Buddy Guy recalls the first time he met Jimi Hendrix
The blues veteran reflects on having Hendrix in his audience, way back in the late ’60s
Latest News
Buddy Guy recalls the first time he met Jimi Hendrix
The blues veteran reflects on having Hendrix in his audience, way back in the late ’60s
How Ritchie Blackmore came across an obscure string mod that introduced him to a whole new sound – and why it didn’t work for him
Burton proved it was possible to use banjo strings on guitar, but Blackmore’s early adventures with the hack got mixed results
All the guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – including the onset of a new digital era for EVH
A landmark update for the Tone Master Pro, a new digital 5150III combo, and a signature capsule for Iron Maiden all landed this week
Vernon Reid on the guitarist he believes is massively underrated – even though he kept “the Hendrix voice” alive
In a chat with Guitar World last year, Reid even insisted that this guitarist's “continued non-acknowledgment as a near direct tonal descendant of Jimi Hendrix continues to this day”
Tommy Emmanuel names the emerging players who are flying the flag for a new era of Americana and bluegrass
Asked for his guitarist of the year, the Aussie maestro replied with the names of four players who are lifting us all out of our "comfort zones"
Flea has announced his debut solo album – but he’s not the only bassist playing on it
After decades of anticipation, Flea’s debut single pulls no punches, with two bassists linking seamlessly on the song’s darting bassline
How Mike Keneally landed the Frank Zappa gig – after cold-calling his guitar hero
Keneally said he had a “Zappa jukebox” in his brain. The man himself wanted to test it out
Artists
How Moody Blues bassist John Lodge found another gear with a Fender double-neck that was half P-Bass/half Telecaster
Having anchored the Moody Blues since the ’60s, the late John Lodge had a VIP seat for the Austin Powers-like era that made London the capital of cool
Steve Cropper on writing Green Onions, stressing out Brian May and the secret of Billy Gibbons’ guitar style
The co-writer of classics including Green Onions and (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay proved you don’t need technical wizardry to make a mark. In 2024, he walked us through a career marked by hits, groove and soul
Primitive solos, Luchador masks, SpongeBob SquarePants? Meet Los Straitjackets, guitar’s most out-there instrumentalists
In this shocking exclusive, guitarist Eddie Angel takes you behind the glitter masks of the surfin’, riffin’, fast-pickin’ instrumental combo
John 5 on his final conversations with Ace Frehley and working on Peter Criss’ new record
The Mötley Crüe guitarist reflects on losing his greatest influence, reveals what’s great about the former Kiss drummer’s upcoming album, and his hopes for another tour with Richie Kotzen
Kim Deal on finally making her solo debut, working with Steve Albini and why she hates bright guitar tones
On her debut solo album, Nobody Loves You more, Kim Deal expands on the sonics she built in the Breeders and Pixies
![[from left] The Byrds’ Clarence White, Skip Battin, Gene Parsons and Roger McGuinn in action in London in 1971](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UBYneTRLchqapQkXCTFjYm-840-80.jpg.webp)
“Bob Dylan said, ‘Give this to McGuinn. He’ll know what to do with it’”: Roger McGuinn on the making of The Byrds’ countercultural classic
Roger McGuinn explains how Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Bob Dylan and CBS-era Fender amps all factored into the making of The Byrds’ 1969 classic, Ballad of Easy Rider
The Lemonheads’ Evan Dando on the art of cover versions
The Lemonheads mastermind discusses the value of being lectured by your heroes, rolling between grunge and metal, his favorite Gibson, and that time he played a Minor Threat song in front of Ian MacKaye… drunk
Original Thin Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell on reinventing an old Irish standard as a rock track and performing it with the “cartoon” Metallica
Original Thin Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell explains the roots and finer points of his Whiskey in the Jar guitar solo and phrasing and how he got the tone on the record
Gear
Dirty Boy’s pedals are loved by the likes of John Frusciante and Neal Schon – is Brian May next?
The future’s bright for the boutique guitar and pedal brand. Its CEO tells us its story so far and why he believes he has just what Brian May needs for his tone
“A tighter, louder and gutsier tone from an already stellar-sounding amp”: Bad Cat Mod Shop Black Cat 30 review
Remixed and refreshed by the late, great amp-guru Mark Sampson, this Black Cat has two more tubes, 10 more watts and a whole new voice
Gary Moore’s 1963 Telecaster is modded and thrashed to death – and it’s got a tone pot that behaves like a wah
Before it was auctioned for just under $69,000, we take a closer look at one of the lesser-spotted electrics in Moore’s collection, with Bonham’s Steve Clarke sharing its story
“Reimagined through the lens of a master craftsman”: Bourgeois Slope D Standard T/S review
The latest in Bourgeois’ Touchstone range has shades of Gibson’s J-45. Will it live up to expectations and carve a legendary niche all its own?
The challenge of amplifying our acoustics has been one of guitar’s great challenges over the decades – are we nearly there yet?
