One of the most popular boost pedals on the market has been given a fresh new look By Phil Weller published 17 May 24 Xotic Pedals has introduced a limited-edition version of its EP Booster, with two new colorways to celebrate its 15th anniversary
Wampler’s Mofetta pays homage to a cult ’90s distortion pedal By Janelle Borg published 17 May 24 Wampler promises vintage tones with increased versatility via a 3-band EQ and overdrive/distortion switch
Bon Jovi rolls back the years for a new single that will give you Livin’ On a Prayer vibes By Matt Owen published 17 May 24 Living Proof previews the band's upcoming album Forever, and Phil X's riff has a distinctly familiar talkbox swagger about it
Boss has teased the third generation of its best-selling Katana amps By Phil Weller published 17 May 24 The Japanese amp and effects giant is hyping “enhanced features and sounds” for its flagship amp as it seeks to land fresh punches in an increasingly competitive market
Diamond revives its fan favorite Vibrato after nearly 20 years – and it’s been given some key upgrades By Phil Weller published 17 May 24 The resurgent Canadian firm’s returning stompbox boasts all-analog circuitry built around the revered MN3007 bucket brigade chip
Guitar World deals of the week: save $600 on a D'Angelico, get big money off guitar upgrades, plus all the week's best bargains By Matt McCracken published 17 May 24 Get the low down on the best guitar gear deals, with big savings on Fender, Yamaha, Electro-Harmonix, and more
“Advancing the lineage of the amps guitars players love, and preserving its heart and soul”: Boss has teased the third generation of its best-selling Katana amp range – and an official announcement is coming soon By Phil Weller
One of the most popular boost pedals on the market has been given a fresh new look By Phil Weller published 17 May 24 Xotic Pedals has introduced a limited-edition version of its EP Booster, with two new colorways to celebrate its 15th anniversary
Wampler’s Mofetta pays homage to a cult ’90s distortion pedal By Janelle Borg published 17 May 24 Wampler promises vintage tones with increased versatility via a 3-band EQ and overdrive/distortion switch
Bon Jovi rolls back the years for a new single that will give you Livin’ On a Prayer vibes By Matt Owen published 17 May 24 Living Proof previews the band's upcoming album Forever, and Phil X's riff has a distinctly familiar talkbox swagger about it
Diamond revives its fan favorite Vibrato after nearly 20 years – and it’s been given some key upgrades By Phil Weller published 17 May 24 The resurgent Canadian firm’s returning stompbox boasts all-analog circuitry built around the revered MN3007 bucket brigade chip
Guitar World deals of the week: save $600 on a D'Angelico, get big money off guitar upgrades, plus all the week's best bargains By Matt McCracken published 17 May 24 Get the low down on the best guitar gear deals, with big savings on Fender, Yamaha, Electro-Harmonix, and more
Spector unveils Doug Wimbish USA Custom Series basses, including a replica of his iconic 1987 5-string By Janelle Borg published 17 May 24 With signature EMG pickups and an era-specific headstock design, Spector's new basses promise to deliver “the sound and feel that inspired Doug Wimbish's signature style”
Sam Ash files for bankruptcy after announcing the closure of all its stores By Phil Weller published 17 May 24 The family-run retailer has reportedly started the procedure of auctioning off its assets
Abasi Concepts has debuted its first-ever bass guitar – ushering in a new headless design By Phil Weller published 17 May 24 Tosin Abasi’s brand has created its first production bass, with the Larada five-string combining a headless design with Fishman Fluence Multi-Voice pickups
Justus West reveals how he sneaked Tosin Abasi and Plini onto the new Beyoncé album (sort of) By Janelle Borg published 16 May 24 The prolific session guitarist and producer pulls back the veil on Cowboy Carter’s high-profile recording sessions – and the surprisingly progressive gear he used on Beyoncé’s country album
“I narrowed it down to the bare essentials and found that three strings were all I needed”: 10 guitarists who played with missing strings on purpose… and the weird reasons why By Will Ainsley
How the Fender Stratocaster ushered in an evolution in guitar design – and a revolution in guitar music By Jonathan Horsley published 19 May 24 The Strat’s radical design transformed electric guitar and reshaped culture, and continues to do so after 70 years of service – and it’s only just getting started
