Jonathan Horsley
Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to publications including Guitar World, MusicRadar and Total Guitar. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halen’s Panama.
Latest articles by Jonathan Horsley
![Tim Armstrong holds his new signature Fender Hellcat guitar](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4YPfRHq9QrUbLZHRo4RVPE-320-80.jpg)
“The fact that Fender is so passionate about making the Hellcat still blows my mind”: Tim Armstrong's signature acoustic has a new Checkerboard look
By Jonathan Horsley published
Meet the new-look Tim Armstrong Hellcat – same as the old Tim Armstrong Hellcat, but with an all-new two-tone finish
![Harley Benton CST-24 summer refresh models](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/csFuthf2evEhMEXChBgEWJ-320-80.jpg)
Harley Benton refreshes the CST-24 and CST-24T in all-new finishes to make those figured tops really pop – what else could you want for $238?
By Jonathan Horsley published
Seriously, stainless steel frets, dual humbuckers with coil-splits, glued-in necks, tremolo or hard-tail, left and right-handed options... Lots of bang, not a lot of buck
![Eric Johnson performs onstage](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/co3tZ9dUAmNVzmyyWdbEFA-320-80.jpg)
“We’re going to explore how I shape my signature tone and dig into some of my favorite technical and creative approaches”: Eric Johnson launches TrueFire online masterclass – featuring in-the-works material
By Jonathan Horsley published
Play like Eric Johnson? We can dream. Or we can subscribe to his interactive video masterclass and In The Jam play-along sessions – which feature "tunes you might hear on an upcoming record" from the guitarist – on TrueFire
![Takeshi of Boris's ’74 Sunn Model T amps](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c2FJQBebHXfu9qsetNRfUE-320-80.jpg)
“Every meeting we have, we talk about the Model T”: Sunn confirms a reissue of its most iconic amp is in the works – and it might be more affordable than you think
By Jonathan Horsley published
The return of Sunn Amplification was greeted with great joy and a little confusion as players asked where the legendary Model T was. Turns out, it's coming...
![Billie Joe Armstrong: MXR has reissued his signature Dookie Drive for 2023](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hNB4LFnBwJqEijNg9JLi6N-320-80.jpg)
Get Billie Joe Armstrong’s explosive Green Day tone in a compact pedal as MXR brings the Dookie Drive back – again – for a limited time only
By Jonathan Horsley published
New enclosure art, same great amp-stack crunch – the limited run sees the return of the punchy drive that was first launched in 2019 to celebrate 25 years of the band's landmark Dookie album
![Tom Morello, pictured on the Hollywood picket line with striking WGA and SAG-AFTRA members](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FRSXqh9c29oY96NQ7uuMzV-320-80.jpg)
Tom Morello breaks out the Takamine and joins the Hollywood picket line as he plays Woody Guthrie for striking union members
By Jonathan Horsley published
The Rage Against The Machine guitarist dropped by earlier this week to play a short set to support striking WGA and SAG-AFTRA members
![Metallica demo the Juanes signature Strat](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dq9jgnHSMewajB93jyDvE6-320-80.jpg)
“For 40 years, guitar manufacturers have been trying to get me to flaunt their product”: Lars Ulrich turns his hand to guitar demos for the first time – while Kirk Hammett shreds on a Strat
By Jonathan Horsley published
It’s only taken four decades, but Juanes’ signature Fender Strat is so cool that Lars finally feels comfortable sharing his guitar-playing capabilities as Metallica turn their hand to gear demos
![Kurt Cobain](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Kk8qy6gxqZSLS4oJWMsJhE-320-80.jpg)
The surprising secret behind Kurt Cobain’s guitar tone on Nirvana’s In Utero has been discovered, 30 years on from its release
By Jonathan Horsley published
And it’s not a magic pedal, magic amp or a magic guitar...
![Vola VRM Maycown Reichembach](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FgWpthjYk7MhCH3iWZxTSc-320-80.jpg)
This year’s most versatile shred machine? Vola’s Maycown Reichembach signature model boasts P-90 and fire-breathing humbucker pickups – and a heck of a lot of switching options
By Jonathan Horsley published
Vola turns its hand to P-90s for the first time on this well-equipped signature guitar for the Argentinian fusion wizard – and with direct-to-consumer pricing, it’s surprisingly affordable, too
![Guild Standard Series](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZRWyF8yS2kUhNE4rW52Kqb-320-80.jpg)
Guild makes a major play for the made-in-USA acoustic market with the “no frills, boutique quality” Standard Series
By Jonathan Horsley published
They're classy, made in Cali, and available in Natural, Antique Burst and Pacific Sunset Burst, all finished with a lick of Vintage Gloss nitro, and the series marks the return of the D-50
![Close up of strings on a bass guitar](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a43HcYnqdb2UsA7Lsr5f4G-320-80.jpg)
Best bass strings 2025: Get the best tone, feel and lifespan from your bass guitar with these string sets
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
Our expert pick of strings to bring the low-end thunder from Ernie Ball, D’Addario, Rotosound and more
![Island of Love](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DjpV7ugzL8rYQrZy6g3ixU-320-80.jpg)
Island of Love’s Karim Newble and Linus Munch: “When we started rehearsing we didn’t even have a fuzz pedal. We are still borrowing amps every single show”
By Jonathan Horsley published
The first UK band to be signed to Jack White’s Third Man Records are having big fun making big noise but can someone, anyone, lend these lovable rogues some gear?
