Joe Bonamassa has a new Martin signature – and he's already played it live with a guitar legend
Two new models are inspired by Bonamassa’s prized 1937 00-18 Shade-Top
Latest News
Albert Lee reveals the guitar technique Eddie Van Halen was reluctant to try
Lee looks back on his days in one of guitar’s all-time greatest secret supergroups
The future of the S-style market? LsL Instruments shares first model since Fender cease-and-desist
The family-owned guitar maker was the first to publicly confirm it had been targeted by Fender’s legal action – and it’s taking steps to offset the impact
Chris Shiflett plays Randy Rhoads’ Gibson ‘Quiet Riot’ Les Paul with Foo Fighters
He also got to play a host of other iconic guitars before the show
Ritchie Blackmore to reunite with Deep Purple for the first time in over 30 years
The last time Blackmore wielded his Strat with the Smoke on the Water legends was back in 1993
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Fans call for Wings guitarist Henry McCullough to be honored with hometown statue
McCullough, who died in 2016, had a glittering solo and session career that saw him play with Paul McCartney and Joe Cocker
Why do PRS Guitars have a 25-inch scale length? Paul Reed Smith explains
The iconic guitar builder sought to differentiate himself from the likes of Fender and Gibson… and overhauled the specs of his early designs to do so
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MXR revives Dimebag Darrell’s favorite rack unit in pedal form – and Zakk Wylde’s already used it live with Pantera
Dimebag used the original Flanger/Doubler rack unit as an always-on tone thickener
Artists
Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament recalls the wild night that brought his custom “NBA” bass to a brutal end
Built by renowned bass builder Mike Lull, both of Ament’s “NBA” basses would eventually meet their demise on the road
Brad Gillis on the story behind his 1985 custom Hamer S-style: “I was just stroking Hamer, to be honest!”
We revisit February 1989, when Brad Gillis and Jeff Watson of Night Ranger appeared on the hot-pink cover of GW
“My hands just wouldn’t work... There was no way I could play”: The triumphant return of Brian Setzer
With his autoimmune condition in remission, the Stray Cats frontman tells us he’s at 98%, but he sounds just as good as ever. He talks touring with Stevie Ray Vaughan and why he’s fallen for the Flying V
Solo bass pioneer Michael Manring offers his advice to entrants of the first annual Solo Bass Guitar contest
Finalists will compete for a haul of prizes including Phil Jones Bass amps, basses, effects, and other bass gear
![Friko play live: [from left] Korgan Robb, Niko Kapetan and David Fuller](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/X4ffquzadoCuTn5VFYjX7M-840-80.jpg.webp)
Meet Friko, the Chicago indie darlings with guitar tones rigged to blow
Pairing one-off pedals with lunchbox amps, Korgan Robb and Niko Kapeta's second album is a masterclass in atmosphere
Mike Campbell on 5 classic Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tracks recorded with his Fender Broadcaster
Campbell's 1951 Broadcaster was integral to that Heartbreakers sound – no matter who was playing it
James Burton on his electrifying tenure as Elvis Presley’s guitarist – and the tragic day it came to an end
From the Archive The Tele titan anchored The King’s latter day backing group, the TCB Band, from 1969 until Presley’s tragic death in 1977
Gear
“I’ve tested my fair share of import guitars – this Hawk flies above the rest”: Washburn Hawk review
There’s plenty to love about this refreshed reissue of Washburn's original Hawk guitar
Best parlor guitars 2026: sofa-friendly acoustics for every budget
The grandfather of acoustic guitars – our top parlor guitar picks from Gibson, Martin, Yamaha, 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
“Fuzz pedals live or die on personality, and the Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz has enough of it to justify a spot in an already crowded market”: Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz review
Warm Audio teams up with boutique builder Dirty Boy to shrink the coveted Afro Fuzz circuit into a compact, wallet-friendly stompbox
“Scratches the Dumble itch without a rockstar’s budget”: VHT D-20 Tube Amplifier Head review
VHT attempts to emulate the much-vaunted Dumble sound with this moderately priced all-tube amp
Up close with the Les Paul Custom that both Paul Kossoff and Eric Clapton owned
Dubbed the ‘Fretless Wonder’, the Les Paul Custom waltzed onto the scene in 1954. This particular mid-’50s model found its way into the hands of two guitar heroes
"A high-quality alternative… that could also save you a wad of cash": Sire Larry Carlton L7dx review
With a reputation for quality on a budget, Sire shows us what it can do beyond entry-level guitars
Lessons
Don’t barre the F chord. Try embellishing it instead
