Art Thompson Grid List Latest articles by Art Thompson Engineer Hans-Martin Buff Recalls Life Working with Prince at Paisley Park By Art Thompson “One of the reasons I got the gig with Prince is because I was young and I was hungry and I was kind of unformed...” The Legend of Prince: The Purple One's Guitar Players Share Untold Secrets and Tales from the Studio and Road By Art Thompson Mike Scott, Dez Dickerson, Donna Grantis, and Kat Dyson tell all in these GP-exclusive interviews. Inside the Audiophile Design of the Ruokangas Duke Valvebucker By Art Thompson With its tube-powered pickup, the Ruokangas Duke Valvebucker is a high-fidelity experience. Gary Clark Jr. Talks Writing and Recording Grammy-Winning Album ‘This Land’ By Art Thompson Video The inspiration and essential gear behind last year’s winner of the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Video John Hiatt Talks Getting Back to Basics By Art Thompson The Grammy nominee explains how he likes to keep it lean and mean when it comes to songwriting and gear. Fender ’68 Custom Vibro Champ Review By Art Thompson A modern update on a Fender favorite, this combo promises Silverface mojo in a compact format. Takamine TSP 138C Review By Art Thompson A beautiful thinline acoustic-electric at an equally attractive price, this stage-ready Takamine has a lot going for it. The Best Guitar Effects Pedals of All Time By Art Thompson, Rod Brakes From fuzzes and flanges, to distortions and delays, these are some of the best effects pedals ever created. Fender 70th Anniversary Esquire Review By Art Thompson The Big F celebrates a big year by going back to its roots and revisiting its single-pickup classic. How Prince’s "Purple Rain" Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Turned Up in a Minneapolis Music Store By Art Thompson Tracing the history of a very special amp. PRS Special Semi-Hollow Review By Art Thompson Sometimes you get what you pay for, and this semi-hollow offers class, tone, and playability in abundance. Dweezil Zappa on Frank Zappa‘s Guitar Legacy and Why He Sees His Father as More Classical Than Prog By Art Thompson The quicksilver genius of Frank Zappa's playing defied categorization, but it alerted a generation of progressive guitarists to push the boundaries of their instrument. Carr Super Bee Review By Art Thompson A boutique tube combo that'll tickle the fancy of any vintage Fender enthusiast. Ernie Ball Music Man Jason Richardson Signature Cutlass HH Review By Art Thompson Richardson's vision, top-quality components, and EBMM's craft join forces on this exceptional, state-of-the-art electric. Fender American Professional II Stratocaster and Telecaster Deluxe Review By Art Thompson The spec updates on this series add both playability and tone to two classic models. How Gibson Revitalized Heritage Shred Brand Kramer in 2021 By Art Thompson Loud finishes for even louder hard rock, the Kramer name is synonymous with hard rock and heavy metal stunt guitar. Mesa/Boogie Badlander Review By Art Thompson The Badlander moves the Rectifier series into the 21st century with CabClone IR tech and a huge array of incredible tones. MXR Tremolo Review By Art Thompson If there’s only room for one tremolo on your pedalboard, the MXR Tremolo is a strong contender. Vahlbruch Kaluna High Voltage Tube Drive Review By Art Thompson A top-quality overdrive that uses a 12AX7 to put some genuine tube heat and crunch into your tone. Dweezil Zappa Deciphers the Secrets Behind His Friend Eddie Van Halen's Sound and Style By Art Thompson From early inspirations to gear and phrasing choices, Zappa offers the inside track on EVH's playing. Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro V & Pro V Satin Review By Art Thompson Take a closer look at the Satin and gloss-finished LPs, designed in collaboration with and exclusively available at Guitar Center. Fender MTG Tube Tremolo Review By Art Thompson Can the Big F's stompbox hot streak continue with this contemporary twist on an old-school effect? We find out. Gibson Lukas Nelson Signature Les Paul Junior Review By Art Thompson A stripped-down but pitch-perfect replica of the Promise of the Real guitarist's '56 Junior. Taylor GTe Urban Ash Review By Art Thompson The new GT body size makes a stunning debut in this little acoustic with a big voice. Kirk Fletcher Talks Strats, Influences and Finding Different Grooves for the Blues By Art Thompson On 'My Blues Pathway,' the California blues specialist pays back a debt to the forces that shaped his ferocious style. 123Next The Pick Newsletter Get the latest news, reviews and product advice straight to your inbox. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. MOST READMOST SHARED1Orange Acoustic Pedal Review2“My Sensei Is Also a Student of Guitar”: Lawson Rollins on the Connection Between Martial Arts and Guitar Playing3Do Your Solos Sound One-Dimensional? These Are the Shapes Every Guitarist Must Know4“It Just Didn’t Sound Right No Matter What We Did”: Robben Ford on Abandoning His Treasured Dumble Overdrive Special5Listen to Malcolm Young’s Definitive Rock ‘n’ Roll Guitar Tone1Orange Acoustic Pedal Review2“My Sensei Is Also a Student of Guitar”: Lawson Rollins on the Connection Between Martial Arts and Guitar Playing3Do Your Solos Sound One-Dimensional? These Are the Shapes Every Guitarist Must Know4“It Just Didn’t Sound Right No Matter What We Did”: Robben Ford on Abandoning His Treasured Dumble Overdrive Special5Listen to Malcolm Young’s Definitive Rock ‘n’ Roll Guitar Tone
Engineer Hans-Martin Buff Recalls Life Working with Prince at Paisley Park By Art Thompson “One of the reasons I got the gig with Prince is because I was young and I was hungry and I was kind of unformed...”
