Why Lenny Kaye only needs one under-appreciated pickup position
The legendary Patti Smith guitarist has a simple reason for why he wants a simple setup on his Strat
Latest News
Why Lenny Kaye only needs one under-appreciated pickup position
The legendary Patti Smith guitarist has a simple reason for why he wants a simple setup on his Strat
Ex-Fender Master Builder John Cruz has joined Chinese guitar builder Farida – this is his first guitar (and it's a Strat knock-off)
The JC-1 was 273 days in the making and is a vintage-modern S-style with five-way switching and a blend control for combining the bridge and neck pickups
Las Vegas Motörhead exhibition will let play through Lemmy’s bass rig
Along with Lemmy's gear, the Punk Rock Museum exhibition will feature an extensive collection of photos from the band’s archive and handwritten lyrics
Manson teams up with President, revealing new models for the masked metallers
The British band have been making waves. Now the Matt Bellamy-owned firm has pledged its support to the President campaign
What do you want from the future of guitars?
Do you want to see guitars leap forward technologically? Should the Strat and Les Paul be joined on Mount Rushmore by new, more futuristic designs? Let us know your thoughts
Gibson turns to Alnico 8 magnets for next-gen ELEV8 humbuckers
Gibson’s next-gen humbuckers recruit a magnet that’s never been used by the company
Guitar Center is inviting players to test its new in-house guitar brand – but you’ll need to sign an NDA
The retail giant has been working on its own guitar line for over a year, and now it’s about to test the first prototype
Artists
Why Billy Gibbons started using a peso as a guitar pick
From the Archive It pays to keep some change in your pocket. You never know when your tone will need it
On the trail of Paul McCartney, the Beatles’ not-so-secret guitarist
He’s one of the most celebrated bassists in rock history. But throughout the Beatles years, the guitar remained Paul McCartney’s clandestine obsession
Bernie Tormé’s turbulent eight-gig stint with Ozzy Osbourne
From the Archive Tormé was drafted in mid-tour after the tragic death of Randy Rhoads – and it was one of the most difficult periods of his career
How Geezer Butler helped define the sound of heavy metal on this eight-minute Black Sabbath opus
War Pigs/Luke’s Wall showcases Geezer Butler’s radical approach to bass guitar – and the Chris Squire influence that left Ozzy Osbourne baffled
Johnny Marr on the guitars he’s loved and is about to lose at auction – and the one that started it all
The indie-rock icon talks hungover shopping trips with Noel Gallagher, why some electrics feel like ‘living things’, and what he’ll do if a tech bro starts bidding at his forthcoming auction
Weezer’s Brian Bell on polarizing fans (and the band), proving the critics wrong, and making the Gold Album
Cuomo’s right-hand guitar man on the flashy Explorer he found in his bandmate’s basement, the development of their own standard tuning and his ability to identify what makes Weezer Weezer
Angine de Poitrine tell us the origin story of guitar’s most surreal band
They are the buzz band of 2026 – a perfect storm of wacky and weird, with a creative and technical flair that needs to be seen to be believed. It’s Angine de Poitrine’s world; we’re just living in it
Nervosa’s Prika Amaral on her unconventional playing style and overcoming Brazil’s broken music scene
The self-taught Kramer fan on surviving unaffordable gear and substandard venues, becoming lead singer then adding a second guitarist, and blending digital with analog for definition and power
Gear
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
“A tiny tone machine that proves solid-state can sound great”: Orange Baby Terror review
Orange expands its Baby line of products with the Baby Terror. A 20-watt solid-state amp head that is as mighty as it is mini
Why pedal artwork matters – and how it impacts your sound without you even realizing
JHS Pedals founder Josh Scott explains how the artwork you're stomping on might be affecting more than just the way your pedalboard looks
Are apps ruining guitar gear? We argue for and against the trend that has taken over practice amps
Two Guitar World writers duke it out to see if apps really have a place in guitar amps or if they're a needless extra no-one really wants – which side are you on?
20 gear innovations that changed guitar playing
From divebombs to delays, the way we play is intrinsically tied to the gear we use. These are the things that changed the game for guitarists…
Meet the 24-year-old luthier taking headless guitar design into the future
The Pearson Omega is a bold, metal-bodied headless guitar that blends Stratocasters, Les Pauls and Strandbergs – and its creator thinks he’ll be outselling his biggest rivals in just five years
The story of Eddie Van Halen’s elusive amp tech, José Arredondo – and the new amp that honors his legacy
José Arredondo modified amps for some of guitar’s biggest stars. Dave Friedman’s Jose amp pays tribute to this elusive legend and makes his formerly secret mods available to everyone
Lessons
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…
Have you been putting your capo on wrong? Tommy Emmanuel says this is the right way to do it – and it could save your tuning
Do it the wrong way and your tuning will suffer, the acoustic great warns
Meet the ‘no 5’ chord – the jazz-friendly option for guitar solos
Sometimes finding the right chord is a process of subtraction. Here are five examples of how you can jazz up your chord vocab
Joe Bonamassa explains how “hiding” your guitar pick can make you a more expressive player
Want to find your voice? Switch up your pick attack and put some character into your phrasing
If you learn one thing from Angus Young it should be this…
For those about to solo, you’ll be thunderstruck with the AC/DC guitar legend’s whole lotta use of open strings
Drop D is not just for grunge and metal – Joe Bonamassa explains how he uses it for blues guitar
The blues guitar superstar unpacks his drop D approach and explains how you can use it in your own blues jams
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
Reviews
“A tiny tone machine that proves solid-state can sound great”: Orange Baby Terror review
Orange expands its Baby line of products with the Baby Terror. A 20-watt solid-state amp head that is as mighty as it is mini
“Inspired generations of guitarists”: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi review
This mid-scooped fuzz has been around for nearly 60 years, and it deserves to be around a whole lot longer
“Nigh on impossible to craft a bad tone”: Positive Grid Spark Pedal review
The firm’s celebrated Spark series of modelers and multi-effects units finally gets an amp-in-the-box format
“For metal, Solar’s big talk isn’t hyperbole”: Solar Chug Capo review
Old Englund reckons his pedal is the new gold standard for pitch shifters, but can it oust Boss and DigiTech from the top of the de-tuning tree?
"It does not feel like a budget guitar": Harley Benton Fusion-T II EMG MN HT SBK review
The German budget gear brand's latest go-faster T-style is a shred machine with pro-quality appointments at a beginner's price point
"The sounds here are absolutely the cream of the crop": Eventide H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 review
With world-class, studio-grade algorithms in a pedalboard-friendly chassis, Eventide's new multi-FX is built to handle any style or genre
“For under $600 it does something quite special”: Gretsch Electromatic CVT Baritone review
Gretsch’s Electromatic range offers plenty for under a grand including this compelling short-scale baritone
Buying Guides
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
Best baritone guitars 2026: extended-range guitars for all styles and budgets
Get low with my expert pick of the best baritone guitars from PRS, Gretsch, Jackson, and more
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 2026: 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
