April 2026 Guitar World Editors’ Picks
Fresh new cuts from all corners of the guitar world courtesy of Muse, Arlo Parks, Jack White, Ed O'Brien, Weezer, Periphery, and more...
Latest News
Richie Sambora hired a private detective to recover his stolen Gibson
Sambora was recently reunited with his prized 1976 Gibson Explorer, 41 years after it was stolen out of a warehouse
The supernatural experience Jared James Nichols had when he played through Gary Moore's old amp
Nichols looks back on the moment he and Joe Bonamassa fired up one of Moore’s prized amps – which the Nerdville owner recently acquired for $25,100
Plini is manifesting a collaboration with John Mayer – and has issued an open call to make it happen
The prog metal virtuoso has a wild vision for what their joint single could potentially look like
Heirs of Jimi Hendrix's bandmates lose years-long royalties dispute against the Hendrix Estate and Sony Music
The judge concluded that, as per the original contract, the musicians signed their rights away, and that “the first owners of the copyrights… were the producers”
How Steve Vai ended up joining David Lee Roth's post-Van Halen band – thanks to Billy Sheehan
While Vai wasn’t his original choice, the Sheehan-Vai dynamic proved strong enough to outlast Roth’s project
Jake Kiszka on the time he walked out of Chicago Music Exchange with a $25,000 guitar
The Greta Van Fleet guitar hero looks back on how he first crossed paths with the guitar he affectionately calls The Beloved
Steve Vai’s LA property – and his Harmony Hut guitar sanctuary – has been listed for $11.7 million
Despite a slightly chilling past, Vai used the space as a functioning studio and a home for his guitar collection, which included guitars personally gifted to him by Yngwie Malmsteen and Joe Satriani
Artists
Meet High Fade, the Scottish funk-punk heroes we need right now
They’ve terrorized Nashville – now the Scottish funk-rockers are taking second album Twice As Nice to the streets. Guitarist Harry Valentino tells us of a riotous studio experience
How bassist Cliff Williams landed the gig (and found his sound) with AC/DC
When he joined AC/DC in 1977, Cliff Williams played a Fender Precision, but made a permanent change following the band's Highway to Hell album
How the bassist for UK riff-slingers Don Broco ended up recording with Muse’s bass rig – and collaborating with Nickelback
Recorded with the help of Muse bassist Chris Wolstenholme, Nightmare Tripping showcases bassist Tom Doyle’s Earth-shattering basslines
White Denim’s James Petralli has learned to roll with rock’s punches
The sonic architect has been the one constant of White Denim’s 13-album rollercoaster – he tells us how he’s lasted the ride, and how it’s changed him as a player
The life and times of Mike Vernon, the British blues legend who got Eric Clapton his Bluesbreakers tone
The producer of vintage Fleetwood Mac and Bluesbreakers was one of British blues’ towering figures
How Morgan Nagler got her 1977 Martin acoustic, wrote with neighbor Phoebe Bridgers, and finally made a solo album
A TV star from the age of 5, she abandoned one art for another, and wound up learning from Gillian Welch, and being asked to work with Kim Deal
Meet Amani Burnham, the budding blues-rock hero blending fingerstyle technique with SRV tone
His cover of Hoochie Coochie Man went viral, but Burnham is blowing minds with his fretwork – and a sound referencing the lineage of Chuck Berry, Hendrix and SRV
“That song ended up being my homage to Jimmy Page... There’s this Celtic thing that we were tapping into. Like the Bert Jansch recording of Blackwaterside”: Rich Robinson on The Black Crowes’ triumphant second act
“It's the season of brotherly love,” says Robinson, as the once volatile Atlanta, Georgia rock legends return – but the ’Crowes are still flying by the seat of their pants
Gear
“The new vibrato only adds to the appeal – it’s easy to see how this guitar could do the business equally well for metal, jazz-fusion or function gigs”: Strandberg Boden Standard N2.6T review
A new vibrato design, on a guitar we loved already – will we be tickled pink?
Best ukuleles 2026: Acoustic and electric ukes for all budgets and playing styles
Get started or find your next upgrade with our pick of the best ukes from Mahalo, Martin and Cordoba, plus a cool Fender Jazzmaster ukulele
"The AI-assisted future of guitar effects pedals? In its current form, not quite. But its ambition is massive": Polyend Endless review
NAMM 2026's Best in Show winner promises to provide an immersive insight into the future of guitar effects pedals – but is the potential of this stompbox well and truly endless?
