Gibson, Fender, PRS & Co.: Do guitar brands matter anymore?

Do you think established brands still hold the monopoly on the industry that they used to? Or have modern production methods and techology made brand-consciousness redundant?

Best Gibson Les Paul Alternatives: Top 5 Premium Single-Cut Electric Guitars

Looking for a high-quality single cut guitar but not happy with Gibson's offerings? Here are five Les Paul alternatives that ooze quality and vibe - be warned, they come with a premium price tag!

Fender’s ’57 Champ: Do you really need more than five watts?

While classic rock may conjure images of Les Pauls and rows of Marshall stacks, in truth, many of the legendary tones on our favourite songs were recorded using much smaller amps.

Best delay plug-ins: Our Top 10 echo tools of 2020 (so far)

Liven up your arsenal with some of these great echo tools! Here is our list of the 10 best delay plug-ins, from 2020 so far. These belong in every producer's creative toolbox - and some are free!

Condenser Microphone Capsules: Build Your Perfect Mic Locker!

The capsule is at the core of any condenser microphone's sound - if you're looking to expand your mic locker, this 101 on microphone capsules is the place to start in selecting your next mic.

Live after COVID-19: Do we really want Live Music back the way it was?

COVID-19 hit live music hard. And though we're all eager for things to go back to the way they were, maybe we should use this time to improve the live industry for the better.

Best Eurorack filters: 8 filters you should have in your rack

There are many reasons for choosing a filter; price, sound, popularity, but why not start with what we think are the best filter modules for cutting tones and slicing frequencies in your Eurorack.

Confessions of a pedal junkie: How I became addicted to stompboxes

Our contributor Jef Stone is a pedal addict. A certified AAA stompbox junkie, in fact. Here's the story of how his pedal collection grew from a single BOSS SD-1 to hundreds of effects.

Best Dumble-style pedals: 8 drive effects to emulate THE boutique amp

It's unlikely that most of us will ever get to play a real Dumble. But here are eight pedals that could conceivably get you closer to that legendary sound.

Line 6 HX Stomp vs. POD 2.0 – What difference does 20 years make?

20 years ago, a little red bean revolutionised the guitar industry. But can it still hold its own today, and how does it compare with the current HX Stomp?

The six best Harley Benton ‘classic’ electric guitars for under £200

In this article I share six of my favourite 'classic' guitar design Harley Benton models that should be accessible to even the most modest of budgets!

Signature Guitars 2020 Quiz: Test your knowledge!

This year has already seen some awesome signature axes by both rock legends and new talents - have you been keeping track? See how many of these you can get right in our Signature Guitars 2020 Quiz!

Best mini amps: 6 tiny amplifiers for lockdown guitar practice

Are you in lockdown and need a new mini practice amp for guitar? These six tiny guitar amplifiers by Marshall, Fender, Blackstar, Yamaha, Orange and Boss should be on your radar.

Demystifing the trem: How to set up your floating tremolo

If your tremolo is causing you problems but you've never tried setting it up before, this post is the perfect place to start. It's a lot easier than you think!

Recording guitars at home: Top tips for better tones

Tracking good-sounding guitars at home can be a challenge if you're tackling it for the first time! Follow these simple tips on using household items and mic placement to get a great recording.

Best Sample Packs This Week: Unique pianos, hybrid drums and an innovative synth

This weeks round-up includes pianos with plenty of character, an innovative synth with an XY pad and a box of one-shot hybrid drum samples for you to mess about with.

Best Sample Packs this Week: Cadenza Violin, Grano, FearX and True Trance Sounds V2

This week our round-up features a magnificent digital recreation of a violin, a granular synthesizer that can do some amazing things to audio, a trance sample pack and a cheap virtual synthesizer.

Fender and Gibson USA standard guitar models: Which would you buy?

Once upon a time, the standard USA-made Gibson or Fender was your go-to guitar. Now, both face enormous competition. It begs the question: Which "core" USA brand is getting your money in 2020?

Coronavirus: Worries mount over effect on music industry in 2020

Update: Coronavirus is hitting musicians and music gear makers hard, with cancelled events, postponed tours and gigs... Will governments step in with financial help for those affected?

Best Sample Packs this Week: Alpha Organ, Muze Bass Elements, Klang Grained Violin

Our weekly round up of the best sample packs contains some delicious organs, basses, violins... and a neat little collection of free samples. Plenty of delectable sounds for you to choose from!

Do we still love analog mixers? The poll results are in!

We posed a question to our readers: "Is the analog mixing desk dead for live sound?". Digital desks have never been better, but the poll results may surprise you...

Best Sample Packs this Week: HERZ-OG, Granulizer, Everwave, Harmonium, Room Tones USA

Welcome to our new series of weekly round-ups, bringing you the best and boldest offering sin the world of sample packs and instruments! Some cracking products in our first issue, too. Check 'em out.

Best Free Tape Simulation Plug-ins: Our Top 9 freeware saturation effects

Need some analogue warmth on your tracks but don't have money to spend? Thankfully, there are some great free plug-ins out there to help you get some of good ol' tape mojo going on in your DAW!

Poll: Is the analog mixer dead for live sound?

When was the last time you mixed live on an analogue desk? And when was the last time you saw an analogue desk either at a club or venue? Is the analogue mixer dead for live sound?