
Matt Owen
Matt is the GuitarWorld.com News Editor. He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 16 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt records for a number of UK-based bands and songwriters as a session musician.
Latest articles by Matt Owen

Jackson officially launches its affordable Surfcaster reissue
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The surprisingly budget-friendly offset finally arrives after it was first unveiled back at NAMM this year

Line 6 ushers in a bold new era of amp modelers with the Helix Stadium
By Matt Owen published
Brand new modeling tech, gear capturing capabilities, an overhauled interface, and the ability to control your entire live performance with your feet – the Helix Stadium has set a new benchmark in the amp modeler arms race

Guitar World Discussion: What’s your greatest guitar hero encounter?
By Matt Owen published
Ever bumped into your favorite player at the grocery store, or crossed paths with your six-string hero at the guitar store? We want to hear all about it – and don’t spare us the details

Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto is facing new competition from brands in the retail space – but it isn’t fazing him
By Phil Weller published
New Gibson and Fender stores on three continents present fresh challenges for the store, but Dalporto says “bring the competition on”

Strandberg is working on a headless acoustic guitar – and you may have already seen a prototype
By Phil Weller published
The firm unveiled what many believed to be a gag instrument a few years back – but it turns out it wasn’t just for laughs

May 2025 Guitar World Editors' Picks
By Jackson Maxwell, Matt Owen, Janelle Borg published
It's been another incredible month for new guitar-driven music – our favorites include a 12-minute funk/soul/country blowout from U.S. Girls, twisty greatness from Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, and Tony Iommi's collaboration with... Robbie Williams?

Chris Bird, Guitar World Lessons Editor and former Total Guitar Editor, has died aged 48
By Matt Owen, Matt Parker published
Our friend and colleague first joined Total Guitar in 2007 and spent nearly two decades sharing his passion and knowledge for the craft with readers

The unlikely origins of Strandberg’s innovative EndurNeck
By Phil Weller published
The angular, trapezoidal design defies convention in favor of ergonomics – but inspiration came from an unlikely source

Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto lays out one of the store's biggest priorities – and it isn’t selling gear
By Matt Owen published
Dalporto has already discussed his desire to improve the quality of gear that Guitar Center stocks – but he's also got his eye on avenue for growth

“The surgeon said I actually died on the operating table”: Thin Lizzy’s Scott Gorham recovering after suffering near-fatal health scare last year
By Matt Owen published
The guitar hero developed sepsis following a kidney operation and is now taking some time out to recuperate. But he's itching to get his “buns” back out on tour

These are the gear releases that have caught my eye this week – and the essential launches you might have missed
By Matt Owen published
New drops from JHS Pedals, Fender, Victory, and more that need to be on your radar this week

Stone Temple Pilots’ Dean DeLeo announces One More Satellite – a new collaborative project that stars a host of special guests
By Matt Owen published
Drummers Eric Kretz and Brian Tichy, as well as UK vocalist Pete Shoulder, were brought onboard for the record, which will arrive this summer.

“As a compact amp modeler/cab simulator/Capture device, this is perhaps the best option out there, screen or no screen”: Neural DSP Nano Cortex review
By Matt Owen last updated
The follow-up to the game-changing Quad Cortex is here at last, and with its ultra-powerful Nano Cortex, Neural DSP has set its sights on challenging IK Multimedia and Kemper to offer the ultimate all-in-one rig solution

Rick Beato weighs in on the Giacomo Turra controversy – and discusses their ill-fated collaboration
By Matt Owen published
Turra was accused of plagiarizing other player's songs for his own content earlier this year

"A very cool guitar with a lot of style, and fortunately, it has the substance to match its good looks": Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Offset Telecaster SJ review
By Matt Owen published
On paper, a Telecaster/Jazzmaster hybrid sounds like an absolute winner. But can the Squier Paranormal deliver the goods?

Mike Dawes has transformed a Sleep Token song into a solo acoustic guitar masterclass
By Matt Owen published
The acoustic virtuoso has already tackled Foo Fighters, Van Halen, and Jimi Hendrix – now he's taking on the hottest act in metal

Fender Japan assembles all-star group of elite Masterbuilders for its most ambitious builds yet
By Matt Owen published
The four high-end builds, inspired by each suit from a deck of cards, represent the pinnacle of Fender Japan's guitar artistry

32 years ago, Jeff Ament rented a ’61 Jazz Bass from Norman's Rare Guitars to record Pearl Jam’s Vs. – and now he’s been reunited with it
By Matt Owen published
Ament recently reconnected with the vintage four-string more than three decades after using it to track Vs in the early 1990s – and he immediately played it on stage

April 2025 Guitar World Editors' Picks
By Janelle Borg, Jackson Maxwell, Matt Owen, Matt Parker published
From Turnstile’s transformation from hardcore caterpillar to psychedelic New Wave butterfly, to a show-stopping Joanne Shaw Taylor solo, an emo slam dunk from Slow Joy, and a slice of acoustic wizardry from Salif Keita, this month had a bounty of guitar brilliance

How Mike Campbell and Tom Petty developed their Heartbreaker sound – with the help of some choice early gear picks
By Matt Owen published
Though Petty was in need of a decent electric, the two Heartbreakers quickly landed on a sound that would define their guitar partnership

Epiphone expands its high-end Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection
By Matt Owen published
Open book headstocks, Gibson USA pickups and a handful of sought-after upgrades headline the 2025 expansion pack

Tyrone Vaughan descends from blues greatness – and SRV helped him start his guitar journey early
By Matt Owen published
Stevie Ray Vaughan turned up at young Tyrone's birthday party with a special gift that would help him follow in the footsteps of his relatives

These are the gear releases that have caught my eye this week – and the ones you might have missed
By Matt Owen published
An amp modeler update that players have been waiting months for, a sustainable build from Martin and a premium collaboration between Gibson and Serj Tankian headline this week's action
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