Latest articles by Phil Weller
A storm is coming as Gibson unveils modernized Thunderbird bass
New take on the bass combines heritage with modern performance
Ace Frehley’s iconic 1975 Gibson Les Paul expected to sell for more than half a million dollars at auction
The Les Paul will be sold alongside stage-played guitars from Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kirk Hammett and Billy Duffy at an upcoming auction
Luis Kalil recalls the time he met – and played for – Jason Becker, at the shred icon’s house
The Red Devil Vortex guitarist started uploading Cacophony covers to YouTube in 2014, and soon caught his idol’s attention
Gary Holt once gave himself clinical-grade whiplash because he headbanged to his riffs too hard
The guitarist says he “dodged a bullet” by avoiding surgery
The moment Ritchie Blackmore knew he’d leave Deep Purple
Blackmore looks back on his Deep Purple departure
Greg Chaisson on his gruelling Ozzy Osbourne audition
Chaisson didn’t get the gig, but he did strike up a friendship with Jake E. Lee – which would be rekindled a few years later with Badlands
The John Mayer song that features a cameo from Prince’s guitar
A chance encounter with one of Prince's guitars resulted in Mayer putting it to use on Sob Rock
Steve Vai has followed in the footsteps of many guitar greats – this was the hardest one to nail
He’s filled the shoes of Eddie Van Halen and Robert Fripp, but Vai says this particular gig was even harder
Joe Bonamassa names his go-to studio amp – which he bought from Steven Seagal
The 1950s combo “roars” in the studio despite its compact size
Josh Homme’s first guitar amp wasn’t even a guitar amp
It was a choice that set the tone for a career full of left-field gear picks
When a teenage Suzi Quatro laid down a marker by jamming with Jeff Beck and Cozy Powell
The bassist was determined to prove her worth, and the impromptu jam was the perfect platform to do it
How a new recruit turned Swedish adventure rockers Hällas into a band of gearheads
The latest addition to the ever-quirky prog outfit's lineup, guitarist Rickard Swahn made an impact at his first rehearsal among worn-out frets, weird pickup choices, and crumbling amps – and saved a song that was too Mark Knopfler for them
Viral duo Angine de Poitrine have become one of the most talked-about bands on the planet – with microtonal guitar
The guitar/bass double-neck had extra frets sawn into place, and it’s helped them take the internet by storm
“Out of an abundance of caution”: AC/DC’s Stevie Young admitted to hospital in Argentina
The band expects the rhythm guitarist to play at AC/DC’s Buenos Aires show on Monday night
Gary Moore's go-to Marshall head has been bought by another ’80s rock hero
It was Moore’s go-to amp for the best part of a decade, and it was a fair bargain, compared to some recent auction headlines
Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt names prog’s great unsung guitar hero
This 1970s player is an influence to many, he says, but doesn’t get the credit he deserves
This guitar has 64 pickups – and it could revolutionize guitar recording
The PolyMap system means each string benefits from eight dedicated polyphonic pickup capsules that track simultaneously, for a post-production playground
Brian May returns to the stage for a fiery three-song cameo with Benson Boone – then hands him the Red Special
The Queen guitarist received a hero’s welcome at the singer’s recent Birmingham show
Charvel launches the Standard Series with a $599 Tele that promises to play like a pro
All the playability of a San Dimas at a slice of the price is big news for the budget guitar market
Gretsch makes a play for the best bang-for-your-buck single-cut with the Premier Jet
Bolstered by new humbuckers, more refined playability and some serious electronic versatility, could this Electromatic be the new budget single-cut to beat?
Butch Walker turned down the opportunity to buy the Greeny Les Paul before Kirk Hammett bought it
The singer-songwriter has since come to regret the decision, even if his bank balance thanks him for it
Gibson Custom recreates Michael Schenker’s iconic 1971 ‘half-and-half’ Flying V
The German shredder’s instantly recognizable six-string has undergone 3D scans for this painstakingly accurate reissue – complete with war wounds and signature bite
Peter Frampton announces first album in 16 years – and it features an all-star cast
Carry the Light was co-written with Frampton’s son and features guest spots from Tom Morello, H.E.R. and Sheryl Crow
