Test your Eddie Van Halen knowledge with our quiz
There’s a reason his legacy is so enormous, his shadow so large. But how well do you know him?
![Carlos Alomar shreds on a pink Superstrat [left]. Paul McCartney poses with a Goldtop.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vWJAGkGgeMbMB4YUpVDcR8-1200-80.jpg.webp)
Latest News
Test your Eddie Van Halen knowledge with our quiz
There’s a reason his legacy is so enormous, his shadow so large. But how well do you know him?
Lari Basilio is the latest virtuoso to join the She Rocks Awards 2027 honorees
Basilio will be joined by Joan Osbourne, Wendy Parr and more at the ceremony, which takes place during NAMM 2027
Dean parent company ordered to pay Gibson more than $4 million in legal costs
After losing its battle over trademark infringement, Armadillo, the company that owns Dean, must foot the bill for Gibson’s legal campaign
4 Comments
I've spent hundreds of hours tracking guitars, and with up to 50% off in Sweetwater's studio and recording sale, here's what I'd buy
Sweetwater's latest sale delivers huge savings on everything from audio interfaces to legendary microphones
Jim Root responds to backlash over Slipknot taking Marilyn Manson on tour
Fans have questioned Manson’s place on the bill for Slipknot’s stadium shows following allegations from multiple women accusing him of sexual misconduct
Dimebag Darrell’s confidential guitar designs could become a reality
Until very recently, the Pantera guitar icon’s longtime girlfriend and estate trustee, Rita Haney, was the only one who had seen the designs
Guitar Summit 2026: 10 highlights from Europe's biggest guitar show
Players from across the globe united under one roof to share their combined passion for the guitar, and what a show it was...
Artists
Mark Bryan on Hootie & The Blowfish’s rocket-ship success, and hanging with Eddie Van Halen
The hit-making guitarist, who once hoped to share a twin-guitar team with Darius Rucker, still leans on the cherry Les Paul Standard from the Cracked Rear View days, and still pines for his stolen Mesa/Boogie...
“If I don’t know it’s me I think, ‘Damn, that's pretty good. Wonder who that is?’ Then when I realize it’s me I kind of want to throw up”: Chet Atkins was his own harshest critic and hated what he played
From The Archive Atkins was one of the greatest of all time and yet he was never satisfied. We guitar players can be too hard on ourselves
Is this Glaswegian folk maestro the heir to Bert Jansch’s crown? Meet the preternaturally gifted Sam Grassie
If you’ve hankered for the unvarnished, beautiful acoustic sounds of the ’60s British folk scene, you really need to check out Sam Grassie, one of the most authentic, beguiling folk guitar talents we’ve heard in a long time
Adaptable, sampled and revered, Leo Nocentelli shares stories from a session career that began at 13 years old
The Meters icon has worked with Motown, McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Otis Redding, Albert King and countless others, learning hard lessons to the point that he’s sick of playing guitar and booking shows
Wishbone Ash’s Andy Powell on his undying love for the Flying V and how his guitar journey began with a packet of Rice Krispies
The Wishbone Ash guitarist discusses his greatest guitar buys and biggest regrets – including the Firebird VII that ended up in Stephen Stills’ hands
3 Comments
Mick Mars wasn’t even awake when he recorded parts for one of Mötley Crüe’s biggest tunes
From the Archive Mars looks back on the making of one of Crüe’s most popular tracks
Jim Adkins on the making of Jimmy Eat World’s Bleed American – and The Middle’s iconic guitar lead
In 2001, Jimmy Eat World were out of money but had a wealth of ideas, and put together an album that would change their lives for good
Gear
Ned Steinberger’s headless revolution looked like a world first – until Les Paul dropped a bombshell: he’d already built one
Having already transformed bass design with Stuart Spector, Ned Steinberger turned his attention to eliminating the headstock altogether – only to discover that Les Paul had beaten him to it
HeadRush FRFR-12 review
One of the originators of the guitar-focused FRFR speaker finally gets around to updating its offering
"If you live to chug, you’ll find a lot to love here": Cort KX500 Baritone review
Cort’s new KX500 Baritone is a lightweight, low-action six-string built squarely for modern metal with Seymour Duncan humbuckers and a 28-inch scale
Best tremolo pedals 2026: from classic amp pulse to chopped-up stutter
Whether you need subtle vintage amp warmth or high-speed rhythmic chops, these are the tremolo stomps that belong on your pedalboard, from TC Electronic, Electro-Harmonix, Boss, Strymon and JHS
Eastman Kauffmann Series SC Classic review – individual new design
Another sharp-looking model from the Eastman stable, hailing from across the North Sea in Holland and built from super-lightweight Oregon pine
"It's a bit of an acquired taste, aesthetically": Washburn Scavenger SB4R review
A classic US brand shows some new signs of life…
Best mini amps for guitar 2026: power up your practice with these tiny towers of tone
My top picks of small guitar amps that pack a punch and let you practice when you're short on space
The story of Gary Moore’s ’55 Les Paul Junior – a bargain buy from a Sex Pistol
The Les Paul Junior was a stripped-down student solidbody that became a professional favourite – and an iconic Thin Lizzy-era Moore electric
Best boost pedals 2026: lift your tone, push your tube amp and cut through the mix
Best boost pedals 2026: including the best clean boost pedals for guitar Vamp up your tone with the best boost pedals for guitarists, as well as the best clean boost pedals for making your electric guitar solos really sing
Lessons
Don’t be intimidated by acoustic bluegrass – this lesson is the perfect primer (just watch out for the F6/9!)
