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.
The Complete Guide to Sampler 404
The sampler 404 revolutionised portable music production, enabling beat-makers to create professional-quality music anywhere. Its influence on modern hip-hop and electronic music remains profound.
Ibanez Iron Label for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Complete beginner's guide for starting guitar on Ibanez Iron Label, covering setup, first practice sessions, common struggles, care, and building genuine progress.
The Best Rack Mixers for the Money
From the Behringer X32 Rack at the accessible end to the Allen & Heath SQ series at professional level, these are the units that genuinely deliver at their price points.
The Complete Guide to Strymon Timeline Delay Pedal
The Strymon Timeline is one of the most comprehensive delay pedals ever created, offering studio-quality sound in a remarkably compact format. Perfect for any guitarist seeking versatile, professional...
Fog Machine: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying the wrong fog machine wastes money. This guide shows you what actually matters: matching the machine to your space, knowing the specs that count, and avoiding the traps that catch first-time bu...
Prs Custom 24: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Three tiers, a handful of variants, and a lot of marketing language — here's the honest way to choose the right PRS Custom 24.
The Best Chimes for the Money
Budget, mid-range, professional and used — specific model recommendations at each price point, with honest assessment of where the value lies and what the price difference actually buys.
Jackson Electric Guitar: A Complete Buyer's Guide
The model range is more structured than it looks from the outside. Understanding which tier suits your budget and what each model actually does makes the choice straightforward.
The Complete Guide to Acoustic Guitar With Amplifier
An acoustic guitar with amplifier provides performance flexibility, combining acoustic tone warmth with amplification control for any venue size.
Evh Guitar for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Straight answer first: it can work as a first guitar, but it's not the obvious choice. Here's the honest version before you spend anything.
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.
Dw Drum Kit for Beginners: A Complete Guide
DW is not a beginner's first kit in the typical sense, but some players arrive at DW earlier than others. Here is what to know about starting at this level.
Everything You Need to Know About Strobe Lights
The honest, no-nonsense rundown of what a strobe light actually does, xenon vs LED, DMX control, and the safety guidance you genuinely cannot skip.
Drums Notation for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Everyone finds a first drum chart baffling. Here's the handful of things you genuinely need to know before your first proper read-through.
Prs Semi Hollow Guitar for Beginners: A Complete Guide
PRS semi-hollow guitars are warm, responsive, and beginner-friendly. This guide walks you through your first month, explains the feedback issue, and shows you why semi-hollow guitars are excellent for...
Common Snare Mistakes to Avoid
I've fixed more bad-sounding snare drums than I can count, and nine times out of ten it's one of a small handful of habits. Here's the honest fix for each.
Nylon Strings for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Starting on nylon strings is one of the most rewarding paths into guitar — but the first few weeks have specific pitfalls that catch almost everyone out. Here is the plain-spoken guide to getting it r...
The Best Left Acoustic Guitars for the Money
The left-handed market is narrower but not poor. Here's where the real value sits, from budget solid-top dreadnoughts to capable acoustic-electrics.
Everything You Need to Know About Ampeg Bass Amps
From the B-15 Portaflex to the SVT that powered the Stones, Ampeg's story is inseparable from the history of electric bass itself — and the range today is wider than ever.
Stereo Amplifier for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Getting your first stereo amplifier does not need to be complicated. Get the speaker matching right, count your inputs, and choose from a reputable maker. The music will tell you the rest.
Natal Drum Kit: A Complete Guide
Natal drum kits deliver handcrafted quality and warm, characterful tone. Compare series from budget Element to premium Originals for your playing style.
The Best No.Tom Guitars for the Money
No fake shootouts, no invented model numbers — just an honest, tier-by-tier look at where your money goes furthest when shopping vintage and used guitars.
Tremolo Guitar Pedals: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Choosing the right tremolo guitar pedals requires understanding waveforms, rate range, and build quality. Our guide helps you select pedals that enhance your tone.
The Complete Guide to Qsc Power Amplifiers
QSC power amplifiers are the standard in professional live sound. Built since 1968 for demanding applications, they deliver reliable amplification that sound engineers trust to work night after night.
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
