Matt Owen
Matt is a Senior Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World, Guitarist and Total Guitar. 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
MXR officially revives the Rockman – the revolutionary headphone amp used by Joe Satriani, Phil Collen and Boston
By Matt Owen published
The device – considered to be a forerunner to today's multi-effects pedals – revolutionized guitar recording, and can be heard on thousands of hits
NAMM 2025 live! The biggest guitar news as it happens
By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
All the red-hot gear news and artist goings-ons from the show floor at the world’s biggest guitar gear trade show
The AmpRx Brownie can tweak your amp’s voltage for maximum tone – and it could be your key to finally unlocking Eddie Van Halen’s coveted ‘Brown Sound’
By Matt Owen published
NAMM 2025: Compact tube amp accessory lets players carefully select their desired voltage, promising both tonal and functional results in the process
NAMM 2025: rumors, predictions and breaking news from the world’s biggest gear show
By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
With the likes of Fender, Gibson and Marshall returning to Anaheim at long last, this year’s event is set to be the biggest in five years – with secrets and surprises to match
IK Multimedia launches a Joe Satriani signature TONEX One loaded with presets designed by the guitar great – and yes, it’s chrome
By Matt Owen published
The limited-edition mini pedal comes loaded with 20 Tone Models lifted from the IK Multimedia Joe Satriani Amp Vault Collection
Designing new solidbody electrics is one of the biggest challenges in guitar building – but Eastman has made it look easy yet again with the FullerTone
By Matt Owen published
Eastman takes inspiration from its acclaimed D'Ambrosio range to produce an innovative lineup that looks like the stuff of dreams
Mick Thomson’s long-awaited ESP signature guitar is finally here – but it’s not what we expected
By Matt Owen published
The Slipknot guitarist’s first ESP signature guitar has been a long time coming, and its final form might take you by surprise
Donner has given its Jack White-approved delay pedal an upgrade… and it’s got an awfully familiar new look
By Matt Owen published
Donner builds its latest delay and reverb around an effect personally selected by White for his signature multi-effects pedal, and gives it a familiar new chassis
Walrus Audio makes Yvette Young’s dream signature pedal a reality with the Qi Etherealizer
By Matt Owen published
The stacked stompbox is a modulation powerhouse fit for boundary-pushing soundscapes, and harks back to an interview in which Young described her ideal signature pedal
Mooer raises the stakes and guns for TONEX and Neural DSP with an AI-equipped modeler that can profile your gear
By Matt Owen published
The compact GS1000 modeler follows in the footsteps of more premium alternatives, and allows players to directly capture their favorite drive pedals, amps and more
Meet the Verso Sine – a futuristic electric with freely movable pickups
By Matt Owen published
With an innovative Sine Pad that responds to your physical touch, Verso’s newest electric could be one of the most creative guitar designs of the year already
“The ultimate authentic tone and feel of a real amp”: IK Multimedia continues its takeover of the amp modeler market with the TONEX Cab – a flagship FRFR unlike any other
By Matt Owen published
The TONEX ecosystem has just got bigger thanks to a new release that could kick the competition into a new phase of play
Fender CEO Andy Mooney explains why the firm’s return to NAMM 2025 won’t be business as usual
By Matt Owen published
Fender is one of the key brands returning to NAMM for 2025, but it’s taking a different approach this time
Mesa/Boogie resurrects a ’90s icon with its reissued Dual Rectifier – and the holy grail amp head has been given some upgrades
By Matt Owen published
Beloved by a crop of elite artists over the years, the legendary Dual Rectifier is finally back... with a few choice tweaks
Martin overhauls its Standard Series for the first time in 7 years in response to player demands
By Matt Owen published
Martin’s workhorse acoustics just got their first refresh since 2018 – and there are three new models to usher in the new era
Reverb reveals the most popular effects pedals in each US state – and a quarter of the country favors one brand in particular
By Matt Owen published
Further reflecting the findings from the gear marketplace’s general best-selling pedals list, one company stood out above all others
Ibanez launches the $550 AZ Standard – a wake-up call for big brands in the mid-priced guitar market
By Matt Owen published
The Japanese guitar giant has streamlined the spec sheet of its high-end AZ Premiums in a bid to marry high-end appointments with budget-friendly prices
Joe Bonamassa’s Nerdville West – one of the world’s largest collections of vintage guitar gear – is under threat from LA wildfires
By Matt Owen published
Bonamassa’s Los Angeles-based home and guitar museum houses some of the world’s most famous pieces of vintage gear
José Arredondo built amps for Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and Mick Mars. Now Dave Friedman is honoring his legacy with a definitive amp
By Matt Owen published
With the blessing of Arredondo’s family, Friedman will build a highly limited amp that encompasses most of the late amp guru’s elusive mods
Charlie Starr on the spiritual moment he played Gary Rossington’s famed ‘Free Bird’ 1961 Gibson SG
By Matt Owen published
Starr had the chance to use Rossington’s iconic Gibson to perform a Lynyrd Skynyrd medley last year, after it was announced the Les Paul/SG would be loaned out to a host of players for live use
Mesa/Boogie is reviving the Dual Rectifier – the hallowed amp head that defined the sound of 1990s high gain music
By Matt Owen published
The original Dual Rectifier arrived in 1992, and was championed by a huge array of guitar greats, from Foo Fighters to Tool and Korn
The Rockman amp shaped the sound of 1980s rock – now MXR is bringing it back in a new pedal form
By Matt Owen published
The original Rockman revolutionized guitar recording and is widely considered to be the forerunner to today's multi-effects pedals
Andy Fairweather Low was personally recruited by the Pink Floyd legend – but didn’t know who he was when he came calling
By Matt Owen published
In the 1980s, the rhythm guitar hero was sounded out by Waters for a new band, but there was a clumsy first introduction…
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