Latest articles by Matt Owen
Joe Bonamassa has a new Martin signature – and he's already played it live with a guitar legend
Two new models are inspired by Bonamassa’s prized 1937 00-18 Shade-Top
Why Jeff Beck said no to replacing Eric Clapton in the Bluesbreakers
From the Archive Beck was asked to follow Slowhand’s footsteps out of the Yardbirds and into the Bluesbreakers before he decided to go solo
Ritchie Blackmore reunites with Deep Purple for the first time in 33 years – watch him play Smoke on the Water
The rock guitar legend announced he’d hatched surprise plans to join the band on stage earlier this year
The future of the S-style market? LsL Instruments shares first model since Fender cease-and-desist
The family-owned guitar maker was the first to publicly confirm it had been targeted by Fender’s legal action – and it’s taking steps to offset the impact
Fans call for Wings guitarist Henry McCullough to be honored with hometown statue
McCullough, who died in 2016, had a glittering solo and session career that saw him play with Paul McCartney and Joe Cocker
MXR revives Dimebag Darrell’s favorite rack unit in pedal form – and Zakk Wylde’s already used it live with Pantera
Dimebag used the original Flanger/Doubler rack unit as an always-on tone thickener
D’Addario admits generative AI was used in controversial string demo video
The string maker has come under fire for a product demo video that features music created using Suno Studio
The pedal that JHS Pedals’ Josh Scott was working on before his horror bike accident has been launched
The $119 Short Circuit pedal has been designed in collaboration with Coppersound – and it’s a lot more advanced than the Notaklön or Notadümblë
Duane Allman on the first time he met Eric Clapton and made an instant classic
From the Archive The two had huge respect for one another and quickly became close collaborators, resulting in a historic record
My pick of the best new guitar gear launched this week – from free Line 6 plugins to a game-changing modeler update
Big new drops from HeadRush, Epiphone, Line 6 and more
Julian Lage reacts to surprise praise from Mark Tremonti and Myles Kennedy
The jazz ace has been a key inspiration for some modern heavy guitar heroes
Pepper Keenan on the time he got to play Malcolm Young’s legendary AC/DC guitar rig
The Corrosion of Conformity guitarist had the same tech as the late AC/DC legend
Fender CEO responds to backlash after comparing cover bands to AI
Edward “Bud” Cole came under fire after his controversial comments concerning AI from earlier this year were recirculated online
Glenn Hughes announces retirement from touring due to health issues
The former Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Trapeze frontman is set to undergo open heart surgery
The fastest rising digital amp tech has been added to another mainstream modeler – could this be a tipping point?
It’s not the first time TONE3000 and NAM integration has been added to a modeler – but this time it’s different
“Once you get it, it’s like breathing”: Eric Johnson has a valuable lesson for players “trapped in patterns”
The guitar great has laid down the gauntlet, offering a simple challenge to anyone who is trying to play more melodically
“I’d love to go and see him but I probably wouldn't stay for the whole concert”: What Jeff Beck thought about Eddie Van Halen
From the Archive Beck shared his thoughts on the Van Halen school of guitar back in 1985
My pick of the best new guitar gear launched this week – and the new drops you might have missed
New drops from Orange, Kramer, Harley Benton and more
July 2026 Guitar World Editors' Picks
Featuring a ferocious new single from the future of shred, defiantly optimistic post-punk, “ecstasy for the ears” indie, irresistible jazz fusion, and much more
Kramer and Malina Moye make history with the underrated modern guitar hero’s first signature model
The genre-hopping guitarist has become the company's first woman of color signature artist
D’Addario sets the record straight over generative AI accusations
The string maker was recently accused of using generative AI to create the music for a product demo video
Fender CEO Bud Cole under fire from online guitar community for AI comments
Cole's comments on AI's place in the guitar world from earlier this year have resurfaced – and not been well-received
Harley Benton joins the relic bandwagon with $238 hand-aged guitars
The Thomann-owned guitar maker has released Light Aged and Heavy Aged versions of its S-type, T-type and offset electric guitars
