Positive Grid's Spark Mini is a practice amp titan – but here are 5 smart amp alternatives we love with Black Friday discounts By Stuart Williams published 21 November 23 Go outside of the practice amp box with these tech-equipped guitar amps and save money this Black Friday
“I was so frustrated that I kicked my amp – the speaker busted, leaving me with this weird buzzing sound. I didn’t know it then, but I helped create the sound of punk-rock guitar”: How an Italian immigrant shaped the sound of US punk to come in the 1960s By Andrew Daly published 20 November 23 Known as the godfather of punk guitar, The Standells’ Tony Valentino was one of the first guitarists to use Vox amps, and, in a fit of rage, created a guitar tone that would be emulated the world over
“Playing a guitar like this back in 1963 must have been truly mind-blowing”: Meet the 1963 Stratocaster with one of Fender’s rarest-ever finishes, Blue Metallic Flake By Huw Price published 17 November 23 With a super-rare custom color finish that serves as a reminder of the influence Fender took from the motor industry, and in pristine condition, this is a collector’s item for the ages
“I had Hubert Sumlin, Howlin’ Wolf’s guitar player, out on tour with me, and he showed up with a $120 Squier Strat. He played it on stage that night and killed it”: Kenny Wayne Shepherd on why tone is in the hands (but it helps to have a trio of Dumbles) By David Mead published 16 November 23 The blues-rocker shares the story of his decade-long search for a 1960 Les Paul, why his Marshall amps just wouldn’t stop blowing up, and what made him convert to the single-cut after decades of Stratocaster monogamy
When Stanley Clarke met Paul McCartney: “Paul asked me to show him how to slap!” By Nick Wells published 16 November 23 Stanley Clarke made a key assist on Paul McCartney's early-80s albums Tug of War and Pipes of Peace
“I don’t want the old blues to die – if they do, I’ll be dead, too”: John Lennon, Eric Clapton and Ronnie Wood all followed in the footsteps of Big Bill Broonzy, the blues pioneer with a guitar style that’s impossible to copy By Denny Ilett published 16 November 23 William ‘Big Bill’ Broonzy picked up a guitar in Chicago around 1920, and became the first of the original blues masters to tour Europe. His powerful voice and unique country-blues guitar style would shape the future of the genre in the US and the UK
Best acoustic guitars under $1,000: get great tone for less By Rob Laing last updated 15 November 23 Enjoy superb playability with the best acoustic guitars under $1,000, in a range of sizes, with our guide to the top mid-priced acoustics
“I knew Eric was going to put his guitar on later, so the bass fills were like telegraphed messages”: Listen to Nathan East’s fill-laden bassline on Eric Clapton’s Change the World By Chris Jisi published 14 November 23 Nathan East recorded with his Yamaha Signature 5-string direct through a custom DI box
Best Klon clones: Our pick of the best Klon Centaur Klones for every budget By Alex Lynham last updated 14 November 23 From straight-up klones to full reimaginings, here are some of the best Klon Centaur-inspired pedals on the market today
“I’m at the height of my skillset, and the minute I can’t play or sing as well is the minute I plan the exit – I don’t want to be the old grey mare”: Joe Bonamassa’s career keeps hitting new peaks – but he’s already decided when he’ll give it all up By Rod Brakes published 13 November 23 In this candid conversation, Bonamassa welcomes us to Nerdville to discuss his journey from 12-year-old prodigy to one of today’s most talked-about guitar players, what stops him being a traditional blues guitarist, and why he won’t be doing this as an old man
“The Double-Neck Montreal makes me think of the smell of your own burning flesh”: James Hetfield opens up about the agony of his 1992 pyro accident, and how his scorched ESP left a lasting legacy on Metallica By James Hetfield published 13 November 23 In this exclusive extract from his new book, the Metallica frontman describes the experience of getting torched by pyro while playing guitar, and offers a closer look at the damage done to his ESP double-neck during the band’s fateful 1992 performance in Montreal
“It wasn’t like a normal bass gig where you have 30 songs: I had to learn 300!” Ida Nielsen talks touring with Prince, and how she tackled her Paisley Park audition By Joel McIver published 11 November 23 You put a video of yourself playing bass on YouTube. Then Prince calls…
Best pedalboard power supplies: boost your 'board with our recommended pedal power supplies By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 10 November 23 Get your effects sounding their best with our expert pick of the best pedalboard power supplies available today
“Rich Robinson was doing a Facebook Q&A and I commented with a video of me playing one of his songs… long story short, it led to me playing with the Black Crowes”: How Argentina native Nico Bereciartua became the US rock institution's new guitar wingman By Andrew Daly published 10 November 23 From chatting with Robinson on social media to opening for Aerosmith in arenas, Bereciartua's star has had a rapid ascent. He discusses his favorite guitars for slide, his six-string chemistry with Rich Robinson, and why playing with the Black Crowes is the greatest honor of his life
“When he signed his note, ‘Your friend,’ I truly felt like he meant it. I am really friends with John Mayer!” Meet Ryan Woodard – the 17-year-old artist who was gifted his dream guitar by John Mayer following a viral cover of Gravity By Matt Owen published 10 November 23 He shared the stage with Buddy Guy when he was just 11 years old and has already amassed a huge social media following through his rock-solid blues chops – but receiving a Martin OMJM from his biggest hero was the “greatest honor” of Ryan Woodard’s life
Best guitar pedals for beginners: kickstart your pedalboard By Alex Lynham last updated 9 November 23 Don't know your RAT from your Whammy? Your Tube Screamer from your Big Muff? We're here to help you take your first steps into the world of guitar effects
“People have said, ‘Oh, man, you gotta play the Gibson, that’s the real deal.’ But there’s something about the Ibanez… I prefer the evenness of it”: John Scofield on working with Miles Davis, covering Bob Dylan and the agony of writing music By David Mead published 9 November 23 The jazz improv virtuoso returns with Uncle John's Band, an album that finds him covering Bob Dylan, Neil Young and, of course, the Grateful Dead
“I was expecting to toss it into the pile of unsuccessful builds from the 1960s guitar boom. Boy howdy, was I wrong!” Meet the Martin GT‑75 Moth – the iconic acoustic company’s 1967 semi-hollow electric experiment By Jamie Dickson published 9 November 23 An electric guitar from the venerable acoustic brand is a rare thing indeed, but then this was the ‘60s, Bob Dylan had just taken up a Stratocaster, and the times they were a-changing
Best guitar straps: play in comfort and secure your guitar in style By Chris Corfield last updated 9 November 23 Our expert pick of straps for electric, acoustic and bass, covering all budgets and materials
“You don’t just play the root notes – there’s always harmony there to make a bassline more interesting”: How Bruce Thomas transformed Elvis Costello’s (I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea By Brian Fox published 8 November 23 Bruce Thomas on the heyday of the Attractions and their most auspicious debut, (I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea