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January 2024
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323 articles
- January 31
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- “Digital stuff is valid and has a great musical tone… the day to replace tube amps is here”: 50 years on, Buck Dharma is proud of Blue Öyster Cult’s ride, but he isn't afraid to change things up from night to night
- “Dazzlingly authentic speaker and miked room tones that truly sound and feel like guitar speaker cabinets”: UAFX OX Stomp Dynamic Speaker Emulator review
- NAMM 2024: “It’s going to make you think different, play different and make new music”: Explore Cream Guitars’ range of aesthetically innovative and high-spec’d guitars – complete with a finish that literally changes color
- “Duane Allman played a great solo, came back, and Eric says, ‘Well, I want to do mine again!’ This went on for at least an hour or two”: How Eric Clapton went from God to all-round guitar genius in the ’70s
- NAMM 2024: Returning archtops, elegant updates and a model designed in collaboration with a jazz legend – explore D’Angelico’s latest lineup of luxury electric guitars
- NAMM 2024: “The aim was to be as tonally versatile as possible”: Rabea Massaad on the origins of his long-awaited Ernie Ball Music Man Sabre design – and the crucial refinement that took the most tweaking
- “A guitar that is at home playing jazz lines as it is for NYC 1973 punk rock”: Knaggs strips down Steve Stevens’ signature guitar to its purest rock ‘n’ roll form with the SSC-J
- “We found the perfect 1963 AC30 and we took it apart and figured out what made it tick”: Vox is making ‘classic’ amps and pedals again, as its Hand-Wired AC Series and Vintage wahs put the firm’s most iconic builds under the microscope
- “This is affordable and accessible… and it gives you a beautiful playing experience”: The Gretsch boygenius Broadkaster Jr. is a 3 -in-1 Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus and Phoebe Bridgers supergroup signature guitar that costs less than $700
- “One of the most intuitive, efficient and convenient devices ever”: KMA Machines’ expansive Endgame pedal might just be the ultimate pedalboard problem solver, with an AI-informed double-track effect
- “I hope the traditional guitar solo dies a slow and painful death”: Marty Friedman explains why the guitar solo as we know it needs to be put out of its misery
- Best cheap distortion pedals 2024: get your perfect rock tone for less money
- 11 reasons every beginner guitar player should take lessons
- January 30
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- “Geordie was a true inventor of a massive sound that has influenced so damn many of us”: Remembering Geordie Walker, the sonic maverick whose playing could brutalise and beguile
- “It's so incredibly sophisticated with its drive and vibe duo that you forgive it’s digital”: Eventide Riptide review
- “A bass overdrive gives me more control over which frequencies push forward when I want to take more risks”: Yvette Young spills the secrets of her pedalboard – and names the one stompbox she could play an entire show with
- NAMM 2024: “It’ll raise the tonal game of guitarists the world over”: Palmer’s Supreme Soaker is an all-in-one loadbox, speaker simulator and connection hub that could solve all sorts of problems
- Send your Les Paul’s sustain into the stratosphere with FU-Tone’s new BRASS Stop Tail & Tune-O-Matic Bridge Set
- NAMM 2024: “This pedal facilitates an alchemical dance”: Pigtronix’s Philosopher’s Tone 2 is the sequel that looks set to top the original – adding footswitchable grit to the world-class compressor pedal
- NAMM 2024: “From buttery goodness to gnarly thunder and lightning distortion”: The limited edition Way Huge Smalls Geisha Drive packs tumultuous tones into a seemingly peaceful package
- January 29
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- “What Ace Frehley and Joe Perry do isn’t precise, there’s some sloppiness, but they know how to create a wide sound... it’s unlike anyone else”: Low-end veteran Chris Wyse on his Metallica audition and his love of the Gibson Ripper L-9 and Tech 21 SansAmp
- NAMM 2024: Seamless streaming, plentiful power options and endless tone – Blackstar’s ID: Core V4 is shaping up to be the ultimate mobile practice amp
- “We just tuned to whoever’s guitar sounded most in tune. That’s how green we were in the studio!” Jake Burns on Wilko Johnson, mistranslations, and Stiff Little Fingers’ punk classic, Inflammable Material
- “The sound is so good that I’m starting to question whether the expensive exotic tone woods that so many guitarists lust over really make much of a difference”: Donner Hush-X solidbody guitar review
- NAMM 2024: Dean Guitars is preparing to come back fighting – and we got an exclusive preview of its killer 2024 line-up, including its new affordable Kerry King signature, Slime Green finishes, and serious mid-price metal guitar contenders
- “This is a rare instrument and a cool example of something Jimi would have played back in 1969/1970”: Joe Bonamassa teaches us his favorite Hendrix-inspired licks on a very special Stratocaster
- NAMM 2024: “A lower cost option that’s pure Takamine in its voice”: An affordable take on Takamine’s all-black Legacy Series has been in demand “for decades” – with its latest G Series acoustics, the Japanese luthier has finally obliged
- NAMM 2024: “A true vintage classic based on the first loudspeakers designed specifically for the electric guitar”: Celestion celebrates its 100th anniversary with a speaker that pays homage to its earliest innovations
- "The sound is perfectly bright and balanced": Taylor Academy 12e-N review
- NAMM 2024: “Organic boosting that you can tweak to match any rig”: MXR has brought back its Torino overdrive with a flash new chassis – but you'll have to be quick off the line to bag one
- January 28
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- NAMM 2024: “Unique air cell core technology” in... a strap? Through modern engineering, Ernie Ball’s new Comfort Cloud line looks to provide “optimal cushioning” for prolonged playing
- NAMM 2024: “The same design as the one Jimi Hendrix wore when he stole the show at a 1967 music festival”: Vintage reissue straps are now a thing: check-out this Dunlop x Authentic Hendrix reproduction of Jimi’s Monterey Pop strap
- NAMM 2024: “A core component of Zakk's sound since 1988”: Dunlop has reissued Zakk Wylde’s go-to Rotovibe pedal to celebrate 20 years of partnership – and it’s got a sleek new look
- NAMM 2024: Eventide's H90 Harmonizer multi-effects engine now has Bluetooth support and an all-new polyphonic synth algorithm – hear “one of the most amazing stompboxes out there” in action
- January 27
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- NAMM 2024: “Some people were like, ‘That's the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen!’ It turns out it was the most successful instrument we ever could have imagined”: John Petrucci on the wild ride of his signature guitar, the Music Man Majesty
- NAMM 2024: “This cutting-edge design ushers in an unprecedented era of sustainable audio engineering”: This amp cabinet is absurdly slim and so light it can be worn with a guitar strap – meet Eminent Technology's latest innovation, the Model Twenty-Two
