Latest articles by Charlie Wilkins
The ’62 Deluxe Amp returns to reveal why Fender’s ‘brown-panel’ period remains one of the most intriguing chapters in amplifier history. Fender product manager Rick Heins joins us to tell the story
Some signature models are little more than a cash-in, but surprising amounts of R&D are invested in the best ones
It's not the most player-friendly proposition, this triangular wedge of guitar – but is there anything cooler than a Flying V?
Stainless steel fretwire has moved from boutique upgrade to mainstream selling point. Here’s what it changes and what it doesn’t
Armed with a new John Page signature baritone, guitarist Noah Levine shares the moment that captured the magnitude of Kahan’s ascent and the solo career that’s taking shape behind the scenes
From divebombs to delays, the way we play is intrinsically tied to the gear we use. These are the things that changed the game for guitarists…
There was a time when swapping pickups meant turning your guitar into a small wiring project. Today, it can be almost as easy as swapping out a pedal
The humble stopbar tailpiece rarely gets the spotlight, but the Steadfast string-locking design gives us a reason to reconsider how we restring our guitars
Warm Audio teams up with boutique builder Dirty Boy to shrink the coveted Afro Fuzz circuit into a compact, wallet-friendly stompbox
The high-energy blues-rocker – who missed out on buying one of his dream instruments only to find it again years later – explains what he picked up from Jeff Healey, Melissa Etheridge and almost every player he listened to
He's unassuming, a virtuoso player, and didn't want his name on the guitar out of respect to Ted McCarty – but David Grissom played a key role in designing it
These trailblazing stompboxes baffled players at first, but guitarists eventually caught on…
The tone gourmand talks new vs vintage Strats, hiring SRV's amp tech, and the guitar he calls Big Daddy
How a dedicated group of DIY tone chasers changed the face of the guitar industry
The guitars have their own unique qualities in Philip Sayce's eyes – and both are welcome in his rig
From Schecter’s experimental beginnings to boutique-guitar leadership, he built a legacy of innovation, precision and playability. He’s now preparing the next chapter with successor Markus Spohn
From overlooked British combos to U.S. workhorses, these may not have the Plexi's prestige, but they deliver world-class tone for players willing to look beyond the obvious
From shimmering cleans to full throttle roar, these three classic amplifiers helped shape the sound of modern music and still define what great guitar tone means today
Great tone doesn’t need a guitar tech and a stadium rig. Here’s how you can get the most out of your amp in any situation...
![Five contemporary blues heroes [l-r]: Marcus King, Samantha Fish, Zach Person, Philip Sayce, Jared James Nichols.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eB6QVhAGnzFKyhwBXCfJfW-840-80.jpg.webp)
Blues and rock is still being shaped by the British blues boom of the ’60s – and the O.G. bluesmen who influenced them. But how can today’s players nail their tone and sound? Marcus King, Samantha Fish, Zach Persons, Philip Sayce and Jared James Nichols have their say
Long hidden in the shadows of Fender history, the early ’60s brown-panel Super Amp has reemerged. Senior product manager, Rick Heins, talks us through its rebirth
Billy Idol’s collaborator of 40-plus years transcends the punk-rock guitarist mold, taking in flamenco, jazz‑fusion, prog and classical styles – and he is as excited about guitar today as he was when he first picked one up
After weeks of rock 'n' roll overstimulation, Stevens pivoted and spent a year traveling with a nylon-string
