Marshall pledges to donate a percentage of gear sales to support grassroots venues
Amplify is a new, free-to-join membership scheme that continues Marshall's work of supporting grassroots venues and local music communities
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Marshall pledges to donate a percentage of gear sales to support grassroots venues
Amplify is a new, free-to-join membership scheme that continues Marshall's work of supporting grassroots venues and local music communities
Vince Gill on the importance of versatility – and how the Eagles enabled him to flex his hidden rock chops
Gill shocked everyone – including Henley – when he proved himself to be capable of playing bona fide rock riffs
The hottest new guitar gear releases of February 2026 – according to Guitar World readers
GW readers have been voting for their favorite gear drops of the month – this is what you picked
Teemu Mäntysaari shreds Megadeth… while ice skating
With the Winter Olympics sending the world into ice skating fever, the Finnish virtuoso has taken the opportunity for one hell of a flex
Joe Bonamassa is cutting back on his gear collecting habit
Bonamassa was forced to rethink his collection following the LA wildfires last year
Joan Jett on defying stereotypes and teaching herself guitar by playing along to Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath records
The Godmother of Punk recalls being told by her guitar teacher that she could only play folk music on acoustic guitar – and that rock was strictly out of bounds
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Matteo Mancuso names the emerging virtuoso that you need to know about
This emerging Italian guitarist has become one of Mancuso and Steve Vai's favorite shredders
Zakk Wylde leads all-star Ozzy Osbourne tribute at the BRIT Awards
Four Ozzy alumni, and a British pop hero, united for a white-hot performance of No More Tears
February 2026 Guitar World Editors’ Picks
Two generations of virtuosos – Steve Vai and Matteo Mancuso – join forces, Midwest Emo GOATs American Football return, Anna Calvi works wonders with her Telecaster, Mateus Asato gives us long-awaited instrumental bliss, and Angine de Poitrine deliver, uh, “Dada-Pythago-Cubist Mantra-rock” – all this and much, much more
Artists
They were alt-rock legends who had to follow up a classic debut – then R.E.M.’s Peter Buck offered to lend a hand
Feelies guitarist Glenn Mercer says the pressure was on to come up with a killer sophomore album – but having a little help from Buck certainly helped in making one
How Al Di Meola’s heart attack led to his anti-ICE concert with Tom Morello and Bruce Springsteen
Aware he’s in the last quarter of his football game of life, the health alert has made Di Meola determined to make more of a difference – politically and musically
How Europe’s John Norum learned to love The Final Countdown – and the guitar he used to track its iconic solo
The Final Countdown is one of rock's evergreen anthems, but Norum admits he thought it was “dreadful” at first
“I’m a better bass player when I use my fingers”: Nikki Sixx names his biggest weakness as a rock bassist
The lifeblood of infamous hair-metal band Mötely Crüe, Nikki Sixx has been polarizing bassists since he first took to the stage nearly 50 years ago
“I deserved a songwriting credit. They sold millions and I only got $200!” Flea’s bittersweet hip-hop recording experience
In 1989, as the Red Hot Chili Peppers enjoyed their first big hit, Flea was hopping around MTV in the video for Young MC’s Bust A Move
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Brian Robertson knows what Thin Lizzy lost when he left
Half of the classic-era twin guitar attack discusses how the iconic sound was built, his relationships with his bandmates after he left, his forensic approach to modding Kirk Hammett Les Pauls to look like Peter Green’s Greeny, and why he couldn’t play the real thing
What really happened with Cream behind the scenes? Ginger Baker’s daughter reveals all
Nettie Baker’s new book Cream Chronicled debunks a few myths about one of rock’s most influential power trios
How Steve Vai lived his ultimate guitar rockstar fantasy on David Lee Roth’s Eat ’Em and Smile
Working with David Lee Roth was like "being strapped to a rocket made of charisma and fueled by tequila” – and the music was pretty fun, too
How Billy Idol seized upon the success of Rebel Yell – and Linn Drums – to take his sound to new frontiers
Steve Stevens remembers the early days of true international stardom, when he and Billy Idol utilized their creative freedom and exciting new tech to make a very different kind of record
Gear
Cort G6MS Review
Cort has been making headless guitars for Strandberg for years, so has its learning translated into a must-have budget axe, or is there work to be done?
