CATEGORIES

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

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

Focusrite FAST Series plugins

From £5.99/month Focusrite meets Sonible for these new ‘smart’ mixing tools. Si Truss takes a spin…

Output Frontier £1,259

Audio company Output have shifted their attention to studio monitors. Jon Musgrave explores their new Frontier

CME WIDI Master $59

Fancy wireless operation between your old MIDI gear? Jon Musgrave pairs up with this new wireless MIDI system

Chillout

Lie down on a bean bag, close your eyes and relax as we explore the nebulous world of chillout music

BATTLE OF THE BEAT MAKERS

There's never been a better time to dive into hardware beat-making. This issue, we put eight of the finest drum machines and percussion synths head-to-head to crown the king of the beat

M-Audio BX3 and BX4 from £85

Need some compact monitors for your set up? Jon Musgrave sizes up two new offerings from M-Audio

Aston Element £159

Marketed as “the people’s mic”, Aston say their latest mic has undergone exhaustive public testing. But what does reviewer Rob Redman think?

Ableton Live 11 Suite £539

The immensely popular DAW enters its eleventh chapter with an array of new features. Tim Cant goes Live

WALTER TROUT

This month Phil Short examines the complex soloing style of one of the hardest working and most committed blues guitarists on the circuit.

THE CROSSROADS Pt4 Rakes & Mini Sweeps

John Wheatcroft shows you how to tidy up your raking and sweeping in both blues and jazz styles. So grab your broom and get dusting.

SIXTY SECONDS WITH...

A minute’s all it takes to discover what makes a great guitarist tick. Before she jumped into her limo for the Airport, we grabbed a quick chat with Chicago-based blues singer and guitarist Joanna Connor.

SHED SEVEN

This month Simon Barnard takes at look at one of York’s finest bands, Shed Seven, and the creative and melodic playing of Paul Banks.

OZ NOY Video Masterclass

In an exclusive GT video feature, Israeli funk fusioneer Oz Noy solos over Jason Sidwell’s track, Grease And Grit. If you are into unique chord voicings and ear-twisting lead work this one is the golden ticket! Jon Bishop is your guide.

It Was 50 Years Ago Today! 20 PICKS FROM 1971

In this fantastic feature celebrating one of the best years ever for guitar albums, Richard Barrett invites you back to 1971 to look at the diverse electric and acoustic styles that were heard for the very first time.

INTERVALS (5THS)

This month Shaun Baxter delves into quintal harmony by exploring ‘scale 5ths’ in the context of a blues-rock solo using Mixolydian mode.

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, a genuine legend of jazz-fusion, Lee Ritenour aka ‘Captain Fingers’.

IN THE WOODSHED

From Genesis to Apocalypse with Mickey Mouse in between, let’s delve in to 9/8 time, says Charlie Griffiths as he invites you into the woodshed.

CHICAGO

Martin Cooper investigates the sounds of a group that mixed big-band arrangements with dextrous guitar from the brilliant Terry Kath.

The Making Of A Guitar Hero

Five things we learned about Joe Bonamassa from the new documentary guitar man

WHACKA-CHACKA-WAH! Get the most from your pedal

In this exclusive feature Jamie Humphries looks at how to get the best from the not-so-humble wah-wah pedal, including a host of example licks plus three full study pieces covering funk, blues and rock styles.

THE CROSSROADS Pt3 Bluesy Swing Lines

Jazzy blues, or bluesy jazz. Can’t decide? This month, John Wheatcroft discovers that it’s okay to do both, as he examines the cross-pollination of melodic and rhythic ideas between the two related genres.