Gary Moore's go-to Marshall head has been bought by another ’80s rock hero
It was Moore’s go-to amp for the best part of a decade, and it was a fair bargain, compared to some recent auction headlines
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Gary Moore's go-to Marshall head has been bought by another ’80s rock hero
It was Moore’s go-to amp for the best part of a decade, and it was a fair bargain, compared to some recent auction headlines
Grace Bowers explains why she doesn’t want to be known as a blues guitarist
The wunderkind reveals she's currently crafting more rock- and punk-oriented music
The Wildhearts frontman Ginger Wildheart reveals cancer diagnosis
The 61-year-old vows to continue touring and writing new music during the time he has left
Charvel launches the Standard Series with a $599 Tele that promises to play like a pro
All the playability of a San Dimas at a slice of the price is big news for the budget guitar market
Gretsch makes a play for the best bang-for-your-buck single-cut with the Premier Jet
Bolstered by new humbuckers, more refined playability and some serious electronic versatility, could this Electromatic be the new budget single-cut to beat?
Butch Walker turned down the opportunity to buy the Greeny Les Paul before Kirk Hammett bought it
The singer-songwriter has since come to regret the decision, even if his bank balance thanks him for it
Gibson Custom recreates Michael Schenker’s iconic 1971 ‘half-and-half’ Flying V
The German shredder’s instantly recognizable six-string has undergone 3D scans for this painstakingly accurate reissue – complete with war wounds and signature bite
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With £542 off an ESP LTD, the Thomann Spring Sale is just the boost you need to pull you out of the winter lull – save up to 60% on a huge range of guitars, pedals, and amps
With well over 600 discounts on guitar gear, the Thomann Spring Sale might just be the kickstart your music-making needs for 2026
Artists
I’m a drummer. You guitarists have made me hate being in bands
Your noodling, new toys, bad cables, and blasé attitude to learning songs is turning me into a rehearsal-hating retiree. But there’s hope for you yet…
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Melissa Auf der Maur on joining Hole amidst tragedy and her “Master’s in Music” with the Smashing Pumpkins
In her love letter to the ’90s – the last analog decade – the Hole and Smashing Pumpkins bassist shares how she fell in love with the low-end and became an integral part of the noise-making generation
Cory Wong on not buying the Klon hype and vintage unicorns lost and found
The modern-day funk maestro discusses his career in gear, and that means Strats, creative gear solutions, and why he never got swayed by the “mystique” of Klons and tube amp grails
How a Radio Shack pedal and a fiery Fall Out Boy guest spot helped Filth is Eternal live up to their name
After finding inspiration in an old Radio Shack analog reverb, guitarist Brian McClelland’s tonal experimentation has exploded – and it’s added more bite to the band's new release, Impossible World
Chicago bassist Peter Cetera reflects on opening for Jimi Hendrix and why Paul McCartney changed everything
The newly named Chicago were invited to open for The Experience on several dates during their 1969 US tour
Jason Isbell on the acoustic that was eons in the making and how a stolen guitar brought him into the Martin lineup
Country star Jason Isbell has played Martins ever since he was bailed out by the company after his van was looted… And now he presents new signature models based on his rare pre-war 0-17
Jake E. Lee on his battle to make Ozzy Osbourne’s The Ultimate Sin – and how he learned to love it in spite of the critics
It was one battle after another, not least because Lee, a night creature, was forced to work in the afternoon, but it was the sound of the former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist reinventing metal guitar
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If the Eagles quit this year, Vince Gill will leave with gratitude and great memories
His kids might have to make do with cheaper Christmas presents if his decade with the band is over – but for Gill, being on the road with Walsh and co has been one of the highlights of an illustrious career
Gear
The magical mystery of the $1.3m Gretsch that might have recorded a Beatles classic
Amelia Walker of Christie's takes us behind the scenes at the Jim Irsay auction to look at the 1963 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins that was rumored to have been used on Paperback Writer
John Lennon’s ’64 Rickenbacker is officially a $1.3m guitar – but it was originally a replacement for a Beatles live show
This stunning stand-in Ricky was owned by both John Lennon and Ringo Starr in its time, and was one of the big sales in the Jim Irsay auction at Christie’s
Best Stratocasters 2026: The best Strats for every budget and playing style
Find your fit with our top pick of the best Fender Strats
“It’s clearly had a lot of thought put into making it as flexible and useful as possible”: Laney Digbeth DB-EAST review
Over a long, distinguished career, Nathan East has never had a signature amp. Until now…
George Harrison’s 1964 Gibson SG Standard is officially part of the multi-million dollar guitar club – but as a piece of Beatles history it’s priceless
Sold at auction for $2,271,000, Harrison’s SG is one of the most significant Beatles guitars
Best guitar capos 2026: These are the tried & tested options I'd recommend for acoustic and electric players
