Wait, Polyphia are using Marshall amps now? By Michael Astley-Brown published 5 June 23 Digital modeling enthusiasts Tim Henson and Scott LePage have been spotted with JCM800s – but is everything as it seems?
Steve Vai and Tosin Abasi-championed virtuoso Matteo Mancuso really is superhuman – watch him play his mind-melting new single Drop D live By Matt Owen published 2 June 23 Witness the spectacle that is Drop D live, and marvel at Mancuso's boundary-pushing technique that delivers some truly astonishing results
Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett's new podcast aims to uncover the secrets behind some of rock's biggest guitar solos – and the first round of guests is ridiculous By Jackson Maxwell published 2 June 23 Alex Lifeson, Richie Sambora, Nile Rodgers, Lindsay Ell, Rivers Cuomo, Brad Paisley, Mike McCready, Brent Mason and more will share their lead guitar wisdom on the first season of Shred with Shifty
Mary Ford’s 1961 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom has just been tracked down… on Facebook Marketplace By Matt Owen published 2 June 23 The historic instrument – which Ford used in her collaborations with Les Paul – ended up in the most unlikely place after playing a formative role in rock ’n’ roll history
Inside the new issue of Total Guitar: The Solos Issue By Chris Bird published 2 June 23 Also in issue 372! Interviews: Nuno Bettencourt, Guthrie Govan, Tigercub, Island Of Love and more! Reviews: Cort G300 Glam, DOD Reissue Pedals, Fender Tone Master Princeton Reverb combo, Walrus Audio Melee, Vox amPlug Brian May. Learn songs by Foo Fighters, Queen and Arctic Monkeys
This week's essential guitar tracks: from the biggest rock band on Earth to Nuno Bettencourt's favorite solo By Michael Astley-Brown published 2 June 23 Songs you gotta hear from Rockin’1000 ft. Chris Robertson, Extreme, Elegant Weapons, Foo Fighters, Code Orange, ONI feat. Jared Dines and oh so many more
Wolfgang Van Halen used Eddie's Frankenstein through his original Marshall amp rig on one track from the forthcoming Mammoth WVH album By Matt Owen published 2 June 23 “It's kind of crazy – there are certain notes where it's like, ‘Wow, that sounds like Van Halen I,’” the Mammoth WVH leader said
Nuno Bettencourt says the Rise solo opens with a mistake By Matt Parker published 2 June 23 The Extreme guitarist reveals his recent technical masterpiece starts with an error: “I miss the whole string completely, I was so excited”
11-year-old guitarist brings literal shred fireworks and Marty McFly-flavored tapping to Britain's Got Talent stage By Jackson Maxwell published 1 June 23 Having already won plaudits from Brian May, young Harry Churchill further wowed viewers and judges alike with Johnny B. Goode á la Back to the Future, and Kiss-like theatrics
Another legendary amp brand has entered the Bluetooth speaker market. Is being Orange enough to stand out? By Matt Parker published 1 June 23 The Orange Box sees the UK-based firm joins the Bluetooth space race with a unique Class D and Class A/B design
Brian May and Eddie Van Halen's Star Fleet Project mini-album is finally coming to streaming – with unreleased EVH solos By Jackson Maxwell published 1 June 23 Among other never-before-heard gems, the reissued set will feature a dozen takes of Star Fleet, which together chart the course of a solo that May cites as "one of the greatest things" Eddie Van Halen ever did
Joe Bonamassa explains why he prefers Stratocasters with maple fretboards over rosewood By Matt Owen published 1 June 23 Though he's partial to playing both, the blues-rocker leans towards maple ’boards for one key reason
Fender just released its most bizarre Squier Paranormal models yet By Matt Owen published 1 June 23 Feast your eyes on the Big F's latest assortment of alternate reality guitars, sure to send shivers down the spines of purists everywhere
Mooer unveils the Micro Looper II – is it destined to dethrone the TC Electronic Ditto as the go-to mini looper? By Matt Owen published 1 June 23 The feature-packed pedal has been released alongside the Micro Drummer II, with the pair aiming to make further waves in the mini pedal market
Hear the new Extreme single that Nuno Bettencourt says features his favorite solo on the whole album By Matt Parker published 31 May 23 Other Side of the Rainbow is the latest single from the rock veterans’ forthcoming album, Six – and Nuno prefers its solo to Rise
Run out of ideas? Try Scott Holiday's 'mind eraser' songwriting method By Matt Owen published 31 May 23 Sometimes it's the simplest fixes that yield the greatest results
Kirk Hammett: “Maybe the age of active pickups is over” By Matt Parker published 31 May 23 The Metallica guitarist says PAFs age better and he has been swayed away from active humbuckers for lead work – and James Hetfield agrees
Double Whammy: metal guitarist Sean Long goes viral with his bonkers dual-pedal technique By Matt Parker published 31 May 23 Clips of the While She Sleeps guitarist’s experimental pitch-shifting approach have had over 2 million views. As he tells us: “It allows me to create things that sound impossible”
Architects announce departure of guitarist Josh Middleton By Matt Owen published 31 May 23 The ESP signature artist leaves the band after six years and three studio albums, and turns his attention to his other metal group, Sylosis
Watch Joe Bonamassa play Peter Green’s guitars – and explain why he’s pleased Kirk Hammett owns the Greeny Les Paul By Matt Owen published 31 May 23 Green’s 1968 Gretsch White Falcon and 1931 National Duolian Resonator received the Bonamassa seal of approval ahead of going up for auction next month
