Janelle Borg
Janelle is a staff writer at GuitarWorld.com. After a long stint in classical music, Janelle discovered the joys of playing guitar in dingy venues at the age of 13 and has never looked back. Janelle has written extensively about the intersection of music and technology, and how this is shaping the future of the music industry. She also had the pleasure of interviewing Dream Wife, K.Flay, Yīn Yīn, and Black Honey, among others. When she's not writing, you'll find her creating layers of delicious audio lasagna with her art-rock/psych-punk band ĠENN.
Latest articles by Janelle Borg
![Left-Guitarist Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains performs at Shoreline Amphitheatre on September 04, 2019 in Mountain View, California; Right-Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses performs as the band headline the Pyramid Stage at Day 4 of Glastonbury Festival 2023 on June 24, 2023 in Glastonbury, England](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aaw9MRAnzP6bPLeiaFQUYX-320-80.jpg)
Jerry Cantrell recalls the time he tried – and failed – to pass an Alice in Chains demo tape to Axl Rose
By Janelle Borg published
Back in 1988, Cantrell shot his shot to get his band noticed by the high-flying Guns N' Roses
![Justus West performs during Future X Sounds Concert at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre on August 31, 2019 in Hollywood, California](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Fco8jWmfdZJkypcW6wyHjF-320-80.jpg)
Beyoncé session guitarist Justus West says awards don't pay the bills – and labels need to take more accountability
By Janelle Borg published
West – who's also credited on Beyoncé's acclaimed Cowboy Carter – calls out the industry's double standards and it's crucial for labels to pay their artists on time
![Left-Brian May of Queen performs at The O2 Arena on June 05, 2022 in London, England; Right-Irish blues and rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer, Rory Gallagher (1948-1995), poses for a portrait with his guitar on September 25, 1982 at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco, California](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pYe7MdnDfgi2Hm8YhTV7sa-320-80.jpg)
In 1969, a young Brian May hid in a venue to speak to Rory Gallagher – and it led to his tonal breakthrough
By Janelle Borg published
The Irish blues rock legend gave May a tonal template that he says he’s never bettered
![Musician Marty Friedman performs on stage during his Japan Heritage Special Live concert at Haneda airport on July 17, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Bip8SVpJCLjGaesSrmJyUV-320-80.jpg)
Marty Friedman on the hellish teen acid trip that was the making of his career as a guitarist
By Janelle Borg published
Not all acid trips are created equal – and Friedman says a hellish experience with LSD served as a huge turning point for his musicianship
![(L-R) Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy Clufetos, and Tony Iommi perform onstage as Black Sabbath on "The End Tour" at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater on August 17, 2016 in Wantagh, New York](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3WvUJLAqd578t9Nv2unCQm-320-80.jpg)
Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's final show will play host to a Tool, Rage Against the Machine and Smashing Pumpkins supergroup
By Janelle Borg published
The July 5 mega-event's lineup is stacked with top-tier names, including Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira and Alice in Chains
![Susan Alcorn playing the pedal steel guitar](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2iA8Jf9jrJ8bjSHJopU4MB-320-80.jpg)
Pioneering pedal steel guitar virtuoso Susan Alcorn has died aged 71
By Janelle Borg published
Having released over a dozen albums and collaborated with a multitude of artists throughout her career, Alcorn is widely revered for her experimental approach to the instrument
![Andy Timmons live in concert at Iridium on July 25, 2018 in New York City](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XBBrHxAMmQ8Bygb5kSY3Fk-320-80.jpg)
How Andy Timmons gave a bargain guitar a new lease of life – taking inspiration from Hendrix and Beck
By Janelle Borg published
The virtuoso has owned “a long chain of guitars” throughout his decades-spanning career but calls one Strat he bought off eBay a particularly memorable find
![Nita Strauss performs at The Ritz on November 22, 2021 in San Jose, California.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u3xaG7yp8ZCjoc2LD7tTAL-320-80.jpg)
Nita Strauss on the guitarist that truly inspired her to pursue a career in music
By Janelle Borg published
When this shredder played alongside Michael Jackson at his iconic 1993 Super Bowl performance, it lit the fire in a young Nita Strauss to follow in her footsteps
![Detail of the TonePros AVT-II adjustable wrapover bridge and D'Addario strings on a Yamaha Revstar RS820CR electric guitar, taken on November 10, 2015](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LWaJunbMJdmhTFbkCFRGfZ-320-80.jpg)
D’Addario recruits players to help test its strings – and there's one jazz veteran who is more reliable than most
By Janelle Borg published
This particular player, who has been a D'Addario artist since 1982, is instrumental in analyzing the nitty gritty of in-progress guitar strings
![Left-Joe Satriani performs on the G3 Reunion Tour 2024 at Fox Theater on February 03, 2024 in Oakland, California; Right-Jeff Beck performs at DTE Energy Music Theater on July 31, 2018 in Clarkston, Michigan](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xpm9djS4xu7frK3WQPi5AB-320-80.jpg)
Joe Satriani was days away from signing Jeff Beck for G3 – before the Yardbird dropped out and suggested Prince as a replacement
By Janelle Borg published
Satriani discusses how Beck may have overlooked him due to their generational differences as guitarists
![Prince (R) and Donna Grantis perform onstage during the 2013 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k8L9n4PcqDzeXymBFSzebQ-320-80.jpg)
