Michael Astley-Brown

Michael Astley-Brown

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.

Articles by: Michael Astley-Brown

Axl Rose (left) and Slash perform onstage with Guns N' Roses

Three “God-like guitarists” join forces and stadium-conquering rockers channel their inner spy: This week's essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Must-listen-to tunes from Guns N' Roses, Architects, IDLES, The Libertines, Devon Ross, Ryujin and many more

Close up of hand on electric guitar fretboard

What’s the best guitar solo of 2023?

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Vote for the lead that blew you away this year

Anna Calvi performs at TOdays Festival 2023 at sPAZIO211 in Turin, Italy on August 26, 2023

10,000 volt lead licks and the bluesier side of Peaky Blinders: This week's essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Killer new cuts from Ace Frehley, Judas Priest, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Anna Calvi, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Alkaline Trio, and many more

Guitar wireless systems Cyber Monday 2023

I’m tired of tripping over onstage, and with guitar wireless systems as cheap as $31.99 for Cyber Monday, I might ditch the cable for good

By Michael Astley-Brown published

When did guitar wireless systems get so affordable? We round up this year’s top deals for guitarists cutting the cord

Boss Cyber Monday 2023 deals

I’ve owned two Boss DS-1s in my lifetime – and with $50 savings on the DS-1W, I might just buy another… and this heavily reduced HM-2W to boot

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Two of Boss’ top distortion pedals have had big reductions this Cyber Monday – not to mention the pro-level GT-1000 multi-FX/amp modeler

Cheap pedals on Cyber Monday 2023

My pedalboard is full, but I can’t resist a cheap guitar pedal deal – and these Cyber Monday offers are so good, I’m going to have to make room

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Some of the guitar world’s biggest pedal brands are offering big savings on budget stompboxes – these are the best cheap pedal deals we’ve found on JHS Pedals, Walrus Audio, MXR, Wampler and more

Cyber Monday 2023 bass guitar deals

The best discounts I've seen this Cyber Monday are almost all on bass guitars – with up to 44% off some of our best-reviewed models

By Matt Parker published

Bass discounts eclipse the offers on guitars this year – with almighty savings to be had on Fender, Spector, Guild, Squier, Sterling by Music Man and many more, it's a good time to go bass shopping

PRS Cyber Monday

I’ve never played a PRS guitar I haven’t liked, but I’ve yet to take the plunge – now the entire SE range has been reduced by 20% for Cyber Monday, I’m seriously tempted

By Michael Astley-Brown published

With prices starting at $559, and discounts on everything from the Silver Sky to the Singlecut and Custom 24 – not to mention basses, baritones, 7-strings and acoustics – this is one of the biggest guitar deals you’ll see all year

Fender Mini Deluxe Amp

Yep, Fender really was selling a guitar amp for $25 – it just sold out, but the rest of Fender.com’s Cyber Monday deals are still available, and there are some epic bargains to be had

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated

Even if you missed the boat on the 50%-off Mini Deluxe, you can snag some real bargains on the Big F’s Vintera, Aerodyne and Squier lineups – not to mention straps, cables, pickups and so much more

Cyber Monday cheap guitars round-up

I love cheap guitars, and trust me: you can get an amazing electric guitar for under $500 – that’s why I think these are this year’s best Cyber Monday deals

By Michael Astley-Brown published

New deals! With guitars starting from $149, there are huge discounts on Squier, Gretsch, Epiphone and Sterling by Music Man models this year

DigiTech Whammy pedal

I’ve had a DigiTech Whammy on my pedalboard for 20 years – and this is the first time I’ve seen a Black Friday deal on this iconic pedal

By Michael Astley-Brown published

One of the most influential pedals of all time, the Whammy is beloved by Tom Morello, Steve Vai and Radiohead – and now you can save $50 on the game-changing stompbox

Black Friday beginner acoustic guitar deals

This year's top beginner acoustic guitar Black Friday deals are right here – including $60 off our favorite Yamaha F335

By Michael Astley-Brown published

There has never been a better time to start playing, with Epiphone, Guild and Fender deals starting from just $129

IK Multimedia AmpliTube X-Gear pedals

IK Multimedia’s AmpliTube X-Gear range is one of the pedal world’s best kept secrets – and they’re $100 off for Black Friday

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The X-Time Delay, X-Space Reverb, X-Vibe Modulation and X-Drive Distortion are IK’s answer to Strymon – and they might just be the most versatile pedals you buy this year

