Latest articles by Matt Parker
July 2026 Guitar World Editors' Picks
Featuring a ferocious new single from the future of shred, defiantly optimistic post-punk, “ecstasy for the ears” indie, irresistible jazz fusion, and much more
The story of the Marshall Billie Joe Armstrong amp – its first artist signature in 14 years
How Marshall teamed up with the Green Day frontman to bottle one of rock music’s most instantly recognizable tones
The pedal that changed me – I asked the Guitar World staff to name the stompboxes that actually made a difference to their playing
Whether it was fun, frustrating, or forced us to think differently, these are the 12 pedals that GW staffers say have actually changed the way they play
With a parts-caster from the street, and TikTok-inspired rhythm work, hardcore phenoms Hammok are reinventing the genre
Guitarist and songwriter Tobias Osland is more concerned with responding to an audio idea than building a gear horde, and for the failed drummer, it’s all about rhythm before everything else
June 2026 Guitar World Editors' Picks
This month's hottest guitar tracks, all in one place
Yungblud’s right-hand man Adam Warrington talks Idols, smashed gear – and keeping big-rig arena shows alive
Dom Harrison’s closest collaborator shares his playing journey, from tough gigs to broken rigs to meeting Ozzy – and on to the world-conquering, pyro-laden Idols tour
Remembering Dave Burrluck, our colleague and friend – and a guitar journalist who changed the game
Guitarist magazine editor Jamie Dickson reflects on the immense contribution of one of our industry’s most important voices
How Yungblud’s guitar-throwing habits are forcing his guitarist to rethink his live rig
Yungblud guitarist Adam Warrington tells GW that safekeeping measures have had to be put in place because the boss has proven to be too much of a loose cannon
The bizarre gardening accident that changed the way Phoebe Bridgers plays guitar
Bridgers' guitar and songwriting chops will be on full display during her freshly announced tour
May 2026 Guitar World Editors' Picks
From The Rolling Stones to Julian Lage, Tamikrest to the Warning, this month's guitar greatness spanned many generations of players
Joe Bonamassa tells the story of the strangest guitar deal he ever did
The Bolin ’Burst is famed for its association with Deep Purple guitarist Tommy Bolin – but its route to Bonamassa was considerably less direct
From Pet Sounds to playing Brian on tour, Glen Campbell’s hair-raising tenure as the Beach Boys’ guitarist
He became a country icon, but for a stint in the mid-’60s, Campbell was a Beach Boy
Rolling Stone has revealed its Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time – and its number one pick corrects a previous injustice
The latest guitar roundup from Rolling Stone will raise some eyebrows, but it’s got a few things right, too…
Blackstar just dropped a mini amp that could change the market forever
The BEAM Mini could offer big competition to the Spark Go, with “component-level” models, cutting-edge AI practice tools and support for NAM open source captures
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...
White Denim’s James Petralli has learned to roll with rock’s punches
The sonic architect has been the one constant of White Denim’s 13-album rollercoaster – he tells us how he’s lasted the ride, and how it’s changed him as a player
Masca’s Tina Maynard on how three months in IDLES reinvented her playing – and why Teles are underrated grunge tools
On Love Letters, the Bristol, UK-based guitarist and frontwoman of ‘heavy pop’ trio Masca showcases a hard-won confidence as a guitarist and tonesmith
March 2026 Guitar World Editors’ Picks
Collaborative instrumental greatness from six-string aces new and old (SatchVai), bossa nova guitar bliss, sublime slide work, swashbuckling 12-bar blues... we've had it all this month
February 2026 Guitar World Editors’ Picks
Two generations of virtuosos – Steve Vai and Matteo Mancuso – join forces, Midwest Emo GOATs American Football return, Anna Calvi works wonders with her Telecaster, Mateus Asato gives us long-awaited instrumental bliss, and Angine de Poitrine deliver, uh, “Dada-Pythago-Cubist Mantra-rock” – all this and much, much more
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
“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
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
The Cribs on swapping guitars, tracking a stolen guitar and why it’s not their fault that you can’t get their signature Squiers
Ryan and Gary Jarman remember Steve Albini as much nicer than you’d think, share the crazy story of a missing Mustang, and tell us how a Tube Screamer can make a guitar sound like a synth
The Cribs' Ryan Jarman explains why a guitar swap with Johnny Marr didn't work out
When Marr briefly joined the band, the two guitarists jokingly agreed to a guitar swap – only for Jarman to realize he would have gotten the short end of the stick
The story of the stolen Fender offset that unites three iconic indie rock bands
The story of the stolen Fender offset that unites three indie icons The Cribs' Ryan Jarman bought a ’78 Sunburst Mustang that helped shape the band's early sound – only for it to mysteriously end up in the hands of The 1975's Matty Healy and Beabadoobee nearly two decades later
