Features

The boundary-breaking guitarist – aka Blake Stranathan – had an unlikely route to session guitar success. He reveals how gear shaped his collaborations with one of the biggest singer-songwriters of our age, his theory on how “the less paint or lacquer on the guitar, the better it will sound” and why the tone of a real Klon can’t be replicated

Derek Forbes was Simple Minds’ bassist from 1978 to 1985. Here he explains how he was inspired by Andy Fraser and Stanley Clarke, why he prefers Precision to Jazz, and the influence of magic mushrooms...

Paul Jackson’s big-bottomed stank came courtesy of his modified Fender Telecaster Bass, Geraldine

Ronnie Wood, Joe Perry and Dave Grohl all played Dan Armstrongs over the years – here's why it's one of the coolest guitars ever

Ben Wells and Chris Robertson on the gear and the tones behind one of hard rock's most engaging guitar double acts – and why it all goes back to Leo Fender

Give Bryant a Strat and he'll give you the blues straight, no chaser. He reveals the ‘death metal’ lessons Walter Trout taught him, and how to get the best out of your Strat

From Tedeschi Trucks to Knower to Saturday Night Live, how Tim Lefebvre became the bass player everyone wants to work with

In 1973 Bernard Edwards helped define one of the most distinctive sounds of disco

As the Stones return with Hackney Diamonds, we asked you for your favorite riffs from Keith Richards and friends. Here they are – plus the story of how they were created

He’s the godfather of shred, but over four decades into his career, Joe Satriani is busier than ever. He explains why he’s playing catch-up after avoiding Van Halen songs in the ‘80s, what his “intentionally excessive” collaborations with Vai have in store, and the biggest struggles he’s facing in covering “the greatest guitar player of all time”

Fresh off the release of her solo debut, Apocrypha, the Schecter signature artist dishes on her love of the Kemper Profiler, the first Iron Maiden riff she learned, and the lasting impact of grunge on her guitar approach

Chad Zaemisch has been the Metallica leader’s right-hand man for 20 years. He discusses the metal titans’ amp modeling sea change, why his boss “chickened out” with his new 72 Seasons ESP Vulture, and what happens when things go very, very wrong onstage…

The invention of the seven-string, emergence of digital modeling and rise of the boutique pedal industry all took place during the ‘90s, and provided the blueprint for the sound of guitar music to come

With the help of his beloved Mayones Aquila, the 26-year-old Italian six-stringer has steered clear of shred, instead focusing on tasty phrasing, an immaculate sense of groove and bringing guitar solos back into the mainstream

TesseracT's Amos Williams on why he used parallel distortion and a “Swiss Army knife of overdrive” on the band's new album

The Clapton and SRV-schooled Aussie-turned-LA songstress promises a rocking, riff-packed about-face on her upcoming studio outing

Inspired to pick up the guitar by School of Rock, classic rock acolyte Ágústsson has been leading The Vintage Caravan since he was 12 years old. He explains what makes fans liken his playing to Alvin Lee, how he wrings his tone from a collection of extremely loud vintage Marshalls and why he hates practicing

Bonamassa welcomes us to Nerdville to share the stories behind some of his favorite guitars, including a mint ’58 Flying V, Tommy Bolin’s mythical 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard and a tuxedo ES-355 that might, just might, be the only one in existence

After five years working with Peter Frampton, Darren Hurst became Joe Perry’s tech. Here he talks the secrets behind the guitar great's sound, and why his favorite Perry guitar isn't a Les Paul or the famous “Burned Strat”...

The Sylosis riff master unpacks some of his metal approaches and explains why practice makes perfect, even if it makes you the last person in the world anyone would want to watch TV with