Latest articles by Jackson Maxwell
“He was a superb craftsman who loved what he did”: Tony Iommi pays tribute to ‘Old Boy’ SG luthier John Diggins, who has died
Diggins began his career working for John Birch – the Birmingham, UK-based luthier who partnered with Iommi early in the Black Sabbath legend's career – and later struck out on his own, founding Jaydee Custom Guitars
“Django Reinhardt was our god – I played a Selmer Maccaferri-style guitar, grew a mustache, wore a suit... the whole thing”: Big Thief’s Buck Meek names 10 guitarists who shaped his sound
The understated indie guitar hero is well-versed in blues and jazz tradition, but also takes inspiration from Marc Ribot, Connie Converse... and The Shaggs’ Dorothy “Dot” Wiggin
Remembering the guitarists we lost in 2023
We had to say goodbye to a staggering number of guitar geniuses this year. We salute those players and their contributions to the instrument
Alien rhythms, god-level chops and samurai guitar duels: these are the best guitar albums of 2023
Guitar World staff and readers reflect on the finest fretwork captured on record this year
“At its best, the solo can tell a story, give us a sense of spectacle, and even offer a window into a player’s soul”: These are the best guitar solos of 2023
Guitar World staff and readers choose the outstanding lead efforts of the year – including “this decades's Eruption”
“A rhythmic motif so simple that even the most basic living organisms on this great planet can get down to it”: These are the best guitar riffs of 2023
Guitar World staff and readers name the finest riffs of the year – a list that unites the worlds of metal, rock, indie and more…
Devastating displays of double-neck tapping and Joe Bonamassa’s Christmas single: here are this week’s essential guitar tracks
Catch up with the best guitar tracks from the past 7 days with fresh cuts from Joe Bonamassa, Joanne Shaw Taylor, J Mascis, Felix Martin and more
Three “God-like guitarists” join forces and stadium-conquering rockers channel their inner spy: This week's essential guitar tracks
Must-listen-to tunes from Guns N' Roses, Architects, IDLES, The Libertines, Devon Ross, Ryujin and many more
Denny Laine, Paul McCartney & Wings, Moody Blues guitarist, dies at 79
Aside from Paul and Linda McCartney, Laine was Wings' only constant member
10,000 volt lead licks and the bluesier side of Peaky Blinders: This week's essential guitar tracks
Killer new cuts from Ace Frehley, Judas Priest, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Anna Calvi, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Alkaline Trio, and many more
“A brazen new model designed for the progressive guitarist seeking a spectrum of sound beyond the norm”: Charvel gets in on the made-in-Japan hype with new Superstrat-inspired MJ San Dimas models
The speed-friendly HSH six-strings showcase the Fender Corporation's recent focus on Japan
Neil Young showcases his savage overdriven tones and channels Hendrix in the most menacing solo rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner you’ve ever heard
Wielding his legendary 1953 Gibson Les Paul, Old Black, Young put his own spin on the US national anthem, nodding to a certain Woodstock performance along the way
Fender has discounted tons of accessories and apparel by up to 70% this Cyber Monday – with t-shirts and guitar straps starting from just $10
Whether you want to liven up your wardrobe, or invest in a high-quality strap, cable, or tuner, the Big F's got an insane price-drop you'll want to see
The Kemper Profiler PowerHead is one of the most powerful music-making tools on the planet – save $150 on this Swiss Army knife amp in this killer Guitar Center Cyber Monday deal
Coupling Kemper's legendary profiling technology with a 600-watt solid-state power amp, the Profiler PowerHead will cover all your amplification needs both onstage and in the studio. Grab one at a discount today
If you've always wanted to own a high-end amp but could never afford it, these staggering Black Friday discounts of up to $1,000 off could put one within reach
From the Tosin Abasi-favored Bad Cat Jet Black to the ever-impressive Kemper Profiler PowerHead, some of the best top-of-the-line amps out there have had their prices temporarily slashed. Now's the time to buy
The Edge ditched his tube amps for Universal Audio’s UAFX pedals – now you can save 20% on some of the best amp-modeling pedals in this Sphere-sized Black Friday deal
Now just $319 this Black Friday, the UAFX pedals offer pristine quality, handy portability, and incredible bang for your buck
Black metal has gone orchestral and nu-disco shred is back, baby: This week’s essential guitar tracks
Unmissable tunes from John Mayer, Dre DiMura, Heriot, Ihsahn, Julian Lage, Porno for Pyros and so many more…
“He’s real tough, and when he’s liquored up, he can really play!” Pat Hare influenced Stevie Ray Vaughan, beat Cream and Led Zeppelin to the blues-rock punch, and recorded an eerily prescient guitar knockout called I’m Gonna Murder My Baby
A remarkably gifted, but equally volcanic, guitarist who played with Howlin’ Wolf, James Cotton, Muddy Waters, and Bobby Bland, Hare made a seismic (and largely forgotten) impact on the development of blues-rock, before receiving a life sentence in prison
“The music we created is going to outlive us all. It’s time we go out and serve the fans that music, while we still can”: Joe Satriani, Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony announce The Best of All Worlds – the next best thing to a Van Halen tribute tour
Though not explicitly a tribute, Hagar promises that the summer 2024 trek will feature a very Van Halen-heavy setlist
Layla gets the two-hand tapping cover treatment and the Spiritbox x Megan Thee Stallion collab you never knew you needed: This week’s essential guitar tracks
Must-hear jams from Marcin, Plini and Tosin Abasi, WILLOW, Robby Krieger, Caligula’s Horse, Ty Segall, The Struts and loads more…
“All this new stuff they call rock ’n’ roll, why, I’ve been playing that for years now”: How Sister Rosetta Tharpe kickstarted the British blues-rock explosion – in 1957
Though Muddy Waters is typically credited as the one who first brought snarling American blues-rock guitar to the UK, he was beaten to the punch by a year
A heavy solo debut from Mick Mars, a double-neck fretless tribute to Eddie Van Halen and a brand-new Beatles song: This week’s essential guitar tracks
Also: massive new singles from Helen Ibe, Spiritbox, Deap Vally, Iron Axxis, Unprocessed… oh, and did we mention the Beatles?
“There it was, John’s voice, crystal clear. It’s quite emotional. And we all play on it – it’s a genuine Beatles recording”: The final Beatles song, Now and Then, has been released at last – but is it any good?
Built from a John Lennon demo, Now and Then features newly recorded contributions from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, with additional guitar work from the late George Harrison
