7 best earplugs for concerts that will protect your hearing I tried and tested these earplugs at real gigs The Independent UK · Jun 9, 2025
“It took me a few years to figure out that if you’re going to play Fender guitars, you play with Fender amps”: Ryan Hedgecock stuck to his own creative path, even when Lone Justice were torn apart The country crossover pioneer’s desire to explore the “indigenous sound of LA” has never left him – and it’s bringing about a full-circle moment as he reactivates Parlor James and plans a hardcore cowpunk solo record Guitar World · Jun 5, 2025
“I love my Strat; I’m a Strat guy through and through, but I just needed a guitar with humbuckers”: Cory Wong on the making of his signature StingRay and how Vulfpeck just, y’know, made an album during a show The funkmeister guitarist is back with a whirlwind of new recording projects in his wake, and a fresh new signature guitar by his side Guitar World · Jun 4, 2025
“I literally made the change that Eddie Van Halen was known for and was thinking about”: Larry DiMarzio says his revolutionary bridge tweak pre-empted Van Halen’s own mods The guitar hero’s mods showed an intimate understanding of what makes a guitar sing, and they echoed thoughts DiMarzio was also having Guitar World · Jun 4, 2025
From Paul McCartney’s Höfner to Dave Grohl’s Trini Lopez and Joan Jett’s Melody Maker –a 1:1 scale photography exhibition of famous guitars is heading to London Masterminded by Australian photographer Kane Hibberd, Scale invites attendees to see some of the most famous guitars in the world up close and personal like never before Guitar World · Jun 4, 2025
David Lynch’s collection of studio gear is up for auction, and it includes a classic ‘80s sampling keyboard, a Fender Rhodes and the original affordable pocket synth If you’re hoping for a bargain, though, we suspect you’ll be disappointed MusicRadar · Jun 2, 2025
"Slimming down on features and the most budget-friendly version yet, this could open up the Acoustasonic to a different type of player": Fender Standard Acoustasonic Jazzmaster Review Fender aims for acoustic and electric versatility in a relatively affordable package MusicRadar · May 29, 2025
“What led to the end of my time with Steppenwolf? Egos and drugs”: Michael Monarch was just 18 when he tracked one of the most iconic riffs of the ’60s –next came Janis Joplin, Jimmy Page and Free’s Andy Fraser Fan of slide-based tuning recalls not being credited for his work with Janis Joplin, why he left Andy Fraser’s band, waiting to work with Roger Glover, and why Led Zeppelin couldn’t save Detective, his band with Michael Des Barres Guitar World · May 29, 2025
“I had turned everything to 10, as there was no 11 back then. The engineers asked me to turn it down because it was too distorted”: How the then 18-year-old Steppenwolf guitarist recorded the solo that came to define the band's career Michael Monarch recalls his start with The Sparrows – which eventually morphed into Steppenwolf – and how their signature song, Born to Be Wild, came to be Guitar World · May 27, 2025
“It was the closest I’ll ever get to Indiana Jones. You find this artifact and you’re scraping away until it’s the dinosaur bone showing”: The story of Brad Paisley’s Lost Telecaster – the ‘hippie vomit’ reject that became one of Fender’s rarest finds A partly-failed flower-power experiment in the ‘60s comes back to life via its namesake, who’ll make 19 on his own while Fender’s Custom Shop make another 67 Guitar World · May 27, 2025
"If you want an instrument that’s versatile enough to cover the guitar-playing styles of EVH and nail Nile Rodgers’ classic funk tones, then look no further": Fender Player II Modified Stratocaster HSS Floyd Rose review Fender looks to put its stamp on the super-Strat with this gassed-up take on its classic double-cutaway Guitar World · May 24, 2025
“Already a versatile instrument, the addition of the series circuit makes it even more of a multi-role guitar”: Fender Player II Modified Telecaster review Fender's latest Tele puts a decidedly modern twist on an all-time classic. I get hands-on to find out if it's worth the upgrade or not Guitar World · May 23, 2025
