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How Mike Campbell and Tom Petty developed their Heartbreaker sound – with the help of some choice early gear picks
By Matt Owen published
Though Petty was in need of a decent electric, the two Heartbreakers quickly landed on a sound that would define their guitar partnership

Lita Ford had her prized Mockingbird stolen – but crossed paths with it in the most bizarre circumstances
By Janelle Borg published
Ford was briefly reacquainted with her beloved Mockingbird when an auditionee rocked up to her studio with her stolen guitar

Epiphone expands its high-end Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection
By Matt Owen published
Open book headstocks, Gibson USA pickups and a handful of sought-after upgrades headline the 2025 expansion pack

Buddy Guy is still on the road – and he’s back on the big screen in Michael B. Jordan’s Sinners
By Janelle Borg published
Guy feels the weight of responsibility to continue carrying the torch for the blues – and ensure that the genre’s pioneers are known to younger generations

Tyrone Vaughan descends from blues greatness – and SRV helped him start his guitar journey early
By Matt Owen published
Stevie Ray Vaughan turned up at young Tyrone's birthday party with a special gift that would help him follow in the footsteps of his relatives

Mike Peters, frontman of the Welsh band, The Alarm, has died aged 66
By Janelle Borg published
Peters was first diagnosed with cancer 30 years ago – and remained an active campaigner to raise funds and awareness for cancer research through his charity, Love Hope Strength

FINNEAS reveals his surprise guitar hero whose playing left him scratching his head
By Janelle Borg published
Alongside Nile Rodgers, St. Vincent, John Frusciante, and George Harrison, a more niche choice rounds up his top five guitarists list

Red Witch's Apothecary pedals could outlast every other stompbox on your 'board
By Phil Weller published
New pedals inspired by classic tones are built to last like no other

Guitar Center continues its big-brand collaborative hot streak and takes Fender on a Moonlight Drive with a trio of limited-edition Player II models
By Phil Weller published
Tonal and comfort upgrades have been included as part of the glow-up – which introduces a striking new colorway

Sammy Hagar reveals how many songs Ozzy Osbourne will perform at his final show
By Phil Weller published
Ozzy previously said he’ll only do “little bits and pieces” during the historic show

English folk icon Wizz Jones – guitar hero of Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Thurston Moore – has died at 86
By Janelle Borg published
Jones was an influential and consistent figure in the British folk scene for the past six decades

What happens when a guitar store goes bust? A former employee at one of the UK's biggest guitar stores tells all
By Janelle Borg published
GAK, based in the UK city of Brighton, opened in 1992 and has recently closed down after weeks of speculation – and employment uncertainty for its staff

Wednesday 13 says the late Alexi Laiho once came close to joining him and Joey Jordison in Murderdolls
By Phil Weller published
The late Children of Bodom virtuoso nearly featured on the group’s second and final album

One of the most iconic session players of all time has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
By Janelle Borg published
Oasis and Phish were notably snubbed from the Class of 2025

“He said, ‘I've never heard it played that good’”: When Roy Clark met his guitar hero
By Jackson Maxwell published
Speaking to Guitar World in 1984, Clark painted a picture of a master musician who nonetheless remained incredibly humble despite his success, and the massive shadow he cast over country (not to mention folk and bluegrass) guitar playing

Frank Stallone on his “magnificent” Epiphone Emperor and its mysterious origins
By Phil Weller published
Frank's brother, Sylvester Stallone, bought the prized instrument for him from Norman’s Rare Guitars, but who owned the guitar for the first 20 years of its life remains undiscovered

Yngwie Malmsteen on why he turned down UFO
By Phil Weller published
The two offers came in the space of 24 hours as the bands looked to forge their next chapters with the Swedish virtuoso by their side

These are the gear releases that have caught my eye this week – and the ones you might have missed
By Matt Owen published
An amp modeler update that players have been waiting months for, a sustainable build from Martin and a premium collaboration between Gibson and Serj Tankian headline this week's action