Latest articles by Michael Astley-Brown
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…
Sweetwater Black Friday deals 2025: the big sale has officially started – with up to 80% off guitar gear
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The virtuoso features on the latest track from King Ultramega, a tribute project for the late Soundgarden frontman
