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 Practice Drum Kit Mistakes to Avoid
Players setting up a practice drum kit for the first time make predictable errors that affect noise levels and how effectively they practise. Here is how to fix each one.
Common Jhs Guitar Pedals Mistakes to Avoid
Most pedal problems aren't the pedal's fault. Here are the JHS Pedals mistakes that trip people up most, and the easy fix for each.
Tc Electronic for Beginners: A Complete Guide
TC Electronic makes some genuinely approachable pedals for beginners. Here's what to start with, what each one does, and what to leave until later.
Wireless Guitar System Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Cut the cable and everything about how you play changes. Here's what's really inside a wireless guitar system, plain and simple.
The Complete Guide to Hot Rods Drum Sticks
Hot rods are lightweight wooden implements offering a warm, woody tone between sticks and brushes. Essential for jazz, ideal for intimate acoustic settings, and beloved by percussionists seeking dynam...
The Best Bass Pickups for the Money
The best bass pickup upgrade depends on format, style and budget — but at every price point there are proven options that genuinely change what an instrument sounds like.
The Complete Guide to Martin Lighting
Martin Professional has set standards in entertainment lighting for five decades. Discover why Martin lighting fixtures dominate professional venues, tours, and events.
Fender Guitar: A Complete Buyer's Guide
There's no single best Fender in this range, only the right one for what you play and what you can spend. Here's how to work it out.
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.
Bodhran for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A beginner's roadmap to bodhran: no prior experience needed. Learn what to buy, how to hold it, basic technique, and a month-by-month practice plan to get you session-ready.
The Best Line Arrays for the Money
The line array market is full of options. These are the systems that genuinely deliver at their price point — no marketing fluff, just what holds up in real-world use.
Fender Electric Guitar for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A practical guide for beginners choosing their first electric guitar, covering what to look for, how to set up properly and practice habits that actually work.
Bells: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A practical buyer's guide: understand handbell quality tiers, orchestral chime options, cowbell choices, and match your budget to your musical needs.
The Complete Guide to Mxr Guitar Effects
MXR guitar effects are reliable, professional-grade pedals trusted by touring musicians and studios. From distortion to delay, explore why MXR remains an industry standard.
Congas Drums for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Congas drums require a different approach from any stick-based instrument. This complete guide walks beginners through setup, technique, practice and what to listen to.
Wampler Compressor Pedal Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A compressor pedal is basically a volume controller that sits between your guitar and your amp. When your signal gets loud, it turns it down. When it gets quiet, it can turn it up. Wampler's compresso...
Guitar Effects Pedals Wah for Beginners: A Complete Guide
You've heard the sound, you fancy trying it, and there's a wall of options staring back at you. Here's the honest, no-nonsense version of getting started.
The Complete Guide to Drum Kit Bags
Drum kit bags protect expensive equipment and preserve tone through proper storage. Explore protection options, materials, and selecting the right solution for your needs.
Guitar Strap Locks: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Stop guessing about strap locks. James breaks down the main systems, compares costs, explains what you actually need, and helps you buy the right guitar strap locks for your specific playing style.
The Ultimate Guide to Acoustic Drum Kits
From a first kit to a professional setup, acoustic drums vary enormously. Here's how they work, what the different configurations mean, and what matters when choosing.
Nt 1 Kit Explained: Features, Types and Tips
The NT1 Kit isn't one single product. Here's what you're actually getting, the generations to tell apart, and what it's good at.
The Best Alesis Drum Kits for the Money
From the Nitro Mesh for first-time players to the Command for professional use, these picks cover the best value at each level of the Alesis range.
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
