John McLaughlin remembers gifting Jeff Beck the white Strat that featured on his seminal Wired record
The iconic Strat was reportedly stolen at a later date
Latest News
John McLaughlin remembers gifting Jeff Beck the white Strat that featured on his seminal Wired record
The iconic Strat was reportedly stolen at a later date
Chrissie Hynde on that one time she bought her own signature guitar off the shelf
Turns out having your own signature Fender Telecaster stocked in shops is pretty handy when you're caught without your own...
Why playing less guitar has helped Marcus King become a better player and songwriter
The modern-day guitar hero likens guitar playing to “riding a bike” or “speaking the English language,” which is why he's venturing elsewhere to improve his chops...
Lita Ford had her prized Mockingbird stolen – but crossed paths with it in the most bizarre circumstances
Ford was briefly reacquainted with her beloved Mockingbird when an auditionee rocked up to her studio with her stolen guitar
How a woman's dress caused Buddy Guy to accidentally stumble upon guitar feedback
The blues veteran’s approach to playing was changed forever after a random occurrence during an unassuming gig at a Chicago jam night
Brad Whitford and Joe Perry on the time Aerosmith were upstaged by their support act
The guitarist – who came before an Aerosmith festival headline slot – returned to the stage for three separate encores and proved to be a tough act to follow
“He went, ‘This is what I played on Don’t Look Back in Anger.’ I was like, ‘What?’” Gem Archer on the Strat’s secret spot in Oasis history
Noel Gallagher largely stays loyal to his Gibson guitars for Oasis – but there was one notable exception
Artists
Henry Paul on opening for The Rolling Stones, finding fame thanks to Lynyrd Skynyrd, and his one-of-one red Gretsch Falcon
The Gibson loyalist who’s served three stints with the Outlaws has been there, done that – played to stadium crowds, seen rock's greatest guitar heroes up close and witnessed prime-era Keith Moon debauchery
Stuart Zender on sessioning for Stevie Wonder and supplying the funk to Jamiroquai’s first three albums
After he quit Jamiroquai, Stuart Zender became an in-demand session bassist, jamming with Gorillaz, Stevie Wonder, and Amy Winehouse co-writer Mark Ronson
Snowy White on working with Peter Green and how David Gilmour introduced him to the Whammy pedal
The ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist toured the world with Roger Waters, played with Gary Moore, but now he’s retired from the stage, he admits he was never entirely comfortable with pop status
When Jimmy Haslip met Jaco Pastorius at Frank Zappa’s studio
The Yellowjackets co-founder and then-bassist tells the story of his first encounter with bass royalty
My time with the Spaceman – why Ace Frehley was one hero you had to meet
As artist relations for Marshall and GW journo, Nick Bowcott got to be pretty close to the late Kiss co-founder. Here he recounts some fun times on Earth with the Spaceman
Remembering the guitarists we lost in 2025
2025 has been a big year for the guitar, but we've also had to sadly say goodbye to dozens of guitar greats, from many eras, and every imaginable genre. Here, we recognize those guitarists, and their contributions to the instrument
Zakk Wylde looks back on his closer-than-close relationship with Ozzy Osbourne, and their final moments together onstage
Wylde was the Black Sabbath icon's guitarist and friend for decades. He reflects on his instant connection with the Prince of Darkness, how their relationship evolved both on and offstage, and that emotional final show at Back to the Beginning
From childhood abandonment to country stardom, here is the incredible story of Rockie Lynne
The late blooming country star discusses his custom guitar range, what musicians can learn from motorcycling, and how he wound up with a perfect copy of Peter Frampton’s rig
Moxy’s Earl Johnson lost control of his band as they tracked their debut album. After decades away, he might have got it back
The Canadian hot riffer explains how he was edged out of playing solos on his own songs, how it broke down his partnership with his singer, and why he’s still chasing his Led Zeppelin-style vision
Gear
“If we see something like the DigiTech Bad Monkey overdrive trending, it’s like, ‘Okay, who opened their mouth?’ And it’s usually JHS’s Josh Scott”: From the amp modeling revolution to the demand for dirt, these are the trends driving the used gear market
Joel Handley of Reverb gives us a peek into used gear’s trends, past, present and what the future might hold
"The neck really doesn’t feel all that different from my Fender Telecaster": Fender California Standard Monterey E review
An acoustic-electric for beginners that won't break the bank – or your fingertips
I spent an evening with 7 original Gibson Les Paul ’Bursts from 1958 to 1960 – here's what I learned
There were two ’58s, an ex-Mick Taylor ’59; the exquisite ‘Minnesota’ ’59 ’Burst, and ‘Grainger’, too – but did a 1960 ’Burst made to ’59 spec steal the show?
