Latest Updates

The Les Paul Recording Studio opens in Hollywood – bringing the innovator’s revolutionary gear to a whole new generation of musicians
By Phil Weller published
Aside from his work revolutionizing the electric guitar, Les Paul helped modernize recording methods, and this new studio honors his legacy with the gear he built

How Guitar Center plans to beat its online competitors and safeguard the future of its physical stores
By Matt Owen published
Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto has laid out the retailer’s plans to win the trust of prospective customers in the face of unprecedented online competition

Guy Pratt on the Jazz Bass he bought from John Entwistle and how he conjured a “massive octave-pedal freakout” with Madonna
By Nick Wells published
In addition to his main gig with David Gilmour, Guy Pratt has played bass on some monster hits, including Madonna’s Like a Prayer and Michael Jackson’s Earth Song

L7’s Jennifer Finch on touring with Nirvana, gigging with Courtney Love and donating her Ghost bass to the Punk Rock Museum
By Cheri Amour published
The athletic low-end of Sub Pop’s only Los Angeles band signing, Finch reflects on how picking up an instrument sparks disruption, that iconic Reading Festival 1992 set and loaning Krist Novoselic her storied Ghost bass

Jimmy Page blasts new Artificial Intelligence proposals from UK Government
By Phil Weller published
The Led Zeppelin legend says the technology is exploiting musicians and is “devoid of the struggles that define true artistry”

Tunerette honors the heyday of rock ‘n’ roll with a clip-on tuner that looks like a cigarette
By Phil Weller published
Beat the smoking ban while emulating true rock star moves with this tricky tuner

How Nathan East managed to make his bass sound like a guitar on these Kenny Loggins hits
By Janelle Borg published
East discloses the nifty technique that bassists can use in lieu of adding actual guitars to a track

As a member of the Saturday Night Live house band, James Genus is the best-kept secret on bass
By Chris Jisi published
If you’re only as good as the company you keep, James Genus is bass royalty

Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris on staying loyal to Fender, and the Gibson that sounded “horrible”
By Nick Wells published
In his quest for the perfect tone Steve Harris has tried virtually every make of bass there is, but always comes back to one

In an era dominated by look-at-me shred guitarists, Nikki Sixx showed that playing bass could be cool, too
By Nick Wells published
Mötley Crüe's 1989 blockbuster, Dr. Feelgood, is a prime example of Sixx's gritty bass approach

Statue of Motörhead legend Lemmy to be unveiled in his hometown this May
By Janelle Borg published
Lemmy's bronze tribute was sculpted by Andy Edwards – the artist behind the world-famous Beatles statue in Liverpool

Fender outlines the future of Squier after the launch of its new Standard Series – which is built in the same factory
By Matt Owen published
The Standard Series further closed the gap between Fender and Squier – but would Fender ever put its name on the entire production line, from entry level to Custom Shop?

Brian Wilson left his mark on the bass world through studio musicians, especially Carol Kaye, who he requested play his basslines note-for-note
By Chris Jisi published
In a rare interview, The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson reflected on bass playing, studio craft and his 2004 masterpiece, Smile

Peter Hook’s ‘lead bass’ approach spawned a catalog of hits with Joy Division and New Order
By Brian Fox published
One of the most influential bassists of the ‘80s, Peter Hook developed a style marked by open-string drones, and a dark, chorus-drenched tone

How do you anchor a band like Pleasure? If you’re Nate Philips, you do it with a formidable slap technique
By Nick Wells published
Pleasure’s fusion-influenced dance music reached its peak with Glide, the Top 10 R&B single from Future Now

Blackstar muscles in on the wireless system market with AIRWIRE i58 – but how does it stack up against the competition?
By Matt Owen published
The wireless guitar system market is becoming more competitive than ever, and Blackstar’s flagship offering looks set to become a key player

Another former Smashing Pumpkins bassist is joining Garbage on tour
By Janelle Borg published
Nicole Fiorentino follows in the footsteps of Ginger Pooley and Eric Avery in being part of both camps

Behringer blasted by Mu-Tron III maker following the release of $69 replica
By Phil Weller published
The firm behind the legendary – and often-copied – envelope filter has called out Behringer for its new not-so-subtle stompbox