Walrus Audio unveils Canvas Power range of linkable pedalboard power supplies By Matt Owen published 16 May 24 Available in four sizes, the Canvas Power units promise low-noise operation and can be linked to accomodate ever-growing rigs
How Hermanos Gutiérrez leveraged vintage tones and Dan Auerbach's guitar tech on Barrio Hustle By Janelle Borg published 16 May 24 Barrio Hustle is taken from the guitar duo's upcoming album Sonido Cósmico – and premiered exclusively on Guitar World
Jim Root has switched to the Neural DSP Quad Cortex for some Slipknot shows By Matt Owen published 16 May 24 Despite once saying he'd stay clear of digital tech, Root has started dabbling in the amp modeling world – and recently used the Quad Cortex at a high-profile festival performance
Wolfgang Van Halen’s long-awaited EVH SA-126 signature model is officially launched By Matt Owen published 16 May 24 Named after Eddie's birthday and taking cues from the Bumblebee, the SA-126 was developed from a desire to build a guitar that didn't yet exist – and arrives with a new Wolfgang Van Halen demo video
Mastodon's Bill Kelliher on how meeting his guitar heroes pushed him to improve his craft By Janelle Borg published 15 May 24 Mastodon's Bill Kelliher also credits Slayer's Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman for changing his previously nonchalant attitude to warming up before a show
Tsakalis Audioworks’ Mothership merges analog warmth with over 70 free configurable cab sims in one overdrive/preamp pedal By Phil Weller published 15 May 24 The best-of-both-worlds unit offers two identical overdrive channels with three gain stages each, and a choice of over 70 free digital cab simulations
“If Ed were here today, he would not stop talking about this guitar. He would love this guitar”: Wolfgang Van Halen’s long-awaited EVH SA-126 signature model is officially launched – after 3 years of development By Matt Owen
Walrus Audio unveils Canvas Power range of linkable pedalboard power supplies By Matt Owen published 16 May 24 Available in four sizes, the Canvas Power units promise low-noise operation and can be linked to accomodate ever-growing rigs
How Hermanos Gutiérrez leveraged vintage tones and Dan Auerbach's guitar tech on Barrio Hustle By Janelle Borg published 16 May 24 Barrio Hustle is taken from the guitar duo's upcoming album Sonido Cósmico – and premiered exclusively on Guitar World
Jim Root has switched to the Neural DSP Quad Cortex for some Slipknot shows By Matt Owen published 16 May 24 Despite once saying he'd stay clear of digital tech, Root has started dabbling in the amp modeling world – and recently used the Quad Cortex at a high-profile festival performance
Mastodon's Bill Kelliher on how meeting his guitar heroes pushed him to improve his craft By Janelle Borg published 15 May 24 Mastodon's Bill Kelliher also credits Slayer's Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman for changing his previously nonchalant attitude to warming up before a show
Tsakalis Audioworks’ Mothership merges analog warmth with over 70 free configurable cab sims in one overdrive/preamp pedal By Phil Weller published 15 May 24 The best-of-both-worlds unit offers two identical overdrive channels with three gain stages each, and a choice of over 70 free digital cab simulations
Chase Bliss’ Onward sampler pedal is glitching and freezing heaven for guitarists of all styles By Phil Weller published 15 May 24 A deceptively small little stompbox, the Onward is the laden with synth sorcery
Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament on recording with one of their idols By Janelle Borg published 15 May 24 Pearl Jam were recruited by the godfather of grunge to help him record his 1995 album
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken plays Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World with Ukraine covers band By Phil Weller published 15 May 24 Blinken joined the local covers band to play Neil Young’s political anthem while in the country for high-level talks with Ukraine officials
JHS, Keeley and Benson have all built effects inspired by the Beach Boys’ studio tones By Matt Parker published 15 May 24 The Sweetwater-exclusive line sees some of the biggest names in pedals attempt to recreate the Beach Boys' most iconic studio sounds
“I narrowed it down to the bare essentials and found that three strings were all I needed”: 10 guitarists who played with missing strings on purpose… and the weird reasons why By Will Ainsley
“I bought a 1964 Vox AC30 for £300 from a friend whose partner had died. She knew it was worth a lot more, but she wanted me to have it as a memory of him”: Troy Redfern on his most emotional gear finds and his biggest guitar-buying mistakes By David Mead published 16 May 24 The one-man blues-rock maelstrom explains why Gold Foil pickups are “the best‑sounding pickup across the board” for him, and how he became a “complete casualty” of Steve Vai’s Passion and Warfare
