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Fender CEO addresses Strat cease-and-desist backlash
Edward 'Bud' Cole discussed the company's controversial legal campaign at a recent dealer event in the US
Latest News
John Osborne on the time he got warned off the B-Bender – even though he didn’t have one
Osborne couldn't afford a B-Bender at first, so instead he got good, really good, at emulating the pedal steel sound without one
Prime Day guitar deals 2026: early savings, predicted deals, and everything you need to know about Amazon's biggest sale
Guitar World's gear experts help you separate the real bargains from the filler with the best early savings on guitars, amps, pedals, accessories, and more
Billy Idol and Steve Stevens inducted into Guitar Center’s Hollywood Rockwalk
They’ll be be among some prestigious players on Sunset Boulevard
Alex Lifeson’s Rush reunion live rig has been revealed – and there’s not an amp in sight on the Fifty Something tour
Tube amps remain sidelined for the band's reunion tour as Lifeson leans into modeling gear
Nuno Bettencourt pays tribute to Yngwie Malmsteen – and names the one thing most people get wrong about his playing
The Extreme guitarist thanks the Swedish virtuoso for giving him a guitar-playing epiphany
Why bebop master Wes Montgomery never used a guitar pick
It became the jazz legend’s defining technique, but it wasn’t a decision made wholly by choice
How Wings guitarist Henry McCullough recorded his one take solo on My Love
The late guitar great was in the studio with Paul McCartney – and the pressure was on to deliver
Artists
How James Hetfield wrangled Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax for the biggest metal event of the 2010s
In this interview from the November 2011 issue of Guitar World, James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett look back on the makings of the Big Four shows – which united Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax on one historic bill
The recording of Nirvana's Bleach – and the band's “ultimate grunge song”
Recorded in four sessions in December 1988 for just $606.17, Bleach would signal the primal quality and rawness that came to define the grunge movement
Doug Gillard of Guided By Voices on finally going solo again – and the playing quirk he can’t shake
Parallel Stride is a essential listening for Guided By Voices who have been jonesing forever in the wait for Gillard to release a follow-up to 2014's Parade On
Jerry Cantrell on the magic and mods of his iconic 'Blue Dress' G&L Rampage – and the gift from Eddie Van Halen
Back in January 1996, Alice In Chains' Jerry Cantrell was on the cover of Guitar World with his “Blue Dress” Rampage. 30 years on it's still going strong
How Death Cab for Cutie found their second act – by embracing the weird, and guitars from their past
Ben Gibbard developed the songs for their sharp and confident new album I Built You a Tower like he did in the indie icons' earliest days, power trio style – but he and guitarist Dave Depper have never been more in lockstep
Lenny Kravitz on the time he blew Prince’s mind with his guitar tone
Kravitz's straight-into-the-amp setup – which has been at the core of his sound for most of his career – left pedal fan Prince with his jaw on the floor
17 Comments
Guitar tone gourmand Ariel Posen spills the secrets to his sound
The sonic adventurist’s latest album used a treasure trove of guitar, amp and pedal exotica, resulting in his best recording yet
Greg Chaisson waited years to reunite with Jake E. Lee. But then he had to quit, and couldn’t say why
The bassist, who failed his Ozzy audition but wound up in Badlands instead, recalls pushing boundaries with Judas Priest’s Rob Halford, falling into the music business despite sport aspirations, and being forced to use a substandard bass in the studio
Gear
Best bass compressor pedals 2026: expert picks for the ultimate in low-end control
From studio-style levelers to stomboxes that squash, we put the market-leading compressor pedals for bass to the test
Everything you need to know about 1950s Telecaster pickups – and how to build your own replicas
Not all Blackguard Tele pickups are alike. Here's what you need to know to keep that twang in your sound
"The uncomfortable truth is that valves are not going to be around forever. But if this is the future of guitar amplification, I’m okay with it": EVH 5150 III Hypersonic 6L6 2x12 review
Following in the steps of parent company Fender's Tone Master range, EVH releases a digital combo version of the coveted 5150 amp, combining digital modeling and a real guitar cabinet
25 tips for tracking down your dream guitar (for the right price)
Buying a guitar can be tricky enough before you even consider the vintage market, and whether a refin is a good or bad thing. Here we unpack some dos, don'ts and things to consider when trading
The Gold Caged Steelcaster is a $15,000, 24-carat T-style inspired by a Cadillac
