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

By Jonathan Horsley Last updated
Our expert guide to the best 12-string guitars from Taylor, Rickenbacker, Fender, and others

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

By Jonathan Horsley Published
The remarkable story of the wholly unauthorized project that pushed the limits of Gibson guitar design using its own materials – and why the guitars are finally going up for sale

By Jonathan Horsley Published
Who wants that honey? The Billy Corgan Infinite Sadness is released to coincide with the Smashing Pumpkins’ Rats in a Cage Tour, and is limited to 60 instruments

By Jonathan Horsley Published
Do you remember NAMM 2026? Yeah, we've still got the nightmares, the Anaheim stare, but this affordable, all-kinds-of-high-end-looking Wong signature model is no flashback
![Sammy Hagar plays a red Explorer [left] in 2025; Alex Van Halen in action behind the kit during a Van Halen show in 2015.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WsbwJw5JKcus23XwZA52mh-320-80.jpg)
By Jonathan Horsley Published
Hagar makes an impassioned play for the Van Halen co-founder and drummer to clear the air, and insists whatever he wrote in his book, it was all true

By Jonathan Horsley Published
Four years ago Higginbotham said he’d turn their SE line into a $75 million business. How close are they? What’s getting them there? And which guitar icon would he love to hear on which of their models?

By Jonathan Horsley Published
From the Archive It pays to keep some change in your pocket. You never know when your tone will need it

By Jonathan Horsley Published
The legendary Patti Smith guitarist has a simple reason for why he wants a simple setup on his Strat

By Jonathan Horsley Published
The JC-1 was 273 days in the making and is a vintage-modern S-style with five-way switching and a blend control for combining the bridge and neck pickups

By Jonathan Horsley Published
The estate files complaint over his $80,000 buy-out and use of his image after his death

By Jonathan Horsley Published
Including robot tuners and the multi-effects pedals that invited us to stomp on iPads

By Jonathan Horsley Published
The German budget gear brand's latest go-faster T-style is a shred machine with pro-quality appointments at a beginner's price point

By Jonathan Horsley Published
No, it has nothing to do with Godflesh but everything to do with how the eight-stringer gave melancholy music a super-heavy spin as Jesu

By Jonathan Horsley Published
From the Archive How the stepson of Robert Johnson took B.B. King under his wing as he workshopped his chops in Memphis

By Jonathan Horsley Published
Iommi says he is still in shock after Ozzy’s death and that the late metal icon was determined to put on a show at Black Sabbath’s triumphant farewell

By Matt McCracken Last updated
Get low with my expert pick of the best baritone guitars from PRS, Gretsch, Jackson, and more
![Angus Young wears his school uniform as AC/DC play Donington Monsters of Rock [left]; Eric Clapton is suited and playing a pale blue Strat in the mid '80s.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QgAfKvcwAsJVc5suVA6JUK-320-80.jpg)
By Jonathan Horsley Published
From the Archive When the AC/DC guitarist was coming up, Clapton was the player blowing everyone's mind but his
![Joe Satriani plays his Paisley Pattern JS signature Ibanez; Kirk Hammett [right] plays his ESP Mummy.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w4FRgR6B5Pv4bVmgRR4KYU-320-80.jpg)
By Jonathan Horsley Published
From the Archive When Joe Satriani got an exclusive preview of new Metallica material during lessons with his student Kirk Hammett

By Jonathan Horsley Published
All the big new drops from PRS Guitars, Charvel, Jackson, Gibson, Friedman Amplification and much more

By Jonathan Horsley Published
A miraculous salvage job rescued The Rover after an overdub ruined an original take

By Jonathan Horsley Published
Cantrell explains why he never saw himself as a hot-shot soloist and had to be convinced by his producer that his solo was “perfect” for the song

By Jonathan Horsley Published
All the big new drops from Epiphone, Death By Audio, Gretsch, Charvel, and much more
![Stevie Ray Vaughan [left] slings his guitar over his shoulder and gives us a thumbs up; [right] an action shot of Albert King playing on Midnight Special](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2o58fDyAtadeYeUPxHv54J-320-80.jpg)
By Jonathan Horsley Published
From the Archive SRV was playing a ‘pass-the-hat’ gig at one of Austin’s most notorious dive bars – until he found out Albert King was playing across town

By Jonathan Horsley Last updated
Whether you play acoustic, electric, or bass, these clip-on tuners offer a quick, easy, and affordable way to achieve concert pitch every time you pick up your instrument
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