The surprising Cinderella story of the vintage Nocaster that connects a glam metal star to Keith Urban
Urban says the guitar – which was previously unowned by a Cinderella guitarist – is unlike any other in his collection
Latest News
The surprising Cinderella story of the vintage Nocaster that connects a glam metal star to Keith Urban
Urban says the guitar – which was previously unowned by a Cinderella guitarist – is unlike any other in his collection
Fender unveils its first-ever signature guitar with a South Korean artist
Renowned singer-songwriter JUKJAE has a new signature Strat that features some pretty tasty specs
Chrissie Hynde pays tribute to the underrated guitar hero who defined the Pretenders
The guitarist died just a few years after the band’s debut album, but his imprint on their sound can still be felt today
Tommy Thayer says there is still more in store for Kiss
More shows, avatars, and new music? The band still has a bright future despite retiring from touring, Thayer says
Rob Reiner and wife found dead at their LA home
Authorities have opened a homicide investigation after the couple were found dead in their home on Sunday
Paul Reed Smith remembers his attempts to build guitars for other brands before starting his own company
Before launching PRS, Smith had another plan, and some high-profile backers
All the guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – including a follow-up to the internet-breaking Bad Monkey story
It's pedal mania this week, with new drops from Strymon, JHS Pedals, and DigiTech – but a long-awaited replica of Tom Morello's legendary Rage Against the Machine guitar steals the spotlight
Artists
Pat Metheny called him “the best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life” – meet Pasquale Grasso
The hyper-talented jazz virtuoso on how he’s out to prove there’s life in the genre
How Motown hit-maker James Jamerson funked up a Christmas classic on this holiday gem from 1968
The Temptations' funky cover of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer captured Jamerson at his peak powers, before personal problems began to take their toll
Greg Lake started out as a guitarist – before being convinced by Robert Fripp to switch to bass when joining King Crimson
Lake went on to form Emerson, Lake & Palmer – ELP – with keyboardist Keith Emerson and drummer Carl Palmer, creating one of rock’s first super-groups
Bruce Kulick remembers Ace Frehley, and the Frehley-era Kiss song that caused him the most trouble
The underrated guitar great recalls his 12 years trying to emulate the Spaceman while bringing something fresh to the band, all the time wondering how Frehley’s playing connected with so many guitarists around the world
Greg Norton believes Hüsker Dü were always going to break up, but it happened too soon
The current Ultrabomb bassist discusses the instruments that led to his custom Reverend, how a 1985 concert video got lost, and how easy it was to learn from bandmate Mould
He’s played on over 500 albums. Now Marcus Deml is making breathtaking guitar instrumentals under his own name
He spent 12-hour days learning at GIT in the shred era. But for his Strat-led solo showcase, Deml relied mainly on his ears and a religious approach to tone
“It was a little hard bouncing between classes and playing Coachella”: Is Brandon ‘Taz’ Niederauer guitar’s next superstar?
At 22 years old, he’s already a star of stage and screen. Taz seems like such a nice kid, but don’t be fooled – he plays like a demon
Gear
These ‘60s Gibson semi-hollows were Gary Moore’s workhorses – and they’ve still got the blues
Serial number A33857, this stunning '60 ES-355TD was top-of-the-line in its day, and with his ’63 ES-335TD, offered Moore stunning tones. We took a closer look as they headed to an auction where they fetched around $94,000 and $65,000, respectively
“As a compact amp modeler/cab simulator/Capture device, this is perhaps the best option out there, screen or no screen”: Neural DSP Nano Cortex review
Review update: includes NanOS 2.2.0 firmware update and long-term live testing
Steve Vai on his love of the Positive Grid Spark Mini Vai
Many would argue it is the ultimate practice amp. Vai would be one of them – indeed he loved it so much he put his name on it
“It's a Bad Monkey, turned up to 11”: DOD Badder Monkey review
Not a reissue, but an 'evolution.' So what does that mean?
