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
Behringer unveils $69 clone of Maestro BB-1 Bass Brassmaster, a ‘70s fuzz that’d cost $2000 vintage
By Jonathan Horsley published
The Bass Brassmaster Fuzz comes hot on the heels of the Centaur Overdrive and '69 Vibe, as Behringer continues its run of megabucks vintage stompbox replicas at entry-level prices
Has Furch just made acoustic guitar setups a thing of the past with its new CNR System Active neck?
By Jonathan Horsley published
The CNR System Active is designed to make setups as easy as turning a couple of screws, and once your guitar is setup, it is engineered to stay setup
EarthQuaker Devices marks two decades in stompbox design with Hoof Fuzz 20th Anniversary Edition
By Jonathan Horsley published
EQD takes it back to the very beginning with a deluxe reissue of the fuzzbox that started it all
Reverb reveals its top selling pedals of 2024 and a compact modeller is this year's big winner
By Jonathan Horsley published
Podium finishes for top-sellers overall include three modern pedalboard classics, but are we entering an era when small format modellers are going to dominate the charts?
Producer reveals tone secrets and custom Gibson acoustics of Timothée Chalamet’s Bob Dylan biopic
By Jonathan Horsley published
Playing Dylan onscreen is all about authenticity and as executive music producer, Baxter could count on Gibson's help to ensure Chalamet had the right tool for the job
Hey, there’s a beverage here! Tosin Abasi demos extended-range nylon-string and says its coming soon
By Jonathan Horsley published
Tosin Abasi teases nylon-string version of the Larada 7-string and promises it is coming soon. Misha Mansoor wants one. We all do
Create 90 minute loops, add effects, rhythms and layer ‘em up with Zoom's new MS-90LP+ MultiStomp
By Jonathan Horsley published
The MS-90LP+ MultiStomp has 13 hours of recording memory, flexible routing options, full stereo operation and 68 rhythm patterns to work with – and it'll quantize loops to keep you in time
TC Electronic unveils the Plethora X1 "TonePrint loader": 14 effects, one little stompbox
By Jonathan Horsley published
Collecting the greatest hits of TC Electronic in one place, the Plethora X1 is a powerful TonePrint loader with a MASH footswitch and a lot of tones
“A tool for pros who like the guitar to do the work”: Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS
By Jonathan Horsley published
In refreshing its state-of-the-art US line, has Fender made the original – and the best – Superstrat?
Orianthi on her Orange amp, soloing strategies and confetti gun hazards onstage with Alice Cooper
By Jonathan Horsley published
The Australian guitarist talks amp collecting, tone chasing and soloing strategies as she wraps up her forthcoming album with Kevin Shirley
Fender unveils the Bassman effects line – 5 $119 pedalboard essentials for bassists
By Jonathan Horsley published
There's overdrive, fuzz, compression, delay and reverb, all in a road-worthy aluminium enclosure, all at an affordable $119 price point
Crazy Tube Circuit’s Heatseeker is an amp-in-box to help you nail Angus Young’s high-voltage tone
By Jonathan Horsley published
Packing three vintage Marshall-inspired modes plus a preamp enhancer inspired by the AC/DC guitarist's not-so-secret secret sauce, the Heatseeker is a formidable drive and tone shaper for rock guitar
Joe Satriani and Steve Vai's SATCHVAI Band to take Surfing with the Hydra Tour to UK/Europe in 2025
By Jonathan Horsley published
The Surfing with the Hydra Tour is an early contender for guitar event of 2025, with over two dozen dates announced, and more to come, and the promise of new music from the SATCHVAI Band
Schecter has something special for the player who likes a squeaky sound and wants to hear some bark
By Jonathan Horsley published
Introducing the The Humbarker and The Chompest, dog toys with off-the-charts playability for the tone hound in your life, all for a good cause
Faith launches the all-new Eclipse cutaway acoustics, with Fishman electronics for percussive styles
By Jonathan Horsley published
Upgraded with Fishman's Ink Body pickup and preamp system, the Eclipse series gives players plenty of control over their amplified tone
Soldano’s promise a “complete SLO in a pedal” from its new dual-channel preamp stompbox
By Jonathan Horsley published
Now you can have both channels from the Super Lead Overdrive right there on your pedalboard
Affordable, versatile, modern, the Les Paul Studio Session is a clever update on a Gibson classic
By Jonathan Horsley published
The player-friendly Les Paul Studio Session switches up the Studio format with a figured maple cap, '57 Classic humbuckers and expanded controls
Shergold unveils Masquerader Standard Series, an affordably priced, imaginatively spec’d S-style
By Jonathan Horsley published
The Masquerader is a jack of many trades with a versatile pickup pairing, lightweight build and locking tuners
“That same, authentic syrupy sound onto your pedalboard without breaking the bank!”: Having unveiled super-affordable Klon and Tone Bender clones, Behringer unveils a $69 take on the Shin-Ei Uni-Vibe
By Jonathan Horsley published
Behringer keeps the classic clones coming with the '69 Vibe, and promises more to come as it takes aim at critics
Mesa/Boogie reissues Mark IIC+, the holy grail amp loved by Metallica, John Petrucci and Prince
By Jonathan Horsley published
The greatest comeback in tube amp history? It's in the conversation, as the Mark IIC+ returns after nearly 40 years as a head and 1x12 combo
Gibson unveils meticulous Custom Shop VOS replica of Jimmy Page’s iconic 1969 Doubleneck
By Jonathan Horsley published
After turning loose the 3D scanner, this forensic recreation presents the EDS-1275 just as it was when Page first received it back in the day
Harley Benton unveils the CLO and CLG, Fishman-equipped acoustics with solid builds and an armrest
By Jonathan Horsley published
Available as a cutaway auditorium or user-friendly OM-sized acoustic, and with a more affordable layered rosewood option for both, the CLO and CLG models look very classy for the price
Nail Kurt Cobain's sound as Nirvana tone guru Aaron Rash releases The Nevermind Sessions IR bundle
By Jonathan Horsley published
If you’ve been trying to nail the Smells Like Teen Spirit tone and found there was always something in the way, maybe this is the secret sauce you’ve been waiting for
Jack White and Vernon Reid swap signature guitars after chance meeting at the airport
By Jonathan Horsley published
A heartwarming six-string story for the festive season as serendipity strikes in Memphis
Neural DSP gives the Quad Cortex a power-up with CorOS 3.1.0 and Cortex Control 1.2.0 updates
By Jonathan Horsley published
Fortin Nameless Suite X and Soldano SLO-100 X plugins are now officially compatible with your Quad Cortex – and Dimebag's Cry Baby From Hell joins expanded device library
Get the MusicRadar Newsletter
Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here.