Latest articles by Huw Price
“Playing a guitar like this back in 1963 must have been truly mind-blowing”: Meet the 1963 Stratocaster with one of Fender’s rarest-ever finishes, Blue Metallic Flake
With a super-rare custom color finish that serves as a reminder of the influence Fender took from the motor industry, and in pristine condition, this is a collector’s item for the ages
How torrefied wood affects acoustic guitars: demystifying the process that is said to give new instruments vintage tones from the get-go
In the quest for vintage tone, the question remains: what about the wood? Here is everything you need to know about the torrefying process and what it means for guitar
They’re loved by St. Vincent, Dan Auerbach and Ry Cooder – but what’s behind the Gold Foil pickup resurgence?
Relatively little is known about these popular pickups, but what we do know is that not all were created equal…
Gibson only made 98 Flying Vs in the 1950s – which makes this ’58 Flying V one of the rarest electric guitars to come out of the company’s factory
Currently heading for auction, this 1958 example is quite unlike any other V in Gibson’s history – we explore its many quirks and the storied history of the iconic design
15 ways to improve your Fender Stratocaster
Get your Strat playing and sounding better than ever with tips on improving tone, tuning stability and playability
Everything you need to know about tube amp attenuation
Do you like your amp to punch its full weight, but it’s just too loud? This could be the answer
Boost pedals: the history of the stompbox that supercharged the sound of rock ’n’ roll – and how to make the most of one on your pedalboard
Tony Iommi, Brian May and Eddie Van Halen all honed their tone by boosting their amps – here’s how a boost pedal can enhance your guitar rig
Kevin Shields shares the secret to ensuring your Fender Jazzmaster or Jaguar won’t go out of tune – and it’s not a Mastery bridge
The My Bloody Valentine guitar genius and offset expert says he has a method that achieves tuning stability without aftermarket components
The evolution of fuzz pedals: how the wildest drive of all conquered the radio – and our pedalboards
Unlike wah, flangers and chorus, fuzz has never gone out of fashion – it’s hip to be square
How guitar frets evolved and changed the course of guitar-playing history
We obsess over pickups and tonewoods, but we rarely give frets the same attention. Given they affect playing feel, intonation and tone, maybe it's time to change all that…
Meet 'Sunny', a newly uncovered 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard from South Africa
More and more holy grail Les Paul Standards are surfacing in recent years, but this exceptional specimen remains a thoroughbred unicorn by anyone's reckoning
How to choose the best microphone for your electric guitar amp
Because a great amp sound deserves the right mic for the job...
How to choose the best microphone for your acoustic guitar
What to consider when it comes time to record your beloved acoustic’s tone at its best
Vintage Fender Stratocaster pickups: how they work, what changed, and why their sound is so sought-after
The history of Leo Fender’s Stratocaster single coils – and how to get better tone from your own Strat pickups
How impedance affects your guitar tone
Impedance issues influence guitar tone in a variety of scenarios, including the length of your pedalboard signal chain and combining amplifiers. We demystify the concept and promise no complex math
20 ways to improve your Telecaster
The Fender Telecaster offers more scope for modding than any other electric guitar. Here are our top tips for curing common problems, improving playability and customizing your Tele tone
Everything you need to know about Filter’Tron pickups – the humbuckers beloved by Chet Atkins, Neil Young and George Harrison
Long associated with That Great Gretsch Sound, the Filter'Tron has been charming guitarists since the late 1950s
The history of power tubes and how they work
Power tubes: what do they do? And how do they affect your tone? All is explained right here...
20 ways to improve your Les Paul
Step this way for some modding inspiration that could revitalize the Gibson or Epiphone in your life, from new pickups and hardware to Bigsby installation
Everything you wanted to know about preamp tubes but were too afraid to ask
Despite technological advances, we still can’t get enough of the humble valve – here’s why
How guitar amp speakers work
We demystify the speaker, its design and how it affects tone – and why you might want to swap your speaker out before buying a new amp
The history of the ES-225 – the last affordable 1950s Gibson guitar?
Short-lived transitional model or a significant yet overlooked milestone? Either way, it's one of the few non-student model Gibsons from the 1950s that is still just about affordable
The history of Fender Telecaster pickups
How Leo Fender's first electric guitar pickups evolved over the years – and what Tele owners can do if they want to swap 'em out for something different
