Rob Laing

Rob Laing

Guitars Editor, MusicRadar

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

Delta Sleep

My pedalboard: Delta Sleep’s Glen Hodgson on why three delays are better than one, and getting fancy with Fibonacci

By Rob Laing published

Guitar Showcase 2022: Pedals designed to push a tube amp and put heat in the cleans, and a player finding artful ways to combine delays

UAFX

See 3 ways to use the Universal Audio UAFX Dream '65 amp emulator pedal

By Rob Laing published

VIDEO Guitar Showcase 2022: We demo the Fender Deluxe Reverb-based modelling pedal in different scenarios with its boost, spring reverb and vibrato

Olly Curtis

My pedalboard: Neige of Alcest talks through his minimalist effects setup and why you should double up on reverb

By Rob Laing published

The post-black metal pioneer uses a surprisingly small pedalboard but he makes every effect count: "I am not a pedal nerd but I can say that I am a distortion nerd"

Rabea Massaad

Interview: Rabea Massaad on his versatile signature Neural DSP plugin and how its trailblazing synth technology opens up new possibilities for the guitar – including his solo album

By Rob Laing published

"The whole USP for me with the plugin is that it's a space for creativity more than anything else"

Yvette Young

My pedalboard: Yvette Young talks us through her Covet effects pedals

By Rob Laing published

We're starting our new video regular with a big 'board

Guitar set-up

How to set up your electric guitar: adjusting action, truss rod, string radius, pickup height and cleaning your fingerboard and frets

By Rob Laing published

Guitar Showcase 2022: A setup guide for your electric guitar

Michael Angelo Batio

Michael Angelo Batio teaches the circle of fifths for guitar players

By Rob Laing published

MAB is a shredder extraordinaire but also an excellent teacher with this introduction for beginners

Best electric guitars: PRS SE Custom 24

PRS offers a rare behind-the-scenes tour of the SE Cor-Tek guitar factory in Indonesia

By Rob Laing published

VIDEO How the partnership produces some of the most consistently high-quality import guitars in the world

Darkglass Electronics

The Darkglass Microtubes Infinity pedal combines four effects in one

By Rob Laing published

Three distortions and compression for starters

Electro-Harmonix

The Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi evolves with a Hardware Plugin edition

By Rob Laing published

An advanced Muff pedal that is also great for recording = the best of both worlds?

Blackstar

2 x 12 amps without the backache: Blackstar adds to the St James amp family

By Rob Laing published

Combining valves with Cab Rig technology and light weight casing, these are a triple threat

Fender

Will the new Fender Tone Master Princeton Reverb hit the sweet spot for modelling amps?

By Rob Laing published

Tone Masters are good enough for Pearl Jam and Lenny Kravitz

Jackson

"It's the spirit of Jackson in a guitar" – Fender launches USA-made Jacksons with the American Series Soloist SL3

By Rob Laing published

We talk to Fender CEO Andy Mooney, Anthrax icon Scott Ian and Jackson's Jon Romanowski about an instrument built for speed and a brand celebrating its roots while investing in a new generation of players

Eric Clapton

How to get Eric Clapton's Woman Tone with your guitar (and hear a pedal that will help you get it with a Strat)

By Rob Laing published

Slowhand's famous Cream-era sound is easier to get than you might think – his vibrato less so!

Gretsch

Pat Smear's Gretsch White Falcon Dave Grohl plays in the Foo Fighters Monkey Wrench video is up for auction in the UK

By Rob Laing published

VIDEO Get a closer look at the 1990 Japan-made guitar

MXR

MXR Duke Of Tone Vs Analog Man King Of Tone overdrive pedal

By Rob Laing published

How does the $150 mini pedal compare with Mike Piera's big daddy and its five-year waiting list

JHS

JHS Pedals founder Josh Scott reveals what's on his pedalboard

By Rob Laing published

VIDEO The effects choices of a pedal connoisseur

Def Leppard

Phil Collen shows how he wrote the riff to Def Leppard Hysteria classic Pour Some Sugar On Me

By Rob Laing published

And why he uses a metal pick to play it

Gibson Garage

Is a Gibson Garage opening in London?

By Rob Laing published

The company are recruiting a general manager for one

Harley Benton Double Pedals

Harley Benton demos three more of its new double guitar effects pedals

By Rob Laing published

Hear the Good Cop / Bad Cop overdrive, Two Face tremolo / overdrive and Tag Team overdrive

The Midnight

Interview: The Midnight's Tim McEwan and Tyler Lyle talk synthwave, soundscaping and new album Heroes

By Rob Laing published

"My broader view of synthwave is it's a really fun sandbox, but it's not the only sandbox that I want to play in"

MXR

The pedal release of 2022? MXR officially announces The Duke Of Tone overdrive in partnership with Analog Man

By Rob Laing published

The ultimate mini boutique overdrive pedal? Hear it in action and judge for yourselves!

Guitarist

7 easy ways to improve your rhythm guitar tone

By Rob Laing published

Enhance your guitar sound in the mix

Boss

Boss launches the Dual Cube LX guitar and bass portable amps

By Rob Laing published

The iconic Cube series evolves while still offering mains or battery power for flexible options

Guitarist

7 simple ways to improve your guitar practice now

By Rob Laing published

Practice doesn't need to be a chore, and can even involve watching the TV!

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