Best Gretsch guitars 2024: Explore those iconic Gretsch tones with our top picks By Ross Holder last updated 25 July 24 Whether you’re after a Streamliner, Electromatic or Player’s Edition model, here's our expert pick of the best Gretsch guitars across a range of budgets
Best 12-string guitars 2024: our pick of 12-string acoustic and electric guitars By Jonathan Horsley last updated 25 July 24 Our expert guide to the best 12-string guitars from Taylor, Rickenbacker, Fender, and others
Best Stratocasters 2024: The best Strats for every budget and playing style By Amit Sharma last updated 25 July 24 Find your fit with our top pick of the best Fender Strats
Orianthi on the rhinestone-encrusted PRS Custom 24 she played with Michael Jackson, 50 Cent… and an elephant By Andrew Daly published 25 July 24 Now this is a one-of-one guitar. A Custom 24, made “sparkly” at the request of Michael Jackson's people, and best of all, it was on the cover of Guitar World. Orianthi tells us its story
Mark Tremonti weighs in on the biggest bands of the ’90s (including Creed) By Joe Bosso published 25 July 24 As Creed return, Tremonti shares his thoughts on Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and a host of other ’90s icons
Best pitch shifter pedals 2024: an essential tool for channeling Tom Morello, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani By Alex Lynham last updated 24 July 24 To Whammy or not to Whammy? That is the question we’re answering with our guide to the best pitch shifters for guitarists
How Carol Kaye set the tone for Quincy Jones’ Hikky-Burr, the theme for The Bill Cosby Show By Chris Jisi published 24 July 24 A veteran of over 10,000 record dates, Carol Kaye improvised her entire bassline on this 1971 Quincy Jones single
Never underestimate the impact of fretboard radius – it dramatically affects the way your guitar plays By Huw Price published 24 July 24 Crucial to playing feel, radius applies to strings as well as fretboards – we explore the different ways it impacts the feel of your guitar
ZZ Top’s Elwood Francis on teching for Joe Perry, lying to Steve Vai – and the curse of his viral 17-string bass By Andrew Daly published 24 July 24 The gear-trashing DIY enthusiast once had to choose between Vai and Joe Perry, before being fired and rehired by Guns N’ Roses – in a matter of days
Blushing are riding the TikTok shoegaze revival with a Johnny Marr Jaguar and an ex-Smashing Pumpkin By Andrew Daly published 24 July 24 The Austin, TX dream-pop champs guitarist Michelle Sotoare on TikTok’s double-edged sword – and how Ride’s Mark Gardener and Jeff Schroeder of the Smashing Pumpkins made their dreams a reality
Conchúr White on going solo, McNally guitars and finding a new voice with fingerpicking By Glenn Kimpton published 23 July 24 White's debut album, Swirling Violets, finds the former Silences guitarist exploring the outer reaches of his imagination and changing his approach because this time out, the set all hangs on him
Ritchie Blackmore on why he switched from the 335 to the Stratocaster – and the one he used to record Smoke on the Water By Andrew Daly published 23 July 24 Deep Purple icon Ritchie Blackmore tells us how a visit from Slowhand’s roadie turned him into a Fender Strat diehard – and why he kept breaking whammy bars
Best acoustic guitar pickups 2024: electrify your acoustic with our expert picks By Jonathan Horsley last updated 23 July 24 Whether it be for performing live or recording at home, the best acoustic guitar pickups from LR Baggs, Fishman and others will help you enhance your tone
Best Precision Bass 2024: P-Basses from Fender and beyond By Chris Corfield last updated 23 July 24 Our top picks of the most recognizable bass in history, including models from Fender, Sire, Sterling by Music Man and more
Eric Gales shares his stompbox philosophy and reveals how Eric Johnson inspired his pedalboard By Andrew Daly published 23 July 24 The blues-rock great lets you in on the mini pedals, funky boxes and signature wah pedal that add the finishing touches to his tone
Best high-end electric guitars 2024: the finest guitars money can buy By Simon Fellows last updated 22 July 24 If money were no object, this is the all-star list of high-end axes from Gibson, PRS, Fender, and more that you’ll want in your collection
Wailers icon Junior Marvin on joining Bob Marley – and the night Hendrix shook his hand By Andrew Daly published 22 July 24 Marvin had been offered a 10 year contract from Stevie Wonder on the day he joined Bob Marley and the Wailers. But he never looked back
Brant Bjork made his name as Kyuss’ drummer – but he found his voice on guitar By Andrew Daly published 22 July 24 The drummer turned guitarist says starting in cover bands can improve your writing skills – and explains why he learned more from the Byrds and the Beatles than playing with Josh Homme in Kyuss
Best Strat-style guitars 2024: Our choice of the finest S-style guitars for all budgets and players By James Farmer last updated 22 July 24 Don’t want a Fender? Here’s our expert pick of the top Strat-style electric guitars from the likes of Ibanez, Yamaha, G&L, PRS and more
Tele loyalist Joanne Shaw Taylor on rewiring her playing with Les Pauls and conquering ADHD in the studio By David Mead published 22 July 24 New album Heavy Soul finds JST pushing her vocals to new limits and pushing tube amps beyond their limits, and it cements her rep as one of the great blues players of our time