
Jonathan Horsley
Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars and guitar culture since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitar World. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halen’s Panama.
Latest articles by Jonathan Horsley

Fender and Johnny Marr reimagine the Jaguar with signature stunner featuring three custom-wound lipstick single-coils
By Jonathan Horsley published
Finished in gloss black, equipped with three Kent Armstrong lipstick single-coils, a "secret switch" and four-way pickup selector, this might be the most versatile Jag ever – it might be the coolest, too

Taylor teams up with Jacob Collier for signature acoustics that declare standard tuning DAEAD – and they’re accessibly priced
By Jonathan Horsley published
Taylor expands its Jacob Collier signature collection with the Academy 22e and GS Mini, and they're impressively spec'd and offer something completely different for adventurous players

Best cheap acoustic guitars 2025: Top picks for strummers on a budget
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
Your guide to the best cheap acoustic and electro-acoustic guitars out there, with amazing value options from Martin, Taylor, Fender, and more

The unique SG built by Gibson CEO Cesar Gueikian and played by Kirk Hammett at Back to the Beginning heads to auction
By Jonathan Horsley published
Gibson teams up with Julien's Auctions for Gibson Gives fundraiser, with two of Gueikian's custom builds going under the hammer, plus a heap of signed and stage-played electrics

Best acoustic guitar strings 2025: Find your favourite acoustic strings
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
Our pick of the best acoustic guitar strings for your style and budget from Elixir, Ernie Ball, Martin, D'Addario, and more

IK Multimedia unveils the Tonex Plug – is this pocket-sized powerhouse a gamechanger for headphone amps?
By Jonathan Horsley published
IK Multimedia expands its Tonex ecosystem with the ultimate practice amp, with access to over 40,000 amp/ pedal rigs, tuner, metronome, Bluetooth. And it can be used as an audio interface
![Craig 'Goonzi' Gowans and Steven Jones from Scottish metalcore heavyweights Bleed From Within pose with their weapons of choice: Goonzi [left] has an ESP LTD M1000, while Jones has a Caparison TAT Special](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/T7aS7xozbeLPr85jhwnXbn.jpg)
Bleed From Within’s Craig ‘Goonzi’ Gowans and Steven Jones on the high-performance shred machines behind their heavyweight metalcore sound
By Jonathan Horsley published
Backstage at this summer's Tons Of Rock festival, the Scottish high-gain stalwarts explained what they needed from their Caparison and ESP/LTD S-styles, and pondered the use of the whammy bar

Planet-friendly power for your rig? Ernie Ball declares war on single-use batteries with USB-C rechargeables that promise “consistent, full-voltage performance” for pro musicians
By Jonathan Horsley published
Pedals, active pickups, tuners, wireless packs... Ernie Ball's USB-C AA and 9V batteries are designed for them all. They have status LEDs and can be replenished simultaneously via the bundled cable

Thorpy FX teams up with Lazy J to give guitarists premium vintage Tweed tone in a preamp/drive pedal
By Jonathan Horsley published
Adrian Thorpe and Jesse Hoff put their heads together and come up with an amp-in-a-box pedal for fans of '50s era Fender tube tone and are looking for that rock 'n' roll mojo for their 'board

The ultimate semi-hollow? PRS Guitars’ latest 40th Anniversary release is a jaw dropping electric with an “artist grade” top
By Jonathan Horsley published
Available in Faded Whale Blue and Yellow Tiger (!), the 40th Anniversary Special Semi-Hollow is a limited edition doozie with black limba body and neck and a figured maple top to die for

Jason Isbell shares unorthodox tone tip for new acoustics as he reveals not one but two signature Martins – and a set of strings
By Jonathan Horsley published
The Jason Isbell 0-17 is a stunning replica of his 1940 model he used on Foxes In The Snow, and if that holy grail limited edition model is too pricey, his 0-10E Retro might be just the thing
![Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs plays his signature Epiphone Riviera [left], while Gem Archer plays his new Masterbilt Sheraton: Epiphone released the two signature Oasis guitars simultaneously—coincidentally or not, on the 30th anniversary of Wonderwall.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z7Z85YXF6Au8tFbWYgRLiN.jpg)
Epiphone goes 'madferit' as it rolls out signature semi-hollows for Oasis's Bonehead and Gem Archer
By Jonathan Horsley published
The launch of the Bonehead Riviera and Gem Archer Masterbilt Sheraton makes it three Oasis signature models from Gibson and Epiphone in a week – but how do they compare?

