DiMarzio and Billy Sheehan have reinvented the P-Bass pickup with a new patent By Janelle Borg published 6 June 24 The new DiMarzio design reimagines P-Bass pickup covers, promising improvements in both playability and performance
EarthQuaker Devices and Death By Audio revive their cult collaborative pedal, Time Shadows By Phil Weller published 6 June 24 The two firms’ original collaboration sold-out almost immediately in 2020, now it’s back as a full production run
Barefaced Audio’s Activier turns its boutique cabs into modeling-friendly power amp combos By Phil Weller published 6 June 24 The brand says guitarists “deserve better” than the current market options
Joe Bonamassa explains why great tones are “much cheaper than people realize” By Janelle Borg published 6 June 24 The blues ace and vintage guitar collector says you don't need expensive gear to get classic tones
Gibson Custom Shop recreates Jason Isbell’s 1959 Les Paul, ‘Red Eye’ – formerly owned by Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ed King By Phil Weller published 6 June 24 The guitar has a Brazilian Rosewood fretboard and has put the Murphy Lab’s skillset to the test thanks to its unique finish quirk
“That was Eddie Van Halen’s favorite”: Tony Iommi reveals the Black Sabbath riff EVH was always asking him to play By Janelle Borg published 6 June 24 Eddie Van Halen compared his favorite Tony Iommi riff to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony
“When I left the band I took most of my Aerosmith guitars, put them in road boxes, and left them there”: Joe Perry on the lost golden-era Aerosmith guitar he misses the most By Phil Weller
DiMarzio and Billy Sheehan have reinvented the P-Bass pickup with a new patent By Janelle Borg published 6 June 24 The new DiMarzio design reimagines P-Bass pickup covers, promising improvements in both playability and performance
EarthQuaker Devices and Death By Audio revive their cult collaborative pedal, Time Shadows By Phil Weller published 6 June 24 The two firms’ original collaboration sold-out almost immediately in 2020, now it’s back as a full production run
Barefaced Audio’s Activier turns its boutique cabs into modeling-friendly power amp combos By Phil Weller published 6 June 24 The brand says guitarists “deserve better” than the current market options
Joe Bonamassa explains why great tones are “much cheaper than people realize” By Janelle Borg published 6 June 24 The blues ace and vintage guitar collector says you don't need expensive gear to get classic tones
Gibson Custom Shop recreates Jason Isbell’s 1959 Les Paul, ‘Red Eye’ – formerly owned by Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ed King By Phil Weller published 6 June 24 The guitar has a Brazilian Rosewood fretboard and has put the Murphy Lab’s skillset to the test thanks to its unique finish quirk
“That was Eddie Van Halen’s favorite”: Tony Iommi reveals the Black Sabbath riff EVH was always asking him to play By Janelle Borg published 6 June 24 Eddie Van Halen compared his favorite Tony Iommi riff to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony
Robin Trower cancels North American tour due to health concerns By Janelle Borg published 5 June 24 While the guitar legend was forced to cancel his upcoming tour due to imminent major surgery, he's hopeful that he will return to the stage in the future
Unseen footage of Eddie Van Halen and Leslie West's onstage jams and backstage hangs has been unearthed By Janelle Borg published 5 June 24 In 2002, Eddie Van Halen joined Mountain on and offstage – and cameras were there to capture the moment
Jared James Nichols and Henrik Linder have a new favorite set of strings – and they're designed to get more from your guitar By Phil Weller published 5 June 24 DR's Dragon Skin+ strings feature an innovative coating design that aims to get strings vibrating to their full potential – so much so that Henrik Linder thinks they “will change the way I play music”
“Space Guitar has to be heard to be believed. If one track could carve a path up to and beyond Hendrix, this is it”: The life and times of Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson, the true guitar original who inspired Zappa and SRV – plus Ice Cube, Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige By Denny Ilett
Jah Wobble on PiL, going back to his P-Bass – and why he’s reworking Metal Box By Andrew Daly published 6 June 24 The post-punk pioneer gets back to his P-Bass, which he thinks of as a lifeform, and prepares to rework classic album Metal Box on tour – without ripping off reggae