- “I was aggressively informed, ‘That’s Eddie’s technique. You’re not allowed to play it on the tour – or else’”: Former Autograph guitar maestro Steve Lynch on theory, technique, and life as a tapping pioneer
- NAMM 2024: “One of the most unique and spectacular LTD models that Takamine has ever created”: Takamine's master luthiers celebrate once more around the sun with this spectacular solar system-themed acoustic guitar build
- NAMM 2024: “From classic 1970s to contemporary modern”: Following the success of its Kim Thayil signature model, Guild’s expanded range hopes to find a Polara for every player
- January 26
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- “We are greeted with a guitar that looks like it arrived here in a DeLorean”: Fender Vintera II '70s Competition Mustang review
- NAMM 2024: A Jack White-backed multi-effects for $99? Meet the result of this year’s most surprising pedal collaboration: the Donner x Third Man Hardware Triple Threat
- Jake Kiszka is a classic rock guitar powerhouse – learn how he crafts his no-holds-barred rhythm and lead parts
- NAMM 2024: “Angular, cubist and aggressive”: Kauer’s divisive Gripen guitar does away with all curvature for an early contender for ‘boldest guitar of 2024’
- “A lot of the pedals I use are to make guitars sound less like guitars”: Travis Johnson reveals the PS-3 secrets behind Activity’s sound, and what’s next for Trap Door Electronics
- “90 percent of my guitars are in mint condition – untouched and unmolested... The last 10 percent – those are the ones I play on the road”: Joe Bonamassa on his legendary collection, perseverance, and how he picks his touring guitars
- NAMM 2024: “No limits, no compromises”: Victory’s new MK Series is the culmination of influential amp designer Martin Kidd’s illustrious 30 year career – and were built to be the best amps he’s “ever made”
- Looking for a sign to finally go digital? Line 6 just slashed $200 off the price of Helix Floor and LT
- NAMM 2024: “The most coveted guitar of the '80s is back, blending nostalgia and modern precision”: Adrian Vandenberg’s cult classic Peavey signature model has officially returned – and it’s received something of a glow-up
- NAMM 2024: “It does everything a Strandberg can do but redefines accessibility for all levels of players”: Strandberg reveals the Boden Essential, its most affordable guitar yet
- Meet the Triple Threat, the ultracompact, three-in-one analog pedal collab from Donner Music and Jack White’s Third Man Hardware
- “The goal was to put together a guitar that didn’t exist yet”: After years of anticipation, Wolfgang Van Halen’s long-awaited EVH SA-126 signature guitar is finally here – and it’s arrived on Eddie’s birthday
- NAMM 2024: “The D'Ambrosio Series represents our thoughts on the future of solid body electric guitars”: Eastman Guitars has dropped yet another range of inexplicably gorgeous instruments
- “The Gibson Garage has become this Mecca in Nashville for guitar players. Bringing the London store to life is going to be equally as as gratifying”: Gibson’s first-ever flagship store outside of the US has announced its grand opening date
- NAMM 2024: “The amp that’s been missing from the Victory catalog”: Victory Amps keeps it compact with The Deputy – a new boutique amp head built in collaboration with Pete Honoré
- NAMM 2024: Can a Yamaha Pacifica ever be worth $2,000? We played the new Pacifica Professional to find out
- January 25
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- “Before me it was classic Fender Jazz, but I showed up with a bunch of Yamaha basses. Billy Corgan was totally cool with that… it’s never been, ‘Do what I say or else’”: How Jack Bates splits his loyalties between Smashing Pumpkins and his dad, Peter Hook
- “A very responsive pedal that will deliver an excellent range of rich, cranked-amp style drive”: Mad Professor Royal Blue Overdrive review
- “It’s not like Exodus where it’s 95 percent crunching guitars. I had to really concentrate on not playing so many notes”: Rick Hunolt on his cinematic second act with DieHumane
- NAMM 2024: “It’s not just a reissue of that very special instrument. This was an opportunity to showcase 40 years of evolution”: Alex Lifeson partners with Godin for the LERXST Limelight – a new take on his legendary Hentor Sportcaster
- NAMM 2024: “It has been my hope for a while to make an affordable pedal for beginning musicians”: Jack White’s hotly anticipated collaboration with budget brand Donner has been revealed – and it's a $99 3-in-1 multi-effects pedal
- NAMM 2024: “An in-the-box ecosystem poised to become the beating heart of your rig”: Five years in the making, Two Notes' monstrous Genome software is finally here – and promises to be the ultimate virtual backline
- NAMM 2024: “The chance to succeed at building a classic sounding fuzz pedal”: Jack White’s Third Man Hardware just hopped on the DIY pedal train with the Fuzz-a-Tron – and it’s even cheaper than the JHS Notaklön
- NAMM 2024: “Retro lines and hybrid designs”: Vintage’s new Revo Series takes a leaf out of Squier’s Paranormal playbook with these wild affordable offsets
- NAMM 2024: “Become the architect of tones and textures that respond to your performance in real-time”: Gamechanger Audio’s new player-responsive MOD Series pedals can literally be wired like a modular synth
- Seymour Duncan’s new PowerStage 100 Stereo offers incredible sound and flexibility – and for the first time, a stereo option – in a pedal-sized format
- NAMM 2024: “A sonic odyssey for drop tunings”: Reverend unveils its latest Billy Corgan signature guitar – and it’s precision-engineered for aggressive drop-tuned riffage
- NAMM 2024: Ernie Ball Music Man has finally dropped Rabea Massaad’s long-awaited Artist Series models, refining the classic Sabre design into a surprising new form
- NAMM 2024: “A distinctive instrument in form and function”: Reverend adds Hot Mulligan’s Chris Freeman to its roster with a new signature guitar that will take you into “emo overlord territory”
- NAMM 2024: Mooer makes its latest play to disrupt the multi-FX market with the GE1000 Li – and it’s equipped with an AI-driven EQ section
- A Slash Jessica Les Paul, new Epiphone Firebirds, a Dual Falcon 20 amp and the Theodore goes Standard: Gibson just surprised us with a massive preview of unannounced guitar gear for 2024
- “Sounds better than ever!”: Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai shred classics and jam Crossroads as the OG G3 lineup reunites for the first time in nearly 3 decades – and now fan footage has surfaced
- NAMM 2024: Remember that priceless Martin that Kurt Russell smashed on the Hateful Eight set? Well, it’s just been put on public display for the first time ever
- “One of the most requested models in Epiphone's history”: The Epiphone Dave Grohl DG-335 signature exists – and we’ve played it
- Best Epiphone guitars 2024: classic Les Pauls, Flying Vs and more
- NAMM 2024 live: this year’s biggest guitar news as it happens
- “I had a couple of solos mapped out, but for the most part I just go for it... I think that you lose all the soul if you think about it too much”: Roy Z on keeping things simple and song-serving with Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford's solo bands
- January 24
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- NAMM 2024: With the $2,199 Pacifica Professional, Yamaha is hoping to prove the beginner workhorse has thoroughbred potential. Can it persuade players to pay a higher price for an entry-level name?
