Buying Guide
Everything published on Viyolens under Buying Guide — reviews, buying advice and how-tos written for players and producers in the UK.
The Best Percussion Instruments for the Money
Forget top-ten lists of specific products — here's how to work out the right category and tier of percussion instrument for what you actually need.
Fender Telecaster Frets: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A practical guide to selecting and purchasing fender telecaster frets, covering specifications, what to check, common pitfalls, and different price options.
The Best Yamaha Bass for the Money
Where the real value sits across Yamaha's bass range, honestly assessed by budget and by player rather than by spec sheet.
Good Starter Saxophone: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Choosing a starter saxophone? Discover what makes a good beginner instrument, brands to trust, inspection points, and budget considerations.
Bouzouki: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Decoration tells you nothing about how a bouzouki plays. Here's what to check before you buy one, from tuning system to scale length.
Yamaha Fg830: A Complete Buyer's Guide
No hype, just the honest version: what the Yamaha FG830's spec sheet actually means, what to check before you buy, and whether it's worth your money.
Frets Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Those thin metal strips on the neck do more work than almost anything else on a guitar. Here's what frets are, the types you'll meet, and how to spot when yours need attention.
Good Portable Record Player: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Finding a good portable record player means knowing which specs matter and which machines damage vinyl. This buying guide cuts through the marketing to show you how to choose wisely.
The Best Cakewalks for the Money
Cakewalk's best value is often free. Here's where the real value sits, and what to spend your budget on instead of the software itself.
Active Monitor: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A handful of genuinely important decisions and a lot of noise you can ignore — here's how to actually choose an active monitor.
Vox Amps Guitar Center: A Complete Guide
Vox amplifiers have shaped guitar tone for over seven decades. This comprehensive guide explains their distinctive character, explores the main series available today, and helps you find the perfect V...
Ld Systems Pa Speaker: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Choosing a PA speaker depends on matching power, coverage and portability to your venue and audience size. This practical buying guide walks you through specifications, price tiers and the pitfalls to...
King V Jackson: A Complete Buyer's Guide
"King V" spans several tiers, two neck constructions and multiple tremolo systems. Here's exactly what to check before you buy one.
Double Kick Pedal: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Selecting a double kick pedal requires understanding drive mechanics, build quality, and responsiveness. This guide covers price tiers, critical specifications, common mistakes, and how to match equip...
Harp Guitar: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Master harp guitar purchasing with expert guidance on string configuration, construction quality evaluation, sympathetic string functionality, and fair market pricing.
The Best Gibson Les Paul Standards for the Money
No invented rankings, just an honest steer through the real choices — vintage feel, modern speed, the looks, and a genuinely respectable budget alternative.
Daw Hardware Controller: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Looking to buy a DAW hardware controller? Learn about control types, DAW compatibility, build quality, specifications, and how to choose the right controller for your music-production workflow.
Bluetooth For Guitar Amp: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Bluetooth on a guitar amp is convenient but not all implementations are equal. This buying guide covers what specs matter and which amps have quality Bluetooth connectivity.
Bass With Humbucker Pickups: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Choosing a bass with humbucker pickups doesn't have to be overwhelming. This buyer's guide covers the key specifications, common pitfalls, price tiers, and practical advice for finding the perfect ins...
The Best Martin and Taylors for the Money
From the GS Mini to the D-28, here's which real Martin and Taylor models actually earn their price at every budget.
Roland Cloud: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Signing up is easy. Signing up for the right tier, without paying for instruments you'll never open, takes a bit more thought. Here's the honest checklist.
The Best Music Stands for the Money
There's no single best stand, just the right tier for the job. Here's what changes as you spend more, without the marketing spin.
The Best Schecters for the Money
"Best" only means anything once you know what you play and what you're happy to spend. Here's Schecter, broken down by tier, the way I'd talk you through it over a coffee.
Buying Guide is filed under
All topics
Epiphone
Accessible guitars with classic styling, covering electrics, acoustics and semi-hollows for players at every level.
28 topics
Epiphone Les Paul
Classic single-cut electrics with thick tone, long sustain and strong appeal for rock, blues and lead players.
5 topics
ESP
High-performance electric guitars with fast playability, strong output and a bold look suited to rock and metal.
Fender
Fender guitars and related instruments trusted for classic design, tone and versatility.
51 topics
Fender Stratocaster
The fender stratocaster is a versatile electric guitar known for bright tones, comfort and wide genre appeal.
8 topics
Fender Telecaster
The fender telecaster delivers bright, punchy electric guitar tone with dependable playability for stage and studio use.
11 topics
Kids Guitar
Scaled-down guitars for younger players, with comfortable sizes that make learning easier and more enjoyable.
Les Paul
Iconic solid-body electrics known for sustain, thick tone and a classic rock and blues feel.
14 topics
