6 essential Black Friday sales for guitar players that are already live By Matt McCracken published 23 November 23 If you’re on the hunt for a Black Friday deal then these sales from Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Fender, and more will scratch the itch
Fender Japan does its best Gretsch impression with uber-sparkly, Filter’Tron-loaded limited-edition Telecaster By Matt Owen published 23 November 23 As the hype builds, surely it's only a matter of time before FJ instruments are made available outside of Asia?
“The whole idea of being a great guitar player is nobody can do you like you… Mean Street is the perfect storm of why people don't f**k with Edward Van Halen”: Nuno Bettencourt explains why you’ve gotta give Joe Satriani “a pass” By Matt Parker published 23 November 23 The Extreme guitarist explains the key to nailing EVH’s tricky intro and says its time to cut Satch some slack
Joe Doe by Vintage Gas Jockey review – a madcap pairing of the Stratocaster and Firebird designed by a UK screenwriter By Dave Burrluck published 22 November 23 The new 2023 Joe Doe by Vintage range boasts a totally fictitious history but some refreshingly different takes on the classics
“Zero f**ks given”: Dean continues its resurgence with the updated Zero platform – ushering in a new wave of Z-style guitars following Gibson’s lawsuit By Matt Owen published 22 November 23 Last week, Dean announced it would be selling V-style guitars following Gibson’s legal battle. Now, its newly reconfigured Z-type model has followed suit
“Jim Root 182”: The Fender Tom DeLonge Stratocaster is getting a (nearly) all-black metal makeover for Black Friday – but you’ll have to be quick to get one By Matt Parker published 22 November 23 The highly limited blacked-out blink-182 instruments go on sale this Friday (November 24)
I use Helix Native every day for practice and recording and it’s just dropped to half-price for Black Friday By Matt McCracken published 22 November 23 Line 6’s flagship amp sim and effects software just got an absolutely ginormous discount
“His playing speaks to my soul like no other guitarist”: Alex Lifeson joins Adam Jones onstage to help Tool perform Jambi – before gifting his hero one of his signature Epiphone Les Pauls By Matt Owen published 22 November 23 Having previously spoken about his affection for Jones' guitar playing, Lifeson joined Tool onstage to tackle the rhythmic riff rollercoaster – with some added Rush flair for good measure
“An out-of-this-world limited-edition Flying V”: Gibson’s latest Adam Jones signature guitar is here – and it’s a $20k Murphy Lab recreation of the Tool titan’s prized Flying V with a Futura-style headstock By Matt Owen published 22 November 23 Staying true to the guitarist's penchant for heavy instruments, the meticulously assembled limited-edition Custom Shop model arrives after Jones debuted a V designed with help from Kirk Hammett, Richie Faulkner and Jim Root in 2022
“Our Epiphone and Gibson Custom Shop teams are continually collaborating”: Gibson’s Mat Koehler confirms open-book headstock will roll out on more Epiphone models By Matt Parker published 22 November 23 The much-talked about Gibson-aping headstock will feature on the brand’s new top-tier Inspired by Gibson Custom Shop builds
“It’s the most money I’ve ever paid for a guitar in my life: over $400,000. But what’s a Flying V worth? It’s worth what someone’s willing to pay for it”: Joe Bonamassa opens the gates to Nerdville and shows off the most prized guitars in his collection By Rod Brakes published 22 November 23 Bonamassa welcomes us to Nerdville to share the stories behind some of his favorite guitars, including a mint ’58 Flying V, Tommy Bolin’s mythical 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard and a tuxedo ES-355 that might, just might, be the only one in existence
“A significant leap forward in sonic performance and flexibility for guitarists of all styles”: Bad Cat finally launches the Jet Black – the guitar amp at the heart of Tosin Abasi’s new rig By Matt Owen published 21 November 23 In recent years, the Animals As Leaders virtuoso has turned to tube amps after moving away from Axe-Fx – and now the Bad Cat Jet Black plays a pivotal role in his new setup
“I want to honor the sound, but I don't want to lose myself”: Joe Satriani says he’s coming to terms with the fact that he doesn't sound like Eddie Van Halen By Matt Parker published 21 November 23 The guitar icon has been drafted in to take on EVH parts alongside Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony in the Best of All Worlds tour – and compares the challenge to taking on Ritchie Blackmore’s parts on tour with Deep Purple in the early-’90s
“Early on I discovered that the bass player decides the chord – not the guitar player”: R.E.M.’s Mike Mills on finding the perfect bass part and becoming a “one-bass guy” By Karl Coryat published 21 November 23 From the Bass Player Archive: An interview with R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills
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
Fender’s red-hot Black Friday sale has up to 50% off dozens of guitars - we've hand-picked 10 outrageous deals you'll love By Daryl Robertson published 21 November 23 There's massive savings to be had on everything from Aerodyne to Player, Classic Vibe to Vintera and so much more this Black Friday
“I never thought that my signature would be on anything – never mind Fenders, Gibsons, and Martins, they're the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost of guitars”: Mark Knopfler is selling off 120 guitars, including his Money For Nothing Les Paul By Matt Parker published 21 November 23 See the Scottish guitar great talk through highlights of his immense collection of signature models, custom builds and guitars used on Dire Straits’ most iconic tracks
“Designed, not modeled”: Blackstar expands its digital amp arsenal with St. James EL34 and 6L6 plugins – which promise to provide “the most authentic guitar amp plugin experience possible” By Matt Owen published 21 November 23 Blackstar's burgeoning sim software catalog is growing apace – and the brand's latest drop looks to deliver streamlined, affordable takes on its St. James tube amps
“An amazing opportunity for more players to experience the spirit of Greeny”: the Epiphone Kirk Hammett ‘Greeny’ Les Paul is finally here – complete with a Gibson headstock and a price tag to match By Matt Parker published 21 November 23 The most anticipated Epiphone model in its history hails the arrival of a new era of Inspired by Gibson Custom Shop models
“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
