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The Standells perform live onstage

“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

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

Dave Mustaine and Kiko Loureiro

“I don’t want to hinder any of the band’s plans”: Kiko Loureiro announces his departure from Megadeth after 9 years – and his successor may already be in place

By Matt Owen published

Is Teemu Mäntysaari, the young star currently filling in for Loureiro, set to take the mantle full-time? Or is a past player poised to make a sensational return?

Cesar Gueikian shows off the Epiphone Greeny Les Paul's Gibson-like headstock

“Please tell me that’s the new Epiphone headstock in general”: The Epiphone Greeny Les Paul is nearly here – and guitarists are losing their minds over the headstock

By Matt Parker published

Kirk Hammett and Cesar Gueikian have both teased the new model, offering glimpses of a build that looks much more faithful to Gibson’s own design

Serena Cherry

“A lot of solos in metal definitely have a formula... To me, a solo really hits home when you don’t hear the magic coming”: How Svalbard’s Serena Cherry is tearing up the metal guitar playbook

By Ellie Rogers published

Told she was playing guitar “wrong”, Cherry instead took it as permission to embrace the unorthodox and chase metal guitar sounds from the primal to the orchestral

Kurt Cobain performs using his Sky Stang I Fender Mustang in December 1993

Kurt Cobain guitars now account for 3 of the top 10 most expensive guitars sold at auction as the ‘Sky Stang I’ Fender Mustang used in Nirvana’s final performance sells for $1.5 million

By Matt Parker published

The value of Kurt Cobain-associated guitar sales on the list now more than doubles that of his nearest competitor, David Gilmour

Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram

“This music was born out of pain and suffering. It wasn’t all about guitar solos or ‘my baby left me’! That’s where a lot of people go wrong”: Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram on why the future of blues guitar requires an understanding of its past

By Amit Sharma published

The Mississippi blues phenom draws on influences ranging from past masters to Eric Gales and Prince alike – and he says to play the blues, you've got to know where it came from

Funny Little Boxes Skeleton Key pedal

Funny Little Boxes Skeleton Key review – Josh Homme’s Queens of the Stone Age tones in a box?

By Stuart Williams published

The Skeleton Key is an op-amp distortion pedal that claims to hold the secret to Josh Homme’s guitar sound – but whatever you do, don’t tell anyone. We’re keeping this to ourselves, right?

S by Solar guitar range

“The same detailed craftwork and design that is at the heart of Solar Guitars”: Ola Englund changes the metal guitar game with ultra-affordable 'S by Solar' brand – and prices start from just $219

By Matt Owen published

17 models across 6 body shape categories have been introduced, with not one of them weighing above $349

The Best of All Worlds band – featuring Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Jason Bonham and Joe Satriani

“I royally screwed up, which hurt like a thorn in my side, but I’ll get over it”: Joe Satriani says he slipped up playing Van Halen’s Mean Street on Howard Stern – but it’s taught him a valuable lesson about EVH’s tone

By Matt Parker published

Satch nailed most of what was thrown at him on the show but says one track proved more of a challenge than the others

Sweetwater's epic Black Friday Sale is officially here – don't miss up to 70% off big-name guitar gear

Sweetwater has the biggest Black Friday savings we've seen so far – up to 70% off big-name guitar gear in their official sale

By Daryl Robertson published

Bag enormous Black Friday savings on electric and acoustic guitars, amps, pedals, recording gear, strings and more

Dre DiMura

Black metal has gone orchestral and nu-disco shred is back, baby: This week’s essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Unmissable tunes from John Mayer, Dre DiMura, Heriot, Ihsahn, Julian Lage, Porno for Pyros and so many more…

Line 6 Helix family

“There’s no better time than now to make your move”: Line 6 continues to set the pace in the modeling arms race with yet another free feature-packed Helix firmware update

By Matt Owen published

A sought-after stock sim based on the Marshall JCM800 2203 and a suite of new effects heads up the “game-changing” update that looks to tempt players to the Line 6 ranks

Kiki Wong

“I find honing my tone to be the perpetual chasing of my tail – once I feel I’ve gotten close, I hear something new, and it’s back to the drawing board”: Even with massive TikTok and Instagram followings, Kiki Wong is still trying to find the perfect tone

By Andrew Daly published

The ever-hard-rocking guitarist tells GW about the valuable lesson she learned from her $120 Hamer Slammer (and the guitar’s sad, bizarre fate), believing in her craft in the face of sexism, and why she'll always stand up for the Boss Metal Zone

Stratocaster leaning against a Boss Katana amp

Guitar World deals of the week: save big on guitar gear with a stonking $700 off a Gibson and a massive $330 off a Fender

By Matt McCracken published

We've been seeking out all the best early Black Friday deals with gear from Gibson, Fender, Schecter, Earthquaker Devices, and loads more

Eric Clapton and his 'The Fool' Gibson SG

“The most expensive Clapton guitar ever sold at auction”: Eric Clapton’s iconic ‘Fool’ Gibson SG just sold for more than $1,000,000 – and it was bought by a world-renowned guitar collector

By Matt Owen published

The record-breaking auction sees the uniquely finished double-cut – which Slowhand used to develop his trademark “woman tone” – comfortably join the list of the most expensive guitars sold at auction

Save on Harley Benton guitars and more in Thomann's massive up to 60% off Cyberweek sale

Save on Harley Benton guitars and more in Thomann's massive up to 60% off Cyberweek sale

By Daryl Robertson published

With savings to be had on everything from Gibson to Epiphone, ESP to Harley Benton, now is the best time to grab a guitar-related bargain

IK Multimedia Tonex ODS Legends Signature Collection

“Finally accessible to all discerning tone aficionados”: IK Multimedia democratizes the Dumble – packing models of four “priceless” Overdrive Special amps into a $50 download

By Matt Parker published

With the TONEX ODS Legends Signature Collection, the firm has spent time modeling four of the world’s most sought-after amps, and now the results are available to all

A close up of a Schecter C-1 metal guitar on a red background

I've looked through all 99 pages of the Guitar Center Black Friday sale – these are the 5 guitar deals I'd take home today

By Matt McCracken published

Guitar Center’s biggest sale of the year is finally here with up to 40% off loads of guitar gear from Schecter, Epiphone, EarthQuaker Devices, Boss, and loads more

Dean Vengeance Select

“Back with a Vengeance and Zero apologies”: Following Gibson’s lawsuit, Dean is selling V-shaped guitars again under a new name – and, like the design, it’s rather pointed...

By Matt Parker published

The Evertune-equipped Vengeance Select is one of three models hailing the return of the iconic shape to the firm’s catalog

Squier Sonic Mustang HH

Squier Sonic Mustang HH review – the best-value offset electric in the world?

By Matt Owen published

Squier has reimagined its entry-level Bullet models as the Sonic series – and for under $200, you get a lot of beginner-friendly fun for your money