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Fender keeps the pace with Neural DSP and Line 6 with a bumper firmware upgrade that gives players 15 new reasons to try the Tone Master Pro
Fender has further strengthened its flagship modeler's position in a competitive market
Latest News
Fender keeps the pace with Neural DSP and Line 6 with a bumper firmware upgrade that gives players 15 new reasons to try the Tone Master Pro
Fender has further strengthened its flagship modeler's position in a competitive market
The wireless system that finally convinced Radiohead to ditch their guitar cables for good
The band hasn’t warmed to wireless systems in the past, but their live rigs are looking very different post-hiatus
Steve Vai might be retiring his monstrous triple-neck Ibanez
The 36-string, gadget-loaded instrument is nearing the end of a long and illustrious career
Epiphone launches $229 Hummingbird Tribute to the acoustic beloved by Bob Dylan, Jimmy Page and Keith Richards
Based on a bona fide legend, this might be the most desirable sub-$250 acoustic out there
Tom Misch on the time his guitar hero reached out of the blue and offered to join him on stage
The jazz-funk guitar star was on his way to play the Crossroads Guitar Festival when Mayer messaged him
The Jesus and Mary Chain call Eddie Van Halen one of the “worst guitar players in the world”
The band claims Van Halen’s music influence had a detrimental effect on guitar playing
Ace Frehley's main Kiss guitar, the 1975 “Budokan” Gibson Les Paul, sells for over $500,000 at auction
Frehley's iconic Les Paul was part of Julien's' recent “Music Icons” sale, which also included guitars owned and played by Eddie Van Halen and Johnny Cash
Artists
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
Josh Klinghoffer on Chili Peppers vs. Pearl Jam and playing in Andrew Watt's new wrecking crew
These days Klinghoffer’s leaving his most well-worn guitars at home, but on his new Pluralone album he went back to his beloved 1947 Martin
Bruce Watson on the gear behind Big Country’s sound
The Big Country guitarist pulls some choice guitars and amps out of the vault, and explains why the Esquire beats the Tele
The untold story of “The Lost Beach Boy” David Marks
David Marks reflects on the surf-rock beginnings of one of the world's most beloved pop-rock institutions, recalling the good times, bad times, and his return to the fold
Randy Rhoads was his guitar teacher. Then he ended up in Ozzy Osbourne’s band
Joe Holmes looks back on his time with Ozzy and David Lee Roth, and explains why his upcoming solo album, featuring former Ozzy band members, captures everything he’s learned up till now
4 Comments
11 cover songs that Jimi Hendrix made his own – including one that became Eric Clapton’s favorite Hendrix track
Once Hendrix turned his Stratocaster upon a song it would never be the same again. Just ask Bob Dylan
4 Comments
Bill Laswell on Lemmy, Paul Simon, and his failed studio session with Jaco Pastorius
The visionary producer also had his say on Lemmy, Paul Simon, and his failed studio session with Jaco Pastorius
4 Comments
Gear
"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?
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
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
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'
What two 1967 prototypes tell us about the evolution of the Telecaster Thinline
Dave Davidson of Well Strung Guitars describes how, during 1967, Fender got busy developing an alternative to heavy ash Telecaster bodies
“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
The story of the Boss digital delay pedal that changed the world
Despite advances in technology, elite players such as Joe Bonamassa, Tom Morello and Brad Paisley still keep a DD-2 or DD-3 on their 'board
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
"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
Fender Vintera III Early '60s Bass VI review – is this oddball offset really worth the hype?
Fender's cult classic offset, beloved by The Beatles and beyond, is back and supposedly better than ever
“Bright, lively, and surprisingly loud, it projects with a clarity and presence that belies its compact footprint”: Faith Nomad Mini-Neptune Trembesi review
This scaled-down Neptune is worlds apart from some of its travel guitar competition
“No guitar does everything, but this comes dangerously close”: PRS DGT Semi-Hollow review
After testing the water with a limited-edition version, PRS has added David Grissom’s semi-hollow signature to the Core lineup. But are we worthy?
Buying Guides
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
Best mini amps for guitar 2026: power up your practice with these tiny towers of tone
My top picks of small guitar amps that pack a punch and let you practice when you're short on space
Best parlor guitars 2026: sofa-friendly acoustics for every budget
The grandfather of acoustic guitars – our top parlor guitar picks from Gibson, Martin, Yamaha, and more
