Latest articles by Amit Sharma
Why Jared James Nichols stopped obsessing over gear – and honed in on his playing instead
Freedom, says Nichols, is the knowledge you can pick up anyone's guitar and sound like you, and now the Nashville-based Les Paul wrangler is finding that freedom in songwriting
Richard ZK on the coffee shop rendezvous in East Germany that got him his first Fender
The Rammstein riffer wanted a Strat to imitate his hero, Jimi Hendrix – but getting hold of one took some serious work
Paul Reed Smith on how he built his brand, secret PRS players – and why the internet is wrong about tonewood
Once the guitar brand for the one percent, the smash-hit success of the SE line took PRS Guitars mainstream, but for Smith, it’s still about trying to raise the bar and find new sounds
The irresistible rise of the signature guitar company, as explained by Ola Englund
With more artist products available now than ever before, and an entire movement of brands run and owned by musicians, we investigate the evolution of signature guitar gear with a little help from the Solar Guitars founder
From Plini to Polyphia to onstage shoutouts from Nuno, how Rick Graham quietly became one of progressive guitar’s most influential names
From Guthrie Govan, through to Jason Richardson and Andy James, Rick Graham has garnered friends, fans and guest-spots with guitar’s most technical talents – and helped a huge chunk of players to hone their craft along the way
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
Blues ace Larry McCray names the unsung guitar brand that convinced him to switch after a life of playing Gibsons
McCray says this brand is the perfect middle ground between two of the industry's big guns
Veteran bluesman Larry McCray recalls the night Stevie Ray Vaughan died
The famed Strat wielder passed away at the age of 35 in a helicopter crash outside East Troy, Wisconsin
Wolfgang Van Halen on Allan Holdsworth, unintentional Van Halen-isms, and his go-to guitar-test riffs
As the son of one of the world’s most influential rock guitar players, it’s understandably taken Wolfgang Van Halen some time to feel comfortable in his own skin. Mammoth’s third full-length, The End, is undoubtedly the sound of his confidence growing stronger and stronger
The greatest guitar gear of the 21st century (so far)
The guitars, amps, effects, tech and innovations that changed how we play, listen and create
He’s played on over 500 albums. Now Marcus Deml is making breathtaking guitar instrumentals under his own name
He spent 12-hour days learning at GIT in the shred era. But for his Strat-led solo showcase, Deml relied mainly on his ears and a religious approach to tone
Paul Reed Smith on the near-fateful end of the PRS SE Line – and what eventually saved it from extinction
Smith reflects on the time the plug was almost pulled on the affordable branch of PRS guitars
Jeff Beck secretly played a PRS at home – and the company is trying to get it back
Beck played Fenders, Gibsons, even Jacksons onstage – but he reportedly kept a PRS handy at home for recording
Jared James Nichols owns a few vintage amp gems – but here's why he still prefers Blackstars
Nichols and Blackstar have collaborated on a handful of signature amps over the years
What Guthrie Trapp learned while escaping the country player label – and how the fretboard can change your life
The session ace explains what’s wrong with modelers, why anyone emulating SRV is doomed to fail, and how he nearly missed out on jamming with Billy Gibbons
Anglo-French blues-rocker Laura Cox on Les Pauls vs SGs, and getting huge tone from a Junior guitar
On Trouble Coming, Cox cuts loose, recording with the No Money Kids and showcasing her formidable slide chops
Wolfgang Van Halen on his early gigs with Van Halen – and keeping Eddie in line
Wolfgang also wanted to unearth some B-sides to help honor the genius of his predecessor once he stepped into the role
Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil on why he fell in love with Kirk Hammett’s Greeny – even if he’s still Team Strat
With their 10th album, Futique, Biffy Clyro remind us exactly why they are one of the most important rock bands of the modern age
How John Suhr built one of guitar’s hottest boutique brands
John Suhr knows a thing or two about tone. Hey, the guy oversaw repairs at Rudy’s Music in NYC, modded amps with Bob Bradshaw, became a Senior Master Builder and launched his own brand
Jared James Nichols was gifted a Klon Centaur by Joe Bonamassa – here’s how he kept it safe on the road
Nichols went from nearly having his borrowed Klon stolen to being given one of his own by the blues guitar icon
Wolfgang Van Halen on what sets his favorite contemporary metal guitar hero apart from his peers
Wolfgang has praised this player's ability to bridge the generational and genre divide
Best guitar amp headphones 2025: 6 options for when the neighbors need a break
From studio stalwarts, to fully fledged amps you wear on your head, these are the best headphones for guitar amps
Best Telecasters 2026: top Teles for every taste
Whether it’s your first Telecaster or you’ve walked in the boots of guitar-playing royalty, our top Telecasters will help you get your twang on
Best Stratocasters 2026: The best Strats for every budget and playing style
Find your fit with our top pick of the best Fender Strats
Made famous by David Gilmour, the Binson Echorec is a secret-recipe tool that helped define rock guitar tone
If you have even the most passing familiarity with Pink Floyd, you've heard an ethereal soundscape generated by the Binson Echorec. This is what it is, the unit's fascinating inner workings, and why it still matters
