Last updated

At $649.99, nothing comes close right now for Cyber Week Tele goodness

Electric Guitars
Fender Player II Series Telecaster
Fender's Player II Telecaster deal has sold out, but this one is still available right now with $190 off – and it's got an even better finish

By Rob Laing Published

The best value Tele around is $649.99

Electric Guitars
Beatles and Brian May guitar tones for $99 – is Sweetwater sure this Tech 21 SansAmp amp pedal deal isn't a misprice?

By Rob Laing Published

Voxy British Invasion sounds for $99 down from $249 – and European bargain-hunters aren't left out either

Pedals & Pedalboards
My favourite piece of guitar gear released in 2025 is on sale today – try the ToneWoodAmp2 and transform your acoustic guitar sound into something glorious like I did

By Rob Laing Published

If you own an acoustic guitar this could be a game-changer – it was for me

Acoustic Guitars
Taylor 110CE
Taylor acoustic guitars have never let me down for consistent high quality – now there's one for sensible money in the Black Friday sales

By Rob Laing Published

Just $699 and it's a stage-ready electro with a torrefied top for even sweeter tones

Acoustic Guitars
A Friedman amp for $99? This none more Black Friday deal is hard to resist
A Friedman amp for $99? This none more Black Friday deal is hard to resist

By Rob Laing Published

A massive 60% off for this mini 30-watt head is an incredible bargain – but it's selling very fast

Amps
PRS SE NF53
We weren't expecting one of the finest PRS SE guitars of 2025 to be reduced for Black Friday – now it's $200 off

By Rob Laing Published

The SE NF53 is much more than simply PRS's T-style guitar

Electric Guitars
The guitar pedal bargains of the year? Walrus Audio Mako series delay and reverb effects are currently so cheap for Black Friday they're a no-brainer
The guitar pedal bargains of the year? Walrus Audio Mako series delay and reverb effects are currently so cheap for Black Friday they're a no-brainer

By Rob Laing Published

The Walrus D1 Delay and R1 Reverb are over half price!

Pedals & Pedalboards
Best Taylor guitars: my pick of the most popular Taylor acoustics

By Rob Laing Last updated

I've picked out all the top Taylor guitars, matched to the type of player they suit best

Acoustic Guitars
Two AER acoustic guitar amps with an acoustic guitar leaning on a chair
Best acoustic guitar amps: top acoustic amplifiers and preamp pedals

By Rob Laing Last updated

Boost and sweeten your instrument’s tone with the best acoustic guitar amps from likes of Boss, Fishman, AER, Orange and more

Amps
BB Playing a 1960s Gibson ES-330TD
Here’s Some Blues You Can Really Use

By Rob Laing, Jon Bishop, Chris Bird Published

Improve your playing with this master class on everything you need to know for better blues.

Lessons
Black and white photo of BB King sat down holding his Gibson guitar
10 of the Greatest Blues Guitar Tones Ever Recorded

By Rob Laing Published

Sumptuous sounds from the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Jack White.

Guitars