Phil Weller
A freelance writer with a penchant for music that gets weird, Phil is a regular contributor to Prog, Guitar World, and Total Guitar magazines and is especially keen on shining a light on unknown artists. Outside of the journalism realm, you can find him writing angular riffs in progressive metal band, Prognosis, in which he slings an 8-string Strandberg Boden Original, churning that low string through a variety of tunings. He's also a published author and is currently penning his debut novel which chucks fantasy, mythology and humanity into a great big melting pot.
Latest articles by Phil Weller

Peter Green’s peculiar Fender Duo-Sonic II – used extensively during his late ‘70s comeback – to be auctioned off
By Phil Weller published
The three-quarter-sized guitar featured on two solo albums that marked the Fleetwood Mac co-founder's return from obscurity in the late ‘70s

Marty Friedman’s Rust In Peace-era Jackson Kelly has been listed on Reverb
By Phil Weller published
The guitar featured on two Cacophony and two Megadeth albums, and has over 1,000 shows with the thrash legends under its belt

A new study weighed more than 450 guitars to determine the lightest tonewoods on the market
By Phil Weller published
The experiment's results outlined which woods are best for long playing sessions, and what tonal flavors they serve up

Jackson unveils hardtail version of its celebrated American Series Virtuoso metal machine
By Phil Weller published
A year after the Virtuoso impressed with its fast neck and tonal versatility, a fixed bridge edition has come to market, with four classic colorways to choose from

Seymour Duncan releases pure nickel Antiquity string sets
By Phil Weller published
Available in Light and Extra Light gauges, the strings are designed to give musicians access to the great vintage guitar sounds

Jason Richardson's latest Ernie Ball signatures feature custom-voiced humbuckers over a decade in the making
By Phil Weller published
Available in two finishes and six- and seven-string models, the next-gen Cutlass models are the latest to be produced by the Richardson/EBMM partnership

Fender unveils Tim Shaw-designed P/J bass pickup set
By Phil Weller published
The set offers a best-of-both-worlds approach, blending a Precision Bass middle pickup with a Jazz Bass in the bridge, carefully crafted to complement one another

Prince’s Vox HDC-77 – untouched since he last played it – to be sold at auction
By Phil Weller published
The semi-hollow guitar was used throughout his 3rdeyegirl era, including on stage at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Electric Ballroom, and the White House

“Please keep an eye out for them”: Four guitars stolen from Paul Gilbert in Frankfurt
By Phil Weller published
The guitarist had three signature guitars and a Godin electric-acoustic stolen while on tour in Germany, and has asked fans to keep an eye out for their resurfacing

Watch Chris Buck pay tribute to Bernie Marsden by performing with his legendary $1m “The Beast” Les Paul
By Phil Weller published
Marsden's wife offered Buck the opportunity to ice his tribute with the “fantastic” '59 Les Paul Standard, making for a moment to remember for the Cardinal Black guitarist

Bob Weir’s third D’Angelico signature guitar is the pair's “best work yet”
By Phil Weller published
The Bobby Weir 3's custom TV Jones “DA-Tron” humbuckers and premium specs promise to deliver the Grateful Dead man’s slinky tones in abundance

Peavey and Misha Mansoor deliver the invective.112 combo amp – combining EL84 tubes with digital features
By Phil Weller published
The lightweight 20-watt combo amp condenses the tones of the invective.120 amp head into a smaller, gig and home recording-ready creation

Rick Nielsen to be honored with 62-foot checkerboard Hamer monument at the Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, Illinois
By Phil Weller published
The Cheap Trick guitarist was a big advocate for the brand’s arrival in the band's hometown, and the giant guitar-shaped sculpture will sit pride of place in front of the casino in tribute to his efforts

Electro Harmonix updates its esteemed POG pedal, calls it the “most powerful polyphonic octave generator ever”
By Phil Weller published
The pedal has received its first update since 2009, with a host of new user-friendly tweaks and tonal features added

Blitzen Trapper's Eric Earley reveals how his beloved 1964 Gibson Hummingbird was improbably brought back to life
By Phil Weller published
After presuming the worst in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the guitarist couldn't believe it when his luthier brought the vintage Gibson back from the dead

Fender launches signature Telecaster pickup set for Jason Isbell
By Phil Weller published
Fender pickup guru Tim Shaw took cues from ‘60s Tele and Strat flavors for a “best of both worlds,” vintage-style sound

Jim Irsay’s historic guitar collection to go on display at Indiana University Bloomington
By Phil Weller published
The year-long exhibition will showcase some of Irsay's priceless vintage models – an 1850s Martin and 1959 sunburst Strat among them – and legendary instruments played by David Gilmour, Kurt Cobain, Bob Dylan, and countless others on its opening day

David Gilmour is set to release his first solo album in 9 years, and he reckons it's some of his best work
By Phil Weller published
The prog legend has credited a backroom team that has a lack of respect for his sparkling CV for the record's success – and wants to release a follow-up with the same team in the near future

Joe Bonamassa makes up for giving his original gold Klon Centaur away for free by creating the “ultimate clone” with Way Huge
By Phil Weller published
The overdrive pedal is limited to 550 hand-signed units and is available exclusively on the blues guitarist’s Reverb channel

EVH breaks its colorway trend with Vintage Sunburst, Silver, and Blue finishes for the Frankenstein
By Phil Weller published
The limited edition finishes are ideal for those looking for a more subtle slice of the acrobatic guitar hero, with his choice specs remaining otherwise untouched

Gary Moore’s modded Blues For Greeny 1961 SG Junior to be auctioned off in September
By Phil Weller published
The rare TV Yellow instrument was also used on tour with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, with Moore finding plenty of reasons to play it in the ‘90s

Guitar Center employees find thousands of dollars worth of cocaine, and methamphetamine hidden inside a guitar amp
By Phil Weller published
The Atlanta-area store was listed as the shipment’s return address to minimize suspicions, but it ended up at the store by mistake

Dweezil Zappa on the time he taught Eddie Van Halen how to play one of his dad’s most difficult riffs
By Phil Weller published
Dweezil had looked up to Eddie all his life, but the apprentice became the master one night in 2010
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