The Legend of Prince: The Purple One's Guitar Players Share Untold Secrets and Tales from the Studio and Road By Art Thompson Mike Scott, Dez Dickerson, Donna Grantis, and Kat Dyson tell all in these GP-exclusive interviews.
Inside the Audiophile Design of the Ruokangas Duke Valvebucker By Art Thompson With its tube-powered pickup, the Ruokangas Duke Valvebucker is a high-fidelity experience.
Gary Clark Jr. Talks Writing and Recording Grammy-Winning Album ‘This Land’ By Art Thompson Video The inspiration and essential gear behind last year’s winner of the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
John Hiatt Talks Getting Back to Basics By Art Thompson The Grammy nominee explains how he likes to keep it lean and mean when it comes to songwriting and gear.
Fender ’68 Custom Vibro Champ Review By Art Thompson A modern update on a Fender favorite, this combo promises Silverface mojo in a compact format.
Takamine TSP 138C Review By Art Thompson A beautiful thinline acoustic-electric at an equally attractive price, this stage-ready Takamine has a lot going for it.
The Best Guitar Effects Pedals of All Time By Art Thompson, Rod Brakes From fuzzes and flanges, to distortions and delays, these are some of the best effects pedals ever created.
Fender 70th Anniversary Esquire Review By Art Thompson The Big F celebrates a big year by going back to its roots and revisiting its single-pickup classic.
How Prince’s "Purple Rain" Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Turned Up in a Minneapolis Music Store By Art Thompson Tracing the history of a very special amp.
PRS Special Semi-Hollow Review By Art Thompson Sometimes you get what you pay for, and this semi-hollow offers class, tone, and playability in abundance.
Dweezil Zappa on Frank Zappa‘s Guitar Legacy and Why He Sees His Father as More Classical Than Prog By Art Thompson The quicksilver genius of Frank Zappa's playing defied categorization, but it alerted a generation of progressive guitarists to push the boundaries of their instrument.
Carr Super Bee Review By Art Thompson A boutique tube combo that'll tickle the fancy of any vintage Fender enthusiast.
Ernie Ball Music Man Jason Richardson Signature Cutlass HH Review By Art Thompson Richardson's vision, top-quality components, and EBMM's craft join forces on this exceptional, state-of-the-art electric.
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster and Telecaster Deluxe Review By Art Thompson The spec updates on this series add both playability and tone to two classic models.
How Gibson Revitalized Heritage Shred Brand Kramer in 2021 By Art Thompson Loud finishes for even louder hard rock, the Kramer name is synonymous with hard rock and heavy metal stunt guitar.
Mesa/Boogie Badlander Review By Art Thompson The Badlander moves the Rectifier series into the 21st century with CabClone IR tech and a huge array of incredible tones.
MXR Tremolo Review By Art Thompson If there’s only room for one tremolo on your pedalboard, the MXR Tremolo is a strong contender.
Vahlbruch Kaluna High Voltage Tube Drive Review By Art Thompson A top-quality overdrive that uses a 12AX7 to put some genuine tube heat and crunch into your tone.
Dweezil Zappa Deciphers the Secrets Behind His Friend Eddie Van Halen's Sound and Style By Art Thompson From early inspirations to gear and phrasing choices, Zappa offers the inside track on EVH's playing.
Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro V & Pro V Satin Review By Art Thompson Take a closer look at the Satin and gloss-finished LPs, designed in collaboration with and exclusively available at Guitar Center.
Fender MTG Tube Tremolo Review By Art Thompson Can the Big F's stompbox hot streak continue with this contemporary twist on an old-school effect? We find out.
Gibson Lukas Nelson Signature Les Paul Junior Review By Art Thompson A stripped-down but pitch-perfect replica of the Promise of the Real guitarist's '56 Junior.
Taylor GTe Urban Ash Review By Art Thompson The new GT body size makes a stunning debut in this little acoustic with a big voice.
Kirk Fletcher Talks Strats, Influences and Finding Different Grooves for the Blues By Art Thompson On 'My Blues Pathway,' the California blues specialist pays back a debt to the forces that shaped his ferocious style.
