
Phil Weller
A freelance writer with a penchant for music that gets weird, Phil is a regular contributor to Prog, Guitar World, and Total Guitar magazines and is especially keen on shining a light on unknown artists. Outside of the journalism realm, you can find him writing angular riffs in progressive metal band, Prognosis, in which he slings an 8-string Strandberg Boden Original, churning that low string through a variety of tunings. He's also a published author and is currently penning his debut novel which chucks fantasy, mythology and humanity into a great big melting pot.
Latest articles by Phil Weller

PRS doubles down on its next-gen Narrowfield innovations
By Phil Weller published
The versatile Maryland and Indonesia-built guitars continue PRS’ 40th anniversary celebrations

Boss has brought 8 iconic effects pedals to the digital realm for the first time
By Phil Weller published
It’s the firm’s first foray into virtual effects – but paywall complications might deter some potential users

Kramer draws inspiration from its 1980s shredder heydays for the Volante
By Phil Weller published
Kramer hopes its newly devised shred machines will help reposition the firm as “the progressive choice for high-performance guitarists”

One of the world’s finest guitar collections has been kept under wraps for decades – now it's been donated in full to the Met
By Phil Weller published
The collection has been in the works since 1987 and is now set to be displayed in a permanent gallery that charts the instrument’s influence on American culture

Electro-Harmonix launches the Oceans Abyss – taking on the likes of Strymon and Meris
By Phil Weller published
With two independently programmable reverb engines, 10 voices, and a bevy of effects, the Oceans Abyss is throwing its hat in the ring for 2025’s best one-stop ambience machine

“An archetypal metal axe”: Jackson American Series Soloist SL2DX review
By Phil Weller published
Jackson’s latest speed metal machine is built in Fender’s Corona factory and sticks close to the time-tested Soloist recipe, and could just prove to be your next heavy metal workhorse

Tim Pierce opened for The Eagles at one of the biggest gigs in history – and was banned halfway through
By Phil Weller published
During one of the biggest nights of his career, Pierce went to crafty measures to stay in a venue everyone else was getting kicked out of

Dave Navarro says there’s “no chance” that Jane’s Addiction will ever play again
By Phil Weller published
The band suffered an unceremonious end after vocalist Perry Farrell punched Navarro on stage – and the guitarist has confirmed that show will go down as their last

Josh Freese reveals he’s been let go from the Foo Fighters
By Phil Weller published
The move ends Freese’s two-year tenure with the group, after he was drafted in to replace the late Taylor Hawkins

Ed Sheeran forms an unlikely hard rock power trio with John Mayer and Dave Grohl
By Phil Weller published
Drive will feature in this summer’s high-speed blockbuster, F1

Nancy Wilson says she felt pressured to ditch the acoustics as Heart went for the mainstream in 1985
By Phil Weller published
The band’s self-titled eighth record saw them evolving into a mainstream superpower, but Wilson would clash with producer Ron Nevison over the use of acoustic guitars

The Last of Us composer Gustavo Santaolalla shows off his “Guitarocko” Strat – a 1-of-1 Fender designed to mimic the ronroco
By Phil Weller published
The traditional South American instrument plays a key role in the game/TV show's award-winning soundtrack, with Fender now helping marry it with a Strat

Sonic Youth are now alternate tunings icons – but the band opted for them out of necessity
By Phil Weller published
The noise-rock icon is famous for his love of weird tunings, but that fixation only happened with a little help from one of the NY art-rock scene’s biggest innovators

Also owned by George Harrison, Eric Clapton's “Fool” SG was already legendary by the time it ended up in Todd Rundgren's hands – but that journey had taken its toll
By Phil Weller published
An emblem of Clapton’s Cream days and the Summer of Love, it was in dire need of some TLC by the time Rundgren got his hands on it

After Deep Purple decided not to hire him after Ritchie Blackmore's departure, Clem Clempson almost formed a wild supergroup with Glenn Hughes and David Bowie
By Phil Weller published
The Colosseum and Humble Pie guitarist was in with a shot at joining the band –but says Tommy Bolin got the gig for one specific reason

A 1913 Gibson acoustic – played and owned by George Harrison and Eric Clapton – has been listed on Reverb
By Phil Weller published
The historically significant guitar was featured on the final albums by the Beatles and Cream and helped launch the guitarists' solo careers

Is new music from John Mayer and Bob Weir on the cards?
By Phil Weller published
The band had originally formed as a live act, but the project could yet live on after the residency wraps this week

How Tommy Emmanuel deals with his lack of music theory – and when it lets him down
By Phil Weller published
Guitarists regularly debate whether theory is a must-have or should have, and the renowned acoustic guitarist and Berklee tutor has revealed his own experiences on the matter

Tosin Abasi and Plini give a masterclass in virtuosity after writing and recording a song in a day
By Phil Weller published
Having recently partnered with Kiko Loureiro and Matteus Asato, it seems the Aussie has met his match as Neural DSP challenges the elite shredders to fuse their talents together

Scott Ian is in his “Bruce Lee era” and giving his signature King V a solid makeover – complete with the classic Jackson logo
By Phil Weller published
The thrash metal legend has given his signature axe a major overhaul, and owning one won’t break the bank either

Gibson’s Parlor Rosewood EC offers a downsized, single-cut take on the SJ-200 shape beloved by Brian May and Johnny Cash
By Phil Weller published
The small, cutaway-lavished acoustic is built to be a worthy travel companion without limiting the size of its sound

This Kiss superfan just paid $12k to be Gene Simmons’ roadie for a day
By Phil Weller published
The eye-wateringly expensive package has been billed as “Ultimate Gene Simmons Experience” – but is it worth the money?

Fender Japan celebrates the ’60s with the return of its Traditional Collection
By Phil Weller published
The collection’s Class of 2025 offers the firm’s premium craftsmanship and a raft of nostalgic colorways
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!