Plus! The year's biggest guitar news, best new gear, our picks for guitarist of the year, the future of EVH Gear, Orianthi, Jason Richardson and much more!
(Image credit: Future)
Hello again! For the second year in a row, we’re dedicating almost an entire issue to “the year that was.” And so, our January 2023 issue is a full-on celebration of that pair of 24-sided dice we call 2022.
Our coverage includes…
* Our editors choose the guitarists of the year – 20-ish players who made massive dents in the rusting hull of 2022, including our two cover stars (Wolfgang Van Halen and Nita Strauss), plus… Well, you’ll just have to read the issue, won’t you?
* Our editors’ favorite new gear of the year, including Gamechanger Audio’s Bigsby pedal, which I’m seriously considering buying myself for Christmas. But do I really need it? I mean, my Teles don't have whammy bars, so I guess the answer is yes?
* A who’s who of guitar stars – including John Petrucci, Joe Bonamassa, Nita Strauss, Steve Stevens, Wolfgang Van Halen, Marty Friedman, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram and many, many more – choose the year’s best albums, guitar solos, riffs, songs, guitar moments, guitarists of the year and more.
* Wolfgang Van Halen – there’s that name again! – and Matt Bruck discuss the future of the EVH brand and their dedication to keeping Eddie Van Halen’s visionary ideas alive.
(Image credit: Andraia Allsop)
This issue also features…
We have interviews with the amazing Molly Miller, Wheel, R.E.M. legend Peter Buck, Orianthi, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram (he of the new signature Telecaster), His Lordship’s James Walbourne and shred master Jason Richardson, plus the Introducing and Playlist columns and the photo of the month.
Meanwhile, Joe Bonamassa shows you how to solo over a minor blues, Andy Timmons shares more string-bending techniques, Andy Aledort shows you how to make the most of open strings while soloing – and there’s a new column by Josh Smith.
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We have reviews of the Meris LVX Modular Delay System; Fender’s new American Vintage II 1973 Stratocaster; Orange’s new Distortion, Phaser and Sustain pedals; and the Electro-Harmonix String9 String Ensemble pedal. In Power Tools, Chris Gill explores the history of the Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive pedal and provides a tone tip or two.
Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.
