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The Fender legal furore is a damn shame, because Squier just launched its coolest guitars in years
The Paranormal range is back, and it’s bringing baritones, Bigsbys and a 6-string that thinks it’s a 12-string
Latest News
The Fender legal furore is a damn shame, because Squier just launched its coolest guitars in years
The Paranormal range is back, and it’s bringing baritones, Bigsbys and a 6-string that thinks it’s a 12-string
Mike Campbell on the riff he wanted to ditch – but Tom Petty made him double down
Campbell was forced to get creative to make a Heartbreakers classic
Yvette Young has a new piece of signature gear – and it might be the one stop shop for all the ambient prog rock tones you’ve been waiting for
Young has a unveiled a new Mixwave plugin that has a treasure trove of toys to play with
Fender honors legendary Motown bass great with recreation of James Jamerson’s workhorse bass
Jamerson’s beloved Precision Bass has been recreated in all its vintage, warm-voiced glory
Grace Bowers has returned to YouTube and launched a new era on her own terms
Bowers has said guitar content isn’t a focus for her anymore on YouTube – and she’s now creating music “true to who I am”
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Why Kurt Vile prefers older guitar strings – and hardly ever changes his
Vile has been guitar through and through since the beginning, so much so that he prefers the sound of dead strings...
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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
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Artists
Billy Squier on saving his ’59 Les Paul from a fire, the world’s greatest Marshall and why he stopped practicing
The man behind The Stroke and Lonely Is the Night checks in to talk all things guitar, imposter syndrome and the enduring appeal of his 1960 Tele Custom
“We started talking about Black Sabbath, and Buzz goes, ‘You know they did this thing called drop D.’ We said, ‘What’s that?’” Kim Thayil on how Soundgarden took rock guitar into the superunknown – and the unfinished Chris Cornell tapes
With the Soundgarden guitarist‘s memoir, A Screaming Life, out now, he unpacks the story behind one of the most influential rock bands of the ’90s
Was Neal Schon the godfather of ‘80s glam metal? Tracing the origin story of Mötley Crüe’s seminal Looks That Kill riff
We time-travel back to the era of zebra stripes and ripped jeans to investigate the mystery of Crüe’s Looks That Kill and the riff that changed the world
The thrash metal bands who deserved to make it – but didn’t
For every success story like Metallica from the ‘80s metal movement, there are countless bands who didn’t make it. Some of them never gave up
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How James Hetfield wrangled Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax for metal's biggest reunion
James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett explain the origins of the Big 4 shows – which united Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax on one historic bill
YouTubers, sloppy solos, Paco de Lucía’s darkest tour secrets... In conversation with US jazz giants Al Di Meola and Julian Lage
When the two jazz giants joined the same interview, no topic was off the table
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson on the inside story behind the Rush reunion
How Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee found drummer Anika Nilles and put together the biggest reunion tour in prog rock history
Gear
Marshall x Jimi Hendrix 60th Anniversary JMH Half Stack review
Paying tribute to 60 years of one of the most iconic pairings in guitar history, Marshall releases a signature Hendrix amp bundle, featuring not only an amp and cab, but a Fuzz Face and some very collectable extras.
How to get a bargain on a Gibson Les Paul Standard ’Burst reissue
High-end guitar expert Julian White offers some serious buying advice for some of the most sought-after Les Pauls of the modern era
“These days I would be reluctant to say that Gibson invented the archtop”: The untold history of German guitar building
The author of German Jazz Guitars shares the country's proud history of archtop design – and questions whether the classic jazz box actually originated there
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
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
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
Marshall x Jimi Hendrix 60th Anniversary JMH Half Stack review
Paying tribute to 60 years of one of the most iconic pairings in guitar history, Marshall releases a signature Hendrix amp bundle, featuring not only an amp and cab, but a Fuzz Face and some very collectable extras.
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
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
