Latest articles by Phil Weller
After supporting Arctic Monkeys in stadiums, The Mysterines rewired their tones – and abilities
Lia Metcalfe and Callum Thompson pull us into the alternative reality and creative logic behind the thrilling sound of The Mysterines. It's all about shock, awe and the process of unlearning
Blackstar looks to raise the benchmark for practice amps with the new feature-packed Debut 30E
Delivering Blackstar’s typically versatile tonal features, the well-equipped combo offers players another affordable amp option for practice rooms and small gigs
Chris Shiflett has taken a Superstrat on tour with Foo Fighters to divebomb in solos
Shiflett's shift to a Strat-style Charvel custom build has given him free rein to dive bomb in the solo for Breakout and honor his guitar heroes
Kramer revives a cult classic “vault find” from the ’80s – and issues a “modern and sleeker” LP-style design
Five new speed-shredding six-strings balance ’80s revivalism with modern touches via the Kramer 84, Pacer Carrera, Jersey Star, Assault Figured, and Nite-V models
64-year-old grandpa shredder goes viral (again) after his Van Halen-influenced Britain’s Got Talent audition resurfaces
The unassuming guitarist could well be the OG veteran talent show shredder, and won over the audience with his two-hand tapping licks during a dazzling audition in 2022
Whitesnake’s Joel Hoekstra on the time Ace Frehley complimented his guitar playing… even though he wasn’t actually playing anything
Hoekstra says he only “really understood” the KISS veteran after partaking in an intimate and exclusive jam, during which Frehley insisted on cranking his amp to ear-splitting volumes
Misha Mansoor receives an elusive Jackson offset – could a production run be in the works?
Following Mike Stringer’s retro-modern custom builds, Jackson’s custom shop has crafted the Periphery guitarist a similarly styled baritone – which merges Fender, Jackson, and Charvel elements into one ultra-desirable axe
Gibson’s master luthier reimagines Theodore McCarty’s retro-futuristic Theodore guitar for its Artisan collection
After Ted McCarty's lost design was unearthed and turned into a reality a few years ago, Leo Scala has now completely transformed the quirky electric in the form of 10 highly exclusive Theodore Retroliners
Code Orange’s Reba Meyers announces she’s joined Marilyn Manson’s live band
Meyers has been recruited by Manson, who is marking his musical comeback following a wave of abuse allegations that arrived in 2021
Gibson’s ultra-classy Dark Walnut finish has been reborn for a range of irresistible new-look models
Five iconic Gibson guitars are given the luxurious finish, with premium appointments to boot
Taylor’s latest GS Mini drop offers MLB fans a unique opportunity to support their favorite baseball team
The limited-edition collection redresses Taylor’s hugely popular short-scale acoustic, allowing baseball fans to sport their team colors in a new way
The FreeStyle is a wild new customizable device that lets you harness thousands of alternate tuning possibilities
From tuning-free experimentations to unlocking ridiculous chord shapes, the next-level innovation hopes to change guitar playing forever
ESP officially unveils Gojira’s Joe Duplantier as a signature artist
After setting the world ablaze with a custom-made, chromed-out XJ-1, the metal hero has now joined the ESP ranks
Flea names his pick for “the greatest rock bass player” of all time
The Red Hot Chili Peppers member has singled out a player for his ability to subvert what is expected of a traditional bassist
Ex-Ozzy Osbourne bassist recalls how Randy Rhoads wrote the guitar parts to Diary of a Madman
In a sprawling new interview, Bob Daisley has given fans a fresh look behind the curtain at Ozzy’s first two solo records – and Rhoads' virtuosic guitar talents
David Gilmour has fallen in love with the Gibson ES-335 – and he's used one on his latest single
Gilmour says his forthcoming solo album is his best piece of work since The Dark Side of the Moon, and its latest single cements the Pink Floyd legend's new-found love for the semi-hollow classic
Quilter’s latest pedal amp crams classic tones into a single stompbox
The DirectAmp studio-in-a-pedal is designed to be travel-friendly and goes directly into mixing desks and recording devices, promising huge tonal scope
Rabea Massaad confirms an affordable Sterling by Music Man version of his signature Sabre is on the way
The guitarist has revealed a scaled-back signature is in the works, and it might arrive in time for NAMM 2025
Andy Summers wishes he’d let loose on more solos in The Police
Summers says his guitar chops were stifled by the hardcore punk scene, and that players like him “weren’t supposed to be able to play”
How The Edge's guitar parts – and a rare Fender prototype – helped save one of U2’s biggest hits
The Edge crafted his now-iconic lead lines on a uniquely modded Fender, and helped resurrect a song that was destined for the scrap heap
Has Mark Morton just given us a glimpse of his upcoming signature Gibson Les Paul?
Two years after he signed with Gibson, the Lamb of God metal machine has seemingly teased his long-awaited signature model
Mark Knopfler says the lack of a guitar amp growing up helped him develop his now-iconic fingerpicking style
Sensitivity to his family’s finances – as well as an exchange involving his sister and a tennis racket – helped Knopfler on the way to crafting his legendary approach to the guitar
Eric Johnson says the ever-expanding world of guitar gear has resulted in “so much option anxiety”
As the amp modeler and digital multi-effects markets continue to grow, Johnson has responded with a back-to-basics record that demonstrates the benefits of a stripped-back signal chain