Best delay pedals 2026: our pick of the coolest spacey pedals for your pedalboard
Whether you prefer digital or analog delay pedals, the options in this round-up will help boost your creativity on the guitar
Best electric guitars 2026: our top picks for every playing style, ability and budget
Useful buying advice and our expert pick of the best electric guitars for newcomers to pro players
Best acoustic guitars for beginners 2026: My top picks for new players, reviewed by a pro
I've tested epic affordable six-strings from Fender, Taylor, Yamaha, and more – read on for my best beginner acoustic guitar recommendations and watch my video demos
Best cheap acoustic guitars 2025: budget acoustics with genuine pedigree
Great tone doesn’t have to break the bank – these are the best cheap acoustic guitars from Fender, Yamaha, Cort and more
Blackstar ID:X Floor One review
Blackstar becomes the latest in a long line of companies to develop a floorboard-based amp modeler rig solution – and it's gone about it in the perfect way
"Easily one of the most desirable electric guitars under $1,000 that I've played": Eastman FullerTone Offset '62 review
The latest FullerTone design might just be the best yet, and a big statement from Eastman
Andy Powers on the evolution of Taylor acoustics, and the promise and challenge of exploring new tonewoods
A dedicated luthier, Taylor CEO and “Geppetto,” Powers talks Gold Label guitars, urban-harvested wood, Action Control necks and where the company is headed in 2026 and beyond
“Surely the most vicious artist series model in the Gibson catalog”: Gibson Mark Morton Les Paul Modern Quilt review
Lamb of God riff-master Mark Morton's Les Paul has been years in the making, subject to brutal road-testing, featuring a hot custom-wound humbucker pairing, but it's finally here
Lessons
Big jumps for a bigger sound: Steve Morse’s masterclass on wide intervals
Deep-dive your technique for powerful intervals with six string-jumping, fretboard-stretching examples from one of the world's most influential super-pickers
What we can learn from Mike Oldfield about breaking free of the pentatonic box
In this lesson, we reimagine folk, jazz, blues and Celtic music for a blues roadmap that takes the road less traveled
KT Tunstall’s 5 guitar tips to boost your songwriting skills
Learn KT's five go-to guitar techniques: from power strumming to rich chords, colorful picking, and unison vocal/guitar riffs.
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Demystifying 13th chords, the voicing that Stevie Ray Vaughan used to stunning effect in Lenny
This primer in 13th chords will give you five voicings to use in your playing – and an explanation on how they get their name
How to play slide guitar in standard tuning
Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke demonstrates how slide playing in standard and drop D tuning can be the best of both worlds
What is “Dead thumb” fingerpicking? Jared James Nichols explains
Jared James Nichols is a master of “Dead thumb” fingerpicking. The Blues Power fingerstylist explains how it gives the him freedom to cut loose
How to let it rip like the late, great Gary Moore
Time to show the Marshall amp no mercy and engage the Tube Screamer – this solo lesson works mid '70s Thin Lizzy into Parisienne Walkways and Still Got The Blues and doesn't hold back
![B.B. King [left] cups his hands to his ear as he asks the crowd for more. Joe Bonamassa, with a Les Paul, gives his crowd a thumbs up.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P3XrQLh86C27JfPp4AGp6n-840-80.jpg.webp)
Reviews
Cort G6MS Review
Cort has been making headless guitars for Strandberg for years, so has its learning translated into a must-have budget axe, or is there work to be done?
Blackstar ID:X Floor One review
Blackstar becomes the latest in a long line of companies to develop a floorboard-based amp modeler rig solution – and it's gone about it in the perfect way
"Easily one of the most desirable electric guitars under $1,000 that I've played": Eastman FullerTone Offset '62 review
The latest FullerTone design might just be the best yet, and a big statement from Eastman
“Surely the most vicious artist series model in the Gibson catalog”: Gibson Mark Morton Les Paul Modern Quilt review
Lamb of God riff-master Mark Morton's Les Paul has been years in the making, subject to brutal road-testing, featuring a hot custom-wound humbucker pairing, but it's finally here
“In a world where streaming is king and few people own the music they listen to, the BandBox Solo’s ability to conduct stem separation from a Bluetooth source is incredibly useful”: JBL BandBox Solo review
With the ability to separate stems from a streamed audio source over Bluetooth and a host of useful tools, the JBL BandBox Solo could be a game-changer for home practice
“It feels like you’re plugged straight into an amp, rather than a pedal”: ThorpyFX x Lazy J The J review
ThorpyFX team up with Lazy J to put the amp brand’s signature take on the Fender tweed sound into a pedal
“Sub-$500 guitars built with some degree of care and expertise”: Epiphone J-45 Studio and J-200 Studio review
A brace of familiar Gibson acoustic designs bearing the Epiphone brand name and a price tag of around one tenth of an original
Buying Guides
Best delay pedals 2026: our pick of the coolest spacey pedals for your pedalboard
Whether you prefer digital or analog delay pedals, the options in this round-up will help boost your creativity on the guitar
Best electric guitars 2026: our top picks for every playing style, ability and budget
Useful buying advice and our expert pick of the best electric guitars for newcomers to pro players
Best acoustic guitars for beginners 2026: My top picks for new players, reviewed by a pro
I've tested epic affordable six-strings from Fender, Taylor, Yamaha, and more – read on for my best beginner acoustic guitar recommendations and watch my video demos
Best cheap acoustic guitars 2025: budget acoustics with genuine pedigree
Great tone doesn’t have to break the bank – these are the best cheap acoustic guitars from Fender, Yamaha, Cort and more
Best guitar audio interfaces 2026: get better recorded guitar tones
My pick of the best audio interfaces for guitar will have you up and recording in no time
Best EQ pedals 2026: must-have effects to tame your tone
Our expert pick of EQ pedals for the discerning player from the likes of Boss, Chase Bliss Audio, MXR and more
Best Klon clones 2026: Our pick of the best Klon Centaur Klones for every budget
From straight-up klones to full reimaginings, here are some of the best Klon Centaur-inspired pedals on the market today