Geezer Butler names the Black Sabbath album that captured his favourite bass guitar tone By Nick Wells published 19 May 24 Geezer Butler’s pioneering bass tone with Black Sabbath helped set heavy metal’s mood before the term even existed
Trev Lukather on why he loves St. Vincent’s guitars and what he learned from his dad By Andrew Daly published 19 May 24 The St. Vincent Music Man-toting son of Steve explains why David Gilmour ranks above his favorite shredders, and how Steve Perry agreed to be on The Effect’s latest single
How to get David Gilmour’s guitar tone, with Steve McElroy of The Australian Pink Floyd By Amit Sharma published 18 May 24 The Australian Pink Floyd Show mastermind has bought just about every piece of gear Gilmour has ever used. He reveals the secrets behind his Strat tones and techniques – and settles a few myths and legends
Listen to Robert ‘Pops’ Popwell rip it up on The Crusaders’ Sweet ’N’ Sour By Chris Jisi published 18 May 24 Popwell played a red 1962 Fender Precision, with an added Telecaster pickup near the bridge
Bootsy Collins piled on the effects on Parliament’s P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up) By Bill Leigh published 18 May 24 Bootsy Collins piled on the effects on Parliament’s P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)
How hemp cones affect guitar tone and why Derek Trucks and Carlos Santana are fans By Paul Gough published 17 May 24 Over the past few years, speakers with a hemp cone have increased in popularity – and they have a distinctive sound, explains Paul Gough of Zilla Cabs
“This disease won’t beat me”: Glenn Tipton on playing with Richie Faulkner and defying Parkinson’s By Amit Sharma published 17 May 24 Metal God Glenn Tipton reveals the gear behind Judas Priest’s incendiary new album, Invincible Shield – and why he won’t be throwing in the towel any time soon
Meet James Frankland, the classical-loving instrumentalist fusing Rachmaninoff and Guns N’ Roses By Glenn Kimpton published 17 May 24 Frankland is taking influences from all across the musical spectrum to forge a sound that is all his own. He unpacks his journey from 13-year-old rookie to debut album, Fate’s Right Hand
Bebop scale: how you can use this jazz scale in your guitar solos By Matt Warnock last updated 17 May 24 Learn how the Bebop scale is built and where you can use it in your solos
James Hetfield is the undisputed master of metal rhythm guitar – and his downpicking will seriously test your abilities By Jamie Hunt published 17 May 24 Get to grips with the Metallica frontman’s punishing palm-muting and chugging rhythms
Learn the signature soloing style of Gretsch-toting rockabilly legend and Stray Cat Brian Setzer By Andy G Jones published 15 May 24 Brian Setzer mixes jazz, swing and rock 'n' roll for a sound that's all his own. This lesson unpacks his soloing style so you crazy cats won't stray on the fingerboard
How Allan Holdsworth blew the minds of Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and a generation of guitar heroes By Charlie Griffiths published 13 May 24 Take your playing to another realm with this lesson in Holdsworth’s legato, string skipping and that unique ability of his to find new patterns in scales
Triads are unsung heroes of guitar – here is how you can use the CAGED system to master them By Molly Miller published 10 May 24 Dr Molly Miller breaks down the three-note formula behind triads and explains how you can use them anywhere across the fretboard
Muddy Waters is a blues guitar icon who pioneered the sound of electric guitar and invented a new solo language By David Gerrish published 8 May 24 In the smoky clubs of Chicago, Muddy Waters turned up the volume on blues guitar, electrifying it, and then the audience – and his slide and open-tuning approach to Chicago blues was integral to his early success
‘Hammer-ons from nowhere’ can blow your guitar playing wide open By Jamie Hunt published 6 May 24 This Greg Howe and Joe Satriani-favored technique will whip your hammer-ons, pull-offs, tapping, and muting into shape
Build a whole new lickbag with our country-blues masterclass By Andy Saphir published 3 May 24 Learn how you can mix major and minor pentatonics, and add extra notes to give your solos a wide open space to roam in, with this deep dive into country-blues guitar
Learn how to use “call and response” as a phrasing technique with blues maestro Josh Smith By Josh Smith published 2 May 24 In blues maestro Josh Smith's latest GW column, the guitarist draws inspiration from George Benson for a lesson in call and response phrasing