Gear “It’s a famous riff, and I have to admit, it’s hard to play. You have to be a real guitarist to do it well." How Andy Summers made a massive Police hit using a hand-wrenching guitar figure and a Telecaster with a mysterious history The guitarist calls "Message in a Bottle" "the best song Sting ever came up with, and the best Police track” Fractal’s new VP4 virtual pedalboard puts hundreds of classic stompbox and studio effect models at guitarists' feet The floor-based processor features effects based on the award-winning Axe-Fx III Former Beatle John Lennon's weirdest guitar is one of the last he played It's John Lennon's birthday. We take a look at a rare guitar that was one of just two he used on his final album Latest gear Best amp modelers 2024: Get your dream guitar tone with our top picks By Connor Godfrey published 23 April 24 Amp models so good, you’ll think they’re the real thing Best overdrive pedals 2024: Strap in, it's time to drive By Connor Godfrey published 23 April 24 Push your sound to break-up with pedals from BOSS, TC Electronic, JHS, Ibanez and more Best Travel Guitars 2024: Top Portable Instruments From Lowden, Furch, Martin and more By Richard Blenkinsop published 16 April 24 From short scale acoustics to carry-on electrics, we look at the best travel guitars available right now “The Opus might not displace your Helix, Fractal, Kemper or Quad Cortex, but it offers a lot of good-sounding emulation in a compact and usable package at a fraction of the price”: Two Notes Opus Amp Sim and IR Loader Unit review By Dave Hunter published 10 April 24 There’s a lot of sound and even more flexibility in this little box, and it should prove to be exactly what many guitarists are looking for “The Brown setting is the closest you’ll get to playing one of Eddie Van Halen’s Super Leads – at least in a pedal”: UAFX Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp review By Art Thompson published 2 April 24 The Lion’s ability to replicate the attitude, pureness of tone and touch responsiveness of vintage Marshalls, and then combine it all with emulations of the right speakers and cabs, makes it one impressive package “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 By Jude Gold published 27 March 24 The Virtuoso is a welcome addition to the Jackson American Series family – a small, two-guitar family, yes, but a family nonetheless Best Guitar Amps 2024: 15 Supreme Tube And Solid-State Amps For Home, Studio And Stage By Daryl Robertson last updated 25 March 24 Our pick of the best amplifiers for all budgets from Fender, Vox, Blackstar, Tone King and more “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 By Jimmy Leslie published 21 March 24 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 “As unusual as this model first presents, it becomes just another guitar once you’ve spent a little time with it, although a distinctive and characterful one”: The EBG-6 Jigsaw Crook is a post-modern masterpiece with tones as distinctive as its looks By Dave Hunter published 21 March 24 This unique build is a very expressive and willing creative tool, and an inspiring guitar by any measure “Dave Friedman's amps deliver many of the things we love about big ’70s rock, molten ’80s metal, and modern high-gain guitar... If you want a handy sampling of these sounds that travels well, the JEL-20 might be your golden ticket”: Friedman JEL-20 review By Jude Gold published 15 March 24 With its monster tones, is this the ultimate hard rock amp? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives 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 LATEST ARTICLES1“It’s a famous riff, and I have to admit, it’s hard to play. You have to be a real guitarist to do it well." How Andy Summers made a massive Police hit using a hand-wrenching guitar figure and a Telecaster with a mysterious history2“We left that in because it captures what people want to hear from us. It felt so good to be playing together.” Warren Haynes talks recording with Derek Trucks for the first time in over 20 years on Gregg Allman's lost gem3"That riff was the first thing we sat down and played and we were like, 'Oh, that's interesting. Let's build a song around that.' ” How I Prevail and All Time Low rescued their monster hit “Hate This Song” from the dustbin4“I said to them, ‘Just play these three chords and follow me!’ And then — boom — it hit me: This is a classic!” It took guitarist Randy Bachman seven years to write "Takin' Care of Business." It finally came together at one nearly disastrous show5"I wouldn’t normally be caught dead with one because I think they’re ugly. But that’s the only guitar I used." Mikael Åkerfeldt talks about his surprising choice of guitar for Opeth's latest album
Best amp modelers 2024: Get your dream guitar tone with our top picks By Connor Godfrey published 23 April 24 Amp models so good, you’ll think they’re the real thing
Best overdrive pedals 2024: Strap in, it's time to drive By Connor Godfrey published 23 April 24 Push your sound to break-up with pedals from BOSS, TC Electronic, JHS, Ibanez and more
Best Travel Guitars 2024: Top Portable Instruments From Lowden, Furch, Martin and more By Richard Blenkinsop published 16 April 24 From short scale acoustics to carry-on electrics, we look at the best travel guitars available right now
“The Opus might not displace your Helix, Fractal, Kemper or Quad Cortex, but it offers a lot of good-sounding emulation in a compact and usable package at a fraction of the price”: Two Notes Opus Amp Sim and IR Loader Unit review By Dave Hunter published 10 April 24 There’s a lot of sound and even more flexibility in this little box, and it should prove to be exactly what many guitarists are looking for
“The Brown setting is the closest you’ll get to playing one of Eddie Van Halen’s Super Leads – at least in a pedal”: UAFX Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp review By Art Thompson published 2 April 24 The Lion’s ability to replicate the attitude, pureness of tone and touch responsiveness of vintage Marshalls, and then combine it all with emulations of the right speakers and cabs, makes it one impressive package
“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 By Jude Gold published 27 March 24 The Virtuoso is a welcome addition to the Jackson American Series family – a small, two-guitar family, yes, but a family nonetheless
Best Guitar Amps 2024: 15 Supreme Tube And Solid-State Amps For Home, Studio And Stage By Daryl Robertson last updated 25 March 24 Our pick of the best amplifiers for all budgets from Fender, Vox, Blackstar, Tone King and more
“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 By Jimmy Leslie published 21 March 24 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
“As unusual as this model first presents, it becomes just another guitar once you’ve spent a little time with it, although a distinctive and characterful one”: The EBG-6 Jigsaw Crook is a post-modern masterpiece with tones as distinctive as its looks By Dave Hunter published 21 March 24 This unique build is a very expressive and willing creative tool, and an inspiring guitar by any measure
“Dave Friedman's amps deliver many of the things we love about big ’70s rock, molten ’80s metal, and modern high-gain guitar... If you want a handy sampling of these sounds that travels well, the JEL-20 might be your golden ticket”: Friedman JEL-20 review By Jude Gold published 15 March 24 With its monster tones, is this the ultimate hard rock amp?