Jimmy LeslieSocial Links NavigationJimmy Leslie has been Frets editor since 2016. See many Guitar Player- and Frets-related videos on his YouTube channel, and learn about his acoustic/electric rock group at spirithustler.com. Latest articles by Jimmy Leslie “My 1939 Martin was in a garbage bag for 15 years prior to me getting it in pieces. The neck was off and the body was crushed”: How unplugging reshaped Julian Lage's electric approach By Jimmy Leslie published 3 April 24 The jazz guitar virtuoso reveals how his Collings OM1 JL signature model came to be, and why a solo acoustic show can actually be more “raucous” than an electric-driven affair “This exciting era of acoustic-electronic innovation hasn’t seen much action on the amp front, which makes this a welcome addition”: Taylor Circa 74 AV150-10 acoustic amplifier review By Jimmy Leslie published 21 March 24 This handsome, wood-crafted combo packs 150 watts into a 1x10 enclosure, and fits as easily into a home’s decor as it would a studio setting GP Presents the Alan Parsons Live Project, March 21 in Oakland, California – win tickets By Jimmy Leslie published 12 March 24 The legendary songwriter and producer will be joined onstage by, among other top musicians, guitar hero Jeff Kollman “I’ve seen a lot of guitars with multiple necks – often the player uses one or two necks at a time. I use all three on this guitar while also playing percussion”: How acoustic wizard Luca Stricagnoli wrangles his signature triple-neck beast By Jimmy Leslie published 28 February 24 Making rock, pop, metal, and even hip-hop classics his own with his trademark triple-neck acoustic, Stricagnoli's extraordinary virtuosity stands out, but there's far more to his playing than percussive hits and tapping acrobatics GP Presents Gov’t Mule on Saturday, February 17 in Oakland, CA – win tickets By Jimmy Leslie published 8 February 24 Roots rock guitar captain Warren Haynes and his stalwart crew are bringing their ongoing 30th anniversary celebration to the Fox Theater "It was all there in the parlor guitar: that depth and inspirational tone. The only reason guitars got bigger was to compete with barking dogs and juggling children in vaudeville…" The big history of small acoustics By Jimmy Leslie published 5 February 24 Richard Hoover unravels the history and mystery of parlor guitars "The Bryn Athyn Cathedral in Pennsylvania called me about a stack of leftover Brazilian rosewood that would have been a living tree in the 1700s": How Santa Cruz's Richard Hoover sources antique materials for his luxurious lutherie By Jimmy Leslie published 5 February 24 Santa Cruz captain Richard Hoover applied his ultimate artistic expression to his historic Vault Series that made its stunning debut at NAMM 2024 last week. “A little badass: ideal for a bit of bottom-end grooving without the weight of a full-scale bass or amp”: The junior-sized Martin DJR-10E acoustic bass reviewed By Jimmy Leslie published 25 January 24 Perfect for players with small hands or working out bass parts on the fly, the great-sounding, cute-looking and affordable Martin DFR-10E Bass packs a ton of fun into just 24 inches Excellent playability, affordability and “fabulous amplified acoustic tone”: Fender’s latest Highway Series’ Parlor and Dreadnought guitars reviewed By Jimmy Leslie published 19 January 24 Discover why the Highway Series is an excellent crossover option for players who want a killer acoustic stage sound from an instrument with the playability of an electric guitar ”What I’m playing is like a string quartet, meaning that a mandolin corresponds to a violin”: Dave Grisman on his Acoustic America album and stunning exhibition of 90 iconic folk instruments at Arizona's Musical Instrument Museum By Jimmy Leslie published 18 January 24 Musicologist and gear collector David Grisman talks through the historic mandolins, guitars and banjos he played on his