Latest articles by Jimmy Leslie
“This exciting era of acoustic-electronic innovation hasn’t seen much action on the amp front, which makes this a welcome addition”: Taylor Circa 74 AV150-10 acoustic amplifier review
This handsome, wood-crafted combo packs 150 watts into a 1x10 enclosure, and fits as easily into a home’s decor as it would a studio setting
GP Presents the Alan Parsons Live Project, March 21 in Oakland, California – win tickets
The legendary songwriter and producer will be joined onstage by, among other top musicians, guitar hero Jeff Kollman
“I’ve seen a lot of guitars with multiple necks – often the player uses one or two necks at a time. I use all three on this guitar while also playing percussion”: How acoustic wizard Luca Stricagnoli wrangles his signature triple-neck beast
Making rock, pop, metal, and even hip-hop classics his own with his trademark triple-neck acoustic, Stricagnoli's extraordinary virtuosity stands out, but there's far more to his playing than percussive hits and tapping acrobatics
GP Presents Gov’t Mule on Saturday, February 17 in Oakland, CA – win tickets
Roots rock guitar captain Warren Haynes and his stalwart crew are bringing their ongoing 30th anniversary celebration to the Fox Theater
"It was all there in the parlor guitar: that depth and inspirational tone. The only reason guitars got bigger was to compete with barking dogs and juggling children in vaudeville…" The big history of small acoustics
Richard Hoover unravels the history and mystery of parlor guitars
"The Bryn Athyn Cathedral in Pennsylvania called me about a stack of leftover Brazilian rosewood that would have been a living tree in the 1700s": How Santa Cruz's Richard Hoover sources antique materials for his luxurious lutherie
Santa Cruz captain Richard Hoover applied his ultimate artistic expression to his historic Vault Series that made its stunning debut at NAMM 2024 last week.
“A little badass: ideal for a bit of bottom-end grooving without the weight of a full-scale bass or amp”: The junior-sized Martin DJR-10E acoustic bass reviewed
Perfect for players with small hands or working out bass parts on the fly, the great-sounding, cute-looking and affordable Martin DFR-10E Bass packs a ton of fun into just 24 inches
Excellent playability, affordability and “fabulous amplified acoustic tone”: Fender’s latest Highway Series’ Parlor and Dreadnought guitars reviewed
Discover why the Highway Series is an excellent crossover option for players who want a killer acoustic stage sound from an instrument with the playability of an electric guitar
”What I’m playing is like a string quartet, meaning that a mandolin corresponds to a violin”: Dave Grisman on his Acoustic America album and stunning exhibition of 90 iconic folk instruments at Arizona's Musical Instrument Museum
Musicologist and gear collector David Grisman talks through the historic mandolins, guitars and banjos he played on his Acoustic America album, but you can see them for yourself at Arizona’s Musical Instrument Museum
The Martin GPCE Inception Maple is state of the art in a market where a cutaway used to be considered outrageous – but is it any good? Oh yes…
The latest and greatest incarnation of Martin’s “openly vivacious” Grand Performance sets a new benchmark with its gorgeous design, honeycombed bracing and maple back and sides
GP Presents Julian Lage, January 18 - January 21 in San Francisco – win tickets
Lage epitomizes modern jazz guitar, and he’s going to be the Resident Artistic Director at SF Jazz over the third weekend of January, holding court at the Miner Auditorium
Gear of the Year: The best guitars, amps, pedals and more of 2023
Our guide to the greatest guitars, amps, pedals and accessories of 2023, handpicked by the Guitar Player team
GP Presents Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew’s Remain in Light, with X, December 30 in San Francisco – Win Tickets
GP Presents has joined forces with Goldenvoice for a Talking Heads rave up to round out the year at the Warfield Theatre
”If you don’t get your act together, then you can’t expect your band to be.” Session player and bandleader Ben Misterka shares his wisdom on playing savvy in the post-pandemic world
With performance budgets crunched to the max, life on the road these days is more challenging than ever. Here’s how to make the most of your opportunities
Plastic-free and fully FSC-certified, with a hemp gig bag, the Martin OM Biosphere must be one of the greenest guitars ever – but is it any good?
Martin’s second über-environmental guitar: the OM Biosphere reviewed
GP Presents Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel with GA-20, November 13 in San Francisco – win tickets!
Find out how you can win tickets to an evening of fiery Southern rock and blues
Adrian Belew recounts his audition with Frank Zappa: "We sat on his purple couch. I placed my Pignose amplifier face down on it so I could get a little bit of sustain... At the end of it, he reached out his hand and said, ‘You got the job’"
Belew got the gig in the end, but his audition was anything but smooth sailing...
Struggling to string bend on your acoustic? Here are 4 simple tricks that will help…
Outside of the box ideas for making string bending easier on an acoustic guitar
“Paul Reed Smith chooses wood like Stradivari, who used to walk around the Dolomites in Italy tapping on trees, saying, ‘I’ll take that one, not that one.’ He’s a maniac”: John McLaughlin on reuniting with Shakti, his bad year, and his signature PRS
As he reunites his Indo-jazz supergroup Shakti, John McLaughlin talks harmony, rhythm and good wood
GP Presents Pat Metheny, November 3-5 in Berkeley, CA – win tickets!
The jazz guitar legend is supporting his new solo guitar album, Dream Box, with solo shows in smaller venues, offering audiences an intimate look and listen to his signature style
How to Ditch the Pick and Engage Your Strongest Digits for Powerful Fingerstyle Action
Get inspired and expand your technique using this short lesson
The Acoustic Guitar Player’s Guide to Using Fake Nails
Once your nails are ready to roll, the power and flexibility of full fingerstyle will be literally at your fingertips
Hear These Fine Vintage Martins in Action on Collector and Bluegrass Ambassador Gary Brewer’s Latest Cut, ‘House of Axes’
‘House of Axes’ is a straight-shooting showcase for Brewgrass’s rarest and most prized acoustics from a collection of more than 100 vintage Martins
