CATEGORIES
فئات
TEENAGE FANCLUB
AS GLASGOW’S FINEST RETURN WITH THEIR ELEVENTH ALBUM, ENDLESS ARCADE, WE ASK CO-FOUNDING GUITARISTS NORMAN B LAKE AND RAYMOND MC GINLEY ABOUT SONGWRITING, STOLEN GUITARS, CHANNELLING ROBERT FRIPP AND WHY THEIR WORKING RELATIONSHIP IS “LIKE THE CHUCKLE BROTHERS”…
Shaping Sound
Few guitar companies have the kind of technology Yamaha boasts at their disposal when it comes to the acoustic. The redesigned NX series illustrates some complex electronics under the hood of these new nylon-strings
RICKENBACKER PICKUPS
Martin Kelly – author of Rickenbacker Guitars 1931-1999: Out Of The Frying Pan Into The Fireglo – straightens out the subject of Rickenbacker pickups
Epiphone Slash Les Paul ProBuckers
As authentic clones, the pickups in these Epiphone signature guitars offer true Gibson tone
Longtermers
A few months’ gigging, recording and everything that goes with it – welcome to Guitarist ’s longterm test report
60 YEARS OF THE SG
Its sharp horns seemed to belong to the Devil’s orchestra, not the polite jazz scene of the early 60s. As a statement of intent, the SG’s radical styling succeeded – but maybe not as first intended. The design was swiftly disowned by Les Paul, though it was supposed to be his signature instrument. Rejected by its patron, the SG grew up in the shadow of its iconic sibling, the Les Paul Standard, becoming the anti-hero’s tool of choice from Angus and Iommi onwards...
CHRIS BUCK
The Cardinal Black guitar maestro spins tales of a bargain ’62 Strat and how the P-90 is criminally underrated…
MEETING THE MARK
Mark Lettieri is one of the most in-demand players in the world at the moment. Aside from his edgy instrumental jazz work with Snarky Puppy, he’s also a close musical compadre of neo-funk stars Vulfpeck. We catch up with him to find out how, with Paul Reed Smith’s help, he designed a guitar to cover all musical terrains – and how tins of soup played an unexpectedly important role in the process…
JACKSON BROWNE
A laureate of the Laurel Canyon scene of the 70s, Jackson Browne’s love of guitar has fuelled a 50-year career that keeps getting better. As he releases his latest album, Downhill From Everywhere, we catch up with the Californian songsmith to talk old guitars and new directions
YNGWIE MALMSTEEN
He’s the Swedish wizard whose neo-classical flash turned the 80s shred scene on its head. Now, as Yngwie Malmsteen releases new album, Parabellum, he looks back on first Strats, scalloped fretboards, crashed sports cars, and his notorious ‘air rage’ spat
NICK JONAH DAVIS
THE LATEST ALBUM FROM DERBYSHIRE GUITARIST NICK JONAH DAVIS, WHEN THE SUN CAME, WAS RECORDED IN A CHURCH AND RELEASED JUST BEFORE LOCKDOWN–AND IT COULD WELL BE HIS FINEST YET. WE FIND OUT ABOUT THE RECORD’S ORIGINS, WHILE DISCOVERING MORE ABOUT NICK’S INFLUENCES, INSECURITIES AND EXPLORATIONS INTO “WEIRDNESS”...
MYLES KENNEDY
The Alter Bridge guitar man and vocalist recounts how sometimes you can strike gold when working in a music store, and that there is money in horse manure…
THE ORIGINAL BOLT-ON
The Fiore is PRS’s latest bolt-on guitar, but this story began back in 1988 with the short-lived Classic Electric
FLOWER POWER
PRS’s Silver Sky broke the internet with its derivative style and big league artist attachment, so the new Fiore has a lot to live up to. Does it succeed? Oh, yes – and then some
The Shortlist
The result of our home builder competition grows near
Gambling Man
Little Barrie and Primal Scream alumnus Barrie Cadogan admits that the Casino comes with its own quirks, but – as big-name players from the 60s and beyond have shown – if you take a punt on this legendary Epiphone model, it’ll pay you back in spades
Custom Gretsch Pickups
Guns N’ Roses’ Richard Fortus gives us the inside scoop on how he developed the pickups for his forthcoming signature Falcon with Gretsch
MIXED INTERVALS
This month Shaun Baxter concludes his recent series on using a variety of interval types within a Mixolydian blues-rock context.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Justin Sandercoe of justinguitar.com lends GT his insight as one of the world’s most successful guitar teachers. This month: The Diatonic Explorer
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB
This month Simon Barnard takes you across the Irish Sea to explore the style and sounds of Sam Halliday from Two Door Cinema Club.
THE CROSSROADS The Art of Slurring
In this month’s Crossroads, John Wheatcroft shows how adding slurs can help you achieve the expressive articulation of players ranging from blues icon Stevie Ray Vaughan, to jazz genius George Benson.
THEM CHANGES
Andy Jones of the London College of Creative Media begins a new series looking at intervals and chord tones and how to use them musically.
STYX
This month Martin Cooper checks out one of the greatest AOR bands of the 70s and 80s, Chicago’s legends of the power ballad, Styx.
SHRED! Joe Satriani
This month in the ‘shred shed’ Charlie Griffiths surfs over to the crystal planet to study Professor Satchafunkilus’ time machine. Get ready to fly!
SESSION SHENANIGANS
The studio guitarist’s guide to happiness and personal fulfillment, as related by session ace Mitch Dalton. This month: ‘If Muzak Be The Mood Of Love...’
INSTRUMENTAL INQUISITION !
Guitar instrumentals have supplied some of music’s most evocative moments. Jason Sidwell asks some top guitarists for their take on this iconic movement. This month: guitarist and film composer, Lyle Workman.
MARTY FRIEDMAN Video Masterclass
We welcome the rock virtuoso back to share the secrets of his leadership style by taking a solo over Majestical, a new track by Jason Sidwell. Marty plays a superbly melodic solo and then discusses key aspects of it. Jon Bishop is your guide.
DIONISIO AGUADO Prelude In E Minor
Our classical expert Bridget Mermikides presents this lovely prelude by one of the fathers of the classical guitar, the Spanish guitarist and composer, Dionisio Aguado.
BUILD YOUR SOLOS... ...to a Climax!
Richard Barrett looks at how repetition can serve you in creating dramatic, memorable and climactic solos, with exercises and example solos in the style of of some classic blues-rockers who use this approach.
SESSION SHENANIGANS
The studio guitarist’s guide to happiness and personal fulfilment, as related by session ace Mitch Dalton. This month: Metal To The Pedal