Session legend Nathan East reflects on the business of bass By Nick Wells published 21 April 24 Nathan East looks back at some of his biggest tracks, and why he’d love to have a career like Pat Metheny or Marcus Miller
How to add warmth to digital amp modelers By Joe Dean published 21 April 24 From the unsung hero of your pedalboard to the importance of signal routing, here's what you can do to improve the tone of your digital amp rig
How to upgrade your Jazzmaster and Jaguar: mod tips and setup tricks By Huw Price published 20 April 24 From bridges to tremolos to pickups, these DIY upgrades for the offset electric in your life will make them better than ever
Why the 1946 Stromberg Master 400 is a jazz guitar to rival anything from Gibson and D'Angelico By David Davidson published 20 April 24 As vintage icons go, the Stromberg Master 400 takes some beating. Big-bodied, super loud, it is one of the greatest jazzboxes of all time. David Davidson of Well Strung Guitars tells us why
The 25 greatest Allman Brothers Band songs By Alan Paul published 19 April 24 From Dickey Betts’ iconic instrumentals to the tracks that made ABB one of rock’s most revered jam groups, here are the best Allman Brothers Band cuts from across their catalog – and the stories behind them
Dickey Betts and Gregg Allman tell the full story of the Allman Brothers Band By Alan Paul published 19 April 24 In this career-spanning oral history from 2009, Betts, Allman, Warren Haynes, Butch Trucks and more retrace the turmoil, tragedies and triumphs behind the Allman Brothers Band
“I grow the nails on my right hand as long as I can”: Steve Harris on Iron Maiden’s Wrathchild By Nick Wells published 19 April 24 Every would-be metalhead should learn from the best: Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris
Classical guitar setup – get the most out of your nylon-string By Dave Burrluck published 19 April 24 Got an old nylon-string sitting about the house? With a little TLC it could be a real player. Here's how you can get your nylon-string or classical guitar playing its best
I played the Tom DeLonge Starcaster – it’s given one of Fender’s most unpopular guitars a new lease of life By Michael Astley-Brown published 19 April 24 blink-182 taught me how to play the electric guitar 20 years ago, but DeLonge’s long-awaited signature model is no throwback – it might just herald a bright future for the unloved semi-hollow
Meet Amy Rose Mills, the accidental luthier who sets up some of the rarest guitars on the planet By Gregory Adams published 19 April 24 The noise improv specialist for Brooklyn’s Couch Slut is also a luthier at NYC institution Retrofret. She details some of the most treasured instruments she’s encountered, the magic of running a Gretsch at high gain, and grabbing one of her hero’s pedals before anyone else got the chance
Best looper pedals 2024: go it alone with the greatest loop pedals for practice, live performance and jamming By Alex Lynham last updated 19 April 24 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
A parent's guide to buying a guitar for your child By Daryl Robertson published 19 April 24 Give your child the best possible start with our top tips for buying a beginner guitar – plus our guitar recommendations
Best guitar picks 2024: recommended plectrums to upgrade your playing By Jonathan Horsley last updated 18 April 24 Our expert guide to the best picks for bass, acoustic and electric guitar
Is there a benefit to buying a more expensive guitar as your first? By Simon Fellows published 18 April 24 Entry-level or mid-grade? Which guitar offers better value for the beginner? If you’re just starting out, will an entry-level axe do, or should you invest in a fancier guitar with a price tag to match?
The story of B.B. King, the greatest blues guitar player of all time By Neville Marten published 18 April 24 How the King of the Blues heard his calling, found a guitar, and developed a style that made him the undisputed greatest of all time
5 Fender innovations that changed the world of guitar By Daryl Robertson published 18 April 24 From the first commercially produced solidbody guitar to the invention of the electric bass, the landscape of guitar would look very different without Fender’s monumental influence
Earl Slick on fast times with John Lennon and David Bowie – and saying no to Whitesnake By Joe Bosso published 18 April 24 The venerable session ace has lived a life less ordinary and has the discography to show for it. Earl Slick tells us what it was like to share the stage and studio with music legends
Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament names 11 bassists who shaped his sound By Gregory Adams published 18 April 24 From Dee Dee Ramone to Eric Avery, fretless to 12-string bassists, Jeff Ament believes all his influences can all be heard on the latest Pearl Jam album Dark Matter
Fender's guitar models explained: we break down the entire Fender line-up from Player to Custom Shop By Richard Blenkinsop published 17 April 24 Get to know your Jazzmasters from your Jags and your Players from your Performers with our breakdown of the vast Fender catalog
Best amps for metal 2024: our top picks for high-gain heroes By Jonathan Horsley last updated 17 April 24 These powerhouse metal amps from PRS, Orange, Friedman, EVH, and more will have you primed to seek and destroy