“I was playing a gig at CBGB’s Canteen, and Cyndi showed up. She heckled me throughout the show”: Knox Chandler has played with Cyndi Lauper, and been a part of Depeche Mode, Psychedelic Furs, and Siouxsie & the Banshees – now he's going solo With a wealth of session and gear experience – including a decade-long creative partnership with Cyndi Lauper that got off to a bad start – Chandler’s completed his “streets to streams” debut album, The Sound Guitar World · May 23, 2025
This stunning turntable is a luxury love letter to the Fender Stratocaster When it comes to vinyl, MoFi's turntable is where it's Strat. T3 · May 23, 2025
Guitar World · May 21, 2025 “Only Happy When It Rains has a solo and lot of that is backward guitar. We had to figure out how to play it –and flipped the two-inch tape reels over. I struggle playing that every night!” Garbage’s Duke Erikson and Steve Marker don't like to look back The pair discuss experimenting without overthinking, how they know when a song is going to work, when to delete a clever guitar part, and why it’s still hard to play one of their biggest hits
Guitar World · May 21, 2025 Jack White gifted Vernon Reid his wild signature Telecaster after a random airport encounter – and now the Living Color legend is playing the Triplecaster on stage The guitarists swapped signature axes late last year after a chance meeting – and Reid is already putting his to good use
Guitar World · May 21, 2025 “World-class recording, editing, and production capabilities”: Fender Studio is a free recording app that comes loaded with official Fender amp and effects models With authentic amp sims, pedals, and a suite of editing controls, Fender Studio injects some fresh competition into the DAW market
MusicRadar · May 21, 2025 “When the guitar came back to me, I thought, 'Well, now I have a Strat, a Les Paul and a regular Tele all in one’”: How top session player Brent Mason found everything he needed in one guitar It's been slung over his shoulder since the ’80s
MusicRadar · May 20, 2025 “I’ve always said to the team, anyone should be able to just hit a single button on their phone and be able to start recording”: Fender Studio is the company’s long-awaited entry-level recording app, and it’s free for everyone to download Cross-platform software “shares DNA” with PreSonus Studio One and includes Fender amp and effect models
T3 · May 20, 2025 Fender Studio gives you free multitrack recording on your phone, tablet or laptop Record and mix tracks, jam along to session tracks or capture ideas on the move with the free Fender Studio app
Guitar World · May 19, 2025 “Most players buy a Soloist for stank face riffs and shredding ‘til sundown. For that, the SL2DX is magnificent”: Jackson American Series Soloist SL2DX review Jackson’s latest speed metal machine is built in Fender’s Corona factory and sticks close to the time-tested Soloist recipe, and could just prove to be your next heavy metal workhorse
Guitar World · May 19, 2025 Thomann has acquired Hughes & Kettner – and is promising a bright future for the German amp giant championed by Alex Lifeson and Tommy Thayer The mega retailer has added the innovative amp company to its evolving roster of brands – but what's next for the beloved firm?
Guitar World · May 18, 2025 “Some things you are supposed to touch, and some things you are never supposed to touch”: Remembering when Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme played George Harrison’s Rosewood Telecaster – and got so star-struck by the guitar he couldn’t speak We've all been there, one of the most legendary techs in guitar history hands you a Beatle's guitar and it is all too much
Guitar World · May 17, 2025 “Connect with your heart and with just a few notes, you can do magic”: The Last of Us composer Gustavo Santaolalla shows off his “Guitarocko” Strat – a 1-of-1 Fender designed to mimic the ronroco The traditional South American instrument plays a key role in the game/TV show's award-winning soundtrack, with Fender now helping marry it with a Strat
Guitar World · May 16, 2025 “This bass has plenty of cutting power, and it's versatile enough to handle just about any gig”: Cort GB-Fusion 4 review A new entry to the wallet-friendly bassmarket, the Cort GB-Fusion 4 combines impressive pickups and hardware with classic J-Bass style