Latest articles by Jamie Dickson
Phil Manzanera: “I didn’t really want an incredible technique: I thought that would impede my ability to enjoy music for the whole of my life”
The Roxy Music icon on home recording, the art of songwriting and the limits of technicality
The incredible story and decades of dedication that gave birth to Les Paul’s ‘Number One’ Goldtop – the solidbody guitar that changed the world
Les Paul’s son Gene explains how the story of Gibson's most famous electric guitar began in the 30s, with a mysterious hand-written note that changed the course of guitar history
Why hardware is the key to great guitar tone
Handwound pickups and exotic woods may be sexier, but your guitar’s metal hardware is the secret, says Paul Reed Smith
Joan Armatrading: "When Mark Knopfler wrote Money For Nothing, he knew it was a hit. As the creator, if you don’t know, you need to do something different"
The legendary singer-songwriter on her approach to her craft, the importance of letting the song choose the instrumentation and why she can't put the guitar down
Teenage Fanclub on the art of constructing solos, emulating Robert Fripp, and the pursuit of tone
On Endless Arcade, Scotland's finest contemplate life, mortality and all in between. “Everything is going to fall apart but it’s not so bad,” says McGinley
The mods and myths of Les Paul's 'number one' Goldtop
Tom Doyle was recruited by Les Paul 57 years ago to make the master guitarist ’s ambitious modding projects come to life. Here he walks through the mods of this historic instrument
Jackson Browne: "It took me a long time to understand what guitars I preferred – sometimes it’s the beat-up old one that works and the spectacular thing doesn’t"
The laureate of the '70s Laurel Canyon scene talks old guitars and the new directions on Downhill From Everywhere
Mark Lettieri: "It’s funny that I have a guitar with so many options, because I like my amps as simple as possible. If there are switches on amps, I freak out!"
Lettieri discusses the creation of his new signature Fiore, which sees PRS debut a new body shape that's designed for all styles
Matt Berry: “I’m more interested in the songwriter-guitarists than the gymnasts. If you're sensitive enough as a guitarist then you'll be into songwriting“
The latest LP from the famed comedic TV actor and multi-instrumentalist is a complex Rickenbacker-infused affair in psychedelic color
Two-Rock Amplification: the tonal approach and philosophy behind the company's sought-after sound
The California amp builder has built a huge following of tone-conscious pros – co-owner Eli Lester delves into his love of high headroom and designing the Classic Reverb Signature
Ariel Posen: “When it’s my record, I want to play and feel like I do when I’m playing live – that’s really important to me”
Slidemeister, tone guru, master songwriter and all-round dude Ariel Posen offers us the lowdown on his newly released album, Headway
Yusuf/Cat Stevens: “Even today, I’m shy of playing in front of someone like Paul Simon because I never learned anything properly“
The legendary singer-songwriter looks back on a career that all started with a cheapo Eko and a cover of The Kinks...
Nile Rodgers: “To me, the less information I throw at you at once, the funkier something sounds“
The Hitmaker himself talks about his love of jazz, the possibilities of the Acoustasonic and the importance of the notes he doesn't play
Ariel Posen shares his compact, tone-rich rig in this pedalboard playthrough
The stellar Canadian guitarist runs through the pedalboard he uses for touring and recording
5 things to check when buying a vintage guitar
Matt Gleeson of setup and maintenance wizards Monty’s Guitars on what to look for in an older guitar before buying
Competition: Are You The UK's Best Amateur Guitar Builder?
Guitarist magazine and top lutherie parts supplier StewMac join forces to launch competition to find UK's top home guitar maker
25 years of the Z.Vex Fuzz Factory: how the iconic fuzz pedal was conceived during a single, feverish night in the '90s
Maverick effects maker Zachary Vex recalls how tragedy led to triumph in the creation of his most famous pedal
What makes a great-sounding acoustic guitar?
Some of the world's finest acoustic builders discuss what goes into making a guitar sing
Want to squeeze a little more tone from your guitar? Try new wiring
Tone expert Matt Gleeson of Monty’s Guitars explains why a new wiring loom can turn a good guitar into a great one
What makes a good pickup?
Revered boutique pickup maker Jason Lollar on what to look for when you are upgrading pickups – and what 'low-wind' humbuckers actually do for your tone
Paul Kossoff's 'Stripped Top' 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard up close and personal
Steve Clarke walks us through the features of the guitar used to wax All Right Now
Larkin Poe: “Be tenacious. If you really want to learn how to write good songs, you gotta do it and do it again“
Megan and Rebecca Lovell on the roots scene, the importance of writing bad songs and rock ’n’ roll’s post-pandemic fightback
How Barefaced Audio revolutionized the guitar cab
A British company is producing huge sounds from small, featherweight guitar cabs – thanks to the appliance of science
