Why Larry DiMarzio decided to start a pickup line that would change the face of guitar music in the 1970s
DiMarzio started his career as a guitar repairman in New York, when his distaste for stock pickups prompted him to make his own
![Kiss sans make-up in 1985. With Gene Simmons [left] sticking his tongue out, Paul Stanley looking spaced, and Bruce Kulick taking a solo on a silver Superstrat.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/akENRCwMmS4SApSFXwSHiQ-1200-80.jpg.webp)
Latest news
Why Larry DiMarzio decided to start a pickup line that would change the face of guitar music in the 1970s
DiMarzio started his career as a guitar repairman in New York, when his distaste for stock pickups prompted him to make his own
Dean DeLeo explains why the ‘worst’ guitars are also sometimes the best
The Stone Temple Pilots guitarist took a deep dive into his vast gear collection for his latest project, One More Satellite
May 2025 Guitar World Editors' Picks
It's been another incredible month for new guitar-driven music – our favorites include a 12-minute funk/soul/country blowout from U.S. Girls, twisty greatness from Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, and Tony Iommi's collaboration with... Robbie Williams?
Laney rolls out the LF-Supertop – a classy 120W solid-state powerhouse with tricks up its sleeve
With two channels, footswitchable boost, onboard effects and IRs, this lightweight head has a lot going on – and there are matching 2x12 and 4x12 speaker cabs to go with it
I’ve been watching acoustic guitar prices all year and Guitar Center's up to 35% off sale is the best I’ve seen – especially if you want an A-list model
Get your hands a top-level acoustic guitar for less with this awesome sale over at Guitar Center
Josh Klinghoffer escapes jail term after accepting plea deal in vehicular manslaughter case
Klinghoffer pleaded no contest to lesser charge and was sentenced to one year’s probation and 60 days of community labor
Andertons just shaved a massive £456 off one of the best-looking PRS guitars I've ever seen – and yes, the sale also includes the Custom 24 Floyd
The Guildford-based retailer is currently slashing up to 40% off the PRS SE Custom 24, Custom 24 Floyd, Custom 24-08, and the Custom 24-08 Quilt in Charcoal Cherry Burst
Harley Benton’s latest budget build is a sub-$230 solid top dreadnought
Featuring a solid Sitka spruce top alongside a pickup system and built-in tuner, there’s a lot to enjoy for just $228
Guitar World deals of the week: save $500 on a Victory tube amp, get one of our top-rated Taylor acoustics with $200 off, plus all the week's best deals on guitar gear
The Memorial Day sales might be over, but there are still some excellent deals hanging around on guitar, pedals, amps, accessories, and more
Artists
Session legend John McCurry on Cyndi Lauper, Alice Cooper and the stories behind his biggest hits
A long-time collaborator of Lauper and Lennon, scoring hits with Bonnie Tyler, Belinda Carlisle and Alice Cooper, McCurry’s session career is legendary. To think he started out on accordion…
How Tommy Shannon stumbled onto the foundation for one of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s biggest radio hits
What started with a rehearsal room groove ended up an SRV classic. We dissect the anatomy of bassline that walks the line (you might even call it a Tightrope) between blues, rock and funk
Bob Mould on myth vs reality and the making of Hüsker Dü’s New Day Rising
Tension? What tension? New Day Rising found Hüsker Dü's creativity surging, setting the table for Flip Your Wig. But is it as influential as people say is? Mould is not so sure
Michael Monarch was just 18 when he tracked one of the most iconic riffs of the ’60s – next came Janis Joplin
Fan of slide-based tuning recalls not being credited for his work with Janis Joplin, why he left Andy Fraser’s band, waiting to work with Roger Glover, and why Led Zeppelin couldn’t save Detective, his band with Michael Des Barres
Dirty amps, unplayable tunings and a DIY plugin build – this is the story of Novelists’ remarkable rebirth
After years of identity struggles, the French progressive metalcore band have redefined themselves and, in their fifth album, created one of modern metal’s brightest statements
Mike Campbell explains how a lifelong connection with Tom Petty was forged in a matter of days – and the guitar was central to it all
As he celebrates the release of his memoir, Heartbreaker, Tom Petty’s right-hand man and dear friend reflects on a career’s worth of enduring hits, and why he “never doubted the music”
![Simple Minds' Charlie Burchill [left] and Jim Kerr perform at Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Party concert. Burchill plays a Gibson Les Paul Standard and wears a white jacket.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8oSbNwUdfh8bDGdLr43qqn-840-80.jpg.webp)
Simple Minds guitarist Charlie Burchill on the regrets and rewards of making their ’80s classic, Once Upon A Time
Riding high on The Breakfast Club success of Don't You (Forget About Me), Scottish rockers Simple Minds got into the studio with Jimmy Iovine and made one of the great albums of the '80s
Gear
"With a little patience and dedication to experimenting, you’ll unlock a satisfying range of serviceable sounds": Harley Benton DNAfx GiT multi-effects pedal review
Harley Benton's budget multi-stomp looks to deliver the building blocks of tone, but it requires you to tweak the presets on a molecular level
“It’s a bit of an investment, but I think these power supplies will truly go the distance if you let them”: Walrus Audio Canvas Power series review
I trialled three pedalboard power supplies from Walrus Audio’s Canvas series of utilities – and found some stunning practicality in the process
“An easy insert into any small pedalboard or studio setup”: Cioks Sol Future Power Generation review
I put Cioks’ switch-mode small-pedalboard power supply through its paces, and fell in love in the process
That Pedal Show’s Daniel Steinhardt reveals his top 5 pedals (from the past 5 years)
Looking for some 'board inspiration? Here, the man behind GigRig and one half of YouTube's favorite pedal show gives us his shortlist
"It’s certainly worth considering against the start-point of the Gibson USA Les Paul range. The lines are getting blurred.": Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue review
