Jonathan Horsley
Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to publications including Guitar World, MusicRadar and Total Guitar. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halen’s Panama.
Latest articles by Jonathan Horsley
“From the aesthetics to the feel and the sounds, the Sferata is wholly convincing”: Rivolta Forma Sferata review
By Jonathan Horsley published
Just because Rivolta is Dennis Fano's more affordable brand doesn't mean he keeps his best ideas for Novo...
"As ridiculous as it might seem to recommend a product with Hello Kitty on the front as a decent option for woolly stoner metal riffs, we’re going to do it": Fender Hello Kitty Fuzz pedal review
By Jonathan Horsley published
Being cute is all well and good but does this pussy cat have the claws to be pick of the litter?
How Pavement, Cairo Gang, and Chavez guitarists came brilliantly together on The Hard Quartet's debut album
By Jonathan Horsley published
The first LP from indie supergroup The Hard Quartet brings Pavement, Cairo Gang, and Chavez guitarists brilliantly together
Yes icon Steve Howe on why he rarely runs scales, thrashing acoustics – and how he’s still chasing Chet Atkins’ touch
By Jonathan Horsley published
The prog legend checks in to talk all things guitar, from drawing inspiration from his parents' record collection and cutting his teeth on a cheap arch-top to finding his sound on the ES-175 and six-string explorations on Guitarscape
How Devin Townsend relied on his production process to deliver his new album from the depths of depression and grief
By Jonathan Horsley published
The first of a four-album cycle on death and rebirth involved a serious stack of gear and staggering new speakers – and the Canadian prog-metal maverick says the process was cathartic in its own way
Best guitars for kids 2024: top electric and acoustic guitars for children
By Daryl Robertson last updated
The top kid’s guitars available today and everything you need to know to get your child started with the guitar
Best Epiphone Les Pauls 2024: Our pick of the greatest budget-friendly versions of Gibson’s iconic single-cut
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned guitarist, our list of the best Epiphone Les Pauls is sure to inspire you
Best Fender amps 2024: famous tube combos to digital headphone amps
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
From beginner practice amps to touring-grade tube combos, these are the best amplifiers from the industry's most famous brand
How King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard made a left turn – into blues rock
By Jonathan Horsley published
Flight b741 sees the prodigious band making nasty sounds beautiful and “going for the take that had the boogie!” on a trip that reimagines ‘70s rock nostalgia
Amyl and the Sniffers are one of the hottest rock bands on the planet – and they got there by breaking punk’s no-solos rule
By Jonathan Horsley published
The fast-rising Australian outfit’s guitarist Declan Martens aims to sound like Angus and Malcolm Young together. He discusses his love of chunky strings, how to make guitar solos punk, and using Dave Grohl’s guitars while recording in the Foo Fighters’ studio
Michael Schenker on triangle guitars, bad playing habits – and why he is rerecording UFO with Axl Rose
By Jonathan Horsley published
Rock legend Michael Schenker checks in to talk My Years with UFO, the appeal of the V-shaped guitar and why he does not sweat the technique (and maybe you shouldn't either)
Best metal guitars 2024: hell-raising electrics for shredders on any budget
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
From extended-range guitars to Flying Vs, here's our pick of killer metal guitars from Jackson, ESP, Ibanez, and more
Carmen Vandenberg and Rosie Bones explain the joy and challenge of playing with the late, great Jeff Beck
By Jonathan Horsley published
In 2019, Jeff Beck broke with tradition and looked for a vocal record to complement his peerless playing, and he looked to Bones UK for collaborators. Here, Vandenberg and Bones look back on a life-changing collab
Kirk Hammett on why bad solos are dying – and dealing with armchair guitar critics
By Jonathan Horsley published
Towards the end of 2023, we caught up with Metallica's affable lead guitarist to take stock of one of the greatest years in the Bay Area metal behemoth's history, and to talk guitars, songwriting and gear
Michael Schenker reveals the story behind his longstanding love affair with Flying Vs
By Janelle Borg published
The UFO guitarist recently signed with Gibson and revealed that a Michael Schenker signature guitar is in the works
Best baritone guitars 2024: pick up the slack with these long scale guitars
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
Get low with our expert pick of the best baritone guitars from PRS, Gretsch, Chapman, Jackson, and loads more
King Gizzard’s new album was recorded with $30 amps from pawnshop chain Cash Converters
By Janelle Borg published
King Gizzard's Stu Mackenzie reveals that they didn't use a single pedal on this guitar, relying instead on cranking up small practice amps
How Ibanez raised the bar for high-performance electric guitar with the RG
By Jonathan Horsley published
In partnership with Ibanez
With its quick Wizard neck and super-stable Edge tremolo, the RG arrived in '87 to deliver speed and the promise of the spectacular – and decades on, it remains the go-to electric for virtuosos and shred radicals
Joe Knaggs on the tonewoods, inspirations and story behind his high-end guitar craft
By Jonathan Horsley published
In partnership with Knaggs
For Joe Knaggs, making guitars was the opportunity to combine a love for art and music, and it is writ large in his designs. With Knaggs about to turn 15, he discusses the brand's evolution and explains the search for “the Knaggs ring”
How Laney brought volume and best-in-class tone for digital rigs with the world’s loudest active guitar cabinet
By Jonathan Horsley published
In association with Laney Amplification
Developed with a little help from Devin Townsend and Guthrie Govan, the LFR-412 is the first active 4x12 for digital rigs, giving players old-school power and volume to make their amp modeler sing
“Anyone looking for a budget retro acoustic will be charmed”: Gretsch Jim Dandy Concert review
By Jonathan Horsley published
Vintage catalog chic for under $200. We’ve found the mojo, but have we found the tone?
Kirk Hammett doesn't pay attention to solo trolls – and thinks “bad” solos are a thing of the past
By Matt Owen published
The Metallica guitarist's lead effort in Lux Æterna came under intense fire from online commenters upon its release, with some even recording their own 'improved' versions
“This super-playable, stage-ready electro is hard to put down”: Martin X Series GPC X2E review
By Jonathan Horsley published
A cutaway above the rest? This ‘Remastered’ crowd-pleaser presents high-end finesse at high street prices
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