Why Fender chose the Meteora over the Jazzmaster for its American Ultra II series
The Jazzmaster was notable in its absence from the new Ultra line-up, now, Fender’s Allen Abbassi explains why it chose to include the Meteora in its place
Latest news
The Last Dinner Party's Emily Roberts moonlighted as Brian May in a Queen tribute band – now the guitar legend is endorsing her band
The Queen legend attended The Last Dinner Party's London show at the Eventim Apollo, praising their “good ol' dose of Rock Tonic”
Epiphone’s honors Takahiro Matsumoto with a hugely desirable 1955 Les Paul Goldtop signature
The founder of legendary Japanese rock act B’z has helped develop an Epiphone recreation of his vintage 1955 Les Paul
The Doors’ Robby Krieger ditches his Gibson SG for a cardboard Telecaster to deliver his own take on a blues classic
Krieger debuts what looks like Cardboard Sessions' first-ever cardboard-built Tele, and trades solos with his son Waylon, who joins him on a matching cardboard Strat
AI-aided Eddie Van Halen solos could be a possibility, according to Alex Van Halen
The late guitarist's older brother says that he reached out to OpenAI about potentially analyzing “the patterns of how Edward would have played something” to help round out unfinished material
Black Friday guitar deals 2024: all the latest info to get you ready for the biggest guitar sale of the year
Your place to find all the information on Black Friday 2024, including my predictions, early deals, and shopping tips
Friedman and Jake E. Lee’s signature IR-J looks to deliver the guitar tones of “two great eras” in a single pedal amp
Lee's newest signature Friedman unit offers decades-spanning guitar tones from the comfort of a tube-loaded preamp pedal
“The paint was starting to come away in chips – he was almost crying”: How Rory Gallagher's 1961 Strat got its now-iconic relic’d finish
Gallagher's brother, Dónal, recalls the time Rory noticed that the paint on his beloved guitar was chipping away
Gretsch honors Depeche Mode's Martin Gore with a signature based on one of his prized vintage guitars
The electronic rock pioneer's lifelong affinity for Gretsch guitars comes full circle with a Two Tone Smoke Green semi-hollow six-string that refurbs the classic Center Block design
Artists
Joe Satriani on what it takes to play Van Halen live – custom amps, power tools, and, above all, guts
As Sammy Hagar’s The Best Of All Worlds Tour scales the globe, Satch joins us to explain how he set about honoring the magic of Eddie Van Halen’s style
Meet Chat Pile, the sludge metallers shouting down the “tone lords” and “goobers” ruining guitar culture
The self-taught DIY quartet are making seismic waves across the noise rock scene – and they’re doing it with cult electrics, solid-state amps and a baritone that’s neither a “djent stick” nor “a surf guitar made of plastic”
Joe Perry names the desert-island pickup that nobody talks about and explains why there are no bad tones
Aerosmith and Hollywood Vampires’ swaggering six-stringer runs through his many exploits, leading a hundreds-strong collection of unique, vintage and always usable guitars
The Last Dinner Party's Emily Roberts moonlighted as Brian May in a Queen tribute band – now the guitar legend is endorsing her band
The Queen legend attended The Last Dinner Party's London show at the Eventim Apollo, praising their “good ol' dose of Rock Tonic”
The Doors’ Robby Krieger ditches his Gibson SG for a cardboard Telecaster to deliver his own take on a blues classic
Krieger debuts what looks like Cardboard Sessions' first-ever cardboard-built Tele, and trades solos with his son Waylon, who joins him on a matching cardboard Strat
AI-aided Eddie Van Halen solos could be a possibility, according to Alex Van Halen
The late guitarist's older brother says that he reached out to OpenAI about potentially analyzing “the patterns of how Edward would have played something” to help round out unfinished material
“The paint was starting to come away in chips – he was almost crying”: How Rory Gallagher's 1961 Strat got its now-iconic relic’d finish
Gallagher's brother, Dónal, recalls the time Rory noticed that the paint on his beloved guitar was chipping away
“He started playing bass… He got so into it he started bleeding”: Alex Van Halen reveals his and Eddie’s secret jams with Chris Cornell
Eddie Van Halen and his brother tried out the Soundgarden singer shortly before his death – and at one stage, an Ozzy Osbourne-fronted Van Halen album was also on the cards
Gear
“One of this year’s most versatile electrics”: Godin Lerxst Limelight review
Alex Lifeson's signature HSS S-style is a classic of the genre with tones to burn and a world-class vibrato unit. Yes, do all rush out at once and try it
Epiphone’s honors Takahiro Matsumoto with a hugely desirable 1955 Les Paul Goldtop signature
The founder of legendary Japanese rock act B’z has helped develop an Epiphone recreation of his vintage 1955 Les Paul
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
Black Friday guitar deals 2024: all the latest info to get you ready for the biggest guitar sale of the year
Your place to find all the information on Black Friday 2024, including my predictions, early deals, and shopping tips
Friedman and Jake E. Lee’s signature IR-J looks to deliver the guitar tones of “two great eras” in a single pedal amp
Lee's newest signature Friedman unit offers decades-spanning guitar tones from the comfort of a tube-loaded preamp pedal
Gretsch honors Depeche Mode's Martin Gore with a signature based on one of his prized vintage guitars
The electronic rock pioneer's lifelong affinity for Gretsch guitars comes full circle with a Two Tone Smoke Green semi-hollow six-string that refurbs the classic Center Block design