Bluegrass folk blues can take many forms, incorporating influences from both sides of the Atlantic, but it all comes down to two hands and the acoustic guitar
How to make your guitar look and sound more vintage – for very little money
Era-specific parts, upgrades and mods can make all the difference
Alex Skolnick shares his legato secrets – and how Holdsworth made the technique his own
Returning as a GW columnist after a 30-year gap, Alex Skolnick is wasting no time with a lesson that'll expand your scalar vocab and work on your legato
Charlie Starr on why choosing the right guitar for the song makes all the difference
The Blackberry Smoke frontman on how sometimes it’s the guitar's tone that’ll unlock the secret to the song
“The most common mistake is thinking it’s an out-of-tune guitar”: What people get wrong about microtonal music
You might think Angine de Poitrine are pioneering a new form of composition. They’re actually popularizing a very ancient approach to creativity
4 Comments
5 ways to make the C chord much more interesting
Because guitarists are limited by fretboard geometry, it pays to get creative with chord voicings – as Jimi Hendrix and Nile Rodgers show, clever inversions can make rhythm parts pop
If you learn one thing from Johnny Marr it should be this…
The Smiths’ chord secrets revealed
Reviews
HeadRush FRFR-12 review
One of the originators of the guitar-focused FRFR speaker finally gets around to updating its offering
"If you live to chug, you’ll find a lot to love here": Cort KX500 Baritone review
Cort’s new KX500 Baritone is a lightweight, low-action six-string built squarely for modern metal with Seymour Duncan humbuckers and a 28-inch scale
Eastman Kauffmann Series SC Classic review – individual new design
Another sharp-looking model from the Eastman stable, hailing from across the North Sea in Holland and built from super-lightweight Oregon pine
"It's a bit of an acquired taste, aesthetically": Washburn Scavenger SB4R review
A classic US brand shows some new signs of life…
“Truly an amp improver – you’d instantly miss it if you turned it off”: ThorpyFX Kudu review
Named after a huge antelope, the colourful new ThorpyFX drive pedal is a versatile tone-enhancer designed for stacking
“A game-changer? In some ways, absolutely”: Steadfast Stopbar review
If you have a guitar with a stopbar tailpiece, this changes everything
“Something genuinely original in a world of copies”: Steelyjam Delta Junior review
Is aluminum the future of guitar bodies? We put the Steelyjam Delta Junior, a hollow metal double cut with a single P-90, to the test
Buying Guides
Best tremolo pedals 2026: from classic amp pulse to chopped-up stutter
Whether you need subtle vintage amp warmth or high-speed rhythmic chops, these are the tremolo stomps that belong on your pedalboard, from TC Electronic, Electro-Harmonix, Boss, Strymon and JHS
Best mini amps for guitar 2026: power up your practice with these tiny towers of tone
My top picks of small guitar amps that pack a punch and let you practice when you're short on space
Best boost pedals 2026: lift your tone, push your tube amp and cut through the mix
Best boost pedals 2026: including the best clean boost pedals for guitar Vamp up your tone with the best boost pedals for guitarists, as well as the best clean boost pedals for making your electric guitar solos really sing
Best combo amps 2026: all-in-one tone, power, and versatility
From stage-ready tube icons to powerful digital modellers, here's our pick of expert-tested combos for every budget and playing style
Best 12-string guitars 2026: our pick of 12-string acoustic and electric guitars
Our expert guide to the best 12-string guitars from Taylor, Rickenbacker, Fender, and others
Best guitars for kids 2026: top electric and acoustic guitars for children
The top kid’s guitars available today and everything you need to know to get your child started with the guitar
Best reverb pedals 2026: from spring to shimmer, these are our top picks for your pedalboard
Take a deep dive into the cavernous world of 'verb and explore the best reverb pedals for every budget