“A great guitar for young children without patronising them”: Gibson x Loog Les Paul Special review
We asked a dad and his eight-year-old daughter to test out Loog's three-string guitar collaboration with Gibson that's aimed at absolute beginners
I've been playing guitar for 24 years, and this care package is what every new guitarist needs for 2026
I've assembled the essential kit every new guitarists needs to jumpstart their playing in 2026
"I doubt Orange could have made this unit any simpler or more reliable": Orange Valve Tester MKII review
Orange improves its foolproof valve tester with enhanced compatibility and upgraded quality
The battle to save brick-and-mortar guitar stores – and why high-end electrics are essential to their survival
In the past 25 years, brick-and-mortar guitar shops have been forced to compete with the internet or face closure. But as The Music Zoo’s Tommy Colletti explains, you shouldn’t rule ’em out yet
Lessons
Jared James Nichols on an essential guitar playing skill – how to bend the strings expressively
A set of electric guitar strings is no match for the bicep-curling, iron-pumping purveyor of blues power. He shows us how he makes his guitar scream
Charlie Starr on how to make open G tuning work for you
In his inaugural Guitar World column, the Blackberry Smoke guitarist declares his love for a tuning that he learned, aged 12, when checking out Honky Tonk Women
Master the 12-string guitar: restringing, tuning and strumming made simple
Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend, the Eagles, and Richie Sambora swear by 12-string guitars for sonic sparkle – after this guide, you will too
Joe Bonamassa reveals the secret to writing heavy riffs – and his methods might surprise you
Step back from the overdrive pedal, dial the gain back, and that extra clarity could well sound heavier in a band mix
Pete Townshend, Ray Davies and David Bowie all used third inversion chords – here’s why (and how) you should, too
If the idea of third inversions seems all upside down, fear not: these five examples show how easy they are to put together – and how musical they are when you apply them in a song
Cory Wong on how to arrange guitar and keyboards
The funkmeister puts Direct Flyte under the microscope to deliver a masterclass in arrangement. It's funk, sure, but there's some operatic influence in there, too, because that's just how Wong rolls
How to use triads in blues solos like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix
When you’re the only guitarist in the band, triads are your best friends in a guitar solo – and Hendrix and SRV were the masters
Reviews
"The neck really doesn’t feel all that different from my Fender Telecaster": Fender California Standard Monterey E review
An acoustic-electric for beginners that won't break the bank – or your fingertips
“A great guitar for young children without patronising them”: Gibson x Loog Les Paul Special review
We asked a dad and his eight-year-old daughter to test out Loog's three-string guitar collaboration with Gibson that's aimed at absolute beginners
"I doubt Orange could have made this unit any simpler or more reliable": Orange Valve Tester MKII review
Orange improves its foolproof valve tester with enhanced compatibility and upgraded quality
“A utopia of modeled guitar tones that will suit pretty much any guitarist out there”: Universal Audio Paradise Guitar Studio review
Universal Audio's debut multi-amp plugin offers effortless, world-class sound with some of the most iconic amps of all time
“In my experience, it's the easiest modeler to use live”: Line 6 Helix Stadium XL Floor review
With a massive touchscreen, new ‘Agoura’ amp modeling, a more compact size, and a host of other features, Line 6 looks to take the modeling crown with the sequel to the Helix
“Could arguably be the new gold standard in Tube Screamers”: TWA Source Code review
Is this the Screamer Killer we’ve heard about?
“I just want to keep playing it” - Neural DSP Archetype: John Mayer X review
John Mayer teams up with Neural DSP to bring guitar tones from a modern icon to the masses
Buying Guides
Best headphone amps for guitar 2025: silent practice solutions
You don’t need to sacrifice tone to practice quietly with my expert pick of the best headphone amps for guitar players
Best pedalboard power supplies 2025: juice your ‘board with my pick of pro-grade power, fully tested
I put budget-spanning pedal power supplies from Fender, Cioks, Walrus Audio and more through their paces – these were the standouts
Best looper pedals 2025: options for practice, songwriting, and live performance – tried and tested by an expert
Whether you're writing songs or woodshedding solos, using a loop pedal will make you a better guitarist – these are the best looper pedals from Boss, TC Electronic, Line 6 and more
What's the best guitar cable in 2025? These are the tried & tested options I'd recommend to any player
There's a lot of snake oil when it comes to the top guitar cables – I'm a professional guitar gear reviewer and I've tested 11 of the best to help you find your perfect match
Best online guitar lessons 2025: I'm a professional guitar product reviewer and these are my top picks
Online lessons are the ideal platform for developing guitar skills from the comfort of your home or on the go – myself and our in-house experts have tested options for all playing levels, styles and budgets, including a free option
Best multi-effects pedals 2025: replace your rig
Our pick of the best multi-fx pedals from Neural DSP, Kemper, Line 6, Boss, and more
Looking for useful Christmas gifts for guitarists under $20? Here's my pick of 10 affordable accessories every guitar player actually needs
Supercharge your gifting with home practice and gigbag essentials that won't break the bank – recommended by a professional guitar salesman