- “Nobody in my school listened to bands like Cacophony. They were into emo and goth, but I became obsessed with metal and shred guitar”: How Cobra Spell’s Sonia Anubis is keeping the L.A. ‘80s metal guitar flag flying high
- “Playability is where this guitar shines. This Strat is a player”: Fender Mike McCready Stratocaster review
- Bernie Marsden was British blues-rock's secret weapon – and his melodic, emotive approach to guitar solos is a must-learn
- “Nobody in Decca studios had ever witnessed somebody setting up their guitar and amp and playing at that volume. People in the canteen were complaining”: How Eric Clapton revolutionized electric guitar in the ‘60s
- CloudVocal’s EverSync wireless in-ear monitor system delivers high-quality, low-latency monitoring in a compact, pedalboard-friendly design
- NAMM 2024: “I don't have anything in my sonic world that's anything like it”: Keeley Electronics has released a new signature overdrive for Andy Timmons – and it’s left the virtuoso in “tone heaven”
- NAMM 2024: “We want to do for the guitar community what Fulltone has always done – make amazing products for working class guitar players”: Fulltone has been resurrected by Jackson Audio – and the OCD is coming back
- NAMM 2024: “A new era in acoustic guitar amplification”: L.R. Baggs innovates the acoustic pickup again with the HiFi Duet – a non-invasive pickup-and-mic system that mounts to your guitar using a sticker
- NAMM 2024: “For all of the original mojo and magic craved by the true believers”: EHX’s Double Anniversary Big Muff Pi delivers its first ‘big box’ Ramshead circuit since the 1970s – and sells-out in hours. Will there be more big boxes on the way?
- NAMM 2024: “A tribute to all the players who have made Taylor a part of their musical journey over the past half-century”: Taylor celebrates its 50th birthday in style with 3 elegant Anniversary Collection models
- January 23
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- Green Day, Ace Frehley and George Harrison's last Beatles guitar – only in the new Guitar World
- “Artfully aged by the Murphy Lab to match the look and feel of Kirk’s original”: Gibson’s Custom Shop takes on Kirk Hammett’s mod-heavy, “blacked-out” 1989 Les Paul Custom – and it’s safe to say it’s nothing like Greeny...
- “An extreme solution to a simple problem”: Joe Bonamassa challenges his noisy neighbors in the best way possible – by ripping through Smoke on the Water on a ‘59 Gibson Les Paul with a Dumble amp
- “When 18 and Life played back and I heard Scotti play the first three notes in the solo, I got chills. I called Jon Bon Jovi and said, 'Do you ever get chills listening to your own music?'”: Snake Sabo and Scotti Hill on Skid Row's massive debut album
- “Bass should stand on its own. It’s as powerful as the guitar”: Conrad Lant on his disdain for Ampeg SVTs and how he bought Andy Fraser’s Gibson EB-3 for £50 – “It was the exact one he played on All Right Now!”
- NAMM 2024: “Finally, an acoustic amp you can leave in your living room when company comes over”: Taylor debuts its own amp brand, Circa ’74 – complete with mid-century modern design, mahogany cabinets, and looks to kill
- “We were auditioning for bass players, but most of the guys who came in were too good. One day I just said, ‘What if I play bass?’” Shavo Odadjian on why he switched from guitar to the bass
- “Unconventional takes on high-tech shapes at an enticing price point”: Jackson launches its Concept Series, where angular designs and aggressive tones combine for monstrous results
- NAMM 2024: Martin's 2024 limited-edition collection brings Bitcoin back, drops a $50K anniversary guitar and partners with a prestigious watchmaker – to celebrate a train
- NAMM 2024: “The ultimate playing experience without compromise”: Blackstar issues fourth generation of its best-selling ID:Core practice amp
- NAMM 2024: “Hands-free control for the entire Spark family of smart amps” – Positive Grid’s colorful new Control X footswitch gives us expression pedal inputs – and serious Helix vibes. Could a Spark floor unit be in the offing?
- NAMM 2024: “Escape the cable clutter and connect to anything”: Positive Grid launches the Spark LINK, a tiny wireless guitar system
- NAMM 2024: “A groundbreaking fusion of hardware and software technologies”: Positive Grid’s Spark LIVE is a four channel, multi-instrument amp that aims to replace your band’s backline – and, possibly, your sound engineer
- Positive Grid Spark LINK wireless system review
- Positive Grid Spark LIVE review
- “All there was left for me in Minneapolis was to work for Prince, and I had no desire to – I’d heard too many stories. I got bored… I quit playing guitar for two years”: How Binky Griptite reinvented himself – and ended up playing with Amy Winehouse
- “Session players don’t get the credit they deserve. Some of the signature licks they come up with are ones people won’t know they wrote”: Brent Mason on why session guitarists deserve more respect, and how he became Nashville’s hottest hired gun
- “It’s like having a smartwatch display strapped to your headstock”: Taylor Beacon review
- “It looked cool – especially when you took acid… those horns looked like the devil!”: The Doors’ Robby Krieger on his love of the SG, studio accidents and a challenging move away from his signature fingerstyle
- How the Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress became the go-to flanger for David Gilmour and Andy Summers, and remained a pedalboard staple for nearly 50 years
- January 22
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- NAMM 2024: “A masterpiece in high-performance guitar for the modern era”: ESP modernizes its 1000 range guitars with EverTune and Fishman Fluence pickups
- “This is a Dinky that lives up to the legacy behind it”: Jackson Pro Plus Series Dinky DKAQ review
- One of the greatest things about the guitar is its capacity to emulate the nuances and expressiveness of the human voice – improve your phrasing now with this lesson in how make your playing more vocal
- “The message for tube nostalgists is clear: enjoy today what may not be here tomorrow”: Can the tube amp survive in the digital era?
