Latest articles by Phil Weller
Tony Iommi features on a new single with the pop icon whose biopic starred a CGI monkey
The heavy metal legend has dragged the UK popstar’s fresh rock-influenced sound to intriguing new depths
Jim Irsay, owner of the world’s greatest guitar collection, dies aged 65
The Indianapolis Colts owner had assembled a revered and hugely valuable guitar haul that included David Gilmour’s Black Strat, Bob Dylan’s Newport Folk Festival Strat, and Kurt Cobain’s Smells Like Teen Spirit Mustang
Vernon Reid is playing Jack White's Triplecaster on stage
The guitarists swapped signature axes late last year after a chance meeting – and Reid is already putting his to good use
Ernie Ball redesigns its Earthwood Bell Bronze acoustic strings with John Mayer for its “most sonically complex” set yet
With a little inspiration from drum cymbals, the revamped Earthwood Bell Bronze strings boasts a richer low-end that promises not to get too dark
Fender drops Fender Studio – a free DAW for mobile, desktop, and tablet devices
With authentic amp sims, pedals, and a suite of editing controls, Fender Studio injects some fresh competition into the DAW market
PRS doubles down on its next-gen Narrowfield innovations
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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
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