Fender Player Stratocaster

The Fender Player Stratocaster is one of the most popular electric guitars on the market – and with prices starting at $594, this is the cheapest it’s ever been

By Michael Astley-Brown published

This year’s Black Friday deals are the best offers we’ve seen on a genuine Fender Strat, and with a massive range of finishes and configurations – and up to $250 off – there’s never been a better time to buy

Fender Japan Elemental Jazzmaster electric guitar

Fender Japan has developed a rabid cult following, but do its crazy-limited electric guitars live up to the hype? I finally gave in and bought one to find out

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The achingly chic Elemental Series is one of Fender Japan’s most lusted-after recent launches. I snapped up the Jazzmaster to discover if MIJ guitars are worthy of their obsessive fandom

Dre DiMura

Black metal has gone orchestral and nu-disco shred is back, baby: This week’s essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Unmissable tunes from John Mayer, Dre DiMura, Heriot, Ihsahn, Julian Lage, Porno for Pyros and so many more…

Black Friday guitar pedal deals 2023: You can still save big on pedals and stompbox accessories

Black Friday guitar pedal deals 2023: You can still save big on pedals and stompbox accessories

By Daryl Robertson last updated

Your place for all the greatest Black Friday deals on guitar pedals, pedalboards, power supplies and more

James Hetfield performs live with his ESP Horizon Double Neck Montreal

“The Double-Neck Montreal makes me think of the smell of your own burning flesh”: James Hetfield opens up about the agony of his 1992 pyro accident, and how his scorched ESP left a lasting legacy on Metallica

By James Hetfield published

In this exclusive extract from his new book, the Metallica frontman describes the experience of getting torched by pyro while playing guitar, and offers a closer look at the damage done to his ESP double-neck during the band’s fateful 1992 performance in Montreal

Marcin Patrzalek poses with an acoustic guitar

Layla gets the two-hand tapping cover treatment and the Spiritbox x Megan Thee Stallion collab you never knew you needed: This week’s essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Must-hear jams from Marcin, Plini and Tosin Abasi, WILLOW, Robby Krieger, Caligula’s Horse, Ty Segall, The Struts and loads more…

Fender Offset Picks

“The game-changing pick you never knew you needed”: Offset fever reaches guitar picks as Fender launches Offset Picks

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The offset guitar boom shows no sign of abating, and Fender reckons its wonky shape results in “the most versatile pick ever”

Rock and roll band 'The Beatles' rehearse their song 'All You Need Is Love' for 'Our World' the first live satellite uplink performance broadcast to the world on June 25, 1967 in London, England.

A heavy solo debut from Mick Mars, a double-neck fretless tribute to Eddie Van Halen and a brand-new Beatles song: This week’s essential guitar tracks

By Jackson Maxwell published

Also: massive new singles from Helen Ibe, Spiritbox, Deap Vally, Iron Axxis, Unprocessed… oh, and did we mention the Beatles?

John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers performs on stage at Palau Sant Jordi on May 30, 2006 in Barcelona, Spain.

“We pulled a few guitars out – I loved the ’61 Strat immediately. John said, ‘I want you to take that guitar with you – it’s yours”: John Frusciante gave away a prized vintage Fender Stratocaster to a fan who became one of his favorite modern guitarists

By Michael Astley-Brown published

This 1961 Olympic White Strat has the rare honor of being played by both Frusciante and Josh Klinghoffer during the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Stadium Arcadium tour – but Frusciante eventually handed it over to a fan who would go on to become one of his favorite contemporary guitar players

Closeups of a Fender headstock with locking tuners

I’ve been fitting locking tuners to all my electric guitars for 20 years – and I just found out I’ve been using them wrong the whole time

By Michael Astley-Brown published

It turns out there’s a right way to restring locking tuners – and it will make your guitar stay in tune better

Zoom MS-50G+ MultiStomp effects pedal

“The pedal your ’board has been waiting for”? Zoom unveils the next generation of its cult classic MultiStomp pedal, cramming 100 effects into a $129 compact stompbox

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The MS-50G+ multi-FX can be any effect you want it to be, including an amp modeler with impulse responses – and it offers serious competition to the Line 6 HX One

Plini

Otherworldly headless shred, and fresh riffs from one of the most underrated guitarists of his generation: This week's essential guitar tracks

By Matt Parker published

Hot new tracks from Plini, Big Wreck, Green Day, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Dance Gavin Dance, Tim Henson, Robby Krieger and so very many more

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