Chris Vinnicombe

Chris Vinnicombe worked with us here on the MusicRadar team from the site's initial launch way back in 2007, and also contributed to Guitarist magazine as Features Editor until 2014, as well as Total Guitar magazine, amongst others. These days he can be found at Gibson Guitars, where he is editor-in-chief.

Articles by: Chris Vinnicombe

Ed Sheeran in 2013

"I had lived in London for a couple of years, but I had never really seen the dark underbelly of it,” – how Ed Sheeran wrote his breakthrough song, The A Team

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Song stories: how a Christmas gig at a homeless shelter provided bittersweet inspiration

John Lennon

John Lennon's 10 greatest songs with the Beatles and beyond, as voted for by you

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Revisiting your poll on John's finest songs

Nirvana

The story of Nirvana's Nevermind

By Chris Vinnicombe published

The making of a landmark album

Ed Sheeran

Classic Interview: Ed Sheeran's bad guitar habits – “The first song I ever learned to play on the guitar was Layla by Eric Clapton. I used to know all the solos for Guns N’ Roses songs”

By Chris Vinnicombe last updated

In this interview from 2012, the pop megastar shares his secret to finding warm acoustics, talks Lego and Yazoo milk, and explains how rapping like Snoop can keep a crowd onside

Ronnie Wood interview: dear diary

By Chris Vinnicombe last updated

Life before he was a Face

The ES-335 is finished in a satin cherry-coloured lacquer - the official spec describes it as 'Faded Cherry'

Gibson Memphis ES-335 Satin 2015 review

By Chris Vinnicombe published

  • £1899
  • €2599
  • $2699

Satin-finished take on the classic thinline semi-acoustic

The ML6 represents an elegant collision of classic designs from the golden era of the electric guitar

Fano Alt de Facto ML6 review

By Chris Vinnicombe published

  • £2749
  • $3370

A combination of classic electric guitars

The Deluxe HSS Shawbucker is another example of Fender's ongoing attempts to reclaim the 'Superstrat'

Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS Shawbucker review

By Chris Vinnicombe published

  • £1822
  • €2182
  • $1749

Strat with a Tim Shaw-designed humbucker

This is a contemporary hardtail Strat with a 70s flavour rather than a slavish reissue

Fender Ltd Ed American Vintage '70s Hardtail Stratocaster review

By Chris Vinnicombe published

  • £982
  • €1222

Strat-urday night fever

Aside from the rosewood neck, its feature set is identical to the American Standard Stratocaster

Fender Limited Edition American Standard Strat w/ Rosewood Neck review

By Chris Vinnicombe published

  • £1606
  • €2002
  • $1449

Everything's coming up Rosewood

The sandblasted finish even raised eyebrows in the jazz-fusion corner of the office

Fender Ltd Ed Sandblasted Stratocaster w/ Ash Body review

By Chris Vinnicombe published

  • £1246
  • €1562
  • $999

A truly 'groovy' electric

Slash's live rig, Gibson Collector's Choice & NAMM 2015 launches in The Gear Show episode 6

By Chris Vinnicombe published

PRS, Fender, Blackstar, Taylor and much more

When is a Tele not a Tele? Despite the decals on the headstock and body outline, there's very little tonal crossover here

Fender American Standard Telecaster HH review

By Chris Vinnicombe published

  • £1438
  • €1799
  • $1299

A riff-ready Tele

The Strat HH offers the blend of vintage and modern features that characterises the American Standard range

Fender American Standard Stratocaster HH review

By Chris Vinnicombe published

  • £1438
  • €1799
  • $1299

A humbucker-heavy Strat

The Wobble control dials in random modulations akin to manually varying tape speed

Strymon Deco review

By Chris Vinnicombe last updated

  • £279
  • €329
  • $299

Old-school tape effects for your 'board

NAMM 2015 VIDEO: Fender Road Worn and Classic Series Lacquer '60s Jaguar and Jazzmaster demo

By Chris Vinnicombe published

New Jaguar and Jazzmaster models put through their paces

NAMM 2015 VIDEO: Fender USA Sandblasted, Rosewood Neck Standard, Vintage '70s Hardtail & Deluxe HSS Shawbucker Strat demo

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Hear four new USA Stratocasters in action

Guitarist magazine issue 390: Inside David Gilmour's studio

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Check out the guitars, amps and effects that powered Pink Floyd's Endless River

The AA-grade maple top typifies the Standard's high-quality feel

Gibson 2015 Les Paul Standard review

By Chris Vinnicombe, Dave Burrluck published

  • £2499
  • €3099
  • $3759

A radical overhaul for the 'Paul

The body is weight-relieved and finished in an attractive Wine Red nitro gloss

Gibson 2015 Les Paul Deluxe review

By Chris Vinnicombe, Dave Burrluck published

  • £1699
  • €2099
  • $2379

Gibson rings the changes

NAMM 2015: JACK - the Wi-Fi guitar cable launches via Kickstarter

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Stream over Wi-Fi, play wirelessly, connect to PC, tablet or phone

VIDEO: Tommy Emmanuel performs Only Elliot and Travelling Clothes

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Virtuoso acoustic guitarist also talks Maton EGB808TE signature model

Paul Stacey, Fender Classic Players and more new guitar demos in The Gear Show episode 5

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Plus Blackstar Fly 3, Martin Authentic acoustics and much more!

Fender launches Brown Derby and Top Hat round-neck resonators

By Chris Vinnicombe published

The Big F tips its hat to retro, Reso-Phonic tones

The Kennedys: Pete with this wife Maura.

Pete Kennedy talks Teles, Chet and rare Gibsons

By Chris Vinnicombe published

The country/bluegrass pro tells all

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