Features

From Son House to Eric Gales, John Lee Hooker to Albert Collins, these classics highlight how blues guitar has changed over the years – its stories, tones and techniques all passed down and reinvented

Ever since she lied about her age to save for her first electric guitar, Lita Ford has been all about lead and leading. She looks back at life-changing encounters with Tony Iommi and Ritchie Blackmore, and explains why Kemper profiling is like “putting a Rolls Royce into a Volkswagen body”

Time will tell whether Lifeson and Geddy Lee will work together again, but in the mean time the Rush icon has lots of new gear to show us, developed in partnership with Mojotone and Godin

Fresh from his “Bonnie and Clyde” success with Samantha Fish, the six-string outlaw talks low-string droning, Texas storytelling and why it’s worth struggling with vintage gear – in the studio at least

Martin's vice president of product management Fred Greene gives us the skinny on how the brand's latest acoustic presents players with some seriously innovative features

Paul Gough of Zilla Cabs takes a closer look at cabinet materials – and asks: what’s more important to you, consistency or quality of sound?

Geddy Lee’s signature sounds abound on Snakes and Arrows, but was there a new twist in his bass playing?

Among the earliest guitar effects, made famous by Hendrix, Clapton and co, wah has remained a pedalboard staple for decades. This is its story

The Empire State Bastard riff-meister and Biffy Clyro guitarist has produced some of his best work with his latest solo album, Forgiveness & The Grain. He breaks down his otherworldly tone secrets, and explains what made The Verve’s Nick McCabe a guitar Jedi – and why the Pro Co Rat is the only distortion pedal you need

From Wire and Karmakanic to the Flower Kings and Steve Hackett, the Swedish musician loves to learn, and always strives to be a better team player