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Big Bill Broonzy

“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

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

JHS Pedals Notaklön

“No-one has made a Klon like this”: Don’t fancy spending $10,000 on a real Klon Centaur? Not to worry – the new JHS Pedals Notaklön lets you build your own for $99

By Matt Owen published

Solderless construction, an added Shamrock tone mod, and it's only $99?! Shut up and take our money

Sammy Hagar and Joe Satriani in the Sirius XM studio

“This is impossible to play!” Joe Satriani and Sammy Hagar name – and nail – Eddie Van Halen’s hardest guitar riffs during first-ever Best of All Worlds performance

By Matt Owen published

Joined by bandmates Michael Anthony and Jason Bonham, the supergroup performed 5 tracks from the Van Halen catalog live on air ahead of their 2024 tour – mere minutes after getting together for the first time

Boss 50th Anniversary pedals

“Beloved by generations of players in every musical genre”: Boss’ sparkling 50th Anniversary series celebrates its place atop the pedal pile – and, with prices under $100, won’t put off the players that got it there

By Matt Parker published

The effects brand has launched limited – yet nicely priced – takes on its iconic DS-1, SD-1 and BD-2 pedals

A collection of guitars from the Eric Clapton Crossroads Centre guitar auction

“Owned by, played by, signed by and designed by some of the brightest lights in rock ‘n’ roll”: Eric Clapton launches 25th anniversary Crossroads Festival auction – and it includes some serious instruments

By Matt Owen published

Slowhand's 'Crash' Fender Stratocaster and a unique PRS Silver Sky are among the guitars up for sale, and all proceeds will go towards supporting the Crossroads Centre in Antigua

Two Taylor Academy Series acoustic guitars leaning against a wall

Best acoustic guitars under $1,000 2023: get great tone for less

By Rob Laing last updated

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

Jerry Garcia's final touring rig

“Jerry's most sophisticated guitar setup… the culmination of decades of experimentation with state of the art gear”: Jerry Garcia’s final touring rig – featuring Bob Weir’s revered Wall of Sound McIntosh amp and an embedded pedal panel – is up for auction

By Matt Parker published

The Grateful Dead guitar legend’s final rig is open to bids and it features a bit of 2-for-1 gear history

Guitar Tricks Black Friday deal

Take your playing from average Joe to pro with this amazing value Guitar Tricks one-year subscription deal – plus, get $321 of extras

By Chris Barnes published

Invest in your playing with the best Black Friday deal we’ve seen so far from one of our favourite online lessons platforms

Bob Weir and Jason Isbell perform Johnny B. Goode for Michael J. Fox

“McFly vibes from that 345!” Jason Isbell and Bob Weir perform Johnny B. Goode for Michael J. Fox, as Isbell tips his cap to the famously inaccurate Back to the Future guitar – the Gibson ES-345

By Matt Parker published

The guitarist and songwriter chose a particular Gibson to perform in front of a crowd of celebrity guests at Fox’s fundraiser

Seymour Duncan PowerStage 100 Stereo

Seymour Duncan’s new PowerStage 100 Stereo is its first stereo power amp pedal – could this be the amp modeling partner you’ve been searching for?

By Matt Owen published

The latest addition to the pickup specialist’s PowerStage series introduces a key upgrade

Taylor Beacon

“The ultimate multi-tool for guitar players”? Taylor’s upgraded Beacon might just be the most versatile clip-on tuner ever made

By Matt Owen published

Don't be fooled by its humble appearance – this five-in-one playing companion does so much more than just help keep your guitar in tune

Gibson Custombucker and Greenybucker pickups

Gibson Greenybucker and Custombucker review – the affordable way to give your guitar a Custom Shop upgrade?

By Dave Burrluck published

The modding world has gone pickup crazy, and now Gibson has joined the fray with its Pickup Shop. We put two of its flagship humbuckers under the microscope

PRS Dead Spec Silver Sky

“The first time I played it, I was smiling”: PRS unveils the latest evolution of John Mayer’s signature guitar – the ‘Dead Spec’ Silver Sky, inspired by Jerry Garcia’s Alligator Stratocaster

By Matt Owen published

It was first spotted on stage when Mayer hit the road with Dead & Company. Now, the purpose-built Silver Sky – which has a few new tricks up its sleeve – has been given a limited-edition release

(from left) Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani and Michael Anthony perform onstage at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center on October 18, 2014

“The music we created is going to outlive us all. It’s time we go out and serve the fans that music, while we still can”: Joe Satriani, Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony announce The Best of All Worlds – the next best thing to a Van Halen tribute tour

By Jackson Maxwell published

Though not explicitly a tribute, Hagar promises that the summer 2024 trek will feature a very Van Halen-heavy setlist

Gibson SG Standard ’61 Custom Color Series

Bored of Heritage Cherry? The Gibson SG Standard just got a major facelift with six new Custom Color choices

By Matt Parker published

Gibson’s other solidbody gets a fancy new coat – or rather six of them – with the expansion of the firm’s Custom Color options

Eric Clapton and Nathan East

“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

Nathan East recorded with his Yamaha Signature 5-string direct through a custom DI box

Epiphone Jared James Nichols Blues Power Les Paul Custom

“The power is in your hands”: You don’t have to be a muscle-bound ’80s action hero to wield Jared James Nichols’ new signature Blues Power Les Paul Custom, but we imagine it helps

By Matt Parker published

Accompanied by the He-Man meets Highlander of guitar promos, the blues-rock firebrand has unleashed his latest Epiphone signature guitar – the first to feature his signature Seymour Duncan P-90 pickup

Troy Van Leeuwen and Billy Gibbons

“Billy Gibbons brought some off-brand amp simulator to the studio. We heard him playing through this thing and it was like, ‘Wow! It sounds like f**kin’ Billy Gibbons!’” Troy Van Leeuwen might have just proven beyond doubt that tone truly is in the hands

By Matt Owen published

The Queens of the Stone Age guitarist recalls a studio visit from the ZZ Top icon, and in doing so provides yet more evidence in favor of the ‘tone is in the hands’ argument

J Rockett Archer on a grey background

Best Klon clones 2023: Our pick of the best Klon Centaur Klones for every budget

By Alex Lynham last updated

From straight-up klones to full reimaginings, here are some of the best Klon Centaur-inspired pedals on the market today

Paul Gilbert and Ace Frehley

“The solos are so perfectly composed... they remind me of what Bach would do if he had a Les Paul, a Marshall, and a space alien costume”: Paul Gilbert explains why he loves Ace Frehley’s playing

By Matt Parker published

The shred guru picks out a recording of the band’s “infallible feedback magic” as his highlight of the hard-rock icons’ remarkable 50-year run