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

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 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

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 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’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

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 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

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

“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”

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 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: 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 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

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”

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

Cory Wong teams up with Ernie Ball Music Man on a StingRay bass-inspired electric guitar – while still keeping ties with Fender
By Janelle Borg published
The StingRay II and StingRay II Deluxe offer a six-string twist on the iconic bass design – with Cory Wong-flavored specs

Jeff Beck's guitar collection has sold for an astounding $10.7 million at auction – complete with a record-breaking Les Paul sale
By Janelle Borg published
The mega-auction, which included over 130 guitars, amps, and ‘tools-of-the-trade,’ saw some of Beck's most noteworthy guitars – including his ‘Oxblood’ Gibson Les Paul and ‘Anoushka’ Strat – go under the hammer

Venus Guitars is a new company aimed at empowering women in the guitar scene – and its first guitars offer smart features that any player will appreciate
By Janelle Borg published
The ultra-lightweight, keenly spec'd models also boast an innovative quick-swap pickguard and amulet system for maximum customization

Veteran bassist Nathan East on recording one of Eric Clapton's most personal – and well-loved – songs
By Janelle Borg published
East reflects on the deeply emotional behind-the-scenes moments of the Tears in Heaven recording sessions

Deryck Whibley recovers long-lost Gibson guitar – just in time for Sum 41's final tour
By Janelle Borg published
Whibley asserts the importance of this guitar during the band's early days and describes how playing it again, decades later, felt like a true full-circle moment

Plans are in place for a Gary Moore statue to be erected in Belfast
By Janelle Borg published
The announcement comes just weeks after the statue of another iconic guitarist, Rory Gallagher, was unveiled in the city

Gibson has pledged an initial $250,000 to L.A. wildfires relief
By Janelle Borg published
Gibson and its philanthropic division Gibson Gives are also joining forces with Guitar Center, the NAMM Foundation and MusiCares – as well as numerous humanitarian aid organizations – to support impacted communities

“I don't think I want to go on tour anymore. I hate to say that”: Sammy Hagar reveals his touring days are over
By Janelle Borg published
Hagar clarifies this does not mean he's retiring – but at 77, he prefers residencies over the stresses of touring

Guitars signed by Paul McCartney, Slash, Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Olivia Rodrigo and many more to be auctioned off in support of leading music charity
By Janelle Borg published
Over 60 one-of-a-kind items donated or signed by music stars are up for auction, with proceeds going to MusiCares, whose vital work includes supporting musicians impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles

John Mayer and Dave Matthews to perform as a duo for the first time at L.A. FireAid benefit concert, alongside Red Hot Chili Peppers, Joni Mitchell and Green Day
By Janelle Borg published
The mega-event will take place on January 30 at L.A.'s Intuit Dome and Kia Forum, and will be broadcast on multiple platforms
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