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Dave Mustaine first discovered the Flying V when he joined Metallica and wasn't a fan – this is what changed his mind
By Janelle Borg published
Mustaine is one of the Flying V’s poster boys, with several signature models under his belt

“I have long harbored a slight obsession with this hugely underrated guitar. The new finish doesn’t help with that one bit”: All the new guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – including... an urn that fits inside an acoustic?
By Matt Owen published
A whole load of new Jacksons, Charvels, Yamahas and Gibsons headline the last seven days of guitar gear drops

Would you keep your loved one’s cremated remains in an acoustic guitar?
By Jonathan Horsley published
KapSoul has unveiled an urn that you mount inside an acoustic guitar and is backed by an “Eternal Warranty”

Joe Satriani pays tribute to Chris Cornell with instrumental cover of Audioslave’s Be Yourself
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The virtuoso features on the latest track from King Ultramega, a tribute project for the late Soundgarden frontman

Justin Hawkins defends his brother’s comments over the VMAs Ozzy Osbourne tribute
By Phil Weller published
Yungblud starred alongside Nuno Bettencourt, Joe Perry and Steven Tyler for an all-star medley of Prince of Darkness tunes – which was met with derision by Dan Hawkins

Nuno Bettencourt remembers his final exchange with Ozzy Osbourne – a reminder of the gig he once turned down
By Matt Owen published
As a 15-year-old, Bettencourt auditioned to become Randy Rhoads’ replacement. When the gig presented itself years later, he declined

When Joe Bonamassa was introduced to Joanne Shaw Taylor – who “offended” him on their first meeting
By Matt Owen published
The two blues guitar greats crossed paths at a festival in 2008 – but Taylor wasn’t interested in what Bonamassa had to show her

Rita Coolidge alleges she helped write Eric Clapton’s Layla – but never got credit for it
By Matt Owen published
In a resurfaced interview, Coolidge recalls the time she sought a songwriting credit for composing the song’s piano coda – but was rebuffed

Reverb relaunches in the UK with reduced seller fees – promising players “more money for their music gear”
By Phil Weller published
Musicians will now get more money for the gear they sell on the website, which also provides discounted shipping labels and UK market trend data

Jackson pays homage to its early days with Pro Origins 1985 San Dimas series – featuring newly developed era-accurate pickups
By Matt Owen published
Four new models boast fresh pickups based on early Jackson innovations

How Eddie Van Halen led to Les Claypool picking up the bass – and how he nearly joined Kirk Hammett’s band
By Janelle Borg published
The Primus bassist and Metallica lead guitarist attended the same high school – and very nearly ended up in the same band

Steve Morse injects Coldplay with some Deep Purple flair as he adds a guitar solo to mega-hit Fix You
By Phil Weller published
The British pop rock giants don’t really do shred, so what happened when Morse got his hands on the track?

PRS has resurrected its Mira model – and says it's better than ever
By Phil Weller published
The budget-friendly and versatile solidbody was discontinued in 2013. Now called the S2 Mira 594, it’s back with some key upgrades

A guitar once owned by Jimmy Page and given away in a magazine competition goes for over three times its estimate at auction
By Janelle Borg published
The 1957 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 was originally bought by Page in 1972 and won by a New Music Express reader

Marcus King on the vintage guitar he accidentally bought while drunk
By Janelle Borg published
King recently played Rory Gallagher’s famed white Fender Telecaster and Jeff Beck’s iconic Yardburst Les Paul

How Ivison Guitars became Britain’s hottest high-end brand
By Dave Burrluck published
With new staff, in-house pickups and the continuing success of the Dakota, there’s plenty to discuss. We grab Neil Ivison for a quick chat

The Boss PX-1 Plugout FX backlash has gone viral – but is it justified? We put the biggest criticisms to Boss
By Matt Owen published
We leveled 5 of the internet’s most common issues with the divisive PX-1 to its maker. Now Boss has set the record straight

Bryan Adams looks back on the time he crossed Fenders with the world’s biggest popstar on one of his most iconic hits
By Janelle Borg published
Adams recalls the time he joined Swift on stage to perform one of his most well-loved songs

Kirk Hammett let Al Di Meola play his iconic Greeny – so the fusion virtuoso let him play his prized Elegant Gypsy Black Beauty
By Phil Weller published
The two guitar greats let each other have a go on their cherished Les Pauls

Sting's legal representatives claim Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland may have been “substantially overpaid” following lost royalties lawsuit
By Janelle Borg published
Summers and Copeland claim that Sting owes them “in excess of $2 million” for income made from the “digital exploitation” of the Police’s back catalog