News Joe Walsh tells why Les Paul is his hero and the story that inspired him Walsh says he met Paul and found him inspiring beyond his guitar talents Robert Fripp wasn't pleased when Jakko Jakszyk ruined his reputation as a tough boss In addition to Fripp, Jakko weighs in on working with another taskmaster — Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson "The words just popped into my head!" Guitarist Mars Bonfire reveals the strange story behind “heavy metal thunder” and Steppenwolf's “Born to Be Wild” The songwriter adds that he cut his demo of Steppenwolf's iconic biker song with an unplugged Fender Telecaster Latest news Fender launches the Mustang Micro Plus, bolstering its lauded pocket amp with key quality-of-life upgrades By Phil Weller published 5 September 24 Now boasting 100 customizable presets with a vastly increased bank of amps and effects, Fender wants to “inspire musicians at every level” MXR creates an expressive, no-nonsense signature overdrive for Yngwie Malmsteen By Phil Weller published 4 September 24 With just Level and Gain controls, the pedal puts focus on even the slightest adjustments having a “profound impact” on its tone Billy Gibbons and Seymour Duncan recreate his signature Red Devil Strat pickup for Teles, and heat up the Pearly Gates humbuckers, in double-release By Phil Weller published 4 September 24 The double whammy of signature pickups will make guitars “stand up and bark,” says the ZZ Top guitarist Epiphone launches Inspired by Gibson Jimi Hendrix Flying V By Phil Weller published 4 September 24 The Flying V is a recreation of the instrument Hendrix played extensively in the 1960s, having painted its psychedelic patterns onto the guitar by hand Brian Ray on navigating nerves while learning the ropes in Paul McCartney’s band By Phil Weller published 2 September 24 He’s played sideman to Etta James, Keith Richards, and John Lee Hooker, but that didn’t make Brian Ray immune to nerves when he joined Paul McCartney’s band – he recalls the wisdom he received from Etta James that got him through Steve Hunter on the time he tracked the guitar solo for Aerosmith's Train Kept a Rollin' By Phil Weller published 30 August 24 The revered session player was briefly prized away from Bob Ezrin to help launch Aerosmith’s career – here's how Jack White’s Third Man Hardware and Annasounds join forces for the guitarist’s perfect spring reverb By Phil Weller published 30 August 24 The spring-loaded, preamp-equipped pedal adds extra features and tweaks to Anasound’s cult classic Elements pedal, allowing players to “benefit from the added soul of an analog spring” The huge Guitar Center Labor Day sale has exclusive offers and up to 50% off – here's why this is the sale to shop this weekend By Matt McCracken published 30 August 24 The Labor Day weekend sales are hotting up with massive discounts on big brands like Fender, Epiphone, Squier, Gretsch, and loads more Fender finds an unlikely partner in Swiss watchmaker Bvlgari – resulting in a limited-edition collection By Phil Weller published 29 August 24 The new Fender Japan-flavored Strat and its companion helps celebrate the guitar’s 70th anniversary via the “fusion of two legacies” Origin Effects honors Marshall’s iconic 1990s drive pedal with the Halcyon Blue Overdrive By Phil Weller published 29 August 24 A second voice joins the “faithful” BB tone, with an added Dry control and improved dynamic response aiming to take the template to new heights 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“One of the coolest people on the planet. He was a like mad scientist that played guitar.” Joe Walsh reveals the story that made Les Paul his hero2 “I wanted to create something I thought Jeff Beck would have used.” David Kowalski’s Rare Earth Germanium Device is one of the most innovative fuzzboxes we’ve seen3“I had just written a classic — and I was terrified I might never do it again.” John Fogerty on CCR’s "Proud Mary" and the 19th century composer who inspired it 4"Can you stop saying nice things about me?" Robert Fripp wasn't pleased when Jakko Jakszyk ruined his reputation as a tough boss5"The words just popped into my head!" Guitarist Mars Bonfire reveals the strange story behind “heavy metal thunder” and the Steppenwolf hit “Born to Be Wild”
Fender launches the Mustang Micro Plus, bolstering its lauded pocket amp with key quality-of-life upgrades By Phil Weller published 5 September 24 Now boasting 100 customizable presets with a vastly increased bank of amps and effects, Fender wants to “inspire musicians at every level”
MXR creates an expressive, no-nonsense signature overdrive for Yngwie Malmsteen By Phil Weller published 4 September 24 With just Level and Gain controls, the pedal puts focus on even the slightest adjustments having a “profound impact” on its tone
Billy Gibbons and Seymour Duncan recreate his signature Red Devil Strat pickup for Teles, and heat up the Pearly Gates humbuckers, in double-release By Phil Weller published 4 September 24 The double whammy of signature pickups will make guitars “stand up and bark,” says the ZZ Top guitarist
Epiphone launches Inspired by Gibson Jimi Hendrix Flying V By Phil Weller published 4 September 24 The Flying V is a recreation of the instrument Hendrix played extensively in the 1960s, having painted its psychedelic patterns onto the guitar by hand
Brian Ray on navigating nerves while learning the ropes in Paul McCartney’s band By Phil Weller published 2 September 24 He’s played sideman to Etta James, Keith Richards, and John Lee Hooker, but that didn’t make Brian Ray immune to nerves when he joined Paul McCartney’s band – he recalls the wisdom he received from Etta James that got him through
Steve Hunter on the time he tracked the guitar solo for Aerosmith's Train Kept a Rollin' By Phil Weller published 30 August 24 The revered session player was briefly prized away from Bob Ezrin to help launch Aerosmith’s career – here's how
Jack White’s Third Man Hardware and Annasounds join forces for the guitarist’s perfect spring reverb By Phil Weller published 30 August 24 The spring-loaded, preamp-equipped pedal adds extra features and tweaks to Anasound’s cult classic Elements pedal, allowing players to “benefit from the added soul of an analog spring”
The huge Guitar Center Labor Day sale has exclusive offers and up to 50% off – here's why this is the sale to shop this weekend By Matt McCracken published 30 August 24 The Labor Day weekend sales are hotting up with massive discounts on big brands like Fender, Epiphone, Squier, Gretsch, and loads more
Fender finds an unlikely partner in Swiss watchmaker Bvlgari – resulting in a limited-edition collection By Phil Weller published 29 August 24 The new Fender Japan-flavored Strat and its companion helps celebrate the guitar’s 70th anniversary via the “fusion of two legacies”
Origin Effects honors Marshall’s iconic 1990s drive pedal with the Halcyon Blue Overdrive By Phil Weller published 29 August 24 A second voice joins the “faithful” BB tone, with an added Dry control and improved dynamic response aiming to take the template to new heights
