Articles by: Michael Astley-Brown

MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com (opens in new tab), in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe (opens in new tab).

Articles by: Michael Astley-Brown

Best distortion pedals 2023: our pick of the top gain stages for guitar

By Michael Astley-Brown published 20 January 23

Bring the filth with 11 of the best distortion pedals for hard-rock, metal and beyond

TC Electronic Polytune next to a Gibson Les Paul

Best guitar tuners 2023: from tuning pedals and clip-ons, to guitar tuning apps

By Rob Laing last updated 27 January 23

Keep that acoustic, electric, bass guitar or ukulele in tune with the best strobe, polyphonic and chromatic tuners

Ditto Jam X2 Looper on a light blue background

Best looper pedals 2023: 12 loopers to fatten up your live guitar performances

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 19 October 22

Explore our pick of compact and floorboard loop stations and the best looper pedals for guitarists at every budget

Fuzz Factory pedal surrounded by other guitar pedals and cables

Best fuzz pedals 2023: put some extra dirt in your guitar tone

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 19 October 22

Our pick of the best fuzzboxes for expanding your guitar effects collection

Best guitar picks 2023: our expert choice of the best plectrums for acoustic, electric and bass

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 9 December 22

Transform your playing style and guitar tone with the best guitar picks from Fender, Ernie Ball, D'Addario and others

Man holding red guitar, with wireless system attached, puts his foot on his pedalboard

Best guitar wireless systems 2023: cut the cord and liberate your playing today

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 19 October 22

Invest in a transmitter/receiver and ditch trailing cables with our pick of the best wireless guitar systems from beginner to pro

Best metal amps 2023: time to unleash hell with these heavyweight heads and combos

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 19 October 22

Tube, solid-state and digital guitar amplifiers... these are the best amps for metal from Mesa/Boogie, Orange, Peavey and more

PRS Silver Sky signature guitar on wooden floor

Best signature guitars 2023: Nail the tone of everyone from Van Halen to St Vincent with these stellar artist models

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 20 October 22

Make your mark with these artist-approved electric guitars – and use them to fuel your own style of guitar playing

Guthrie Govan: the 10 guitarists who blew my mind

By Michael Astley-Brown published 27 December 21

To celebrate his 50th birthday, we revisit Guthrie's tribute to the players who inspired him

The 20 Radiohead guitar chords you need to know

By Michael Astley-Brown published 16 November 21

Voicings that will open your mind and change the way you play guitar

Fender Player Stratocaster review

By Michael Astley-Brown published 19 November 20

£549
€579
$649

The Big F's mid-priced Mexican-built Strat is pound for pound one of the all-time greats

Fender American Performer Stratocaster review

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 29 July 21

£1049
€1209
$1149

The Big F's most affordable US Strat is a workhorse saddled with bags and bags of tone

10 best wah pedals: simply the top wah-wahs for your pedalboard

Best wah pedals 2023: simply the top wah-wahs for your pedalboard

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 20 October 22

Our guide to the best wah pedals for adding more expression to your guitar sound

Metallica's remote-filmed performance of Blackened 2020

How to make a remote music performance video

By Michael Astley-Brown published 11 August 20

As quarantine has proven, you don’t need to be in the same room to make a ‘live’ recording - here’s how to record and assemble a remote band playthrough

Studio shot of Maebe aka Michael Astley-Brown playing a Fernandes JG-40 offset electric guitar

Maebe: 13 guitar albums that blew my mind

By Michael Astley-Brown published 1 May 20

MusicRadar alumnus and Guitar World editor-in-chief Michael Astley-Brown names the records that molded his progressive playing style, from Soundgarden to St Vincent

The 8 best tremolo pedals for guitar: give your tone a shake-up with these killer effects

Best tremolo pedals for guitar 2023: give your tone a shake-up with these killer effects

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 20 October 22

From vintage amp-style wobble to aggressive helicopter chops, our expert guide is here to help

Polyphia vs Covet round table: “I hope that guitar music dies. I want it to die a painful death”

By Michael Astley-Brown published 3 October 19

Meet the six-string anarchists obliterating the guitar rulebook

Kemper finally releases the Profiler Stage Floorboard

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 1 January 20

Best of 2019: Amp modeller combines Profiler Head and Remote for one all-powerful unit

Jeff Buckley with bandmates Matt Johnson, Michael Tighe and Mick Grøndahl

Jeff Buckley guitarist Michael Tighe: “That dude could have done anything; he could have gone into opera, or more classical-type stuff”

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 25 April 20

The iconic singer-songwriter’s writing partner reflects on their contrasting guitar approaches, 25 years of Grace and what music Buckley would be making now