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March 2024

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117 articles

March 30
- “People think ’70s Fenders are bad, but that’s not correct”: Guitarists often knock CBS-era Strats – but Yngwie Malmsteen knows how to find a good one
March 29
- “Connecting with Joe on this track is perhaps the most rewarding musical collaboration I’ve ever engaged in”: Joe Satriani and Steve Vai reveal their first ever collaborative song – a track 50 years in the making
- “Sir Paul has expressed his gratitude to Cathy and the family”: Paul McCartney hands six-figure reward to the family that found his iconic Höfner bass in their attic
- “When we parted ways back in 1984, they told me to stick around because they might need me in 40 years”: After four decades, Dan Lilker is set to return to Anthrax for the band’s upcoming US and South American tour dates
March 28
- “If it’s too good to be true, it’s fake”: Rob Chapman says scam competitions featuring his image have reached a new level with AI deep fakes – and explains how to spot them
- “Is it just me, or is that Stone Gossard and/or Mike McCready doing The Gojira Pick Scrape™?” March 2024 Guitar World editors’ picks
- “A series that is worthy of being called a ‘hybrid’”: Fender Japan’s latest Hybrid II models bring modernistic quilted tops and never-before-seen finishes to the Strat, Tele, Jazzmaster and Jazz Bass
- ‘Frankenstrat’ or ‘Frankenstein’? Wolfgang Van Halen sets the record straight on the ‘official’ title of Eddie Van Halen’s iconic electric guitar
- “That was my favorite Eddie guitar. It was always the most magical one”: Nuno Bettencourt has had a custom ‘Bumblebee’ Washburn N4 made as a tribute to Eddie Van Halen
- “The perfect partner for your musical journey”: Onboard effects, a 10W built-in speaker and app connectivity – is Enya’s carbon fiber Nova Go Sonic the all-in-one electric guitar of the future?
March 27
- “Pretty much everybody in the genre was a Fender guy… I said, ‘I’ve gotta pivot and do something different’”: Joe Bonamassa reveals what prompted him to switch from Strats to Les Pauls – and the one technique he cannot nail
- “An all-in-one pedalboard for guitar effects and tones”: Mooer just dropped one of the smallest – and cheapest – intelligent multi-FX pedals on the market, the Prime S1
- “Whether it be Saturday Night Live or the Grammys – this bass has held its own on every stage”: MD to the stars, Adam Blackstone, debuts a signature bass named after his grandmother – the Jackson Gladys Pro Series Concert
- “If you are searching for a guitar that pushes the envelope in every capacity, look no further”: Vola Guitars has unveiled Michael Keene’s first ever Japanese-made signature guitar – and it’s received a significant tonal update
- “A trademark blend of sound and playability”: Mithans unveils its latest works of art – two S-style Bristol Series builds
March 26
- “These guitars influenced generations of musicians and world-renowned artists”: Gibson has revived the Everly Brothers’ J-180 – an iconic acoustic used to inspire The Beach Boys, Beatles and beyond
- “I think there were actually two paths. One was the wild pointy-shape things. The other was what I believe led to the 335”: The 1955 ‘missing link’ guitar designs that offer intriguing clues to Gibson’s Golden Era developments
- “I’m at a loss for words”: It’s one of the defining cartoon theme tunes of the ’90s – now Nili Brosh has reimagined the classic X-Men lick fest for X-Men ’97
- Used Gibsons hold their value better than Fenders on the second-hand market – but there’s good news for Player Tele and Strat owners
March 25
- “A powerhouse dreadnought made for genre-defying artists”: Orangewood branches out with the Pomona Live – its first signature acoustic, built for boundary-pushing fingerstyle artist Alejandro Aranda
- “Museum-grade works of art”: Gibson has unveiled its most ambitious set of Master Artisan instruments yet – trust us, you’ve never seen Custom Shop guitars quite like this before
- “Reliably power your effects and floorboards”: Meet the mega-powerful NUX ZEUS – an isolated power supply that will solve all your pedal powering problems
- “A true masterpiece crafted for the hard rocking guitarist”: Wylde Audio lives up to its name once again with the Goregehn – an all-new angry, angular and offset creation
- “My face has melted”: Steve Vai and Joe Satriani cover Metallica’s Enter Sandman during opening Satch/Vai Tour show – and give their first-ever collaborative single its live debut
March 22
- “An absolutely genius video presentation”: New video for Mark Knopfler’s all-star Guitar Heroes charity single reveals who played what on the 50-guitarist-strong instrumental epic
- “He was literally running out the door. It feels like a punch in the stomach”: Brazen thief caught on camera stealing $2,200 Gibson Les Paul from Baltimore music store
- The Fender x Loog Strat and Tele models are perfect for getting kids playing – and right now you can save 15%
- “Steve Vai is the only guitarist who could play my parts. I’m totally psyched for this”: Robert Fripp gives his blessing for a new King Crimson supergroup, featuring Steve Vai, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Danny Carey
- “A work of art”: Schecter and Synyster Gates have released a gnarly new-look signature guitar – but it’s not the headless model we were expecting
- “Redefines what it means to take music on the road”: With app integration and a space age carbon fiber build, is the $270 TravelMate-E smart guitar Harley Benton’s boldest release yet?
