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Yvette Young has a new piece of signature gear – and it might be the one stop shop for all the ambient prog rock tones you’ve been waiting for
Young has a unveiled a new Mixwave plugin that has a treasure trove of toys to play with
Latest News
Yvette Young has a new piece of signature gear – and it might be the one stop shop for all the ambient prog rock tones you’ve been waiting for
Young has a unveiled a new Mixwave plugin that has a treasure trove of toys to play with
The difference between a PRS Silver Sky and Fender Stratocaster, according to a blues hero who plays both
The guitars have their own unique qualities in Philip Sayce's eyes – and both are welcome in his rig
Fender honors legendary Motown bass great with recreation of James Jamerson’s workhorse bass
Jamerson’s beloved Precision Bass has been recreated in all its vintage, warm-voiced glory
Polyphia announces 2026 world tour – and they're bringing two of the biggest names in guitar playing with them
Tim Henson and co will play shows in North America, Europe, and the UK throughout 2026
Ed O’Brien opens up on his guitar insecurities in Radiohead
The Radiohead guitarist speaks about dealing with depression in a band and finding solace in the familial bond with his bandmates
Why Kurt Vile prefers older guitar strings – and hardly ever changes his
Vile has been guitar through and through since the beginning, so much so that he prefers the sound of dead strings...
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John Osborne on the time he got warned off the B-Bender – even though he didn’t have one
Osborne couldn't afford a B-Bender at first, so instead he got good, really good, at emulating the pedal steel sound without one
Artists
Was Neal Schon the godfather of ‘80s glam metal? Tracing the origin story of Mötley Crüe’s seminal Looks That Kill riff
We time-travel back to the era of zebra stripes and ripped jeans to investigate the mystery of Crüe’s Looks That Kill and the riff that changed the world
YouTubers, sloppy solos, Paco de Lucía’s darkest tour secrets... In conversation with US jazz giants Al Di Meola and Julian Lage
When the two jazz giants joined the same interview, no topic was off the table
The recording of Nirvana's Bleach – and the band's “ultimate grunge song”
Recorded in four sessions in December 1988 for just $606.17, Bleach would signal the primal quality and rawness that came to define the grunge movement
How a composer's approach and 40 DD-3 pedals helped noise masters MONO to heal their grief
Aiming to match sadness with beauty, guitarist and composer Taka Goto explains why, on new album Snowdrop, he channeled classical music through a distortion pedal
Doug Gillard of Guided By Voices on finally going solo again – and the playing quirk he can’t shake
Parallel Stride is a essential listening for Guided By Voices who have been jonesing forever in the wait for Gillard to release a follow-up to 2014's Parade On
How jazz bassist Richard Davis helped shape Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks
Released in 1968, Astral Weeks initially went unnoticed before eventually attaining near-mythical status among folk-rock fans
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Jerry Cantrell on the magic and mods of his iconic 'Blue Dress' G&L Rampage – and the gift from Eddie Van Halen
Back in January 1996, Alice In Chains' Jerry Cantrell was on the cover of Guitar World with his “Blue Dress” Rampage. 30 years on it's still going strong
How Death Cab for Cutie found their second act – by embracing the weird, and guitars from their past
Ben Gibbard developed the songs for their sharp and confident new album I Built You a Tower like he did in the indie icons' earliest days, power trio style – but he and guitarist Dave Depper have never been more in lockstep
Gear
Best bass compressor pedals 2026: expert picks for the ultimate in low-end control
From studio-style levelers to stomboxes that squash, we put the market-leading compressor pedals for bass to the test
Everything you need to know about 1950s Telecaster pickups – and how to build your own replicas
Not all Blackguard Tele pickups are alike. Here's what you need to know to keep that twang in your sound
EVH 5150 III Hypersonic 6L6 2x12 review
Following in the steps of parent company Fender's Tone Master range, EVH releases a digital combo version of the coveted 5150 amp, combining digital modeling and a real guitar cabinet
25 tips for tracking down your dream guitar (for the right price)
Buying a guitar can be tricky enough before you even consider the vintage market, and whether a refin is a good or bad thing. Here we unpack some dos, don'ts and things to consider when trading
The Gold Caged Steelcaster is a $15,000, 24-carat T-style inspired by a Cadillac