Best overdrive pedals 2026: from mid-hump to transparent tone
My pick of the top-rated overdrive pedals will get your gain tones on point
“ I find it to be a very playable guitar indeed, despite its huge dimensions”: Danelectro Dan O Cool Baritone review
This retro-inspired semi-hollow baritone offers a refreshing departure from your typical extended range guitar
How Tom Anderson changed the guitar industry – and what’s next for Anderson Guitarworks
From Schecter’s experimental beginnings to boutique-guitar leadership, he built a legacy of innovation, precision and playability. He’s now preparing the next chapter with successor Markus Spohn
“You hear the ‘Lowden effect’ immediately – even the simplest of chords seems to ring for days”: Lowden GL-J 2026 review
Ed Sheeran’s acoustic builder introduced its first production electric model to the lineup in 2018. We check in on its progress
Lessons
Dare you join us at the crossroads? Welcome to the acoustic blues masterclass
Inspired by Big Bill Broonzy, Lightnin' Hopkins and the O.G. blues great Robert Johnson, this lesson just requires an acoustic guitar. Heartbreak optional
5 easy open-position alternate chord voicings that will give you extra jangle
James Honeyman-Scott of The Pretenders was a master at creating interesting parts from simple alternate chords. We look at five you can use in your playing
How to introduce hybrid picking into your lead playing
In his inaugural Guitar World column, the great Corey Congilio demonstrates how all players can benefit from a technique borrowed from country players
How to stop burning out before you stop the music
We all know it’s tough to survive in this industry. But do we all know what to do about it? Here are some ways to look after yourself better, suggested by welfare experts
Charlie Starr on the magic of the B-Bender – and 5 bender-inspired licks you can play on any electric
The Blackberry Smoke guitarist gives us a lesson in how to sound like you've got a B-Bender, even if you don't
A blues guitar hero showed me how he held his pick – and it changed the way I played guitar
Some sage advice has shaped my entire playing journey – and anyone can give it a go for immediate results
6 Comments
Philip Sayce: The 5 techniques that define my sound
Turbocharge your fretting hand stretches, screaming bends and blues-rock intensity with the core techniques that shaped Philip Sayce’s signature sound
Reviews
“The new vibrato only adds to the appeal – it’s easy to see how this guitar could do the business equally well for metal, jazz-fusion or function gigs”: Strandberg Boden Standard N2.6T review
A new vibrato design, on a guitar we loved already – will we be tickled pink?
"The AI-assisted future of guitar effects pedals? In its current form, not quite. But its ambition is massive": Polyend Endless review
NAMM 2026's Best in Show winner promises to provide an immersive insight into the future of guitar effects pedals – but is the potential of this stompbox well and truly endless?
“ I find it to be a very playable guitar indeed, despite its huge dimensions”: Danelectro Dan O Cool Baritone review
This retro-inspired semi-hollow baritone offers a refreshing departure from your typical extended range guitar
“You hear the ‘Lowden effect’ immediately – even the simplest of chords seems to ring for days”: Lowden GL-J 2026 review
Ed Sheeran’s acoustic builder introduced its first production electric model to the lineup in 2018. We check in on its progress
“I think this might just be the missing analog link to complete your amp modeling rig”: Victory PowerValve 200 review
Victory's new power amp aims to marry our digitally modeled preamps to a real cabinet, whilst providing tube warmth and feel - is it the best of both worlds?
Electro-Harmonix Pico Intelligent Harmony Machine review
EHX shrinks another pedal as the Intelligent Harmony Machine joins the ranks of the pedalboard-friendly Pico range
“The playability is good. The ‘great’ lies in the pickup swapping”: Cream T Crossfire LT review
Brit brand Cream T aims to make instant solderless pickup-swapping even more attractive with an affordable new made-in-China range
“It can easily be seen as a gimmick, but it's much more than that. As a guitar, it’s superb; as a MIDI controller, it’s uncanny”: Strandberg x Jamstik Chameleon review
Jamstik’s new MIDI pickup tech finds a home in Strandberg’s futuristic guitar design, but is it a match made in tonal heaven?
Buying Guides
Best ukuleles 2026: Acoustic and electric ukes for all budgets and playing styles
Get started or find your next upgrade with our pick of the best ukes from Mahalo, Martin and Cordoba, plus a cool Fender Jazzmaster ukulele
Best overdrive pedals 2026: from mid-hump to transparent tone
My pick of the top-rated overdrive pedals will get your gain tones on point
Best multi-effects pedals 2026: replace your entire rig with our top-rated multi-FX units
From the high-end Neural DSP Quad Cortex to the budget NUX MG-300, we’ve tested 17 multi-effects pedals to help you replace your rig with a single unit
Best Telecasters 2026: top Teles for all tastes
Whether it’s your first Telecaster or you’ve walked in the boots of guitar-playing royalty, our top Telecasters will help you get your twang on
Best blues guitars 2026: these six-strings are ideal for all types of electric blues covering various price points
Wondering what the best blues guitars are at the moment? Here we have 10 of the finest options from Gibson, Fender, Guild and more
Best acoustic guitar amps 2026: let your acoustic tone shine
Our expert pick of acoustic amplifiers for all budgets, from AER, Boss, Fishman, and others
Best noise gate pedals 2026: clean up your signal with the best noise gate pedals for guitar
Unwanted noise in your chain? A noise gate pedal could be the solution
Best 7-string guitars 2026: the ultimate guide to extended range instruments
Navigate scale lengths, active pickups, and multiscale fretboards with our expert-vetted selection of the best seven-string guitars
Best beginner guitar amps 2026: my top picks from over a decade working in music retail
After nearly 10 years working in a busy high-street music store, I’ve seen which beginner amps truly deliver, offering the best value, most useful features, and long-lasting popularity from brands like Blackstar, Fender, Positive Grid, and more