Sweetwater Black Friday deals 2024: everything you need to know about the biggest sale of the year
Your place to get the lowdown on the best Sweetwater Black Friday deals, with early deals, shopping tips, and frequently asked questions
Featuring a Joe Bonamassa wah and an overdrive gifted by Jeff Beck, Carmen Vandenberg’s pedalboard is a tour de force of tone
The Bones UK and Morrissey guitarist is one of the most exacting tone connoisseurs in the game, with some quietly radical picks and some familiar favorites
I’ve spent years searching for the perfect Strat strings – and after playing John Mayer’s Silver Slinky set, I think I’ve found them
Mayer's promise of a string set that offered an ideal in-between gauge, great tone, and uncompromising nimble bends spoke directly to my own trials and tribulations as a Strat player. Fortunately, it wasn't too good to be true
Lessons
Learn how Adam Jones forged his rhythmically audacious Tool riffing style
We unpack the rhythmically complex metal style of Tool’s polymath guitarist, improving your timing and legato in the process
Pete Townshend was the god of rhythm guitar in the ’60s and ’70s – here’s how he took his untapped technique to the acoustic
Tracks such as Pinball Wizard and Substitute were driven by Townshend's untapped, brawny-yet-brainy acoustic guitar playing. We've gathered all the techniques you need to nail his style in one video lesson
A touch that has never been rivalled – how Jeff Beck forever reshaped the way guitarists think about ‘feel’
From faux slide lines and whammy bar manipulation to fingerstyle phraseology and harmonics, learn the key tricks of Jeff Beck’s incredible lead playing
Pat Metheny called him “the father of modern jazz guitar” – here's how Jim Hall revolutionized modern jazz
Hall's genius with a guitar had profound implications for the jazz band format, as six-strings replaced piano in the rhythm section
5 dissonant guitar chords that hold unexpected delights
We're always talking about harmonious chord pairings, but these discordant shapes will bring tension and surprise to your playing
“The perfect online guitar lessons platform if you’ve already got some playing under your belt”: Til review
We check out the guitar lessons platform that does things the old way for the new generation
Loved by Yngwie, Santana and Slash, the harmonic minor scale is an essential part of every guitar player's vocabulary
Whether you're checking into the Hotel California or sheltering from the cold November Rain, the harmonic minor scale is right there with you. This lesson demystifies it with examples you can use now
Reviews
“One of this year’s most versatile electrics”: Godin Lerxst Limelight review
Alex Lifeson's signature HSS S-style is a classic of the genre with tones to burn and a world-class vibrato unit. Yes, do all rush out at once and try it
"The sound is warm and inviting, with a powerful low-end thump that only comes from a jumbo acoustic": Guild F-55E review
The F-55E is a larger-than-life jumbo with an all-encompassing tone and striking good looks
“Delightfully gnarly tones”: Electro-Harmonix Lizard King Octave Distortion review
Voiced for bass but awesome on guitar, this pedalboard Godzilla might just take the crown as this year's must-have octave fuzz
“Supremely dynamic and touch-sensitive”: Interstellar Audio Machines Supernova Zoeldrive review
Greetings, Earthlings, here comes a boost/overdrive fresh from the final frontier bearing all the tonal hallmarks of the reassuringly terrestrial Fender Tweed drive
Yamaha CG192C review
At the top end of Yamaha’s popular CG series, does the CG192C live up to the range’s reputation? We find out
“The perfect all-rounder for any musician”: PRS SE Custom 24 Semi-Hollow Piezo review
As PRS begins celebrations for its 40th anniversary in 2025, its SE division continues to release models that push the quality to price ratio. This new Custom might well be the best yet – and it’s piezo-loaded!
“Each guitar sounded stunningly warm, natural and lush”: Circa ’74 150-10 Acoustic/Vocal amp review
Meet the guitar amp that's literally Taylor-made for the acoustic in your life, with a high-end design and performance that will look after your vocals, too
Buying Guides
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
Sweetwater Black Friday deals 2024: everything you need to know about the biggest sale of the year
Your place to get the lowdown on the best Sweetwater Black Friday deals, with early deals, shopping tips, and frequently asked questions
Guitar Center Black Friday deals 2024: get the lowdown on all the early deals
The big day isn't here just yet, but this is the place to be if you want early deals, shopping tips, and all your burning Black Friday questions answered
Best metal guitars 2024: hell-raising electrics for shredders on any budget
From extended-range guitars to Flying Vs, here's our pick of killer metal guitars from Jackson, ESP, Ibanez, and more
Musician's Friend Black Friday deals 2024: Everything you need to know about the upcoming Musician's Friend Black Friday sale
Your place for the latest Black Friday deals at Musician's Friend this Cyber Weekend
Best acoustic guitars for beginners 2024: top picks for new players, reviewed and demoed by experts
We've played epic affordable six-strings from Epiphone, Taylor, Fender, Yamaha and more – read on for our best beginner acoustic guitar recommendations and watch our video demos
Best baritone guitars 2024: pick up the slack with these long scale guitars
Get low with our expert pick of the best baritone guitars from PRS, Gretsch, Chapman, Jackson, and loads more
