Gear Santa Cruz Guitars' Richard Hoover explains the science of vintage wood and guitar tone Having tracked down some of the most prized ancient wood on the planet, and worked with an “artisanal lumberjack,” Hoover knows a thing or two about vintage wood, and its relationship with tone Best guitars for kids 2024: Acoustic and electric models for your budding guitar hero Our pick of the best guitars for kids; electrics and acoustics from the likes of Yamaha, Squier, Taylor and more Stedman PureConnect GP-2 and PK-3 cleaning kits review The GP-2 and PK-3 provide a very functional means of performing necessary cleaning duties, and their mere presence in your gig bag offers a handy reminder to use them now and then Latest gear Donner Triple Threat review By Art Thompson published 29 April 24 The Triple Threat is an ideal thing to put in your gig bag when you need just a few effects, in a package that takes up less floor space than a lot of single-effect pedals Best Klon clones 2024: Bringing the unattainable overdrive icon into arm’s reach By Connor Godfrey published 29 April 24 Klon-alike overdrive pedals from Electro-Harmonix, Way Huge, Ceriatone, Wampler and more PRS SE CE24, SE Custom 24 Quilt and SE Swamp Ash Special review By Art Thompson published 24 April 24 Based on two models that date back to the 1980s, and a late-90s/early-'00s-era outlier model, these new offshore-built guitars have playability, build quality, and tonal versatility in spades Best amp modelers 2024: Get your dream guitar tone with our top picks By Connor Godfrey published 23 April 24 Amp models so good, you’ll think they’re the real thing Best overdrive pedals 2024: Strap in, it's time to drive By Connor Godfrey published 23 April 24 Push your sound to break-up with pedals from BOSS, TC Electronic, JHS, Ibanez and more Best Travel Guitars 2024: Top Portable Instruments From Lowden, Furch, Martin and more By Richard Blenkinsop published 16 April 24 From short scale acoustics to carry-on electrics, we look at the best travel guitars available right now Best Acoustic Guitars 2024: Our Pick Of The Very Best Beginner, Intermediate And Top-End Acoustics By Daryl Robertson last updated 15 April 24 From high quality entry-level models, to top-of-the-range collector’s pieces, we look at the best acoustic guitars available today “The Opus might not displace your Helix, Fractal, Kemper or Quad Cortex, but it offers a lot of good-sounding emulation in a compact and usable package at a fraction of the price”: Two Notes Opus Amp Sim and IR Loader Unit review By Dave Hunter published 10 April 24 There’s a lot of sound and even more flexibility in this little box, and it should prove to be exactly what many guitarists are looking for “The Brown setting is the closest you’ll get to playing one of Eddie Van Halen’s Super Leads – at least in a pedal”: UAFX Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp review By Art Thompson published 2 April 24 The Lion’s ability to replicate the attitude, pureness of tone and touch responsiveness of vintage Marshalls, and then combine it all with emulations of the right speakers and cabs, makes it one impressive package “If a modern shred axe with a bayonet-sharp headstock and a floating Floyd suits your musical vibe, you’ll be thrilled with how useful this new guitar is”: Jackson American Series Virtuoso review By Jude Gold published 27 March 24 The Virtuoso is a welcome addition to the Jackson American Series family – a small, two-guitar family, yes, but a family nonetheless 123456789Archives Get The Pick NewsletterAll the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors MOST READ1“As soon as I started playing a Telecaster, I formed an instant connection with it. It’s like when you find the right person to marry. You just know”: John 5's top tips for beginner, and veteran, guitarists2“Whenever you switch back to your pick, it’ll be even more fun to have its signature attack back”: There’s a reason everyone from Eddie Van Halen to Lindsey Buckingham and Mark Knopfler have made fingerstyle part of their repertoire 3“I trade licks with Joe on Funk 49; that’s enough for me – my head would explode if I had to go back and forth with Joe on a song like Hotel California”: Vince Gill on his role in the Eagles, and the wonders of playing with Joe Walsh 4“Allan Holdsworth is untouchable, unimpeachable... He is just the total king. I would build a shrine to him”: Meet Max Light, the jazz guitarist who loves John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Meshuggah in equal measure5“Many young guitarists get discouraged because the comments sections on all platforms are somehow even more toxic than they were five or 10 years ago”: Slowly emerging from a hiatus, Sarah Longfield's ever-impressive playing is “more chill now”
Donner Triple Threat review By Art Thompson published 29 April 24 The Triple Threat is an ideal thing to put in your gig bag when you need just a few effects, in a package that takes up less floor space than a lot of single-effect pedals
Best Klon clones 2024: Bringing the unattainable overdrive icon into arm’s reach By Connor Godfrey published 29 April 24 Klon-alike overdrive pedals from Electro-Harmonix, Way Huge, Ceriatone, Wampler and more
PRS SE CE24, SE Custom 24 Quilt and SE Swamp Ash Special review By Art Thompson published 24 April 24 Based on two models that date back to the 1980s, and a late-90s/early-'00s-era outlier model, these new offshore-built guitars have playability, build quality, and tonal versatility in spades
Best amp modelers 2024: Get your dream guitar tone with our top picks By Connor Godfrey published 23 April 24 Amp models so good, you’ll think they’re the real thing
Best overdrive pedals 2024: Strap in, it's time to drive By Connor Godfrey published 23 April 24 Push your sound to break-up with pedals from BOSS, TC Electronic, JHS, Ibanez and more
Best Travel Guitars 2024: Top Portable Instruments From Lowden, Furch, Martin and more By Richard Blenkinsop published 16 April 24 From short scale acoustics to carry-on electrics, we look at the best travel guitars available right now
Best Acoustic Guitars 2024: Our Pick Of The Very Best Beginner, Intermediate And Top-End Acoustics By Daryl Robertson last updated 15 April 24 From high quality entry-level models, to top-of-the-range collector’s pieces, we look at the best acoustic guitars available today
“The Opus might not displace your Helix, Fractal, Kemper or Quad Cortex, but it offers a lot of good-sounding emulation in a compact and usable package at a fraction of the price”: Two Notes Opus Amp Sim and IR Loader Unit review By Dave Hunter published 10 April 24 There’s a lot of sound and even more flexibility in this little box, and it should prove to be exactly what many guitarists are looking for
“The Brown setting is the closest you’ll get to playing one of Eddie Van Halen’s Super Leads – at least in a pedal”: UAFX Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp review By Art Thompson published 2 April 24 The Lion’s ability to replicate the attitude, pureness of tone and touch responsiveness of vintage Marshalls, and then combine it all with emulations of the right speakers and cabs, makes it one impressive package
“If a modern shred axe with a bayonet-sharp headstock and a floating Floyd suits your musical vibe, you’ll be thrilled with how useful this new guitar is”: Jackson American Series Virtuoso review By Jude Gold published 27 March 24 The Virtuoso is a welcome addition to the Jackson American Series family – a small, two-guitar family, yes, but a family nonetheless