smashing guitar Watch Ritchie Blackmore Savagely Obliterate His Fender Stratocaster The infamous guitarist’s methodical menace is on full show in this classic ‘70s clip 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“When I told my father I wanted an acoustic guitar, he was thrilled about getting me an instrument that wouldn’t deafen the family, like my Les Paul and Twin Reverb”: With a spunky vintage National resonator, Tinsley Ellis has finally gone acoustic2“That guitar went through a lot of different phases and changes... I kept changing it because I was tired of people copying my guitar”: Eddie Van Halen on Frankenstein, and why he never apologized for modding 3“The only way I could afford my ’66 Strat was to take the ‘66 neck off and sell it to a guy across the street, then go back to Manny’s and buy an ESP neck”: Marshall Crenshaw looks back on the making of his unsung, under-appreciated masterpiece, Field Day4“I was on a mission to find the next big guitar hero. When I heard Yngwie, I knew that he was the guy I was looking for”: How Guitar Player's Spotlight column made Yngwie Malmsteen a guitar hero overnight, and sent neoclassical shred into overdrive5“Give the guitar 10 years, 50 years, 100 years, and it progressively becomes more resonant and sounds better”: Santa Cruz Guitars' Richard Hoover explains the science of vintage wood and guitar tone