
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

Bill Kelliher is searching far and wide for Mastodon's next guitarist – here's what the band are looking for
By Matt Owen published
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
By Matt Owen published
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
By Phil Weller published
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
By Matt Owen published
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
By Matt Owen published
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
By Matt Owen published
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
By Matt Owen published
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
By Matt Owen published
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

One of Gibson’s most obscure designs makes a comeback with the revival of the RD
By Matt Owen published
Beloved by Dave Grohl and Ghost, the quirky build from 1977 has officially returned after its imminent arrival was teased earlier this year

Warren Haynes’ transition from humbucker loyalist to P-90 fan is complete – with the launch of his signature Gibson Les Paul
By Matt Owen published
The Gov't Mule guitar hero's newest signature has been a long time coming, and arrives after Haynes pivoted towards P-90 tones

Fender’s credit rating downgraded by Moody’s – with operating costs speculated to rise by $20 million
By Matt Owen published
A new report from the credit rating analyst has found Fender to be at risk from increased operational costs that have been brought on by new tariffs

D’Wayne Wiggins, influential Tony! Toni! Toné! guitarist who helped pioneer neo soul, dies aged 64
By Matt Owen published
Wiggins founded Tony! Toni! Toné! with his brother Raphael Saadiq, and later established a label that worked to support emerging artists

We finally have our first official look at the first Dime Guitarz model
By Matt Owen published
The Dime Guitarz project has been teased for years, but the arrival of the new firm’s debut model seems imminent

Morgan Amps says new tariffs will add up to $1,000 to the price of its amp heads
By Matt Owen published
A lengthy social media post from the US firm’s founder highlights how the increased cost of materials will impact production and consumer costs of Morgan Amps

Amanda Seyfried shows off her dulcimer chops as she covers a Joni Mitchell classic on Jimmy Fallon
By Matt Owen published
The Mamma Mia star learned the dulcimer during the pandemic, and paid homage to one of her heroes with a cover of California

Jacob Collier’s five-string Strandberg is proving the doubters wrong – it’s outselling the six-string version
By Matt Owen published
The headless five-string certainly turned a few heads when it first emerged last year, but it’s proven to be an absolute hit

How Guitar Center plans to beat its online competitors and safeguard the future of its physical stores
By Matt Owen published
Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto has laid out the retailer’s plans to win the trust of prospective customers in the face of unprecedented online competition

Phil X on playing Livin’ on a Prayer with Richie Sambora – and how his predecessor plays the Bon Jovi classic differently
By Matt Owen published
Two eras of Bon Jovi combined during a recent LA benefit concert, when Phil X and Sambora shared the stage with Orianthi and Matt Sorum for a rendition of the classic hit

Gibson’s new Acoustic Specials series brings hand-crafted examples of its most beloved acoustic designs to lower price points
By Matt Owen published
Newly minted takes on the Hummingbird, L-00 and J-45 templates look to offer USA Gibson acoustics at more accessible prices

Nita Strauss on the Swedish melodic death metal group she considers her “Beatles”
By Matt Owen published
The guitar hero selected one of the band’s tracks while running through the five riffs that changed her life

Fender has announced its latest surprise brand collab – a St. Patrick’s Day Telecaster created with Jameson Irish Whiskey
By Matt Owen published
The extra-green Telecaster has been served with an ideal pairing in the form of a celebratory St. Patrick’s Day Tone Master Princeton Reverb

Tom Morello is honoring one of Ozzy’s greatest collaborators at the Sabbath legend’s final show
By Matt Owen published
Osbourne’s last show will take place later this year, and Morello – the event’s musical director – will take the opportunity to pay tribute to one of the finest guitar players of all time

Before Andy Fairweather Low joined George Harrison’s band, the Beatle was eyeing up Gary Moore and Alvin Lee
By Matt Owen published
The prolific session player joined Harrison for his 1991 tour of Japan, but it turns out he was rather low on the pecking order when the Beatles legend came to assembling his band

February 2025 Guitar World Editors’ Picks
By Michael Astley-Brown published
A round-up of the best new guitar releases from the month of Feb, with new cuts from Sam Fender, Tash Sultana, Los Pirañas, and... Buddy Guy and Switchfoot?

“We’re guitar players. The reason we’re designing gear is we’re making things that we wish existed”: Tosin Abasi is pushing the boundaries of progressive music and guitar gear on multiple fronts – and he’s got no plans to slow down
By Matt Owen published
The Animals As Leaders and Abasi Concepts mastermind on upcoming music, his favorite new players, switching from modelers to tube amps, and why he might not be ready to record a blues album just yet
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