Jackson Maxwell
Jackson is an Associate Editor at GuitarWorld.com. He’s been writing and editing stories about new gear, technique and guitar-driven music both old and new since 2014, and has also written extensively on the same topics for Guitar Player. Elsewhere, his album reviews and essays have appeared in Louder and Unrecorded. Though open to music of all kinds, his greatest love has always been indie, and everything that falls under its massive umbrella. To that end, you can find him on Twitter crowing about whatever great new guitar band you need to drop everything to hear right now.
Latest articles by Jackson Maxwell
![Jimmy Page (left) and Rich Robinson perform onstage at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles in 1999](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yoMW83DQWKSHo8NpetFwhX-320-80.jpg)
Unreleased Jimmy Page/Rich Robinson composition set to feature in Jimmy Page & the Black Crowes: Live at the Greek reissue
By Jackson Maxwell published
The newly remastered set, Page says, provides a glimpse of “the full explosive passion and exciting energy of those alchemical moments”
![Terry Kath performs onstage with Chicago](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ofET5bzFuE9snMsmMqFKw7-320-80.jpg)
Jimi Hendrix said he was a better guitar player than he was – yet this Telecaster icon often remains overlooked
By Jackson Maxwell published
Had he not died tragically at 31, there's no telling what virtuoso Chicago guitarist Terry Kath would have gone on to do with the instrument
![(left) Steven Tyler and Nuno Bettencourt onstage at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California on February 2, 2025](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2kmHgjMQCXE4zZQvjx7F7L-320-80.jpg)
Nuno Bettencourt joins Steven Tyler for jam at charity gig – and, wait, is that a Les Paul?
By Jackson Maxwell published
Backing Tyler and some of his A-list friends at a fundraiser for the Janie’s Fund foundation at the Hollywood Palladium, the Extreme virtuoso ditched his signature Washburn
![Freddie Mercury (left) and Brian May perform onstage with Queen](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4MguVJRdtzADZRqCFZ2JkD-320-80.jpg)
“It sounded awful. I could hardly play”: Brian May on the one time he experimented with a Marshall stack
By Jackson Maxwell published
The Vox AC30 amp/Red Special guitar combo is one of the most iconic in rock, but the Queen guitar hero didn't solidify that setup straight away
![(left) Mikael Åkerfeldt plays Kurt Cobain's 1953 Martin D-18, (right) the D-18 in question pictured in full](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3XnRrAkNXgxGninN2B4psM-320-80.jpg)
Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt on playing Kurt Cobain's “haunted” Martin D-18
By Jackson Maxwell published
Åkerfeldt was decidedly more moved when handed a 19th century Martin, a guitar so pristine he was scared to play it
![Andy Fairweather Low (left) and Eric Clapton perform onstage at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 13, 2013](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bxc3KHU8bp8FedUJ8sExQS-320-80.jpg)
The guitar Eric Clapton wouldn't let Andy Fairweather Low use onstage
By Jackson Maxwell published
“I was drawn to it immediately,” the journeyman player says of the guitar in question. “It's got colors and knobs and bits of Lego”
![(from left) Rich Robinson, Chris Robinson, and Slash perform at The Kia Forum in Inglewood, California on January 30, 2025](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cHJ2TG7orYFfMd8jTLFPGG-320-80.jpg)
Watch Slash join the Black Crowes for a Led Zeppelin cover at FireAid
By Jackson Maxwell published
Unlike the surviving members of Nirvana, the Black Crowes were featured on the FireAid bill beforehand, but they had a surprise of their own up their sleeves
![(from left) Pat Smear, Dave Grohl, St. Vincent, and Krist Novoselic perform onstage at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California on January 30, 2025](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vzab24EAAZkrVcMvxEGveN-320-80.jpg)
Surviving members of Nirvana reunite unannounced at FireAid concert, with four guest frontwomen
By Jackson Maxwell published
But for Violet Grohl taking the place of Lorde, it was the same group of singer/guitarists the remaining Nirvana trio played with at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction performance in 2014
![Steve Vai (left) and Pete Thorn perform onstage](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FbwT6eP3N5Txb85mRR8Hx9-320-80.jpg)
How Steve Vai consoled Pete Thorn after Chris Cornell's death
By Jackson Maxwell published
“Here, I'd lost a close friend and collaborator; and a hero of mine, from the time I was 11 years old or so, took the time to console me,” the newly appointed SatchVai Band guitarist tells GW
![Dweezil Zappa tells Gibson TV about meeting Eddie Van Halen](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ceMj7qG6aXn49SzqsqLowe-320-80.jpg)
Dweezil Zappa showcases the Kramer Eddie Van Halen gifted him when he was 12 years old
By Jackson Maxwell published
Zappa was set to perform Runnin’ With the Devil at his middle school talent show, and was struggling with his guitar. Then, somehow, Eddie Van Halen showed up at his band's soundcheck...
