Gear "Every guitar that had been in Jamaica had to be pulled apart and rebuilt." Roger Mayer on salvaging Bob Marley's guitars for 'Exodus' Mayer also explains how Junior Marvin brought a rock vibe that gave Bob the "international sound" he craved “It’s a famous riff, and I have to admit, it’s hard to play. You have to be a real guitarist to do it well." How Andy Summers made a massive Police hit using a hand-wrenching guitar figure and a Telecaster with a mysterious history The guitarist calls "Message in a Bottle" "the best song Sting ever came up with, and the best Police track” Fractal’s new VP4 virtual pedalboard puts hundreds of classic stompbox and studio effect models at guitarists' feet The floor-based processor features effects based on the award-winning Axe-Fx III Latest gear Best headphone amps for guitar 2024: Crank your amp and silence your surroundings By Richard Blenkinsop last updated 25 June 24 Quiet practice has never sounded so good thanks to capable and affordable headphone amps from Boss, Fender, Vox and more Best beginner acoustic guitars 2024: Start as you mean to go on By Richard Blenkinsop published 20 June 24 Our pick of tried-and-tested beginner acoustics from trusted brands including Taylor, Fender, Sigma and more Best bass guitars 2024: Four- and five-string options for every style and budget By Matt McCracken last updated 20 June 24 From top-end Rickenbackers to budget-friendly squiers, the best basses take many forms – these are the ones to consider right now Best beginner electric guitars 2024: Empower your guitar journey with our pick of guitars for fresh-faced rookies By Ross Holder published 4 June 24 From Squier to Ibanez, here's our expert selection of the best electric guitars for beginners Best beginner bass guitars 2024: Starting you off on your low-end journey By Chris Corfield published 4 June 24 Great models for budding bass stars from Squier, Ibanez, Gretsch, Sterling by Music Man and more From single-cut stunners to busking Swiss army knifes, a round-up of 2024's hottest acoustic gear By Jimmy Leslie published 24 May 24 GP gathers a selected swath of shining stars on the acoustic gear horizon, with a primary lens concentrated on guitar The PRS Custom 24 “Bonni Pink” guitar is a stunning example of Paul Reed Smith's cornerstone model By Dave Hunter published 23 May 24 Dedicated to a longtime PRS employee, the extremely flamey maple top, distinctive finish, and Paul Reed Smith autograph mark this guitar as a rare – and highly alluring – early PRS by any measure “A three-in-one tribute to the best of British tone”: Carr Amplifiers Bel-Ray review By Dave Hunter published 16 May 24 Steve Carr's latest creation packs the essence of classic British amp tone together with a tremolo that’s out of this world Santa Cruz Guitars' Richard Hoover explains the science of vintage wood and guitar tone By Jimmy Leslie published 13 May 24 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 By Richard Blenkinsop published 8 May 24 Our pick of the best guitars for kids; electrics and acoustics from the likes of Yamaha, Squier, Taylor and more 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“They were chasing success. I had my own vision, and after 'Strangers in the Night,' I split.” Michael Schenker brought UFO global fame. He had other plans for himself2“He let everyone know he was the new dangerous kid on the block. It started me on a relentless mission to find out just who this man was”: Eric Clapton reveals the guitarist that inspired him to quit the Bluesbreakers and form Cream3I’ve been playing guitar for 20 years – discover why I switched to Til guitar lessons and get $20 off your first lesson from a pro tutor4"When you look at his 18-page discography, the enormous impact he and his guitar have had on the world of music becomes clear." Learn these 10 techniques that made Steve Lukather a legendary studio ace5"I placed the DeArmond pickup near the bridge. I put a crushed cigarette packet underneath it. That helped to get that round sound.” Vic Flick, guitarist behind the iconic James Bond theme, has died. Read our historic interview with him
Best headphone amps for guitar 2024: Crank your amp and silence your surroundings By Richard Blenkinsop last updated 25 June 24 Quiet practice has never sounded so good thanks to capable and affordable headphone amps from Boss, Fender, Vox and more
Best beginner acoustic guitars 2024: Start as you mean to go on By Richard Blenkinsop published 20 June 24 Our pick of tried-and-tested beginner acoustics from trusted brands including Taylor, Fender, Sigma and more
Best bass guitars 2024: Four- and five-string options for every style and budget By Matt McCracken last updated 20 June 24 From top-end Rickenbackers to budget-friendly squiers, the best basses take many forms – these are the ones to consider right now
Best beginner electric guitars 2024: Empower your guitar journey with our pick of guitars for fresh-faced rookies By Ross Holder published 4 June 24 From Squier to Ibanez, here's our expert selection of the best electric guitars for beginners
Best beginner bass guitars 2024: Starting you off on your low-end journey By Chris Corfield published 4 June 24 Great models for budding bass stars from Squier, Ibanez, Gretsch, Sterling by Music Man and more
From single-cut stunners to busking Swiss army knifes, a round-up of 2024's hottest acoustic gear By Jimmy Leslie published 24 May 24 GP gathers a selected swath of shining stars on the acoustic gear horizon, with a primary lens concentrated on guitar
The PRS Custom 24 “Bonni Pink” guitar is a stunning example of Paul Reed Smith's cornerstone model By Dave Hunter published 23 May 24 Dedicated to a longtime PRS employee, the extremely flamey maple top, distinctive finish, and Paul Reed Smith autograph mark this guitar as a rare – and highly alluring – early PRS by any measure
“A three-in-one tribute to the best of British tone”: Carr Amplifiers Bel-Ray review By Dave Hunter published 16 May 24 Steve Carr's latest creation packs the essence of classic British amp tone together with a tremolo that’s out of this world
Santa Cruz Guitars' Richard Hoover explains the science of vintage wood and guitar tone By Jimmy Leslie published 13 May 24 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 By Richard Blenkinsop published 8 May 24 Our pick of the best guitars for kids; electrics and acoustics from the likes of Yamaha, Squier, Taylor and more
