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.
Articles by James Harrison
Multi Guitar Stand for Beginners: A Complete Guide
For most beginners, a three or five-guitar steel rack from Hercules or Gator is the right first choice — but check finish compatibility before leaving anything valuable in contact.
The Complete Guide to 6 String Bass Tuning
Tuning a 6-string bass follows straightforward steps once you understand the layout. This guide covers standard 6-string bass tuning, the equipment you need, stability maintenance, and how to get conf...
Everything You Need to Know About Allen and Heath Sq5
48 channels, 25 faders, 96kHz processing and serious expansion capability — here is everything you need to know about the SQ-5.
Everything You Need to Know About Positive Grid Guitar Amp
Positive Grid has established itself as a leading force in digital guitar amplification, offering musicians an innovative alternative to traditional tube amps with professional-grade amp modelling and...
Common Chorus Pedal Mistakes to Avoid
Most chorus pedal problems come down to a handful of predictable mistakes. Here's what to watch out for and the straightforward fixes for each one.
The Complete Guide to Yamaha Audio Console
Yamaha audio consoles have earned trust from small venue operators to touring professionals, delivering reliable signal flow with intuitive control that makes soundchecks efficient and live performanc...
The Ultimate Guide to Rickenbacker Electric Bass
What makes a Rickenbacker electric bass sound the way it does, and how the classic 4001 differs from today's 4003.
Behringer X32 for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Loads of knobs, one job underneath. A calm, step-by-step way into your first mix on a Behringer X32, no jargon required.
Everything You Need to Know About Prs Fretboard Conditioner
Fretboard conditioning keeps your guitar's neck nourished and protected. This guide covers types, application and best practices for fretboard maintenance.
Common Stick Bag Mistakes to Avoid
Most stick bag problems come down to a few avoidable decisions at the point of purchase or in how the bag gets used day to day. Here is what to watch out for.
Telecaster Baritone: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Learn how to buy a Telecaster Baritone with confidence. This guide covers scale characteristics, hardware quality, playability, pricing tiers, and what to check before purchase.
The Complete Guide to Microphone Singing
Choosing the right microphone singing tool transforms vocal recordings. Discover types, specifications, and expert selection guidance.
Common Making a Bass Guitar Mistakes to Avoid
Genuinely forgiving of small mistakes, right up until it isn't. Here are the bass guitar build mistakes I see most often, and how to dodge them.
Everything You Need to Know About Labeled Guitar Strings Acoustic
Choosing the right guitar strings improves your instrument's tone and playability. Understand materials, gauges and brands to find strings that suit your style.
Taylor Swift Guitars for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Taylor Swift's playing is genuinely accessible to beginners — open chords, capo work, strummed rhythms. Here's how to get started with the right guitar without getting lost in gear talk.
The Complete Guide to Fender Stratocaster Left Handed
A proper left-handed Fender Stratocaster is engineered for left-handed players. Learn the differences between models, why it matters, and how to find the right one.
Se Electronics Microphone: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Navigating SE Electronics' microphone lineup requires understanding which models serve your specific needs. This buying guide helps you find the right SE Electronics microphone without overcomplicatin...
A Guide to Eq Pedal
An EQ pedal is a precision tool, not a magic fix — and understanding what it actually does to the signal makes it genuinely useful rather than confusing. This guide covers the essentials.
Dean Guitar Company Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Dean is more than pointy metal guitars. Here's the honest overview of who makes them, the shapes that define them, and where the range sits.
The Complete Guide to Gibson Usa Flying V
The Gibson USA Flying V challenges convention with radical geometry and aggressive tone. Discover this iconic instrument's unique character.
Amplifier For Busking for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Nervous about busking with an amplifier? This beginner's guide covers what gear you need, first steps and common pitfalls to avoid so you can perform confidently.
Silent Drum Set: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Choosing a silent drum set means weighing pad feel, sound quality and hardware durability across three distinct budget tiers. This guide shows you exactly what to check before buying.
Guitar Cleaning Kit Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A guitar cleaning kit keeps your instrument's finish, fretboard and strings in good condition. Here is what each product does and when to use it.
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 topicsPopular topics
AllLatest articles
All newsSections
Index- Guitars 1,525
- Pianos & Keyboards 491
- Drums & Percussion 278
- Orchestral Strings 76
- Wind & Woodwind 97
- Brass Instruments 70
- Folk & World Instruments 108
- Studio Recording 484
- Music Software & DAWs 250
- DJ & Electronic Production 199
- Live Sound & PA 143
- Music Accessories 165
- Sheet Music & Learning 63
- Music Genres 285
- Music News & Industry 246
- Hi-Fi & Home Audio 64
- Artists & Bands 39