- NAMM 2024: The world’s only pro-level foldable guitar range just got bigger as Ciari unveils P-90 Ascender models
- “Once they started doing paint on my guitars, I hated the way they sounded”: Nuno Bettencourt explains why he has always preferred his Washburn N4 guitars to be unfinished
- NAMM 2024: “Pairing technology with timeless style and tone”: Martin expands its revolutionary SC acoustic-electric line with new, top-of-the-line models
- NAMM 2024: “For players seeking the most hardcore performances imaginable”: ESP takes LP Junior-style guitars in a heavier direction with new LTD Eclipse range, featuring exclusive Seymour Duncan pickups
- “I remember running over to Carlos Santana and asking him to bless my pick to allow me to cross through the portal of his powers”: Porno For Pyros are NOT over – but Peter DiStefano already has a lifetime of tales from the band
- “I got a call from David Bowie’s people to record Let’s Dance. I became a big advocate of Stevie Ray Vaughan in the studio. Nobody else could play like him”: Session bass great Carmine Rojas shares the stories behind his awe-inspiring resume
- NAMM 2024: “It's heavy, thick, and unique. It feels great”: ESP brings Bill Kelliher’s long-awaited double-cut custom model to the masses with LTD Royal Shiva signature guitar
- “We are back!” Al Di Meola plays live for the first time since his onstage heart attack, returning to the songs – and the Gibson Les Paul – that first made his name
- NAMM 2024: “Keeps a guitarist’s gear safely organized, on display, and at the ready”: The gear furniture trend continues as On-Stage releases a workstation for keeping guitars, amps, pedals and more in one place
- January 20
- January 19
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- “The broken-in feel of an instrument with plenty of playing miles on it”: Charvel brings relic’d and nitro finishes to its standard range for the first time
- NAMM 2024: “These effects will bring your amp to the next level”: Vox has issued its first Valvenergy pedals in 4 years – and they’re said to be unlike any other stompboxes on the market
- Stratocaster vs Telecaster: What’s the difference between these legendary guitar siblings?
- “A stylish and functional way to proudly display gear”: Fender seeks to elevate the humble guitar and amp stand with new line of “gear furniture”
- NAMM 2024: “1967 is back!” Vox turns back the clocks with recreations of the first-ever production wah pedals
- “The perfect magnetic combination to unlock the full tonal potential of your Jazz Bass”: Fender’s Cobalt Chrome bass pickups might just be the answer to your 60-cycle hum woes
- NAMM 2024: “Voted the world’s best combination”: Glassjaw’s Justin Beck gets signature guitar AND bass models courtesy of Schecter
- “We have dreamt about expanding our storytelling into full-length feature films and this is only the beginning”: Gibson Films launches with hour-long Slash documentary
- “Distinctive and affordable”: Jackson’s new X Series Dinky DK1 guitars offer straightforward speed machines with complex finishes
- “The most accurate recreations of the legendary Patent Applied For humbucker pickups ever made”: Gibson has brought back its “holy grail” ‘59 PAF set – but it’s going to cost you $999
- “We didn’t realize we were breaking up as it was happening”: The Beatles intended to go back to their roots on Let It Be – instead, they documented the collapse of their magical creative partnership
- NAMM 2024: “The distinctive sonic punch of the larger, iconic amplifiers in a compact footprint”: Peavey introduces compact 20-watt version of its Classic tube amp combo without sacrificing tone
- NAMM 2024: “We’ve combined a decade of experience with that original mojo”: Revv celebrates 10 years of amp building with a revamp of its flagship Generator 120 – inspired by the original Revv prototype
- “No brand comes close to Suhr as far as quality. My guitar also has an actual Fender bridge, even if it’s challenging to keep in tune… I’ve been playing out of tune live for years anyway!” Fusion master Scott Henderson on why he’s not a jazz guitarist
- “Built for the player who won’t settle for anything except the absolute best in sound and performance”: Gretsch has completed its limited-edition Professional Collection – feast your eyes on the Quilt Classic Chet Atkins and Penguin models
- “Engineered for blazing guitar work”: Jackson brings its Randy Rhoads model to the mid-priced Pro Plus series, with some electrifying finishes
- Meet the Lightning Bar, the new Gibson Les Paul mod that might have just settled the top-wrapping debate once and for all
- “Guitar was harder than I thought, but things clicked once I learned Sweet Child O’ Mine… my teacher thought I’d want to learn Taylor Swift!” With help from Bumblefoot and Tracii Guns, Sierra Levesque, 18, stakes a claim as the future of rock ’n’ roll
- “An affordable way to harness a little bit of vintage mojo without breaking the bank”: Fender Vintera II ’70s Jaguar review
- “We joke about people that aren’t into this kind of music, and how it all sounds the same to them – it’s all ‘devil, devil, devil!’ – but heavy music brings a lot of people joy”: End Reign’s Domenic Romeo on the extreme-metal supergroup’s ripping debut
- January 18
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- “We tried to sell it and the guy in the shop said it was the worst guitar he’d ever seen in his life”: The Pretenders’ James Walbourne on a shocking first guitar, gear regrets and the big sounds of single coils
- “A passion project nearly two years in development”: Walrus Audio debuts the Meraki, the world’s only stereo analog dual delay
- “Ben Cote wanted a bottle opener on his strap, which is something every guitarist needs whether they know it or not!” Inside the rise of Fairfield Guitar Co., strap company to the stars
- “This is the sort of pedal you may wish to keep on all the time”: Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive review
- “These embody style and playability like no other”: Gretsch goes for gold with its latest limited-edition release – two drop-dead gorgeous Pristine LTD Electromatics
- “Enhances your tone and feel with little to no effort”: Misha Mansoor wants Horizon Devices’ new Clarity Compressor to be your new always-on pedal
- “After years of receiving requests for this famed instrument, the new Striped Series Shark returns”: EVH brings back Eddie Van Halen’s classic Shark and Circles models
- “Drawing influence from the customizations that gained popularity in the 1960s”: Squier pays homage to golden era guitar mods with sub-$500 limited-edition Classic Vibe models
- “Grin-inducing playing feel and performance”: Charvel drops the Super-Stock DKA22, a limited-edition stealth bomber shred stunner
- “Pro-level board control in a user-friendly package”: Fender’s Switchboard Effects Operator brings RJM’s sought-after switching magic to the masses
- “A ramblin’ companion for everything from bluesy porch pickin’ to speakeasy swingin’”: Are Gretsch’s new Jim Dandy models 2024’s budget acoustics to beat?
