Latest articles by Michael Astley-Brown
EVH drops three new variants of the “civilian” Frankenstein Relic – including a Silverburst version
The latest high-spec tribute to Eddie Van Halen’s Frankenstein ditches the stripes and comes in blue, silver and sunburst finishes for a limited time only
Tired of over-complicated delay pedals? EarthQuaker Devices’ Silos might just be the answer
Meet EQD’s Multi-Generational Time Reflection Device – the no-nonsense compact delay pedal with settings you’ll actually use
“I was determined to avoid hailing him as the future of shred, but I simply cannot do it”: July 2024 Guitar World editor's picks
From an eight-string chug-a-thon with blues licks to make Eric Johnson blush, to a baritone turn from the hottest guitar player on the planet right now, this month was soundtracked by some top-tier guitar action
He’s one of shred guitar’s most original players – now Jakub Żytecki has released 2024’s high-performance offset to beat with Mayones
The ambient shredder’s take on the Jazzmaster format brings a remarkable preamp, USB charging and several Mayones firsts to the classic silhouette
Jerry Cantrell taps Guns N’ Roses and Metallica bassists for new solo album I Want Blood
The Alice in Chains leader has signaled his return to heavy riffs with first single Vilified
Joe Satriani devised the perfect amp to harness Eddie Van Halen’s greatest tones – and you can get a plugin version right now
While 3rd Power’s Dragon 100 goes up for preorder, IK Multimedia has bolstered its Joe Satriani Amp Vault with models of the very amp Satch is using to shred EVH on the Best of All Worlds tour with Sammy Hagar
Elwood Francis on the origins of his 17-string bass – and why he regrets it becoming a ZZ Top staple
Elwood Francis reveals the origins of his preposterous 17-string bass – and why he’s disappointed it went viral
PRS has finally released one of its most head-turning limited guitar runs worldwide
The SE CE 24 Swamp Ash “Sandblasted” Limited will be available everywhere, following a Europe-only sandblasted run in 2019
Fernandes Guitars – the company behind iconic electrics played by Billie Joe Armstrong, Kirk Hammett and Robert Fripp – has filed for bankruptcy
The Japanese firm, which was also behind the Sustainer pickup and Burny guitars, was founded in 1969
“Big riff energy is in this kid’s blood – and he might even solo better than his dad…” June 2024 Guitar World editor’s picks
From all-star offspring to returning noise-rock icons, a punk trailblazer’s first album in 53 years and the future of blues, this month had it all
Can solid-state amps compete with tubes? Laney thinks its Lionheart Foundry combos are up to the challenge
Affordable, giggable and lightweight, the 60W analog combos also boast impulse responses for easy recording
“There’s no questioning the rock-solid protection it affords your guitar, or the efforts Fender has gone to to create a nicely priced case that offers a premium feel”: Fender F1225 Electric Guitar Gig Bag review
Fender’s nicely priced, top-of-the-line gig bag combines the best features of hard and soft cases
Joe Satriani has modeled his epic amp collection – including some you might not expect
The shred lord may be best known for high-gain Marshalls, but he has some real gems in his collection – which he has demoed with some unlikely guitars for the IK Multimedia Joe Satriani Amp Vault
Kiki Wong brings a metal edge to her debut Smashing Pumpkins performance after beating 10,000 guitarists to the gig
In her first show with the alt-rock icons, the Instagram favorite delivers on her quest to bring out the Pumpkins’ heavy side
Billy Corgan reveals how many guitarists the Smashing Pumpkins auditioned in person – and how they knew Kiki Wong was the one
The band have also finished a guitar record that will make “the old-school fans happy”
Fender just dropped the biggest Tone Master Pro update since its launch last year
Plus you can now control Fender’s flagship amp modeler with your phone
“There can be no more fitting sendoff to this uncompromising sonic innovator”: May 2024 Guitar World editors’ picks
From acoustic wizards to bedroom pop mainstays, prog-metal masters and fallen heroes – here are our standout guitar tracks from the past 31 days
Best reverb pedals 2025: from spring to shimmer, these are our top picks for your pedalboard
Take a deep dive into the cavernous world of 'verb and explore the best reverb pedals for every budget
Electro-Harmonix has reimagined the 1968 effect that launched the brand as a tone-shaping powerhouse
The LPB-3 Linear Power Booster is loaded with features, and could radically change your guitar sound for the better
Fender brings the Telecaster Thinline to the American Professional II Series and revives the Stratocaster Thinline
Kitted out in four transparent pastel finishes, the new limited-edition releases rank among Fender’s most enticing launches this year
April 2024 Guitar World editors' picks
From fast-rising indie rock acts and heavy playing pioneers to Beyoncé and beyond – here are our standout guitar tracks from the past 30 days
“It made me realize how grateful I am to have the guitar in my life”: I applied to be the new Smashing Pumpkins guitarist – I didn’t get the gig, but it was one of the most life-affirming experiences of my musical career
Kiki Wong deservedly landed the touring guitarist spot, but applying to join one of my all-time favorite bands reignited my teenage dreams – and Billy Corgan should be commended for offering the opportunity to so many players
Kiki Wong announced as new Smashing Pumpkins guitarist after 10,000 applications
The popular Instagram guitarist will tour the world with the alt-rock legends from June 2024
I played the Tom DeLonge Starcaster – it’s given one of Fender’s most unpopular guitars a new lease of life
blink-182 taught me how to play the electric guitar 20 years ago, but DeLonge’s long-awaited signature model is no throwback – it might just herald a bright future for the unloved semi-hollow
