CATEGORIES

STEVE CROPPER

He infallibly appears on ‘greatest guitarists of all time’ lists, was part of the house band at Stax Records where he backed and wrote for soul legends such as Otis Redding, Sam And Dave and Wilson Pickett, and had huge hits with Green Onions, Time Is Tight and Soul Limbo with his band Booker T & The MG’s. He now has a new solo album, Fire It Up, his first for a decade…

50 Architects Of The Electric Era

Since the earliest ‘Frying Pan’ models of the 1930s, pickup-loaded instruments have undergone constant evolution in the hands of almost a century of innovators. We celebrate the pioneers whose envelope-pushing ideas have changed the face of the electric guitar

Solid Opportunity

They may look almost identical, but it’s the body woods that make all the difference for this trio – and they’re outstandingly affordable, too

Go Big

The HX Stomp XL enters the Line 6 family, answering the call for increased switching flexibility over its smaller sibling, while retaining the powerful core of the larger floor-based Helix devices

How Acoustics Are Born

Taylor’s master luthier Andy Powers takes Jamie Dickson on the journey from prototype to production

Rick 'N' Roll

Martin Kelly, co-author of Fender: The Golden Age 1946-1970, retraces the evolution of Rickenbacker guitars ahead of the release of his new book, which promises to finally nail down the brand’s vital history in full

Tear It Up

A bolt-on addition to the solidbody range? Like us, you might be surprised after hitching a ride with this low-priced Junior Jet Club…

Top Thirty

With a reputation for finely honed, modern and progressive guitars, Vigier is hardly a new maker. And with his Excalibur design celebrating a significant birthday, we take the start-up model out for a spin

The Man Behind The Signature

We catch up with Eric Steckel while he’s hunkered down in LA and waiting to get back on the road

The Rowdy Cousin

As the latest addition to the Acoustasonic family, this Jazzmaster pushed the design team in “different and interesting directions”. Fender’s Tim Shaw talks us through its creation

Ready, Steady…

As musicians gear up to get #BackToLive, Adam Goldsmith explains how he’s honing his practice regime and sight-reading in preparation

‘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