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.
Latest articles by Michael Astley-Brown

Phil X confirms new Bon Jovi material will feature one seriously ripping solo – and a tour is also in the works
By Matt Owen published
Guitar World caught up with Phil X to discuss rumors of a new Bon Jovi record, and the guitar ace dished out some spoilers on one of his standout contributions

Why Fender is building its $599 Standard Series in Indonesia – and how its ideological shift delivers better value for players
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Fender’s EVP of Product Justin Norvell explains what convinced Fender to change its mindset on where its guitars are built – and what makes the new Standards different from the Player Series (apart from where they’re built)

Why Yvette Young was afraid of pedals – then ended up with a signature one
By Janelle Borg published
Young also talks about what inspired her signature Qi Etherealizer multi-effects pedal, and why it's the ultimate “ambient machine”

Polyphia’s next album is going to be brutal – and some big-name metal artists are already slated for guest appearances
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Tim Henson let us in on what’s next for the boundary-smashing instrumental band – and it’s all in the name of blowing festival crowds away (and maybe, just maybe, selling more guitars)

“The king of modern blues getting down and dirty (musically) with a former Van Halen singer”: January 2025 Guitar World Editors’ Picks
By Michael Astley-Brown published
2025 has kicked off with an explosion of new guitar releases, led by Joe Bonamassa and Sammy Hagar, G3, Alex Lifeson, Billy Gibbons, Joanne Shaw Taylor and so very many more

These are the gear trends that will shape your guitar buying in 2025
By Matt Owen published
NAMM 2025 was one for the history books, with an avalanche of surprise announcements as industry titans broke their own rules, the neck humbucker took a backseat and guitar stars started seeing other companies – here’s what we learned

NAMM 2025 live! The biggest guitar news as it happened
By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
All the red-hot gear news and artist goings-ons from the show floor at the world’s biggest guitar gear trade show

Best looper pedals 2025: go it alone with the greatest loop pedals for practice, live performance and jamming
By Alex Lynham last updated
Whether you're writing songs or woodshedding solos, using a loop pedal will make you a better guitarist – these are the best looper pedals from Boss, TC Electronic, Line 6 and more

Best chorus pedals 2025: top choices for your 'board
By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
From analog to digital, and shimmery to subtle, let us show you the top chorus pedals you can buy today

Jack White announces a Custom Shop version of his wild, ever-evolving Triplecaster – and it colors way outside the Fender lines
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The tricked-out guitar was available to play at NAMM 2025, and marks the latest refinement of White’s bonkers Telecaster

John Mayer pays tribute to Paul Reed Smith, and explains why anyone who says PRS guitars are “too nice” have got it wrong
By Michael Astley-Brown published
10 years since his first phone call to the firm, the guitar hero hailed the iconic guitar builder as “the hidden member of everyone’s band all the time”

NAMM 2025: rumors, predictions and breaking news from the world’s biggest gear show
By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
With the likes of Fender, Gibson and Marshall returning to Anaheim at long last, this year’s event is set to be the biggest in five years – with secrets and surprises to match

Best pedalboard power supplies 2025: juice your ‘board with pro-grade power
By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
Make sure your effects are firing on all cylinders with our pick of the best pedal power supplies from Strymon to Ernie Ball

Jackson has revived its offset Surfcaster for a new generation of heavy players – and it’s surprisingly affordable
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The biggest Jackson news from NAMM 2025 is the return of the cult offsets recently wielded by Misha Mansoor and Mike Stringer – and it’s about time

Walrus Audio just created an entirely new type of pedal that’s aimed at improving your playing, not your tone
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The Canvas Rehearsal stalks new ground as a metronome, headphone amp and Bluetooth streamer in one

“One of the best compact wireless systems you can buy”: Xvive A58 Guitar Wireless System review
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The successor to Xvive’s best-selling U2 wireless system offers a wealth of upgrades and impressive performance

The iconic charity rock song that missed out on its star guitarist due to illness – and why it could have sounded very different
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Do They Know It’s Christmas? could have ended up with more guitars had fate not intervened

The best guitar albums of 2024
By Jonathan Horsley published
The guitar albums that had the biggest impact in the guitar world and beyond, as chosen by GW editors and pro players

“It’s rare to find Gilmour and Vai in one package”: December 2024 Guitar World Editors’ Picks
By Michael Astley-Brown published
This must surely be the busiest December for guitar releases since records began, as the likes of Bumblefoot, Reba Meyers, Julien Baker, TORRES and Phil X save their best for the end of the year

The best guitar songs of 2024 – as chosen by Guitar World editors and pro players
By Jonathan Horsley published
With the help of pals including Eric Gales and Vernon Reid, we run down the songs that lit up the guitar-o-sphere this year, including a remarkable hardcore breakthrough, a virtuoso collab for the ages and the prodigy that everyone’s talking about

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

Guitar Center Cyber Monday deals 2024: last chance to save
By Daryl Robertson last updated
Cyber Monday has officially ended, giving you your final call for guitar gear discounts

Cyber Monday guitar deals 2024: Your last chance to save on guitar gear
By Chris Barnes last updated
Find all the biggest savings on guitar gear from the remaining Cyber Monday sales across the web
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!