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 Stedman PureConnect GP-2 and PK-3 cleaning kits review By Dave Hunter published 7 May 24 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 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 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 “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 Best Guitar Amps 2024: 15 Supreme Tube And Solid-State Amps For Home, Studio And Stage By Daryl Robertson last updated 25 March 24 Our pick of the best amplifiers for all budgets from Fender, Vox, Blackstar, Tone King 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
Stedman PureConnect GP-2 and PK-3 cleaning kits review By Dave Hunter published 7 May 24 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
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
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
“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
Best Guitar Amps 2024: 15 Supreme Tube And Solid-State Amps For Home, Studio And Stage By Daryl Robertson last updated 25 March 24 Our pick of the best amplifiers for all budgets from Fender, Vox, Blackstar, Tone King and more
