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Cort “reaches the pinnacle of acoustic guitars” with its Essence series – could it be the perfect Grand Auditorium?
By Phil Weller published
Grand Auditorium and OM Cutaway models feature in the all-new vintage-modern electric-acoustic designs

James Hetfield's luthier on how he went from crafting basses to becoming the Metallica guitarist's go-to axe maker
By Janelle Borg published
And why we have Doug West from Mesa/Boogie to thank for Ken Lawrence and Papa Het's now-iconic link-up

“There’s nothing more Spinal Tap”: Joe Bonamassa reflects on the worst show of his career
By Phil Weller published
Today, he’s one of the most celebrated blues guitarists in the game, but JoBo faced a harsh reality when he embarked on his first headline tour

Alex Skolnick looks back on his brief tenure as Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist – and why it only lasted one show
By Phil Weller published
The Testament guitarist blames a “management decision” on his short-lived spell, but looks back at the experience positively

Harvey Mandel nearly became a Rolling Stone – here’s why he thinks he would have been a better fit
By Janelle Borg published
While the former Canned Heat guitarist impressed Mick Jagger, he didn't manage to convince Keith Richards...

Mary Spender on the tones, tunes and heartache behind her debut breakup album
By Henry Yates published
Featuring a guest spot from Ariel Posen and some of the most gourmet tones you'll hear all year, Super.Sexy.Heartbreak. finds Spender processing a lifetime of broken hearts through fingerstyle guitar

Deryck Whibley appeals to Hard Rock Cafe to return his guitar from the Iggy Pop feat. Sum 41 era
By Janelle Borg published
The Sum 41 guitarist recently recovered another guitar that was stolen from him after over two decades

Bob Dylan may have played Gibson, but Timothée Chalamet started his transformation with a budget acoustic
By Janelle Borg published
The actor was fully equipped with high-end Gibsons for A Complete Unknown – but picked out a budget-friendly Yamaha when he first started taking guitar lessons

Jerry Cantrell recalls the time he tried – and failed – to pass an Alice in Chains demo tape to Axl Rose
By Janelle Borg published
Back in 1988, Cantrell shot his shot to get his band noticed by the high-flying Guns N' Roses

Meet Don Musser, the ‘Dumble of acoustics’ who has made guitars for Dylan, EVH and Neil Young
By Huw Price published
He’s built guitars for some of the very biggest names in the business and yet Don Musser remains a known unknown. We track him down to fill in the blanks

Beyoncé session guitarist Justus West says awards don't pay the bills – and labels need to take more accountability
By Janelle Borg published
West – who's also credited on Beyoncé's acclaimed Cowboy Carter – calls out the industry's double standards and it's crucial for labels to pay their artists on time

Meet the Canadian quartet bringing their raucous sound to the masses – with a little help from Bob Rock
By Glenn Kimpton published
Rooted in blues-rock but expanded by metal, folk, and country, The Damn Truth's catchy, riff-heavy tunes seem bound to conquer rock playlists, and stages, 'round the world

In 1969, a young Brian May hid in a venue to speak to Rory Gallagher – and it led to his tonal breakthrough
By Janelle Borg published
The Irish blues rock legend gave May a tonal template that he says he’s never bettered

Positive Grid turns the headphone amp market upside down with the wireless, AI-powered Neo
By Phil Weller published
With access to 100,00 tones and cable-free playing, the firm is aiming to take headphone amp technology to new heights

Jack White responds to short sets criticism – and explains why you’ll never see him play for three hours
By Phil Weller published
Recent shows have barely surpassed the hour mark, but White is refusing to bend to the wants of his naysayers

Ed Sheeran’s street performance brought to an abrupt end after Indian police shut it down
By Phil Weller published
The singer/songwriter had taken to the Bengaluru city streets to perform when police brought his show to close

Marty Friedman on the hellish teen acid trip that was the making of his career as a guitarist
By Janelle Borg published
Not all acid trips are created equal – and Friedman says a hellish experience with LSD served as a huge turning point for his musicianship

Slash joins forces with Tom Morello at LA Wildfire Relief shows – taking on MC5 and an AC/DC classic, in the process
By Phil Weller published
Morello added an extra Slash to AC/DC – and recruited his guitar-slinging son, plus members of System of a Down, Måneskin, and Wu-Tang Clan for his all-star fundraiser

Jimi Hendrix said he was a better guitar player than he was – yet this Telecaster icon often remains overlooked
By Jackson Maxwell published
Had he not died tragically at 31, there's no telling what virtuoso Chicago guitarist Terry Kath would have gone on to do with the instrument

Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's final show will play host to a Tool, Rage Against the Machine and Smashing Pumpkins supergroup
By Janelle Borg published
The July 5 mega-event's lineup is stacked with top-tier names, including Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira and Alice in Chains