One of the biggest brands in acoustic guitar tone just changed its name
The identity shift marks a new era for LR Baggs
![GW Aug 26 Editor's Picks [L-R]: Johnny Marr, Kele Okereke, Grace Bowers, Tim Henson, Phoebe Bridgers](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XzxK468Th8bnWsFFdxo92L-320-80.jpg.webp)
![Angus Young wears his school uniform as AC/DC play Donington Monsters of Rock [left]; Eric Clapton is suited and playing a pale blue Strat in the mid '80s.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QgAfKvcwAsJVc5suVA6JUK-1200-80.jpg.webp)
Latest News
Rush surprise themselves with new Fifty Something tour dates
The updated Fifty Something tour is scheduled to end in April 2027
More people are visiting Guitar Center, but have its stores improved?
How have your experiences in-store changed over the past year? Has the company delivered on its CEO’s promises of improvement? Let us know your thoughts
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![GW Aug 26 Editor's Picks [L-R]: Johnny Marr, Kele Okereke, Grace Bowers, Tim Henson, Phoebe Bridgers](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XzxK468Th8bnWsFFdxo92L-840-80.jpg.webp)
Guitar World Editors’ Picks – our favorite tracks this month
Featuring a tongue-in-cheek single from a certain Rivers Cuomo, a dash of microtonal pop, and jangly riffs from a very charming man
“Don’t play, or even look at, this bass if you’ve got a hangover”: The biggest bass guitar launches this month
From genre-defining signature basses to an unconventional take on a Fender classic, here’s the lowdown on August’s biggest new bass gear releases
Geddy Lee details the intense preparation behind Rush’s reunion
Lifeson and Lee also reveal what they consider to be the hardest song on their set list
My pick of the best new guitar gear launched this week – including Sleep Token’s debut signatures
All the big new drops from PRS Guitars, Charvel, Jackson, Gibson, Friedman Amplification and much more
Friedman honors one of the most iconic amp modders of all time with new Jose 20 amps
Dave Friedman has teamed up with the late Jose Arredondo’s daughter for a 20W head and 1x12 combo that champions his innovative amp mods
Artists
![The Descendents' Stephen Egerton [left] and Milo Aukerman do their thing at Coachella in Indio, California, April 13, 2013](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DdpYUDzKoAzLHkcexoMXQK-840-80.jpg.webp)
The secret to Descendents’ seminal punk guitar sound and why Milo stood the test of time
Downpicking like demons on all six strings, the Descendents tore through L.A.’s ’80s underground and launched a thousand punks-in-waiting
Graham Coxon on his unearthed solo adventures, the challenge of writing for Blur and Damon Albarn’s guitar skills
The Blur guitarist takes us down to Castle Park – his lost solo album that was made 15 years ago but is just seeing the light of day
Mike Campbell on what makes the Telecaster magic (even if he thinks they’re kinda ugly)
The former Heartbreaker and Dirty Knobs main man on his lifelong love affair with the world's first mass-produced electric guitar
From Blood Brothers to Evil Island’s horror-surf, the wild ride of hardcore hero Cody Votolato
Evil Island is a vampire-obsessed, POG-abusing new project from hardcore scene survivors
![Joe Satriani plays his Paisley Pattern JS signature Ibanez; Kirk Hammett [right] plays his ESP Mummy.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w4FRgR6B5Pv4bVmgRR4KYU-840-80.jpg.webp)
“They were the weirdest things. He was asking me, ‘What do you think I should play over this stuff?’” When Joe Satriani got an exclusive preview of new Metallica material during lessons with his student Kirk Hammett
When Joe Satriani got an exclusive preview of new Metallica material during lessons with his student Kirk Hammett
Manning the world’s first production fretless bass, Rick Danko had to be laser-sharp in the Band
Along with Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones and Boz Burrell of Bad Company, Rick Danko was one of the earliest players to take fretless bass guitar into the mainstream
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram on the enduring appeal of the Fender Telecaster
The modern day blues king is a Telecaster signature artist and an advocate for its bona-fides as the working player's guitar
Gear
Is this humble Ampeg the vintage tube combo to rival golden-era Fender amps?
We trace the history and influence of two cult classic amps from Ampeg, the R-12R Reverberocket and 1965-67 GS-12R Reverberocket II
Inside the making of the ThorpyFX Kudu – the pedal that makes everything... better?