“It’s like a sports car that can hug a turn at 100 mph”: John Mayer and Paul Reed Smith on the making of the Silver Sky
John Mayer talks GW through his acclaimed PRS Silver Sky, while its maker – Paul Reed Smith – reveals the science that went into the guitar’s development
"The Quad Cortex has solidified itself as the modeler to beat": Neural DSP Quad Cortex review
Review update: Including long-term testing and an overview of the latest CorOS 3.3 release
The making of Jim Root’s Telecaster, the guitar that brought Fender into the modern age
Some metal players prefer the traditional high-performance brands. Others favor medieval shapes. Not Root. The Slipknot guitarist wanted something old-school, classy… indestructible
Lessons
Master the 12-string guitar: restringing, tuning and strumming made simple
Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend, the Eagles, and Richie Sambora swear by 12-string guitars for sonic sparkle – after this guide, you will too
Joe Bonamassa reveals the secret to writing heavy riffs – and his methods might surprise you
Step back from the overdrive pedal, dial the gain back, and that extra clarity could well sound heavier in a band mix
Pete Townshend, Ray Davies and David Bowie all used third inversion chords – here’s why (and how) you should, too
If the idea of third inversions seems all upside down, fear not: these five examples show how easy they are to put together – and how musical they are when you apply them in a song
Cory Wong on how to arrange guitar and keyboards
The funkmeister puts Direct Flyte under the microscope to deliver a masterclass in arrangement. It's funk, sure, but there's some operatic influence in there, too, because that's just how Wong rolls
How to use triads in blues solos like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix
When you’re the only guitarist in the band, triads are your best friends in a guitar solo – and Hendrix and SRV were the masters
Jared James Nichols shows you how to build a guitar solo to a powerful climax
Ditch the pick and crank the amp for this Jared James Nichols masterclass in blues solo composition
Great tone starts with the pick – just ask Steve Vai. Here’s how honing your picking can improve your tone for free
Unlock every pick color – from warmth and brightness to the secretive clarinet tone
Best online guitar lessons 2025: I'm a professional guitar product reviewer and these are my top picks
Online lessons are the ideal platform for developing guitar skills from the comfort of your home or on the go – myself and our in-house experts have tested options for all playing levels, styles and budgets, including a free option
"The quality of tuition remains second to none, the user interface is slick, and the amp feature is both practical and entertaining:" Gibson: Learn To Play Guitar app review
The sophisticated Gibson tuition app sets the tone for players aspiring to dial in as much gain with as little pain as possible - with oodles of feedback always on tap
Reviews
“As a compact amp modeler/cab simulator/Capture device, this is perhaps the best option out there, screen or no screen”: Neural DSP Nano Cortex review
Review update: includes NanOS 2.2.0 firmware update and long-term live testing
“It's a Bad Monkey, turned up to 11”: DOD Badder Monkey review
Not a reissue, but an 'evolution.' So what does that mean?
"The Quad Cortex has solidified itself as the modeler to beat": Neural DSP Quad Cortex review
Review update: Including long-term testing and an overview of the latest CorOS 3.3 release
Gretsch Streamliner Jet 1 Pickup
An affordable, uber-cool workhorse guitar that packs a lot of punch despite its streamlined spec sheet
“One of the best-sounding headphone amps for guitar I’ve had my hands on”: Blackstar Beam Solo review
Blackstar enters a very busy market with their take on the ubiquitous headphone amp for guitar
"If you banish the desire for any real bass thump, there’s a lot of enjoyment to be had in the sounds you can coax out of this thing": Yamaha JR1 acoustic guitar review
Is this pint-sized dread Yamaha's ultimate beginner acoustic? Let's find out
“A tighter, louder and gutsier tone from an already stellar-sounding amp”: Bad Cat Mod Shop Black Cat 30 review
Remixed and refreshed by the late, great amp-guru Mark Sampson, this Black Cat has two more tubes, 10 more watts and a whole new voice
Buying Guides
Best headphone amps for guitar 2025: silent practice solutions
You don’t need to sacrifice tone to practice quietly with my expert pick of the best headphone amps for guitar players
Best pedalboard power supplies 2025: juice your ‘board with my pick of pro-grade power, fully tested
I put budget-spanning pedal power supplies from Fender, Cioks, Walrus Audio and more through their paces – these were the standouts
Best looper pedals 2025: options for practice, songwriting, and live performance – tried and tested by an expert
Whether you're writing songs or woodshedding solos, using a loop pedal will make you a better guitarist – these are the best looper pedals from Boss, TC Electronic, Line 6 and more
What's the best guitar cable in 2025? These are the tried & tested options I'd recommend to any player
There's a lot of snake oil when it comes to the top guitar cables – I'm a professional guitar gear reviewer and I've tested 11 of the best to help you find your perfect match
Best online guitar lessons 2025: I'm a professional guitar product reviewer and these are my top picks
Online lessons are the ideal platform for developing guitar skills from the comfort of your home or on the go – myself and our in-house experts have tested options for all playing levels, styles and budgets, including a free option
Best multi-effects pedals 2025: replace your rig
Our pick of the best multi-fx pedals from Neural DSP, Kemper, Line 6, Boss, and more
Looking for useful Christmas gifts for guitarists under $20? Here's my pick of 10 affordable accessories every guitar player actually needs
Supercharge your gifting with home practice and gigbag essentials that won't break the bank – recommended by a professional guitar salesman
