Latest articles by Chris Gill
“A classic ’70s hardtail”: Fender 70th Anniversary Vintera II Antigua Stratocaster review
This hardtail beauty marks the Strat’s big 7-0 in style – provided you like Antigua
Is the Explorer still Gibson’s most underrated electric guitar?
The Explorer was a little bit radical for 1958 but popularized by Clapton, Hetfield, the Edge, Rick Derringer and Skynyrd, this all-angled shape came into its own. Does it sound different to other Gibsons? Debatable. But heck, it looks cool
“Faithful reproductions at a affordable prices”: Warm Audio Warm Bender and RingerBringer review
Warm Audio's latest hot plate of vintage-inspired effects pedals presents us with a three-circuit Tone Bender-style fuzz and an all-analog Moog-inspired ring mod – and an abundance of mojo for our 'boards
“An ideal first mic for anyone configuring a home studio”: Rode NT1 Signature Series review
Super-affordable, low noise, and it can handle whatever firepower your amp is going to throw at it – the NT1 Signature Series is one magic mic
“A drum machine for dummies?”: DigiTech SDRUM Strummable Drums review
DigiTech brings back the pedal that allows you to create drum sounds via your guitar
“The koa version’s beauty is much more than skin deep”: Taylor 222ce-K DLX review
Koa is a Goldilocks tonewood positioned between spruce and mahogany – and this all-koa grand concert is a truly exquisite acoustic that presents real value for fingerpickers
The best cheap electric ever? Why Jimmy Page, Tom Verlaine and Eric Clapton loved the Danelectro Shorthorn
The super-affordable guitar with the basic build became a cult classic, beloved by rock players, slide maestros and guitarists of all styles. All hail the Shorthorn
“A semi-acoustic with aggressive character and punch that outshines many solidbody designs”: EVH SA-126 Special review
Wolfgang Van Halen’s new signature model ushers in a new era of the hot-rodded super-semi – and it might just be one of the most versatile rock machines on the market today
The Tube Screamer that Stevie Ray Vaughan really used – and why it may not be the one you expect
The iconic Ibanez overdrive pedal SRV used to create his timeless tone – and the settings he used to do it
“A monster for blazing lead and solo tones that bite through the mix”: Keeley Electronics Angry Orange, Blues Disorder and Super Rodent review
Keeley’s 4-in-1 overdrive and distortion pedals offer a compelling combination of distinct effects and voices in one box
“An impressive collection of effects that cost a little more than $1 each”: Line 6 HX One review
More than 250 top-class HX effects models in a compact pedal? You can only use one at a time, but this could still be the pedalboard power-up you’ve been waiting for
How the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier defined the high-gain guitar sound of the 1990s
Originally crafted for the hair metal crowd, but only finished after the grunge tidal wave, the Dual Rectifier was nonetheless an era-defining success
Endorphin.es Golden Master Multiband Mastering Processor review
Placing the multi-band processing power of its Golden Master eurorack module into a pedal, Endorphin.es offers guitarists the studio-quality EQ, compression and mid/side processing you never knew you needed
The story of Van Halen’s 1984 – the Flying V, the synths and the end of the David Lee Roth era
Creative differences led to Roth’s departure the following year, but 1984 found the band firing on all cylinders, as Eddie Van Halen embraced his pop sensibilities while retaining the musical adventurism that made him the greatest of all time
“Damn close to Lifeson’s late ‘70s/early ‘80s sounds”: Lerxst CHI head and cab review
A lower-powered version of Alex Lifeson’s superlative Omega tube amp, the CHI could facilitate your guitar’s passage to Bangkok
Jackson Pro Plus Dinky MDK HT7 MS review
Multi-scale madness in a go-faster hot orange colorway, this weaponized 7-string is not for gentle turnarounds and fingerstyle folk. But for metal and shred players? holy moly...
“Pristine with warmth and definition… and the output level was more than loud enough for club stages”: Seymour Duncan PowerStage 100 Stereo review
Meet the pedalboard power amp with ample power for gigs, an excellent EQ, and everything you need to live your stereo wet/dry/wet live rig dreams
“More of an instrument than an effects processor, it creates strange and beautiful sonic textures”: SOMA Cosmos Drifting Memory Station review
Ambient guitar soundscapists, your spaceship has come in...
The smallest, the simplest, the best? Why the MXR Phase 90 remains a pedalboard classic, beloved by EVH and Gilmour enthusiasts the world over
Famously used by Eddie Van Halen, David Gilmour and Steve Hackett, this single-knobbed phaser pedal has never been out of style, with a chewy psychedelic sound that can't be beat
The Gibson ES-335 has been played by greats including Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Larry Carlton – here’s why guitarists can’t get enough of the iconic semi-hollow
Since 1958, the ES-335 has caught players’ imaginations as only great instruments can
“A robust meat-and-potatoes amp that can survive daily gigs, performs well in the studio and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg”: Peavey Classic 20 Combo review
Revamped and downsized in all the right places, the Peavey Classic Series delivers bluechip tube tones at blue collar prices
“A just-right balance between pure, unadulterated vintage tube tone and modern conveniences”: Gibson Falcon 20 review
This sweet-sounding tube combo puts Gibson's amp range back on its perch
“Strat connoisseurs should find that the pickups deliver the tonal qualities of their dreams”: Ernie Ball Music Man Luke 4 SSS review
The EBMM x Steve Lukather collab celebrates a landmark anniversary with a triple-single coil model that is ridiculously effective and well put together
“Just like driving a Plexi Super Lead flat out, but accessible at lower volume levels – and won’t cause permanent ear damage”: Universal Audio UAFX Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp review
UA sought to capture the tone and feel of one of the most legendary guitar amps of all time in a pedal – and the Lion nails the brief
“It sounds as good as ever, with impressive volume output and projection, rich, reverb-like resonance, brisk treble and sweet, sonorous midrange”: Taylor GS Mini Sapele review
The high-end acoustic guitar specialist has done the impossible once again, serving up a small-bodied acoustic with a huge voice, with a top build at an inflation-beating price. Remarkable
