News “I was using a Telecaster because it had a really clean tone for my fingerstyle approach. Fleetwood Mac's pre-existing sound was much fatter, and they felt the Tele really didn’t fit”: Lindsey Buckingham on his turn to Turner guitars Though numerous guitarists cycled through Fleetwood Mac in the years following Peter Green's departure, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood remained partial to the crunch of a Les Paul, which Buckingham was hesitant to adopt “If Seven Worlds had come out at the time it was ready, instead of being held back, he would have been as big as Jeff Beck”: Stevie Ray Vaughan details his friendship with Eric Johnson As fellow Austin, Texas-based, up-and-coming guitarists in the 1970s and '80s, Vaughan and Johnson developed a close friendship, and had great admiration for one another “Eddie Van Halen had me play his 5150 guitar, and then he asked me to show the solo to him, because he’d forgotten it”: Jennifer Batten recalls re-teaching EVH the Beat It solo “Not the most relaxed situation for me,” the former Michael Jackson guitarist told GP in a 1989 interview Latest news “Premium sound for everyday playing without the hassle of amps, pedals and computer interfaces”: With the Katana:GO, Boss has entered the headphone amp market with a bang By Jackson Maxwell published 14 March 24 The pocket-sized unit features 10 amp models, access to Boss's formidable effects library, and a “stage feel” control that allows users to position the amp's sound in different places in the sound field, “giving the impression of playing with a backline on stage or jamming in a room with friends” “Elvis loved the way we took his stuff and went into another dimension with it”: James Burton on his time with Elvis Presley, and the origins of “Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building” By Jackson Maxwell published 13 March 24 Burton – a major influence on classic rock guitar luminaries like Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Brian May – was held in very high regard by Presley 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 Musician’s Friend Guitar Fest sale has started with up to 40% off guitar gear - including $600 off a Gibson Les Paul By Matt McCracken published 8 March 24 Bag yourself some fresh new guitar gear with huge discounts on Fender, Gibson, Electro-Harmonix, and more Wait! Don't buy that new guitar, Fender is offering a massive 20% off parts and pickups at the Fender shop By Matt McCracken published 8 March 24 Here are the four upgrades we'd choose with big money off at the Fender parts sale This one-day-only Fender Play deal is the cheapest we’ve ever seen - get a year’s worth of top-notch guitar lessons for just $29 By Matt McCracken published 29 February 24 Get a year’s worth of expert tuition for less with this phenomenal value one-day deal from Fender “I picked up my Fender and thought, ‘How the hell did I ever play this?’”: Jeff Beck once said “there was no turning back” to the Strat – here's why he eventually did just that By Jackson Maxwell published 27 February 24 Never one to creatively and sonically stand still, Beck – just as he had with the Strat – eventually grew dissatisfied with what he saw as the Les Paul's limitations “What we all used to dream a guitar shop should be”: Gibson opens new Gibson Garage London flagship store in star-studded fashion, unveils new Jimmy Page signature 1971 EDS-1275 double-neck guitar By Jackson Maxwell published 22 February 24 Kicking off its impressive new UK flagship store with three of the greatest guitarists of all time, Gibson also announced a partnership with Jimmy Page, which will reportedly see the two work together on a series of models “I thought I'd mastered the 7-string after a week of sitting and practicing... then I went to a Korn rehearsal and stood up – My whole week of practicing sitting down was for nothing”: Brian Welch on his 7-string journey, and his unusual playing posture By Jackson Maxwell published 22 February 24 The Korn guitarist struggled initially to find his way around the 7-string in a performance-like setting. Though he would overcome his initial difficulties, their impact on his style was permanent “You wouldn’t hear his influence in my earlier recordings... but on the David Lee Roth album and as my hands got weaker, you can hear a little more Eric Clapton in my notes”: How Jason Becker's light-speed style was forced to evolve as his ALS progressed By Jackson Maxwell published 21 February 24 As the '80s ended and the '90s began, changing tastes in the guitar universe, the tasks of a new gig, and the tragedy that would forever transform Becker's life would force the guitarist to look back at