Latest articles by Matt Owen
The incredible untold story of the mystery Martin that was specially commissioned in 1973 – and went viral with John Mayer 50 years later
Mayer's viral performance with Sheryl Crow in 2023 sent the guitar world into a frenzy when he took to the stage wielding on unidentified small-bodied 12-string acoustic – now its astonishing history has finally come to light
Chaka Khan is holding open auditions to find a new guitar player – but she’s got some very specific requirements
The legendary disco vocalist has announced a worldwide audition to find an additional guitarist
How Andy Summers formed one of the 1980s’ most unlikely guitar partnerships with Robert Fripp – despite not being especially keen on some of his work
The worlds of stadium rock and prog came together for a time in the early 1980s, when The Police and King Crimson guitarists teamed up for a handful of avant-garde records
Sterling by Music Man completes its trilogy of Joe Dart signature models with a trio of made-to-order basses that cost less than $500
The Vulfpeck funk maestro has unveiled two all-new models that slash more than $2k off the price of his Ernie Ball Music Man basses – and revived the OG Sterling Dart I that proved such a hit last year
The April Fools Day guitar gags are out in full force this year – and we've rounded up the best
Andertons, Orange, Positive Grid, and more have all taken the festivities seriously this year, with a range of silly stompboxes and wacky gadgets that will tickle your funny bone
“Our goal is to stay at the forefront of amplification innovation”: How Seymour Duncan set out to create the ultimate bass amp solution by pushing its PowerStage lineup to greater heights
Sponsored by Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan has expanded its revered PowerStage line with a do-it-all amp head designed specifically for bassists – but it's so much more than just a companion for your amp modeler
March 2025 Guitar World Editors' Picks
A round-up of March's best and most exciting guitar-led cuts from the likes of YUNGBLUD, Sleep Token, Samantha Fish, Great Grandpa, Rachel Chinouriri, Joe Bonamassa, Mickey Callisto, and many, many more
How Rotosound revolutionized the bass world with its Swing Bass 66 strings – and shaped the sound of rock music in the process
Sponsored by Rotosound
The story of how Rotosound founder James How worked with one of the brightest minds in bass history to produce a string that has stood the test of time – and defined music history as we know it
Fender gives its Player II Series a high-spec metal makeover with limited-edition FSR Advanced drop
A range of finishes have been rolled out to UK retailers as Fender gives its humble Player II line a serious revamp
Brian Setzer says he’s recovering well after an autoimmune disease left him unable to play guitar
The Stray Cats’ rockabilly legend dreams of returning to the stage as soon as possible
Seymour Duncan pushes the boundaries of its PowerStage series with dedicated bass unit
The latest PowerStage offers an onboard preamp and built-in overdrive in a bid to cover all bases for bassists
Mooer’s Prime M2 crams amps, cabs, effects and a looper into an ultra-light, pocket-sized pedal with a touchscreen and rechargeable battery
Mooer's latest Intelligent Pedal offers a bevy of tonal options, MIDI and Bluetooth functions, and much more in an immensely portable package
The Xotic AC Booster has long been a secret weapon stompbox for session players and pros – and now it’s been upgraded
The original has been used by the likes of Mike McCready, Tim Pierce and Paul Gilbert, and now the AC Booster V2 promises to be even more versatile
PRS gives four of its most beloved SE electrics an exotic wood makeover with latest limited-edition drop
A quartet of SE stalwarts have been given a luxurious cosmetic update, while the beloved SE Swamp Ash Special receives a small but mighty upgrade
Why John Mayer decided against ditching his tube amps for modelers for Dead & Company’s Sphere residency
Mayer devised a workaround that would allow him to play his prized Dumble and Fender setup at the notoriously amp-unfriendly venue
Bill Kelliher is searching far and wide for Mastodon's next guitarist – here's what the band are looking for
Esteemed YouTuber and Mastodon mega-fan Ben Eller was drafted in last minute following Brent Hinds' surprise exit, but the search for a permanent successor is far from over
Why are so many players turning to headless guitars? We asked Plini to find out
Ibanez, Kiesel, Schecter and Strandberg are all flying the flag for headless electrics, which have reached an unprecedented level of popularity in recent years
Spinal Tap sequel’s teaser trailer reveals Nigel Tufnel’s surprise new electric guitar of choice
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues has been given an official release window – and its first trailer offers a very brief glimpse of Tufnel's surprising new six-string
IK Multimedia answers players’ prayers and gives its best-selling TONEX units their biggest upgrade to date – a dedicated editor
The TONEX ecosystem has become more manageable than ever before thanks to the dedicated TONEX Editor, which offers in-depth control over presets and more
Alex Van Halen says a new Van Halen album is in the works – and he’s recruited Steve Lukather to help him complete it
Reports coming out of the Netherlands have seemingly confirmed a new Van Halen record will become a reality
How can Guitar Center improve its stores and reclaim its former glory? Guitar World readers have their say
A recent interview with Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto sparked an outpouring of comments from Guitar World readers, all of whom have offered their two cents on how the retailer can get back on its feet
Zakk Wylde says there have been talks about recording new Pantera material based on unreleased Dimebag Darrell demos
Wylde has teased the possibility of using old Dimebag riffs, which currently live on an old tape recorder, for future Pantera releases
Electro-Harmonix founder Mike Matthews reveals legendary pedal firm’s struggles in the face of Trump’s tariffs
EHX is the latest gear company to speak out after the impacts of Trump's new tariffs begin to be felt across the guitar world
