CATEGORIES

‘MARK I' MESA/BOOGIE

Vintage amp restorer Fabio Cutolo of FM Amps explains how he resurrected a ‘Mark I’ Mesa/Boogie by transforming it back into the original giant killer it once was in its glory days of the 1970s

STEVE CRADOCK

The Ocean Colour Scene man reflects on the mystique of flat-wound strings and recounts a lucky strike with some JCM800s

STEVE LUKATHER

Growing up in Los Angeles with school friends Steve, Jeff and Mike Porcaro, Steve Lukather would play on thousands of records and become part of the legendary rock band Toto. We hook up with Luke to talk about how The Beatles sowed the musical seed, learn about his stellar career, and the stunning new solo album, I Found The Sun Again

TAPESTRY OF TONE

Dale Wilson is one of the most sought-after master builders in Fender’s Custom Shop. We join him to hear how art and resonator history collided to inspire a unique Telecaster

Radioshop Loaded Pickguards

This hassle-free upgrade from Radioshop Pickups can transform the look and sound of virtually any S-type guitar

PIERRE BENSUSAN

When the world turned upside down last year, the French-Algerian DADGAD maestro was forced to abandon a mammoth North American tour. And yet his feeling of connectedness has only grown since – and so maybe, he reflects, his latest album “could have not come at a better time…”

PERFECTLY FRANK ZAPPA

Towards the end of last year, a new documentary on the life and times of Frank Zappa was premiered in the United States and now, after a few months’ wait, Zappa is available for fans to stream in the UK. We go behind the scenes and speak about the man and his music with the film’s director, Alex Winter, and producer Ahmet Zappa, as well as former Zappa band guitarists Steve Vai and Mike Keneally

New Faithful

In among a range of copies is Maybach’s Little Wing – the company’s only original design and a rather fine slice of classic guitar craft from central Europe

NightSky

Venture to the outer reaches of reverb with this soundscape workstation

YUSUF/ CAT STEVENS

He’s one of the most influential singer-songwriters in the world but left fame behind to complete a journey of spiritual growth. Now he’s returned to music and joins us to talk guitars and songcraft – and explain why he decided to revisit his most famous album, Tea For The Tillerman, 50 years on

The Strange Case Of The THE MISSING BEANO

In the summer of 1966, as Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton hit the record shops and the guitarist himself began rehearsals with his new band Cream, Clapton’s beloved sunburst Les Paul was stolen from a church hall practice room. Gone but not forgotten, the guitar left behind a mystery that has never been solved. Here, we trace the lifetime of this legendary ’Burst and ponder the chances of it ever being discovered…

THE NEXT STAGE

Ciaran McNally learned his craft at Lowden and helped take Atkin to greater heights. Now building guitars under his own name, he explains how he used lockdown to design a touring acoustic for Irish virtuoso Shane Hennessy

Feelin' Good

If ruling the world’s stadiums isn’t enough, Muse’s main-man Matt Bellamy now has his sights set on dominating the guitar world

Fair Cop

Victory’s new preamp pedal adds a modern twist to vintage Brit tone with spec-beating valves onboard

PICK 'N' MIX

The matched pickup ‘set’ is so last year, reckons our reviews editor Dave Burrluck, who suggests a pickup mismatch is the new black…

Hit The Gym

Two recent releases from the Fender-owned Charvel and EVH brands remind us of the legacy and guitar design skills of Eddie Van Halen

EPIPHONE EPIPHANY

Gibson pumped new life into Epiphone while rescuing the brand from sinking in the late 50s. Head of product development, Mat Koehler, recounts the tale as Gibson returns to its source of inspiration with Epiphone once again…

Are You Britain's Best Amateur Guitar Builder?

Take a shot at winning our first national competition for home luthiers – as well as £370* of guitar-making supplies from StewMac!

Show Time

This month Adam Goldsmith’s nerves are put to the test with a live performance for Children In Need

NILE RODGERS

A Wes Montgomery die-hard in his formative years, Nile Rodgers reveals that being upstaged by a ‘kid’ was the reason he first picked up a Strat…

Inside The Fuzz Factory

Jamie Dickson talks to maverick pedal-maker Zachary Vex about his most famous creation, 25 years on

Tones Behind The Tracks

Barrie Cadogan talks us through how he captured the atmospheric sounds of his latest long-player, a vibey, Can-influenced collaboration

Once Upon A Guitar…

Why do some guitars sound special? Alex Bishop considers whether there may be more to it than meets the ears

JD SIMO

Vintage chic and a fondness for the Gibson ES-335 fuel JD’s unique brand of funky psycho blues…

FULLY LEDDED

Jimmy Page’s brand-new book, ‘Jimmy Page: The Anthology’, goes into exhaustive detail about the gear he used during his career. Here’s a brief glimpse between the pages of this massive tome, focusing on some of the instruments and amps that Jimmy used to forge Led Zep’s legendary sound with commentary from Jimmy himself

GEAR OF THE YEAR

Let’s be honest, 2020 hasn’t been anybody’s idea of a good year, though it has certainly been memorable.

Cheap Lunch

As one of a two-amp range from Harley Benton, this lunchbox-style amp offers boutique valve tone at a budget price. But can it really sound any good?

KURT VILE

From battered Martins and vintage Gibsons to pre-CBS Fender offsets – we find out why the Philadelphian songsmith can’t bring himself to sell any gear…

If It Ain't Broke…

We catch up with Fender’s Justin Norvell, executive vice president of Fender Products, who takes us through the thinking behind the American Professional II range’s primary new features

STEVE HACKETT

It’s a time of reflection for Steve Hackett. With his autobiography, A Genesis In My Bed, on the bookshelves and a new live album retelling his old band Genesis’s most powerful prog statement with a version of Selling England By The Pound, the time seems right to look back and trace his musical journey to its starting point…