- “He looked at me and he goes, ‘You’re the only one that understands me. People think I’m an alien because of the way I play’”: Why Eddie Van Halen cried when he met Billie Joe Armstrong
- NAMM 2024: Ernie Ball Music Man just introduced the final instalment in the Joe Dart Artist Series… and it sold out in seconds
- NAMM 2024: A Tamagotchi guitar pedal that levels up with your playing? And it plays Snake and Space Invaders? Ground Control just dropped 2024’s wackiest stompbox
- “We didn’t expect to be playing gay pride festivals, but drag queens and DJs took to us… a great song is great, no matter who plays it”: How GayC/DC took AC/DC classics and “turned up the volume on the sex and aggression”
- “I couldn’t play the Hydra and I was in a lot of pain. Then things shifted into gear. I felt like I’d reached another dimension of performing”: Steve Vai on his Inviolate tour struggles, upcoming G3 reunion and first-ever music with Joe Satriani
- NAMM 2024: “Our homage to our legendary ’60s legacy”: The new Vox AC Hand-Wired Series promises to be the ultimate recreation of the iconic guitar amps used by everyone from Brian May to the Beatles
- Stop spending all your practice time on soloing: rhythm playing is even more important – and embellishing chords will seriously up your game
- March 2024 Guitar World lesson videos
- Laney expands its IRONHEART range with three Black Country Customs tube amps and a matching plugin – which epitomize power, versatility, and uncompromising tone
- NAMM 2024: “Not just an upgrade but a complete reinvention”: Vox debuts the amPlug3 travel amp in 7 classic guitar and bass amp-channeling forms
- January 17
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- “Slap bass got too technical. I stopped when it became all about triplets”: Preston Crump on gaining fame with Outkast and why he stopped playing slap bass
- NAMM 2024: “Redefining the expectations of what an affordable acoustic should be”: Martin “remasters” its X Series lineup
- NAMM 2024: “Designed to have a broader tonal range”: Magneto Guitars launches the Velvet Deluxe, a lightweight Les Paul-flavored electric guitar that aims to elevate single-cut tone
- “Designed to look and feel like a favorite garment”: He’s played it on stage for a number of years – now John Mayer’s matte black Silver Sky has finally been released to the masses
- “When you’re the bass player and it’s time for the solo, you go nuts, because you’ve been playing rhythm for everyone else for so long!” Tony Visconti on David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold The World
- “There’s more grunge and garage attitude here. Things can get quite nasty – in a very good way”: Guild Surfliner Deluxe review
- NAMM 2024: A live rig in a gigbag? Vox delivers the APC-1, a guitar with a built-in speaker, drum machine and effects unit, rendering the rest of your band redundant
- “When Noel asked me to join High Flying Birds, he said I could use any of his gear. I asked if he still had the Epiphone Sheraton, and he said, ‘Yeah.’ I said, ‘OK, I’ll join’”: Gem Archer on playing with Oasis – and both Gallagher brothers’ solo projects
- “When I hold her close to me, I immediately feel less anxious”: Epiphone’s signature WAXX Nighthawk Studio revives an underrated Gibson model, beloved by the French guitarist and producer
- “Having one ’board makes for less anxiety and lets me focus on what matters most”: Laur Joamets of Lore and Drivin’ & Cryin’ reveals what’s on his pedalboard
- “Anything that touches the string is God”: PRS has re-engineered the shape of its tuners – and the new design could have a game-changing impact on tone
- NAMM 2024: “A luxurious color that evokes the beginnings of heavy metal”: Orange Amps team up with Glenn Hughes for its first signature O Bass – and it's a dazzling purple
- “What bass would Neo play? An upright bass. He’s going to want to play some jazz. With Morpheus on drums. We’ll be a power trio with Agent Smith on keys”: We interviewed Keanu Reeves about bass guitar – and it was a musical conversation unlike any other
- “The strings I put on it cost more than the actual guitar”: Portishead guitarist Adrian Utley explains why he used a $5 junk shop guitar and a $10,000 Martin – in the same session
- “There are 8 people working full-time to review each and every one”: The Smashing Pumpkins receive 10,000 submissions for new guitarist role
- “Thundering his way into the Epiphone core lineup”: Rex Brown’s newest signature Thunderbird bass is here – and it’s the Pantera legend’s first-ever Epiphone model
- January 16
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- The neck of your dreams and a price to match – find out why the guitar scene’s budget hawks are raving about JET Guitars
- “Some bass parts are functional and some are creative: you don’t need to play Rachmaninoff when the band wants Al Green”: The man behind Elvis Costello’s finest albums recalls his life as a main Attraction
- NAMM 2024: “It's a Beetronics masterpiece, showcasing what we do best”: Beetronics’ new Abelha isn’t your ordinary fuzz pedal – it aims to capture the unique sounds of the Brazilian Tropicália movement from the 1970s
- “Explore a unique and wild sonic landscape”: Walrus Audio recruits tube expert Jim Hagerman for the Silt – a two-in-one harmonic fuzz pedal that has an actual preamp tube inside
- “Gibson is back in the amp business”: Gibson’s Falcon amps have landed – can the Mesa-made combos get their claws into the boutique amp market?
- “I wanna hear that mythical sound”: Joe Satriani has been struggling to nail Eddie Van Halen’s tone – so he’s having a special amp built for the Best of All Worlds tour
- “I want to hit every single note on an entire tour’s worth of gigs – then I want to write a symphony that people will listen to for a long time”: Ryujin shredder Ryoji Shinomoto has lofty ambitions – and his astonishing technique could make them a reality
- “I’m trying to chase a sound I’m hearing in my head – and basically, whatever everybody else is doing, I try to run away from”: Stevie Ray Vaughan inspired him to get serious. Now Ariel Posen is blazing his own trail
- “Tony Hicks from the Hollies popped into the studio and said, ‘That’s my guitar.’ I thought, ‘F**k me, I’ve bought a stolen Les Paul!’” Steve Diggle of the Buzzcocks on the making of their 1978 punk classic, Another Music in a Different Kitchen
- “Still the ultimate suite of software guitar tools”: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro review
- “I tend to think if you wouldn’t sing it, don’t play it”: Session player turned Mamas Gun guitar slinger Terry Lewis on the enduring majesty of the 335 semi-hollow and what he learned from Larry Carlton
- January 15
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- “If you’re a beginner then you’ve lucked out with this app. The pathway is simply superb”: Gibson: Learn & Play Guitar app review
- “I’m still looking for my original SG. If anyone out there knows anything about that, please call me. Seriously!” Robby Krieger is trying to track down his stolen Gibson SG Special used on Light My Fire and the Doors’ most iconic material
- NAMM 2024: “Taking octaver capabilities to the next level”: Mooer Audio hypes up its new pitch-shifter and harmony pedals with its latest X2 Series releases
- “It’s a little bit softer and you get a different attack”: Matteo Mancuso took the guitar world by storm with his otherworldly playing style – now he’s revealed the secret to his flawless fingerpicking tone: fake nails
- Ditching the pick adds a whole new set of colors to your guitar palette – and these 10 fingerstyle jazz licks will class up your playing (even if you’re not a jazz guitarist)
- NAMM 2024: “A rich and articulate old-school tone that embodies the sound of mid-century New York”: D’Angelico’s iconic flagship archtop guitars are back – and “better than ever”
- “A lot of people think I came out of the womb playing guitar. I’ve been around it forever because of my dad”: Meet Amber Wild, the twin-guitar rock supernova featuring Evan Stanley
- “An ultra-fast guitar that you’re going to want to burn many fretboard miles on”: Jackson American Series Virtuoso review
- “The Rise solo was anointed by whatever DNA I grabbed from Edward that day. Whatever kiss he gave me on the lips, I went back into the studio and brought it with me”: Nuno Bettencourt unpicks the guitar solo that kept Van Halen’s fire burning
- NAMM 2024: “Our master builder had a huge smile on his face stringing up the prototype”: Aristides brings EverTune stability to multiscale guitars for the first time with new signature bridge system
- “If I’ve written a section for an epic ‘John Petrucci on a mountain’ solo, I’d rather do my best impression for the self-satisfaction”: Plini maintains he’s “still a greedy lead player at heart” – so why did he give a solo to Tosin Abasi on his new EP?
