James Harrison
James learned guitar in a cold Leeds practice room and taught himself to fix his own gear when he couldn't afford to replace it. That DIY instinct became a lifelong obsession with how instruments are built and why some just feel right. He writes buying guides and gear features for players who want the honest version, not the sales pitch.
How to Tune a Guitar With a Tuner
Standard tuning, what the needle is actually telling you, and the order to work in so the sixth string is still right by the time you reach the first.
Cymbals Explained: Features, Types and Tips
What cymbals are made of, the main types you will meet on a kit, and a few honest tips for choosing wisely — no sales pitch, just the useful stuff.
Tubular Bells: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A big, heavy, specialist instrument deserves a proper buying checklist. Here's what actually matters before you commit to a set — no sales patter.
Common Tanglewood Mistakes to Avoid
The recurring, easily avoidable mistakes buyers make with Tanglewood guitars, laid out plainly.
The Best Tubular Bells for the Money
There's no single best set — there's a right tier for your setting. Here's how to match compact, mid-tier, concert-grade, used or digital to the job.
The Best Pearl Tom Toms for the Money
Export, Masters Maple, Crystal Beat or Masterworks — here's which tier of Pearl tom toms actually suits your playing and your budget.
The Ultimate Guide to Pedal Treble Booster
A treble booster isn't just a brighter boost — it tightens your low end and drives a valve amp into classic British rock overdrive. Here's how one works, who made it famous, and how to choose the righ...
Pearl Tom Toms: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Sizes, shell tiers, mounts and heads — the honest, no-hype version of what to check before you buy Pearl tom toms.
The Ultimate Guide to Drum Sticks
What the 7A, 5A and 5B codes really mean, why taper and tip matter more than the label, and the two-minute check that stops you buying a dud pair.
Tanglewood: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A plain-spoken guide to buying Tanglewood guitars: what to check, which spec actually matters, and how to match a range to your budget.
Bass Direct Warwick Explained: Features, Types and Tips
James breaks down what a Bass Direct Warwick actually is — the model families, the build styles and the electronics — with no sales pitch attached.
The Essential Guitar Chords Every Player Should Know
You do not need hundreds of chords. You need about a dozen open shapes, two movable barre forms and the confidence to change between them in time.
