Latest articles by Chris Gill
“An investment-grade, pro-quality guitar”: Taylor Gold Label 814e SB review
The American guitar giant delivers a 4K Dolby Atmos version of a classic flat-top with a new Super Auditorium body style and tone to spare
Davey Johnstone's most beloved guitar was once a piece of upscale decor for his superstar bandmate
Johnstone did end up with the '50s-era beauty in the end, though not for a happy reason
“A great choice for guitarists seeking an affordable semi-hollow that looks and sounds different”: D’Angelico Premier SS review
Because a super-classy, versatile semi doesn't have to break the bank
Played by Rick Derringer and Aerosmith, effortlessly cool, the B.C. Rich Mockingbird was the ultimate ’70s guitar
A precursor to the pointy shapes of ’80s guitar design, the Mockingbird bridges two worlds of extreme design and vintage class
“A sophisticated ambient soundscape-generating device that’s like an instrument unto itself”: Mooer Ocean Machine II review
Devin Townsend’s delay, reverb and looper makes a spectacular return – and it’s the pedalboard sequel we’ve all been waiting for
How Jeff Beck’s Blow by Blow triumphed against the odds to change instrumental guitar forever
50 years on, Blow by Blow remains an inspirational force – a turning point for Beck and guitar-led music in general
“This may be the ultimate Superstrat-Tele hybrid”: Caparison Dellinger-JSM V2 review
Killswitch Engage’s Joel Stroetzel has debuted a signature guitar that presents itself as a miracle of high-performance guitar design – but it ain’t cheap
“A great way to get maximum bang for your buck”: TC Electronic Plethora X1 TonePrint Loader review
TC Electronic has a chameleon pedal for your ’board that can be (almost) anything you like
How a teenaged Wolfgang Van Halen helped bring Van Halen back from the brink
In 2008, Eddie and Wolfgang Van Halen sat down with GW to discuss how the latter came to join the band, the euphoria of their first show together, and the moment Wolfgang first heard Hot for Teacher
“The perfect affordable choice”: Martin D-X2E Brazilian 12-string review
The X Series promises classic 12-string chime with a solid spruce top and onboard pickup/preamp and the look of the most sought-after tonewood of all time. But does it all add up?
Why the Fender Esquire remains a stone-cold classic
Loved by Billy Gibbons, Steve Cropper and Jeff Beck, the Fender Esquire is one of those guitars that have stood the test of time and proved that sometimes one pickup is all you need
The highlights of the Jeff Beck guitar auction – from Seymour Duncan’s Tele-Gib hybrid to his Oxblood Gibson Les Paul
Christie’s Jeff Beck Auction offers a revealing look at numerous iconic instruments from the guitar hero’s entire career – from the Yardbirds to Johnny Depp
In praise of the Champ, Bronco and Vibro Champ – how Fender's compact tube amps became studio MVPs
Countless classic recordings have been blessed with the hot tube mojo of a 1964 black-panel Fender Champ and its descendants, and it’s a sound that remains a studio superpower to this day
From the Beatles to the Stones, Johnny Marr and Radiohead, why everyone loves the Epiphone Casino
It was the sound of the British Invasion, of Lennon’s Revolution, and it brings us jangle and bite in equal measure. We pay tribute to the E230TD/TDV’s golden years
“The tonal character and responsiveness is indeed quite tubular”: Vox Valvenergy 2nd Series pedals review
Compact pedals with real tubes and real tube energy – are these the missing link between your guitar and amp? We give the Valvenergy 2nd Series pedals a test run
“A luxurious axe that’s much more than a bare-bones Junior model”: ESP LTD Deluxe EC-01FT review
This mid-priced single-cut offers a simple single-pickup drive – but a whole lot of tones to sniff out
Eddie Van Halen on the time Billy Corgan played through his rig – and why his setup shocked the Smashing Pumpkins frontman
Finding EVH's rig almost impossible to wrangle, Corgan figured, mistakenly, that there was something he could quickly disable to tame it
Loved by Nuno Bettencourt, Jeff Beck and Kurt Cobain, the ProCo Rat graduated from dank basements to the world’s biggest albums
How the Rat changed the world of distortion for guitarists of all stripes, from hard rockers and metalheads to jazz cats, too
Best electric guitars under $500 2025: maximum tone, minimum price
Our pick of the best guitars under $500, with top choices from Squier, Epiphone, Schecter, and more
“Outrageously excellent value”: Squier Affinity Series Starcaster Deluxe review
Is it time this electric expanded its cult appeal and became a mainstream blockbuster? Because this is one cool – and affordable – semi
“Dial in a wide range of tones with minimal effort”: Reverend Billy Corgan Signature Drop Z review
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman's latest signature collab with Reverend is built for drop tunings. Is this the ultimate grunge machine?
“A supreme upgrade of the classic ES-335 design, with exceptionally more versatile tonal options”: Gibson ES Supreme review
The ES-335 gets an upscale makeover with ebony fingerboards, figured maple and an expanded range of sounds, but is it worth the extra outlay? We try one in each color to see what's what
“Luscious high-gain distortion and tight-but-mammoth bottom end”: Peavey Invective .112 combo review
Peavey's Misha Mansoor tube amp collab is reimagined as a 1x12 combo, with an expanded clean channel and all the the gain the 21st-century metal player needs
“Certain to become a standard. A very versatile first mic”: Shure SM4 Home Recording Microphone review
Looking for that first mic to complete your home studio setup? The SM4 is a high-performance candidate that is a versatile option for electric guitars, acoustics and vocals
Tool's Adam Jones on taking cues from Meshuggah, unorthodox pedals, and the trick he learned from Robert Fripp
On the eve of the release of 10,000 Days, Tool's tone titan sat down for a chat with GW about the reclusive quartet's creative process, “the Melvins school of writing music,” and why he absolutely, positively, did not use an EBow on the album
