magcontent “We’re the birthplace of blues, country and rock and roll music, and the guitar is at the core of all of it”: The America at the Crossroads exhibit charts the guitar’s history with instruments owned by Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and more A new exhibit at The MAX museum explores the guitar’s cultural impact through dozens of significant instruments – from a stunning custom Martin D-28 built for Elvis Presley's estate to a rickety Soviet-era Tonika model “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 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 “One of the beautiful things about Leo is one of the hardest things to do – forget that you’re playing a guitar and just feel like you’re playing music. He embodies that transcendence”: The lessons Julian Lage learned from acoustic master Leo Kottke As Lage further explores his unplugged instincts, he reflects on some of Kottke's humorous nuggets of wisdom – one being that readings from sometimes-unreliable electric tuners are “only a suggestion” Latest magcontent PRS Special Semi-Hollow Review By Art Thompson last updated 3 September 21 Sometimes you get what you pay for, and this semi-hollow offers class, tone, and playability in abundance. PRS SE Hollowbody II Piezo Review By Art Thompson last updated 3 September 21 The sumptuous SE Hollowbody II line just got a lot more versatile with a piezo-equipped stoptail. Blues Comping 101: Essential Rhythm Approaches for Blues Guitar By Tom Kolb last updated 3 September 21 Learn a variety of tried-and-true chords, riff patterns and fills that will help fortify your blues comping arsenal. Take a Deep Dive Into Dean DeLeo's Melodically Inventive and Visceral Guitar Playing By Vinnie DeMasi published 23 August 21 This lesson unpacks the elegantly powerful musical artistry of the Stone Temple Pilots guitarist. Celisse on Mastering Guitar, Pedalboard Expansion and Why Sister Rosetta Tharpe is Rock & Roll’s True Pioneer By Jude Gold last updated 20 August 21 Following high-profile stints with Melissa Etheridge and Lizzo, Celisse preps an album of her own. Fender Acoustic Junior Go Review By Jimmy Leslie last updated 28 July 21 A compact all-in-one amp solution for players on the move. Neal Schon on Finding His Voice as an Instrumentalist, Learning Groove with Santana, and Recording Without an Amplifier By Jude Gold last updated 27 July 21 Schon casts his guitar in the role of lead singer on 'Universe,' his new instrumental album. Mike Campbell on the Dirty Knobs' Long-Awaited Debut and Finding Joy Playing Small Amps in Small Venues By Joe Bosso last updated 27 July 21 Former Heartbreaker Mike Campbell discusses gear, songwriting and the secret to successful collaboration. Madison Cunningham Talks Open Tunings, Jazzmasters and Why Her Amps Have Got to Be Fender By Jim Beaugez last updated 27 July 21 Cunningham's playing is a tour de force of melodic chord voicings and bold rhythmic choices. Here's the story behind it. Gwenifer Raymond on How Celtic Mysticism and Folk Horror Inform Her Unique Acoustic Style By Tom Beaujour last updated 21 July 21 The Welsh fingerstylist talks technique, gear, and the inspiration behind 'Strange Lights Over Garth Mountain.' 123456789Archives 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 MOST READ1“I was doing what I was supposed to do, while something totally different was coming from Jeff… There were parts where it just did not work”: Jimmy Page reflects on the Yardbirds, and his short-lived two-guitar tandem with Jeff Beck 2“We all grew up with their music, looking at the album covers, and learning these classic guitar riffs and parts”: Jackson Browne, John Mellencamp, Mavis Staples honored by Bruce Springsteen at second annual American Music Honors show3“If we were recording at Olympic Studios, we would often hear Led Zeppelin. I’d see Jimmy Page sitting there, overdubbing in darkness”: Peter Frampton reveals the stories behind five of his classic tracks4Three guitars that exemplify the PRS SE line in 2024 – reasonably priced, impeccably put-together, and versatile in terms of both tone and playability: PRS SE CE24, SE Custom 24 Quilt and SE Swamp Ash Special review 5“I bought my ’59 sunburst Les Paul from my first wife’s brother... he’d gotten sick – he called me and said, ‘I’m probably not gonna make it. Will you buy my Les Paul?’ Now it gets to live on and still make music”: Vince Gill on his beloved 'Burst
PRS Special Semi-Hollow Review By Art Thompson last updated 3 September 21 Sometimes you get what you pay for, and this semi-hollow offers class, tone, and playability in abundance.
PRS SE Hollowbody II Piezo Review By Art Thompson last updated 3 September 21 The sumptuous SE Hollowbody II line just got a lot more versatile with a piezo-equipped stoptail.
Blues Comping 101: Essential Rhythm Approaches for Blues Guitar By Tom Kolb last updated 3 September 21 Learn a variety of tried-and-true chords, riff patterns and fills that will help fortify your blues comping arsenal.
Take a Deep Dive Into Dean DeLeo's Melodically Inventive and Visceral Guitar Playing By Vinnie DeMasi published 23 August 21 This lesson unpacks the elegantly powerful musical artistry of the Stone Temple Pilots guitarist.
Celisse on Mastering Guitar, Pedalboard Expansion and Why Sister Rosetta Tharpe is Rock & Roll’s True Pioneer By Jude Gold last updated 20 August 21 Following high-profile stints with Melissa Etheridge and Lizzo, Celisse preps an album of her own.
Fender Acoustic Junior Go Review By Jimmy Leslie last updated 28 July 21 A compact all-in-one amp solution for players on the move.
Neal Schon on Finding His Voice as an Instrumentalist, Learning Groove with Santana, and Recording Without an Amplifier By Jude Gold last updated 27 July 21 Schon casts his guitar in the role of lead singer on 'Universe,' his new instrumental album.
Mike Campbell on the Dirty Knobs' Long-Awaited Debut and Finding Joy Playing Small Amps in Small Venues By Joe Bosso last updated 27 July 21 Former Heartbreaker Mike Campbell discusses gear, songwriting and the secret to successful collaboration.
Madison Cunningham Talks Open Tunings, Jazzmasters and Why Her Amps Have Got to Be Fender By Jim Beaugez last updated 27 July 21 Cunningham's playing is a tour de force of melodic chord voicings and bold rhythmic choices. Here's the story behind it.
Gwenifer Raymond on How Celtic Mysticism and Folk Horror Inform Her Unique Acoustic Style By Tom Beaujour last updated 21 July 21 The Welsh fingerstylist talks technique, gear, and the inspiration behind 'Strange Lights Over Garth Mountain.'