March 21
- “If only he knew who was playing guitar behind him!”: Paul Gilbert heard someone playing Little Wing at a music store, so he spontaneously joined in the jam – and the player’s reaction is priceless
- “That take was live from beginning to end, 7 minutes of pure guitar energy without a single miscue”: Stevie Ray Vaughan’s producer and bassist recall being in the room when SRV tackled his game-changing cover of Voodoo Child
- “One of the greatest Strats I’ve ever played”: Marcus King takes the viral cardboard Fender Stratocaster for a spin – and gives it the highest praise possible
- “Unparalleled quality and innovation”: Jackson takes its flagship American Series back to its metal roots with new EMG-loaded Soloist models
March 20
- I use Helix Native every day for practice and recording and Line 6 just slashed $160 off the price
- “A high-octane instrument for guitarists who demand the best”: Dean reimagines the Zero with a top-of-the-line rebrand – adding new depth to the firm's range of metal guitars
- “I thought, ‘Oh, God, this could go really bad…’ I’m telling him that I can’t remember playing with him on a No. 1 record”: Earl Slick says he was too high to remember meeting John Lennon during David Bowie’s Fame recording session
- “It doesn’t take a million dollars. You take this to any studio or venue, and you’re Band of Gypsys”: Joe Bonamassa attempts to recreate Jimi Hendrix’s iconic live rig on a budget – with a $319 Squier Strat and Peavey Classic
- “When I first went to England, there was Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton sleeping in a van. They all bought Strats after they saw me play”: Buddy Guy reflects on his relationship with the Strat during a jam with Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram
- “Absolutely mind-blowing”: Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith rips through the blues on a ‘55 Gibson Les Paul Custom previously owned by Paul Kossoff and Eric Clapton
- “The figured tops of the future”: Epiphone has expanded its Modern Figured range with two brilliant burst finishes – giving the futuristic family perhaps its best makeover yet
- “Who better to mod the mod than the engineer who designed the circuit in the first place”: Original Tube Screamer designer Susumu Tamura just overhauled one of the most popular Ibanez TS9 mods
March 19
- “We decided to try and make that sonic signature available to the guitar community without the $100k price tag”: J. Rockett launches the Airchild Six Sixty – a new pedal inspired by “the best compressor ever made”
- “Perform like traditional guitar amps, while providing the increased versatility of modern amplifiers”: Line 6 takes the fight to the Boss Katana once again with the upgraded Helix-powered Catalyst CX range
- “Because vast ambient sounds shouldn’t just be for larger pedals with vast price points”: Walrus Audio democratizes atmospheric reverb tones with the affordable Fundamental Ambient
- “A set of humbuckers from one of his favorite ES-335s”: Seymour Duncan and Joe Bonamassa have produced another set of signature pickups – a pair of PAFs that replicate the tones of “one of the finest instruments in his collection”
- Waves just dropped loads of its plugins back to Black Friday prices – record better guitar tones from just $9.99
- “Inspired by original drawings from 1957”: Gibson announces the Theodore Standard – bringing the unearthed archive design to the firm’s core USA line for the first time ever
- Van Halen, Metallica, SRV, Iron Maiden, Rush, Dio, Yngwie, Vai and the greatest guitar albums of 1984 – only in the new Guitar World
- Classic Jazz Bass tones minus the buzz? Lollar’s new hum-cancelling pickup offers a “fuller bass sound that’s still vintage-faithful”
