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 Thunderbird Bass Mistakes to Avoid
Six mistakes that trip up Thunderbird players, most of which are preventable with a bit of advance knowledge.
The Best Fender Telecasters for the Money
You don't need the priciest Telecaster on the wall — you need the right tier for what you actually play. Here's the honest breakdown, no hype.
Amplifier Fender Mustang for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A beginner's guide to using a Fender Mustang amplifier, covering setup, control explanation, amp models, practice settings, and common first-time mistakes.
How to Set Up and Use Chromatic Tuner
Using a chromatic tuner well takes less than two minutes once you know the process. Here's the practical step-by-step, from setup to final verification.
Percussion Instruments: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Skip the history lesson: here's a straight-talking walk through what actually matters when you're choosing and checking a percussion instrument.
The Complete Guide to Roland Keyboard Synth
Discover what makes a Roland keyboard synth an essential instrument for musicians and producers. Learn about key features, flagship models and why the brand is trusted by professionals worldwide.
The Best Dean Ml Guitars for the Money
Entry-level, mid-tier or USA-built — here's which tier of Dean ML guitar actually suits your playing and your budget, without the invented product tests.
Active Pa Speaker Explained: Features, Types and Tips
An active PA speaker has its amplifier built in — which makes it easier to use, harder to damage, and more consistent than a passive setup. Here is how they actually work.
Lag Acoustic Guitar for Beginners: A Complete Guide
LAG is a lesser-known French guitar brand with serious build quality. This beginner's guide explains what makes LAG acoustic guitars distinctive, which models are best to start with, and whether inves...
Squier Telecaster Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A Squier Telecaster is Fender's affordable take on one of the world's most influential electric guitar designs—with all the single-coil snap and straightforward playability, but at a fraction of the c...
White Pianos for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Starting piano as a nervous beginner is easier than you might think—particularly when you choose a white piano that fits your space and budget. This beginner's guide helps you get started confidently.
Bass Wah for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Bass wah is one of the most fun, approachable effects for beginners. Unlike many pedals, it sounds instantly satisfying the moment you step on it. Here's how to get started and sound good quickly.
The Complete Guide to Turbosound
Turbosound professional speakers deliver clear, consistent sound for touring, festivals and permanent installations — engineered for durability in demanding real-world conditions.
The Best Ampeg Bass Amps for the Money
Ampeg makes extraordinary bass amps — and some very practical ones. The best for the money depends almost entirely on what you're actually doing with it.
Bass Amp Head for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A beginner's guide to bass amp heads — covering when you actually need one, how heads work, what to look for in a first purchase and practical tips for connecting and using the format for the first ti...
Rack Mixer: A Complete Buyer's Guide
The right rack mixer for a fly-rig tour is not the same as the right unit for a permanent installation. This buyer's guide walks you through what to prioritise at each price point.
Electro Acoustic Ukulele for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Starting with an electro acoustic ukulele is easier than it sounds. This beginner's guide covers unplugged first steps, understanding the pickup and electronics, a practical first-month roadmap, and h...
Fender Necks: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying a Fender neck requires understanding profiles, compatibility, and quality. This guide covers what matters when replacing or upgrading your guitar neck.
The Best Epiphone Les Pauls for the Money
Not one crowned champion, but the right pick for your budget and style. Here's how the Epiphone Les Paul tiers actually compare on value.
Childs Electronic Drum Set for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Getting started on a child's electronic drum set involves more than unboxing — here is how to set it up correctly, configure it and give a young drummer the best possible first experience.
Common Make a Bass Guitar Mistakes to Avoid
Every one of these mistakes gets made at the shop counter regularly. Here's how to sidestep each one.
Kick Drum for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Setting up, tuning, technique, damping — here's everything a beginner needs to get started with the kick drum, step by step.
The Complete Guide to Iron Gear Guitar Pickups
Iron Gear guitar pickups represent British craftsmanship at its finest, offering guitarists high-quality alternatives with authentic tone and professional performance.
Common Boss Drum Album Mistakes to Avoid
Most BOSS drum machine recording problems come down to a handful of common errors. Here are the ones that appear most often and the specific fixes that resolve each immediately.
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
