Latest articles by Michael Astley-Brown
“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 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
![[Left] GuitarWorld.com Editor in Chief Mike, holding the Gibson Custom Shop Atomic Age offset, [right] a close-up of the guitar's body](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SjQVXqcdiQEau32rk5KYRf-840-80.jpg.webp)
Gibson had a secret offset prototype hidden in its private room at NAMM 2026 – meet the Atomic Age
We sat down with the unlikely retro-futuristic concept guitar and brand-new body shape
Billy Corgan has shrunk his Smashing Pumpkins rig into a Laney pedal amp – and he tested it in front of 60,000 MCR fans
When Corgan walked onstage with My Chemical Romance at Soldier Field stadium, he didn’t bring his guitar rig. He plugged into the Laney Supergrace and nothing else
Best reverb pedals: from spring to shimmer, these are our top picks for your pedalboard
Take a deep dive into the cavernous world of 'verb and explore the best reverb pedals for every budget
Best budget guitar amps under $500 2026: cost-cutting amplifiers for every player
Get great sounds and features without blowing your budget – from affordable tube amps to wallet-friendly digital modeling amps and everything in between
Fender has announced its new CEO – what does it mean for the future of the iconic guitar brand?
Fender’s new CEO pioneered the firm’s most talked-about projects. Now he’s taking his innovative Fender Japan ethos global
25 reasons why 2025 was a great year for guitar
Historic shows, a once-in-a-lifetime reunion, generational guitar talents, tonal revolutions, watershed gear drops… we won’t spoil it at all here, but a lot has happened
Arm the Homeless was a disaster, then it changed rock history. Tom Morello reveals how Fender replicated its misfit charms
Arm the Homeless is synonymous with the Rage Against the Machine firebrand and one of the most iconic electric guitars of all time. Morello explains why, after 30 years, he’s finally getting sentimental about his “artistic co-worker” – and the one thing that separates the Fender replica from the original
Tom Morello has been playing a Fender Arm the Homeless replica live and none of us noticed – now it’s available to buy
Five years in the making, the Rage Against the Machine guitar anti-hero’s most iconic instrument has been replicated by Fender – and even Morello admits he can’t tell the difference
Going wireless transformed my live performances and with 20% off the Xvive A58 for Cyber Monday, it's time to cut the cord
Delivering superb interference-free performance, the Xvive A58 is available with a nice discount – but it won't be around forever
Sweetwater Cyber Monday deals 2025: bag up to 50% off guitar gear
Cyber Monday is over, but Sweetwater just launched a fresh sale for Cyber Week
Cyber Monday Fender deals 2025: Last chance to save on a Fender
Cyber Monday is over, but you can save on iconic Fender gear
Musician's Friend Cyber Monday deals 2025: You can still score up to 65% off music gear - but be quick!
Our pick of the epic deals you need to check out in the Musician's Friend Cyber Monday sale
Guitar Center Cyber Monday deals 2025: there's not much time left to save up to 40%
Cyber Monday is over but there's still a last chance to save – here's how to secure today's best guitar gear discounts while you still can
Cyber Monday guitar deals 2025: all the biggest savings that are still live at Sweetwater, Guitar Center, and more
Find out where and how to still grab the biggest savings on guitar gear this Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday guitar deals 2025 LIVE: all of today's biggest savings at Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Fender, Amazon and more
I'm rounding up all the hottest guitar, amp, pedal and accessory deals in the Cyber Monday sales. Stick with me for all of the biggest news, savings, tips and tricks for getting more for less
We called this do-it-all Superstrat a world-class instrument – now Yamaha’s groundbreaking Pacifica Standard Plus is cheaper than ever before
Underestimate this Pacifica at your peril: with $200 off, this is the Strat-style guitar to beat this Cyber Monday
A major life change made me realize I need a mini amp – and this is your last chance to bag one for as little as $36
2025 was the life I re-embraced mini amps, and I’m convinced every guitarist should do the same – especially at these prices
Black Friday guitar deals 2025 LIVE: all the biggest savings at Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Fender, Amazon and more that are still live
I'm rounding up all the hottest, still-live guitar, amp, pedal and accessory deals in the Black Friday sales. Stick with me for all of the biggest news, deals, tips and tricks for saving money
I’d be a worse guitar player without a looper pedal. Here’s why I think every guitarist should own one – especially with deals starting at $59
It will make you a better player and help you write songs. Here are this year’s best looper pedal deals
Steve Vai doesn’t leave the house without this mini amp – and now you can pick up his new favorite piece of gear for $50 less
I picked up Steve Vai’s favorite mini amp and it revolutionized my guitar practice – and at this price, I might just buy another…
