Latest articles by Chris Gill
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
Ernie Ball Music Man DarkRay 5 review
The EBMM x Darkglass collab continues with a five-string version that augments the StingRay with onboard dirt and fuzz
Reverend Billy Corgan Signature Z-One review
Featuring a chambered alder body and the Smashing Pumpkins frontman's signature Railhammer humbuckers, the Z-One is a versatile platform for high-voltage rock
Why the Maestro Echoplex EP-3 remains one of the most iconic guitar effects of all time
A favorite of Joe Walsh, Brian May, Eddie Van Halen and many more, the Echoplex EP-3 has added its tape echo and preamp magic to countless classic guitar recordings
60 years of Ernie Ball: the history of a family business that changed the world of guitar and bass as we know it
With the help of Sterling Ball, we unpack the history behind a great American success story
Jackson Concept Series Rhoads RR24 HS and Soloist SLAT7P HT MS review
High-concept, high-performance electrics from Jackson that bring a Custom Shop vibe to production-line metal guitars
Gamma G25 and G50 guitar combo amplifiers review
For about the cost of a stomp box, these are gig- and studio-worthy amps that place emphasis on outstanding, useful and musical pro-quality tones over gimmicky bells and whistles
30 years of Eastman: revisiting the golden age of handcrafted guitar making
The history of Eastman Musical Instrument Company reads like a three-decade sprint through the evolution of stringed instruments, and it is a story shaped by hand tools and old-school craft
50 years of Ibanez in the USA: the unstoppable rise of the pioneering Japanese guitar brand
How the Ibanez brand evolved in lockstep with guitar culture, leveraging artist partnerships to make new breakthroughs in design, sound and performance
The Beatles' Get Back gear: a guide to the guitars and amps seen in Peter Jackson’s long-awaited documentary
The electrics, acoustics and amplifiers that accompanied George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney in some of their final recordings as the Beatles
Peavey HP 2 review
Compared to the O.G. Wolfgang that Peavey developed with Eddie Van Halen in 1995, the HP 2 is a chip off the old block, but this is a beast with some tricks of its own
The secrets behind Jeff Beck’s guitar tone on Freeway Jam
Beck’s 1975 jazz-rock fusion breakthough album, Blow by Blow, is a tour de force of his playing, but how did he get that overdriven Strat magic on Freeway Jam?
How the Line 6 DL4 changed the game for digital modeling effects pedals
Produced continuously for 23 years, the classic four-stomp delay/looper enjoys status as a classic of the digital modeling era
The secrets behind Eric Clapton’s guitar tone on Cream’s Sunshine of Your Love
How Slowhand brought the power of his stage rig to bear on a rock classic that inaugurated his his famous “woman tone”
The secrets behind B.B. King’s guitar tone on The Thrill Is Gone
How the King of the Blues made Lucille howl at the Cook County Jail
The secrets behind East Bay Ray’s guitar tone on the Dead Kennedys’ Holiday in Cambodia
And how to nail that tone without spending mega-bucks on a vintage Echoplex...
Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special HT and Paranormal Toronado review
Think Squier only offers budget-friendly versions of Fender designs? Here are two electric guitars that prove the brand has more going on than meets the eye
PRS HDRX 50 review
Based on Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock amp, this non-master volume 50-watt head has that vintage tone magic and then some, and might well be your next bucket list purchase
"A good idea is a good idea no matter when you do it": Eddie Van Halen reveals how Van Halen brought cutting room floor jams back to life for A Different Kind of Truth
In this wide-ranging 2012 interview, EVH discusses the evolution of his onstage solo, working in the studio with Wolfgang, and the Different Kind of Truth song that "flipped" him out
The secrets behind Uli Jon Roth’s guitar tone on The Scorpions’ The Sails of Charon
Inspired by Hendrix but dancing to the beat of his own drum, Roth created a proto-shred template with this classic rock standard
