Latest Updates

Why Wampler thinks its Swiss army Cryptid fuzz pedal is a “classic in the making”
By Phil Weller published
Featuring an all-new circuit, the stompbox is Brian Wampler’s attempt at an all-in-one offering that can handle all your fuzz flavor needs

Synergy has unveiled a tiny amp head that lets you swap in tones from some of the world’s biggest amp builders
By Phil Weller published
The compact build lets you pick from a raft of licensed preamp modules designed in collaboration with a host of boutique amp brands

Spinal Tap’s monstrous six-neck behemoth, The Beast, is headed to auction again
By Phil Weller published
Gary Hutchins’ mind-boggling build went on sale back in 2021, but it’s hitting the auction circuit once again with a rather humble estimate

Phil X on playing Livin’ on a Prayer with Richie Sambora – and how his predecessor plays the Bon Jovi classic differently
By Matt Owen published
Two eras of Bon Jovi combined during a recent LA benefit concert, when Phil X and Sambora shared the stage with Orianthi and Matt Sorum for a rendition of the classic hit

Never-before-seen footage of Van Halen hanging with Black Sabbath and shredding at early shows surfaces after decades
By Phil Weller published
B-roll clips cover iconic shows at the Monsters of Rock and Madison Square Garden, as well as plenty of backstage antics

Gibson’s 1965 Firebird Platypus was the oddball model that marked a moment of transition for the guitar giant – now it’s been revived
By Phil Weller published
Gibson was constantly tweaking the Firebird design during the 1960s, and the Platypus variant comes from the epicenter of that trial-and-error period

Gibson’s new Acoustic Specials series brings hand-crafted examples of its most beloved acoustic designs to lower price points
By Matt Owen published
Newly minted takes on the Hummingbird, L-00 and J-45 templates look to offer USA Gibson acoustics at more accessible prices

Nita Strauss on the Swedish melodic death metal group she considers her “Beatles”
By Matt Owen published
The guitar hero selected one of the band’s tracks while running through the five riffs that changed her life

Fender has announced its latest surprise brand collab – a St. Patrick’s Day Telecaster created with Jameson Irish Whiskey
By Matt Owen published
The extra-green Telecaster has been served with an ideal pairing in the form of a celebratory St. Patrick’s Day Tone Master Princeton Reverb

Tom Morello is honoring one of Ozzy’s greatest collaborators at the Sabbath legend’s final show
By Matt Owen published
Osbourne’s last show will take place later this year, and Morello – the event’s musical director – will take the opportunity to pay tribute to one of the finest guitar players of all time

Before Andy Fairweather Low joined George Harrison’s band, the Beatle was eyeing up Gary Moore and Alvin Lee
By Matt Owen published
The prolific session player joined Harrison for his 1991 tour of Japan, but it turns out he was rather low on the pecking order when the Beatles legend came to assembling his band

Jimmy Page blasts new Artificial Intelligence proposals from UK Government
By Phil Weller published
The Led Zeppelin legend says the technology is exploiting musicians and is “devoid of the struggles that define true artistry”

After playing Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown, Monica Barbaro claims she is a guitar player for life
By Janelle Borg published
After learning the instrument for the once-in-a-lifetime role, Barbaro is now taking her guitar journey beyond the screen and into her day-to-day life

Matchless Amplifiers and Bad Cat Amps luminary Mark Sampson has passed away
By Janelle Borg published
Sampson had recently returned to Bad Cat, and was even involved in launching the Era 30 tube amp at this year's NAMM

Brian May’s Gibson 12-string has a subtle tribute to Freddie Mercury that you might have missed
By Phil Weller published
The artistic easter egg helps carry the singer’s spirit into future live shows

Tunerette honors the heyday of rock ‘n’ roll with a clip-on tuner that looks like a cigarette
By Phil Weller published
Beat the smoking ban while emulating true rock star moves with this tricky tuner

Phil X and Richie Sambora team up as two eras of Bon Jovi combine to perform Livin’ On a Prayer at LA benefit concert
By Phil Weller published
The guitarist who helped write the classic song – and the man who later replaced him in the band – came together to raise funds in the wake of the LA wildfires

How Nathan East managed to make his bass sound like a guitar on these Kenny Loggins hits
By Janelle Borg published
East discloses the nifty technique that bassists can use in lieu of adding actual guitars to a track

Joey Molland, guitarist, singer, last surviving original member of Badfinger, dies at 77
By Jackson Maxwell published
In addition to his time with the early '70s hitmakers, Molland worked independently with all four Beatles, playing guitar on George Harrison's All Things Must Pass and John Lennon's Imagine