Best ukuleles for beginners 2024: top picks from soprano to tenor By Simon Fellows last updated 19 September 24 The best beginner ukuleles from Fender, Epiphone, Martin, Kala, Gretsch and more – prices starting from $30
Best guitars for jazz 2024: smooth swinging options for jazz cats By Richard Blenkinsop last updated 19 September 24 From archtops to solid bodies, these are the best jazz guitars on the market today from top brands like D’Angelico, Gibson, Squier, and more
Boss CE-5 settings you need to try: how to get the best out of the industry-standard chorus pedal By Bobby Kittleberger published 19 September 24 The long-running stompbox is one of the most versatile chorus pedals on the market – and the Chorus Ensemble truly lives up to its name with a few choice setting tweaks
Why Chase Bliss has been forced to discontinue 5 of its finest pedals – and what it means for the firm going forward By Matt Owen published 19 September 24 The forward-thinking effects specialist ran afoul of UK and EU legislation by using one particular component in five of its most popular pedals
Investigating the mystery mods of Andy Summers’ mongrel Telecaster By Dave Burrluck published 19 September 24 Plenty of modded or self-built guitars have powered the careers of big players. But the origins of one heavily used guitar remain a mystery…
Before Lake Placid Blue there was Moreno Blue, and it makes this ’57 Stratocaster a true unicorn By Huw Price published 19 September 24 David Davidson of Well Strung Guitars tells the story of a Blue Metallic Strat that is about as rare as they come
Best MIDI foot controllers 2024: seamless transitions for amps, pedals, rack effects, and more By Joe Dean last updated 19 September 24 Our favorite MIDI controllers for guitar cover all levels and budgets, with models from Gig Rig, Fender, Boss, Electro-Harmonix, and more
Tyler Bryant on the Tele that's rivalling his beloved ‘Pinky’ Strats By Andrew Daly published 19 September 24 The plan? There is no plan, says Bryant. When he gets in a room with the Shakedown they jam until their hungry, eat and repeat, and what comes out the other end comes out... Electrified
Best electric guitars under $500 2024: epic electrics for smaller budgets By Amit Sharma last updated 19 September 24 These budget electric guitars offer fantastic tone and great playability, all within a more wallet-friendly price range
“The neck is twice the thickness of many standard necks”: The making of Phil Collen’s monster new Jackson Tele-style By Andrew Daly published 18 September 24 Jackson Master Builder Joe Williams shines a light on the process behind the Def Leppard guitarist’s prototype Jackson T-style, which may well enter production as a future signature model…
Joe Knaggs on the tonewoods, inspirations and story behind his high-end guitar craft By Jonathan Horsley published 18 September 24 For Joe Knaggs, making guitars was the opportunity to combine a love for art and music, and it is writ large in his designs. With Knaggs about to turn 15, he discusses the brand's evolution and explains the search for “the Knaggs ring”
Crushed under the wheels of a baggage truck, how Rory Gallagher’s ’59 Esquire rose from the dead By Jamie Dickson published 18 September 24 Heavily modded over the years, this hot-sounding Esquire was, outside of the Strat, Rory’s go-to Fender for slide work – but it nearly came to an untimely demise on an airport runway…
Matteo Mancuso names 10 guitarists who shaped his sound By Amit Sharma published 18 September 24 From Jimi to Django, these are the ingredients behind Matteo Mancuso’s stunning guitar technique
“The boutique amp market thrives and exists as it does today largely thanks to Mike Soldano”: From Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai to Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler, the Soldano SLO-100 changed the sound of shred and blues alike By Chris Gill published 18 September 24 The SLO-100 made its bones in the hard-rock and shred scenes and yet found its true calling as the amp of choice for Clapton, Knopfler, et al. What makes it such an enduring, versatile model?
FINNEAS on bringing guitar back to pop – and why he loves Fender’s Acoustasonic Tele By Ellie Rogers published 17 September 24 The producer and guitarist shares his recording insight, his new Fender signature model, plus the playing discussions he has with Billie Eilish
21 ways to get more from your acoustic guitar By Jenna Scaramanga published 17 September 24 Acoustic guitars are arguably simpler than electrics, but there’s still a wealth of details involved in playing like a pro…
How shredding dentist Steve Dadaian landed his dream collaboration with Dream Theater’s Jordan Rudess By Michael Astley-Brown published 17 September 24 Steve Dadaian has loved Dream Theater since junior high. So when he had the opportunity to shred with the band’s keyboard wizard, he jumped at the chance to flex his chops
Dave Mustaine on signature gear, collecting, and why some players are “living a lie” with pedals By Andrew Daly published 17 September 24 The Megadeth man recounts his longstanding love for Seymour Duncan humbuckers and why he’s finally – at the age of 62 – just getting the gear-collecting bug
How Laney brought volume and best-in-class tone for digital rigs with the world’s loudest active guitar cabinet By Jonathan Horsley published 17 September 24 Developed with a little help from Devin Townsend and Guthrie Govan, the LFR-412 is the first active 4x12 for digital rigs, giving players old-school power and volume to make their amp modeler sing
How Dana Bourgeois led the OM-style guitar renaissance and turned Bourgeois Guitars into a guitar craftsmanship powerhouse By Janelle Borg published 17 September 24 From earning the Bluegrass Hall of Famer's approval in his early days, to producing 500 intimately crafted guitars a year and landing an innovative partnership with Eastman, the experienced luthier is decades deep into the business – but still has an intense “infatuation with guitars”
