Amy Winehouse's passion for guitar was key to her distinctive songwriting style By Janelle Borg published 12 April 24 A little-known 2004 interview saw Amy Winehouse wax lyrical about all things guitar
“It was Clarkin alone who fed the band, writing the entirety of Magnum’s catalog and admitting in 2002 that he thought of little else”: Remembering Tony Clarkin, the driving force behind a British rock institution By Henry Yates published 4 April 24 The Magnum guitarist died following diagnosis with a rare spinal condition, leaving behind a staggering body of work and huge affection amongst fans and industry peers
“I’ve always favoured humbuckers. They’re what my heroes used – Clapton, BB King and Paul Kossoff”: Connor Selby on his greatest gear hits and misses, and the Gibson ES-125 that was the bargain of the century By David Mead published 4 April 24 The up-and-coming blues ace stops by to talk all things gear: the buying, the selling, and the regrets along the way
Best beginner guitar amps 2024: top guitar amplifiers for beginners By Chris Corfield last updated 4 April 24 Looking for one of the best guitar amps for beginners? We’ve rounded up our favorites for players of any style from brands including Blackstar, Orange, Boss, and more
“There does seem to be something of an obsession with lighter guitars”: Do lighter electric guitars sound better? By Neville Marten published 4 April 24 The debate surrounding the effect of weight on electric guitars and tone is long-running and often divisive. Our panel of experts, er, weigh in
“When I struggle with live sound, I think, ‘Oh God, I can play so much better when I’m just in a room and I can hear myself…’ But that’s when I dig in and try harder”: Tommy Emmanuel and Molly Tuttle give a tone, technique and touring masterclass By David Mead published 3 April 24 It’s not often that you find two of the world’s greatest acoustic players on tour together, and we couldn’t resist the opportunity to invite them for an interview and video masterclass…
"I was ill and when I picked the guitar up again, I wasn't playing Joe Satriani stuff – I was struggling to play Oasis!" Jack J. Hutchinson on how illness changed his playing style and his Black Crowes-inspired pedalboard By Tom Poak published 2 April 24 British blues guitarist and songwriter Jack J. Hutchinson on pedals, power trios, solos – and the illness that derailed his career
“We’re trying to avoid sounding like a conventional guitar band… Our goal has always been to expand what guitars can do”: Idles’ radical guitar duo dissect their “violent, dark tones” and explain why modeling is “wack” By Henry Yates published 2 April 24 Savage, socially charged and allergic to cliché, Idles are less categorisable than ever on fifth album, Tangk, and its dynamic guitar partnership Mark Bowen and Lee Kiernan are holding nothing back
“John was constantly seeking better solutions, which manifested as astonishing woodwork and innovative electronics”: Remembering John Diggins – the luthier who built guitars for Tony Iommi and the first Red Special replica By Paul Balmer published 2 April 24 Diggins was the mastermind behind Jaydee Custom Guitars and had over five decades of experience in making top-quality instruments
“I’m constantly going back to Davey Graham… He is massively neglected as an insanely creative player. For me, he’s like Jimi Hendrix – his stuff should be analyzed in forensic detail”: Henry Parker on his journey from metal to virtuoso folk By Glenn Kimpton published 1 April 24 The English folk phenom returns with Lammas Fair, an album introducing proggy psych to his sound. He discusses his approach to open tunings, paying tribute to acoustic great Michael Chapman, and making the most of resonant strings
Gibson Les Paul vs Fender Stratocaster: Which is right for you? By Matt McCracken published 27 March 24 We put these two titans of tone head to head, deep-diving into their similarities and differences so you can be sure you’re purchasing the right guitar
"When I was 14 I saw George Thorogood and thought, ‘That’s cool – I’m going to do that’”: Ruzz 'Guitar' Evans on the two pedals and amazing pickups behind his rock 'n' roll tone By Tom Poak published 26 March 24 Pedalpocalypse: Ruzz 'Guitar' Evans of Ruzz Guitar's Blues Revue on the two pedals and amazing pickups behind his rock 'n' roll tone
“Richard Fortus messaged me and said, ‘I’ve shown Slash your guitar and he likes it, too…’ After that, the phones didn’t stop”: How a small UK boutique builder became a Guns N’ Roses favorite and the next big name in retro-inspired electric guitars By Jamie Dickson published 26 March 24 Ivison Guitars has only been in business for six years, but its Dakota model has already headlined Glastonbury with Guns N’ Roses star Richard Fortus. Founder Neil Ivison shares its story
I’ve tried every home practice solution under the sun, but nothing stuck. Then I plugged in a headphone amp – and now I’m playing for hours By Matt Parker published 22 March 24 As a busy guitarist and parent, Boss’ new Katana:GO has been a revelation when it comes to my playing time – but it’s the way it feels that’s got me hooked
Everything you need to know about acoustic guitar neck joints – how they work, and why they matter for your tone By Huw Price published 22 March 24 There are all kinds of different ways the neck is attached to the body of your acoustic, and it’s one of the areas where luthiers are innovating to offer similar or better tone to traditional dovetail joints
“We did a Pepsi Challenge on the Klon!” Henry James of Robert Jon & The Wreck names his favorite pedals – and his no. 1 Klon clone By Tom Poak published 20 March 24 It's the return of Pedalpocalypse, “the Desert Island Discs for pedals”, with Henry James from Robert Jon & The Wreck and King Tree & The Earth Mothers on the three pedals he would take with him in the event of a future lockdown
“George Martin wasn’t going to leave his own studio, and Jeff never gave directions or said much, so there was nobody telling us what to do”: Listen to Wilbur Bascomb’s bassline on Jeff Beck’s Goodbye Pork Pie Hat By Chris Jisi published 20 March 24 New York session bassist Wilbur Bascomb Jr. recorded on Jeff Beck’s 1976 version of this Charles Mingus ballad
“At some point I might come up with a new single-cut unique enough not to upset anybody”: Nik Huber on the perils of riffing on the classics and the evolution of his powerhouse boutique brand By Dave Burrluck published 18 March 24 There’s always the risk that someone might object to a maker’s designs. In the case of Nik Huber’s Krautster, it came 15 years after the guitar was introduced…
“If the mini-humbucker had remained exclusive to Epiphone, it may have been a mere footnote. It developed a following because they ended up in Gibson guitars”: The mini-humbucker’s surprising history – and why it deserves more love By Huw Price published 15 March 24 Often passed over in conversations about the greatest electric guitar pickups, the mini-humbucker has a unique tone of its own, its story inextricably linked to Epiphone and Gibson
Best guitar audio interfaces 2024: our top picks for every budget By Chris Schwarten last updated 15 March 24 These are the best audio interfaces for taking your guitar recordings to the next level, regardless of your budget or experience