LESS CAN BE MORE

It’s a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world reckons Dave Burrluck (via Ray Davies). When did cheap guitars get so good? We put one under the Mod Squad microscope…

Thinking Caps

In the second part of our focus on pickup controls we talk tone with Bare Knuckle Pickups’ tech support whizz Tim Bartle

MIKE LANDAU

He’s played with artists like Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Phil Collins, Miles Davis and Pink Floyd – but he still mourns the ’61 Strat that got away…

FIRST CLASS

With a third album replete with impeccable funk and richly embroidered guitar sounds from around the globe, Khruangbin are fast becoming one of the most exciting trios working today

Built For Speed

Combining old-school curb appeal with modern performance, this silver dream machine from the kings of rockabilly offers that new-car smell for the price of an old banger

Shine On

This month Alex Bishop confronts every luthier’s most feared topic – the elusive art of guitar finishing

Playing Tribute

Larrivée’s new Tommy Emmanuel tribute guitar is already sending out shockwaves across the acoustic world. We speak to Tommy and Jean Larrivée to find out more

Custom Heritage

Yamaha’s custom shop is celebrating its 30th anniversary. We catch up with its founding father, Ken Dapron

Cracking The Nut

In the second of two pieces, Jamie Dickson speaks to luthier Seth Baccus about how a well-made nut contributes to tone and playability

A Man Of Many Parts

This month Adam Goldsmith embraces the advantages of remote sessions while celebrating his latest creation…

JOHN SMITH

John Smith is one of the UK’s brightest rising stars on the singer-songwriter stage, but the onset of lockdown meant cancelling his first American headline tour. You can’t tie a good man down, though, and his response was to release a new live album and take to the internet in order to promote it…

Revolution Rock

Martin’s vice president of product management, Fred Greene, explains some of the concepts and rationale behind the SC-13E, and admits that one aim of the design was to “upset the old guard”

No Limits

Martin’s big launch for 2020 is a very un-Martin-style ‘crossover’ guitar, strongly hinting at a desire to move forwards. A designer’s folly or the future?

Longtermers

A few months’ gigging, recording and everything that goes with it – welcome to Guitarist ’s longterm test report

JOHNNY A

He’s got taste and tone to die for, Gibson and Epiphone signature models to his name, and he’s played in the band that he grew up idolising. We join the mercurial Massachusetts guitar legend to talk gear, Yardbirds and the future...

HOME-GROWN TONE

Ever fancied building your own guitar but feel daunted by the options? Dave Burrluck, or rather Trev Wilkinson, has the answer with a new range of all-in-one kits. How hard can it be?

Zoia

This box of tricks could change the way you think about effects…

Michelangelo Overdrive Plus

The Italian maker presents a trio of voices for valve-style drive

GIBSON L-5

We take a look back at the history and evolution of Gibson’s seminal f-hole jazzbox, the L-5, with archtop historian Thomas Van Hoose and examine how this watershed design set a benchmark in guitar building

McCarty's Legacy

Always in the shadow of the Custom, the now 26-year-old McCarty was PRS’s first ‘vintage-aimed’ model. We take a look at this ever-evolving guitar in its 2020 guise

New Romantic

Eastman might be better known in recent years for its solidbody range, but this Romeo calls on the brand’s archtop heritage. Love at first sight?

OUTSIDE THE BOX

Innovation, artistry and elbow grease – how women luthiers are rewriting the rulebook

Mako D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay

A new range from Walrus kicks off with a compact but potent delay

Celebrate In Style

One of three special PRS models to commemorate the brand’s 35th anniversary, this S2 offers expanded sounds for half the price of the Core Custom

CORY WONG

If you haven’t experienced Cory Wong’s amazingly funky rhythm style with the bands Vulfpeck and The Fearless Flyers, we’d invite you to check out the video Introducing The Fearless Flyers on YouTube before reading any further. It’s okay, we’ll wait…

A DESIGN FOR LIFE

When the first Paul Reed Smith guitar found its way into the Guitarist office many, many years ago we knew we were looking at something really special. Suddenly, there was a new kid on the block and, boy, could he make guitars… Coming back up to date and that passion for design and sonic excellence continues apace as the brand celebrates its 35th anniversary…

Thrill Seeker

The latest amp from legendary British amp builder Dennis Cornell packs quite a punch in a small package. Your journey into the analogue zone starts here…

Slim Pickin'

Two contrasting models from Takamine’s new Thinline range tell tales of superb player comfort and excellent onstage performance. Let’s see how they measure up…

RICHARD SMITH

We caught up with the nylon-string maestro during one of his all-too-rare visits to the UK for a lively conversation about all things acoustic and a very special video masterclass…

Roaring Forties

One of the oldest ‘classic’ pickup designs makes a return to the Guild range. But is everything quite what it seems?