We’ve come a long way from the “plastic piezo ping” – acoustic players today have more options on how to present their sound onstage just as nature intended
The story behind Oasis’ new signature guitars
The Gibson Les Paul, Epiphone Riviera and Epiphone Sheraton have a deep history with the Manchester rock powerhouse, and this year’s new signature models take us all the way back to the beginning
![[LEFT] 1966 EMS-1235 with full-scale four-string tenor neck and eight-string mandolin neck. Right: 1961 EMS-1235 with a regular six-string neck and an octave six-string neck.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FDaNJGFxekS6EH9te5oeuf-840-80.jpg.webp)
“Some might be thankful they only made one because Gibson didn’t waste any more wood”: Meet the obscure ’60s Gibsons that prove double-necks were a thing before Stairway to Heaven
Meet the ‘60s Gibson EMS-1235s that prove that doublenecks were a thing before Stairway to Heaven
“Once you get the hang of it, this looper has many practical applications and is a fun creative tool”: Walrus Audio Xero Polylooper review
Walrus Audio’s new stompbox looper offers a smart option for unlocking your creativity
You know Greeny, now it’s time to meet Stripe – Gary Moore’s other go-to ’59 Les Paul, and a guitar of incalculable vibe
With some of the most phenomenal buckle rash you will ever see, Stripe is a holy grail to end all holy grails. As it is being sold privately via Bonham's, we get evaluator Steve Clarke to spill Stripe's secrets
Lessons
Cory Wong on how to arrange guitar and keyboards
The funkmeister puts Direct Flyte under the microscope to deliver a masterclass in arrangement. It's funk, sure, but there's some operatic influence in there, too, because that's just how Wong rolls
How to use triads in blues solos like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix
When you’re the only guitarist in the band, triads are your best friends in a guitar solo – and Hendrix and SRV were the masters
Jared James Nichols shows you how to build a guitar solo to a powerful climax
Ditch the pick and crank the amp for this Jared James Nichols masterclass in blues solo composition
Great tone starts with the pick – just ask Steve Vai. Here’s how honing your picking can improve your tone for free
Unlock every pick color – from warmth and brightness to the secretive clarinet tone
Best online guitar lessons 2025: I'm a professional guitar product reviewer and these are my top picks
Online lessons are the ideal platform for developing guitar skills from the comfort of your home or on the go – myself and our in-house experts have tested options for all playing levels, styles and budgets, including a free option
"The quality of tuition remains second to none, the user interface is slick, and the amp feature is both practical and entertaining:" Gibson: Learn To Play Guitar app review
The sophisticated Gibson tuition app sets the tone for players aspiring to dial in as much gain with as little pain as possible - with oodles of feedback always on tap
Sue Foley shows you how to nail classic blues turnarounds – and how to come up with your own
In Foley's final column in the series, she completes her turnarounds masterclass – an essential skill for any blues player
Reviews
“A tighter, louder and gutsier tone from an already stellar-sounding amp”: Bad Cat Mod Shop Black Cat 30 review
Remixed and refreshed by the late, great amp-guru Mark Sampson, this Black Cat has two more tubes, 10 more watts and a whole new voice
“Reimagined through the lens of a master craftsman”: Bourgeois Slope D Standard T/S review
The latest in Bourgeois’ Touchstone range has shades of Gibson’s J-45. Will it live up to expectations and carve a legendary niche all its own?
“Once you get the hang of it, this looper has many practical applications and is a fun creative tool”: Walrus Audio Xero Polylooper review
Walrus Audio’s new stompbox looper offers a smart option for unlocking your creativity
“Not your typical guitar pedal”: Gamechanger Audio Motor Pedal review
Synth sounds for the guitar from a real spinning motor, packaged in a striking, car-themed aesthetic. Can it live up to its looks?
“Could make your pedalboard truly portable with enough power to get you through a gig”: Walrus Audio Canvas Power USB review
The latest in Walrus Audio’s Canvas accessory range enables your pedalboard to run from USB power delivery
"If heaps of retro charm and a sound that truly stands on its own are what you’re after, then you’ve just found your new delay pedal”: Strymon Olivera Vintage Oil Can Echo pedal review
Strymon proves it's a well-oiled pedal-making machine with yet another knockout delay unit
“A no-brainer purchase for ambience freaks, shoegazers and experimentalists – and a practical unit, too”: Source Audio Encounter review
Building on what it started with its Collider delay/reverb pedal, Source Audio delivers a close Encounter of the ambient kind
"I feel closer to what I'm playing, more connected in a way I've never really felt with other semi-hollow guitars": Orangewood Clementine review
Orangewood's second-ever electric guitar release leans into its acoustic roots and a high spec, but can it win you over from the established giants of semi-hollow guitars?
Buying Guides
Best headphone amps for guitar 2025: silent practice solutions
You don’t need to sacrifice tone to practice quietly with my expert pick of the best headphone amps for guitar players
Best pedalboard power supplies 2025: juice your ‘board with my pick of pro-grade power, fully tested
I put budget-spanning pedal power supplies from Fender, Cioks, Walrus Audio and more through their paces – these were the standouts
Best looper pedals 2025: options for practice, songwriting, and live performance – tried and tested by an expert
Whether you're writing songs or woodshedding solos, using a loop pedal will make you a better guitarist – these are the best looper pedals from Boss, TC Electronic, Line 6 and more
What's the best guitar cable in 2025? 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
Best online guitar lessons 2025: I'm a professional guitar product reviewer and these are my top picks
Online lessons are the ideal platform for developing guitar skills from the comfort of your home or on the go – myself and our in-house experts have tested options for all playing levels, styles and budgets, including a free option
Best multi-effects pedals 2025: replace your rig
Our pick of the best multi-fx pedals from Neural DSP, Kemper, Line 6, Boss, and more
Looking for useful Christmas gifts for guitarists under $20? Here's my pick of 10 affordable accessories every guitar player actually needs
Supercharge your gifting with home practice and gigbag essentials that won't break the bank – recommended by a professional guitar salesman
