Features

Who is buying $15 million guitars? One of the world’s leading dealers lifts the veil on the collectible guitar market

By Janelle Borg published 22 April 26

At 32, Matthieu Lucas hosts guitars wielded by the likes of Slash, Eric Clapton and AC/DC at Parisian guitar emporium Matt’s Guitar Shop. He is driven by his core belief that vintage guitars, once owned by legendary musicians, are meant to be played on stage again

The making of the Blackstar Doug Aldrich Signature DA100 Ruby

By Martin Smith published 22 April 26

Doug Aldrich reveals how decades of vintage amps, real-world touring and close collaboration with Blackstar helped shape his DA100 Ruby signature head

You may not know who played guitar on some of Avril Lavigne’s biggest hits. It was Corky James

By Andrew Daly published 21 April 26

The self-confessed late developer was in his 50s when his career hit its stride. He explains how he wound up working with Liz Phair, Demi Lovato, and more, and reveals the gear that got him there

The story of Fanny, one of the world’s first all-female rock bands

By Janelle Borg published 21 April 26

Fanny never topped the charts, but they made fans of everyone from the Beatles to David Bowie – despite constantly having to prove they could play

Keith Richards on his enduring love affair with the guitar – and why he’s still learning at 82

By Joel McIver published 21 April 26

The Rolling Stones icon reflects on life as a rhythm guitar hero, the size of his collection, and how the restriction of five-strings and open tunings blew his mind

Laura Snowden on how downtuning makes classical guitar “creepy” and what she learned from the great Julian Bream

By Amit Sharma published 21 April 26

The classical guitarist's solo debut, This Changing Sky, is a breathtaking work that finds her exploring altered tunings in search of drama

Meet Tigercub’s Jamie Hall, the guitarist Stone Gossard says is “as good as Homme or Morello”

By Phil Weller published 20 April 26

The Pearl Jam guitarist took British alt-rock trio Tigercub out of their comfort zone – leader Jamie Hall was dialing Marshalls to 10, down-tuning a gift from Rabea Massaad, and finding tones that take enamel off your teeth

How XTC battled the “rottweiler” Todd Rundgren – and their record label – to make their breakthrough

By Andrew Daly published 20 April 26

Andy Partridge reflects on Skylarking, a change of direction for XTC that was the most difficult of births under producer Todd Rundgren's direction and the label’s interference

The life and times of Ralph Towner, the endlessly curious frontiersman of acoustic jazz

By Henry Yates published 20 April 26

Taking influence from Indian classical, Brazilian bossa nova and beyond, this late jazz master’s touch and vision equalled anyone on the fusion scene

How Duesenberg Guitars became a major player with original old-school designs – and a little help from Mike Campbell

By Dave Burrluck published 20 April 26

We check in with Duesenberg Guitars’ co-owners, Dieter Gölsdorf and Ingo Renner, to chart 30 years of its best-selling Starplayer