Jack White’s Third Man Hardware has launched a fuzz pedal with Beetronics that looks like a can of tuna
The Old Zoo Lion Meat is a limited-edition fuzz that keeps things simple and decidedly old-school
Latest News
Jack White’s Third Man Hardware has launched a fuzz pedal with Beetronics that looks like a can of tuna
The Old Zoo Lion Meat is a limited-edition fuzz that keeps things simple and decidedly old-school
Eddie Van Halen’s old guitar tech has helped put together ‘the ultimate Van Halen guitar auction’
A collection of studio and stage gear amassed over the years is going under the hammer
D’Addario under fire for allegedly faking its response to AI accusations
The string maker was accused of using AI-generated music in a recent product demo video
US/Canada trade war spells more bad news for guitarists who love digital effects
Empress Effects says the new 50 percent tariffs will have to be passed onto the consumer. Will Godin, Revv, and other Canadian brands follow suit?
My pick of the best new guitar gear launched this week – and the new drops you might have missed
An insanely affordable new Gretsch and a pedal called Jimothy headline the round-up this week
Fender Japan reimagines the hits with the Active Modern series – let’s hope the US branch is taking notes
New neck heels, body binding and Turbo Tone Boost functions have been rolled out across the new range
Gretsch goes for sophisticated simplicity with the rock- and metal-minded Streamliner CVT
High-output pickups, a fast-playing neck and performance details make this sports car-looking axe a steal at $249
Artists
Meet Opal Ocean, the viral Aussie duo reimagining flamenco guitar
Alex Champ and Nadav Tabak explain why the sky is the limit with the nylon-string guitar
Jimi Hendrix never understood why people pitted him against Eric Clapton
In a rare interview conducted in 1968, Hendrix offered his thoughts on the rivalry that had been forced on himself and Slowhand
How Jefferson Airplane's Jack Casady wound up recording one of Jimi Hendrix's greatest studio jams
Jack Casady recalls the late-night studio session that became Hendrix's legendary Electric Ladyland recording
How one of the year’s best metal albums ended up being recorded in Airbnbs, a shed and an RV
British metal quartet Loathe are rising just as fast as they're tuning down – and new album A Stranger to You might have you questioning just how heavy a guitar can sound
Robert Sarzo was hired and immediately fired as Randy Rhoads’ replacement – but he has no regrets
The Hurricane leader, soundtrack composer, and veteran rock axeman explains how he’s taken career ups and downs in his stride, and how it felt to finally be on a big stage with bassist brother Rudy
How Slash’s throwaway riff became the most successful Guns N' Roses song ever
Sweet Child O’ Mine was a happy accident, and a lucrative one at that
Simon McBride on Deep Purple’s new golden age of heavy
The band's fleet-fingered, PRS-toting guitar-slinger tells GW how the rock legends nailed their ‘70s sound in the 21st century on their new album, and the pedal people would be surprised to hear is on his 'board...
The incredible life and times of Hubert Sumlin, one of the blues' greatest guitarists
In a 1992 GW interview, the late Howlin' Wolf guitarist of 23 years told tales of taking (with permission) one of Eric Clapton's favorite Strats (before giving it back), fistfights with his boss, studio shenanigans, and the day Hendrix played Wolf's guitar with his teeth...
Gear
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
The most difficult job in guitar maintenance? How to make and install an ES-335 wiring harness
Upgrading pickups and controls on a Gibson thinline is not a job many techs enjoy, let alone amateurs. But with a little organisation you might be able to get it down in an hour
“Strangely unique after all these years”: Danelectro Dan O Cool and Dan O Mano review
Danelectro presents a pair of far-from-historically-correct Short Horns. Where to start?