March 18
- “I thought, ‘He’s got to be joking,’ because John Paul Jones is God on bass, as far as I’m concerned”: How Lita Ford almost ended up joining Led Zeppelin – on bass
- “Stands at the crossroads of utility and elegance”: Bourgeois Guitars collabs with Eastman for the Touchstone Signature – a historically-styled model that pays homage to prewar acoustics
- “Bruce Springsteen was in the next studio… He had a Gretsch Country Gentleman, and I asked him if I could borrow it”: How a loaner from The Boss powered the iconic spaghetti western line in Blondie’s Atomic
- “Gibson Supremes with Floyds!”: Neal Schon has rekindled his relationship with Gibson, bringing the Floyd Rose to the luxed-out Les Paul Supreme for a trio of potential signature models
March 17
- “His music was determinedly and insistently unconventional”: Steve Harley, Cockney Rebel singer and guitarist, dies at 73
March 16
- “Noel spat on his T-shirt, rubbed off the signature and said, ‘I’ll take it anyway!’”: Noel Gallagher once bought one of Peter Green’s Les Pauls – but erased Green’s signature to get back at the store owner who sold it to him
March 15
- “Furthering Fortnite’s commitment to working with forward-thinking music brands”: Fender teams up with Fornite to bring its Stratocaster and Precision Bass to the digital realm
- “Advanced playability for the seasoned professional and the aspiring performer”: Charvel launches its latest Pro-Mod model – rolling out relic’d finishes to its standard range for the first time
- “What he did with it, it just brings you to tears”: Jeff Beck’s last-ever recording has been released – as Mark Knopfler’s sensational star-studded charity single finally arrives
March 14
- “We’ve arrived at something that’s really special”: Gibson launches Jimmy Page’s ultra-exclusive Collector’s Edition 1969 EDS-1275 double-neck signature guitar – a meticulous, $50,000 recreation of an enduring rock ’n’ roll symbol
- “The sound of other guitars is leading the player. With the Stratocaster, the player leads the sound”: Tom Morello explains why the Fender Strat is unlike any other electric guitar
- “Slash says, ‘You got the gig. Learn the whole catalog.’ I was like, ‘Don’t you have a set of songs?’ Slash goes, ‘There’s no setlist. Axl just calls ’em out’”: How Gilby Clarke got the Guns N’ Roses gig – and learned the band’s back catalog in a week
- “One small stomp for man… one giant leap for chorus, delays and reverbs”: Zoom updates one of the best-value multi-FX on the market with the MS-70CDR+ MultiStomp
- “Puts authentic sounds from the stage class Boss Katana amp series at the instrument’s output jack”: Has the Katana:GO just changed the headphone amp game forever?
March 13
- “That wasn’t in the job description”: This metal guitarist mistook a photographer for his guitar tech – and accidentally launched his guitar at him
- “The best Tele tones I've ever had”: Rabea Massaad seeks to make the Telecaster more versatile than ever with new Bare Knuckle Nomad pickups
- “Overdrive, distortion and dirt that you have never heard before”: Keeley’s new 4-in-1 Series elevates the firm’s hybrid gain experiments – matching Rat, DS-1 BluesBreaker and Big Muff circuits to “Frankenstein new monster tones”
- “Is there an expanded one? Is there a smaller footprint version? Is there a native version?” Fender’s Justin Norvell teases next steps for the Tone Master Pro range – and confirms tweed FRFR speakers are “definitely on the list”
- “Steals the spotlight”: Schecter bestows Avenged Sevenfold’s Zacky Vengeance with a new familiarly styled signature guitar – could a headless model for Synyster Gates follow in its wake?