- “Most of you constantly interpret it wrong and then blame me for your version of what you think my art is”: Machine Gun Kelly seemingly comes out in defense of his new Schecter Razorblade model – perhaps the most divisive signature guitar of recent times
- January 13
- January 12
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- Black Keys, Black Crowes and the next in line for Mastodon’s mind-expanding metal crown: this week’s essential guitar tracks
- 13 essential things to learn when you first start playing the guitar
- NAMM 2024: “I truly believe it’s a game changer”: Laney go big with the world’s most powerful FRFR cabinet, a 2,600W 4x12 that’s almost as loud as a jetplane taking off
- NAMM 2024: “If ’80s hair metal on a Gretsch Country Gentleman is your thing, who are we to stop you?” DiMarzio supercharges the Filter’Tron format with 3 new humbuckers – including a Super Distor’Tron
- NAMM 2024: “The first time in the history of guitar amplification”: Laney breaks new ground as its new BCC Ironheart tube amps are released alongside a matching plugin
- New Year, new gear: Score massive discounts in the epic Fender, Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend and Positive Grid January sales
- “We’d love to be plugging PRS guitars into Mesa/Boogie amps, but for now it’s an old, worn-out Gibson Les Paul Studio”: Return to Dust’s brand of grunge metal has millions of views on TikTok. Now they face the challenges of entering the real world
- “Ozzy knew that I was Randy’s favorite guitar player. The only way I could think of getting out of the gig was by making outrageous demands”: Why Michael Schenker turned down the opportunity of a lifetime with Ozzy Osbourne after Randy Rhoads died
- NAMM 2024: “A high output humbucker with a sizzly bite”: Seymour Duncan and Brandon Ellis unleash the Dyad, a “high-detailed” bridge humbucker that’s flipped upside-down
- “Our love letter to rock ’n’ roll”: Southern rock icons The Black Crowes return with their first album in 15 years
- Short-scale vs long-scale bass: what's the difference?
- “It was a huge risk – to this day I’m wondering if I pulled it off or not. But it was how I felt inside. I didn’t want picture-perfect solos”: Kirk Hammett reflects on his all-improv lead approach – and explains why he doesn’t sweat onstage mistakes
- “If we were told these two Les Pauls were made in completely different factories, we’d believe it”: Gibson Les Paul Modern Figured and Modern Lite review
- January 11
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- “Lars said, ‘You’re not really used to this kind of music, are you?’” Les Claypool on his failed Metallica audition
- “I have a couple of skills in this world: I can play guitar pretty good and I can spot a fake guitar”: Joe Bonamassa reveals one common fake ‘59 Les Paul ‘Burst scam – and how you can avoid it
- “Alex Winter and I would have two-bass jams when we made Bill & Ted – I won’t say there wasn’t any weed involved…” Keanu Reeves recalls his Wyld bass duels with his excellent co-star
- “Affordable, gig-worthy stompboxes that bring pro-level polish and timeless tones to any rig”: Universal Audio UAFX Evermore, Heavenly, Orion and 1176 review
- “Do not try to play them like Edward – because you can’t”: Steve Vai says this is the secret to nailing Eddie Van Halen’s guitar parts in front of a live audience
- “We never went into this band with any expectations, so we’ve never been disappointed… We just love making music together”: Teenage Fanclub on fame, perseverance and ice cream with Nirvana
- “My dad showed that the bass can play an equal role in melodic and rhythmic invention”: Heavenly Cream mastermind Malcolm Bruce doesn’t use Jack Bruce’s gear, but he can tell you how to easily get his father’s sound
- “I don't know if I can play like I played back then”: Alex Lifeson discusses how arthritis is affecting his playing – and why returning to the road might not be wise
- “If I’m working with another person watching me, I feel like I have to make them happy. When I’m alone, if I f**k up, I can say ‘F**k it’ and go home”: George Lynch is done with big studios – and he won’t build a Mr. Scary guitar for Michael Sweet
- Everything guitar players need to know about reverb, from the history of the effect to how to get the best from your pedals
- “I think it’s the challenge right now, as it is for a lot of musicians”: Pete Townshend pinpoints the one thing Instagram players get wrong – and reveals who his favorite social media guitarist is
- Fender Jaguar vs Mustang: What’s the difference?
- January 10
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- Best dreadnought guitars 2024: big body acoustics for powerful tone
- NAMM 2024: “Able to capture the essence of what we bring to music” – Neural DSP crushed it with Archetype: Gojira. Now the go-to metal plugin is about to become Quad Cortex compatible
- The doublestop is a neo-soul guitar staple – learn how it can add harmonies to your solos and spice up your chord transitions
- “As a kid, I became fascinated: blues, banjo playing, English traditional music, Scots music”: How Martin Simpson is reworking trad Appalachian standards and turning them into folk guitar masterworks
- “A great and affordable option for players seeking a stripped-down hot rod shred guitar”: EVH Frankenstein Relic Series review
- NAMM 2024: Ibanez introduces 2 handy new pedalboard problem-solvers – and a limited-edition celebratory Tube Screamer
- Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 380
- NAMM 2024: “It should be in every musician’s gigbag” – Featuring a rechargeable battery and a rubber sound shield, has Snark just revolutionized the clip-on tuner?
