Features

25 tips for tracking down your dream guitar (for the right price)

By Guitarist editors published 12 June 26

Buying a guitar can be tricky enough before you even consider the vintage market, and whether a refin is a good or bad thing. Here we unpack some dos, don'ts and things to consider when trading

Jerry Cantrell on the magic and mods of his iconic 'Blue Dress' G&L Rampage – and the gift from Eddie Van Halen

By Andrew Daly published 12 June 26

Back in January 1996, Alice In Chains' Jerry Cantrell was on the cover of Guitar World with his “Blue Dress” Rampage. 30 years on it's still going strong

The Gold Caged Steelcaster is a $15,000, 24-carat T-style inspired by a Cadillac

By Jamie Dickson published 12 June 26

Just look at all that gold – and the pickups are pretty special, too. But for $15,000-plus, it might be a little rich for most

How Death Cab for Cutie found their second act – by embracing the weird, and guitars from their past

By Jackson Maxwell published 11 June 26

Ben Gibbard developed the songs for their sharp and confident new album I Built You a Tower like he did in the indie icons' earliest days, power trio style – but he and guitarist Dave Depper have never been more in lockstep

Lenny Kravitz on the time he blew Prince’s mind with his guitar tone

By Matt Owen published 11 June 26

Kravitz's straight-into-the-amp setup – which has been at the core of his sound for most of his career – left pedal fan Prince with his jaw on the floor

Guitar tone gourmand Ariel Posen spills the secrets to his sound

By David Mead published 11 June 26

The sonic adventurist’s latest album used a treasure trove of guitar, amp and pedal exotica, resulting in his best recording yet

Greg Chaisson waited years to reunite with Jake E. Lee. But then he had to quit, and couldn’t say why

By Andrew Daly published 10 June 26

The bassist, who failed his Ozzy audition but wound up in Badlands instead, recalls pushing boundaries with Judas Priest’s Rob Halford, falling into the music business despite sport aspirations, and being forced to use a substandard bass in the studio

The call that ended Flea’s days as a pick-playing punk and set him on the path to worldwide fame with the Red Hot Chili Peppers

By Karl Coryat published 10 June 26

Flea went on to have major success with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who released their self-titled debut album later that year

When Fender went to court and lost – revisiting the 2009 court ruling that failed to trademark the Stratocaster

By Jonathan Horsley published 10 June 26

In 2009, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board denied trademark protections to the Strat, Tele and P-Bass. How did it arrive at its judgement? And what’s different this time?

The making of the Eagles’ 1976 masterpiece Hotel California

By Bill DeMain published 10 June 26

How the Eagles harnessed their cresting creative powers – and resisted their appetite for destruction – to create one of rock’s all-time classics