early lessons he learned from a blues master 123456789Archives 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 MOST READ1Follow the lead of players like Mark Knopfler, Albert Collins, and Lindsey Buckingham, and open the door to new techniques and textures, with this primer in fingerstyle rock guitar2“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 3“I was playing the Breeders' Divine Hammer, and my whole hand cramped up, I couldn’t move it... It seemed so simple, but it was something I would never play”: J Mascis went electric for his new solo album, but (mostly) without his usual Jazzmaster4“I was using a Telecaster because it had a really clean tone for my fingerstyle approach. Fleetwood Mac's pre-existing sound was much fatter, and they felt the Tele really didn’t fit”: Lindsey Buckingham on his turn to Turner guitars 5“I went to Mickie Most's office with an acoustic guitar and played it. It was almost like one of those clichéd movie moments: he said, ‘That’s going to be a hit!’”: Session guitar ace Chris Spedding reveals the stories behind five of his best songs
“Premium sound for everyday playing without the hassle of amps, pedals and computer interfaces”: With the Katana:GO, Boss has entered the headphone amp market with a bang By Jackson Maxwell published 14 March 24 The pocket-sized unit features 10 amp models, access to Boss's formidable effects library, and a “stage feel” control that allows users to position the amp's sound in different places in the sound field, “giving the impression of playing with a backline on stage or jamming in a room with friends”
“Elvis loved the way we took his stuff and went into another dimension with it”: James Burton on his time with Elvis Presley, and the origins of “Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building” By Jackson Maxwell published 13 March 24 Burton – a major influence on classic rock guitar luminaries like Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Brian May – was held in very high regard by Presley
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
Musician’s Friend Guitar Fest sale has started with up to 40% off guitar gear - including $600 off a Gibson Les Paul By Matt McCracken published 8 March 24 Bag yourself some fresh new guitar gear with huge discounts on Fender, Gibson, Electro-Harmonix, and more
Wait! Don't buy that new guitar, Fender is offering a massive 20% off parts and pickups at the Fender shop By Matt McCracken published 8 March 24 Here are the four upgrades we'd choose with big money off at the Fender parts sale
This one-day-only Fender Play deal is the cheapest we’ve ever seen - get a year’s worth of top-notch guitar lessons for just $29 By Matt McCracken published 29 February 24 Get a year’s worth of expert tuition for less with this phenomenal value one-day deal from Fender
“I picked up my Fender and thought, ‘How the hell did I ever play this?’”: Jeff Beck once said “there was no turning back” to the Strat – here's why he eventually did just that By Jackson Maxwell published 27 February 24 Never one to creatively and sonically stand still, Beck – just as he had with the Strat – eventually grew dissatisfied with what he saw as the Les Paul's limitations
“What we all used to dream a guitar shop should be”: Gibson opens new Gibson Garage London flagship store in star-studded fashion, unveils new Jimmy Page signature 1971 EDS-1275 double-neck guitar By Jackson Maxwell published 22 February 24 Kicking off its impressive new UK flagship store with three of the greatest guitarists of all time, Gibson also announced a partnership with Jimmy Page, which will reportedly see the two work together on a series of models
“I thought I'd mastered the 7-string after a week of sitting and practicing... then I went to a Korn rehearsal and stood up – My whole week of practicing sitting down was for nothing”: Brian Welch on his 7-string journey, and his unusual playing posture By Jackson Maxwell published 22 February 24 The Korn guitarist struggled initially to find his way around the 7-string in a performance-like setting. Though he would overcome his initial difficulties, their impact on his style was permanent
“You wouldn’t hear his influence in my earlier recordings... but on the David Lee Roth album and as my hands got weaker, you can hear a little more Eric Clapton in my notes”: How Jason Becker's light-speed style was forced to evolve as his ALS progressed By Jackson Maxwell published 21 February 24 As the '80s ended and the '90s began, changing tastes in the guitar universe, the tasks of a new gig, and the tragedy that would forever transform Becker's life would force the guitarist to look back at early lessons he learned from a blues master