CATEGORIES

INTO THE GROOVE

Nylon-string maestro Jesse Cook finds release in electronic beats on Libre, his latest fret-burning effort.

FOREVER '50s

Rockabilly’s top cat talks about beating tinnitus, resurrecting Dick Dale, why you’ll never catch him with a Strat, and why rockers can’t play the ’billy.

Time Is on Her Side

Stripping away the heavy rock guitars of her previous albums, Courtney Barnett makes a fresh start with Things Take Time, Take Time.

Leo Rising

After 50 years, Leo Nocentelli’s long-lost solo debut reveals a softer side to the hard-nosed electric funk legend.

How I Wrote... "I Love Rock 'N' Roll"

The late Alan Merrill recalled how his flop became Joan Jett's runaway hit.

Acoustic Blues Musings, Pt.4

Slide song suggestions with insights from Ben Harper and Roy Rogers.

NEW ADVENTURES IN HI-FI

Armed with a Rickenbacker and a Fender Twin, Peter Buck helped R.E.M. put alternative rock on the map. Producer Mitch Easter reveals the genius behind the jangle pop.

THESE THINGS TAKE TIME

Rejecting traditional rock guitar stylings, Johnny Marr created a new ethos that defined alternative rock and placed it at the forefront of the U.K.’s 1980s music scene.

EARTHQUAKER DEVICES

Hizumitas Fuzz Sustainer

WINNING LAP

Having mastered Guitar Hero, Yasmin Williams turned her attention to the real deal and became a lap-tapping superhero in her own right for a new generation of players.

SHOUT IT OUT

LOUD It took four albums for Kiss to rise from Rust Belt cult act to national rock stars. Now the pressure was on for a follow-up. They responded with Destroyer, the 1976 album that turned the New York City glam-rockers into Gods of Thunder.

RUST BELT Troubadour

After making his mark with Gregg Allman and members of the Band’s camp, Scott Sharrard now takes his place in Little Feat while dropping a solo album infused with his Midwest roots.

Light and Shade

Zakk Wylde emerges from lockdown with an album that laces ballads with twin-guitar rockers.

Cicognani Engineering

Sexyboost2 Analog Tube Boost

Lake Effect

The late Pat Martino took a stirring voyage on fusion's treacherous waters.

MY CAREER IN FIVE SONGS

With thousands of sessions to his name, Lee Ritenour picks five solo tracks that define his multi-genre career.

LONE STAR Mojo

Sue Foley brings swagger, sweetness and bite to the bold and unfiltered Pinky's Blues.

RETRO-MODERN MARVEL

Mike Baranik’s “Arabella” B-1 brings 1960s-inspired guitar design to the boutique market.

Switched-On Box

With its range of tones and innovative features, the Teisco Spectrum 5 will push your buttons.

THE SPACEMAN'S RETURN VOYAGE

Back on the road, Ace Frehley is still struttin' and smokin'.

COLD TRUTH

Guthrie Govan delivers a faithful account of the Aristocrats onstage with Freeze! Live in Europe 2020.

Acoustic Blues Musings, Pt. 3

Open roots tuning tips.

MY CAREER IN FIVE SONGS

Dave Navarro picks a handful of Jane’s Addiction tracks that define his glammy heyday.

FENDER

Tone Master Super Reverb

How I Wrote…“Cult of Personality”

Vernon Reid opens up about Living Colour’s 1988 breakthrough hit.

MUSIC OF THE SPHERES

Astronaut Chris Sembroski took a Martin ukulele to space and discovered the joy of making music in microgravity.

CUTTHROAT AUDIO

Francene 2x10 Combo

Red Rocker

It’s standard issue beneath its custom skin, but this 1974 Marshall 50 Lead stack has looks that thrill.

PURE BLISS

Santa Cruz Guitar’s Happy Traum Signature HT/13 is a fingerpicker’s delight.

TAYLOR

TaylorSense Guitar Health Monitoring System