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Kirk Hammett tumbles off stage as Metallica pay tribute to Thin Lizzy in Ireland
The band’s first of two nights in Dublin saw Hammett embark on some unplanned choreography during a thrash classic
Latest News
Kirk Hammett tumbles off stage as Metallica pay tribute to Thin Lizzy in Ireland
The band’s first of two nights in Dublin saw Hammett embark on some unplanned choreography during a thrash classic
Nuno Bettencourt names the Extreme track that changed his life overnight
Bettencourt and his bandmates fought hard for the song that would eventually become Extreme's most enduring hit
Wolfgang Van Halen opens up on his Van Halen cover anxiety at Taylor Hawkins tribute concert
The show, he says, was “do-or-die”
A massive '70s headstock, HSS pickup configuration, and a killer flame top all for $340! This early Prime Day deal just chopped serious cash off a spec-loaded beginner guitar that we awarded 4.5 stars
Amazon's massive sale is still a day away, but this stellar Squier discount proves there's no need to wait
This magnetic modular pedalboard could change the way you use your pedals – and it’s undergone the most extreme demo
A Kickstarter campaign has been launched for a modular pedalboard that makes pedal and cable management effortless via a host of smart-thinking features
The accident that led Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard to play an obscure Fender model
The alt-rock statesman's relationship with the Bullet, a beginner-friendly model, began with a gift that he thought at the time was an act of pure, unprompted generosity. He didn't quite know the whole story...
Fender just announced its biggest mid-year gear drop yet – here’s everything you need to know
A complete pedal range overhaul, the return of the Nocaster, a new Silent System for Strats and Teles, plus some – dare we say – awfully Silver Sky-looking finishes
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Artists
Jeff Berlin on meeting his bass hero – and playing White Room alongside him
According to bass virtuoso Jeff Berlin, Jack Bruce is still the bass guitar’s most underrated innovator
“David Bowie didn’t even show up”: Herbie Flowers on the making of Lou Reed’s Walk On the Wild Side
Having recorded over 20,000 sessions for the likes of David Bowie, Dusty Springfield, T.Rex, Paul McCartney and Elton John, Brian ‘Herbie’ Flowers was not your average bassist
Rowan Robertson was 17 when he joined Dio. He recalls how he got the gig – and why it came to an end
The English guitarist recalls the advice Ronnie James Dio gave him, the demo tape that landed him the role, and why he never reunited with the iconic singer
“There’s a lot of gear I had to get rid of because rent was due”: Marc Ford’s life in guitars
The former Black Crowes and current Lucinda Williams blues-rocker talks shred-guitar mistakes and his love for custom Asher axes
Billy Squier on saving his ’59 Les Paul from a fire, the world’s greatest Marshall and why he stopped practicing
The man behind The Stroke and Lonely Is the Night checks in to talk all things guitar, imposter syndrome and the enduring appeal of his 1960 Tele Custom
The notorious final tour of the Zappa band, and his bassist’s role in its demise
Though many regard the 1988 lineup as one of Zappa’s most musically formidable bands, the tour ended in disaster, with Zappa returning home, never to tour again
“We started talking about Black Sabbath, and Buzz goes, ‘You know they did this thing called drop D.’ We said, ‘What’s that?’” Kim Thayil on how Soundgarden took rock guitar into the superunknown – and the unfinished Chris Cornell tapes
With the Soundgarden guitarist‘s memoir, A Screaming Life, out now, he unpacks the story behind one of the most influential rock bands of the ’90s
Gear
“Its popularity extends beyond jazz boundaries – notable players include Steve Howe, B.B. King and even John Frusciante”: Why Gibson’s longest-running production electric remains one of the world’s more affordable vintage guitars
In production for seven decades, the hollow-bodied ES-175 was the perfect partner for jazzers of the 1950s – especially at its original $175 price point
Flattley The Joker review
The latest from the UK-based pedal company gives you licence to rock with the choice of dirt or filth
Gibson J-185 Century 12-Fret and J-45 Century 12-Fret review
A pair of historic acoustics from Gibson’s illustrious catalog to celebrate its century of flat-tops. But wait, these are 12-fretters. What’s going on?
Marshall x Jimi Hendrix 60th Anniversary JMH Half Stack review
Paying tribute to 60 years of one of the most iconic pairings in guitar history, Marshall releases a signature Hendrix amp bundle, featuring not only an amp and cab, but a Fuzz Face and some very collectable extras.
