
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

Joe Bonamassa adds a ninth Dumble to his collection – and promises it will be his last
By Phil Weller published
After selling all his Dumbles in 2016, the bluesman is back with a vengeance – but insists he won’t be buying any more big amps from here on out

Why Josh Homme prefers to write his songs on acoustic guitar first
By Phil Weller published
Queens of the Stone Age have become the first band to play the Paris Catacombs for a new live film, and he says it shows how many of their biggest hits take their form

Snowy White tells the story of his 1994 collaboration with Gary Moore and David Gilmour
By Phil Weller published
The album is packed with notable players who offer solos, slide, and plenty more, but the former Thin Lizzy man would have happily pushed on without them

Michael J. Fox and others discuss the Back to the Future guitar – and a clue to its identity
By Phil Weller published
The Cherry Red ES-345 has become a cultural icon since the film was released in 1985, but it hasn’t been since since

Fontaines D.C.'s Carlos O'Connell reveals the secret weapon on his pedalboard – a plain box with one knob and oodles of gain
By Phil Weller published
Owning one doesn’t come cheap, but the left-field pedal has been at the center of the band’s monumental rise to fame

Rory Gallagher’s ‘Frankenstein’ Strat – gifted to its current owner by U2 – sells at auction for over $50K
By Phil Weller published
The guitar was his guinea pig for pickup tests and stood as his number two when his main Strat needed a reset

“Not just another clone but instead a blatant counterfeit”: Klon creator sues Behringer over the Centaur Overdrive
By Phil Weller published
Finnegan has accused Behringer's “counterfeit” pedal of using Klon’s trade dress and “exploiting” his firm's reputation

Dave Murray says Iron Maiden stuck out from the pack because because they have a bassist as the lead songwriter
By Phil Weller published
The guitarist has opened up on Harris’ songwriting lead and why he’s happy taking a back seat in one of the biggest metal bands in the world

Larry DiMarzio says his revolutionary bridge tweak pre-empted Van Halen’s own mods
By Phil Weller published
The guitar hero’s mods showed an intimate understanding of what makes a guitar sing, and they echoed thoughts DiMarzio was also having

Traffic co-founder and George Harrison session player Dave Mason cancels all of his 2025 tour dates after a health setback
By Phil Weller published
The tour, which was supposed to take place last year, was postponed to this year – and subsequently canceled – as the guitarist continues to battle a serious heart condition

From Paul McCartney’s Höfner to Dave Grohl’s Gibson – a 1:1 scale photography exhibition of famous guitars is heading to London
By Phil Weller published
Masterminded by Australian photographer Kane Hibberd, Scale invites attendees to see some of the most famous guitars in the world up close and personal like never before

Nancy Wilson says two “irreplaceable” instruments have been stolen ahead of Heart’s tour
By Phil Weller published
A custom-made baritone Tele and a vintage Gibson mandolin have been taken from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City – and the Heart camp is offering a reward for their return

PRS pays tribute to 1956 with the McCarty SC56 – a vintage Les Paul-alike single-cutaway with bags of charm
By Phil Weller published
The latest addition to its 40th-anniversary releases, the time-machine axe tips its hat to luthiery innovations from the year Paul Reed Smith was born

MXR and Daredevil bottle Wayne Kramer’s gritty and explosive tone into the Jail Guitar Doors Drive pedal
By Phil Weller published
The MC5 guitarist had worked on its design before his passing last year, and now it serves as an immortalization of his proto-punk legacy

The guitar from Back to the Future's iconic Johnny B. Goode scene has been missing for decades – now Gibson has launched a worldwide search for it
By Phil Weller published
The guitar, rented from Norman Harris, was used for Marty McFly’s influential Johnny B. Goode performance, but it hasn’t been seen since

Andrew Watt on the essential studio skill that’s enabled him to work with rock gods and pop icons alike
By Phil Weller published
He's worked with and played guitar for the likes of Bruno Mars, Pearl Jam, and Ozzy Osbourne, but there’s one player he believes nails his catch-all approach

After her beloved Gibson was ruined on a flight, Valerie June found new inspiration in this iconic acoustic brand, recommended by Dan Auerbach
By Phil Weller published
She was in the market for a new guitar following her beloved Clyde's demise – and, thanks to the Black Keys' guitarist and vocalist, she managed to find her perfect match

Kiesel launches the Kyber – a futuristic metal guitar that’s its answer to Strandberg and Abasi Concepts offerings
By Phil Weller published
With a seriously lightweight and almost paper-thin design, the customizable axe puts modern needs at its core – and it's reasonably priced too

This luthier was offered the chance to buy a Les Paul, but something didn’t feel right – it turns out he had the ultimate proof to hand
By Phil Weller published
The guitar was brought into George Parfitt’s guitar shop, but a deep dive into the instrument’s history led him to a baffling discovery – and a powerful illustration in not trusting serial numbers

Dean DeLeo explains why the ‘worst’ guitars are also sometimes the best
By Phil Weller published
The Stone Temple Pilots guitarist took a deep dive into his vast gear collection for his latest project, One More Satellite

Laney rolls out the LF-Supertop – a classy 120W solid-state powerhouse with tricks up its sleeve
By Phil Weller published
With two channels, footswitchable boost, onboard effects and IRs, this lightweight head has a lot going on – and there are matching 2x12 and 4x12 speaker cabs to go with it

Josh Klinghoffer escapes jail term after accepting plea deal in vehicular manslaughter case
By Phil Weller published
Klinghoffer pleaded no contest to lesser charge and was sentenced to one year’s probation and 60 days of community labor

Harley Benton’s latest budget build is a sub-$230 solid top dreadnought
By Phil Weller published
Featuring a solid Sitka spruce top alongside a pickup system and built-in tuner, there’s a lot to enjoy for just $228
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!