Yuichiro Yokouchi, founder of one of the world's largest guitar manufacturing companies, dies at age 98
As the founder of one of the leading Japanese guitar manufacturers, FujiGen, Yokouchi changed the landscape of instrument manufacturing
Latest News
Yuichiro Yokouchi, founder of one of the world's largest guitar manufacturing companies, dies at age 98
As the founder of one of the leading Japanese guitar manufacturers, FujiGen, Yokouchi changed the landscape of instrument manufacturing
2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees announced – and there’s a long overdue nod to some British heavyweights
Iron Maiden, Billy Idol, and Oasis have all received inductions, but Jeff Buckley and Melissa Etheridge were notably snubbed
The Fender Vintera III line is here – and sets a new benchmark for its vintage-inspired guitars
Fender ditches its one-size-fits-all approach and drills down into the decades for its most comprehensive lineup to date
Never mind the modelers, here’s a Sex Pistols Marshall amp
The striking yellow-and-pink JCM800 design pays homage to half a century of punk, but only 81 are being made
Joe Bonamassa issues public plea to help session guitarist Mason Stoops recover his stolen vintage gear
Stoops' 1965 Fender Jazzmaster and 1961 Gretsch Corvette were stolen in the Highland Park neighborhood in Los Angeles
No Doubt's Tom Dumont reveals Parkinson's disease diagnosis
The guitarist is currently preparing for No Doubt's Las Vegas Sphere residency
Watch Alice Cooper deliver a shock rock version of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit
The shock rock icon gave a grunge anthem a creepy twist at the 28th edition of Coopstock over the weekend
Artists
Ziggy Marley on what he learned from his dad, why the guitar can be a weapon, and how music can still change the world
Returning with a powerful new album, the Grammy-winning bandleader reflects on fighting racism through music, his father’s “dangerous” licks, and the “higher vibrations” of recording at 432Hz
Steve Rothery on the guitars that changed his life – and why you don't have to spend big to find the guitar of your dreams
The longtime Marillion guitarist on why his Squier Strat might be the bargain of all-time, and the unique custom builds behind his prog sound
The mistake that led Robben Ford to buy his first great instrument – and how Miles Davis and Jeff Beck took him to the Strat
As Ford returns with Two Shades of Blue, the Californian guitar legend drops by for a video lesson and to talk all things guitar, from his adventures with big-box jazz models to Strats
Joe Perry on how the most romantic thing he has ever done involved a custom-painted guitar
The Aerosmith icon tells GW about the time he surprised his wife, Billie, with a Lucille inspired by WWII fighter pilots
![ZZ Top's Dusty Hill [left] and Billy Gibbons get their work clothes on as they perform live in 1981.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bUMsKABz6njZ3udwswAzpg-840-80.jpg.webp)
“An unabashed element was the constant ferociousness of the guitar tone coming from Pearly Gates”: Billy Gibbons on the making of ZZ Top’s El Loco
How Billy Gibbons unleashed the power of his holy grail '59 Les Paul Standard for the Texan blues-rock legend's “in-between” classic, El Loco – and set the stage for ZZ Top's domination of the decade
A guide to the oft-overlooked shredders who anchored Dio
From a 17-year-old prodigy to a future stadium-conquering guitar superstar, Ronnie James Dio had a dream team of six-string sidekicks over the course of his solo career – and their contributions to his catalog should be essential listening for any aspiring metal guitarist
Warren Haynes on the mid ‘90s SG behind his early Gov’t Mule tone
It was July 1994, and Haynes was on the cover of GW with Dickey Betts and an early '90s '61 SG Reissue. He explains what happened to the guitar – and why he had it in the first place
Gear
“Both amps dazzle”: Blackstar TV-10 AH & TV-10 BH heads review
Can this pair of new compact heads from Blackstar – the US-styled TV-10 AH and its British-counterpart, the TV-10 BH – deliver those classic tones?
