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I'm the Guitars Editor for MusicRadar, handling news, reviews, features, tuition, advice for the strings side of the site and everything in between. Before MusicRadar I worked on guitar magazines for 15 years, including Editor of Total Guitar. I've currently set aside any pipe dreams of getting anywhere with my own songs and I am enjoying playing covers in function bands.

Articles by: Rob Laing

Universal Audio UAFX Ox Stomp Dynamic Speaker Emulator pedal review

By Rob Laing published 14 December 23

$399

A wonderful and well-featured preamp partner for tones, but with some notable omissions on the usability side

The Strymon Cloudburst is the top-selling new pedal on Reverb in 2023, but overall Boss is still… the boss!

By Rob Laing published 12 December 23

An old-timer distortion pedal comes out fighting this year

Strymon UltraViolet Vintage Vibe Pedal review

By Rob Laing published 12 December 23

£259
€279
$259

Purple reign?

Universal Audio UAFX Lion '68 Super Lead Amp pedal review

By Rob Laing published 12 December 23

£379
$399

Bringing Plexi back

A free chord lesson from one of the greatest guitarists on the planet

By Rob Laing published 11 December 23

School is in session with Tom Bukovac

Matteo Mancuso channels Eddie Van Halen on a cover of You Really Got Me

By Rob Laing published 11 December 23

There's a cheeky tapping tribute at the end

Wampler has made a new version of its wonderful Tumnus overdrive pedal – so is this Germanium version better or just different?

By Rob Laing published 7 December 23

Klone wars

Has guitarist Andy Wood just made the ultimate Eddie Van Halen pedalboard?

By Rob Laing published 7 December 23

Expert choices here – and even the 'board has the stripes

An Alex Lifeson signature pedal has arrived much sooner than we expected: you can get the Lerxst By-Tor Drive pedal right now

By Rob Laing published 6 December 23

"By-Tor is a British-voiced amp in a box pedal designed to capture the sound of the 50-watt Lerxst Omega in pedal form"

English singer-songwriter and former Wings and Moody Blues guitarist, Denny Laine posed wearing a leather jacket outside near an harbor 1981

"He was an outstanding vocalist and guitar player" – Paul McCartney leads tributes to Denny Laine as the Wings and Moody Blues founder passes away aged 89

By Rob Laing published 5 December 23

"Denny was a great talent with a fine sense of humour and was always ready to help other people"

Japanese ambient musician Michiru Aoyama has woken at 5am to record a new album every day since 2021 – he's now earning $3,000 a month from his music on Spotify and Bandcamp

By Rob Laing published 5 December 23

The Kyoto-based artist writes, records and releases a new eight-track album every single day

Brian May of Queen attends the press conference ahead of the Rhapsody Tour at Conrad Hotel on January 16, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea. The band Queen is in Seoul for their Asian leg of 'Rhapsody' tour, and is scheduled to perform on January 16 and 18 joined by Adam Lamber

"I don't think it ever really goes away" – Brian May admits he still suffers with imposter syndrome

By Rob Laing published 5 December 23

The Queen legend is candid on Rosie Bennet's new podcast

"This video is what happens when you spend your time practicing instead of arguing about gear online" – Julia Przybysz proves groove is in the hands with a stunning bass workout of Michael Jackson's Get On The Floor on a $350 StingRay

By Rob Laing published 4 December 23

The 23-year-old's take on Louis Johnson's bassline showcases an immense musical talent

Why does the Epiphone Greeny Les Paul cost $1,500?

By Rob Laing published 1 December 23

Opinion: Are Epiphone prices really out of control, and is our perception of what constitutes a guitar's value skewed?

Manson Guitar Works announces its most affordable UK-made guitars to date with the "very high-spec" one-pickup MA and Verona Junior models

By Rob Laing published 1 December 23

Left-handed models are available too at no extra cost

Alex Lifeson reveals signature LERXST amp line with MojoTone ahead of writing sessions with Geddy Lee

By Rob Laing published 30 November 23

LERXST amplifiers could be just the start – guitars, pickups and pedals might be coming next

Harley Benton's new N-150CE guitar might be the ideal excuse to add a resonator to your collection

By Rob Laing published 30 November 23

For £191 / $199 it makes a compelling proposition

Singer and musician Shane MacGowan, of the Pogues, at the family home in Nenagh, Tipperary, Ireland, 1997. MacGowan's parents moved back to Ireland in 1988 after thirty years in England, where Shane was born and grew up

The Pogues vocalist and songwriter Shane MacGowan has died, aged 65

By Rob Laing published 30 November 23

The legend of Irish music passed away after a long illness

Amp and cab modelling, USB interface and headphone out: Boss seems to have thought of everything with its compact IR-2 pedal

By Rob Laing published 30 November 23

The closest thing to a Katana pedal?

Is Prince's Purple Rain really the second-greatest guitar riff of all time? A new survey says 'yes'

By Rob Laing published 29 November 23

And Seven Nation Army is the only riff recorded after the '80s to make the top 20

The Line 6 HX Stomp is already the best-value multi-effects and amp modeller but with $100 off and a free $79 bag it's on a whole new level for Cyber Monday

By Rob Laing published 27 November 23

The best deals out there for the US – and the cheapest price we've found for the UK

A Klon Centaur pedal will cost you $7,500 but get the Wampler Tumnus that is so good it fooled Andertons for just $127 / £118 before they go back up in price after Cyber Monday

By Rob Laing published 27 November 23

I own a Tumnus and it's never leaving my pedalboard

Forget the Acoustasonic – Fender's real acoustic guitars are hugely underrated and have big discounts for Cyber Monday

By Rob Laing published 26 November 23

Acoustic guitars to learn with and solid wood stunners to grow old with - including what I think is the best-value acoustic guitar anywhere right now

Gold standard: One of the top guitar pedal tuners you can buy is still available in the Cyber Monday deals at the cheapest price we've ever seen it

By Rob Laing last updated 27 November 23

The best price on the Peterson StroboStomp LE – and there's a second case colour option too

Fender guitars for much less: Why I think these Squier Classic Vibe deals are the top electric guitars and basses to buy in the Black Friday sales for beginner players and well beyond

By Rob Laing published 25 November 23

These guitars have nearly $200 off and are absolute bargains – including the ultimate Cyber Weekend Telecaster deal!

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