Michael Astley-Brown
Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.
Latest articles by Michael Astley-Brown

Greeny will always be Kirk Hammett’s pride and joy. But this uber-rare 1959 Gibson ES-335 is a close second – and it has a surprising history
By Chris Vinnicombe published
What’s rarer than a Burst, rarer than a korina Flying V, and even rarer than a korina Explorer? A vintage guitar that Kirk Hammett believes is second only to Greeny when it comes to the best-sounding instruments in his arsenal…

Fender Japan stakes a claim for 2025’s most breathtaking electric guitar with the Sakura Telecaster
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Get us to Fender Flagship Tokyo immediately

“A near-perfect compact wireless system”: Fender Telepath Wireless System review
By Michael Astley-Brown published
After taking over the guitar cable market, Fender has turned its hand to its debut wireless system – and it has a secret weapon onboard

When Chris Cornell left Audioslave, he turned to Jeff Buckley’s guitar foil to make his mark
By Michael Astley-Brown published
When Gary Lucas got the call to play guitar on Chris Cornell’s first post-Audioslave release, he was only supposed to be there for one day. But Cornell had other ideas…

Nine Inch Nails made their name with infamously destructive live shows – this is the true story behind their epic guitar smash-a-thons
By Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour published
It was the tour that made Nine Inch Nails – and destroyed countless guitars. In an exclusive extract from Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock's Wildest Festival, Trent Reznor, Richard Patrick and Dave Navarro look back at their all-star guitar-smashing rituals

February 2025 Guitar World Editors’ Picks
By Michael Astley-Brown published
A round-up of the best new guitar releases from the month of Feb, with new cuts from Sam Fender, Tash Sultana, Los Pirañas, and... Buddy Guy and Switchfoot?

After his spiritual awakening, Tim Henson is ready for anything – heavy Polyphia, trippy solo records and A-list film collabs
By Michael Astley-Brown published
One of today’s premier guitar talents opens up on the future of Polyphia and their upcoming signature models, his debut solo record and how Machine Gun Kelly made guitar cool again…

Rhythm guitarists are harder to identify on recordings than lead players. But there’s one rhythm king that Cory Wong can pick out without fail
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The Minneapolis maestro is a self-confessed rhythm guitar junkie, but one player bends his ear more than any other

“One of the best legitimately new guitars Fender has produced in decades”: Fender American Ultra II Meteora review
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The Meteora is that rarest of things: a new body shape from one of the oldest electric guitar manufacturers. As this “sports car version” of the Fender Jazzmaster joins the Big F’s most high-performance range, is it a match made in offset heaven?

We asked Tim Henson and Tosin Abasi who is blowing their minds right now. They both named the same guitarist
By Matt Owen published
This progressive virtuoso has already been labeled shred’s next hope – now he’s been tipped for greatness… and a Polyphia guest spot

Phil X confirms new Bon Jovi material will feature one seriously ripping solo – and a tour is also in the works
By Matt Owen published
Guitar World caught up with Phil X to discuss rumors of a new Bon Jovi record, and the guitar ace dished out some spoilers on one of his standout contributions

Why Fender is building its $599 Standard Series in Indonesia – and how its ideological shift delivers better value for players
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Fender’s EVP of Product Justin Norvell explains what convinced Fender to change its mindset on where its guitars are built – and what makes the new Standards different from the Player Series (apart from where they’re built)

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”

Polyphia’s next album is going to be brutal – and some big-name metal artists are already slated for guest appearances
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Tim Henson let us in on what’s next for the boundary-smashing instrumental band – and it’s all in the name of blowing festival crowds away (and maybe, just maybe, selling more guitars)

January 2025 Guitar World Editors’ Picks
By Michael Astley-Brown published
2025 has kicked off with an explosion of new guitar releases, led by Joe Bonamassa and Sammy Hagar, G3, Alex Lifeson, Billy Gibbons, Joanne Shaw Taylor and so very many more

These are the gear trends that will shape your guitar buying in 2025
By Matt Owen published
NAMM 2025 was one for the history books, with an avalanche of surprise announcements as industry titans broke their own rules, the neck humbucker took a backseat and guitar stars started seeing other companies – here’s what we learned

NAMM 2025 live! The biggest guitar news as it happened
By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
All the red-hot gear news and artist goings-ons from the show floor at the world’s biggest guitar gear trade show

Best looper pedals 2025: go it alone with the greatest loop pedals for practice, live performance and jamming
By Alex Lynham last updated
Whether you're writing songs or woodshedding solos, using a loop pedal will make you a better guitarist – these are the best looper pedals from Boss, TC Electronic, Line 6 and more

Best chorus pedals 2025: top choices for your 'board
By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
From analog to digital, and shimmery to subtle, let us show you the top chorus pedals you can buy today

Jack White announces a Custom Shop version of his wild, ever-evolving Triplecaster – and it colors way outside the Fender lines
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The tricked-out guitar was available to play at NAMM 2025, and marks the latest refinement of White’s bonkers Telecaster

John Mayer pays tribute to Paul Reed Smith, and explains why anyone who says PRS guitars are “too nice” have got it wrong
By Michael Astley-Brown published
10 years since his first phone call to the firm, the guitar hero hailed the iconic guitar builder as “the hidden member of everyone’s band all the time”

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

Best pedalboard power supplies 2025: juice your ‘board with pro-grade power
By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
Make sure your effects are firing on all cylinders with our pick of the best pedal power supplies from Strymon to Ernie Ball

Jackson has revived its offset Surfcaster for a new generation of heavy players – and it’s surprisingly affordable
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The biggest Jackson news from NAMM 2025 is the return of the cult offsets recently wielded by Misha Mansoor and Mike Stringer – and it’s about time
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