Acoustic America album, but you can see them for yourself at Arizona’s Musical Instrument Museum The Martin GPCE Inception Maple is state of the art in a market where a cutaway used to be considered outrageous – but is it any good? Oh yes… By Jimmy Leslie published 18 January 24 The latest and greatest incarnation of Martin’s “openly vivacious” Grand Performance sets a new benchmark with its gorgeous design, honeycombed bracing and maple back and sides GP Presents Julian Lage, January 18 - January 21 in San Francisco – win tickets By Jimmy Leslie published 12 January 24 Lage epitomizes modern jazz guitar, and he’s going to be the Resident Artistic Director at SF Jazz over the third weekend of January, holding court at the Miner Auditorium Gear of the Year: The best guitars, amps, pedals and more of 2023 By Dave Hunter, Jimmy Leslie, Christopher Scapelliti, Art Thompson published 26 December 23 Our guide to the greatest guitars, amps, pedals and accessories of 2023, handpicked by the Guitar Player team GP Presents Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew’s Remain in Light, with X, December 30 in San Francisco – Win Tickets By Jimmy Leslie published 6 December 23 GP Presents has joined forces with Goldenvoice for a Talking Heads rave up to round out the year at the Warfield Theatre ”If you don’t get your act together, then you can’t expect your band to be.” Session player and bandleader Ben Misterka shares his wisdom on playing savvy in the post-pandemic world By Jimmy Leslie published 4 December 23 With performance budgets crunched to the max, life on the road these days is more challenging than ever. Here’s how to make the most of your opportunities Plastic-free and fully FSC-certified, with a hemp gig bag, the Martin OM Biosphere must be one of the greenest guitars ever – but is it any good? By Jimmy Leslie published 11 November 23 Martin’s second über-environmental guitar: the OM Biosphere reviewed GP Presents Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel with GA-20, November 13 in San Francisco – win tickets! By Jimmy Leslie published 10 November 23 Find out how you can win tickets to an evening of fiery Southern rock and blues Adrian Belew recounts his audition with Frank Zappa: "We sat on his purple couch. I placed my Pignose amplifier face down on it so I could get a little bit of sustain... At the end of it, he reached out his hand and said, ‘You got the job’" By Jimmy Leslie published 8 November 23 Belew got the gig in the end, but his audition was anything but smooth sailing... Struggling to string bend on your acoustic? Here are 4 simple tricks that will help… By Jimmy Leslie published 23 October 23 Outside of the box ideas for making string bending easier on an acoustic guitar “Paul Reed Smith chooses wood like Stradivari, who used to walk around the Dolomites in Italy tapping on trees, saying, ‘I’ll take that one, not that one.’ He’s a maniac”: John McLaughlin on reuniting with Shakti, his bad year, and his signature PRS By Jimmy Leslie published 21 October 23 As he reunites his Indo-jazz supergroup Shakti, John McLaughlin talks harmony, rhythm and good wood GP Presents Pat Metheny, November 3-5 in Berkeley, CA – win tickets! By Jimmy Leslie published 13 October 23 The jazz guitar legend is supporting his new solo guitar album, Dream Box, with solo shows in smaller venues, offering audiences an intimate look and listen to his signature style How to Ditch the Pick and Engage Your Strongest Digits for Powerful Fingerstyle Action By Jimmy Leslie published 27 September 23 Get inspired and expand your technique using this short lesson The Acoustic Guitar Player’s Guide to Using Fake Nails By Jimmy Leslie published 27 September 23 Once your nails are ready to roll, the power and flexibility of full fingerstyle will be literally at your fingertips Hear These Fine Vintage Martins in Action on Collector and Bluegrass Ambassador