Latest articles by Charlie Wilkins
Mike Zaite on the secret to the Dr Z sound, making custom amps for James Walsh and the tube amp's enduring appeal
Mike Zaite explains how a background in electronics and a front-row seat to the British Invasion of the 1960s led to the formation of Dr Z Amplification – and why the sonics always lead the schematics
Why do some guitars sustain better than others? It’s complicated
With some help from Banker Guitars’ Matt Hughes and SonoTone Strings’ PK Pandy, we unpack the mysteries of sustain – and why it differs from resonance and volume
Do vintage NOS tubes really sound better? Here’s what you need to know
You might have heard a lot about the magic of NOS tubes. Here we dig into the subject, debunk some myths, and offer players something to think about when maintaining their amp
Pedalboard inspiration incoming... Here are our 30 favorite new guitar pedals from the past 5 years
We break the glass on the pedal cabinet to dig out a long-list of some of the coolest effects from the new Golden Era of stompboxes
An interview with the late, great Mark Sampson, the trailblazing amp designer behind Bad Cat and Matchless
Just before he died, guitar amp guru Mark Sampson sat down us to discuss his reunion with Bad Cat, and with the storied US amp company's John Thompson, he laid out a future vision for what boutique amps should be
How Dave Friedman became Steve Stevens and Jerry Cantrell’s favorite amp builder – and built one of the world’s best best boutique amp companies
Friedman is an amp legend who has been been building high-end guitar amps for more than two decades – we joined him to learn more about his design process and working with some of the biggest names in guitar
