The Gibson ES-335 has been played by greats including Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Larry Carlton – here’s why guitarists can’t get enough of the iconic semi-hollow By Chris Gill published 29 March 24 Since 1958, the ES-335 has caught players’ imaginations as only great instruments can
“Being a guitarist requires versatility – you can’t settle on one thing that might not showcase you”: Alena Ciera on what she learned playing with David Byrne and CeeLo Green – and why MIJ Strats rule By Andrew Daly published 29 March 24 The session ace checks in to discuss her approach to storytelling via guitar – and American versus Japanese Strats
“I totally respected Jaco's bass playing, but that 16th-note triplet funk thing – it just wasn't in his repertoire”: Weather Report drummer Chester Thompson on why Jaco Pastorius struggled to swing By Nick Wells published 29 March 24 In 1975, Jaco Pastorius replaced Alphonso Johnson in Weather Report, but for drummer Chester Thompson, playing with Jaco was “like oil and water”
“It’s nothing crazy, but I have some weird, oddball sounds if needed”: Alex Skolnick reveals what’s on his pedalboard By Andrew Daly published 29 March 24 Come take a look and see what the jazz phenom and Testament lead guitarist has on his 'board, and find out which pedal gives him “Tommy Bolin and Eddie Van Halen” vibes
“People tell me I’m one of the godfathers of shredding… I don’t know. I play loud, aggressively, and with some flair. I’m just out there doing me”: Did Michael Hampton really land his P-Funk gig by playing Eddie Hazel’s Maggot Brain solo note for note? By Andrew Daly published 29 March 24 Parliamant/Funkadelic’s ‘Kidd Funkadelic’ explains how his disinterest in sports and love of jazz guitar prepared him for the gig – and the difference between playing with Hazel and Blackbyrd McKnight
Fender Play vs Yousician: Which online lessons are right for you? By Simon Fellows published 28 March 24 These titans of online guitar tuition take a very different approach to teaching. What sets them apart and which is the best one for you?
“I saw this video of somebody breaking down Heart of Glass. The guy said, ‘Here’s Chris Stein’s guitar part.’ I was like, ‘No, that’s my guitar part’”: Frank Infante sets the record straight on his iconic Blondie riffs and solos By Joe Bosso published 28 March 24 From One Way or Another to Atomic, the former Blondie guitarist looks back on his time with the new wave sensations: the triumphs, the turbulence, the tones, and why he always has to set the record straight on who played what
“I have these big meat hooks, so I can pick up a lot of wonderful guitars, but if I played them for two hours, I’d be cramping. I only have one guitar that I didn’t build”: Meet bluegrass-shredding luthier Dan Wetzel By Alison Richter published 28 March 24 The True North guitarist learned to pick by listening to vinyl and not seeing his heroes’ hands – then turned to building instruments because of the size of his own
From King Crimson to A-list hired gun with Talking Heads, Frank Zappa and David Bowie, Adrian Belew created his own language on the guitar – here are his 10 greatest guitar moments By Ryan Reed published 28 March 24 With King Crimson, Talking Heads, as a solo artist, it didn't matter: Adrian Belew manipulated the guitar like no-one else, bending sound into new shapes
“I remember my first lesson with Joe. I had a guitar and a set of strings. I’d never really played. I didn’t know how to tune or string it”: Steve Vai and Joe Satriani discuss the evolution of guitar playing, and what they taught each other By Alan di Perna published 27 March 24 In 1990, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani sat down for an extensive discussion with Guitar World, during which they joked that – when they were older – they would record a song called The Sea of Emotion. Now, more than three decades later, that premonition has come true
Gibson Les Paul vs Fender Stratocaster: Which is right for you? By Matt McCracken published 27 March 24 We put these two titans of tone head to head, deep-diving into their similarities and differences so you can be sure you’re purchasing the right guitar
Best budget delay pedals 2024: Get echo and slapback for not much greenback By Richard Blenkinsop published 27 March 24 From analog to digital, we check out the best cheap delay pedals to upgrade your 'board for less
“I was sitting around my house, drinking too many margaritas because I thought the world was ending. I got a call asking if I’d be interested in playing with St. Vincent”: Jason Falkner’s “oddball” guitars took him from Jellyfish to Beck and St. Vincent By Andrew Daly published 27 March 24 The journeyman guitarist and session pro developed a bass technique without owning one (landing him a gig with Noel Gallagher), discovered St. Vincent isn’t the musical dictator he’d expected, and knows his fans are impatient for his next solo album
“I gave my vintage Jazzmaster to a girl after a show in Liverpool. 30 years later she sent me back the guitar. It’s like it died and went to heaven and came back to me”: The miraculous return of US shoegaze pioneers Drop Nineteens By Jon Wiederhorn published 26 March 24 Having not played guitar for 20 years, Greg Ackell and the band are back with Hard Light, finding new ways of crafting sound without expanding the pedalboard
"When I was 14 I saw George Thorogood and thought, ‘That’s cool – I’m going to do that’” Ruzz 'Guitar' Evans on the two pedals and amazing pickups behind his rock 'n' roll tone By Tom Poak published 26 March 24 Pedalpocalypse: Ruzz 'Guitar' Evans of Ruzz Guitar's Blues Revue on the two pedals and amazing pickups behind his rock 'n' roll tone
“I’m constantly thinking about my pick angle, how that translates the way I feel in that moment: how can I add more emotion to this part than I did last night?” Tyler Tomlinson on bringing Satch and Vai to Morgan Wallen’s country vibe By Alison Richter published 26 March 24 The Tele player turned Knaggs signature artist admits his mind “never shuts off” on stage, and he’s constantly finding ways of refining his expression
“Richard Fortus messaged me and said, ‘I’ve shown Slash your guitar and he likes it, too…’ After that, the phones didn’t stop”: How a small UK boutique builder became a Guns N’ Roses favorite and the next big name in retro-inspired electric guitars By Jamie Dickson published 26 March 24 Ivison Guitars has only been in business for six years, but its Dakota model has already headlined Glastonbury with Guns N’ Roses star Richard Fortus. Founder Neil Ivison shares its story
“People should really do their homework and learn about the history of music and what came before whatever style you wanna do”: Logan Ledger on paying his dues – and what he learned from Clarence White and Waylon Jennings By Jim Beaugez published 25 March 24 The golden-throated Nashville-via-California singer-songwriter shares his love of the B-Bender and discusses how the greats informed his dynamic playing style
“Just as I was setting up the mic, Jimi started playing, and man, my brain froze. In that second, my life changed”: Eddie Kramer on working with Hendrix, Kiss, Jimmy Page and why guitar players should think more analog By Andrew Daly published 25 March 24 The legendary producer/engineer looks back on a career spent recording with icons, and an era in which Hendrix was writing musical history in real time with a Fender Stratocaster
“I love a lot of those classic players. I just didn’t want to play like them. Like Captain Kirk, I wanted to go where no-one’s gone before!” Yngwie Malmsteen names 11 guitarists who didn’t shape his sound – but he still thinks are great By Amit Sharma published 25 March 24 The larger-than-life Swedish maverick was more influenced by violin than guitar – but he still has soft spots for some mind-blowing players