“A step towards the upper echelon of acoustic guitar lutherie at a very reasonable price”: Cort Gold-A10 Cocobolo review
Cort introduces a gold standard to its acoustic line with a grand auditorium model that pairs two of the mightiest tonewoods
How Steinberger started the headless revolution – with a little help from Eddie Van Halen and Allan Holdsworth
Ned Steinberger didn't invent the headless guitar but his GL series captured a moment in the ’80s that changed guitar for good
Mirador's Chris Turpin on the ‘sleeper’ star of his vintage guitar collection
Turpin’s 1960s Gibson B-25 is one of the best 12-strings for recording – and his old pal Jake Kiszka has one just like it
How Charvel spawned a custom shop revolution – and became the premier guitar maker in the age of shredders
Wayne Charvel's namesake brand started life as a small parts and repair facility and ended up building guitars played by the biggest virtuosos on the planet
Lessons
Switching guitar chords is one of the hardest parts of learning. This exercise will help you master changing chords faster
Beginner guitarists, this is your fast track to nailing those chord changes in time with the music
John Paul Jones breaks down four Led Zeppelin classics, and how they demonstrate where and when to leave space
The bass legend illustrates his “hard and soft” approach via Trampled Under Foot, The Song Remains the Same, Kashmir, and What Is and What Should Never Be
5 chord voicings that are a songwriter’s best friend
Despite the ‘four lads from Liverpool’ tag, The Beatles used some very sophisticated chords in many of their songs, and the audience lapped them up
From B.B. King to Eric Clapton and Otis Rush, the blues is the core element of Joe Bonamassa's playing
In this essential video lesson with the guitar superstar, he explains why it doesn't matter what style he is playing – it always begins and ends with the blues
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
Two essential G chord shapes: when to use each finger position and why
You'll spend a lot of time playing this chord – thankfully, there are multiple ways to do it, and each has a distinct purpose
Why four notes and the truth are all you need for a great slow blues solo
In this lesson, we are using just four notes to construct four blues examples that put expression first
Reviews
“Strangely unique after all these years”: Danelectro Dan O Cool and Dan O Mano review
Danelectro presents a pair of far-from-historically-correct Short Horns. Where to start?
“A step towards the upper echelon of acoustic guitar lutherie at a very reasonable price”: Cort Gold-A10 Cocobolo review
Cort introduces a gold standard to its acoustic line with a grand auditorium model that pairs two of the mightiest tonewoods
“This is the sound in every Green Day fan's head”: Marshall Billie Joe Armstrong Signature 1959BJA review
The legendary Green Day frontman’s new amp – Time of Your Life, or a Basket Case?
Darkglass Anagram Limited Edition Guitar Essentials review
Darkglass goes guitar with the Guitar Essentials package and this limited edition, facelift version of the hardware, in collaboration with Andertons and Sweetwater.
"Gives the Custom Shop pickups in my Strat a run for their money": Fender Vintera III Late '50s Stratocaster review
Fender sends a love letter to the golden age of guitars with an accessible vintage-inspired instrument
"Once I'm playing, the Hush X Live feels much more like a 'real' guitar than the novelty I was first expecting." Donner Hush X Live Pro review
An ambitious, affordable, and fully-loaded guitar that looks to be a one-stop shop for all your traveling needs
“Would work a treat with flat-wound strings”: Fender Vintera III Late ‘60s Precision Bass review
Fender's Vintera range receives another round of tweaks – and a new ‘60s-styled P-Bass
Buying Guides
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
Best electric guitars 2026: our top picks for every playing style, ability and budget
Useful buying advice and our expert pick of the best electric guitars for newcomers to pro players
Best beginner electric guitars 2026: top electric models for new players, reviewed and demoed by experts
So you're a budding guitarist? Get started with our pick of the best beginner electric guitars from Squier, Yamaha, and Epiphone
Best acoustic guitars 2026: 10 top options for guitarists of all ages and abilities
Guitar World’s pick of the best acoustic guitars from Fender, Gibson, Martin, Taylor, Epiphone and more
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
What's the best guitar cable in 2026? These are the tried & tested options I'd recommend to any player
There's a lot of snake oil when it comes to the top guitar cables – I'm a professional guitar gear reviewer and I've tested 11 of the best to help you find your perfect match
