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
Solid-state combos that sound as good as tube amps? Laney unveils 60W Lionheart Foundry series
By Jonathan Horsley published
Laney reignites an age-old debate with portable, gig-ready two-channel combos with all the “the power, dynamism and response” of the original Lionheart, and footswitchable boosts
“You could play slide with a ham sandwich”: Watch Derek Trucks play slide guitar using a drumstick
By Jonathan Horsley published
Most players have a preference for brass, glass, or maybe something ceramic, but the Tedeschi Trucks Band slide guitar maestro proved that anything goes when you've got the chops
“Now let’s check out the weird knob”: Dweezil Zappa has a new signature guitar and it’s very cool
By Jonathan Horsley published
Zappa's new guitar is a hotrodded Lynx with Lollar pickups, a Vega-Trem, and it has a weird but brilliant secret mode that sounds like an octaver. Watch him put it through its paces
Harley Benton unveils flagship budget pedalboard power supplies, 12 isolated outputs for under $150
By Jonathan Horsley published
The PowerPlant ISO-12AC Pro Modular is a beast, with dozen isolated outputs, four with switchable voltages, a high-current non-isolated output, LED status indicators, and it'll even charge your phone
Best cheap acoustic guitars 2024: 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
Best acoustic guitar amp 2024: Amplify your sound without losing your acoustic resonance
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
Whether you’re practicing, busking, or performing, amplify the finest qualities of your guitar with our selection of acoustic amps
The ultimate Mark IIC+? John Petrucci teams up with Mesa/Boogie for JP-2C 1x12 combo
By Jonathan Horsley published
Petrucci and Mesa/Boogie present us with a customised Mark IIC+ that has all the gain you'd need, with CabClone tech, MIDI, effects loop, two 5-band graphic EQs, and heaps more features
“I’m excited to see everyone again back in Anaheim”: NAMM receives boost as Fender announces return
By Jonathan Horsley published
Fender CEO Andy Mooney announces surprise U-turn in a show of faith for the National Association of Music Merchants' mammoth gear expo
Seymour Duncan makes a great pickup even better as it gives the Phat Cat P-90 the Silencer treatment
By Jonathan Horsley published
Available in Vintage and Hot bridge pickup configurations, with nickel or gold coverings, these would make for a compelling non-invasive mod to the Les Paul or SG in your life
Red Witch promises classic Beano-era Clapton and more classic drive/fuzz tones from the Hypostasia
By Jonathan Horsley published
The Hypostasia offers fuzz, drive, and the capacity to mix them both, and is the latest limited edition stompbox from Red Witch Pedals' hand-wired Nouveau series
Tom Bukovac on 4 mistakes every intermediate guitar player makes and how to avoid them
By Jonathan Horsley published
The Nashville session ace identifies what separates the pros from beginner and intermediate players, and has some advice for all of us trying to take our playing to the next level
JHS Pedals unveils its “heaviest pedal” yet – the Hard Drive distortion pedal
By Jonathan Horsley published
The Hard Drive is described as “the heaviest pedal” the Kansas stompbox brand has ever released, and it honours JHS's late head engineer, Cliff Smith, who died in 2021
Polyphia’s Tim Henson and Scott LePage on why the Marshall JCM800 is a mainstay of their backline
By Jonathan Horsley published
No, progressive guitar’s boundary pushers are still using digital amp modellers, but as Henson says, “You just can’t beat the warmth of a tube amp”
Sophie Lloyd feared losing a finger after ending up in hospital following video shoot for new single
By Jonathan Horsley published
One minute you’re shooting a video with fellow YouTuber Cole Rolland, the next you are in the emergency room... Watch the video for Lost In A Memory – the video Lloyd will never forget
Joe Bonamassa says “perception of scarcity” drives up vintage gear prices, not actual scarcity
By Jonathan Horsley published
The blues superstar says he could see someone spending more than a million on a '59 Les Paul, but argues a guitar is only worth what you are willing to pay for it
Polyphia’s Scott LePage teases new signature Ibanez Xyphos – a reimagined classic from the X Series
By Jonathan Horsley published
One minute you're watching a playthrough of Bloodbath, getting twisted knuckles trying to play along, and the next you are checking the Ibanez site for updates, credit card in hand
George Benson announces all-star lineup for Breezin' With The Stars, a 4-day “musical extravaganza”
By Jonathan Horsley published
Hosted in Phoeniz, AZ, in partnership with Ibanez, Benson's Breezin' With The Stars features concerts, signing sessions, stories from the stars, and Rick Beato as master of ceremonies
“Honestly, it’s a dream”: Fender unveils Susan Tedeschi Tele based on her ’93 American Standard
By Jonathan Horsley published
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
By Jonathan Horsley published
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
By Jonathan Horsley published
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
By Jonathan Horsley published
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
By Jonathan Horsley published
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
By Jonathan Horsley published
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
By Jonathan Horsley published
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
By Jonathan Horsley published
“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
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