Art Thompson
Art Thompson is senior editor of Guitar Player magazine and he has authored stories with numerous guitar greats, including B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Billy Gibbons, Steve Miller, Prince, Reeves Gabrels, Joe Perry, Robben Ford, Brian Setzer, Sonny Landreth, Zakk Wylde, Eric Johnson, Robin Trower,
Scotty Moore, James Burton, Merle Haggard, Roy Nichols, Jimmie Vaughan and many others.
He has interviewed gear innovators such as Paul Reed Smith, Randall Smith, Mark Sampson and Gary Kramer, and he wrote the 1998 GP cover story/review of 150 vintage stomp boxes – an article that helped spark renewed interest in pedals from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. He also wrote the first book on the subject, Stompbox.
As a guitarist, he has shared stages with Gregg Allman, Stray Cats, Joe Ely, Dick Dale, Robben Ford, Lonnie Brooks, Kansas, Marshall Tucker, Foghat, Little Charlie and the Nitecats, Kenny Vaughan and Clarence Clemons, and he maintains a busy performing schedule with three stylistically diverse groups, all of which provide ample opportunity to test-drive new guitars, amps and effects, many of which are featured in the pages of GP.
Latest articles by Art Thompson

PRS SE McCarty 594 Singlecut Review
By Art Thompson published
A classic in its own right, the SE McCarty 594 follows a traditional template, but is completely PRS

“I Don’t Always Select Things Based on My Comfort Zone”: Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and Nels Cline Talk Guitar Tone and Songwriting
By Art Thompson published
The alt-rock luminaries discuss the impact of guitar tone and alternate tunings on the creative process

“It Startled Me, and I Thought, Did I Just Write 13 Songs With Lou Reed?” Nils Lofgren Reflects on His "Magical" Collaboration With the Velvet Underground Legend
By Art Thompson published
“He’d been up three nights straight and had finished 13 sets of lyrics,” says the Crazy Horse maestro and Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band Rock and Roll Hall of Famer

Donner DJP-1000 Review
By Art Thompson published
With good build quality and attention to detail, this bang-for-buck champ makes a great go-to gig guitar

TWA SH9 Scott Henderson Signature Distortion Review
By Art Thompson published
Fans of the Ibanez and Maxon SD-9s should know there’s a new sheriff in town designed in collaboration with Tube Screamer inventor Susumu Tamura

“He Always Said, ‘I Make Records so Other People Can Hear My Songwriting’”: Christine Lakeland Cale Looks Back on the Musical Genius of JJ Cale
By Art Thompson published
In this insightful interview, the late, great tunesmith’s wife reveals the guitars and gear behind JJ Cale’s craft and sheds light on his unique relationship with Eric Clapton

Universal Audio Dream ’65, Ruby ’63 and Woodrow ’55 Reviews
By Art Thompson published
Skillfully engineered pedals that accurately replicate cherry-picked vintage amps

Kernom Ridge Review
By Art Thompson published
A good candidate if you’re looking for a do-it-all overdrive that offers expanded controllability via expression pedal or MIDI

“I Had Been About a Year Sober and I Was on Shaky Ground”: John Hiatt Recalls When Lightning Struck Twice for Him With ‘Bring the Family’ and ‘Slow Turning’
By Art Thompson published
The turning point that cemented the maestro’s status as one of the premier songwriters of the 20th century

Reverend Crosscut Review
By Art Thompson published
The unique vibe and consistent quality that Reverend builds into all of its guitars is on full display here

Maestro Agena Envelope Filter, Arcas Compressor Sustainer, Mariner Tremolo, Orbit Phaser and Titan Boost Reviews
By Art Thompson published
Gibson sticks to meat-and-potatoes effects with this latest group of pedals

Slick SL56 Review
By Art Thompson published
A fun guitar that delivers the boutique-on-a-budget experience in spades

Donner Rising-G Pro Review
By Art Thompson published
This reasonably priced, carbon fiber travel guitar is great for jamming or doing a low-volume gig on a small stage

“I Used Solid Acoustic Guitar-Grade Wood”: Grez Founder Barry Grzebik Breathes New Life Into Electric Guitar Building
By Art Thompson published
Crafted using salvaged old-growth redwood and weighing just five and a half pounds, this Mendocino DCAF feels more like a top-tier steel-string acoustic

PRS Horsemeat Transparent Overdrive, Mary Cries Optical Compressor and Wind Through the Trees Dual Analog Flanger Reviews
By Art Thompson published
Designed and assembled in the U.S.A, these debut pedals fill the missing link in Paul Reed Smith’s signal chain

Watch Prince Rip One of the Greatest Guitar Solos in Music History During This All-Star Rendition Of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
By Art Thompson, Mark McStea published
Video Joined by Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood and Dhani Harrison, His Purple Highness blows the roof off the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Watch Acid Rockers Quicksilver Messenger Service Perform Their Celebrated Show Opener, “Fresh Air”
By Art Thompson last updated
Video Hear lead guitarist John Cipollina’s unique rig in action

PRS HDRX 20 Review
By Art Thompson last updated
A ton of fun and a great choice for anyone who loves classic Marshall tone

Watch Moby Grape’s Historic “Hey Grandma” Performance at the Monterey Pop Festival
By Art Thompson, Rod Brakes published
Video Born in San Francisco in 1967, this signature song is a quintessential Summer of Love anthem

Warm Audio Centavo and Warmdrive Reviews
By Art Thompson published
These two boxes clone a pair of famed ’90s designs, namely the Klon Centaur and the Hermida Audio Zendrive

Listen to the “Coolest Song in the World” by Psychedelic Rockers the Chocolate Watchband
By Art Thompson published
Video The band’s “Secret Rendezvous” single is taken from their critically acclaimed album ‘This Is My Voice’

“We Could Take a Pretty Massive Dose and Hang in There for a While”: How LSD Influenced the Grateful Dead’s Music
By Jas Obrecht, Art Thompson published
From the Acid Tests and beyond

Here’s How the Doors Turned Their Vision of Psychedelic Music Into a Pop Phenomenon
By Art Thompson published
Why the sum of the parts made the magic happen
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