Paul Riario
Paul Riario has been the tech/gear editor and online video presence for Guitar World for over 25 years. Paul is one of the few gear editors who has actually played and owned nearly all the original gear that most guitarists wax poetically about, and has survived this long by knowing every useless musical tidbit of classic rock, new wave, hair metal, grunge, and alternative genres. When Paul is not riding his road bike at any given moment, he remains a working musician, playing in two bands called SuperTrans Am and Radio Nashville.
Latest articles by Paul Riario

By Phil Weller Published
Going for a cheaper alternative has been a life-changing compromise

By Phil Weller Published
Bonamassa had to style it out at the biggest blues event of the year

By Paul Riario Published
If you have a guitar with a stopbar tailpiece, this changes everything

By Janelle Borg Published
Kenney discusses his health journey, leaving Incubus, and the silver linings through it all

By Phil Weller Published
Do it the wrong way and your tuning will suffer, the acoustic great warns

By Matt Owen Published
The guitarist was going through a battery phase when a forgetful tech left him in the lurch

By Paul Riario Published
There’s plenty to love about this refreshed reissue of Washburn's original Hawk guitar

By Paul Riario Published
EQD’s HalfLife pedal delivers the droned, bottom-heavy fury inspired by Sunn O))) with uncompromising force

By Matt Parker Published
Whether it was fun, frustrating, or forced us to think differently, these are the 12 pedals that GW staffers say have actually changed the way they play

By Janelle Borg Published
All roads – or stairways – lead to a scene from a certain 1990s comedy classic

By Paul Riario Published
Is this simpler approach to modeling amps a breath of fresh air?

By Jonathan Horsley Published
The Wilco guitarist explains the enduring appeal – and remarkable endurance – of his Jazzmaster, a guitar for all seasons

By Paul Riario Published
It’s glaringly apparent that the new comparitvely affordable multi-effects and amp modeler pedal is a significant leap forward for Nux

By Matt Owen Published
Cline was about to look at alternative income streams before Tweedy came out of the blue and asked him to join Wilco

By Paul Riario Published
The Sterling Vermin impressively presents itself as an evolved and cultivated RAT pedal dressed in shining armor

By Paul Riario Published
Fame delivers an absolute burner of a guitar that exceeds expectations.

By Janelle Borg Published
Wong went from playing piano and classical music – to shredding, metal and Metallica

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
All the hottest news and biggest surprises from the world’s premier guitar gear trade show

By Rob Laing, Pete Emery, Stuart Williams, Connor Flys, Matt McCracken, Paul Riario, Daryl Robertson, Matt Owen, Phil Weller, Neville Marten, Alex Lynham, Martin Smith, Trevor Curwen, Jamie Dickson, David Mead Published
Platinum Award-winners, forward-thinkers and new classics from our favourite guitars, amps, effects, plugins, bass gear and more

By Paul Riario Published
Is this the Screamer Killer we’ve heard about?

By Phil Weller Published
Keneally said he had a “Zappa jukebox” in his brain. The man himself wanted to test it out

By Paul Riario Published
Could the Halcyon humbucker be the forceful sonic voice you've been seeking?

By Paul Riario Published
Warm Audio’s latest overdrive machine serves up the three greatest hits of the 'Green Screamer' overdrive in one stompbox
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