Latest Features
Jim D’Addario on the history, innovations and future of the world’s biggest string manufacturer
As D’Addario celebrates its 50-year anniversary, we speak to its current chairman about the company’s roots, breakthroughs and next moves, and learn how the family has been making strings for centuries
How Yasmin Williams is redefining the people’s music with kitchen implements and acoustic guitar
The acoustic folk virtuoso even used a frother from her parents’ kitchen to get a tone on new album Acadia, but, she tells us, the end justifies the means
The Hollywood-like “kidnapping” and ransom story of one of George Harrison's most famous guitars
Clandestine meetings, dramatic TV pleas, ransom demands, hurried getaway drives across the Mexican border... it sounds like a thriller, but it all revolved around a very special Les Paul
Jason Orme on the unexpected challenges of working with Alanis Morissette, Kelly Clarkson and Sarah McLachlan
The longtime Alanis Morissette guitarist talks nerve-wracking audition callbacks, choosing between modelers and tube amps, and why he never tried to play like Eddie Van Halen
Matteo Mancuso has played with Joe Bonamassa and Steve Vai, but he’s already got his eye on his next dream collaborator – and a signature Revstar
Mancuso took the guitar world by storm when he first burst onto the scene in 2023, but now he's looking forward to a new album, even more high-profile collaborations, and maybe even his first-ever signature guitar…
When John Mayer was unhappy with his famed Black One Strat, he had a bizarre method for trying to fix it
Mayer worked closely with the Fender Custom Shop to design and build his “main guitar”, but it took a bit of tweaking before it reached its playing potential
How Jeff Beck’s Blow by Blow triumphed against the odds to change instrumental guitar forever
50 years on, Blow by Blow remains an inspirational force – a turning point for Beck and guitar-led music in general
How Ken Lawrence came to build some of James Hetfield’s most iconic guitars – including one using wood from Metallica’s former home
The luthier specialized in bass guitars before he met Hetfield via Mesa/Boogie. It would land him his most challenging but rewarding collaboration
Andy Timmons on the agony of guitar thefts, his “birth-week” Strat, and his search for the ultimate single coil
The Ibanez signature artist discusses a life in gear, admitting that he doesn’t know what he’s going to do with his Marshall JTM45 but he will get around to using it, and why you've got to try before you buy
