CATEGORIES

A Bracing Experience

The flagship model of Taylor’s most popular shape pushes further with the deluxe treatment, with three custom-style additions to this edition.

Rick Parfitt 1948 – 2016

With the death of Status Quo’s exuberant rhythm man, the British rock scene is a drabber place. We look back on a life lived at full-throttle…

Guitarist Of The Year

Entries: Now. Live Finals: The UK Guitar Show, London Olympia 29 and 30 September

Nils Lofgren

The E Street Band’s finest on how gigging in Rome when the Pope’s in town can be detrimental to your punctuality…

Lucky Luke

As Toto toast their 40th anniversary with a new hits package and stadium tour, Guitarist finds Steve Lukather pinching himself, explaining eloquently that “Life is good at Lukey’s house, you know what I mean?”

Longtermers

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

Strats Of The 60s

Having analysed the pickups from one of Jimi Hendrix’s Strats, Roger Mayer talks about what made this never-bettered design so good… 

Going For 'Gold

Designing a new guitar is one thing. Getting it made in a factory across the world is another matter entirely, even for the likes of Patrick James Eggle and the Shergold team…

Session Diary Bittersweet Symphony

Session players should recognise their limitations, says Adam Goldsmith, and the karma will take care of itself

Lightning Strikes

Seldom given to false modesty, the Swedish shred maestro talks blues (kind of ) and gear (that he designed), and almost unleashes the fury on us. Twice…

Raising The Tone Don't Fret

Frets have a huge influence on the feel of your guitar – but also its tone. Jamie Dickson finds out why...

Neville's Advocate

Nev ponders an upcoming rock ’n’ roll tour and what he needs to do to prepare. And realises he’s (sort of) in the charts

High Flyer

This US boutique builder presents an offset beauty that makes us dizzy in more ways than one…

One For All

These three all-new pure class A combos from Blackstar put the output valve centre stage. Take your pick…

Purple Reign

In spring 2019, anticipation of a new Royal baby reached fever pitch. And here it is: the majestic new collaboration between Dream Theater’s John Petrucci and Music Man. Awwww…

King Of The Mods

With the release of PRS’s Paul’s Guitar, evaluated elsewhere in this issue, Dave Burrluck wonders if Paul Reed Smith is actually the ultimate modder…

What Is TCI?

Paul Reed Smith admits that part of his latest pickup and the concepts behind it came from an illustrious artist: “John Mayer came after my ass…” We find out more

Graham Nash

From pop hitmaker in The Hollies to the Woodstock stage with Crosby, Stills & Nash, Graham Nash is one of the most successful – and thoughtful – British songwriters of all time. We met him to talk about Woodstock, Neil Young, old Martins and new songs

Kings Of Country

We take a look at Gibson’s ‘king of the flat-tops’ with Walter Carter, author of the spec check bible Gruhn’s Guide To Vintage Guitars and proprietor of Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee

Brandy Row

If Ronnie Wood had joined The Clash he might have sounded something like Essex rebel-rouser Brandy Row. We join this tattooed neo-troubadour,who’s a veteran of Denmark Street’s Tin Pan Alley, to discuss taking on the world with a fistful of battered old guitars...

KT Tunstall

The singer-songwriter reflects on backstage cuisine and how finding the correct earplugs changed her life…

One For All

A complete kit of parts for putting your pedalboard together. Everything you need, bar the pedals

Raising The Tone - Pain In The Neck

In His Second Article On Frets, Editor Jamie Dickson Finds Out What To Do When Your Frets Get Damaged Or Worn Out.

Count Us In

Victory’s new and improved version of their best-selling V30 hits the shops. But is it worth the upgrade?

Find Your Own Voice

Our mod squad chief, Dave Burrluck, gets told his bridge pickup sound isn’t very good by someone who’s never heard it! What’s going on?

Raising The Tone - The Big Cover Up

Jamie Dickson asks… On or off, what do pickup covers on humbuckers actually change tonally?

Chris Spedding

The Sharks and Bryan Ferry guitarist reflects on the quest for good coffee and life as a Womble…

Then Play On - 1950 - 2018

From his seismic contribution to early Fleetwood Mac to his untrumpeted death in June, Danny Kirwan was a mysterious, maddening and misunderstood cult hero. With exclusive testimony from former bandmates and the guitarists keeping his songs alive, this is the story of a musician touched equally by genius and madness.

Heritage & Beyond

As Gordon Smith Guitars starts a brand new forward-thinking chapter, Doug Sparkes talks about the importance of also respecting the past

The UK Guitar Show 2018

Some of the greatest movers and makers in the guitar industry joined Guitarist as we hit London’s Olympia for our new show – and the comeback of Guitarist Of The Year