
Michael Astley-Brown
Mike has been Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com since 2019, and an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict for far longer. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and 15 years' 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, Radiohead's Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. His writing also appears in the The Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock as Maebe.
Latest articles by Michael Astley-Brown

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
By Michael Astley-Brown published
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
By Michael Astley-Brown published
I picked up Steve Vai’s favorite mini amp and it revolutionized my guitar practice – and at this price, I might just buy another…

Sweetwater Black Friday deals 2025: the big sale has officially started – with up to 80% off guitar gear
By Daryl Robertson last updated
Cyber Weekend is nearly over, so it's your last chance to save big on gear at Sweetwater

Musician's Friend Black Friday deals 2025: Last chance to score massive discounts of up to 60% off guitar gear
By Chris Barnes last updated
Day three of the Black Friday sale is here. Save big on guitar gear and more for a limited time

Guitar Center Black Friday deals 2025: The official Black Friday Sale is here!
By Chris Barnes last updated
Guitar Center has gone early with its Black Friday sale, which sees up to 40% off from now until December 3rd

Black Friday Fender deals 2025: last chance to save big on Fender and Squier guitars
By Daryl Robertson last updated
This Cyber Weekend, we're seeing some fantastic Fender deals crop up across the web, including discounted Player II guitars

Black Friday guitar deals 2025: Don't miss out on the greatest savings for guitar players
By Daryl Robertson last updated
Here are the best savings still live this Black Friday, from Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Positive Grid, and more

I am determined to find great tone for under $100. Behold! I have unearthed the best cheap pedal deals
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Some of the pedal world’s biggest pedal brands are waging war on prices

Bassists, this one's for you – 9 great Black Friday bass guitar deals with up to $250 off Fender, Yamaha, Darkglass, Line 6 and more
By Michael Astley-Brown published
These 9 amazing bass savings prove it’s not just the Black Friday prices that are low

“The perfect marriage of Aerosmith and the Cult. An Aerocult, if you will”: November 2025 Guitar World Editors’ Picks
By Michael Astley-Brown, Jackson Maxwell, Matt Owen, Matt Parker, Janelle Borg published
The new guitar music that GW editors have been obsessed with this month: fresh names, old hands and trailblazing players

He was a guitar god at 8, then he disappeared – the unlikely story of Thomas McRocklin
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Vai handed him the Passion and Warfare guitar and produced his debut album, only for his protégé to give it all up. Decades later, McRocklin came back stronger – and pursued his own guitar path

In 1988, a shred prodigy opened for Ozzy Osbourne. He was eight years old
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Thomas McRocklin would go on to become Steve Vai’s protégé. But his first major gig was opening for the Prince of Darkness

October 2025 Guitar World Editors' Picks
By Michael Astley-Brown, Jackson Maxwell, Matt Owen, Matt Parker published
Liven up your Halloween with six-string (and five-string) sorcery from Alter Bridge, Mei Semones, Whitney, Karma Sheen, Jacob Collier, Unprocessed, and many more

Fender invited music fans to design their own Telecaster. They received over 1,500 applications – and turned four into a reality
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Everyone from children to lifelong guitarists entered the Fender Design Contest, which showcased Fender Japan’s quest to prove guitar is for everyone

Fender is changing the way it approaches signature guitars – and it’s starting with a Japanese pop-rock band named after the Red Hot Chili Peppers
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The Chilli Beans Moto Mustang, Lily Cyclone and Maika Mustang Bass are the first Fender Japan signature guitars built in Indonesia – and their beginner-focused spec signals further shifts for the company

Fender unveils the newest entry point to its USA-made collection, the American Professional Classic series
By Matt Owen published
New Coastline pickups, a successor to the Nashville Telecaster, and a double dose of streamlined offsets head up the newest starting point to Fender's most affordable USA-made instruments

Fender wrangles Godzilla for a monster guitar collaboration – featuring two company firsts
By Michael Astley-Brown published
As well as an otherworldly $36,000 Custom Shop Stratocaster with a Godzilla roar button, two Made in Japan models are also packing some flashy new tech

September 2025 Guitar World Editors' Picks
By Jackson Maxwell published
With amazing guitar work from the likes of Seera, SPRINTS, Mammoth, Mei Semones, Jay Som, Walter Trout, Jacob Collier, and many more, we were spoiled for choice this month

Joe Satriani pays tribute to Chris Cornell with instrumental cover of Audioslave’s Be Yourself
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The virtuoso features on the latest track from King Ultramega, a tribute project for the late Soundgarden frontman

Get more from Guitar World: How to make Guitar World a preferred source in your Google Search results
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Never miss a Guitar World story again

Does ‘bad’ guitar tone even exist anymore?
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Guitarists are lusting after the sound of Portastudios and solid-state practice amps – tones that used to be derided in guitar circles. What changed?

August 2025 Guitar World Editors' Picks
By Michael Astley-Brown, Janelle Borg, Jackson Maxwell, Matt Owen, Matt Parker published
With killer cuts from Deftones, Lorna Shore, Big Thief, Young Dervish, Paco Peña, and many more, there was plenty of guitar greatness to pick from this month

Co-leader of Mastodon for a quarter century, Brent Hinds was a one-of-a-kind guitarist who took metal guitar into uncharted territory
By Jackson Maxwell published
Hinds was killed in a motorcycle accident on Wednesday, August 20

I went behind the scenes at Fender Japan to find out why its guitars are so radically different – and what’s stopping them reaching the US
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Fender Japan makes some of the iconic guitar firm’s most exciting products, but we know very little about how it operates… until now

“Nuno Bettencourt isn’t the only one keeping Eddie Van Halen’s fire burning – the most underrated guitarist on the planet just gave him a run for his money”: July 2025 Guitar World Editors' Picks
By Michael Astley-Brown published
New cuts from Deftones, Big Wreck, Wet Leg, Eric Gales and more...
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