8 ways to make your beginner acoustic guitar play and sound better By Matt McCracken published 6 June 24 Our expert tips will help unlock the full potential of your beginner acoustic
Kerry King on his unapologetic solo debut – and how long before Slayer jump back into the coffin By Amit Sharma published 6 June 24 As one half of Slayer’s fearsome guitar attack, Kerry King shaped the sound of extreme metal. With a new album and a new sparring partner, he hasn’t mellowed…
It may not be flashy, but Mike Dawes’ acoustic rig is truly mind-bending By David Mead published 6 June 24 A new album, a collaboration with Periphery and a touring schedule that would make many artists weep are all in a day’s work for Mike Dawes, one of the world’s foremost percussive guitar specialists
Everything you need to know about guitar cables – from what they’re made of to how they work By Richard Blenkinsop published 5 June 24 Get to know the science behind your guitar cables’ operation and the additional factors that can have an impact on cable performance
“Where’s the noise?”: The Dandy Warhols on their struggles with the wrong guitars and amps By Andrew Daly published 5 June 24 With influences ranging from Pantera and Black Sabbath to Bauhaus, an ever-changing pedal chain, and a mission statement that’s never changed, the Dandy Warhols are still – 30 years into their career – keeping it weird
With Strats, Magnatones, and an all-star lineup of friends, Slash embraces the blues – with one of the last Dumbles ever built By Jonathan Horsley published 5 June 24 Turning to spontaneity, and changing habits both gear and playing-wise, Slash's new record is a laid-back, charming tribute to an ever-lasting strain of guitar playing
Dug Pinnick on pushing hard rock’s boundaries with Kings X and a 12-string bass guitar By Nick Wells published 5 June 24 Dug Pinnick’s onstage presence with King’s X is made even more compelling by his unusual 12-string bass guitar
Best travel guitars 2024: top acoustic and electric travel guitars for portability and performance By Rob Laing last updated 5 June 24 Top travel guitar choices and buying advice for musicians on the move
These 15 pioneering Fender Stratocaster players made the model their own – learn their trailblazing approaches By Jon Bishop published 4 June 24 Learn the signature styles of 15 Strat-wielding icons – including Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Nile Rodgers, H.E.R., Mark Knopfler and more
“No-one played like him before, and everyone played like him after”: Joe Bonamassa demonstrates the genius of Albert King By Joe Bonamassa published 31 May 24 Joe Bonamassa pays homage to one of his favourite blues influences – and why he can’t play a slow blues without asking, “What would Albert do?”
10 things every beginner guitarist needs to know By Jenna Scaramanga last updated 30 May 24 Chords and scales, rhythm and lead: these core skills set you up for success in any style
10 Eric Johnson techniques that will take your solos up a notch By John Wheatcroft published 29 May 24 The Texas virtuoso has a phenomenal command of touch, tone and technique – find out how you can apply his playing approaches to your own style
Get to grips with double-stops in our definitive lesson on the cornerstone technique By Simon Barnard published 28 May 24 Playing two notes together is an essential addition to any guitarist’s arsenal – and can be used in any kind of style
Americana is where country, blues, folk and bluegrass collide – and players like Steve Earle, Jason Isbell and Lucinda Williams are masters of the craft By Stuart Ryan published 24 May 24 Expand your fingerpicking skills and master the techniques used by Americana greats in this in-depth lesson
Hybrid picking on guitar: this in-depth lesson will have you playing like a pro in no time By Tom Kolb last updated 23 May 24 Get started with hybrid picking in this comprehensive lesson
Gus G is a speed picking master – and his alternate picking masterclass will get you playing faster than ever By JTC Guitar published 22 May 24 The Firewind and Ozzy Osbourne guitarist shares three blistering licks to help you sharpen up your picking
Bob Dylan is a songwriting great – and his acoustic guitar approach defined the folk sound By Stuart Ryan published 20 May 24 Bob Dylan changed the world with an acoustic guitar. We break down his style, giving you the tools to take your songwriting to the next level