Epiphone chases the flame of the world’s most coveted electric guitar
Best beginner electric guitars 2025: top electric models for new players, reviewed and demoed by experts
So you're a budding guitarist? Get started with our pick of the best beginner electric guitars from Squier, Yamaha, and Epiphone
Best practice amps 2025: hone your chops at home
My tried & tested pick of the best guitar practice amps to get your playing up to speed without any noise complaints
Lessons
Every player uses the minor pentatonic – here’s how you can leverage the guitar's most-used scale in your own playing
Every player is aware of the minor pentatonic, but not everyone knows how to make the most of it. These examples – in the style of some prolific pentatonic players – will help you master the shape everyone uses
Sue Foley shares some blues you can use with 6 essential licks that all blues fans should know
Sue Foley's inaugural GW column kicks off with a bang! Blues you can use, people. This part one of a two-parter introduces essential walk-up licks to build your soloing vocabulary
![Joe Bonamassa [left] hits a high note on his 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard. He wears a dark suit and shades. On the right, Rory Gallagher is pictured at the 1975 Reading Festival, and solos on his number one Strat.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YKiQ5HKvEMDmjcdRofuwqL-840-80.jpg.webp)
Joe Bonamassa explains the slide guitar genius of his hero and icon, Rory Gallagher
In this tab and video lesson, Joe dons a metal guitar slide and unpacks the late Irish blues legend's glissando magic
Cory Wong on collaboration and how to stack and blend guitar parts that complement the song
Looking for the perfect part to play with another guitarist? Wong says it's all about finding the compositional "hook" – and he has some practical examples to show us
Bend it like B.B.: What you can learn from these 6 blues and jazz guitar greats
Bends, embellishments, arpeggios and more – from Charlie Christian to BB King and George Benson, how to unlock the genius of the jazz and blues icons
Erja Lyytinen shares her 6 go-to slide licks for unlocking more expressive soloing
She wowed Sonny Landreth and Carlos Santana called her the “future” – Erja Lyytinen shares her 6 go-to slide licks for unlocking more expressive soloing
“The passion of Gary Moore with riffs inspired by Zeppelin”: The searing lead guitar of ’80s rock’s great journeyman
Exploring the lead guitar style of John Sykes, a player who – like Page, Blackmore, and Moore – balanced flair with power
Reviews
"With a little patience and dedication to experimenting, you’ll unlock a satisfying range of serviceable sounds": Harley Benton DNAfx GiT multi-effects pedal review
Harley Benton's budget multi-stomp looks to deliver the building blocks of tone, but it requires you to tweak the presets on a molecular level
“It’s a bit of an investment, but I think these power supplies will truly go the distance if you let them”: Walrus Audio Canvas Power series review
I trialled three pedalboard power supplies from Walrus Audio’s Canvas series of utilities – and found some stunning practicality in the process
“An easy insert into any small pedalboard or studio setup”: Cioks Sol Future Power Generation review
I put Cioks’ switch-mode small-pedalboard power supply through its paces, and fell in love in the process
"It’s certainly worth considering against the start-point of the Gibson USA Les Paul range. The lines are getting blurred.": Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue review
Epiphone chases the flame of the world’s most coveted electric guitar
Positive Grid Spark Mini review
The Spark 40 has got a smaller 10W sibling and it offers a similarly audacious range of sounds and functions in a non-more-portable format – and [spoilers] it sounds huge
"It sounds more alive with sweetened highs, richer harmonics in the mid-range, and a tighter, more defined low-end": Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 review
Boss cuts through the noise with its revamped practice amp
"If you want an instrument that’s versatile enough to cover the guitar-playing styles of EVH and nail Nile Rodgers’ classic funk tones, then look no further": Fender Player II Modified Stratocaster HSS Floyd Rose review
Fender looks to put its stamp on the super-Strat with this gassed-up take on its classic double-cutaway
“Already a versatile instrument, the addition of the series circuit makes it even more of a multi-role guitar”: Fender Player II Modified Telecaster review
Fender's latest Tele puts a decidedly modern twist on an all-time classic. I get hands-on to find out if it's worth the upgrade or not
"An astounding number of features and a lot of bang for your buck, but is it too good to be true?": Mooer GS1000 multi-effects and amp profiling pedal review
Mooer presents their MSNRS 2.0 amp capturing tech, allowing users to "emulate their favourite gear" at an affordable price point, with a ton of other features to boot
Buying Guides
Best beginner electric guitars 2025: top electric models for new players, reviewed and demoed by experts
So you're a budding guitarist? Get started with our pick of the best beginner electric guitars from Squier, Yamaha, and Epiphone
Best practice amps 2025: hone your chops at home
My tried & tested pick of the best guitar practice amps to get your playing up to speed without any noise complaints
Best guitar wireless systems 2025: set your playing free, from the rehearsal room to the stage
Fed up with cumbersome cables? Here's my pick of the best wireless guitar systems for every budget
Best guitar audio interfaces 2025: get better recorded guitar tones
My pick of the best audio interfaces for guitar will have you up and recording in no time
Best pedalboards 2025: perfect platforms for your pedals, tested
I used 10 pedalboards from Fender, D’Addario, Pedaltrain and more at home, in the studio and on stage to find out which ones are worth stomping on
Best guitars for beginners 2025: epic entry-level acoustic and electric guitars
Start playing today with our pick of great beginner guitars from Squier, Ibanez, Yamaha and more
Guitar pedal footswitch toppers explained – and why they could be your pedalboard’s new best friend
We dive into the pedal topper trend and what’s behind it, highlighting the key types you need to look out for