Adrian Thorpe designed the Kudu to be a different type of overdrive, a flatter of amps with switchable clipping and a name from the safari
Roy Buchanan inspired countless players to pick up Teles – his favorite was defined by a fascinating tonal “flaw”
Nicknamed “Nancy”, the Telemaster’s beloved ’53 model had a bridge pickup that mystified pickup designers for years
Thorn Soundlabs Flex Series pedals review
This new range of pedals straight out of Music City, USA, is designed for flexibility – meet the Bad Cash, Silver Spurs, Black Swamp, The FreaQ, Steam and Tremonator
“Compares well with instruments costing at least twice as much”: Epiphone Marcus King Dorado review
Epiphone revives its early 1970s Japanese-made El Dorado acoustic in the form of a very special Marcus King limited-edition
How Blind Guitars is redefining the traditional blues acoustic guitar
The B-24L has a price tag to send anyone down to the crossroads in search of a deal – but it delivers a sumptuous playing experience
“It’s staggering that a $329 bass can play like this”: Sire Marcus Miller V1 review
Marcus Miller-approved bass range gets a new baby sibling – is it worthy of the name?
Lessons
Mastodon masterclass: Nick Johnston reveals his insane soloing techniques
Luscious legato, hot hybrid picking, busy blues bends and creative chromaticism are the trademarks of Nick Johnston. Here are five of his favorite lead approaches
Why you don’t need open tunings to play slide guitar
Blues legends like Muddy Waters often preferred playing slide in standard tuning. This lesson might convince you, too – and it makes a great introduction to slide
Country icon Dolly Parton’s ‘thumb and flick’ playing style is essential learning for acoustic players
The late music icon had a distinctive approach to country rhythm, using alternating bassline picking and bluegrass soloing techniques
Learn “pendulum” strumming – the secret to natural-sounding chords
Take your rhythm playing beyond beginner with this simple exercise
How to write a “song within a song” with your guitar solos
Blackberry Smoke frontman Charlie Starr demonstrates how the solo really can serve the song – by being the song
Who’s afraid of the Mixolydian mode? Here’s how you can use it for triads
Corey Congilio wasn't that fussed about the Mixolydian mode at first but now he's a believer – and this lesson shows you just how practical it can be
Joe Bonamassa explains why varying your pick attack is a fundamental part of your playing style
Want to find your voice? Switch up your pick attack and put some character into your phrasing
Reviews
Thorn Soundlabs Flex Series pedals review
This new range of pedals straight out of Music City, USA, is designed for flexibility – meet the Bad Cash, Silver Spurs, Black Swamp, The FreaQ, Steam and Tremonator
“Compares well with instruments costing at least twice as much”: Epiphone Marcus King Dorado review
Epiphone revives its early 1970s Japanese-made El Dorado acoustic in the form of a very special Marcus King limited-edition
“It’s staggering that a $329 bass can play like this”: Sire Marcus Miller V1 review
Marcus Miller-approved bass range gets a new baby sibling – is it worthy of the name?
"A touch-responsive, dynamic drive that reacts like a good amplifier": Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr. Overdrive review
Warm Audio teams up with a boutique legend to bring a sought-after drive to the masses
"An unusual pedal that's trying to do something new": DOD Drag Analog Delay Pedal review
The spiritual successor to the DOD Rubberneck is just as weird
Charvel Sleep Token III Signature Pro-Mod San Dimas Bass V review
Behold – a five-string offering from Charvel, on behalf of mysterious modern metal outfit Sleep Token
"Surprised me with its versatility": Jackson Pro Plus Series Sleep Token IV Monarkh SC review
A 30-inch extended-scale guitar built for crushing, low-tuned modern metal riffs can't be versatile too, can it?
Buying Guides
Best Gibson SGs 2026: Our budget-spanning picks of Gibson’s famous Solid Guitar
From retro reissues to contemporary shredders, here are the best Gibson SGs on the market right now
Best overdrive pedals 2026: from mid-hump to transparent tone
My pick of the top-rated overdrive pedals will get your gain tones on point
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 tube amps 2026: unlock incredible tone with my pick of valve amplifiers for stage, studio or home
Plug into legendary dynamic response and organic warmth with my top-rated valve amplifiers for every budget and playing style
Best clip-on guitar tuners 2026: hit the right note with my top pick of cost-effective tuners
Whether you play acoustic, electric, or bass, these clip-on tuners offer a quick, easy, and affordable way to achieve concert pitch every time you pick up your instrument
Best FRFR speakers 2026: transparent tone for multi-effects and amp modelers
Get the most out of your modeler with my pick of FRFR speakers, from on-the-go options to arena-filling mammoths – these active speakers from Fender, Laney, IK Multimedia and more are tonally transparent beasts
Hang about! If you're in the need of something to display a single or multiple guitars and to always have an axe to hand, this is my pick of the best stands and hangers for your guitars right now
Hang about! These are the best stands and hangers for your guitars right now
