
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

That time Eddie Van Halen promised Dimebag Darrell a collectible EVH inspired by his beloved Bumblebee
By Matt Owen published
Dimebag had designs on getting his name down for a limited-edition Charvel EVH Art Series guitar, but when Van Halen himself found out, he promised to go one step further

Isaiah Sharkey names his favorite guitar player of all time – and reveals he’s bought one of his most iconic guitars
By Matt Owen published
The revered session player has paid tribute to his favorite guitar player of all time, having recently purchased one of his personal Gibson Johnny Smith models

When rhythm guitar hero Andy Fairweather Low was recruited by a Beatle to play slide – even though he’d never played slide before
By Matt Owen published
Harrison and Fairweather Low had a mutual love for Ry Cooder’s slide guitar playing, and the Beatle convinced the Eric Clapton rhythm guitarist to develop his own slide chops for a Japanese tour

Reverb has revealed its best-selling pedals of 2024 – and it seems we have a winner in this year’s amp modeler race
By Matt Owen published
It’s been a big year for digital amp modelers and regular stompboxes alike, and as Reverb itself notes, it all makes for quite an interesting list

Mark Tremonti on how Paul Reed Smith got him hooked on Dumbles
By Matt Owen published
The Alter Bridge guitarist looks back on how he beat his PRS peers to play the amp of his dreams – and never looked back

Dweezil Zappa shares the surprising beginner guitar lessons he learned from Eddie Van Halen
By Matt Owen published
Zappa first met Van Halen when he was just 12 years old, and it wasn’t long before he was receiving lessons from the guitar god – on his legendary Frankenstein

Jamie Foxx says his daughter saved his life by playing guitar
By Matt Owen published
The Oscar and Grammy winner suffered a serious medical emergency back in April 2023, and recently opened up about the scare in his new Netflix special

“Reveal coming soon”: At long lost, is Gibson finally working on James Hetfield signature guitars?
By Matt Owen published
The Metallica frontman is poised to receive a Gibson Custom Shop creation that pays homage to his famed ‘So What’ 1984 Explorer. Could signature guitars be next?

Reverb reveals its best-selling electric guitars of 2024 – and the previous top-seller has been toppled
By Matt Owen published
The reigning champion of 2022 and 2023 has been ousted, and the best-selling new release of 2024 might surprise you

Steve Vai gives his seal of approval to the viral Hungarian high-schooler who nailed For The Love of God at his school prom
By Matt Owen published
Laci’s flawless performance of the gruelling fretboard workout has attracted the attention of the man who composed it

TC Electronic’s Plethora X1 takes the fight to the Line 6 HX One – and it costs over $100 less
By Matt Owen published
The $179 stompbox delivers some of the firm’s most beloved effects algorithms via a simple, easy-to-use interface

Abigail Ybarra is a legend of the pickup world – but her daughter didn’t realize until she got mobbed by fans
By Matt Owen published
The famed pickup maker worked for Fender for more than 50 years, and her pickups were played by some of the biggest guitar players in the game, including Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton

“I was docked three weeks’ pay”: Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter recalls the questionable guitar deal he made when he first met Jimi Hendrix
By Matt Owen published
A young Baxter was working in a local guitar store when Hendrix came searching for a new guitar

Steve Vai and Joe Satriani have formed a new band together – and will release new music ahead of upcoming tour dates
By Matt Owen published
The two virtuosos hit the road next summer for a string of European dates – and a new original track is set to land shortly before

How Phil Manzanera got his trademark Roxy Music Gibson Firebird
By Matt Owen published
Manzanera’s iconic Firebird has been by his side for much of his career and began life as a custom build from Kalamazoo

Shergold makes one of its most iconic models more affordable with new Masquerader Standard
By Matt Owen published
The newly revived firm continues its renaissance by returning to one of its earliest designs – and giving it a modern-day makeover

Long-awaited Becoming Led Zeppelin documentary gets its first trailer – and hints at the band’s early struggles
By Matt Owen published
The first authorized Led Zeppelin documentary was premiered at the 2021 Venice International Film Festival – and now it’s been given a 2025 release date

Gibson has put an all-new spin on its traditional Les Paul Studio – in response to requests from players
By Matt Owen published
The Studio Session sits on the price scale between the regular Studio and the more expensive Standard – and promises to be “the one guitar you can rely on for any musical genre or scenario”

Why one of David Gilmour’s most iconic Strats disappointed Fender’s CEO – who tried to buy it at auction
By Matt Owen published
Andy Mooney had already attempted to convince the Pink Floyd legend to let Fender reissue his legendary 0001 Strat, not long after he joined the company

The iconic Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ is officially back – 40 years after the holy grail high-gain amp was last produced
By Matt Owen published
Beloved by James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, John Petrucci, Steve Lukather and countless others, the original IIC+ is one of the most coveted amps ever created… and now it has finally been revived

Behringer blasts critics and announces return to NAMM after 10 years
By Matt Owen published
The German firm hit back at those who called it a “vaporware company” and shed light on its innovative mindset shortly after unveiling a clone of the original Shin-Ei Uni-Vibe

Fulltone founder allegedly posts and deletes graphic comment directed towards Michigan State Senator – seemingly telling people to commit suicide
By Matt Owen published
Fulltone was revived earlier this year by Jackson Audio, years after brand founder Mike Fuller had became embroiled in another social media controversy

Sweetwater Cyber Monday deals 2024: last chance to save at Sweetwater
By Chris Barnes last updated
Cyber Monday is over but you'll need to move quickly if you want to seal these deals
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!