Latest articles by Jackson Maxwell
Ritchie Blackmore recalls the first time he saw two-hand tapping – at a wild show in 1968
Years before Eddie Van Halen put it in the early pages of the guitar textbook, Harvey Mandel was highlighting his performances with flourishes of two-hand tapping – grabbing the attention of onlookers in the process…
Peter Yarrow, guitarist, singer for Peter, Paul & Mary, and co-writer of Puff the Magic Dragon, dies at 86
A folk icon and dedicated political activist, Yarrow helped bring the songs of Bob Dylan to the wider public, but his career was later tainted by his conviction on child sex abuse charges
Jeff Beck took the Yardbirds in a new direction, but the constant Eric Clapton comparisons took years to shake
In the first stages of his career, Beck's relationship with Clapton was just as much (if not more) defined by Clapton's already-legendary reputation than it was by the man himself
James Hetfield explains the controversial mixing of Metallica’s …And Justice for All
The band's first album with Newsted, ...And Justice for All was marked by the band's increasingly progressive and technically intricate bent – and barely audible bass parts
Remembering the guitarists we lost in 2024
This year, we've sadly had to say goodbye to many guitar greats from across the world of music. Here, we recognize some of those guitarists, and their contributions to the instrument
The best guitar albums of 2024
The guitar albums that had the biggest impact in the guitar world and beyond, as chosen by GW editors and pro players
The best guitar songs of 2024 – as chosen by Guitar World editors and pro players
With the help of pals including Eric Gales and Vernon Reid, we run down the songs that lit up the guitar-o-sphere this year, including a remarkable hardcore breakthrough, a virtuoso collab for the ages and the prodigy that everyone’s talking about
Eddie Van Halen on the time Billy Corgan played through his rig – and why his setup shocked the Smashing Pumpkins frontman
Finding EVH's rig almost impossible to wrangle, Corgan figured, mistakenly, that there was something he could quickly disable to tame it
How the producers of the Timothée Chalamet-starring Bob Dylan biopic nailed Dylan's unique tone – with a particular tweak
In partnership with the film's producers, Gibson gave Chalamet a collection of pristine, handcrafted guitars – but the movie's head music director needed, for accuracy's sake, to dim their natural sonic richness
Guns N’ Roses are hitting the road in 2025 – and they’re bringing punk and hip-hop legends with them
Having last played live in 2023, Guns N’ Roses will play stadiums around the world – incorporating a number of countries the band have never played in before
Bill Wyman reunited with the Rolling Stones on their Hackney Diamonds album, but didn't like the track he played on
Intriguingly, Wyman added that he also contributed to a second song that has yet to see the light of day
Body Count rip through their Comfortably Numb reimagining on the Tonight Show, as Ernie C does his best David Gilmour
In an interview with host Jimmy Fallon, Ice-T recalled getting the approval (and assist) for the modern-minded reworking from Gilmour – while also getting the go-ahead from Roger Waters
Before the Rolling Stones, Bill Wyman needed a good bass guitar – so he built a proto-fretless model
It's a tale as old as time: three guitarists, a need for a bass player, and no one wants the job. Eventually, Wyman took it on, and built himself a proto-fretless model in the process
Scott Gorham's disastrous Thin Lizzy audition inspired a key tweak he makes to all of his Les Pauls
Gorham wasn't unprepared for his tryout with the future rock legends – he just had a guitar that almost seemed to have a vendetta against him
Cyber Monday guitar pedal deals 2024: Our expert pick of Cyber Monday stompbox deals
Your place for all the Cyber Monday deals on guitar pedals, pedalboards, power supplies, and more
Black Friday guitar pedal deals 2024: We round up the very best Black Friday stompbox deals still live right now
Your place for all the greatest Black Friday deals on guitar pedals, pedalboards, power supplies and more
Gibson launches new Custom Shop Jimmy Page 1969 EDS-1275 model that doesn't cost $50,000
While still exacting – with 3D scan rendering and molecularly accurate electronics – this replica of one of Page's most famous weapons diverges from its ultra-high-end predecessor in a few ways
Achieve Nirvana for less with this roaring Cyber Monday discount on Fender's Vintera II '70s Competition Mustang
We gave this super-fun Fender a five-star review, and for $999 this Cyber Monday, it's a killer choice for anyone looking for a weapon for garage-rock, punk, surf-rock, or, obviously, grunge
I’m in serious need of an acoustic upgrade. These are the Cyber Monday savings I have my eye on
These huge discounts on models from Martin, Taylor, Fender, and more – with savings of up to $350 – are perfect for anyone looking for the right acoustic
Guitar Center just dropped a 15% off coupon for Cyber Monday – and it’s valid on thousands of guitars, pedals, amps and accessories
Could you snag a discount on the gear you’re salivating over?
Save a whopping $400 on D’Angelico's sleek Premier Bedford SH this Black Friday
With gorgeous vintage looks and a unique pickup lineup, this semi-hollow in beautiful Navy Blue looks and sounds like a million bucks, but will only set you back $399 at Musician's Friend
Start your or a loved one's guitar journey with 60% off Fender Play this Black Friday
Fender Play is the perfect one-stop shop for those looking to get started on the guitar. With 60% off this Black Friday, there's never been a better time to get yourself – or a loved one – started on guitar
Black Friday Positive Grid deals 2024: The first-ever Spark 2 discounts are here – plus, ways to save on the rest of the Spark line-up today
The official Black Friday deals are here, with discounts on nearly every smart amp in the line-up, plus big savings on software
The mod that made Kurt Cobain's $6 million MTV Unplugged Martin one of a kind
According to Nirvana guitar tech Earnie Bailey, Cobain was far from a vintage guitar fiend, and had no qualms with making his already weird D-18E even more unusual
Dimebag Darrell and Snake Sabo on their love of Ace Frehley, and how the Kiss legend shaped their playing
Both guitarists were recruited by Guitar World in 1993 for a roundtable of sorts with Frehley – during which Dimebag and Sabo even went to the trouble of donning “Spaceman” makeup themselves