- “I couldn't imagine they would even be using the guitar”: Kurt Russell says he couldn’t care less about that 145-year-old Martin he smashed on The Hateful Eight – and the tale of the “priceless” guitar has been blown out of proportion
March 12
- “Ignore the Pacifica Pro at your peril: this is a world-class instrument”: the Yamaha Pacifica Professional returns to the model’s roots as the ultimate pro player toolkit
- “A celebration of unity and togetherness in these uncertain and divisive times”: Slash announces the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. traveling blues festival – set to feature Warren Haynes, Keb’ Mo’, Larkin Poe, Eric Gales and Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram
- “I don't believe that I have a signature guitar. I feel like I’m dreaming”: Fender taps influential producer and R&B guitarist Raphael Saadiq for a bold new signature Telecaster – and it’s received Eric Gales’ seal of approval
- “A groundbreaking innovation in the realm of bass amplifiers”: Is Ashdown's latest combo its best lightweight bass amp yet?
- “Striking limited-edition reissues of the very first ES-335”: Gibson revives the flagship ES-335 design for a line of ‘58 Murphy Lab models – complete with a rare spec you won't find on any other 335
- “There were times, I admit, when I had to pinch myself”: Eric Carmen – the All By Myself and Hungry Eyes hitmaker, and the man who sold Joan Jett her Melody Maker – dies aged 74
- “He didn’t just work here – he lived and embodied the spirit of the brand”: Mike Lewis, the head of Fender’s Custom Shop – an industry legend who played with Chuck Berry and toured with the Rolling Stones – has passed away
- “I turned everything on the amp to 10 and smoked the guitar so hard that it would rattle someone’s teeth… They said nothing, then Jack Bruce signaled me out”: How Blues Saraceno became ‘the kid that replaced Clapton’ – despite almost blowing the audition
March 11
- “One of the finest musicians I've ever known”: Karl Wallinger, guitarist and singer of World Party, dies at 66
- “An important piece of the low end theory”: T.M. Stevens, bass legend and session pro who performed and recorded with the likes of Steve Vai, James Brown, Bootsy Collins, and the Pretenders, dies at 72
- “I got to play one of the prototypes through my actual touring rig. It sounds really good”: Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett is working with Fender on an affordable signature version of his Masterbuilt Telecaster – and it’s already been road-tested
- “What an honor!” Slash and Wolfgang Van Halen joined Ryan Gosling at the Oscars to rip through their Barbie mega-ballad, I’m Just Ken – and the internet can’t get enough of it
- “To me, those are blues machines”: Joe Bonamassa picks his three quintessential guitars for playing the blues – and names his “Les Paul killers”
- “Music education is a huge contributor to a student’s success in school and life”: Wolfgang Van Halen donates $100,000 to schools in need of musical instruments
March 8
- “A spectrum of overdrive tones inspired by two iconic blues pedals”: Burgeoning British firm Buzzing Bugs swarms the stompbox market with the BB04 Full Range Drive
- You can now get the coveted sound of a Gibson Les Paul for a whole lot less - save a mammoth $600 in the Musician’s Friend Guitar Fest sale
- “A rare opportunity to explore a unique side of his playing”: Slash hangs up his Les Paul for a 335 in the first taste of his solo blues album – a covers record featuring Brian Johnson, Billy Gibbons, Iggy Pop, Gary Clark Jr. and Demi Lovato
- “It was so destroyed you could take the paint off with your hands”: How Rich Robinson brought his ’68 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop back from the brink after Hurricane Sandy
- “A journey into the soul of timeless studio tones”: Wampler looks to cram the essence of the legendary studio compressor that “shaped the fabric of music” into a pedal with the Ego 76
- “Can never thank Bob enough. Rest in power my friend”: Bob Heil – the Talk Box pioneer who worked with Peter Frampton, Grateful Dead and The Who – dies aged 83
- “More than a music store. It’s an industry icon”: Iconic gear retailer Sam Ash Music reportedly set to close 18 branches nationwide – including its flagship New York store
- “So many people lost their guitars. I lost 44”: Peter Frampton recalls how he lost and recovered guitars through floods and plane crashes as he shows off his eye-watering gear collection on Gibson TV
- Should you replace or upgrade your guitar? Fender just gave you the answer with a whopping 20% off official parts and pickups
