More people are visiting Guitar Center, but have its stores improved? Let us know your thoughts
How have your experiences in-store changed over the past year? Has the company delivered on its CEO’s promises of improvement?
![GW Aug 26 Editor's Picks [L-R]: Johnny Marr, Kele Okereke, Grace Bowers, Tim Henson, Phoebe Bridgers](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XzxK468Th8bnWsFFdxo92L-320-80.jpg.webp)
![The Descendents' Stephen Egerton [left] and Milo Aukerman do their thing at Coachella in Indio, California, April 13, 2013](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DdpYUDzKoAzLHkcexoMXQK-1200-80.jpg.webp)
Latest News
More people are visiting Guitar Center, but have its stores improved? Let us know your thoughts
How have your experiences in-store changed over the past year? Has the company delivered on its CEO’s promises of improvement?
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![GW Aug 26 Editor's Picks [L-R]: Johnny Marr, Kele Okereke, Grace Bowers, Tim Henson, Phoebe Bridgers](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XzxK468Th8bnWsFFdxo92L-840-80.jpg.webp)
Guitar World Editors’ Picks – our favorite tracks this month
Featuring a tongue-in-cheek single from a certain Rivers Cuomo, a dash of microtonal pop, and jangly riffs from a very charming man
“Don’t play, or even look at, this bass if you’ve got a hangover”: The biggest bass guitar launches this month
From genre-defining signature basses to an unconventional take on a Fender classic, here’s the lowdown on August’s biggest new bass gear releases
Geddy Lee details the intense preparation behind Rush’s reunion
Lifeson and Lee also reveal what they consider to be the hardest song on their set list
My pick of the best new guitar gear launched this week – including Sleep Token’s debut signatures
All the big new drops from PRS Guitars, Charvel, Jackson, Gibson, Friedman Amplification and much more
Friedman honors one of the most iconic amp modders of all time with new Jose 20 amps
Dave Friedman has teamed up with the late Jose Arredondo’s daughter for a 20W head and 1x12 combo that champions his innovative amp mods
John Mayer to induct Paul Reed Smith into Guitar Center Rockwalk
The esteemed guitar builder’s dedication to craftsmanship and innovation has been recognized
Artists
![Angus Young wears his school uniform as AC/DC play Donington Monsters of Rock [left]; Eric Clapton is suited and playing a pale blue Strat in the mid '80s.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QgAfKvcwAsJVc5suVA6JUK-840-80.jpg.webp)
Angus Young’s thoughts on Eric Clapton – and the players he prefers
When the AC/DC guitarist was coming up, Clapton was the player blowing everyone's mind but his
From Blood Brothers to Evil Island’s horror-surf, the wild ride of hardcore hero Cody Votolato
Evil Island is a vampire-obsessed, POG-abusing new project from hardcore scene survivors
![Joe Satriani plays his Paisley Pattern JS signature Ibanez; Kirk Hammett [right] plays his ESP Mummy.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w4FRgR6B5Pv4bVmgRR4KYU-840-80.jpg.webp)
“They were the weirdest things. He was asking me, ‘What do you think I should play over this stuff?’” When Joe Satriani got an exclusive preview of new Metallica material during lessons with his student Kirk Hammett
As the …And Justice for All arrangements grew crazier, Hammett sought help from the master
Manning the world’s first production fretless bass, Rick Danko had to be laser-sharp in the Band
Along with Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones and Boz Burrell of Bad Company, Rick Danko was one of the earliest players to take fretless bass guitar into the mainstream
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram on the enduring appeal of the Fender Telecaster
The modern day blues king is a Telecaster signature artist and an advocate for its bona-fides as the working player's guitar
How a little songcraft and a lot less gain brought chart success for emo-punk veterans Joyce Manor
Killing the gain made the emo-punks’ new album kick harder than ever; now they’re hijacking the Billboard charts on their own terms
That time Yngwie Malmsteen shredded his way through The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
The Swedish virtuoso played an insane number of notes as he sat in with the Roots on Jimmy Fallon
Gear
“For under $600 it does something quite special”: Gretsch Electromatic CVT Baritone review
Gretsch’s Electromatic range offers plenty for under a grand including this compelling short-scale baritone
Inside the making of the ThorpyFX Kudu – the pedal that makes everything... better?
