Joe Walsh auction raises huge sums for charity – and raises eyebrows as unexpected guitars attract big money bids
Who here remembers the time circa 2008 when Walsh was playing an EMG-equipped Zakk Wylde Les Paul Custom live onstage with the Eagles?
Latest News
Joe Walsh auction raises huge sums for charity – and raises eyebrows as unexpected guitars attract big money bids
Who here remembers the time circa 2008 when Walsh was playing an EMG-equipped Zakk Wylde Les Paul Custom live onstage with the Eagles?
Yngwie Malmsteen hits back at singers who features on his records
Malmsteen is claiming that certain singers are trying to capitalize on his brand and claim song ownership
John Mayer explains what finally convinced him that modeling tech was up to scratch in newly shared signature plugin test footage
Mayer teamed up with Neural DSP for an Archetype plugin that modeled his prized guitar gear in digital form
The Line 6 Helix Stadium has already been updated – and it finally rolls out one of the next-gen modeler’s most anticipated new features
Showcase can serve as the beating heart of your entire live rig – and can help look after much more than just your guitar tones
Fender Masterbuilder on what it’s like to watch his ultimate guitar hero play the Strat he made for him
Andy Hicks built Dave Murray a Custom Shop Strat for tour – and it’s since become his Number One guitar
Mark Tremonti once had one of his earliest PRS guitars stolen – but a fan bought it back for him from a Guitar Center parking lot
The gorgeous single-cut was thought to be lost forever, until one eagle-eyed fan saved the day
Paul McCartney pays tribute to Höfner as the legendary German brand’s future hangs in the balance
Having played a Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass since 1961, the Beatles icon is saddened to learn of the German brand's plight
Artists
English Teacher on the dangers of self-relic'ing, and why they love Fender offsets “for the same reason any alternative band does”
Guitarist Lewis Whiting and bassist Nicholas Eden celebrate their new Fenders, explain how they transform studio songs to live performances, and reveal how they react when things go wrong
Nuno Bettencourt on why, with his Six String Sanctuary, he’s finally ready to become a guitar teacher
Sponsored by Nuno’s Six String Sanctuary
The Extreme man’s Six String Sanctuary weekender goes way beyond your typical guitar clinic – and he’s recruited Steve Vai, Eric Gales, Mateus Asato, Richie Kotzen, Taj Farrant and guitar “Yoda” Rick Beato to help
Bob Margolin on The Last Waltz, jamming with Dylan and Clapton – and his years with Muddy Waters
Blues veteran recalls the “reefer” moment that landed him a job with his hero, the Gibson archtop that’s seen in the movie, and how he stayed friends with Waters despite business matters
Starship trooper Craig Chaquico on “corporate rock”, and life as a teenage guitar whiz
Craig Chaquico was green, raw, and young when he joined Jefferson Starship in 1974, but left to his own devices he grew up fast – and his style was a runaway success
“My friend told me I couldn’t even play a 6-string bass – so I had to learn it to prove him wrong!” Meet 7-string bass wizard Dylan Desmond, whose accidental two-handed tapping powers doom’s most adventurous low-end
Inspired by Michael Hedges, the Bell Witch doom merchant splits his signal between guitar and bass amps, and fills up the entire frequency spectrum. He reveals the surprise influences that inspired his latest effort with Stygian Bough
Polyphia’s Tim Henson on making his game-changing Ibanez that started a nylon-string revolution
Presenting electric guitar playability on a nylon-string platform, Henson’s TOD10N changed the world after he used it on Playing God
Pat Metheny called him “the best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life” – meet Pasquale Grasso
The hyper-talented jazz virtuoso on how he’s out to prove there’s life in the genre
Gear
“In my experience, it's the easiest modeler to use live”: Line 6 Helix Stadium XL Floor review
With a massive touchscreen, new ‘Agoura’ amp modeling, a more compact size, and a host of other features, Line 6 looks to take the modeling crown with the sequel to the Helix
“Could arguably be the new gold standard in Tube Screamers”: TWA Source Code review
Is this the Screamer Killer we’ve heard about?
From Eddie Van Halen’s “uncanny genius” to his brutal crash-testing, inside the making of the EVH 5150 III
Wolfgang Van Halen and EVH Gear's Matt Bruck on the difficult birth of a modern tube amp legend, and arguably the best metal amp you can buy right now
“I just want to keep playing it” - Neural DSP Archetype: John Mayer X review
John Mayer teams up with Neural DSP to bring guitar tones from a modern icon to the masses
From a PC amplifier to onboard effects – and yes, Robot tuners: The 21st century gear trends that never caught on
Because not all innovations stand the test of time
“It stacks brilliantly and the additional modes are super useful”: DOD Overdrive Preamp 250-X review
The DOD 250 gets modernized, with two additional modes. Is the workhorse showing its age? We find out.
These ‘60s Gibson semi-hollows were Gary Moore’s workhorses – and they’ve still got the blues
Serial number A33857, this stunning '60 ES-355TD was top-of-the-line in its day, and with his ’63 ES-335TD, offered Moore stunning tones. We took a closer look as they headed to an auction where they fetched around $94,000 and $65,000, respectively
Lessons
Master the 12-string guitar: restringing, tuning and strumming made simple
Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend, the Eagles, and Richie Sambora swear by 12-string guitars for sonic sparkle – after this guide, you will too
Joe Bonamassa reveals the secret to writing heavy riffs – and his methods might surprise you
Step back from the overdrive pedal, dial the gain back, and that extra clarity could well sound heavier in a band mix
Pete Townshend, Ray Davies and David Bowie all used third inversion chords – here’s why (and how) you should, too
If the idea of third inversions seems all upside down, fear not: these five examples show how easy they are to put together – and how musical they are when you apply them in a song
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
Reviews
“In my experience, it's the easiest modeler to use live”: Line 6 Helix Stadium XL Floor review
With a massive touchscreen, new ‘Agoura’ amp modeling, a more compact size, and a host of other features, Line 6 looks to take the modeling crown with the sequel to the Helix
“Could arguably be the new gold standard in Tube Screamers”: TWA Source Code review
Is this the Screamer Killer we’ve heard about?
“I just want to keep playing it” - Neural DSP Archetype: John Mayer X review
John Mayer teams up with Neural DSP to bring guitar tones from a modern icon to the masses
“It stacks brilliantly and the additional modes are super useful”: DOD Overdrive Preamp 250-X review
The DOD 250 gets modernized, with two additional modes. Is the workhorse showing its age? We find out.
“As a compact amp modeler/cab simulator/Capture device, this is perhaps the best option out there, screen or no screen”: Neural DSP Nano Cortex review
Review update: includes NanOS 2.2.0 firmware update and long-term live testing
“It's a Bad Monkey, turned up to 11”: DOD Badder Monkey review
Not a reissue, but an 'evolution.' So what does that mean?
"The Quad Cortex has solidified itself as the modeler to beat": Neural DSP Quad Cortex review
Review update: Including long-term testing and an overview of the latest CorOS 3.3 release
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
