Guitarist

Joe Bonamassa on his friendship with the ultimate bluesman, B.B. King – and paying the ultimate tribute

By David Mead published 4 March 26

B.B. King would have celebrated his 100th birthday in September last year. But when Joe Bonamassa discovered that the centenary was going almost unnoticed, he swung into action

What really happened with Cream behind the scenes? Ginger Baker’s daughter reveals all

By David Mead published 27 February 26

Nettie Baker’s new book Cream Chronicled debunks a few myths about one of rock’s most influential power trios

Why Leo Fender’s favorite custom color finish still drives guitarists wild

By Huw Price published 25 February 26

As this small selection from a very large vintage collection proves, Candy Apple Red looks fantastic on any Fender guitar – but the process of applying it changed over the years

The life and legacy of the Grateful Dead icon Bob Weir

By Andrew Daly published 23 February 26

Remembering the Grateful Dead co-founder, songwriter and rhythm guitarist, and legend of the San Franciscan psychedelic scene

The history and mysteries of Eric Clapton’s Cream guitars

By Neville Marten published 22 February 26

The history of Eric Clapton’s guitars during Cream’s brief but influential existence – from Fresh Cream to Goodbye – reveals an intriguing mix of instruments but also offers up a mystery or two

5 modern blues guitar heroes on the impossible task of imitating the blues greats

By Charlie Wilkins published 22 February 26

Blues and rock is still being shaped by the British blues boom of the ’60s – and the O.G. bluesmen who influenced them. But how can today’s players nail their tone and sound? Marcus King, Samantha Fish, Zach Persons, Philip Sayce and Jared James Nichols have their say

Swannell Guitars makes an electric like an acoustic with tones that will blow your mind

By Dave Burrluck published 19 February 26

Jamie Swannell makes some seriously high-end acoustics and has applied that knowhow to the IA, a super-versatile, vibey electric that might just be the boutique slide machine of your dreams

“It just floored me”: Inside Fender’s mission to bring the ’62 Super Amp back from the dead

By Charlie Wilkins published 18 February 26

Long hidden in the shadows of Fender history, the early ’60s brown-panel Super Amp has reemerged. Senior product manager, Rick Heins, talks us through its rebirth

How Pavey Ark are reinventing acoustic guitar with pedals, fake nails and a $60 nylon-string that holds its own in any company

By Amit Sharma published 18 February 26

Neil Thomas’ adventurous playing and ear for unorthodox tuning finds the English collective exist between two worlds of traditional and neo-folk

From sleeping in tents to Woodstock, rock ’n’ roll's ‘Forrest Gump’ Leo Lyons shares the story of Ten Years After

By Henry Yates published 16 February 26

The Ten Years After bassist survived Hamburg’s Star-Club, sparked the blues boom, achieved immortality at Woodstock – and is still going strong at 82. “Music,” he says, “it’s a drug…”

Mike Vennart on the Squier Strats that are simply unbeatable – and why he hates acoustics

By Andrew Daly published 16 February 26

The former Oceansize and long-time Biffy Clyro touring guitarist on his love of off-the-beaten-path six-strings and why you've got to try before you buy

The Newman Torn and Frayed Edition might be the Rolling Stones-inspired T-type we’ve been dreaming of

By Jonathan Horsley published 15 February 26

With vibe and mojo off the charts, this UK boutique build is a stunning example of what a little imagination can do with when applied to Blackguard inspiration

Their first single was so bad, the label pulled 10,000 copies. Yet they went on to be one of the most influential supergroups in music history

By Marc Roberty published 13 February 26

60 years ago, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker put together Cream. This is the story of the early years of the power trio that changed the face of popular music, and elevated Clapton to God-like status

Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram has learned from the masters on his road to becoming a modern-day blues great

By Amit Sharma published 12 February 26

He might be young, but the Clarksdale, Mississippi phenom has already announced his presence as the world’s bluesman-in-chief

“Steve was on the session when history was made”: Why Steve Cropper was one of guitar’s most humble heroes

By Henry Yates published 6 February 26

The departed soul man was the Stax band’s MVP, writing and driving the R&B classics that ruled the ’60s

Is this the holy grail of all holy grail Fender Stratocasters?

By Huw Price published 4 February 26

Only two features distinguished a Mary Kaye Stratocaster from any other Strat that might have rolled off Fender’s production line during the mid-to-late 1950s. So why are vintage examples so darn valuable?

How to record acoustic guitars at home – and why you need a dedicated setup

By Michael Watts published 2 February 26

Recording acoustic guitars at home can be frustrating and rewarding in equal measure – but it doesn't need to be. Here’s how to get started, and how to get great results