How fretless bass master Steve DiGiorgio embraced frets on Testament’s 2016 metal masterstroke
For Brotherhood of the Snake, DiGiorgio wielded little more than a stock 1978 Rickenbacker 4001
From guitars to amps, picks to pickups, a Slash fanatic shows you how to nail his iconic tone at home at various price points
The gear behind one of rock's greatest tones and how to make it yours – including models from Gibson, Epiphone, Magnatone, Dunlop, and more
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
Best budget bass amps 2026: brilliant bass tone without a hefty price tag
Deliver low-end punch without the high-end price tag: the best budget bass amps from Fender, Ampeg and more
Best acoustic guitars under $1,000 in 2026: great tone for less
Enjoy superb playability and sound with our guide to the top mid-priced acoustics from the likes of Epiphone, Fender, Martin and more
Best clip-on guitar tuners 2026: hit the right note with my top pick of cost-effective tuners
Whether you play acoustic, electric, or bass, these clip-on tuners offer a quick, easy, and affordable way to achieve concert pitch every time you pick up your instrument
“Out of the box, there’s something to suit any genre”: Kemper Profiler Player review
With the pedalboard user in mind, Kemper has downsized for its compact new Profiler Player
"An enlightening instrument that will force you to think about new ways to play the guitar – but it won't be for everyone": Taylor Jacob Collier Academy 22e 5-string review
Jacob Collier has become a modern day guitar hero, and his unorthodox five-string guitars have helped him carve out a new path for guitar playing
Lessons
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
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
Welcome to Mike Stringer’s downpicking bootcamp, in which he teaches us the punishing string skipping techniques behind Spiritbox’s Jaded
In his debut GW column, the prog-metal master teaches you the punishing seven-string string-skipping techniques behind Spiritbox’s Jaded
Paul Gilbert: What I learned and taught at GIT
Paul was a student and a tutor at LA's G.I.T. (Guitar Institute of Technology). Here are the shred secrets he learned there – and taught
How Joe Bonamassa and Slash channeled BB King and the Edge for an iconic cover of an iconic tune
In his latest lesson for GW, Joe Bonamassa celebrates B.B. King’s late '80s collaboration with U2
Reviews
“Both amps dazzle”: Blackstar TV-10 AH & TV-10 BH heads review
Can this pair of new compact heads from Blackstar – the US-styled TV-10 AH and its British-counterpart, the TV-10 BH – deliver those classic tones?
“Out of the box, there’s something to suit any genre”: Kemper Profiler Player review
With the pedalboard user in mind, Kemper has downsized for its compact new Profiler Player
"An enlightening instrument that will force you to think about new ways to play the guitar – but it won't be for everyone": Taylor Jacob Collier Academy 22e 5-string review
Jacob Collier has become a modern day guitar hero, and his unorthodox five-string guitars have helped him carve out a new path for guitar playing
“Is it worth the higher price tag? For some, it won’t matter, but for others, it is something to weigh on heavily”: Act Entertainment Sterling Vermin RAT Distortion Pedal review
The Sterling Vermin impressively presents itself as an evolved and cultivated RAT pedal dressed in shining armor
“It can get loud enough to annoy my partner, which is good enough for home use”: Laney Prism-Mini review
This mini practice amp doesn't tether you to your smartphone, but there are some growing pains
"I need to be honest about how well this pedal holds up for down-tuning against the newer competition it faces": DigiTech Drop Limited Black Edition review
The Polyphonic Drop Tune pedal first landed in 2014, and now a limited run in a new finish gives us a good opportunity to check where it stands today
“A high-octane character that’s occasionally stubborn, but it stands out from the crowd”: Fender 75th Anniversary American Professional Classic Cabronita Telecaster review
The Telecaster’s “asshole cousin” trades traditional twang for a boutique growl that looks as sharp as it sounds
“It really has everything going for it”: Faith PJE Legacy FG4 Earth review
Patrick James Eggle’s take on the OM body shape is built by Faith’s facility in Indonesia and based around PJE’s Linville model from his acoustic-building days. But does it rock our world?
“It’s the same, loud, high headroom amp but with a more open-sounding clean tone that boasts a little extra life”: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 30th Anniversary review
Fender celebrates 30 years of the ubiquitous Hot Rod Deluxe with an Anniversary edition that boasts a speaker change and a classy aesthetic
Buying Guides
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
Best budget bass amps 2026: brilliant bass tone without a hefty price tag
Deliver low-end punch without the high-end price tag: the best budget bass amps from Fender, Ampeg and more
Best acoustic guitars under $1,000 in 2026: great tone for less
Enjoy superb playability and sound with our guide to the top mid-priced acoustics from the likes of Epiphone, Fender, Martin and more
Best clip-on guitar tuners 2026: hit the right note with my top pick of cost-effective tuners
Whether you play acoustic, electric, or bass, these clip-on tuners offer a quick, easy, and affordable way to achieve concert pitch every time you pick up your instrument
Best compressor pedals 2026: control your tone with the must-have utility pedal
My pick of the best guitar compressor pedals will enhance your tone with options from Boss, Keeley, MXR, and more
Best chorus pedals 2026: My pick of choices for your 'board at every price point
From analog to digital, and shimmery to subtle, let me show you the top chorus pedals you can buy today from the likes of Boss, Ibanez, MXR and Walrus Audio
Best 3/4 acoustic guitars 2026: small-bodied, short scale sensations from Taylor, Martin, Fender and more
I count down the best compact acoustics for new players, smaller guitarists and those looking for a neat 'couch guitar'
