Ibanez reimagines its beloved Tube Screamer into its most high-end format yet – with a $300 hand-wired TS808
New components and a fresh lick of paint have helped Ibanez reboot the flagship TS808, but it comes at a hefty price
Latest news
Ibanez reimagines its beloved Tube Screamer into its most high-end format yet – with a $300 hand-wired TS808
New components and a fresh lick of paint have helped Ibanez reboot the flagship TS808, but it comes at a hefty price
Kenny Wayne Shepherd on why playing through a Dumble doesn't guarantee a great sound
While Shepherd is a proud proponent (and owner) of Dumble amps, he admits that if your technique is not up to scratch, using one of the legendary amps can be a humbling experience
Robert Smith’s 2024 guitar rig flies in the face of modern guitar culture – and sounds all the more majestic for it
As The Cure return to the stage with their first album in 16 years, their leader is employing a setup that defiantly rejects contemporary tonal wisdom
The Noise Pedal offers a “new take on the iconic Whammy sound” and transforms your tone into a nightmare
Metalcore group Alpha Wolf and Tallon Electric have bottled some nightmarish Whammy pedal effects into a stompbox that has parameters for Chaos and Panic
Black Friday Positive Grid deals 2024: Save up to 50% off amps and software in the huge Black November sale!
Positive Grid's official Black November sale will be live throughout November with huge hardware and software discounts up for grabs. But is Positive Grid holding any Spark 2 discounts up its sleeve?
Ozzy Osbourne bassist Bob Daisley on why he decided to bet on the Prince of Darkness’ post-Sabbath career
Daisley had just been unceremoniously replaced in Ritchie Blackmore’s band, Rainbow, when the opportunity to join Osbourne in his new venture came about
Did someone say Black Friday? Positive Grid is already offering a massive up to 50% off smart amps and software right now
PG has gone early with super savings on desktop amps, software, accessories, and more
Artists
When bassist Arthur Barrow survived an audition for guitar genius Frank Zappa
The 26-year-old bassist from San Antonio was given just two days to learn a song about church pancakes, stolen margarine, and the patron saint of Portuguese smelt fishermen
Dee Murray was the centerpiece of the early Elton John band – and the last bassist to play onstage with John Lennon
In May 1973, Dee Murray anchored what would become one of Elton John’s most celebrated hits
Andy Summers on his “abstracted instrumental” collabs with Robert Fripp, his dream pedalboard, and what he learned from Béla Bartók
It was the ’80s and Andy Summers was living the dream as guitar culture grew, and his side-project with King Crimson's mad-genius Fripp gave him the opportunity to work his art-house cinema influences into music
Justin Hayward on the life, times and tones of the Moody Blues, and the undisputed power of a dimed AC30
The iconic Moody Blues guitarist revisits obscure Moodies tracks and discusses the gear and thought processes behind his gear, tone and criminally unsung riffs
When bass icon Phil Lesh went in search of a new sound
The late Grateful Dead anchor made his debut solo effort alongside guitarist Warren Haynes and lyricist Robert Hunter
Kiko Loureiro on making his first new solo material since quitting Megadeth
The Brazilian virtuoso explains how he applied what he learned from Dave Mustaine to his own music, and how he came to terms with selling his guitars
A non-shredder among metal guitarists, Katie Knipp took years to go electric – then scored a hit blues album
Inspired to explore blues by a choir singing Mozart, Knipp avoided asking advice from the big names she opened for – and even though it took 20 years, the G&L player has made it her own way
How Eric Clapton got his tone on John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers’ ‘Beano’ album
The ‘Beano’ album has become a benchmark for how a Les Paul ’Burst and a Marshall could sound together. But how Clapton got that tone is a little more complex than that...
Mick Thomson reflects on 25 years of Slipknot’s incendiary debut – and what it was like to see his solos erased
If Slipknot's debut remains a true face-ripper all these years later maybe it is because they brought the chaos of the stage show into the studio. Thomson can remember it vividly, the gear, the danger, the risk to his guitars from stray iron pipes, and he wouldn't have it any other way
Gear
“You just heard how responsive these pickups up are… I love the mojo this guitar has”: The PRS S2 line is now packing USA-made pickups – and you can hear the difference
PRS is celebrating 10 years of the S2 line with a significant pickup upgrade. See how Paul Riario got on with the revamped Standard 22
“Gretsch’s most exciting release of the year. A genuine joy to play”: Gretsch Electromatic Jack Antonoff Signature "Princess Antonoff" CVT review
Gretsch's collaboration with the Bleachers mainman and Taylor Swift collaborator is a versatile surprise
Get the most out of Spotify with DistroKid
With DistroKid you get the most out of Spotify
“A slightly different and very usable character”: Radioshop Telecaster Wiring Mod review
‘Modern’ Telecaster wiring, as it is so often called, is now 57 years old. But Radioshop Pickups has come up with a new spin, and we are very much here for it
Best acoustic guitar picks 2024: our choice of picks for acoustic playing from Dunlop, D'Addario, and more
Get the connection between player and strings right with the best acoustic guitar picks
Best budget bass amps 2024: brilliant bass tone without a hefty price
Keep your low-end punchy and your bank balance healthy with our pick of the best budget bass amps from Fender, Orange, Ampeg and beyond!
