Latest articles by Matt Owen
Guitar Center CEO responds to backlash over the brand’s in-house guitar project
Gabe Dalporto gives his take on why gearheads should contribute their ideas to Guitar Center’s new Guitar Lab initiative
“I woke up to Eric and George playing ukuleles at the foot of my bed”: The first time session pro George Terry met a Beatle
Terry was Clapton's guitarist in the 1970s, and through Slowhand he was able to meet a particularly famous face
The first time Rickey Medlocke played Lynyrd Skynyrd’s iconic Free Bird guitar solo
Medlocke rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd as their new guitar player in the early 1990s, and one of his main responsibilities ever since has been to tackle Allen Collins’ legendary lead effort
This week's hottest new guitar gear – including a pedal you can wear on your wrist (sort of)
New AZ models from Ibanez, a fresh baritone for Ed Sheeran, and the final piece of Misha Mansoor's Jackson Juggernaut jigsaw all headline this week's roundup
Two of guitar’s biggest YouTubers are cutting ties with Fender over its cease and desists
Fender has been widely criticized after it allegedly sent cease and desist letters to multiple builders that make Stratocaster-inspired guitars
Guitar World readers react to Fender’s cease and desists – and how it could re-shape the guitar market
Fender’s decision to issue cease and desists to builders of Stratocaster-inspired electric guitars has been widely panned – but some argue it is their right to do so
Fender escalates legal campaign against S-style guitars, issues first cease and desist to US builder
Family-run LsL Instruments is seeking to raise funds for its legal battle against Fender, which has instructed the firm to stop making its S-style guitars
All the guitar gear that caught my eye this week – including a Sting-approved limited-edition Fender
An Angine de Poitrine-inspired double-neck, another cool collab from Fender, and the ultimate Tube Screamer clone? All that and more in this week's gear round-up
When the Eagles’ founding guitarist knew it was time to leave
Bernie Leadon left the band amid a changing lineup and creative differences
The real reason Machine Gun Kelly chose a razor blade shape for his signature guitar
Mgk caused a stir when Schecter dropped his razor blade signature in 2024 – now he’s explained why he opted for the divisive design
Marshall honors Jimi Hendrix with limited edition drop
Marshall is celebrating 60 years since the late guitar legend first plugged into one of its amps
Glenn Tilbrook is still mourning the stolen ’59 Fender he bought from folk-rock royalty
The Squeeze frontman used the prized Strat during the band’s early days – and he’s been missing it ever since
Eric Clapton ends gig early after being hit by object thrown from crowd
Slowhand didn't come out for an expected encore after he was struck in the chest by what appeared to be a vinyl record
Federal court rules in favor of Dean Guitars in Dimebag Darrell Estate’s protracted legal dispute
Dimebag's estate sued Dean Guitars owner Armadillo Distribution Enterprises in 2021 over breach of contract and trademark disputes
All the new guitar gear that caught my eye this week – including Chase Bliss’ “most foolish” pedal yet
The rebirth of B.B. King's first acoustic, a leading Dumble clone in plugin form, another spin-off of the famed Big Muff – all that and more in this week's round-up
April 2026 Guitar World Editors’ Picks
Fresh new cuts from all corners of the guitar world courtesy of Muse, Arlo Parks, Jack White, Ed O'Brien, Weezer, Periphery, and more...
Richie Sambora hired a private detective to recover his stolen Gibson
Sambora was recently reunited with his prized 1976 Gibson Explorer, 41 years after it was stolen out of a warehouse
Plini is manifesting a collaboration with John Mayer – and has issued an open call to make it happen
The prog metal virtuoso has a wild vision for what their joint single could potentially look like
Jake Kiszka on the time he walked out of Chicago Music Exchange with a $25,000 guitar
The Greta Van Fleet guitar hero looks back on how he first crossed paths with the guitar he affectionately calls The Beloved
Steve Vai’s LA property – and his Harmony Hut guitar sanctuary – has been listed for $11.7 million
Despite a slightly chilling past, Vai used the space as a functioning studio and a home for his guitar collection, which included guitars personally gifted to him by Yngwie Malmsteen and Joe Satriani
"The AI-assisted future of guitar effects pedals? In its current form, not quite. But its ambition is massive": Polyend Endless review
NAMM 2026's Best in Show winner promises to provide an immersive insight into the future of guitar effects pedals – but is the potential of this stompbox well and truly endless?
Earl Slick on the fear he felt replacing a guitar icon – and how David Bowie calmed him down
Slick stepped into fill the spot in the mid 1970s, and thought he'd have a hard time winning over the fans and the media
All the guitar gear that caught my eye this week – including a nifty new accessory that could completely change the game for guitar swaps
New drops from Gibson, PRS, John Page, Strymon and more...
