
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

How John Mayer and Bob Dylan producer Don Was first ended up working with the Rolling Stones
By Phil Weller published
He’d been in the room mere minutes before finding himself at the center of a passionate Glimmer Twins debate

Warren Haynes to play three historic guitars to celebrate 1971 at NYE concert
By Phil Weller published
The show at the Beacon Theatre in New York will see Haynes play classics from 1971 on guitars tied to three guitar greats

Joe Bonamassa on why he takes gear collecting so seriously
By Phil Weller published
His pocket money is perennially spent on acquiring vintage gear, and he won’t change the habit of a lifetime any time soon

Why a tour supporting Van Halen led to Steve Stevens recording a flamenco album
By Phil Weller published
After weeks of rock 'n' roll overstimulation, Stevens pivoted and spent a year traveling with a nylon-string

Solar Guitars breaks new personal ground with its latest Assassin Series model – which offers a firm-first fret count of 27
By Phil Weller published
It arrives with a minimalist spec, but those extra few frets could seal the deal for shredders

Brian May gifts Tony Iommi a customized Red Special replica
By Phil Weller published
It stays faithful to the original recipe, save for two important changes

The estates of Jimi Hendrix’s bandmates are suing Sony over streaming rights
By Phil Weller published
Their lawyer says the musicians were marginalized by Sony Music Entertainment UK

Kurt Cobain’s MTV Unplugged Martin D-18E has been donated to the Royal College of Music London
By Phil Weller published
Plans are being made for the guitar to embark on a 2026 tour

Wolfgang Van Halen says his dad’s legacy means fans think of him in the wrong way
By Phil Weller published
The Mammoth multi-instrumentalist has pursued his own musical path – though some commenters can’t help but constantly compare him to Eddie Van Halen

Joe Walsh walks you through the guitars he’s selling at auction – including one with a Morse code fretboard
By Phil Weller published
All proceeds will go to his charity, Vets Aid

Electro-Harmonix wants to harness the magnetosphere’s energy to solve the AI power crisis
By Phil Weller published
Brand founder Mike Matthews has teamed up with a former Bell Labs scientist to shape his plans

Jared James Nichols spotted a pedal builder in the audience at one of his gigs – then handed him his guitar mid-solo
By Phil Weller published
The impromptu guest spot was full of high notes

A B.B. King biopic is on the way – and it will chronicle the blues legend's life, legacy and Lucille
By Phil Weller published
The film will chart B.B. King’s rise from extreme poverty to global stardom – and his life-long partnership with his iconic ES-355 will be at the heart of it all

How Mike Keneally landed the Frank Zappa gig – after cold-calling his guitar hero
By Phil Weller published
Keneally said he had a “Zappa jukebox” in his brain. The man himself wanted to test it out

Paul Reed Smith on the near-fateful end of the PRS SE Line – and what eventually saved it from extinction
By Phil Weller published
Smith reflects on the time the plug was almost pulled on the affordable branch of PRS guitars

Fender keeps up with Neural DSP in the amp modeler race by giving the Tone Master Pro its first polyphonic synths – included in major free firmware update
By Phil Weller published
New amps, cabs, a raft of effects, and some big quality of life updates keep the modeler’s talons sharp

D’Addario’s new Comfort strap could be the solution to your back problems – and could have you playing for longer
By Phil Weller published
Offering superior weight distribution and a design that molds “seamlessly to the player's body”, could this be the strap your back has been calling for?

Adrian Belew shares unseen photos of “the first relic’d guitar” – which he created with Seymour Duncan
By Phil Weller published
The pair’s process was a little more primitive than modern methods

Meshuggah's Mårten Hagström reflects on changing the face of metal guitar
By Phil Weller published
The success of their two bands has resulted in some key industry changes

Steve Cropper on writing Green Onions, stressing out Brian May and the secret of Billy Gibbons’ guitar style
By Phil Weller published
The co-writer of classics including Green Onions and (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay proved you don’t need technical wizardry to make a mark. In 2024, he walked us through a career marked by hits, groove and soul

Ola Englund on why he decided to set up his own guitar company
By Phil Weller published
The demand for his signature gear was there, but the industry framework was letting Englund and his fans down

Marcin on why he will never use a guitar pick
By Phil Weller published
The humble pick is seen as a key tool for many guitarists, but this virtuoso is strictly anti-plectrum

Ross Electronics returns under new family stewardship – a year after JHS Pedals’ ill-fated revival
By Phil Weller published
Josh Scott’s company had tried to bring Bud Ross’ beloved pedals back for a new era – but now the firm is going in a new direction

Why Nuno Bettencourt said no when Jake E. Lee asked him to play one of his iconic solos at Back to the Beginning
By Phil Weller published
The Extreme virtuoso played plenty of guitar during Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell show, but he drew the line at this solo

Universal Audio’s amp-emulating pedals have been a huge success – now they’ve arrived in plugin form via the all-inclusive Paradise Guitar Studio
By Phil Weller published
Offering six amps, cab sims, and studio-quality pre- and post-effects, it aims to be a one-stop shop for vintage tone enthusiasts embracing the modern age
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