How to get a bargain on a Gibson Les Paul Standard ’Burst reissue
High-end guitar expert Julian White offers some serious buying advice for some of the most sought-after Les Pauls of the modern era
“These days I would be reluctant to say that Gibson invented the archtop”: The untold history of German guitar building
The author of German Jazz Guitars shares the country's proud history of archtop design – and questions whether the classic jazz box actually originated there
Best bass compressor pedals 2026: expert picks for the ultimate in low-end control
From studio-style levelers to stompboxes that squash, we put the market-leading compressor pedals for bass to the test
Lessons
Pinch Harmonics made easy: how to get the perfect squeal
Our definitive guide on how Billy Gibbons, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and Zakk Wylde make their guitars scream
The secret to great guitar solos isn’t technique – it’s rhythm
All the greats put themselves into their phrasing, and that identity was not only note choice but rhythm. Here are four ways you can add rhythmic interest to great effect
If you learn one thing from Jake E. Lee it should be this: bigger stretches for better shredding
Try this enhanced lesson to strengthen your fourth finger and use your thumb for wide fretting like the iconic Ozzy Osbourne guitarist
How to funk up your blues solos
Taking cues from John Mayer, Jimi Hendrix and Nile Rodgers, this lesson offers three examples of phrases that add rhythm and movement to blues
“To some people, this is more of a ‘jazzy’ sound”: How to use dominant 7 arpeggios in a guitar solo
Because you can't have enough exit ramps from traditional blues phrases, here's how you can use the notes of a dominant 7 chord to spice up your solos
5 chords that sound like they’re in an open tuning (but aren’t)
Because sometimes retuning your guitar is, well, a pain in the backside – and there are workarounds
Charlie Starr on how to play “Piedmont” fingerstyle guitar
The Blackberry Smoke frontman goes unplugged to give us a lesson in the fingerstyle techniques he applies in his day job
Reviews
Flattley The Joker review
The latest from the UK-based pedal company gives you licence to rock with the choice of dirt or filth
Gibson J-185 Century 12-Fret and J-45 Century 12-Fret review
A pair of historic acoustics from Gibson’s illustrious catalog to celebrate its century of flat-tops. But wait, these are 12-fretters. What’s going on?
Marshall x Jimi Hendrix 60th Anniversary JMH Half Stack review
Paying tribute to 60 years of one of the most iconic pairings in guitar history, Marshall releases a signature Hendrix amp bundle, featuring not only an amp and cab, but a Fuzz Face and some very collectable extras.
EVH 5150 III Hypersonic 6L6 2x12 review
Following in the steps of parent company Fender's Tone Master range, EVH releases a digital combo version of the coveted 5150 amp, combining digital modeling and a real guitar cabinet
Yamaha 60th Anniversary RSP20B and RS02CB Chris Buck review
After redesigning the ‘new’ Revstar back in 2022, Yamaha has added two models to the line-up: a 60th Anniversary knees-up and Chris Buck signature model
“I’ve been playing B-benders since 1999, so I was eager to get my mitts on this guitar”: Fender John Osborne Telecaster review
The country-rock star’s Tele tears up the template – and could be your fastest ticket to B-bender tone
"A genuinely brilliant guitar that can do far more than its heavy metal aesthetic suggests": Ibanez Iron Label AZ41B1 review
Ibanez's pitch-black metal machine is hiding a secret beneath its stealthy exterior
Buying Guides
Best bass compressor pedals 2026: expert picks for the ultimate in low-end control
From studio-style levelers to stompboxes that squash, we put the market-leading compressor pedals for bass to the test
Best amps for metal 2026: my top picks for high-gain heroes
These powerhouse metal amps from PRS, Orange, Friedman, EVH, and more will have you primed to seek and destroy
Best pedal amps 2026: top preamps, power amps, and amp modelers
We rank and review the best guitar amp pedals from Strymon, Universal Audio, Blackstar, and more
Best guitar plugins 2026: my top plugins to level up your recorded guitar tones
Get better guitar tones for recording and practice with my pick of the best guitar amp plugins
Best guitar straps 2026: play in comfort and secure your guitar in style – budget-spanning choices from a guitar salesman
My expert pick of straps for electric, acoustic and bass, covering all budgets and materials. Plus, buying advice to help you decide
Best single coil pickups 2026: from trailblazing designs to vintage traditionalists
From Fender Telecaster twang to Gibson P-90 bite, we’ve compiled our pick of the best aftermarket single coils your money can buy right now
Best budget guitar amps under $500 2026: cost-cutting amplifiers for every player
Get great sounds and features without blowing your budget – from affordable tube amps to wallet-friendly digital modeling amps and everything in between
