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
![Pete Townshend](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bxj7AYR8C3BR9PBNNqFYkS-320-80.jpg)
How Pete Townshend Turned the Trauma of His Aborted Sci-fi Rock Opera into the Triumph of 'Who's Next'
By Christopher Scapelliti published
In 1971, the Who guitarist was taken to the brink trying to follow the success of 'Tommy.' He came out the other end with a masterpiece.
![CeDell Davis](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EkcY5wDTjDEPRQ8SKuxJ5U-320-80.jpg)
Watch CeDell Davis Play Slide with a Butter Knife
By Christopher Scapelliti last updated
This distinctive and impressive Delta bluesman played like no one else.
![Eventide's new MicroPitch delay pedal](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BXJdAeB8bukhp52QMemP8e-320-80.jpg)
Eventide MicroPitch Delay Review
By Christopher Scapelliti published
Borne of the H910 Harmonizer, micro-pitch shifted delay has come of age in this most-excellent, high-end stompbox.
![Stevie Ray Vaughan](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fLvfnm3J9PU9FCyFNu9tae-320-80.jpg)
Get Your Mojo Workin' Pro-Style
By Christopher Scapelliti published
10 blues guitar giants share the magic behind their six-string technique.
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D9uH9dDDEH2ffz9MjJigq3-320-80.jpg)
How to Build Your Own License Plate Electric Guitar
By Christopher Scapelliti last updated
These fun home-builds are perfect for swampy slide and blues work.
![Jimi Hendrix performs live at Grona Lund in Stockholm, Sweden](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LHpQxESa2kw5VDYhfefb7Q-320-80.jpg)
Hear Jimi Hendrix’s Final Performance
By Christopher Scapelliti published
On September 16, 1970, just two days before his death, Hendrix joined War onstage at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London.
![Tommy Emmanuel performs live](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dz4kyui5NEBnArMrsVH6Sa-320-80.jpeg)
Watch Tommy Emmanuel Shred Jimi Hendrix and a Stevie Ray Vaughan-Style Blues on an Acoustic Guitar
By Christopher Scapelliti published
“If you like guitar playing, it simply doesn't get any better than Tommy,” Jason Isbell once said of Tommy Emmanuel. This clip shows exactly what he means.
![Steve Vai performs live in 1991](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cgmWC49qbhQvj2RHNBeSFK-320-80.jpg)
Watch Steve Vai Shred for Eight Minutes at Donington
By Christopher Scapelliti published
The "Seven-String Sorcerer" steals the show at the 1990 Monsters of Rock Festival.
![Eddie Van Halen](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BeaXMcKoLh9txSci8NPG3F-320-80.jpeg)
Hear Eddie Van Halen Play Clapton's "Crossroads" Solos
By Christopher Scapelliti published
The man who redefined virtuoso guitar soloing tips his cap to one of his great influences.
![The cover of Phil Baugh's 'Country Guitar'](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/R7A87HHzBYAq6naArnSF2X-320-80.jpg)
Unsung Guitar Heroes: Phil Baugh Played Shred Before It Had a Name
By Christopher Scapelliti published
This guitar genius paved the way for modern pickers like John 5, Steve Morse, and Brad Paisley.
![Abigail Ybarra](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8VHtWrX29H8iDBGaUqtQTg-320-80.jpeg)
Watch Fender “Pickup Artist” Abigail Ybarra Hand Wind an Esquire Bridge
By Christopher Scapelliti published
Meet the woman behind 57 years of guitar tone.
![Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Number One" Stratocaster](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PkehrTSaNgvvvTxfXF5UTe-320-80.jpg)
Get an Up-Close Look at Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Number One” Strat in This Historic Video
By Christopher Scapelliti published
A detailed look at the guitar SRV called his "first wife."
![Gary Moore (left) and B.B. King (far right)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CbCLxwwzbQpi2EDBWjQi77-320-80.jpg)
Watch Gary Moore and B.B. King Play “The Thrill Is Gone” in 1992
By Christopher Scapelliti published
The amazing 10-minute performance was recorded at the Town and Country Club in London.
![Randy Rhoads](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c8x4wc5jisNViyUr4M6J88-320-80.jpeg)
Watch Randy Rhoads Perform with Quiet Riot in 1979
By Christopher Scapelliti published
This show – which you can watch an hour of here – marked the first time Rhoads ever used his now-legendary custom black-and-white polka-dot Flying V.
![B.B. King performs at Farm Aid on September 22, 1985](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qzaE64RZ92B6wXsK4i4q5f-320-80.jpg)
Watch B.B. King Change His String Onstage Without Stopping the Song
By Christopher Scapelliti published
They sure didn't call him the King for nothing.
![George Harrison](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pYMNa6ukRnZuLrh5irYGXE-320-80.jpg)
George Harrison's Four Key Late-’60s Guitars
By Christopher Scapelliti published
Learn more about a quartet of George Harrison's favorite guitars from The Beatles' final years.
![Ritchie Blackmore](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QAX33jc7sg6foyuUE9k9pk-320-80.jpg)
Go Inside Ritchie Blackmore's Guitar Collection
By Christopher Scapelliti published
The Deep Purple legend shows off a number of his favorite guitars in this fascinating video.
![Boss OC-5](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/V2EfcXG4MvkEiCzgnyNAj3-320-80.jpg)
Boss OC-5 Octave Review
By Christopher Scapelliti published
Does this compact stompbox set a new standard for octave pedals?
![Warm Jet Audio Phaser](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KK9bCVRiSnUaoewUPuCsEY-320-80.jpg)
Warm Audio Jet Phaser Review
By Christopher Scapelliti published
Nail that 1970s vibe with “a shag carpet–era effect“ that adds some fuzz to the swirl, and magic to your solos.
![Eventide Blackhole](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GevTywdYKwYNFkuX5Jj5bY-320-80.jpg)
Eventide Blackhole Review
By Christopher Scapelliti published
That classic Eventide reverb algorithm enjoys a standalone release – and it could take your tone into the next dimension.
![Meryl Streep getting a guitar lesson from Neil Young](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QEewXPaQ9oKvsud4LiT9EY-320-80.jpg)
Watch Neil Young Give Meryl Streep a Guitar Lesson
By Christopher Scapelliti published
“All I did was I turned everything all the way up,” Young told Streep. “That’s what you always do.”
![The Rolling Stones](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3yCUJC2WwKpJrCwdwnLMUU-320-80.jpg)
Chaos, Violence and Rock and Roll: the Story of the Rolling Stones' 1969 U.S. Tour
By Christopher Scapelliti published
The shows were bigger, louder and more spectacular than ever. But success came with a body count.
![Derek and the Dominos](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RcNbTzLBhaThWcHSageRYE-320-80.jpg)
An Oral History of Derek and the Dominos' 'Layla'
By Christopher Scapelliti last updated
Eric Clapton's anguished valentine to his best friend's wife reinvented his career and remains a rock and roll milestone 50 years later.
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