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“Alex Winter and I would have two-bass jams when we made Bill & Ted – I won’t say there wasn’t any weed involved…” Keanu Reeves recalls his Wyld bass duels with his excellent co-star
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Bill & Ted may have been guitar shredders, but Reeves and Winter are bassists in real life. And their off-set jams sounded like a lot of fun…

“Do not try to play them like Edward – because you can’t”: Steve Vai says this is the secret to nailing Eddie Van Halen’s guitar parts in front of a live audience
By Matt Parker published
Vai has been considering his experiences winning the hearts and minds of Van Halen fans back in the ’80s – as his friend Joe Satriani gets ready to do the same this summer

“I don't know if I can play like I played back then”: Alex Lifeson discusses how arthritis is affecting his playing – and why returning to the road might not be wise
By Matt Owen published
The Rush legend is taking “very, very effective” treatments to deal with his arthritis, but concedes his joint issue is “slowly getting worse”

“I think it’s the challenge right now, as it is for a lot of musicians”: Pete Townshend pinpoints the one thing Instagram players get wrong – and reveals who his favorite social media guitarist is
By Matt Owen published
The Who icon honed in on an aspect of guitar playing that many social media shredders overlook – but also offered a solution in the process

NAMM 2024: “Able to capture the essence of what we bring to music” – Neural DSP crushed it with Archetype: Gojira. Now the go-to metal plugin is about to become Quad Cortex compatible
By Matt Parker published
The Gojira signature plugin is the latest addition to the firm’s updated line of overhauled X plugins

NAMM 2024: Ibanez introduces 2 handy new pedalboard problem-solvers – and a limited-edition celebratory Tube Screamer
By Matt Owen published
A suave TS808 – as well as new additions to the Pentatone pedal series – have been introduced

NAMM 2024: “It should be in every musician’s gigbag” – Featuring a rechargeable battery and a rubber sound shield, has Snark just revolutionized the clip-on tuner?
By Phil Weller published
Snark has made two key adjustments with the ST-8 Titanium tuner, offering “months” of tuning with one charge, without pesky external noises limiting its accuracy

“An all-analog tone-shaping machine”: Source Audio and Shoe Pedals team up for the Zio, a preamp and DI pedal designed specifically for bass
By Phil Weller published
With four EQ controls and toggles for scoop and grit, the mid-priced two-in-one pedal aspires to offer greater clarity and articulation for low-end grooves

“A headless guitar pioneer”: Paul Masvidal signs with Kiesel Guitars as Ola Strandberg champions the Cynic guitarist’s decade-plus tenure with his firm
By Phil Weller published
The Cynic guitarist has made the switch after 10 years with Strandberg guitars, which will see him play Kiesels “in the studio and on stage”
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