How Mick Jagger very nearly ended up on a Joe Satriani record – before Satch deleted his performance
From the Archive Jagger was supposed to play harmonica on Satriani's sixth studio album, but his takes ended up being replaced
Latest News
How Mick Jagger very nearly ended up on a Joe Satriani record – before Satch deleted his performance
From the Archive Jagger was supposed to play harmonica on Satriani's sixth studio album, but his takes ended up being replaced
Ben Kenney on touring with a brain tumor in Incubus – and why he will never hear stereo guitars again
Kenney discusses his health journey, leaving Incubus, and the silver linings through it all
Jackson launches feature-packed, Mexican-made Superstrat for Phil Collen
The Pro Series PC1-E has “all the bells and whistles”, as Collen takes cues from his biggest heroes
Josh Homme has had his fill of cringe-worth party players – including, er... Harry Dean Stanton
Don’t expect to impress the Queens of the Stone Age man with your Wonderwall rendition
Fender CEO says he has heard complaints about quality control – and is taking steps to address it
Cole accepts that a surge in demand during COVID has impacted its builds, but says new QC measures are already being rolled out
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“A cornerstone of American music history”: Lonnie Mack’s Flying V is heading to auction
The guitar that the guitar hero used features a crude Bigsby installation and comes steeped in history – including collaborations with Stevie Ray Vaughan
Boss debuts the EX-4 Effects Expander, a compact multi-FX that could be the ultimate pedalboard space saver
The EX-4 crams 120 fan-favorite Boss sounds into one box – and can run four of them at once
Artists
How George Thorogood stumbled across the Gibson that became his go-to guitar – a week before his first gig with the Destroyers
Thorogood recounts how he originally opted for a now-discontinued hollowbody – with a little inspiration from the Beatles and Keith Richards
The cult up-and-coming ’90s guitarist who ended up pitching in for Neil Young at the last minute
From the Archive Victoria Williams opened for the Godfather of Grunge – but was forced to quit the tour
Micki Free on the time he made a guitar out of a detergent box and the advice Billy Gibbons gave him
From “annoying” first riffs and teenage stage-fails to the boutique electric he’d save from a fire, the Grammy-winning veteran opens his heart and gigbag
“I got into exploring again all those wonderful guitarists”: Deirdre Cartwright on why she’s still flying the flag for jazz standards
After a 15-year wait, UK guitar staple Deirdre Cartwright has released a jazz trio album of standards, pop tunes and original compositions
Johnny Marr tried to make his first guitar look like Rory Gallagher’s – and it made him pass out
From the Archive Gallagher’s Strat was weathered through sweat and aggressive playing. Marr felt he could fast-track the same aesthetic
Tommy Thayer is taking a funky next step with new band Shogun Mojo – but Kiss is still calling
The Kiss guitarist discusses his new group with Dan Reed, while hinting at what’s to come with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley
Paul McCartney – a life in guitars: from the Ed Sullivan Epiphone to an ultra-rare Gibson Les Paul
From the Höfner 500/1 to a unicorn Goldtop, here are the guitars behind his sound, from the Beatles to Wings
I played my beloved Strat when I opened for Weezer. It got me discovered by Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready. Then I gave it away to a prison
Eva Walker of Seattle rockers The Black Tones shares the unlikely story of a Fender called Ruth – and why sometimes you have to let loved ones go to make room for the new
Gear
“A game-changer? In some ways, absolutely”: Steadfast Stopbar review
If you have a guitar with a stop bar tailpiece, this changes everything
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
“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
"Expensive, but it may be the only guitar plugin you ever need": Line 6 Helix Stadium Native review
Following the launch of the Line Helix Stadium hardware, it's now Native's turn for a glow-up.
John Mayer makes the black pickguard Silver Sky a reality in the Land Rover Defender collaboration
Mayer tells Guitar World about his new partnership with Land Rover, which gives both his US and SE signature models a new lick of actual Defender paint
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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
How Fender resurrected its under-the-radar classic, the ’62 Deluxe
The ’62 Deluxe Amp returns to reveal why Fender’s ‘brown-panel’ period remains one of the most intriguing chapters in amplifier history. Fender product manager Rick Heins joins us to tell the story
Lessons
If you learn one thing from Johnny Marr it should be this…
The Smiths’ chord secrets revealed
Joe Bonamassa on how to saddle up a capo and get more out of your cowboy chords
The blues maestro demonstrates how a change of key can change your perspective and give your chord work new life
Charlie Starr on how the acoustic guitar can play a vital role in songwriting
Strumming a few chords is all it takes to open up a world of possibilities for new songs, and here the Blackberry Smoke frontman shows us how
Meet the “super arpeggio” – the extended shape that can supercharge your solos
Based on an approach Larry Carlton taught him, Corey Congilio says these extended arpeggios can power up your vamping
"There's no replacement for picking up a guitar and feeling those strings": How to get your fingers fretboard ready by building your calluses the right way
How to get your fingers fretboard ready by building your calluses the right way
Eric Gales on how the blues turned his life upside down – and what you can learn from his approach
In the blues-rock maestro's new GW column, he unpacks the core influence in his playing that came from listening to the original greats
The ultimate guide to sus chords: the secret sauce shapes for the Edge, Andy Summers and the Beatles
Some of guitar’s biggest names swear by suspended chords. Learn why they’re not so sus after all…
Reviews
“A game-changer? In some ways, absolutely”: Steadfast Stopbar review
If you have a guitar with a stop bar 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
"Expensive, but it may be the only guitar plugin you ever need": Line 6 Helix Stadium Native review
Following the launch of the Line Helix Stadium hardware, it's now Native's turn for a glow-up.
“I can’t help but spend time admiring the guitar every time I pick it up.” Epiphone Futura ES-355 review
Epiphone iterates on the classic ES-355 with some stunning finishes and modern appointments
"Still the reverb/tremolo pedal to beat": Strymon Flint V2 review
Does this John Mayer pedalboard mainstay still hold up to scrutiny in this day and age?
"It’s incredibly easy to edit and adjust sounds”: Strymon BigSky MX review
Big-box reverb workstations can bury their best sounds in menus. We put Strymon's dual-engine BigSky MX through its paces to see if it falls into the same trap
"What sets it apart is its sheer versatility and interactivity": Z.Vex Vexter Fuzz Factory review
A more affordable way to gain entry to the factory floor
Buying Guides
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
Best signature guitars 2026: artist-endorsed electrics for every style
Discover the best signature guitars tested by the experts at Guitar World, with options from PRS, Epiphone, Ibanez, and Fender for every budget and style
Best acoustic guitars under $500 2026: get more acoustic for your money with expert picks
These sub-$500 acoustic guitars are ideal for everything from folk and indie guitar to blues and country
Best fuzz pedals 2026: add some filth to your sound with these essential pedalboard effects
Want to know your Fuzz Face from your Fuzz Gun, or channel your inner Jimi Hendrix? This guide is for you
