Latest articles by David Mead
The blues-rocker shares the story of his decade-long search for a 1960 Les Paul, why his Marshall amps just wouldn’t stop blowing up, and what made him convert to the single-cut after decades of Stratocaster monogamy
Blues guitar hero-in-waiting captured on the live stage
The jazz improv virtuoso returns with Uncle John's Band, an album that finds him covering Bob Dylan, Neil Young and, of course, the Grateful Dead
At £12,240 (nearly $15,000), this premium-level model from the renowned UK-based acoustic builder is the most expensive guitar we have reviewed, but it might also be one of the best. Want to know what a high-end acoustic plays like? Read on…
Video lesson: Tommy Emmanuel takes us through the basics of how to use a thumbpick so you can play your own version of Elizabeth Cotten’s Freight Train
Dayton reveals his nostalgic yearning for 1980s Ibanez Artist guitars, and shares his biggest gear-buying tip
The Stratocaster master reflects on his first encounter with Fender’s finest, and the days when guitar-led power trios shook the foundations with high-decibel progressive rock
The Procol Harum hero recalls the first time he discovered the Strat, and explains why it’s been by his side ever since
We talk to the Bourgeois Guitars luthier about his new collaboration with Eastman, the importance of tuning in a guitar top, and what lies in the future for the critically acclaimed acoustic brand
With tops made in Maine, USA, and bodies constructed in China by Eastman, these guitars provide access to a revered builder’s brand at a fraction of the cost
The Norwegian rocker mourns the theft of her first guitar, while advising fellow players to keep an open mind when buying gear
The latest album from jazz guitarist and composer Ralph Towner is a typically enchanting work, complete with beautiful playing on new pieces and jazz standards
From playing Eric Clapton’s Strats to narrowly avoiding knocking out Slash, Guitarist editors past and present share their favourite – and sometimes most embarrassing – memories of working for the esteemed UK publication
The top sessioneer and Toto stringsman recounts his early six-string experiences, an epic deal on a rare Vox 12-string and why he hasn’t bought a guitar in 30 years…
As the Player Series celebrates its fifth anniversary, Fender’s director of product, Allen Abbassi, tells us its story behind the top-selling range and what the future might hold
The young bluesman tells tales of a brand-new signature guitar and an unbelievable deal on a 1960s Strat
JWJ Guitars is a relatively new name on the lutherie circuit, specializing in bespoke builds at off-the-peg prices. Interested? You probably should be…
The Serbian blues-rocker tells tales of capturing a ’64 Strat in the wild and why single-coil pickups leave the mighty humbucker in the shade…
How a little known and short-lived guitar from Höfner found its way into the hands of The Stranglers’ Hugh Cornwell around the time of the band’s hit Golden Brown
How one of rock’s greatest studio albums came together onstage, and what David Gilmour used to craft some of the most sought-after guitar tones in music history
Three Grand Auditorium models from the Czech Republic manufacturer’s catalog, with price points varying from entry level to top end. What’s the difference? Let’s find out…
The blues-rock ace on what draws her to both Gibson and Fender, why all guitar players should learn drums, and how she ended up using an elementary school PA system for her tones on her new album with Jesse Dayton, Death Wish Blues
Based on the Takamine used by Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi, the GD34CE has all of its stablemates' classic good looks on a budget. But how does it sound?
