Latest articles by Phil Weller
Kenny Wayne Shepherd on unicorn stompboxes, the quest for feel and why budget guitars can make you a better player
Recording at Muscle Shoals is one of those pinch-me moments for Shepherd but then so too is owning one of Hendrix's Uni-Vibe. Here he talks vintage gear, tone philosophy, and onstage disasters
The original Mary Kaye Stratocaster – one of Fender’s most iconic builds – has sold at auction for over $220,000
Said to be the first-ever Fender Custom Shop build, the guitar helped Kaye’s name become synonymous with its now-iconic aesthetic
PRS honors hard rock Japanese guitar hero Kanami Tōno with her first-ever signature guitar
The Band-Maid guitarist pays tribute to the first PRS she ever owned, opting for a Smokeburst finish, Brush Stroke Bird inlays and nifty electronics
Chris Shiflett on his guitar spending spree when he first joined the Foo Fighters
Shiflett was taken to the store he’d once visited as a wishful-thinking kid – and was armed with Grohl’s credit card in order to get adequately kitted out for his new gig
Zachary Ezrin showcases his wild whammy technique on Eye of Mars – and a Gibson with the Midas touch
The experimental band’s forthcoming album, Goldstar, puts Ezrin’s oddball blend of influences and techniques center stage
Line 6 keeps up the pace with the Fender Tone Master Pro in free Helix update
The update also delivers amp models inspired by sought-after Fender and Bogner amps, four new cabs, and a bass wah to widen the line-up’s tonal palette
Vic Flick, the guitarist who played the iconic James Bond riff, dies aged 87
Flick had planned to record the legendary hook on a Strat, but after it was stolen, the guitarist got creative with a semi-hollow instead
Eric Clapton has been awarded a gold signature version of his favorite Cry Baby wah pedal
The special edition wah will help raise funds for Clapton’s Crossroads Centre
Jim Suhler on the first time he met SRV – and the profound advice he received
Suhler crossed paths with the blues great entirely by chance when he visited the family’s jewelry shop in 1989
Pedal Pawn’s Cowboy King is a “Tube Screamer on steroids” based on Stevie Ray Vaughan’s personal TS9
One half of the firm’s fan-favorite BluesPrint Dual Overdrive has been saddled up solo – and it promises to power up amps like no other Tube Screamer
Steve Cropper on writing Green Onions, stressing out Brian May and the secret of Billy Gibbons’ guitar style
Cropper says he isn't a great guitar player but if you co-wrote Green Onions and (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay, you don't need technical wizardry. He walks us through a career marked by hits, grooves and soul
Mono releases next-gen soft cases for traveling guitarists
With a host of new security features, the luxury case firm is ensuring guitars remain safe from whatever perils stand in the way of you and your next gig
IDLES' Lee Kiernan encourages EarthQuaker Devices to revive its Gray Channel overdrive and fuzz pedal for his signature stompbox, Gary
The two-sided pedal brings back a stompbox loved by many, and ensures it comes back with an evil streak
Celestion’s first Artist Series IRs bring Tony Iommi’s early and latter-era Black Sabbath tones to the digital sphere
“Faithful digital images” of the cabinets used across five decades of Iommi’s career have been made available by the revered speaker manufacturer
Meet the Olinthus Cicada, the world’s smallest overdrive pedal with “the roar of a lion”
Based on one of the most popular tube screamers, the pocket-sized device is redefining how small and mighty stompboxes can be
Meet the D.U.M.Bucker – a fully functioning, monstrous eight-coil pickup that you might actually be able to buy
The earth-shaking octa-coil went viral on social media – and its maker has confirmed five units will be made available for those brave enough to give it a go
Fender Japan teams up with fashion designer Hiroshi Fujiwara for the furniture-inspired Fragment Telecaster
Featuring a rare rosewood and alder body and traditional 1960s specs, the Hiroshi Fujiwara-designed beauty represents one of 2024’s most unique Telecasters
Walrus Audio wades into uncharted waters with a fresh take on one of the world’s most cloned overdrive pedals
The original Voyager caught the ears of Ed O’Brien, Joe Bonamassa and more. Now, an updated version hopes to add new levels of customization to the crowded Klon clone market
Alex Lifeson celebrates 40 years of Grace Under Pressure by launching a next-gen Sportscaster replica
The Lerxst Grace is inspired by Lifeson’s original Hentor Sportscaster, complete with a red finish, mirror pickguard and HSS pickup configuration
PRS preps for its 40th Anniversary with two high-end limited edition models
A luxurious Dragon fingerboard and vintage specs combine with all-new pickups for a pair of guitars that look forward and backward in equal measure
Behringer rolls out a $65 Tone Bender copy
The budget pedal offers two modes inspired by different iterations of the legendary fuzz stompbox, as well as a smaller ergonomics to maximize pedalboard space
Steve Lukather on how Quincy Jones saved Michael Jackson’s Beat It from becoming a heavy metal track
Jackson wanted a rock track for Thriller – and Lukather says Jones had to step in to stop the song from entering fully fledged metal territory
Gary Rossington’s ‘Free Bird’ SG will be loaned out for a series of A-list gigs
The Chicago Music Exchange is working with Rossington’s family to help put the iconic guitar in the hands of big-name players, in a new initiative that aims to honor the late Southern rock icon’s legacy
