Christopher Scapelliti
Christopher Scapelliti is editor-in-chief of GuitarPlayer.com and the former editor of Guitar Player, the world’s longest-running guitar magazine, founded in 1967. In his extensive career, he has authored in-depth interviews with such guitarists as Pete Townshend, Slash, Billy Corgan, Jack White, Elvis Costello and Todd Rundgren, and audio professionals including Beatles engineers Geoff Emerick and Ken Scott. He is the co-author of Guitar Aficionado: The Collections: The Most Famous, Rare, and Valuable Guitars in the World, a founding editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine, and a former editor with Guitar World, Guitar for the Practicing Musician and Maximum Guitar. Apart from guitars, he maintains a collection of more than 30 vintage analog synthesizers.
Latest articles by Christopher Scapelliti
![The Beatles rehearsing at the Deauville Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida for THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW. From left: Ringo Starr, George Harrison and Paul McCartney. Image dated February 16, 1964.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RuWVKk8iCp7xAYfZPNqpUG-320-80.jpg)
Was George Harrison's 1963 Country Gent really destroyed in a Beatles road mishap? The evidence says no
By Christopher Scapelliti published
The discovery of Paul McCartney's stolen Höfner bass this past year offers new clues to the Gretsch guitar's fate
![Portrait of American musician Scott Gorham, guitarist with hard rock group Thin Lizzy, taken on May 6, 2010 in London.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v7iXpfBUqsucfbaov2Vgv-320-80.jpg)
Scott Gorham on his trouble-plagued Thin Lizzy audition and the mod he's made to every Les Paul ever since
By Christopher Scapelliti published
The guitarist explains that he'd sold his better guitar to Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson
![(left) Eddie Van Halen onstage with Van Halen at Music Midtown at Piedmont Park on September 19, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. (right) John Frusciante during Red Hot Chili Peppers at The Arena at Gwinnett - October 26, 2006.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ebrBjPjeAchamjRQQFwT65-320-80.jpg)
Eddie Van Halen didn't like John Frusciante's choice of wah pedal. His advice was priceless
By Christopher Scapelliti published
Guitar tech Dave Lee says the plastic wah pedal was Frusciante's favorite — and the easiest to break
![Peavey Classic 20 combo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3KYYGfjUEiHGvSKCQzdRk9-320-80.jpg)
Peavey's Classic 20 tube combo can be yours with $100 off at Sweetwater's Cyber Monday sale
By Christopher Scapelliti last updated
With two channels, lush reverb and volume-attenuation switches, this tube amp is perfect for stage, rehearsal and bedroom practice
![Yamaha Pacifica Standard Plus PACS+12M:](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gesY7RuZkaYz5JvrufrUNX-320-80.png)
This new Yamaha Pacifica is “near perfect” as is. It’s absolute perfection with $200 off at Sweetwater’s Cyber Monday event.
By Christopher Scapelliti last updated
If you’ve been lusting after a Pacifica model, now’s the right time to grab one
![A photo of a Fender Player II Strat in Forest Green](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sTvUMpkFrdi79MCPQWrbo-320-80.jpg)
This Limited Edition Player II Strat is discounted $240 and going fast at Fender’s Cyber Monday sale
By Christopher Scapelliti published
It's one of nearly 80 guitars on sale at Fender right now
![The PRS SE NF3](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zL7AjCqnzhngs5ViM67qmb-320-80.png)
One simple tweak makes this PRS SE NF3 nearly perfect. Get it on sale for $679 and save $120 for the mod
By Christopher Scapelliti last updated
With a pull switch and a set of SE locking tuners, this Indonesian-made axe gets “dangerously close” to PRS’s U.S. builds - get it while it's still on sale!
