“Keith said he didn’t think he could commit”: The Rolling Stones reportedly cancel plans for 2026 tour Reports have claimed plans for a UK and European tour have been shelved Guitar World · Dec 17, 2025
“The first thing I said to him was, ‘You bought Greeny.’ He goes, ‘Yeah, I’ve got it. You want to play it?’” Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith had a chance encounter with Kirk Hammett – and ended up babysitting his iconic Les Paul The fabled Gibson has been making plenty of big-name players weak at the knees recently Guitar World · Dec 17, 2025
“I just want to keep playing it” - Neural DSP Archetype: John Mayer X review John Mayer teams up with Neural DSP to bring guitar tones from a modern icon to the masses Guitar World · Dec 17, 2025
“A lot of people got confused. They were like, ‘God, I love that guitar part.’ But actually, it’s a bass”: Fontaines D.C.’s Deego dissects the Joy Division bassline that inspired his bass journey Peter Hook also recounts how he was “over the moon” when Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis used the bassline as a vocal part for one of the band’s biggest tracks Guitar World · Dec 17, 2025
“I think they sound in between a Fender and a Gibson”: Blues ace Larry McCray names the unsung guitar brand that convinced him to switch after a life of playing Gibsons McCray says this brand is the perfect middle ground between two of the industry's big guns Guitar World · Dec 17, 2025
“He sent me a video of himself playing the Slow Dancing solo through the plugin. That’s when I knew we had it”: Neural DSP unveils Archetype: John Mayer X – a landmark signature plugin that brings the guitar great’s sought-after tones to the masses In a milestone moment for modeling, the new plugin offers models of Mayer's go-to amps, pedals and effects – Dumbles, Two Rocks and Klons included Guitar World · Dec 17, 2025
“Bob Dylan had me, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Ronnie Wood, Levon Helm and Paul Butterfield. It wasn’t the greatest music I ever played”: Bob Margolin on The Last Waltz, the jam party afterwards and his years with Muddy Waters Blues veteran recalls the “reefer” moment that landed him a job with his hero, the Gibson archtop that’s seen in the movie, and how he stayed friends with Waters despite business matters Guitar World · Dec 17, 2025
“Gibson wasn’t the only company to lose its mind in thrall to technology”: The 21st century gear trends that never caught on Because not all innovations stand the test of time Guitar World · Dec 17, 2025
“Within an hour, he got back to me going, ‘This is amazing. I’d love to come and play it.’ A week later he was in my house”: How Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien got hooked on one of the world’s most unconventional guitars The Circle Guitar is an electro-mechanical guitar that’s been praised by the likes of the Radiohead guitarist, Phish’s Mike Gordon, and Muse’s Matt Bellamy Guitar World · Dec 16, 2025
“It stacks brilliantly and the additional modes are super useful”: DOD Overdrive Preamp 250-X review The DOD 250 gets modernized, with two additional modes. Is the workhorse showing its age? We find out. Guitar World · Dec 16, 2025
“I was recording with Jerry Garcia, but I still had to ride my bike to school and keep my grades up, or else my parents would throw my guitar in the trash”: Starship trooper Craig Chaquico on “corporate rock”, and life as a teenage guitar whiz Craig Chaquico was green, raw, and young when he joined Jefferson Starship in 1974, but left to his own devices he grew up fast – and his style was a runaway success Guitar World · Dec 16, 2025
“My friend told me I couldn’t even play a 6-string bass – so I had to learn it to prove him wrong!” Meet 7-string bass wizard Dylan Desmond, whose accidental two-handed tapping powers doom’s most adventurous low-end Inspired by Michael Hedges, the Bell Witch doom merchant splits his signal between guitar and bass amps, and fills up the entire frequency spectrum. He reveals the surprise influences that inspired his latest effort with Stygian Bough Guitar World · Dec 16, 2025
“The time has come to properly address my illnesses and deal with them”: Biffy Clyro bassist James Johnston steps back from band to address mental health and addiction issues The band's founding bassist will take some time away to receive professional help when the Scottish alt-rock giants go on tour next year Guitar World · Dec 16, 2025
“It’s incredibly light, almost like a toy. But it’s not a toy – it’s an incredible instrument I’m about to use to play to 50,000 people”: Polyphia’s Tim Henson on making his game-changing Ibanez that started a nylon-string revolution Presenting electric guitar playability on a nylon-string platform, Henson’s TOD10N changed the world after he used it on Playing God Guitar World · Dec 16, 2025
Guitar World · Dec 15, 2025 Slash and Bruno Mars jam Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit – as Yungblud, Brandi Carlile and more feature during billionaire’s star-studded Christmas party A legion of music greats paid homage to some of rock’s greatest songs at a glitzy private event
Guitar World · Dec 15, 2025 “I’m very grateful to have it and be its current custodian”: The surprising Cinderella story of the vintage Nocaster that connects a glam metal star to Keith Urban Urban says the guitar – which was previously unowned by a Cinderella guitarist – is unlike any other in his collection
Guitar World · Dec 15, 2025 “Gary was great on a 335 – he really, really pulled the expression out of that guitar”: Greeny and his Strats were his superstar electrics, but these ‘60s Gibson semi-hollows were Gary Moore’s workhorses – and they’ve still got the blues mojo Serial number A33857, this stunning '60 ES-355TD was top-of-the-line in its day, and with his ’63 ES-335TD, offered Moore stunning tones. We took a closer look as they headed to an auction where they fetched around $94,000 and $65,000, respectively
Guitar World · Dec 15, 2025 “The beginning of new relationships between Fender and Korean artists”: Fender unveils its first-ever signature guitar with a South Korean artist – and it’s a streamlined Strat with a trick up its sleeve Renowned singer-songwriter JUKJAE has a new signature Strat that features some pretty tasty specs
Guitar World · Dec 15, 2025 “It’s insane. He died aged 25, only guitar players remember him, and yet he was the sound of the Pretenders”: Chrissie Hynde pays tribute to the underrated guitar hero who defined the Pretenders The guitarist died just a few years after the band’s debut album, but his imprint on their sound can still be felt today
Guitar World · Dec 15, 2025 “There’s still a ton happening behind the scenes”: Tommy Thayer says there is still more in store for Kiss More shows, avatars, and new music? The band still has a bright future despite retiring from touring, Thayer says
Guitar World · Dec 15, 2025 “Thank you for giving us so much joy. Life and talent always turned up to 11”: Spinal Tap director Rob Reiner and wife Michelle found dead at their LA home Authorities have opened a homicide investigation after the couple were found dead in their home on Sunday
Guitar World · Dec 15, 2025 Pat Metheny called him “the best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life” and he recorded his last two albums in the same day – meet Pasquale Grasso, the guitarist taking jazz into the future The hyper-talented jazz virtuoso on how he’s out to prove there’s life in the genre
Guitar World · Dec 15, 2025 “Every time I go to plug in, it feels like Christmas. I knew it was going to be useful. I just didn’t realize how useful”: Steve Vai on the first mini amp he found that could truly punch above its weight Many would argue it is the ultimate practice amp. Vai would be one of them –indeed he loved it so much he put his name on it
Guitar World · Dec 14, 2025 “It's a Bad Monkey, turned up to 11”: DOD Badder Monkey review Not a reissue, but an 'evolution.' So what does that mean?
Guitar World · Dec 14, 2025 “To think that Jamerson could compose this entire bassline spontaneously and still be locked into the groove is astounding. That's his genius”: How Motown hit-maker James Jamerson funked up a Christmas classic on this 1968 holiday gem The Temptations' funky cover of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer captured Jamerson at his peak powers, before personal problems began to take their toll