Access Backstage Pass
How Mike Matthews saved pedal pioneers Electro-Harmonix from the brink
When Electro-Harmonix went bankrupt in the mid-’80s, Matthews was forced to pivot and find an alternative market for his business, away from the States
Latest News
How Mike Matthews saved pedal pioneers Electro-Harmonix from the brink
When Electro-Harmonix went bankrupt in the mid-’80s, Matthews was forced to pivot and find an alternative market for his business, away from the States
Dimebag Darrell’s estate responds after court rules in Dean’s favor in legal dispute
The late Pantera guitarist’s estate claims that Dean has been engaged in trademark disputes over his Stealth and Razorback guitar designs
Ed Sheeran is about to launch another piece of signature gear – and he’s already gifted it to a young fan
A new signature Orange amp pays homage to Sheeran’s busking roots
Who’s the greatest Stratocaster player?
Trying to suss out a guitarist who – in all of the model's 70+ years of existence – is the most synonymous with the Fender Stratocaster, is probably a fool's errand, but we want to know your thoughts anyway
13 Comments
Troy Van Leeuwen debuts stunning Squier 12-string Telecaster while performing live with Michael Stipe on Jimmy Kimmel
The Queens of the Stone Age guitarist says the oddball 12-string will be out this summer and is one of Squier's Paranormal specials....
This week's hottest new guitar gear – including an AI-powered amp that wants to change the way you create tones
Fresh new drops from Epiphone, JHS Pedals, Fender, Positive Grid and more...
The bizarre gardening accident that changed the way Phoebe Bridgers plays guitar
Bridgers' guitar and songwriting chops will be on full display during her freshly announced tour
Artists
David Torn is playing louder and heavier than ever, leaving a trail of trashed bridges in his wake
The prolific guitarist, producer and film composer reflects on his first solo album in a decade, lessons learned across a long career, and his rejection of “guitarists living in the hero age”
Lee Sklar shares his secrets for finding the perfect groove in the studio
Sklar has played on over 2,500 albums – not bad for someone who claims, “I never had any intention of becoming a studio player”
How Gerald Johnson’s twisting bassline culminated in a full-on solo – a rarity for a 1973 rock track
Texas rock icon Steve Miller featured his left-handed bassist on the third of four singles from his now-classic album
15 hotshot NYC guitarists that prove the Big Apple’s still got some bite
Featuring Castle Rat, Geese, the Lemon Twigs and all kinds of bands you need to hear
The surreal beginning to Slash’s musical relationship with Michael Jackson
The two would go on to become frequent collaborators, with the top-hatted guitar great contributing to every subsequent album Jackson released during his lifetime
Kim Thayil reveals his battles over Soundgarden’s Superunknown and Black Hole Sun
The Seattle guitar icon recalls the tensions behind the making of Soundgarden’s masterpiece in this exclusive excerpt from his memoir A Screaming Life
The life and times of Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell
Motörhead’s longest-serving guitarist was the perfect fit for a band whose bludgeoning sound and appetite for excess eclipsed all others
Gear
"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
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
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
Meet the Afghanistan war veteran who made it his mission to design the ultimate ergonomic guitar
The Ghost Lab Acoustics HyperNova 2.0 might look radical, but every inch of it has been designed to protect your body as you play
The best guitar bargains on Reverb – and how to get more for your old gear
Cyril Nigg, data science leader at Reverb, shares some tips for buying and selling online and discusses some of the trends shaping the used market
Lessons
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
Hidden for four decades, the story behind the (almost) unheard outro solo on John Farnham’s smash hit, You’re the Voice
Celtic rock bagpipe phrasing, THAT blazing arpeggio and a crazy bend that broke a string – learn how Brett Garsed played his solo in this exclusive feature
Joe Bonamassa breaks down the differences between P-90s and PAF humbuckers
In this lesson, the blues maestro demonstrates how pickup choice affects the tone and can be used for different purposes
Reviews
"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?
Positive Grid Reactor 100 Intelligent Guitar Combo Amp review
Positive Grid is branching out from the market-conquering Spark family with a bold new lineup that could spell trouble for the Boss Katana
“Waiting to throw a spanner in the works of your guitar tone”: Electro-Harmonix Pico Atomic Cluster review
EHX’s new Pico pedal is designed to deconstruct your tone to an atomic level
“It’s a guitar that can indeed be a singer-songwriter’s tool, or a guitar for chugging metal”: PRS SE Ed Sheeran Hollowbody I Piezo Baritone review
One of the biggest names in pop delivers a first signature electric that bridges the gap between open chords and heavy metal chugs
Buying Guides
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
Best octave pedals for bass 2026: Pitch-shift your playing with my pick of essential pedalboard additions
Looking for a new octave pedal to add to your bass rig, or are you entering the world for the first time? Here's are my top choices along with expert buying advice
Best 3/4 acoustic guitars 2026: small-bodied, short scale sensations from Taylor, Martin, Faith, and more
I count down the best compact acoustics for new players, smaller guitarists and those looking for a neat 'couch guitar'
Best overdrive pedals for bass 2026: The ultimate in bass saturation at all price points
My pick of the top-rated overdrive pedals for bass players from the likes of EBS, Electro-Harmonix, Origin Effects, and more
Best Squier guitars 2026: the ultimate guide
We check out the top Squier guitars, including the Classic Vibe series, Affinity series, Debut models, and Paranormal series guitars
Best modeling amps 2026: get iconic amp and effects tones at your fingertips
I break down the best modeling amps available, covering a range of budgets, brands and sizes
