Latest articles by Matt Owen
January 2026 Guitar World Editors’ Picks
Featuring an onslaught of leviathan power chords from Sunn O))), a bruiser of a blues rock romp from Jared James Nichols, a beautiful, heartfelt piece of desert blues from Imarhan, a genre-obliterating piece of twisty guitar genius from Tim Henson, and a whole lot more
Mötley Crüe score decisive legal victory in dispute against Mick Mars
Mars and Mötley Crüe have been embroiled in a bitter legal dispute after the guitarist sued his former bandmates in 2023 – and accused them of miming
“A brand-new guitar shape from one of the world’s oldest guitar companies. Will wonders never cease?” 10 things we learned at NAMM 2026
We scoured every corner of the Anaheim Convention Center to scope out the latest and greatest gear – and there were some telling signs about the current state of the guitar world
Ibanez shares first look at 2026 artist guitar lineup – and Nili Brosh’s long-awaited signature leads the charge
We got up close and personal with all the new signature guitars at NAMM 2026
NAMM 2026 live! The biggest guitar news as it happened
All the hottest news and biggest surprises from the world’s premier guitar gear trade show
NAMM 2026: rumors, predictions and breaking news from the world's biggest guitar gear show
All the latest and greatest gear drops coming out of the largest music trade show in the world – with new launches from Ibanez, Taylor, EVH, Marshall and more
Neural DSP takes control of the compact modeler market with the Quad Cortex mini
The Quad Cortex mini offers the full processing power of the flagship unit but crams it into a new form factor
ESP unveils Joe Duplantier’s eagerly awaited signature guitar in time for NAMM 2026
The Gojira juggernaut has been awarded his first ESP signature guitar, the LTD JD-1, 18 months after he made the switch from Charvel
John Mayer pays emotional tribute to Bob Weir at public memorial
Mayer paid homage to his Dead & Company bandmate during a public service over the weekend
Eastman enlists YouTuber to help create its most anticipated offset model to date
The third and final entry in the acclaimed FullerTone range has arrived – and Eastman had some high-profile help to get it over the line
All the guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – including some huge early NAMM releases
It is the week before NAMM, and the gear drops are coming in thick and fast. This week, we have "the ultimate modern headless guitar", a recreation of Keith Richards' go-to six-string, John Mayer's new-favorite Silver Sky finish and more
Why Randy Rhoads had reservations about Ozzy’s Diary of a Madman before it came out
Rhoads’ sister once looked back on the making of Ozzy’s sophomore solo record – and recalled the virtuoso being uneasy with its quick turnaround time
The story of the oddball Yamaha that Peter Capaldi played on Doctor Who – and its mysterious disappearance
Capaldi searched far and wide for a guitar that was suitable for the hit sci-fi show – and it featured in multiple episodes before it went missing
Boss moves to take control of the entry level amp modeler space with the $229 GX-1
The effects pedal giant looks to make the multi-effects modeler experience more intituitive than ever with an affordable price tag and fool-proof layout
John Mayer’s mystery Grateful Dead PRS Silver Sky became one of his most sought-after signatures – now it’s been officially released
Two new-look Silver Sky models headline PRS' new-for-2026 guitar drop – complete with a semi-hollow DGT and the all-new S2 Vela HHT
Electro-Harmonix’s Effects Interface turns your pedals into plugins – and puts your prized plugins on your pedalboard
The utility tool could be a game-changer for your rig, forgoing converters and complex cable methods for a frills-free approach
Gibson pays tribute to Keith Richards’ 1960 ES-355 with 2 Collector’s Edition models
The guitar has played a starring role across countless Stones tours across the years
All the guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – including an alternate reality Ibanez that’s set to shake up the prog rock guitar market
NAMM is only days away and the gear avalanche has started in fine form, with new drops from Ibanez, Faith, Victory, Fender Audio and more
Ibanez issues its answer to Ernie Ball and Abasi Concepts with the Alpha Series – its most progressive guitar design to date
The shred and metal expert leans into the contemporary design trends currently dominating the prog guitar scene for a landmark launch
EarthQuaker Devices and Dr. Z launch a tube-loaded preamp pedal – and it could be the missing piece of your digital rig puzzle
The ZEQD-Pre pedal has been described as the ultimate end-of-signal-chain tonal tool, giving authentic tube warmth to any setup
Pat Smear pulls out of Foo Fighters gigs due to “bizarre gardening accident”
If only the band had a guitar-themed throne that Smear could have used on stage...
Vinnie Vincent says his new record rivals Zeppelin, Hendrix and the Beatles – but he won’t release it if people don’t buy the single for $300 apiece
Guitarmageddon will be previewed with lead single Ride the Serpent – which can be bought directly from the former Kiss guitarist's website for up to $300
Fender becomes the latest guitar and amp firm to enter the home audio space – but can Fender Audio stand up to Marshall?
Fender joins Marshall, Vox and Orange as the latest big-name guitar/amp brand to launch its own headphones – and a speaker you can plug your guitar into
