Latest articles by Jonathan Horsley
“Honestly, it’s a dream”: Fender unveils Susan Tedeschi Tele based on her ’93 American Standard
Finished in Aged Caribbean Mist with a tortoiseshell pickguard, this is the spitting image of Tedeschi's original – minus the signatures of BB King, Herbie Hancock et al...
Lowden celebrates five decades of acoustic guitar excellence with stunning 50th Anniversary models
The 50th Anniversary Master Series, 50, 35, and Original Series models are very special acoustics, limited to 150 units in total, and are available now exclusively via Lowden dealers
Watch the Pretenders’ James Walbourne demo a vintage Gibson Explorer – the amp, not the guitar
The GA-18T Explorer is one of the lesser-spotted amps from the golden era of the Gibson archive but on this evidence maybe it is due a comeback
YouTube’s most adventurous luthier turns 50lbs of copper wire into a stunning bronze electric guitar
Burls Art has been doing Burls Art things again, with another build that pushes the boundaries of guitar design. Behold, the Steampunk Bronze, a true heavyweight T-style pushing 40lbs
Watch Phil X demo Joe Satriani’s new 3rd Power Dragon Amplifier
It looks like Satch's newly commissioned tube amp for his tour with Sammy Hagar was met with approval from the Bon Jovi guitarist
Boutique tone for your ‘board? Laney teams up with Martin Miller and Tom Quayle for Loudpedal amps
The Loudpedals make Laney's boutique tube amp tone available in a feature-packed 60-watt pedal format, providing an all-in-one fly-rig with a heap of practical routing options
R.E.M.’s original lineup reunites for first live performance in 17 years, plays Losing My Religion
The Athens, Georgia alt-rock trailblazers celebrated their induction into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame with a surprise live performance in NYC
Grunge classic to make comeback as G&L announces return of the Jerry Cantrell-approved Rampage
“Get ready for the next era of the rampage,” says G&L supremo David McLaren, as the Fullerton-based brand bows to public demand to resurrect the classic electric
Crazy Tube Circuits unveils the Dumble/Klon inspired Unobtanium Raw – now with added OC45 germanium
CTC soups up its Dumble/K-style amp-in-a-box drive with some super rare germanium. It's limited edition, on until it's gone, but the original Unobtanium will remain on the menu
Wait, what? Feeder’s Grant Nicholas has not changed his strings for 8 years
How fresh do you like your strings? On his '59 Jazzmaster, Grant Nicholas likes 'em deader than dead for that “real woody organic sound,” and it is his secret weapon in the studio
A Murphy Lab Red Special from the Gibson Custom Shop? “It’s not out of the question,” says Brian May
The Queen guitarist reveals he is talking to Gibson and says it would be “wonderful” to have a US-made version of his iconic Red Special
Gibson launches the Charlie Starr Les Paul Junior – and it’s a limited edition “Frankenstein” doozy
Available in Dark Walnut or Ebony, limited to 250 units, with an adjustable wraparound bridge as an intonation fail-safe, the Blackberry Smoke frontman's new model is a primo rock 'n' roll guitar
Lee Ritenour on musical identity, playing BB King’s guitar and the secrets to improv
As Ritenour returns with Dave Grusin and a record celebrating the music of Brasil, the jazz fusion maestro and session legend tells us why we should expect the unexpected at his shows
How Mastodon changed approach on Curl Of The Burl and The Hunter
"I’d rather write some songs, have a good time, play some kick-ass jams, drink some wine, have some weed… party, have a good time"
Bon Jovi lets Phil X blow the dust off the Talk Box on new single Living Proof
Or should that be Livin’ Proof On A Prayer?
Wampler unveils the Mofetta, is a “supercharged” tribute to the cult-classic MT10 Mostortion
Brian Wampler's latest drive pedal will save you time and money searching for an over-priced MT10 on the vintage market, and it has expanded features for more amp-like gain
Friedman unveils the PLEX, a 50W tube head inspired by Dave Friedman’s all-time favourite amp
If you are looking for tones inspired by the vintage Marshall that started Friedman’s obsession with amplifiers, the PLEX has you covered, and it has some modern refinements too
“The hype surrounding it is legitimate”: Diamond Pedals resurrects its Tame Impala-approved Vibrato
The BBD-driven vibrato has bigger headroom, a smaller enclosure, an improved circuit and a darker jazz setting. Best of, it is a fraction of the price of an OG vintage unit
Tosin Abasi has something big for bassists as Abasi Concepts launches headless 5-string Larada Bass
It's headless, multi-scale with Fishman Fluence humbuckers, and comes with all the futuristic curves and specs you would expect from Tosin Abasi's state-of-the-art gear brand
Fender unveils $20,000 Mastberbuilt replica of Joe Strummer’s 1966 Telecaster
Fender Senior Master Builder Paul Waller has gone to town on this Telecaster, forensically recreating all the detail from the punk icon's original – but that detail's gonna cost you
Sweetwater unveils the limited edition Beach Boys Studio Effects Collection, ft. JHS Pedals and more
Released to coincide with upcoming Disney+ Beach Boys doc, the range includes chorus/vibrato, a full bass rig, 12-string and rotary speaker sims, and a tube-driven spring reverb/tremolo
Seymour Duncan serves up hum-free Hot Chicken Stack and Tele pickups for modern country players
Heat and versatility is back on the menu as these aftermarket Stack pickups cater for country guitarists in an era of high-gain and high-volume, offering vintage tone with no hum
Eric Clapton’s ‘Wonderful Tonight’ 1974 000-28 Martin acoustic is heading to auction (again)
Clapton shed tears when the stalwart acoustic left his collection in 1999, and now it is up for sale once more, complete with Don Williams tribute sticker and cigarette burns