How the Duo Jet took Gretsch’s ’50s innovation to new heights with a Jeff Beck-approved sound
As solid-bodied models began taking the guitar world by storm in the early ’50s, Gretsch joined the party with the revolutionary single-cut 6128 Duo Jet and its twangsome DeArmond ‘Dynasonic’ single coils
Prince’s Cloud guitar builder Dave Rusan on how he made the iconic instrument – and the legal battles over his replicas
With Prince’s Cloud 3 guitar fetching nearly a million bucks in June, we speak to Rusan about working for a pop legend, using tools you’d find around the house to make a guitar for Purple Rain, and what fans can expect from his replicas
Lessons
Mateus Asato is a modern master of combined rhythm and lead playing – he shares his poetic soloing secrets
No one mixes genres like Mateus Asato, and in this lesson brought to you in partnership with JTC Guitar, the neo-soul master brings funk, jazz and soul together in exercises to improve your use of ghost notes and double-stops
Where to start with learning acoustic guitar
From picking out your first acoustic to navigating early lessons, we break down the first steps to getting up and running with your new favorite instrument
A pioneering protest singer, American folk legend Joan Baez draws on jazz and flamenco for her intricate picking patterns
Ever since the '60s, Joan Baez has delivered a message with her music, but she was never going to be a two-chord folkie with a bellyful of fire. Her sound takes from jazz and flamenco with picking patterns that are as good as a fingerprint
3 easy rock guitar solo licks you need to know
A quick power-up for beginner and intermediate players' rock soloing, with three ripping solo ideas based around the D minor pentatonic scale
What if Jimi Hendrix jammed with Eric Clapton, or Gary Moore traded solos with Joe Bonamassa? We imagine 5 all-star fantasy blues jams and what they would sound like
Welcome to an all-star fantasy blues jam, featuring a greatest hits of blues players, their signature licks, and how to put them together and incorporate them in your own playing
Jared James Nichols on how he came up with his unique fingerstyle approach – and why it can make your playing more expressive
In his debut Guitar World column, the master wrangler of the Les Paul shows us why you don't need a pick to wrestle a tune out of your guitar
Learn 10 funk guitar riffs inspired by James Brown, Prince and Vulfpeck
Pickup Music’s LA-based session ace Jamey Arent is your host for a lesson that’s not only a great introduction to the fundamentals of funk guitar, but could be the inspiration you need to take your funk chops to the next level
Reviews
“Gretsch’s most exciting release of the year. A genuine joy to play”: Gretsch Electromatic Jack Antonoff Signature "Princess Antonoff" CVT review
Gretsch's collaboration with the Bleachers mainman and Taylor Swift collaborator is a versatile surprise
“A slightly different and very usable character”: Radioshop Telecaster Wiring Mod review
‘Modern’ Telecaster wiring, as it is so often called, is now 57 years old. But Radioshop Pickups has come up with a new spin, and we are very much here for it
“This is the most appealing combination of sounds I’ve heard on an Acoustasonic Player model to date – but there are still caveats”: Fender FINNEAS Acoustasonic Player Telecaster review
The first Acoustasonic signature model debuts onboard chorus and a new combination of sounds with it – but can it win new guitarists to Fender's hybrid guitar?
“The best wireless headphones for musicians you can buy right now, despite a few flaws”: Yamaha YH-WL500 review
Promising ultra-low-latency performance, have musicians finally got usable wireless headphones on their hands?
“It’ll suit those players who like to hit hard and make their guitar really shout”: Epiphone Masterbilt Texan review
We put this unsung acoustic hero through its paces and find out if it’s deserving of more plaudits
“Continually surprised me with beautiful, unpredictable overtones”: Martin D-28 review
I get hands-on with arguably the most legendary acoustic guitar of all time. Will it live up to the hype?
“In terms of sheer value for money, it’s hard to beat”: Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart Artist Series Bass review
On paper, the Sterling Joe Dart model looks like a remarkable reproduction of Music Man’s pro-standard version. Could this be as good as it gets for a $399 bass?
“World-class... It just feels like a vintage classic that never was”: Daniels Gravitas review
A fascinating reimagining of Gibson’s Firebird, the Gravitas sticks with vintage vibe and mojo. Oh, and that sound…
“A great statement guitar. It looks fantastic, plays well and sounds superb”: Epiphone Jimi Hendrix Love Drops Flying V review
Prepare to kiss the sky with Epiphone’s latest ‘Inspired By…’ model, as the Gibson Custom Shop collaboration bears fruit with a Hendrix classic with a serious spec
Buying Guides
Best budget bass amps 2024: brilliant bass tone without a hefty price
Keep your low-end punchy and your bank balance healthy with our pick of the best budget bass amps from Fender, Orange, Ampeg and beyond!
Best beginner electric guitars 2024: kickstart your musical journey with these epic electric guitars for beginners
So you're a budding guitarist? Get started with our pick of the best beginner electric guitars from Squier, Yamaha, and Epiphone
Best Christmas gifts for guitar players 2024: the ultimate festive gift guide for guitarists
Treat them right this Christmas with our pick of the 46 must-have guitar items, essential accessories, clever gadgets and instruments for every budget
Best Fender amps 2024: famous tube combos to digital headphone amps
From beginner practice amps to touring-grade tube combos, these are the best amplifiers from the industry's most famous brand
Best Christmas gifts for bass players 2024: the ultimate festive gift guide for lovers of low-end
Show your bass-playing buddy, parent, or partner some love this Christmas with 22 brilliant gift ideas for bass players
Best bass effects pedals: 10 of the best pedals for every type of bassist
Our guide to the finest sounding effects pedals for bass players, including fuzz, compressors and multi-effects
Best combo amps 2024: the best all-in-one amps for every budget
The ultimate tube, solid state, and modeling combo amps for every genre, from Motown to metal and everything in between