“I wrote most Erra records with a Line 6 Spider”: Fret choices and weird bends are more important to Jesse Cash than gear By Phil Weller published 16 May 24 New album Cure sees the progressive metalcore outfit working with a producer for the first time to hone their Earth-shattering riffs – it also showcases Cash’s love of Jerry Cantrell’s bending technique, and why he believes string skipping can bypass the need for theory
Folk great John Smith on his life-changing Mulecaster experience and why the Quad Cortex isn’t just for metalheads By David Mead published 16 May 24 As the influential UK folk guitarist gears up to take his new album, The Living Kind, out on the road, he joins us to explain how a shift in his gear and writing process has had a profound effect on his music
Loathe’s Erik Bickerstaffe loves budget gear, real amps and thick strings that don’t bite back By Phil Weller published 15 May 24 While finishing up the djent-shoegaze heavyweights’ new album, Bickerstaffe reflects on kickstarting a craze for baritones, why he’s burned out on P-90s, and what makes amp modelers feel like a step backward
Best overdrive pedals 2024: explore which drive pedal is right for you By Alex Lynham last updated 15 May 24 Overdrive is one of the most essential guitar effects pedals. These are our top picks for every budget
Best phaser pedals 2024: our guide to this versatile modulation guitar effect By Chris Corfield last updated 15 May 24 Looking to create that swirling sound effect? These are the best phaser pedals to try from MXR, Electro-Harmonix, Walrus Audio and more
Meet Belushi Speed Ball, the ‘pizza thrash’ band chasing pineapple-friendly guitar tones By Phil Weller published 15 May 24 Inspired by death metal greats, Belushi Speed Ball’s fourth album is available as an actual pizza, and features two new guitarists to slam home more punchlines – but beneath the silliness there’s escapism in their mad maelstrom
Dave Grohl's guitars: meet the six-strings behind the Foo Fighters, plus get DG's tone on a budget By Daryl Robertson published 15 May 24 Want to know what guitars Dave Grohl plays? We unveil the nicest man in rock's guitar arsenal
Tash Sultana talks Strats and blowing Nile Rodgers’ mind with a rare vintage example By Amit Sharma published 14 May 24 The musical polymath reveals what the future holds for their signature Strat, and why jamming with Nile Rodgers, Mateus Asato and Tom Morello was just what the doctor ordered
Learn the signature soloing style of Gretsch-toting rockabilly legend and Stray Cat Brian Setzer By Andy G Jones published 15 May 24 Brian Setzer mixes jazz, swing and rock 'n' roll for a sound that's all his own. This lesson unpacks his soloing style so you crazy cats won't stray on the fingerboard
How Allan Holdsworth blew the minds of Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and a generation of guitar heroes By Charlie Griffiths published 13 May 24 Take your playing to another realm with this lesson in Holdsworth’s legato, string skipping and that unique ability of his to find new patterns in scales
Triads are unsung heroes of guitar – here is how you can use the CAGED system to master them By Molly Miller published 10 May 24 Dr Molly Miller breaks down the three-note formula behind triads and explains how you can use them anywhere across the fretboard
Muddy Waters is a blues guitar icon who pioneered the sound of electric guitar and invented a new solo language By David Gerrish published 8 May 24 In the smoky clubs of Chicago, Muddy Waters turned up the volume on blues guitar, electrifying it, and then the audience – and his slide and open-tuning approach to Chicago blues was integral to his early success
‘Hammer-ons from nowhere’ can blow your guitar playing wide open By Jamie Hunt published 6 May 24 This Greg Howe and Joe Satriani-favored technique will whip your hammer-ons, pull-offs, tapping, and muting into shape
Build a whole new lickbag with our country-blues masterclass By Andy Saphir published 3 May 24 Learn how you can mix major and minor pentatonics, and add extra notes to give your solos a wide open space to roam in, with this deep dive into country-blues guitar
Learn how to use “call and response” as a phrasing technique with blues maestro Josh Smith By Josh Smith published 2 May 24 In blues maestro Josh Smith's latest GW column, the guitarist draws inspiration from George Benson for a lesson in call and response phrasing
Matteo Mancuso is the hottest guitar player in the world right now – learn four licks in his breathtaking rock fusion style By JTC Guitar published 2 May 24 Put the pick down and take a breath, it's time to take your playing on a journey. Improve your classical picking, legato and string skipping in this video lesson with the man himself
Make like Joni Mitchell and Steve Hackett and freshen up your chords with 5 alternative voicings By Richard Barrett published 30 April 24 By incorporating open strings, you can give your chords more color and keep the ear interested. Here are five voicings that are certified fresh