I tested 10 of the most popular capos on the market. Here’s my expert picks for electric, acoustic, 12-string and beyond
Best short-scale basses 2026: the ultimate guide to the greatest pint-sized bass guitars at all price points
From Fender to Gibson, Gretsch to Spector, here are our top picks for the best short-scale basses on the market right now
Lessons
“It’s about building intensity… think of Jeff Beck shifting to Billy Gibbons!” How to solo over one-chord blues
Soloing over changes is cool, but sometimes the blues is all about exploring melody over a single chord
Charlie Starr on the origins of the B-Bender – and how you can play those licks without one
No B-Bender, no problem, as the Blackberry Smoke frontman shows us 9 licks for that faux pedal-steel sound
5 altered chords you need to know – and how they get their names
Altered chords can be intimidating at first, but here we demystify the naming conventions, and once you understand that, you can easily find your own
Cory Wong on why doubling the bassline is one of the “most badass” things a guitarist can do
Cory Wong uses Vulfpeck's Jaco-inspired Dean Town to teach us the value of doubling a bassline on guitar
How to play B.B. King’s greatest song (with some help from Joe Bonamassa)
Bonamassa says B.B. King’s The Thrill Is Gone is so perfect that he initially couldn’t find anyone to cover it on his tribute album. Here, he unpacks the tones and approaches of the King of the Blues
Bopping blues and greasy grooves: Ally Venable's rhythm guitar tips and secrets
Learn how to boost your blues to pro levels of authenticity with a handful of great chords and a rock-solid rhythm technique
Big jumps for a bigger sound: Steve Morse’s masterclass on wide intervals
Deep-dive your technique for powerful intervals with six string-jumping, fretboard-stretching examples from one of the world's most influential super-pickers
Reviews
“It’s clearly had a lot of thought put into making it as flexible and useful as possible”: Laney Digbeth DB-EAST review
Over a long, distinguished career, Nathan East has never had a signature amp. Until now…
“The basic rotary sound is very convincing”: Crumar Burn review
Made by a keyboard company for use with its organs, this rotary simulator pedal has plenty to get guitarists in a spin
“Will appeal to high-gain players without unlimited budgets”: Victory MKX Lunch Box Head review
Victory’s most advanced compact amp to date promises huge tone-potential in a lunchbox-sized package. We’re feeling hungry…
“A lot of deceptively clever craft”: Duesenberg Starplayer CBR review
It’s been a while since we’ve dropped into the world of Duesenberg. German ingenuity, retro style and some big-name users – what’s not to like?
“It’s a pedal I didn’t even know I needed”: EHX Effects Interface review
From the creator of the Big Muff comes a handy unit for getting your pedalboard and your DAW effects talking to each other
“A cost-effective way of accurately amplifying your modeled tone, which is exactly what many guitar players need”: Blackstar Artist FR Special review
Bypassing some of the fancy features of other FRFR cabinets, Blackstar gets straight to the point with a no-frills solution for amplifying your modeled guitar tones
“Amp and cab models that surpass some expensive units from bigger brands”: Blackstar ID:X Floor Three review
Blackstar swerves the touchscreen for a tactile, amp-style workflow
“Great neck shape, playability and setup – and it’s gig-ready, something we don’t always say about Epiphone, or indeed Gibson”: Epiphone Fatoumata Diawara SG review
Grammy-nominated Malian singer and guitarist Fatoumata Diawara joins forces with Epiphone to produce a vivid-looking and wicked-sounding SG that’s a celebration of her style
“It may not have the same EQ options as other FRFRs, but the Laney LFR-110 amplifies your digital tone in a way that will easily get you heard on stage”: Laney LFR-110 review
Laney introduces its most compact FRFR guitar cabinet yet, in what could be the perfect on-stage companion to your carefully curated modeling tone
Buying Guides
Best Stratocasters 2026: The best Strats for every budget and playing style
Find your fit with our top pick of the best Fender Strats
Best guitar capos 2026: These are the tried & tested options I'd recommend for acoustic and electric players
I tested 10 of the most popular capos on the market. Here’s my expert picks for electric, acoustic, 12-string and beyond
Best short-scale basses 2026: the ultimate guide to the greatest pint-sized bass guitars at all price points
From Fender to Gibson, Gretsch to Spector, here are our top picks for the best short-scale basses on the market right now
Best electric guitars under $1,000 in 2026: find your ultimate workhorse guitar
Get more for your money with my pick of the top-rated electric guitars below the $1,000 mark
Best guitar straps 2025: play in comfort and secure your guitar in style – top picks from a guitar salesman
My expert pick of straps for electric, acoustic and bass, covering all budgets and materials
Best pedalboards 2025: perfect platforms for your pedals, tested
I used 10 pedalboards from Fender, D’Addario, Pedaltrain and more at home, in the studio and on stage to find out which ones are worth stomping on
Best pedalboard power supplies 2026: juice your ‘board with my pick of pro-grade power for every budget and size of 'board, fully tested
I put budget-spanning pedal power supplies from Fender, Cioks, Walrus Audio and more through their paces – these were my standouts
