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.
Common Congas Drums Mistakes to Avoid
Most early problems with congas drums trace back to a small number of repeating errors. Identify and fix them early and the technique develops far more quickly.
The Best Gibson Firebirds for the Money
No fake test scores here — just an honest, tier-by-tier look at where a Gibson Firebird actually earns its money.
The Best Bells for the Money
Handbell value sits at £900–1200 for mid-range sets offering 90% of premium tone for 50% less cost. Avoid cheap extremes; match budget to commitment level.
Tom Drum Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Rack toms, floor toms, concert toms and more — here's what a tom drum is built from, what changes its sound, and a few honest tuning basics.
Everything You Need to Know About Gibson Les Paul Black
It is not one guitar with a model number — here is the honest breakdown of what the term really covers, and why the Black Beauty matters.
How to Set Up and Use Hang Guitar on Wall
Twenty minutes, the right tools, and no wonky screws. Here's the honest, step-by-step way to set up a guitar wall hanger that stays put.
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.
Rickenbacker Bass: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Different construction, different truss-rod history, and a used market with more variation than most players expect. Here's what actually matters before you buy.
The Complete Guide to Fender Baritone
Fender baritone guitars offer deeper sonic possibilities through extended scale length and lower tuning, perfect for metal, experimental and diverse musical applications.
The Best Frets for the Money
There's no single 'best' fret for everyone. Here's an honest, tier-by-tier breakdown of where your money is genuinely well spent.
The Best Ibanez Electric Guitars for the Money
Shopping for an Ibanez electric guitar? Here are the best options across different budgets and styles. No hype, no invented test scores — just solid recommendations about which Ibanez electric guitars...
The Best Evhs for the Money
No sales pitch — just where your money actually goes well across EVH guitars, and where you're paying for a name.
Everything You Need to Know About Epiphone Explorer
That angular shape gets attention fast — here's what actually separates the standard, EMG and Lzzy Hale versions of the Epiphone Explorer.
Vibraphone for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A gentle, step-by-step start on the vibraphone: your first bars, mallet grip, pedal control and simple early exercises.
Guitar Cleaning Kit for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Regular cleaning prevents the build-up that makes guitars sound dull and play rough. Here is what you need to know as a beginner, and the habits worth starting early.
Common Yamaha Acoustic Guitar Mistakes to Avoid
Most Yamaha acoustic guitar problems aren't about the instrument—they're about choices made before or after purchase. Here's what to sidestep.
Everything You Need to Know About Semi Acoustic Bass
Semi acoustic bass instruments offer a unique blend of natural acoustic warmth with modern electric versatility, making them ideal for expressive players.
Common Kids Guitar Mistakes to Avoid
Most 'why won't my kid practise' problems trace back to the guitar, not the child. Here are the avoidable mistakes I see most, and the fixes that actually work.
The Complete Guide to Cajon Meinl
A Meinl cajon delivers the warm, responsive tones that make the instrument versatile across world music, flamenco, acoustic performance and creative experimentation.
Acoustic and Electric for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Everyone's got an opinion on which to buy first, most of it unhelpful. Here's the honest, no-hype version to actually get you started.
How to Set Up and Use Truss Rod
A clear, step-by-step process for checking neck relief and adjusting the rod correctly — with the right tool and the right technique.
Behringer Wing for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Staring at a Behringer Wing for the first time? Here's the calm, step-by-step version of your first session on it.
The Best Guitar Ibanez Jems for the Money
There's no single 'best' JEM — here's how the range actually splits by budget, playing level and what you're chasing.
What James Harrison covers
Acoustic Guitar
An acoustic guitar is a versatile steel-string instrument for strumming, fingerstyle, songwriting and live performance.
23 topics
Electric Guitar
A versatile amplified instrument for rhythm, lead and genre-spanning performance, from clean tones to high-gain sounds.
27 topics
Fender Stratocaster
The fender stratocaster is a versatile electric guitar known for bright tones, comfort and wide genre appeal.
8 topics
Guitar Guitar
Guitar guitar is a broad category for instruments and accessories suited to players at every level and style.
Guitar Tuners
Reliable tuning hardware for acoustic, electric and bass guitars, with options for upgrades, replacements and classic re...
1 topic
Music Accessories
Essential music accessories for UK musicians: instrument cases, stands, cables, straps, tuners, metronomes, and instrume...
75 topics
Sheet Music & Learning
Your guide to sheet music, scores, music theory books, and graded exam resources for UK musicians — from beginner method...
54 topics
Stratocaster
Iconic double-cut electric guitars with versatile tones, comfortable contours and wide appeal across many genres.
21 topics
