Latest articles by Phil Weller
Faith has given its staple Eclipse acoustics a premium reboot
The new-and-improved acoustics arrive in three body shapes, and deliver a range of high-end upgrades and series-first updates
Harley Benton might just have launched its best-value acoustic yet – a solid spruce/rosewood build that starts from $318
Solid spruce tops, solid rosewood back and sides, rosewood fingerboards, Fishman electronics, mahogany flourishes... Harley Benton’s latest acoustics look to be serious players
Robert Smith on his disastrous first show as a singer and guitarist when he butchered a Jimi Hendrix classic
Smith only carried on fronting the band because he’d fallen out with everyone who filled the role
Steve Hill on the time he recorded at Foo Fighters’ studio – and broke Chris Shiflett’s prized Fender Princeton
Hill’s experience of recording at the Foo Fighters’ legendary Studio 606 turned into a costly endeavor
Keeley has launched a new Rotary pedal – and it could be the brand’s most significant launch in some time
Featuring a suite of customization via a simple interface, the pedal promises to pack vintage charm for modern rigs
Soldano’s SLO Plus could be the new hard rock pedal amp to beat
A single-channel offering from 2022 has been usurped by the two-channel upgrade, which promises the tube-amp-like tones of the iconic SLO-100
Sleep Token’s guitar tech finally lifts the lid on IV’s entire live guitar rig – right down to his pick of choice
Replicating this hugely elusive guitar rig won’t come cheap, but the comprehensive grand reveal is a fascinating insight into the high-end gear behind the hottest band in metal right now
Kiki Wong on how playing with Smashing Pumpkins has made her a better guitar player
From bedroom riffing with a Line 6 Spider to playing through tube amps in stadiums, Wong says her time in the band has opened her eyes to a whole new world of tone
Mooer drops the Prime M1: a 12cm multi-FX pedal for $100 – and it’s packed with features
The $105 pocket-sized pedal offers 149 effects, amps, and cabs, can handle third-party IRs, and doesn’t even need a plug – meaning you can riff “anytime, anywhere”
Controlling your pedalboard with your breathing? This new device lets you do just that (sort of)
The new invention aims to breathe life into virtual instruments
Duane Denison on the time he attempted to convince Steve Howe to buy a guitar from him
Denison had grown up idolizing prog rock shredders – then one day he found himself attempting to convince one of them to buy a rare Guild guitar
Eddie Van Halen’s tech helped John Frusciante track down a rare wah pedal – but the guitar hero didn’t approve of his gear choice
Van Halen may not have been especially fond of the vintage wah, but he did take the opportunity to share some valuable guitar tech advice with Froosh’s camp during the handover
“It’s a great piece for your arsenal”: Joe Perry names his new favorite amp company
The firm may be relative newcomers on the scene, but the Aerosmith man says its amps are helping him get the most out of his pedals
Hungarian high schooler goes viral with flawless performance of For The Love of God at his prom
The guitarist was in full control of his Music Man Cutlass as he ripped through the gruelling fretboard workout
Joe Satriani pays tribute to his long-time guitar tech with new video
Mike Manning was Satriani’s tech for over 30 years, and helped him both on the road and in the studio with his “flawless” work and “sunny personality”
Fender launches the Tom DeLonge ‘Padre’ Strat – reviving a super-rare prototype that predates the original TD signature Stratocaster
A 300-piece run of the blink-182 guitarist’s elusive Padre Strat is about to drop
Chris Shiflett on what it's like to share the stage with Macca – and Brian May
After joining the Foo Fighters, Shiflett found himself rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the business
Joe Bonamassa reveals his new pedal obsession
The stompbox has brought a dose of ’60s amp magic to the guitarist’s latest recording sessions
Sex Pistols’ bassist Glen Matlock turned down a chance to join Oasis after seeing them live
The approach came in the mid–’90s, but Matlock concluded “the last thing they need is someone else standing still”
Breaking: Trump Guitars hit with cease and desist from Gibson over use of Les Paul body shape
Breaking: The patriotic line was launched as “the only guitar officially endorsed by President Donald J. Trump”, but Gibson says it infringes on its trademarks
Sammy Hagar on writing a tribute song to Eddie Van Halen with Joe Satriani – and his recent meeting with Wolfgang
The vocalist says the song will be “a tribute to him, the fans, and that era” – if only he can nail his vocal parts
Jordan Rudess has a new signature guitar – and it’s a stunning Sustainiac-loaded Strandberg
The Boden JR Sorcerer is a limited edition release, loaded with signature Strandberg flourishes, a Sustainiac humbucker, and inlays designed by Mr. Fastfinger
Kenny Wayne Shepherd on unicorn stompboxes, the quest for feel and why budget guitars can make you a better player
Recording at Muscle Shoals is one of those pinch-me moments for Shepherd but then so too is owning one of Hendrix's Uni-Vibe. Here he talks vintage gear, tone philosophy, and onstage disasters