Adrian Thorpe designed the Kudu to be a different type of overdrive, a flatter of amps with switchable clipping and a name from the safari
Thorn Soundlabs Flex Series pedals review
This new range of pedals straight out of Music City, USA, is designed for flexibility – meet the Bad Cash, Silver Spurs, Black Swamp, The FreaQ, Steam and Tremonator
“Compares well with instruments costing at least twice as much”: Epiphone Marcus King Dorado review
Epiphone revives its early 1970s Japanese-made El Dorado acoustic in the form of a very special Marcus King limited-edition
How Blind Guitars is redefining the traditional blues acoustic guitar
The B-24L has a price tag to send anyone down to the crossroads in search of a deal – but it delivers a sumptuous playing experience
“It’s staggering that a $329 bass can play like this”: Sire Marcus Miller V1 review
Marcus Miller-approved bass range gets a new baby sibling – is it worthy of the name?
On the shop floor at legendary Asbury Park guitar store Russo Music – where no day is a bad day
We visit Russo Music, where for over 60 years it has served Asbury Park, NJ, and now has stores in Hamilton Township and Philly
Lessons
Mastodon masterclass: Nick Johnston reveals his insane soloing techniques
Luscious legato, hot hybrid picking, busy blues bends and creative chromaticism are the trademarks of Nick Johnston. Here are five of his favorite lead approaches
Country icon Dolly Parton’s ‘thumb and flick’ playing style is essential learning for acoustic players
The late music icon had a distinctive approach to country rhythm, using alternating bassline picking and bluegrass soloing techniques
Learn “pendulum” strumming – the secret to natural-sounding chords
Take your rhythm playing beyond beginner with this simple exercise
How to write a “song within a song” with your guitar solos
Blackberry Smoke frontman Charlie Starr demonstrates how the solo really can serve the song – by being the song
Who’s afraid of the Mixolydian mode? Here’s how you can use it for triads
Corey Congilio wasn't that fussed about the Mixolydian mode at first but now he's a believer – and this lesson shows you just how practical it can be
Joe Bonamassa explains why varying your pick attack is a fundamental part of your playing style
Want to find your voice? Switch up your pick attack and put some character into your phrasing
Learn the all-purpose passing chord – the get-out-of-jail-free hack used by Kurt Cobain and Billie Joe Armstrong
You’ve heard it in Smells Like Teen Spirit and countless other grunge and punk classics. You may even already be doing it…
Reviews
“For under $600 it does something quite special”: Gretsch Electromatic CVT Baritone review
Gretsch’s Electromatic range offers plenty for under a grand including this compelling short-scale baritone
Thorn Soundlabs Flex Series pedals review
This new range of pedals straight out of Music City, USA, is designed for flexibility – meet the Bad Cash, Silver Spurs, Black Swamp, The FreaQ, Steam and Tremonator
“Compares well with instruments costing at least twice as much”: Epiphone Marcus King Dorado review
Epiphone revives its early 1970s Japanese-made El Dorado acoustic in the form of a very special Marcus King limited-edition
“It’s staggering that a $329 bass can play like this”: Sire Marcus Miller V1 review
Marcus Miller-approved bass range gets a new baby sibling – is it worthy of the name?
"A touch-responsive, dynamic drive that reacts like a good amplifier": Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr. Overdrive review
Warm Audio teams up with a boutique legend to bring a sought-after drive to the masses
"An unusual pedal that's trying to do something new": DOD Drag Analog Delay Pedal review
The spiritual successor to the DOD Rubberneck is just as weird
Charvel Sleep Token III Signature Pro-Mod San Dimas Bass V review
Behold – a five-string offering from Charvel, on behalf of mysterious modern metal outfit Sleep Token
Buying Guides
Best Gibson SGs 2026: Our budget-spanning picks of Gibson’s famous Solid Guitar
From retro reissues to contemporary shredders, here are the best Gibson SGs on the market right now
Best overdrive pedals 2026: from mid-hump to transparent tone
My pick of the top-rated overdrive pedals will get your gain tones on point
Best cheap acoustic guitars 2025: budget acoustics with genuine pedigree
Great tone doesn’t have to break the bank – these are the best cheap acoustic guitars from Fender, Yamaha, Cort and more
Best tube amps 2026: unlock incredible tone with my pick of valve amplifiers for stage, studio or home
Plug into legendary dynamic response and organic warmth with my top-rated valve amplifiers for every budget and playing style
Best clip-on guitar tuners 2026: hit the right note with my top pick of cost-effective tuners
Whether you play acoustic, electric, or bass, these clip-on tuners offer a quick, easy, and affordable way to achieve concert pitch every time you pick up your instrument
Best FRFR speakers 2026: transparent tone for multi-effects and amp modelers
Get the most out of your modeler with my pick of FRFR speakers, from on-the-go options to arena-filling mammoths – these active speakers from Fender, Laney, IK Multimedia and more are tonally transparent beasts
Hang about! If you're in the need of something to display a single or multiple guitars and to always have an axe to hand, this is my pick of the best stands and hangers for your guitars right now
Hang about! These are the best stands and hangers for your guitars right now