Just look at all that gold – and the pickups are pretty special, too. But for $15,000-plus, it might be a little rich for most
Best amps for metal 2026: my top picks for high-gain heroes
These powerhouse metal amps from PRS, Orange, Friedman, EVH, and more will have you primed to seek and destroy
Best pedal amps 2026: top preamps, power amps, and amp modelers
We rank and review the best guitar amp pedals from Strymon, Universal Audio, Blackstar, and more
Lessons
Pinch Harmonics made easy: how to get the perfect squeal
Our definitive guide on how Billy Gibbons, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and Zakk Wylde make their guitars scream
The secret to great guitar solos isn’t technique – it’s rhythm
All the greats put themselves into their phrasing, and that identity was not only note choice but rhythm. Here are four ways you can add rhythmic interest to great effect
If you learn one thing from Jake E. Lee it should be this: bigger stretches for better shredding
Try this enhanced lesson to strengthen your fourth finger and use your thumb for wide fretting like the iconic Ozzy Osbourne guitarist
How to funk up your blues solos
Taking cues from John Mayer, Jimi Hendrix and Nile Rodgers, this lesson offers three examples of phrases that add rhythm and movement to blues
“To some people, this is more of a ‘jazzy’ sound”: How to use dominant 7 arpeggios in a guitar solo
Because you can't have enough exit ramps from traditional blues phrases, here's how you can use the notes of a dominant 7 chord to spice up your solos
5 chords that sound like they’re in an open tuning (but aren’t)
Because sometimes retuning your guitar is, well, a pain in the backside – and there are workarounds
Charlie Starr on how to play “Piedmont” fingerstyle guitar
The Blackberry Smoke frontman goes unplugged to give us a lesson in the fingerstyle techniques he applies in his day job
Reviews
EVH 5150 III Hypersonic 6L6 2x12 review
Following in the steps of parent company Fender's Tone Master range, EVH releases a digital combo version of the coveted 5150 amp, combining digital modeling and a real guitar cabinet
Yamaha 60th Anniversary RSP20B and RS02CB Chris Buck review
After redesigning the ‘new’ Revstar back in 2022, Yamaha has added two models to the line-up: a 60th Anniversary knees-up and Chris Buck signature model
“I’ve been playing B-benders since 1999, so I was eager to get my mitts on this guitar”: Fender John Osborne Telecaster review
The country-rock star’s Tele tears up the template – and could be your fastest ticket to B-bender tone
"A genuinely brilliant guitar that can do far more than its heavy metal aesthetic suggests": Ibanez Iron Label AZ41B1 review
Ibanez's pitch-black metal machine is hiding a secret beneath its stealthy exterior
Ancoats Granada Special review – a unique modern-retro design with a fresh approach to relic’ing
This UK boutique build references the long-gone Granada Television, another Manchester oddity, and creates a new spin on the T-style
“A fine, gig-ready instrument with premium build quality”: Taylor Gold Label 710E review
As part of an ongoing revision to its esteemed catalog, Taylor has introduced a deep-bodied dreadnought into the fold. Let’s take it out for a spin
"The price might be chunky, but the playing experience, build and sonic delivery are tough to argue with": Ibanez Alpha A528 review
It’s already caused a stir online, but does the Alpha eight-string multi-scale prove itself in person?
Buying Guides
Best bass compressor pedals 2026: expert picks for the ultimate in low-end control
From studio-style levelers to stomboxes that squash, we put the market-leading compressor pedals for bass to the test
Best amps for metal 2026: my top picks for high-gain heroes
These powerhouse metal amps from PRS, Orange, Friedman, EVH, and more will have you primed to seek and destroy
Best pedal amps 2026: top preamps, power amps, and amp modelers
We rank and review the best guitar amp pedals from Strymon, Universal Audio, Blackstar, and more
Best guitar plugins 2026: my top plugins to level up your recorded guitar tones
Get better guitar tones for recording and practice with my pick of the best guitar amp plugins
Best guitar straps 2026: play in comfort and secure your guitar in style – budget-spanning choices from a guitar salesman
My expert pick of straps for electric, acoustic and bass, covering all budgets and materials. Plus, buying advice to help you decide
Best single coil pickups 2026: from trailblazing designs to vintage traditionalists
From Fender Telecaster twang to Gibson P-90 bite, we’ve compiled our pick of the best aftermarket single coils your money can buy right now
Best budget guitar amps under $500 2026: cost-cutting amplifiers for every player
Get great sounds and features without blowing your budget – from affordable tube amps to wallet-friendly digital modeling amps and everything in between