Gary Brewer’s Latest Cut, ‘House of Axes’ By Jimmy Leslie published 22 September 23 ‘House of Axes’ is a straight-shooting showcase for Brewgrass’s rarest and most prized acoustics from a collection of more than 100 vintage Martins Bluegrass Master Gary Brewer of the Kentucky Ramblers Shares Some Guitar Pick Wisdom By Jimmy Leslie published 22 September 23 Cop some plectrum pointers from a seasoned acoustic pro 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives 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 LATEST ARTICLES1"He woke up with this insane screaming in his ears. I wanted to pack it up that day and send my amps home." Slash recalls how a jam with Jeff Beck nearly ended his idol's career2"Simply one cool guitar from one of the hippest builders working these past two decades." The Rivolta Quadrata delivers a stylishly original take on a famous retro rocker3Spend less and get more in Reverb's early Black Friday sales event - save up to 80% on second-hand gear4“I got backstage and gave the watch back to him. He had a light — an aura or energy — about him." Guitarist Jim Suhler recalls meeting Stevie Ray Vaughan and the career-shaping advice he gave him 5“There are these strange coincidences. It’s kind of amazing.” David Gilmour weighs in on the longtime conspiracy theory that links Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' to 'The Wizard of Oz'
“My 1939 Martin was in a garbage bag for 15 years prior to me getting it in pieces. The neck was off and the body was crushed”: How unplugging reshaped Julian Lage's electric approach By Jimmy Leslie published 3 April 24 The jazz guitar virtuoso reveals how his Collings OM1 JL signature model came to be, and why a solo acoustic show can actually be more “raucous” than an electric-driven affair
“This exciting era of acoustic-electronic innovation hasn’t seen much action on the amp front, which makes this a welcome addition”: Taylor Circa 74 AV150-10 acoustic amplifier review By Jimmy Leslie published 21 March 24 This handsome, wood-crafted combo packs 150 watts into a 1x10 enclosure, and fits as easily into a home’s decor as it would a studio setting
GP Presents the Alan Parsons Live Project, March 21 in Oakland, California – win tickets By Jimmy Leslie published 12 March 24 The legendary songwriter and producer will be joined onstage by, among other top musicians, guitar hero Jeff Kollman
“I’ve seen a lot of guitars with multiple necks – often the player uses one or two necks at a time. I use all three on this guitar while also playing percussion”: How acoustic wizard Luca Stricagnoli wrangles his signature triple-neck beast By Jimmy Leslie published 28 February 24 Making rock, pop, metal, and even hip-hop classics his own with his trademark triple-neck acoustic, Stricagnoli's extraordinary virtuosity stands out, but there's far more to his playing than percussive hits and tapping acrobatics
GP Presents Gov’t Mule on Saturday, February 17 in Oakland, CA – win tickets By Jimmy Leslie published 8 February 24 Roots rock guitar captain Warren Haynes and his stalwart crew are bringing their ongoing 30th anniversary celebration to the Fox Theater
"It was all there in the parlor guitar: that depth and inspirational tone. The only reason guitars got bigger was to compete with barking dogs and juggling children in vaudeville…" The big history of small acoustics By Jimmy Leslie published 5 February 24 Richard Hoover unravels the history and mystery of parlor guitars
"The Bryn Athyn Cathedral in Pennsylvania called me about a stack of leftover Brazilian rosewood that would have been a living tree in the 1700s": How Santa Cruz's Richard Hoover sources antique materials for his luxurious lutherie By Jimmy Leslie published 5 February 24 Santa Cruz captain Richard Hoover applied his ultimate artistic expression to his historic Vault Series that made its stunning debut at NAMM 2024 last week.
