Latest Features
Why Justin Hawkins expects to be playing nothing but Atkin guitars by the end of the year
The Darkness frontman details his journey to Friedman amps via a freaky Laney experience, the success of his musicology podcast series, and the jealousy his band have caused by crossing over to pop
Star players from Kerry King to Chad Kroeger on what made Dimebag Darrell a true original
An all-star panel of six-string superstars – including Zakk Wylde, Kerry King, Marty Friedman, Glenn Tipton, Alex Skolnick, Nita Strauss, Scott Ian, Bill Kelliher and Chris Broderick – explain why Dimebag is still so relevant 20 years after his tragic death
How Paul Reed Smith created the ultimate Dragon for PRS Guitars’ 40th Anniversary
Debuting PRS’s “throaty” new McCarty III humbuckers, the Private Stock 40th Anniversary McCarty Dragon is a work of art and a triumph of engineering – and, says Smith, it’s built to play
How Spiro Dussias became shred’s next great hope – and ended up giving Dream Theater guitar lessons
One of 2024’s standout metal guitarists on what it’s like to be compared to Tosin Abasi, why nothing compares to his ESP Horizon, and how amp modeling is about to get crazy
Orianthi on why she loves old gear – and recording her new Band of Gypsys-inspired supergroup with Jimi Hendrix’s producer
The former guitarist for Michael Jackson and returning Alice Cooper member has survived the trials and tribulations of the pop industry, emerging with a new energy and sound that honors her true inspirations and talents
How JD McPherson took surf rock way past witching hour with vintage amps and Gretsch guitars
McPherson's new LP, Nite Owls, was nearly over before it began, but an invitation to open for Alison Krauss and Robert Plant brought it back to life. The result is a work of “surf noir”… with a little bit of Depeche Mode in there, too
Geddy Lee reflects on his 50 years atop the prog-rock heap
The Rush frontman charts his experiments in bass tone, and why he'd sometimes tackle the instrument like a lead guitarist
Zakk Wylde on Ozzy Osbourne's guitar pet peeves
Though not a guitarist himself, the Prince of Darkness had some very specific pet peeves that he related to Wylde when the guitarist was a newly-hired young gun
How Marcus Miller found his voice – and became one of the most-imitated bassists in the biz
The bass icon breaks down his formative influences, and how he gave everyone from Prince to Beethoven a low-end makeover via his '77 Fender Jazz
Recorded for Metallica’s Master of Puppets, Cliff Burton’s bass masterpiece has earned its place in the pantheon of great rock solos
Recorded for Metallica’s genre-sparking Kill ’Em All, Burton’s complex snarl of notes has captivated bassists for years. Dial in your favorite fuzz-wah tone and let it rip