Davey Johnstone on the making of Elton John’s 1975 masterpiece, Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
By Jonathan Horsley published
It began aboard the high seas, a concept record about Elton John and Bernie Taupin's early days, and when the band got to Caribou Ranch, they'd turn out one of the greatest albums of the '70s

Gibson celebrates the 30th anniversary of Oasis’ Wonderwall by releasing the most talked-about electric guitar of 2025
By Jonathan Horsley published
Following that super-limited run of 25 Murphy Lab replicas, the Ebony P-90-equipped Les Paul Standard Noel Gallagher played on the Oasis reunion tour has been added to the Gibson lineup

Jackson and Corey Beaulieu ante up with the Trivium guitarist's new Seymour Duncan-loaded next-gen King V
By Jonathan Horsley published
Available with six or seven-strings, designed for crushing high-gain playing, and with that super-cool serrated V body shape, the Jackson x Beaulieu Pro Series collab is a total metal guitar

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram on how the Telecaster won him over – and his new Delta Day signature Tele Deluxe
By Jonathan Horsley published
You've seen his Mississippi Midnight signature model, now introducing the modern blues phenom's Tele Deluxe in Delta Day – or is it Daphne Blue?

“The legendary JB tone, now reimagined for Telecasters”: Seymour Duncan might just have dropped this year’s must-have Tele mod
By Jonathan Horsley published
One of the greatest rock humbuckers of all all-time, slimmed down to single-coil size to drop into your Tele's bridge position. Meet the JB Jr For Tele

Steve Morse on the time he took power tools to his guitar so he could play a Deep Purple show with a broken wrist
By Jonathan Horsley published
Upper-fret access, the DIY way... Do not try this at home. But as the former Deep Purple guitarist explains, you can't stand on ceremony when you need your guitar to play how you want it to

Enter, the Raven: Kirk Hammett’s Custom Shop Gibson acoustic dresses up the Hummingbird for Halloween
By Jonathan Horsley published
This collector's item is limited to 100 units worldwide, has a soundhole label signed by Metallica guitarist, and has aesthetic updates that just the thing for the horror superfan

Fender x Loog’s Hello Kitty Stratocaster it might be the cutest beginner guitar of all time
By Jonathan Horsley published
But it has competition in the adorable shape and cartoon graphics of Loog's Hello Kitty mini-acoustics – all of which come bundled with learning materials for young players

The Squier Hello Kitty Stratocaster returns in limited edition white as Fender announces expanded capsule collection
By Jonathan Horsley published
One of the world's most-loved single-pickup electrics is back in white, the fuzz is back in black, and there's loads of merch and accessories as Fender and the Japanese feline join forces once again

Metallica’s Master Of Puppets has been to the Upside Down but this backwards version might be the Strangest Thing you’ll hear this year
By Jonathan Horsley published
Evile's Ol Drake has played the thing that should not be – Masters Of Puppets, only backwards, and it'll give you whiplash

Orange’s King Comp is a monster compressor with the feel of a real amp and super low-noise operation
By Jonathan Horsley published
This beastly Class A VCA sibling of the Kongpressor brings us super low-noise performance, abundant headroom running at 18V DC, and it has ample controls for shaping your guitar tone
![A composite image of Vernon Reid and D'Angelo. Reid [right] cups his fingers to his ear as he performs with his PRS signature model. D'Angelo holds both hands on his mic stand and wears a black sleeveless T and black headband.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xh9isFyYgH7eU7S24hpw3U.jpg)
Vernon Reid on D’Angelo’s everlasting influence and the deep roots of the late neo-soul trailblazer's sound
By Jonathan Horsley published
Reid says his mind was blown by D’Angelo’s virtuoso command of rhythm and just how far he could stay behind the beat, and recalls the bluesy track they made together for a Queen Latifah movie

Steve Morse on playing through the pain barrier and how arthritis is forcing him to change the way he plays guitar
By Jonathan Horsley published
Morse says you really have to want to play when you have arthritis, but the good news is that he does, and he's determined to make it work – “It’s broke, but I’m gonna find a way”
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