Latest articles by Chris Gill
Hologram Electronics Microcosm review
Combining elements of delay, reverb, looping and modulation, the Microcosm is an entrancing introduction to the creative possibilities of the “granular effects pedal”
The Boneshakers’ Randy Jacobs: “Playing in the studio is cool, but playing in front of people is the magic... To me, that is everything”
The acclaimed soul/funk/rock/blues guitarist joins forces with powerhouse blues singer Jenny Langer on One Foot in the Groove
In praise of the 1984-85 Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+, the high-gain boutique amp behind rock and metal’s holy grail tones
It's the amp of James Hetfield's rhythm tone and Steve Lukather's leads, and as it ascends into the digital afterlife as a Neural DSP plugin, we revisit the legendary design to unpack its magic
The Beatles unplugged: a guide to the Fab Four's acoustic arsenal
Yes, the Rickenbackers, the Casino and the Gretsch are legendary, but the mop-top's favorite flat-tops were similarly crucial to their sound. Here we detail the most important acoustics in their collection
Jackson American Series Soloist SL3 review
Jackson opens its new US production line series with an electric guitar that defines the high-performance brand
Strymon V2 blueSky Reverberator and V2 El Capistan DTape Echo review
Two favorites from the Strymon canon of high-functioning digital effects pedals return, new and improved, with discrete JFET input circuits promising ultra-low noise. Time to upgrade?
What guitar strings did the Beatles use? Investigating the flatwound vs roundwound debate
Just what did George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney string their guitars with – and when did they make the switch from flatwounds to roundwounds?
How to replicate the Beatles’ classic tones using today’s affordable guitars, basses and effects pedals
Because sourcing the vintage gear is almost impossible, financially and practically, we've put together a list of gear that's on the market today that will help you nail the Fab Four's sound
How the Danelectro/Coral Electric Sitar captivated rock and metal guitarists from Metallica and Steve Howe to Steve Vai and Eddie Van Halen
With its buzz bridge design, this innovative electric gave rock players a new sound to play with
How the Beatles crafted the guitar and bass tones that forever changed the sound of rock music
We chart the evolution of the Fab Four's sound through the key tracks and the gear that made them
Gretsch G5232T Electromatic Double Jet FT with Bigsby review
The classic Gretsch double-cut has never been more affordable, nor has it looked so good...
PRS Horsemeat, Mary Cries and Wind Through the Trees pedals review
Paul Reed Smith's pedalboard debut offers top-tier options for transparent overdrive, optical compressor and analog flanger
Decoding the magic of the Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive, the drive pedal of choice for Zakk Wylde and Josh Homme
The classic overdrive was launched in ’81 and soon found its way onto the pedalboards of millions of players – including legions of pros
Wolfgang Van Halen and Matt Bruck on the future of EVH Gear: “Ed left a lot of ideas for us to develop – we are committed to delivering all of them”
From the upcoming SA126 semi-hollow to legacy replicas and radical new spec sheets: Wolfgang Van Halen and Matt Bruck give us the skinny on what's next for the brand carrying the torch for Eddie's gear legacy
The 25 greatest Pantera songs of all time
With Dimebag Darrell's no-holds-barred playing at the fore, these are the best tracks from the metal institution's catalog
Meris LVX Modular Delay System review
The most advanced delay pedal ever built, the LVX produces sonic landscapes that simply must be heard to be believed
Why the Collings OM2H is beloved by so many acoustic fingerstylists
With fans including Keith Richards, Julian Lage and Robert Earl Keen, this compact, sweet-sounding orchestra model acoustic is a bona-fide modern classic
Wolfgang Van Halen has inspired EVH Gear to release 24-fret and hardtail versions of its Eddie-inspired 5150 Series guitars
The new models – which will be joined by Fujigen EVH Signature guitars – will drastically alter the DNA of Eddie Van Halen’s original Kramer 5150 axe
Supro Royale 1932R 1x12 combo review
There’s headroom all the way up to the clear blue sky with this pedal-friendly tube combo from Supro
Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty 8-string review
The king of progressive metal guitar, John Petrucci, has a new signature eight-string, and it's a typically regal work of high-end luthiery, packed with clever, player-friendly details
Why the Marshall JCM800 2203 was the amp head of choice for a generation of rock and metal guitar players
As the ‘80s demand for crunch spiked, the JCM800 2203 cemented its position as a backline classic
EVH Iconic Series 40W 1x12 Combo review
Meet the sub-$1,000 tube amp that everyone will be calling iconic in years to come
How the MXR Dyna Comp became the go-to compressor pedal for countless all-star guitarists
Much loved by Andy Summers, Yngwie Malmsteen and legions of country players, the Dyna Comp is the little red box that became an evergreen choice for those looking for pro-quality compression