![An illustration showing three amps included in UAD's Guitar Amp Bundle along with an Apple computer](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8s8ZGdiJMY6f35gdZ5XgHo-320-80.jpg)
So good, I'm buying it myself. UAD's Guitar Amp Bundle is just $99 and includes 50+ more plug-ins on Cyber Monday
By Christopher Scapelliti published
With a total value of nearly $500, this is a chance you don't want to miss
![A huge collection of effects pedals snaking their way towards an amp and guitar](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/spqVJQFgEfGLuq4F8gRJHi-320-80.png)
So many pedal deals, so little time: The best deals on guitar pedals right now
By Scott Rowley, Michael Astley-Brown, Christopher Scapelliti, Matt McCracken published
Huge savings on small boxes that make big noises. A guide to the best pedal deals right now
![A photo of a Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive pedal](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fiMxwq4moKo8GHbfYGJdwm-320-80.jpg)
Need some grit in your tone? Boss SD-1 Super OverDrives are dirt cheap on Cyber Monday
By Christopher Scapelliti published
If you've never discovered the power of this legendary workhorse, now is the time
![A photo of a Donner Hush-X silent guitar](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ioK9RcJLUGZmZsd2yHi8pc-320-80.jpg)
A travel guitar "so good you won't believe it isn't a regular solidbody." Take 20% off during Amazon's Cyber Monday sale
By Christopher Scapelliti published
With a body roughly half the size of a standard electric guitar, the Donner Hush-X still sounds every bit as good
![A photo of the Universal Audio Apollo Twin X Gen 2 audio interface](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4TarcC4tBeXJiuk9oVdRW-320-80.jpg)
Improve your studio workflow and save $200 on the UA Apollo Twin X DUO Gen 2 during Sweetwater's Cyber Monday sale
By Christopher Scapelliti published
Want even more processing power? Check out these other deals going on all month
![A selection of guitar gear including guitars, cables, and guitar strings](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5oHgojM6z8x9YnYJZ9m6Z4-320-80.jpg)
Black Friday guitar deals 2024: Black Friday is officially over but you can still grab a great guitar gear deal
By Matt McCracken last updated
Black Friday may be done for this year, but there are still loads of great savings available and we've got the best of them
![Stevie Ray Vaughan performs at Riverfest in St. Paul, Minnesota on July 30, 1990.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bS4ZiRiTjuV6wQcsGMZJhd-320-80.jpg)
Stevie Ray Vaughan explains his left-handed vibrato and why Albert King was filing his nails during his solo
By Christopher Scapelliti published
Stevie revealed the stories behind both oddities in a now-historic 1984 interview with Guitar Player
![Images of the Sterling by Music Man Custlass CT30HSS in Black, Chopper Blue and Pueblo Pink](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mo7yr5RNwiPEmDoDjnXNVe-320-80.jpg)
Save $150 — nearly 45% — on the Sterling by Music Man Cutlass CT30HSS during Sweetwater’s Black Friday Sale
By Christopher Scapelliti published
Available in a range of colors, there's something here to satisfy the eye of every beginning guitarist
![A Fender Player Plus Meteora bass guitar and a Fender Player Plus Meteora HH electric guitar](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/82joyCm2kjbUpZdzuCDqnR-320-80.jpg)
Up to $170 off Fender Meteora guitars and basses at Sweetwater's Black Friday deals
By Christopher Scapelliti published
Available in a range of finishes and boasting Fireball pickups with modern electronics, these are versatile workhorses with stylish looks
![Electro-Harmonix Stereo Pulsar and Big Muff Pi pedals](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/znPxBc425hc9cHpbJPakqk-320-80.jpg)
Save up to half off on Electro-Harmonix guitar pedals at Musicians Friend on Black Friday
By Christopher Scapelliti published
The big deals are the Pulsar Stereo Tremolo and Satisfaction Plus, but Big Muffs and more are on sale too
![Neural DSP Quad Cortex](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Lrgv5DGk8vBiBQbPRJP2sg-320-80.jpg)
Neural DSP Quad Cortex Bundle Deal, only at Sweetwater this Black Friday
By Christopher Scapelliti published
The popular amp emulator gets even better with a free gigbag and Eminence speaker emulations
![A composite image of Duane Allman (left) and Eric Clapton](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AbJcXGxoYG44fmdzhiAkM9-320-80.jpg)
Eric Clapton and Duane Allman’s guitar tandem was the essence of the blues tradition
By Christopher Scapelliti published
The co-writer of many 'Layla' tracks sheds light on the symbiotic relationship between the two guitarists
![The Beatles perform 'Rain' and 'Paperback Writer' on BBC TV show 'Top Of The Pops' in London on 16th June 1966. Left to right: John Lennon (1940-1980), Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison (1943-2001).](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9miaDjjPBEWv5MzW9yERNC-320-80.jpg)
Why did the Beatles play Epiphone Casinos? It all comes back to one man
By Christopher Scapelliti published
John Mayall brought some famous guitarists to the fore. He also turned the Beatles on to one of their defining guitar models
![George Harrison (1943 - 2001) of the Beatles at a concert in Copenhagen with Eric Clapton and Delaney and Bonnie.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/whQPAzLBAFeER88Kubc7Fe-320-80.jpg)
An unusual guitar is at the center of a mystery about the Beatles' White Album
By Christopher Scapelliti published
The rare fretless guitar appears to have been used on "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" and "Helter Skelter"
![VALENCIA, SPAIN - JULY 11: George Benson performs in concert during the Feria de Julio Music Festival on July 11, 2012 in Valencia, Spain.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cxdqxf3685wtq2Mva6Mo7H-320-80.jpg)
“Bobby came in and he went, ‘Da-da-da-da-da-da-da DUH-daaa!’ I said, ‘That’s the only thing you think I should do?’” George Benson tells how one small change turned the song “Breezin’” into an instrumental guitar sensation
By Christopher Scapelliti last updated
The guitarist also shares how he got his Gibson Johnny Smith guitar for a steal
![Mary Ford poses for a portrait in circa 1955](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Kyg3HJAkMLWQMcfMSdX6aX-320-80.png)
Mary Ford made her name as Les Paul’s singing guitar partner. At long last she’s getting her own signature Gibson Les Paul
By Christopher Scapelliti last updated
The latest addition to Gibson's Les Paul line, it's the first public release of an ultra-rare signature model from the Golden Era
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