Latest articles by Jonathan Horsley
“Well this is a first…”: Richard Fortus says it was so hot in Saudi Arabia that his pickups melted
One thing that Fortus will learn from this GNR tour is that the desert heat can do crazy things to your electric guitar
Harley Benton unveils dreadnought inspired by a classic workhorse – and it is crazy affordable
The name HBJ-45E SBK does not drip off the tongue but with that old-school aesthetic, a solid Sitka soundboard, it's could become a household name for beginner players
Joe Bonamassa on how to choose the right amp for a gig
The blues superstar reveals what he looks for when sitting in with a band for the night
All American guitar legend Rick Derringer dies, aged 77
He scored a number one hit when he was still a teenager, played with Johnny and Edgar Winter, Steely Dan, KISS, and more. He wrote Hulk Hogan's anthem. Derringer's life was extraordinary
Ethan Ives on the guitars, tones and “indie Motörhead” energy of Car Seat Headrest’s epic rock opera
Ives’ playing on the Seattle indie-rocker’s audacious new album, The Scholars, is a masterclass in tone and melody, and maybe also how stylistic slipperiness is key to holding our attention
“It’s a real bow with synthetic hair on two sides and it’s capable of doing some amazing things”: Turn your acoustic guitar into a violin or cello? The Pickaso Guitar Bow might be this year’s must-have accessory for Jimmy Page superfans
A double-sided mini-bow with an integrated pick in its design, the Pickaso Guitar Bow opens up a new world for exploring guitar
Shiner from Those Damn Crows on how to write a No.1 album and the Slipknot riff he wish he wrote
With the Welsh rockers' latest album, God Shaped Hole, topping the charts, we check in with riff-master Shiner to talk song structure, grunge inspirations, and knowing when not to play
John Mayer and Ernie Ball unveil a set of acoustic guitar strings made from an all-new alloy
The Earthwood Bell Bronze acoustic strings are made from an all-new proprietary alloy that offers “bold, rich, full-bodied tones with enhanced resonance and projection”
Harley Benton applies retro-classic colours to its beginner friendly short-scale JB-62CC Mini Bass
Short-scales have all the fun? For under 200 bucks you get a 23” scale Jazz-alike that’s ideal for the kids, but maybe also for those plummy old-school soul and R&B tones
![Robbie Williams [left] wears a white scarf and a gold sparkled tank top. Tony Iommi plays his SG and wears a shades, a long black leather coat and a gold cross](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CKhZF6ZZMQETAKySCZrsbH-840-80.jpg.webp)
Robbie Williams drafts Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi to play guitar on his new single
As Iommi guest appearances go, Williams’ Rocket is no Utopian Blaster
EHX promises a “completely unique soundscape building experience” from the Oceans Abyss über-reverb
It's not just any reverb pedal, it's an "Advanced Reverb Laboratory", and it allows you to run two stereo reverbs at once, pan them across the stereo field, add effects and get creative
With AAAA quilt maple veneer, US pickups and new neck joint, Kramer ups the ante with the Volante
Kramer's high-performance range expands with a super-versatile double-cut with dual-humbucker or humbucker/single-coil configurations, Floyd Rose vibratos and speedy necks as standard
How Mark Knopfler grew up wanting to be Jimi Hendrix until he ditched the pick and went fingerstyle
Or how one lesson with a folk singer from the northeast of England (and a bunch of lost picks) changed the history of electric guitar
![Pelican's Trevor de Brauw [left] and Laurent Schroeder-Lebec perform at Hellfest 2022. De Brauw plays his Gibson SG. Schroeder-Lebec is playing his Silverburst Gibson Les Paul Custom.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j8UmVEqqLoYaooWjde6UEL-840-80.jpg.webp)
Trevor de Brauw and Laurent Schroeder-Lebec on musical wanderlust and Pelican’s riff evolution
Flickering Resonance is the first Pelican album since the return of Schroeder-Lebec, and it finds the Chicago post-metal institution's sound on an evolutionary path to destinations unknown
Fortin Amplificiation triples down on the modded-TS-style boost and drive with Fourteen
Collecting three different flavours of Mike Fortin's TS-inspired drive circuits, presenting them across two identical channels, this is one high-functioning stompbox
Jackson gives the Scott Ian King V a classy makeover and puts an old school logo on the headstock
With gold hardware, black finish, this is one ratiugnikufesin – especially at this price
Sonic Youth Reverb store lists Lee Ranaldo’s first guitar and the synth behind his Diamond Sea tone
The Sonic Youth Official Reverb Store is officially open and as Lee Ranaldo explains, it is 100% stocked with Kool Things
Is the compressor pedal a country guitar essential? Brad Paisley doesn’t think so – and here’s why
The country virtuoso explains why compression is not an always-on effect for him – and neither is reverb for that matter
Best amp modellers 2025: High-tech tone solutions for all guitarists
Simplify your rig and take your tone anywhere with my pick of the best amp modelling units around
Periphery’s Misha Mansoor on wild baritone tunings, high-gain theory and why he needs guitar lessons
We catch up with the Periphery riff-master to discuss his refreshed Jackson Juggernaut, custom offsets, collabs with Mike Dawes, and why – vintage or modern – good gear is good gear
Misha Mansoor on how the Bass VI inspired his Jackson baritone and a tuning so low it’s “absurd”
With Charvel Surfcaster bodies and Strat headstocks, Mansoor's Frankenstein Jacksons are the coolest metal guitars you'll see, and the tuning they've inspired is crazy even by baritone standards
Joe Satriani and Steve Vai get their teenage kicks in video for new single featuring Glenn Hughes
I Wanna Play My Guitar is a love-letter to the instrument from two maestros on top of their game
An EVH electric with fixed bridge and fine tuners? The Wolfgang Special TOM is one classy speedster
EVH Gear just made your hardware choices a lot more interesting with the new Wolfgang Special TOM, available in Oxblood, Husk White and Gloss Black