When Donna Grantis joined Prince’s band, she expected the unexpected – but she never thought he’d ask her to take iconic Purple Rain solo
By Janelle Borg published
Grantis was the co-lead guitarist in Prince’s final band, 3rdeyegirl, and was asked to take the solo on the spot
![Yasmin Williams lap-tapping on a Gibson double-neck](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5747mefHxCoFfC7wVWMwmE-320-80.jpg)
Yasmin Williams brings lap-tapping and double-neck guitar to late-night TV with Colbert performance
By Janelle Borg published
Williams pushes the boundaries of the Gibson EDS-1275 with a compositionally rich, lap-tapping showcase of her skills
![Yvette Young of Covet performs during Swanfest at Heart Health Park on April 23, 2022 in Sacramento, California](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fCRjrk9wCG4avPmHTBAX6T-320-80.jpg)
Why Yvette Young was afraid of pedals – then ended up with a signature one
By Janelle Borg published
Young also talks about what inspired her signature Qi Etherealizer multi-effects pedal, and why it's the ultimate “ambient machine”
![Lari Basilio](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aXPEb98pshfyt7Jz6wgwrc-320-80.jpg)
Lari Basilio reveals what she learned from playing side by side with all-time guitar and session greats
By Janelle Borg published
From sharing the stage with Steve Vai to having Joe Satriani shred on one of her tracks, Basilio knows a thing or two about playing alongside some of the most established names in the biz
![Timothée Chalamet performs "Tomorrow is a Long Time" on SNL](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wM6ygh3gqxXjzjdtnXi4d7-320-80.jpg)
Timothée Chalamet’s guitar teacher was surprised when the Complete Unknown star tackled one of Bob Dylan’s most challenging songs
By Janelle Borg published
Tutor to the stars and session pro Larry Saltzman shares what it was like to teach Chalamet the nuances of Dylan's playing, which the actor recently showcased on Saturday Night Live
![Guitarist Steuart Smith performs with the Eagles at MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 27, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/72vsdYpRpz5AHbyT2VvV4D-320-80.jpg)
Longtime Eagles guitarist announces retirement from band following health struggles
By Janelle Borg published
Veteran guitarist Steuart Smith, who's been touring with the Eagles for 24 years, revealed that his recent Parkinsonism diagnosis had a profound impact on his decision to retire
![EVH Wolfgang WG Standard T.O.M. (Right) and Wolfgang Special T.O.M. (Left)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/d3x6ngMn6qjgnc2km22fBB-320-80.jpg)
EVH delivers on its hardtail promise with two new models that vow to take Eddie's legacy to new heights
By Janelle Borg published
The Wolfgang Special T.O.M. and Wolfgang WG Standard T.O.M. join the SA-126 Standard as the three new guitar offerings that EVH launched this NAMM
![Maxxxwell Carlisle with his signature guitar](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C9MUm2eWHbpqJjt6hPik7V-320-80.jpg)
Harley Benton teams-up with YouTuber on a budget-friendly, versatile signature model – the Guitar MAX Fusion
By Janelle Borg published
The model comes shortly after Carlisle debunked rumors about his signature guitar, clarifying that it is Made in Indonesia and bolstering the reputation of the Thomann-owned Harley Benton brand
![Digitech hammeron](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vit6zAJagVCQwfcgn4J4jm-320-80.jpg)
“Hands free hammer-ons”: DigiTech’s latest pedal is a 7-in-1 pitch-shifting monster that lets you play the impossible
By Janelle Borg published
This brand new offering from DigiTech is packed with expressive pitch-jumping potential – comprising trills, harmonies, and even an “automatic techno guitar sequencer”
![The Tortex Flex X Pick](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NXXZSsPWn6i8vZWcWSEZp8-320-80.jpg)
Dunlop launches the Tortex Flex X Pick – its first-ever Tortex pick with a grip
By Janelle Borg published
Dunlop launches its first-ever Tortex pick with a grip – guaranteeing “ultimate playability”
![Fender Custom shop cocktail collection 2025](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9MmWoWWqtVmAHjjBEHnHQL-320-80.jpg)
Fender Custom Shop ditches dry January with a cocktail-inspired guitar collection – and it’s a uniquely potent mix
By Janelle Borg published
With keenly spec'd Sub-Sonic Teles, Strats, Esquires and Strat Thinlines, the Cocktail Collection blends the artistry of fine guitar-making with the vibrant aesthetics and spirit of classic cocktails
![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
![Josh Homme playing onstage – and the Peavey Decade Too on a green background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RPnetjXrtzXyWvfVaT57b-320-80.jpg)
Josh Homme teams up with Peavey to recreate the sought-after Peavey Decade – with a host of modern upgrades
By Janelle Borg published
The brand new Peavey Decade Too takes direct inspiration from the '80s classic, whose iconic features have also been transformed into a compact pedal
![Billy Strings playing his Martin signature acoustic](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FMHJt39T6QQg2mTVRz4JAK-320-80.jpg)
Martin joins forces with Billy Strings on two signature models inspired by his 1940 D-28
By Janelle Borg published
The bluegrass-coded models comprise the higher-end D-28 Billy Strings, and the more affordable D-X2E, both of which promise to deliver Strings' “distinctive sound, style, and electrifying energy”
![MonoNeon holding and trying out the DigiTech MonoNeon Whammy](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xRWqMWA9tYWapPPH6W9TXP-320-80.jpg)
DigiTech teams up with MonoNeon on a triple-octave Whammy for both guitar and bass – and it even comes with custom gaffer tape
By Janelle Borg published
The ultra-experimental MonoNeon Whammy – which comes in an eye-catching neon yellow and orange casing – takes the standard Whammy features up a few notches with a complete overhaul of the Detune settings and an onboard MIDI input
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