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.
Nylon String Guitar Strings: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying nylon strings only takes a few honest decisions — bridge type, tension, then treble material. Get those right and the brand almost picks itself.
Bass Drum Explained: Features, Types and Tips
One name, several genuinely different instruments: what a bass drum actually is, its main types, and what's going on inside the shell.
Triangle Instrument Explained: Features, Types and Tips
It looks like a bent bit of metal on a string, but there's real craft behind the triangle. Here's the honest, no-nonsense rundown of how it works.
Dean Guitar Company for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Loving the shape is a fine reason to start. Here's what genuinely matters when a Dean is your very first guitar.
Common Line 6 Hx Stomp Mistakes to Avoid
Most HX Stomp problems come from the same short list: output mode wrong for the destination, input gain too high, snapshots not used. Here is what to watch for.
Djembes Drums for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The honest first steps for anyone new to the djembe: how to sit, the three sounds one at a time, a simple practice routine, and looking after your hands.
Cajon: A Complete Buyer's Guide
The differences between a budget cajon and a quality one are real and worth understanding. This guide covers what to look for in tapa, snares and body construction at each price.
Allen and Heath for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Never touched a mixing desk before? Here's the patient version — what Allen & Heath actually sells, in plain English, and where to sensibly start.
Common Guild Guitar Company Mistakes to Avoid
The same handful of Guild buying mistakes turn up again and again, usually thanks to the brand's tangled history.
A Guide to Dean Ml Guitar
The Dean ML's jagged V shape is one of metal's most recognisable guitars. Here's what it's actually made of, and where it fits if you're weighing one up.
Everything You Need to Know About Vox Ac30
From its AC15 roots to the Top Boost circuit that defined its chime, here’s the full story of the amp behind some of Britain’s most famous guitar tones.
The Best Usb Mixers for the Money
The right pick depends on your use case — these are the units that deliver the best performance at their price point for each specific application.
Zildjian S Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A plain-spoken look at what Zildjian S cymbals actually are, how they're built, and who the range genuinely suits.
Common Speaker Wall Hangers Mistakes to Avoid
Most problems aren't dramatic. What actually happens is slower: a bracket rated for slightly less than it should be, a fixing that was never quite right.
Yamaha Dm3 Explained: Features, Types and Tips
The Yamaha DM3 packs serious digital mixing into a compact, portable console. Here's what it does, how the two models differ, and whether it's the right desk for your gig.
Dreadnought Guitar: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A practical buyer's guide to the dreadnought guitar: how to choose between solid and laminate construction, what tonewoods mean in practice, and what to check before you buy.
The Best Tuner Pedals for the Money
The best-value tuner pedal is the one that matches your setup: accuracy level, display readability and board space. Here are the recommendations at each price point.
Boss Drum Album for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A BOSS drum machine is faster to set up than most people expect — this guide covers the connection, the pattern selection, the recording workflow and what to do once the drums are down.
Common Ibanez Guitars Mistakes to Avoid
Buying the wrong Ibanez costs money or months of frustrated playing. Here are the mistakes people make and how to avoid them.
The Best Guitar Capos for the Money
The best capo isn't always the most expensive one. Learn which price tier suits your playing, how to avoid wasting money, and when a premium capo is actually worth it.
Tonex Pedal for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Most players have their Tonex Pedal making sound within twenty minutes. Here's how to get set up properly and get the most from it quickly.
Behringer Xr18: A Complete Buyer's Guide
The Behringer XR18 is genuinely good value, but the real cost includes a tablet and a network plan. Here's what to check before you buy.
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
