Best basses for metal 2024: our selection of the best basses for heavy music across all budgets By Chris Corfield last updated 29 August 24 From Rickenbacker to Ibanez and Schecter, our picks of the best metal basses will help you sound heavier than ever before
Sweetwater's Labor Day sale strikes the right chord with a mind-blowing $1,300 off B.C. Rich and up to $600 off select D'Angelico and Guild semi-hollows By Daryl Robertson published 29 August 24 The music retail giant has just dropped its Labor Day sale a few days early, and it includes insane discounts on the likes of Gretsch, Roland, Ernie Ball, Blackstar, and more
Jack White has been on a lifelong quest for the perfect spring reverb – so he made one with Anasounds By Matt Owen published 29 August 24 White's latest collaborative release has been nearly four years in the making, and combines three springs with a specially engineered built-in preamp
Grace Bowers trades her Gibson SG for a Fender Strat to cover Stevie Ray Vaughan classics By Janelle Borg published 29 August 24 The young blues virtuoso and her band The Hodge Podge pay homage to Vaughan with their own takes on Lenny and Scuttle Buttin’
Carmen Vandenberg joins Jerry Cantrell to put her own twist on the iconic Alice in Chains solo By Janelle Borg published 29 August 24 Vandenberg wielded a Duesenberg Julia, while the Alice In Chains guitarist opted for his trusty 'Blue Dress' G&L at the North Carolina concert
Martin unveils its latest Rock the Vote guitar in partnership with David Crosby’s estate By Phil Weller published 29 August 24 The dreadnought looks to push a long-lasting message of the power of democracy
11-year-old metal guitarist nails Master of Puppets on America’s Got Talent – with Dave Mustaine’s signature model By Janelle Borg published 29 August 24 Maya Neelakantan had previously covered Papa Roach's Last Resort on AGT and gone viral for her Tool covers
Fender’s Custom Shop channels Fender Japan’s most desirable designs for its latest luxury collaborative Stratocaster By Matt Owen published 29 August 24 The striking six-sring celebrates the Strat's 70th Anniversary with the help of Bvlgari, and takes inspiration from the Aerodyne and Elemental families
Marty Friedman recalls missing out on joining Kiss because of his height By Janelle Borg published 29 August 24 Yngwie Malmsteen and White Lion's Vito Bratta were also rejected due to image-related reasons
Best laptops for music production 2024: portable computers for recording guitar By Chris Corfield last updated 29 August 24 Our pick of capable machines for tracking guitars, creating demos and more, from brands including Apple, Dell, Microsoft and Asus
Open D tuning chords: 5 shapes you need to know By Jon Bishop published 29 August 24 A favorite of Mumford & Sons, open D tunes your guitar to DADF#AD and makes a great platform for fingerstyle blues excursions
Keanu Reeves’ new Fender Custom Shop P-Bass inspired an all-new circuit called “the Keanu wiring” By Phil Weller published 28 August 24 The actor's new instrument is full of some intriguing personalizations, and offers a fresh take on the classic sunburst finish
Steve Vai and Positive Grid have launched a signature Spark Mini – and it’s got four Vai-designed presets By Matt Owen published 28 August 24 The latest artist-approved Spark Mini features a unique Hydra artwork and a quartet of guitar tones that cover Vai's favorite practice sounds
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter recalls recording guitar on Dolly Parton mega-hit 9 to 5 By Janelle Borg published 28 August 24 Baxter highlights the song's R&B feel as a key element that set it apart from the country songs being released at the time
Chase Bliss’ first-ever signature pedal transforms its fan-favorite Wombtone into an otherworldly envelope-controlled phaser By Phil Weller published 28 August 24 The cult classic pedal finally returns in the form of a Strings signature stompbox, with expression pedal compatibility and a host of new improvements
Woman gifted long-lost Guns N’ Roses Les Paul prototype shocked to find it’s worth $20,000 By Phil Weller published 28 August 24 The guitar – which was sold to raise funds for the building of an LA children’s hospital – saw its value quadruple once its secret backstory came to light
The Halcyon Blue recreates John Mayer’s favorite Marshall drive pedal – but it’s more than a clone By Matt Owen published 28 August 24 The latest addition to the Halcyon range seeks to take the famed drive stompbox from the 1990s to new heights
Molly Tuttle on bluegrass inclusivity and her search of speed, feel and acoustic guitar virtuosity By Jenna Scaramanga published 28 August 24 One of bluegrass's most gifted guitarists, Tuttle checks in to discuss the evolution of her style, and why it pays to subvert received wisdom and practice flat-out as fast as you can go
Acclaimed jazz guitarist Russell Malone, known for his work with Harry Connick Jr. and Ron Carter, has died aged 60 By Janelle Borg published 28 August 24 Malone had just finished a performance at Blue Note Tokyo with The Golden Striker Trio when he suffered a fatal heart attack
Gibson pays homage to the Cash family legacy with Johnny Cash SJ-200 and Rosanne Cash J-185 acoustic guitars By Janelle Borg published 28 August 24 The Johnny Cash SJ-200 is based on his late-1950s signature guitar, while the Rosanne Cash J-185 is an all-new model