Just look at all that gold – and the pickups are pretty special, too. But for $15,000-plus, it might be a little rich for most
Best amps for metal 2026: my top picks for high-gain heroes
These powerhouse metal amps from PRS, Orange, Friedman, EVH, and more will have you primed to seek and destroy
Best pedal amps 2026: top preamps, power amps, and amp modelers
We rank and review the best guitar amp pedals from Strymon, Universal Audio, Blackstar, and more
Lessons
Pinch Harmonics made easy: how to get the perfect squeal
Our definitive guide on how Billy Gibbons, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and Zakk Wylde make their guitars scream
The secret to great guitar solos isn’t technique – it’s rhythm
All the greats put themselves into their phrasing, and that identity was not only note choice but rhythm. Here are four ways you can add rhythmic interest to great effect
If you learn one thing from Jake E. Lee it should be this: bigger stretches for better shredding
Try this enhanced lesson to strengthen your fourth finger and use your thumb for wide fretting like the iconic Ozzy Osbourne guitarist
How to funk up your blues solos
Taking cues from John Mayer, Jimi Hendrix and Nile Rodgers, this lesson offers three examples of phrases that add rhythm and movement to blues
“To some people, this is more of a ‘jazzy’ sound”: How to use dominant 7 arpeggios in a guitar solo
Because you can't have enough exit ramps from traditional blues phrases, here's how you can use the notes of a dominant 7 chord to spice up your solos
5 chords that sound like they’re in an open tuning (but aren’t)
Because sometimes retuning your guitar is, well, a pain in the backside – and there are workarounds
Charlie Starr on how to play “Piedmont” fingerstyle guitar
The Blackberry Smoke frontman goes unplugged to give us a lesson in the fingerstyle techniques he applies in his day job
Reviews
"The uncomfortable truth is that valves are not going to be around forever. But if this is the future of guitar amplification, I’m okay with it": EVH 5150 III Hypersonic 6L6 2x12 review
Following in the steps of parent company Fender's Tone Master range, EVH releases a digital combo version of the coveted 5150 amp, combining digital modeling and a real guitar cabinet
Yamaha 60th Anniversary RSP20B and RS02CB Chris Buck review
After redesigning the ‘new’ Revstar back in 2022, Yamaha has added two models to the line-up: a 60th Anniversary knees-up and Chris Buck signature model
“I’ve been playing B-benders since 1999, so I was eager to get my mitts on this guitar”: Fender John Osborne Telecaster review
The country-rock star’s Tele tears up the template – and could be your fastest ticket to B-bender tone
"A genuinely brilliant guitar that can do far more than its heavy metal aesthetic suggests": Ibanez Iron Label AZ41B1 review
Ibanez's pitch-black metal machine is hiding a secret beneath its stealthy exterior
Ancoats Granada Special review – a unique modern-retro design with a fresh approach to relic’ing
This UK boutique build references the long-gone Granada Television, another Manchester oddity, and creates a new spin on the T-style
“A fine, gig-ready instrument with premium build quality”: Taylor Gold Label 710E review
As part of an ongoing revision to its esteemed catalog, Taylor has introduced a deep-bodied dreadnought into the fold. Let’s take it out for a spin
"The price might be chunky, but the playing experience, build and sonic delivery are tough to argue with": Ibanez Alpha A528 review
It’s already caused a stir online, but does the Alpha eight-string multi-scale prove itself in person?
Buying Guides
Best bass compressor pedals 2026: expert picks for the ultimate in low-end control
From studio-style levelers to stomboxes that squash, we put the market-leading compressor pedals for bass to the test
Best amps for metal 2026: my top picks for high-gain heroes
These powerhouse metal amps from PRS, Orange, Friedman, EVH, and more will have you primed to seek and destroy
Best pedal amps 2026: top preamps, power amps, and amp modelers
We rank and review the best guitar amp pedals from Strymon, Universal Audio, Blackstar, and more
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 guitar straps 2026: play in comfort and secure your guitar in style – budget-spanning choices from a guitar salesman
My expert pick of straps for electric, acoustic and bass, covering all budgets and materials. Plus, buying advice to help you decide
Best single coil pickups 2026: from trailblazing designs to vintage traditionalists
From Fender Telecaster twang to Gibson P-90 bite, we’ve compiled our pick of the best aftermarket single coils your money can buy right now
Best budget guitar amps under $500 2026: cost-cutting amplifiers for every player
Get great sounds and features without blowing your budget – from affordable tube amps to wallet-friendly digital modeling amps and everything in between