March 7
- “A versatile, state-of-the-art instrument designed to push your playing to new heights”: Fender’s 70th Anniversary Ultra Strat HSS offers us a glimpse at the future of the world’s most popular electric guitar
- ”A jaw-droppingly Shredrageous performance”: Joe Satriani, Richie Kotzen and Nuno Bettencourt showcase their most outrageous licks for a standout rendition of Jeff Beck favorite, Going Down
- “You have to take what he says with a grain of salt. He also said he wrote Eruption and came up with the Frankenstein stripes”: Wolfgang Van Halen responds to David Lee Roth jibes – and says a Van Halen tribute tour is “impossible”
March 6
- “Uncompromising power and fidelity in stunning style”: Gretsch completes its latest limited-edition lineup with two drop-dead-gorgeous Pristine LTD Electromatic models
- “A ferocious, thunderous and now tame-able circuit triumphantly returns”: Death By Audio has rebooted its gnarly Octave Clang – and it’s bigger, bolder and more versatile than ever
- “If you were to listen to anything I do, you can see how big the blues influence is”: Slash is getting ready to unveil his blues solo album – one of the most anticipated guitar records of the year
- “It isn’t just a modern headless instrument; it’s a resurrection of a pioneering legacy”: Cort reinvents its “revolutionary” headless Artisan bass design with the upgraded Space 5 model
- “A simple modeling device at a competitive price”: Line 6 makes a play for the most compact, easy-to-use multi-FX/amp modeler on the market with the HX-powered POD Express
March 5
- “Forever ahead of its time”: Fender kicks off the Strat’s 70th anniversary party with star-studded Voodoo Child (Slight Return) mega-jam – featuring Tom Morello, Nile Rodgers, Mateus Asato, Ari O'Neal and Rei
- “The bridge between at least three generations. He was genuinely happy to share the joy with those around him”: W. C. Clark – the ‘Godfather of Austin Blues’ who mentored Stevie Ray Vaughan and many others – has died aged 84
- “A journey through Al's musical evolution, showcasing his virtuosity and vision”: Al Di Meola spent four years crafting his latest album – and its first single is a fusion-meets-flamenco masterclass
- “The wait is over – now you can have it all”: Dave Grohl’s Epiphone DG-335, the most demanded signature model in its 151-year history, is finally here – and it costs less than you might expect
March 4
- “We think Marshall represents the rock and roll attitude”: Amp sales accounted for just 5% of the Marshall Group’s revenues in 2023 – but it looks like new digital amps could be on the way
- “I think what we’ve had is an embarrassment of riches”: The first minute of Mark Knopfler’s star-studded charity single has been released – can you guess the guitar heroes from their chops?
- “The approach and innovation had me locked”: Steve Vai names his favorite Joe Satriani song – an underrated deep cut that features radical Auto-Tuned solos
- “I was seriously excited to take this one over the finish line”: Feast your eyes on this acrylic Mustang-style build – Soccer Mommy’s out-of-this-world custom offset
- “We’re grateful for Paz’s many contributions, and wish her all the very best going forward”: Paz Lenchantin leaves the Pixies after 10 years – and her replacement has been announced
- “You don’t have to shred, play fusion or reinvent guitar technique”: Steve Vai’s co-guitarist watched every night of the G3 reunion tour – this is what he thinks makes a virtuoso
March 1
- “Alex wants to set the record straight on Edward’s life and death”: Alex Van Halen set to chronicle his relationship with Eddie in new memoir, Brothers
- “I just wanted to make some money so I could buy a Fender amp. I think I did OK”: Joe Bonamassa’s Guitar Man documentary charts the guitar hero’s epic career – and it’s currently available to stream for free
- “At home for blues solos as it is for metal riffs”: Lamb of God's Mark Morton teams up with Stringjoy for the firm’s first-ever Artist Series signature string set
- “It sounds like a bunch of 18-year-old kids having fun. There’s something to be said about that energy”: Eric Johnson reveals a G3 live album from the 2024 reunion tour with Steve Vai and Joe Satriani is in the works
- “A nod to Harmony’s rich design history and a step toward building the brand further”: Harmony adds the H62 to its growing Reissue Series – and it's built better than ever
- “I hate modeling, I think it’s wack. You can hear it right away”: IDLES explain why recording with an amp modeler risks messing with your tone, your head – and probably your dog