- “An all-analog tone-shaping machine”: Source Audio and Shoe Pedals team up for the Zio, a preamp and DI pedal designed specifically for bass
- “A headless guitar pioneer”: Paul Masvidal signs with Kiesel Guitars as Ola Strandberg champions the Cynic guitarist’s decade-plus tenure with his firm
- “Ready for flight?” Gibson teases the return of its cult-classic guitar amps with the help of Mesa/Boogie
- Magnum guitarist and founder Tony Clarkin dies aged 77
- “Eric Clapton’s a great guitarist, but Gary Moore’s a more exciting player”: Jack Bruce on the brilliance of Gary Moore and why Cream’s real chemistry was between Bruce and Ginger Baker
- "The Sitka spruce dreadnought body provides plenty of projection, with a naturally balanced tonality throughout": Taylor 110e acoustic guitar review
- NAMM 2024: Ibanez gives one of 2023’s best-selling acoustics – the Tim Henson-inspired FRH10N – a sleek new makeover
- “Tommy Bolin said, ‘Joe Walsh quit the James Gang. He wants to start a new band, and I told him you’re the guy’”: Kenny Passarelli has played with rock royalty, but it’s his recordings with Bolin that would “blow you away” – if he could let you hear them
- “I had two viable options: to be in Megadeth or not. I chose my personal life. No regrets”: Kiko Loureiro opens up on what he meant by “freedom,” how he trained up his replacement, and why he suggested Marty Friedman should return
- January 9
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- “[We want] to recover the guitars and sell them to people who actually want to play them”: $80,000 worth of vintage guitars have been stolen from Guitar House of Tulsa. Now the owner – and Joe Bonamassa – are appealing for your help
- “I had a couple of passes at the solo, and that was it. Keith’s playing great – and it’s unusual to hear me playing at full acceleration outside of Led Zeppelin”: Jimmy Page on his surprise Rolling Stones collaboration, and the gear that made rock history
- NAMM 2024: “Sustainably taking the art of guitar manufacturing to new heights and new sounds”: Martin ushers in a new era of acoustic guitar innovation with the GPCE Inception – and the results could be game-changing
- “I don’t like outward complexity – I enjoy being stealthy about it, and Steely Dan are beacons for that”: Meet Sam Vallen, the shredder swiping yacht rock chords and turning them into one of 2024’s best prog-metal albums with Caligula’s Horse
- “It’s been interesting doing the avatars so far... it’ll take some time to get the imagery where we want it to be”: Tommy Thayer looks to a virtual future with Kiss, and considers “options on the table” because he’s not ready to retire yet
- Best Jackson guitars 2024: Our pick of high-performance Jackson guitars for all budgets
- “Fully equipped to maximize the acoustic potential of the instrument”: Ibanez joins the secondary soundhole movement with the AE Performer series – which debuts innovative new A.I.R. Port system
- “NGL I thought this was a Chibson post at first”: Schecter’s utterly wild Machine Gun Kelly signature guitar, the Razor Blade, channels some familiar marketing – and the comedy brand is not taking it lying down
- "It’s built to a very high standard, and will no doubt last a long time on anyone’s board": Korg Pitchblack X review
- “A stunning-looking guitar that covers pretty much any musical base”: Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1963 SG Custom review
- “I still love that idea of a solo singer-songwriter being able to communicate with just their guitar and vocal”: Christina Martin on making the leap from cheap Gretsches to fancy Duesenbergs, and why pedals stress her out
- “Significant upgrades” designed for “a completely new group of players”: Ibanez revamps its RG and S collections for NAMM 2024
- “Wherever we travel, people say how important we were in terms of influencing them. When I was growing up, there was only Suzi Quatro to look up to”: Girlschool’s Kim McAuliffe and Jackie Chambers on 45 years of a great British rock institution
- “Open the gate of your reservoir of inspiration”: Ibanez adds 3 eye-catching new finishes – and reintroduces an upgraded Seymour Duncan HSS configuration – to its AZ Premium family for NAMM 2024
- January 8
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- “It's fun, it's loud, it's tricky in a few spots”: Guthrie Govan’s virtuosic trio the Aristocrats have just debuted their first new song in five years – and it’s about a duck going drinking
- “The SA-126 is way beyond a typical semi-hollow. There’s nothing else like that guitar. It’s like a hot rod, but with a souped-up modern engine”: Wolfgang Van Halen on building the supersized sound of Mammoth II (with some help from Eddie’s Frankenstein)
- “Playing with Victor Wooten? It’s always as much fun as a challenge. But I quickly learned that you should go first when it comes to soloing!” From the Allman Brothers Band to Dave Grohl, Oteil Burbridge has played with them all
- “A true master at work”: Visionary luthier turns AI-generated design into reality with NAMM 2024 showpiece
- “I’ve always found them to be extraordinarily versatile guitars – you can play any kind of music on them”: Rockabilly great Darrel Higham on why he uses only Gretsch guitars – and that time he bought a 6120 he found lying around Jeff Beck’s house
- MXR Joshua Ambient Echo review – a delay pedal that gives you the Edge, with a range extending from the traditional to the experimental
- “I think about Van Halen a lot. I have to play some treacherous licks, so I need the right kind of inspiration. I’m overplaying to an extent – it’s gotta be huge and bombastic”: Brendon Small on writing Dethklok’s brutal final act
- “Hang tight everyone. It’s gonna be epic!” MXR’s Randy Rhoads signature Distortion+ pedal has finally been revealed – but it won’t be ready for NAMM
- Del Palmer, Kate Bush’s bassist, engineer and former partner, dies aged 71
- “Are you improvising? Damn, you’re good!” Kiko Loureiro has released his first music since leaving Megadeth: a “harmonically weird” song he wrote with Plini in just one day
- The Smashing Pumpkins are looking for a new guitarist – anyone can apply, but securing the position won’t be easy. Here are 5 things you need to nail to get the gig
- “You’re always trying to get rid of buzzes when recording, so I came up with the idea of trying to make them groove instead”: How Victor Wooten created a groove without touching his bass guitar
- “My jaw was on the floor so many times!” Steve Vai once tipped Matteo Mancuso for greatness – now the two virtuosos have finally shared the stage in one of the most technically dazzling jams you’ll ever see
- Buy a qualifying Taylor and get a travel-size model free – but hurry, there’s just one week left to go…
- January 7
- January 5
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- “I don’t want to string people or myself along any further”: Rage Against the Machine are finished, according to drummer Brad Wilk
- “They counted me in and I ripped through the first solo that came to mind. They stopped the tape, and Paul Stanley went, ‘Dude… will you wear high heels?’” Steve Farris on his close call with Kiss before he formed Mr. Mister (who he might rejoin)
- NAMM 2024: “Something cool this way comes”: Jack White is teasing his most affordable Third Man guitar gear yet – a collaboration with budget brand Donner
- “When that first one came off the line, I grabbed it… and it was terrible”: The first Fender Stratocaster builds had to be junked due to their horrendous tremolos
- “I never really loved just playing chords. They eat up so much space, sonically and rhythmically. Doing things that were sparse was more effective to me”: Dante DeCaro on firing up his Jazzmasters for his Hot Hot Heat return