John Frusciante and Lindsey Buckingham are both advocates for alternative F chord shapes that give you extra options for color
How recycling chord shapes can unlock new and surprising sounds
By recycling open chord shapes in different positions, you will uncover a wealth of fascinating voicings – just ask Jimmy Page. Here are 5 chords to get you started
Feel is more important than accuracy. Just ask Kim Thayil, Alex Lifeson and Jimmy Page
Sofia Victoria on how imperfect vibrato, wrong notes and open string noise can add substantial character to conventional soloing
How to install LR Baggs’ HiFi Duet acoustic pickup – and yes, we’re gonna drill a hole in Chris Buck’s guitar
Chris Buck bought a new acoustic for tour, but he needed a pickup installed. Enter Huw Price and his drill
Why muting the low E string is one of the most important lessons any beginner guitarist can learn
Learning to mute individual strings makes all the difference when mastering your first guitar chords
Spiritbox’s Mike Stringer on how extended-range guitars open up new possibilities with chord voicings
Mike Stringer's progressive metal masterclass continues as he teaches you how to play Spiritbox’s Tsunami Sea
Charlie Starr on how to turn a simple, catchy riff into a killer song
The Blackberry Smoke guitarist pays tribute to the power of the almighty riff in his latest GW lesson
Reviews
“I’ve tested my fair share of import guitars – this Hawk flies above the rest”: Washburn Hawk review
There’s plenty to love about this refreshed reissue of Washburn's original Hawk guitar
“Fuzz pedals live or die on personality, and the Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz has enough of it to justify a spot in an already crowded market”: Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz review
Warm Audio teams up with boutique builder Dirty Boy to shrink the coveted Afro Fuzz circuit into a compact, wallet-friendly stompbox
“Scratches the Dumble itch without a rockstar’s budget”: VHT D-20 Tube Amplifier Head review
VHT attempts to emulate the much-vaunted Dumble sound with this moderately priced all-tube amp
"A high-quality alternative… that could also save you a wad of cash": Sire Larry Carlton L7dx review
With a reputation for quality on a budget, Sire shows us what it can do beyond entry-level guitars
"The only limiting factor here for any style of playing is technique": Harley Benton ST-62HA review
Harley Benton's budget relic S-type delivers supreme playability and classic tones, but what about that finish?
"The Floyd Rose genuinely feels like the finishing touch this model always needed": Gibson Victory Floyd Rose review
Gibson’s latest iteration of this cult, rediscovered ‘80s model is the big win fans have been waiting for
"It can go from barely there room sound to a drawn-out blooming reverberance": JHS 3 Series Reverb review
This budget reverb pedal delivers impressive tones, a handy pre-delay switch, and an ultra-rugged build quality, all for just $99
Harley Benton TE-62LA review
With superb playability and an awesome neck pickup for under $250, the finish may be divisive, but Harley Benton's new Aged series is undeniably great value for money
“A clever expanding pedalboard that solves a real gigging problem, but it isn’t without practical compromise”: D'Addario XPND 1 pedalboard review
D’Addario’s XPND range brings telescopic pedalboard expansion with a rugged design built for real-world use – but is it genuinely practical, or just clever engineering?
Buying Guides
Best parlor guitars 2026: sofa-friendly acoustics for every budget
The grandfather of acoustic guitars – our top parlor guitar picks from Gibson, Martin, Yamaha, 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 Telecasters 2026: top Teles for all tastes and budgets
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 FRFR speakers 2026: transparent tone for multi-effects and amp modelers
Get the most out of your digital modeler with the best FRFR speakers, from on-the-go options to arena-filling mammoths
Best guitar plugins 2026: my top plugins to level up your recorded guitar tones
Get better guitar tones for recording and practice with my pick of the best guitar amp plugins
Best bass preamp pedals 2026: consistently great tone, wherever you are
Unlock bass preamp power with our expert picks from Orange, Ampeg, Electro Harmonix and more…
Best acoustic guitar pickups 2026: electrify your acoustic with our expert picks
Whether it be for performing live or recording at home, the best acoustic guitar pickups from LR Baggs, Fishman and others will help you enhance your tone
Best online guitar lessons 2026: I tested 20+ apps and sites to help you play faster, smarter, and cheaper
Learning guitar online is cheaper and more flexible than traditional tuition, but only if you choose the right platform. Together with Guitar World’s expert team, I’ve put the top lesson sites to the test for every budget, genre, and skill level, including a fantastic free option
