Latest articles by Michael Astley-Brown
The Smashing Pumpkins are looking for a new guitarist – anyone can apply, but securing the position won’t be easy. Here are 5 things you need to nail to get the gig
Reckon you’ve got what it takes to play alongside Billy Corgan and James Iha? It will take much more than just learning the songs
“It’s the only delay that can make those OK Computer sounds”: Ed O’Brien explains why one BOSS pedal was integral to Radiohead’s landmark ’90s albums
The Bends and OK Computer wouldn’t sound the same without the BOSS DD-5 – and Radiohead’s resident effects expert is already eyeing up some newly launched delays for the band’s next outing
Alien rhythms, god-level chops and samurai guitar duels: these are the best guitar albums of 2023
Guitar World staff and readers reflect on the finest fretwork captured on record this year
“At its best, the solo can tell a story, give us a sense of spectacle, and even offer a window into a player’s soul”: These are the best guitar solos of 2023
Guitar World staff and readers choose the outstanding lead efforts of the year – including “this decades's Eruption”
“A rhythmic motif so simple that even the most basic living organisms on this great planet can get down to it”: These are the best guitar riffs of 2023
Guitar World staff and readers name the finest riffs of the year – a list that unites the worlds of metal, rock, indie and more…
Devastating displays of double-neck tapping and Joe Bonamassa’s Christmas single: here are this week’s essential guitar tracks
Catch up with the best guitar tracks from the past 7 days with fresh cuts from Joe Bonamassa, Joanne Shaw Taylor, J Mascis, Felix Martin and more
Three “God-like guitarists” join forces and stadium-conquering rockers channel their inner spy: This week's essential guitar tracks
Must-listen-to tunes from Guns N' Roses, Architects, IDLES, The Libertines, Devon Ross, Ryujin and many more
10,000 volt lead licks and the bluesier side of Peaky Blinders: This week's essential guitar tracks
Killer new cuts from Ace Frehley, Judas Priest, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Anna Calvi, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Alkaline Trio, and many more
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
When did guitar wireless systems get so affordable? We round up this year’s top deals for guitarists cutting the cord
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
New deals! With guitars starting from $149, there are huge discounts on Squier, Gretsch, Epiphone and Sterling by Music Man models this year
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
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
This year's top beginner acoustic guitar Black Friday deals are right here – including $60 off our favorite Yamaha F335
There has never been a better time to start playing, with Epiphone, Guild and Fender deals starting from just $129
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
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 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
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
Black metal has gone orchestral and nu-disco shred is back, baby: This week’s essential guitar tracks
Unmissable tunes from John Mayer, Dre DiMura, Heriot, Ihsahn, Julian Lage, Porno for Pyros and so many more…
“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
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
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
Must-hear jams from Marcin, Plini and Tosin Abasi, WILLOW, Robby Krieger, Caligula’s Horse, Ty Segall, The Struts and loads more…
“The game-changing pick you never knew you needed”: Offset fever reaches guitar picks as Fender launches Offset Picks
The offset guitar boom shows no sign of abating, and Fender reckons its wonky shape results in “the most versatile pick ever”
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
Also: massive new singles from Helen Ibe, Spiritbox, Deap Vally, Iron Axxis, Unprocessed… oh, and did we mention the Beatles?
“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
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