“A little badass: ideal for a bit of bottom-end grooving without the weight of a full-scale bass or amp”: The junior-sized Martin DJR-10E acoustic bass reviewed By Jimmy Leslie published 25 January 24 Perfect for players with small hands or working out bass parts on the fly, the great-sounding, cute-looking and affordable Martin DFR-10E Bass packs a ton of fun into just 24 inches
Excellent playability, affordability and “fabulous amplified acoustic tone”: Fender’s latest Highway Series’ Parlor and Dreadnought guitars reviewed By Jimmy Leslie published 19 January 24 Discover why the Highway Series is an excellent crossover option for players who want a killer acoustic stage sound from an instrument with the playability of an electric guitar
”What I’m playing is like a string quartet, meaning that a mandolin corresponds to a violin”: Dave Grisman on his Acoustic America album and stunning exhibition of 90 iconic folk instruments at Arizona's Musical Instrument Museum By Jimmy Leslie published 18 January 24 Musicologist and gear collector David Grisman talks through the historic mandolins, guitars and banjos he played on his Acoustic America album, but you can see them for yourself at Arizona’s Musical Instrument Museum
The Martin GPCE Inception Maple is state of the art in a market where a cutaway used to be considered outrageous – but is it any good? Oh yes… By Jimmy Leslie published 18 January 24 The latest and greatest incarnation of Martin’s “openly vivacious” Grand Performance sets a new benchmark with its gorgeous design, honeycombed bracing and maple back and sides
GP Presents Julian Lage, January 18 - January 21 in San Francisco – win tickets By Jimmy Leslie published 12 January 24 Lage epitomizes modern jazz guitar, and he’s going to be the Resident Artistic Director at SF Jazz over the third weekend of January, holding court at the Miner Auditorium
Gear of the Year: The best guitars, amps, pedals and more of 2023 By Dave Hunter, Jimmy Leslie, Christopher Scapelliti, Art Thompson published 26 December 23 Our guide to the greatest guitars, amps, pedals and accessories of 2023, handpicked by the Guitar Player team
GP Presents Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew’s Remain in Light, with X, December 30 in San Francisco – Win Tickets By Jimmy Leslie published 6 December 23 GP Presents has joined forces with Goldenvoice for a Talking Heads rave up to round out the year at the Warfield Theatre
”If you don’t get your act together, then you can’t expect your band to be.” Session player and bandleader Ben Misterka shares his wisdom on playing savvy in the post-pandemic world By Jimmy Leslie published 4 December 23 With performance budgets crunched to the max, life on the road these days is more challenging than ever. Here’s how to make the most of your opportunities
Plastic-free and fully FSC-certified, with a hemp gig bag, the Martin OM Biosphere must be one of the greenest guitars ever – but is it any good? By Jimmy Leslie published 11 November 23 Martin’s second über-environmental guitar: the OM Biosphere reviewed
GP Presents Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel with GA-20, November 13 in San Francisco – win tickets! By Jimmy Leslie published 10 November 23 Find out how you can win tickets to an evening of fiery Southern rock and blues
Adrian Belew recounts his audition with Frank Zappa: "We sat on his purple couch. I placed my Pignose amplifier face down on it so I could get a little bit of sustain... At the end of it, he reached out his hand and said, ‘You got the job’" By Jimmy Leslie published 8 November 23 Belew got the gig in the end, but his audition was anything but smooth sailing...
Struggling to string bend on your acoustic? Here are 4 simple tricks that will help… By Jimmy Leslie published 23 October 23 Outside of the box ideas for making string bending easier on an acoustic guitar
“Paul Reed Smith chooses wood like Stradivari, who used to walk around the Dolomites in Italy tapping on trees, saying, ‘I’ll take that one, not that one.’ He’s a maniac”: John McLaughlin on reuniting with Shakti, his bad year, and his signature PRS By Jimmy Leslie published 21 October 23 As he reunites his Indo-jazz supergroup Shakti, John McLaughlin talks harmony, rhythm and good wood
GP Presents Pat Metheny, November 3-5 in Berkeley, CA – win tickets! By Jimmy Leslie published 13 October 23 The jazz guitar legend is supporting his new solo guitar album, Dream Box, with solo shows in smaller venues, offering audiences an intimate look and listen to his signature style
How to Ditch the Pick and Engage Your Strongest Digits for Powerful Fingerstyle Action By Jimmy Leslie published 27 September 23 Get inspired and expand your technique using this short lesson
The Acoustic Guitar Player’s Guide to Using Fake Nails By Jimmy Leslie published 27 September 23 Once your nails are ready to roll, the power and flexibility of full fingerstyle will be literally at your fingertips
Hear These Fine Vintage Martins in Action on Collector and Bluegrass Ambassador Gary Brewer’s Latest Cut, ‘House of Axes’ By Jimmy Leslie published 22 September 23 ‘House of Axes’ is a straight-shooting showcase for Brewgrass’s rarest and most prized acoustics from a collection of more than 100 vintage Martins
Bluegrass Master Gary Brewer of the Kentucky Ramblers Shares Some Guitar Pick Wisdom By Jimmy Leslie published 22 September 23 Cop some plectrum pointers from a seasoned acoustic pro
