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…

HOT ROD TELE

Editor Jamie Dickson embarks on converting his AVRI ’52 Tele reissue into a unique hot-rod Fender with artwork to match

EDDIE VAN HALEN -1955–2020

The great magician’s departure marks the end of a game-changing career. With exclusive thoughts and memories from the scene’s greatest players, we remember a visionary and virtuoso who rewrote the rules of electric guitar

Blues On The Move

Full-fat blues power from a compact and portable head made in the UK

JOE BONAMASSA

Here’s a guy who knows a thing or two about buying guitars and it turns out he’s sold a few, too…

DREAMS OF GOLD

We’re all quick to dismiss or critique a new guitar but what about if you’re put in the design seat? Not so bloomin’ clever now are you, Mr Burrluck?

Ground Control

Fractal offers Axe-Fx III flavour in an eminently giggable compact floor unit

Coming Of Age

A lot has changed for PJD Guitars in the past year. As well as a new workshop, there are also some new guitars that offer plenty to celebrate

TOM MORELLO

He’s the Harvard alumnus, political activist and eternal square peg whose sonic adventurism with Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave tore up the rules of electric guitar. Now, as Tom Morello releases a new photobook spanning his three-decade career, he shares memories of obsessive practice, bad gigs and nights behind bars…

THE BIG GUITARSKI

Best known as a big-screen actor, Jeff Bridges’ role as a washed-up country music star in Crazy Heart highlighted his other great love: the guitar. We meet the original Dude to talk songwriting and his new Breedlove signature acoustics

Longtermers

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

AFFORDABLE VINTAGE

Not every vintage guitar is a ‘holy grail’ but there are still plenty of gems to be discovered outside the realm of collector-grade classics. Here’s how to find them

A Piezo The Action

With the Fishman company approaching its 40th year, Ryan Fitzsimmons walks us through some of its most popular designs from the Infinity and beyond…

The Wishlist

Dream gear to beg, borrow and steal for...

Longtermers

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

The Players

The latest news, views, and happenings from the world of your favorite guitarists