- Ever seen Vs like these? Gibson expands its One of One Custom Shop family with three new-look Flying Vs – giving a surf-y SoCal twist to one of its most enduring rock ‘n’ roll designs
- “It’s a real kick to know these great guitar players as contributors to the legacy of Grand Funk”: Bruce Kulick retires from Grand Funk Railroad, with Bob Seger guitarist Mark Chatfield taking his place
- NAMM 2024: all the latest guitar news, rumors and predictions from the greatest gear show on Earth
- “It's good to see him back writing songs, and f**king good ones too”: Britpop’s greatest guitarist and vocalist join forces as John Squire evokes classic Stone Roses on Liam Gallagher’s latest single
- “I’ve used 4x12 cabinets and heavy Marshall heads, but it almost felt unnecessary”: Jake Kiszka explains why he only used combo amps on Greta Van Fleet’s last album
- “In trying to make this huge sound, she ended up with this ‘one-person band’ approach that was completely different to the guitarists that’d gone before”: Jon Gomm on how Joni Mitchell changed progressive acoustic guitar forever
- “I was playing at three times the speed that I normally play at”: Pete Townshend resisted buying “heavy metal” guitars for decades – but he just got his first Jackson at the age of 78… and loves it
- Jimi Hendrix smashed the barriers between lead and rhythm guitar with his revolutionary chord work. Learn how the most influential guitarist of them all worked his voodoo style with this essential chord lesson
- January 4
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- “When someone wants to rehearse before the session, that’s the kiss of death”: Watch Lee Sklar’s playthrough of Steve Lukather’s Stab in the Back
- Suhr’s Classic S Vintage Limited Edition guitar and SL68 MkII amp offer up “warm tones of the past with the flexibility and modern upgrades top players desire”
- “He was a superb craftsman who loved what he did”: Tony Iommi pays tribute to ‘Old Boy’ SG luthier John Diggins, who has died
- “I've always played with a pick, but up until the fifth Foo Fighters record, I never played downstrokes”: How Nate Mendel changed the way he played bass to “support Dave’s songs as best as possible”
- Tired? Bored? Small hands? These are the top 8 excuses for avoiding guitar practice – and how to beat them
- 10 mistakes every beginner guitarist makes
- “I thought bringing Marty Friedman back would be amazing”: When Kiko Loureiro left Megadeth, he suggested Dave Mustaine rehire Marty Friedman to fill his spot
- Download and stream the audio from Guitar Techniques 357
- NAMM 2024: “All the headroom you could ever desire” – EarthQuaker Devices’ Blumes brings chunked-up Plumes tones to the bass world, with the firm’s first ever bass overdrive pedal
- NAMM 2024: “An important moment in the evolution of the Quad Cortex”: After years of waiting, Neural DSP has finally launched a free dedicated desktop controller for its Quad Cortex multi-effects pedal
- “The process with Robert was so intense – I feel like I helped create almost a new genre with King Crimson with each piece of music we made”: Trey Gunn on what he learned from Robert Fripp – and how to tame the Warr Guitar
- “Django Reinhardt was our god – I played a Selmer Maccaferri-style guitar, grew a mustache, wore a suit... the whole thing”: Big Thief’s Buck Meek names 10 guitarists who shaped his sound
- “People think his playing is all about the big riffs, but I always loved his jazzy playing – listen to Planet Caravan. You can hear a lot of passing tones”: Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt says there’s way more to Tony Iommi’s guitar style than riffs alone
- Get your acoustic guitar sounding its best by solving these common saddle and bridge pin problems
- January 3
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- “A must-have accessory for acoustic guitar players”: Meet the Fret37 S1 guitar stand – a new gizmo that attaches to the body of an acoustic in a bid to eliminate the need for larger stands
- “I’m going to commit sacrilege by joining in!” Footage of Brian May and Tony Iommi jamming together finally surfaces as the Queen legend solos over Black Sabbath’s Paranoid in this exclusive clip
- “A lot of kids think drop-tuning is this new thing that just came out and it’s like, ‘No way, Jimi Hendrix was doing that stuff a long time ago!’” Eric Gales on the lasting influence and innovations of the ultimate electric guitar icon
- Unseen Led Zeppelin footage appears from the band’s record-breaking 1977 set at the Pontiac Silverdome
- NAMM 2024: “Making the most of every note”: Dean continues its resurgence with Fishman-loaded neck-thru Exile Select as it brings back the Floyd Rose
- Master the way of the exploding guitar in this lesson on the technique and abundant creativity of cult shred icon Mr Fastfinger
- Think metal guitars can’t handle jazz? Cecil Alexander just shredded a set of Wes Montgomery classics on a Jackson Soloist – and his tone has guitarists raving
- “These bones don’t have the cartilage any more, so they’re very painful. Rather than roll over, I’m like, ‘No, I still want to play’”: Steve Morse is plagued with pain when playing guitar – so he innovated a new string mute to help him adapt his technique
- “I feel like if you have an expensive amp, you can make any guitar sound good”: Robert Jon & The Wreck’s Henry James Schneekluth on his modded Epiphone workhorse, his best gear buys – and a Dragon Tele that lacks fire
- I love the sound of a good neck pickup – but practicing on the bridge pickup has made me a better guitarist
- January 2
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- The world’s most influential guitar gear designers: meet the pioneers behind the innovations that changed the electric guitar forever
- “He would probably look at my guitar playing and think, ‘You’re a moron!’” Dave Matthews explains how Robert Fripp inspired his unconventional fretboard approach
- Anatomy of a BOSS pedal: 10 ingenious design features that changed stompboxes forever
- NAMM 2024: MXR’s all-new Joshua Ambient Echo delay pedal “isn’t just a delay” – it’s a U2-inspired pedalboard powerhouse “expertly concocted for those who seek atmospheric perfection”
- Police searching for man who stole a $3,000 Gretsch electric guitar by swapping it for a broken acoustic
- “I've been working in the studio, writing and doing plenty of stuff”: Tony Iommi reveals he is cooking up some “really good” new music for 2024
- “Eric Clapton played with a stately authority. It’s missing in guitar today. It seems every great player has to play very fast. It can be distasteful, honestly”: Scott Holiday says Slowhand’s slow hand is still the gold standard for expressive playing
- “Things had to change for everyone involved”: Arch Enemy part ways with Jeff Loomis and announce his replacement
- The 20 greatest bass solos of all time – from the fastest ‘lead bass guitarist’ to the only bass solo James Jamerson ever recorded
- “I was worried my Magnatone was going to be too much, but Neil’s little Fender Deluxe is loud as f**k. That thing is tiny but mighty”: Micah Nelson is son of Willie Nelson and plays guitar for Neil Young. Here’s what he learned from those elder statesmen
- “I’ve never had a guitar lesson. I was born with a certain technique that many people, namely Tommy Thayer, can’t duplicate”: Kiss guitar icon Ace Frehley on why new album 10,000 Volts is the best he’s ever made – and a wake-up call for his ex-bandmates
- January 1
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- “If a modern player delivered a Jimmy Page solo, they’d get crucified”: Nita Strauss discusses the Led Zeppelin icon’s unique ability to play the right thing in any situation
- “People who play solidbody guitars don’t have this happen. The whole thing shakes. You feel it. It’s the best thing in the world, for me”: Brian Setzer on his lifelong love of Gretsch guitars
