Latest articles by Matt Owen
Fender gives its Player II Series a high-spec metal makeover with limited-edition FSR Advanced drop
A range of finishes have been rolled out to UK retailers as Fender gives its humble Player II line a serious revamp
Brian Setzer says he’s recovering well after an autoimmune disease left him unable to play guitar
The Stray Cats’ rockabilly legend dreams of returning to the stage as soon as possible
Seymour Duncan pushes the boundaries of its PowerStage series with dedicated bass unit
The latest PowerStage offers an onboard preamp and built-in overdrive in a bid to cover all bases for bassists
Mooer’s Prime M2 crams amps, cabs, effects and a looper into an ultra-light, pocket-sized pedal with a touchscreen and rechargeable battery
Mooer's latest Intelligent Pedal offers a bevy of tonal options, MIDI and Bluetooth functions, and much more in an immensely portable package
The Xotic AC Booster has long been a secret weapon stompbox for session players and pros – and now it’s been upgraded
The original has been used by the likes of Mike McCready, Tim Pierce and Paul Gilbert, and now the AC Booster V2 promises to be even more versatile
PRS gives four of its most beloved SE electrics an exotic wood makeover with latest limited-edition drop
A quartet of SE stalwarts have been given a luxurious cosmetic update, while the beloved SE Swamp Ash Special receives a small but mighty upgrade
Why John Mayer decided against ditching his tube amps for modelers for Dead & Company’s Sphere residency
Mayer devised a workaround that would allow him to play his prized Dumble and Fender setup at the notoriously amp-unfriendly venue
Bill Kelliher is searching far and wide for Mastodon's next guitarist – here's what the band are looking for
Esteemed YouTuber and Mastodon mega-fan Ben Eller was drafted in last minute following Brent Hinds' surprise exit, but the search for a permanent successor is far from over
Why are so many players turning to headless guitars? We asked Plini to find out
Ibanez, Kiesel, Schecter and Strandberg are all flying the flag for headless electrics, which have reached an unprecedented level of popularity in recent years
Spinal Tap sequel’s teaser trailer reveals Nigel Tufnel’s surprise new electric guitar of choice
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues has been given an official release window – and its first trailer offers a very brief glimpse of Tufnel's surprising new six-string
IK Multimedia answers players’ prayers and gives its best-selling TONEX units their biggest upgrade to date – a dedicated editor
The TONEX ecosystem has become more manageable than ever before thanks to the dedicated TONEX Editor, which offers in-depth control over presets and more
Alex Van Halen says a new Van Halen album is in the works – and he’s recruited Steve Lukather to help him complete it
Reports coming out of the Netherlands have seemingly confirmed a new Van Halen record will become a reality
How can Guitar Center improve its stores and reclaim its former glory? Guitar World readers have their say
A recent interview with Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto sparked an outpouring of comments from Guitar World readers, all of whom have offered their two cents on how the retailer can get back on its feet
Zakk Wylde says there have been talks about recording new Pantera material based on unreleased Dimebag Darrell demos
Wylde has teased the possibility of using old Dimebag riffs, which currently live on an old tape recorder, for future Pantera releases
Electro-Harmonix founder Mike Matthews reveals legendary pedal firm’s struggles in the face of Trump’s tariffs
EHX is the latest gear company to speak out after the impacts of Trump's new tariffs begin to be felt across the guitar world
One of Gibson’s most obscure designs makes a comeback with the revival of the RD
Beloved by Dave Grohl and Ghost, the quirky build from 1977 has officially returned after its imminent arrival was teased earlier this year
Warren Haynes’ transition from humbucker loyalist to P-90 fan is complete – with the launch of his signature Gibson Les Paul
The Gov't Mule guitar hero's newest signature has been a long time coming, and arrives after Haynes pivoted towards P-90 tones
Fender’s credit rating downgraded by Moody’s – with operating costs speculated to rise by $20 million
A new report from the credit rating analyst has found Fender to be at risk from increased operational costs that have been brought on by new tariffs
D’Wayne Wiggins, influential Tony! Toni! Toné! guitarist who helped pioneer neo soul, dies aged 64
Wiggins founded Tony! Toni! Toné! with his brother Raphael Saadiq, and later established a label that worked to support emerging artists
We finally have our first official look at the first Dime Guitarz model
The Dime Guitarz project has been teased for years, but the arrival of the new firm’s debut model seems imminent
Morgan Amps says new tariffs will add up to $1,000 to the price of its amp heads
A lengthy social media post from the US firm’s founder highlights how the increased cost of materials will impact production and consumer costs of Morgan Amps
Amanda Seyfried shows off her dulcimer chops as she covers a Joni Mitchell classic on Jimmy Fallon
The Mamma Mia star learned the dulcimer during the pandemic, and paid homage to one of her heroes with a cover of California
Jacob Collier’s five-string Strandberg is proving the doubters wrong – it’s outselling the six-string version
The headless five-string certainly turned a few heads when it first emerged last year, but it’s proven to be an absolute hit
How Guitar Center plans to beat its online competitors and safeguard the future of its physical stores
Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto has laid out the retailer’s plans to win the trust of prospective customers in the face of unprecedented online competition
Phil X on playing Livin’ on a Prayer with Richie Sambora – and how his predecessor plays the Bon Jovi classic differently
Two eras of Bon Jovi combined during a recent LA benefit concert, when Phil X and Sambora shared the stage with Orianthi and Matt Sorum for a rendition of the classic hit