![Five of the guitars in the Fender Custom Shop's new Prestige Collection](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vKFWWxRWjDDQeVzqeyP3gk-320-80.jpg)
12-string Teles, baritone offsets, and diamond-laced Strats headline the Fender Custom Shop's 2025 Prestige Collection
By Jackson Maxwell published
Featuring half-a-dozen Strats, a pair of Teles, a Meteora, and a rare Performer model, all handcrafted, the Prestige Collection aims to represent the best of the best from the vaunted Fender Custom Shop
![Two of Taylor's new Gold Label Collection guitars](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LGrrBm26x7rxreDuu7KrAS-320-80.jpg)
Taylor unveils the Gold Label Collection, a vintage-inspired line with an entirely new body shape
By Jackson Maxwell published
The '30s and '40s-inspired Super Auditorium design is said to build on the company's Grand Auditorium shape, with a couple of key differences
![John Mayer performs onstage at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California on April 14, 2023 (left), Ernie Ball's new Earthwood Bell Bronze guitar strings, on display at the 2025 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Av5RYziB6S8AXkRb6yySYJ-320-80.jpg)
John Mayer has developed a new acoustic string set with Ernie Ball, and it's designed to be ideal for solo performers
By Jackson Maxwell published
The new Earthwood Bell Bronze strings are said to have been inspired by alloys traditionally used for bells and cymbals, with the result being strings with better sustain, projection, and resonance
![Doug Aldrich (left) plays through his new signature DA100 amp (pictured right)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oN9ufeUfzAWwxAbR8rDqjK-320-80.jpg)
Blackstar collaborates with Doug Aldrich for the DA100, a fire-breathing amp with a nifty secret weapon
By Jackson Maxwell published
A 100-watt head, the DA100 packs some serious heat, but also boasts the sort of practical applications that typically feature on the wishlists of 21st century players
![NAMM 2025 new products: ESP LTD Mick Thomson, Mooer GS1000, Ibanez AZ Standard](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JmiJjWHGeqp5YyCmggFp5o-320-80.jpg)
NAMM 2025: rumors, predictions and breaking news from the world’s biggest gear show
By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
With the likes of Fender, Gibson and Marshall returning to Anaheim at long last, this year’s event is set to be the biggest in five years – with secrets and surprises to match
![Gibson's 1955 NAMM Show Commemorative Edition Les Pauls](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/S6jUudaJ5WCnALf3E7TXYL-320-80.jpg)
Gibson's new 1955 NAMM Show Les Paul celebrates the 70th anniversary of a historic, ultra-rare Les Paul collection
By Jackson Maxwell published
The Les Paul Standards displayed at the 1955 NAMM Show were the first to ever be fitted with no-wire ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridges and Stop Bar tailpieces, and were graced with unique custom finishes
![Warren Haynes plays at the Soulshine Benefit Concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 24, 2024 (left), Warren Haynes' new signature Gibson Les Paul](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ieoqVKrVLx2HAJ6LKwBcq4-320-80.jpg)
Warren Haynes has teamed up with Gibson for a new signature Les Paul, and it's loaded with his new favorite pickups
By Jackson Maxwell published
With a 60s Cherry finish and chunky mahogany neck, the guitar takes after the Gov't Mule man's favorite Les Pauls, and his beloved 1961 ES-335
![A lineup of EVH SA-126 Standard models](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Qed8289cpX7LFKzuVoQVVc-320-80.jpg)
EVH brings Wolfgang Van Halen’s signature to a more affordable price point with the SA-126 Standard
By Jackson Maxwell published
EVH kicked off the SA-126 line last year in the mid-price range, but its Indonesian-built counterpart keeps more of its big brother's kit than one might expect
![Steve Vai (left) and John Sykes perform onstage with Whitesnake in different eras](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Boh4WgjZBXBZGg7meetRdA-320-80.jpg)
Steve Vai followed John Sykes in Whitesnake – and he quickly decided what not to do when playing his parts
By Jackson Maxwell published
Of course, it wasn't a chops issue so much as it was the late guitarist's unique six-string footprint
![Joe Satriani and Steve Vai perform onstage (left), Pete Thorn performs onstage](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NHAQFACmjBLqeCjxiHsUMZ-320-80.jpg)
Joe Satriani and Steve Vai detail the full SatchVai Band lineup, including Pete Thorn on rhythm guitar
By Jackson Maxwell published
The six-string dream team will also be rounded out by an equally formidable rhythm section
![John Sykes performs onstage with Whitesnake at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois on November 10, 1984](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cfSZ82RVHJ5Bbrhbyfzxv9-320-80.jpg)
Tributes pour in for Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Tygers of Pan Tang guitarist John Sykes
By Jackson Maxwell published
The hard rock guitar great passed away earlier this week after a battle with cancer
![John Sykes performs with Thin Lizzy at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on March 10, 1983](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WcGuHMnwEH4xH7McKeXN8G-320-80.jpg)
John Sykes, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Tygers of Pan Tang guitarist, dies at 65
By Jackson Maxwell published
The hard rock guitar legend had been suffering from cancer
![Ozzy Osbourne (left) and Zakk Wylde perform at the Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, Chicago, Illinois on July 12, 1989](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ou4NgAVSBY2T9enR7Togud-320-80.jpg)
Zakk Wylde on Ozzy Osbourne's guitar pet peeves
By Jackson Maxwell published
Though not a guitarist himself, the Prince of Darkness had some very specific pet peeves that he related to Wylde when the guitarist was a newly-hired young gun
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