![Charvel Jim Root Signature Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q95wAwcrXeiqRFRKGkGzwX-320-80.jpg)
Charvel Jim Root Signature Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 review
By Jonathan Horsley published
The Slipknot riffer returns to the original hotrod shop for a Superstrat that's built to handle all manner of high-gain rough and tumble
![Closeup of a Seymour Duncan JB humbucker](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JzkxNgQiSSoMVAmWrRBEm7-320-80.jpg)
Best electric guitar pickups 2025: upgrade your tone with single-coils, P90s, humbuckers, and more
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
We’ve rounded up the best electric guitar pickups available on the market right now for a range of budgets, including models from Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, and more.
![Benson Stonk Box](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gt5TdMrFFACUxswwHVUmVT-320-80.jpg)
Benson expands its temperate-controlled fuzz pedal range with the vintage '60s flavors of the Stonk Box
By Jonathan Horsley published
Inspired by the earliest fuzz boxes – think a Maestro FZ-1 or Tone Bender MKI – the Stonk adds some extra controls and Automatic Thermal Bias tech to keep it sounding consistent
![Richie Faulkner: the Judas Priest guitarist used a Telecaster for his clean tone on Firepower](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WnyEihYwJ7vhj8ALaBr5PH-320-80.jpg)
Richie Faulkner says he used a Bigsby-equipped Fender Telecaster for his clean tone on Judas Priest’s Firepower
By Jonathan Horsley published
The Gibson-loving Judas Priest guitarist maintains, though, that the Flying V remains his, err, elegant weapon of choice
![Wylde Audio Thorax](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q6dmMeecKCDQzhZMaVhAB8-320-80.jpg)
Has Zakk Wylde’s signature guitar brand spec’d up its most brutal electric guitar design yet? Meet the Thoraxe
By Jonathan Horsley published
When you need to get all Wylde up onstage and chop the audience’s head off with a big ol’ grizzly bear riff, when you need to cut through the mix, reach for the Thoraxe...
![Diamond Pedals' 2023 lineup](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nFQ6ht2HQKwVsPNS84pdLX-320-80.jpg)
Diamond Pedals is officially back with five compact new stompboxes featuring original circuits, and updated classics
By Jonathan Horsley published
The much-loved Canadian brand returns with the Memory Lane delay, Diamond Drive, Tremolo, and the legendary tone-sweetening Comp/EQ for guitar and bass
![(from left to right) Tom Hamilton, Darryl Jones and Pete Best](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vNLSNEsuvsgEY5mYxdgAC9-320-80.jpg)
Rolling Stone Darryl Jones, Aerosmith’s Tom Hamilton (and an actual Beatle) to lead next Rock ’N’ Roll Fantasy Camp in New York
By Jonathan Horsley published
Yup, a rhythm section comprising 'fifth Beatle' Pete Best on drums, with Jones and Hamilton on bass, is just the thing for playing Stones, Aerosmith and Beatles classics onstage in NYC
![Mike Dawes and Tommy Emmanuel](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TkSU2EWxyY9KVLyqWxUvrC-320-80.jpg)
Mike Dawes starts an acoustic jam with Tommy Emmanuel on live TV – in the wrong tuning – but styles it out like a boss
By Jonathan Horsley published
It is every player’s worst nightmare but when disaster strikes you've just got to stay calm and hope Tommy Emmanuel is sitting beside you to assist with fine-tuning
![Joe Bonamassa performs onstage](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Qt6aR2bSrzhDwnCJErSyKi-320-80.jpg)
Joe Bonamassa unpacks the influence behind his super-premium guitar tone – “It’s the two Erics, Clapton and Johnson”
By Jonathan Horsley published
Not too bright, throaty and musical – that's just how Bonamassa likes his tone, and he says a Dumble and a 'Burst are “not a prerequisite” for creating the sound in his head
![(from left to right) 2023 Blues Music Awards winners Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi and Christone "Kingfish" Ingram](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tt4MC2zQSiSPrPhqoKcwPK-320-80.jpg)
Blues Music Awards 2023: Buddy Guy, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram win big as John Primer is inducted into the Hall of Fame
By Jonathan Horsley published
The 44th Annual Blues Music Awards also saw Tommy Castro crowned Entertainer of the Year, with Sue Foley and Ruthie Foster picking up awards as well
![Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx (left) and John 5 onstage in Kansas](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gWyN9UgaHiTJMJEtraVB44-320-80.jpg)
Mötley Crüe have finished their first studio album with John 5 – and promise it’s “heavier than anything”
By Jonathan Horsley published
Nikki Sixx confirms the record is in the can and ready for mixing, while John 5 says we should expect something "heavy and aggressive”
![Warm Audio Centavo Professional Overdrive](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tCBop6RKfxVpcwtrzfbSVh-320-80.jpg)
Warm Audio Centavo Professional Overdrive review
By Jonathan Horsley published
If it looks like a Klon and sounds like a Klon, is it really a Klon? Not at this price...
![Tom Verlaine](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4hoyRK5SWCcyTgik9EYq78-320-80.jpg)
Remembering Tom Verlaine, the cult hero who reconfigured guitar and inspired generations of alt-rock players
By Jonathan Horsley published
Inventive, wiry, elusive, genius, Tom Verlaine's guitar playing was a lightning rod for the artistically bold, and in partnership with Richard Lloyd, it gave Television a unique, thrilling sound
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