Breaking NewsOvation Builds Gus G. an Acoustic-Electric for Electric Players
Ovation's new Gus G. Signature pairs a Super Shallow Bowl body, an electric-style neck feel, OP-Pro electronics and flame artwork for rock and metal players.
Trending Now
Seymour Duncan Paints Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstein Pickups in Stripes: Custom, Classic and Plus, Explained●Jimmy Page's Sundragon Dragonette Puts the Led Zeppelin I Supro Into a 6-Watt, $9,000 Combo●Gibson's 1957–1960 P.A.F. Reissue Sets Split the Holy-Grail Humbucker Into Four Distinct Voices●Troy Van Leeuwen’s Blameshifter Is Real: QOTSA Joke Pedal, Severed Finger, Dual-Amp Chaos●History of the Riff: Muddy Waters' "Hoochie Coochie Man" and the Five Notes That Stopped the Band Cold●Zoom’s Neurig Puts Neural Amp Modeling in Reach — But the Fine Print Matters●Fender Unleashes Three New John 5 Telecasters — Including a $6,000 Custom Shop Phantom●
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GUITAR NEWS / MUSIC RELEASES
Ovation Builds Gus G. an Acoustic-Electric for Electric Players
Patrick LawlorNovember 14, 2026 4 min read
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GUITAR NEWS / MUSIC RELEASES
Ovation Builds Gus G. an Acoustic-Electric for Electric Players
Ovation's new Gus G. Signature pairs a Super Shallow Bowl body, an electric-style neck feel, OP-Pro electronics and flame artwork for rock and metal players.
Patrick Lawlor·November 14, 2026 4 min read
GUITAR NEWS / MUSIC RELEASES
Yamaha's Acompass 60 Combines a 60W Acoustic Amp and Vocal Channel
Yamaha's Acompass 60 combines independent guitar and vocal channels, an eight-inch speaker, feedback suppression, Bluetooth and XLR output in an 8.2-kilogram combo.
Patrick Lawlor·November 13, 2026 6 min read
GUITAR TALK
History of the Riff: Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" and the Wah Intro Recorded for a TV Crew
A packed Record Plant, a 15-minute blues jam, a TV crew that wanted footage, and a count-in in E. The next morning's take became the most famous wah intro ever recorded.
Patrick Lawlor·November 12, 2026 18 min read
SIGNATURE GEAR
The Fender Jaguar History: How Fender's Flagship Flopped, Then Became Alt-Rock's Secret Weapon
Fender launched the Jaguar in 1962 as its most expensive, most complicated guitar. It lost to the Strat, died in 1975, then got rescued by punks, shoegazers and a kid from Aberdeen who bought one out of the classifieds.
Patrick Lawlor·November 12, 2026 16 min read
GUITAR TALK
Pearly Gates: How a 1936 Packard Bought Billy Gibbons the Most Famous 1959 Les Paul in Rock
A $250 share of a 1936 Packard bought Billy Gibbons a near-mint 1959 Les Paul Standard. The history of Pearly Gates, its pickups, Gibson's $39,999 clone and the new Pearly Gates Les Paul Standard.
Patrick Lawlor·November 11, 2026 13 min read
GUITAR NEWS / MUSIC RELEASES
Trey Spruance Rejoins Faith No More for 2027, 31 Years After King for a Day
Trey Spruance is back in Faith No More for 2027, 31 years after King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime. What he said, his history with Mike Patton, and the band's confirmed 2027 tour dates.
Patrick Lawlor·November 11, 2026 13 min read
GUITAR NEWS / MUSIC RELEASES
Fender Player Fusion Buyer's Guide: Strat HSS, Floyd Rose Tele, Baritone Jaguar or HH P-Bass?
Fender's Limited Edition Player Fusion series brings a Strat HSS, a Floyd Rose Telecaster HH, a 27-inch-scale Jaguar Baritone Special and an HH Precision Bass. Official US prices, specs, spec-sheet quirks and which model to buy.
Patrick Lawlor·November 11, 2026 13 min read
GUITAR NEWS / MUSIC RELEASES
John Mayer's Martin Signature Comes to the Road Series: OM-13E and OMC-13E at $1,999.99
Martin's new OM-13E John Mayer and OMC-13E John Mayer bring Mayer's signature specs to the Road Series for the first time at $1,999.99 each. Specs, tonewoods, cutaway vs. non-cutaway, and what to know before you buy.
Patrick Lawlor·November 11, 2026 12 min read
GUITAR NEWS / MUSIC RELEASES
Seymour Duncan Paints Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstein Pickups in Stripes: Custom, Classic and Plus, Explained
Seymour Duncan's three EVH Frankenstein bridge humbuckers now come in red/white/black, white/black, Bumblebee yellow/black and grey/black stripes, each $199 on the official store as of November 11, 2026.
Patrick Lawlor·November 11, 2026 13 min read
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X Concepts Guitar Strings
Built for Your Sound. Engineered to Inspire.
American-made nickel-plated steel electric guitar strings, available in Lights 9–42 and Regulars 10–46.
Whether you're stocking up on your favorite gauge or joining String Club for recurring deliveries, X Concepts puts the focus where it belongs — your guitar.
/ This Week
BREAKING THIS WEEK
The biggest stories in the guitar world, updated automatically as new articles publish.
Breaking NewsBreaking NewsYamaha's Acompass 60 Combines a 60W Acoustic Amp and Vocal Channel
Yamaha's Acompass 60 combines independent guitar and vocal channels, an eight-inch speaker, feedback suppression, Bluetooth and XLR output in an 8.2-kilogram combo.
HistoryHistory of the Riff: Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" and the Wah Intro Recorded for a TV Crew
A packed Record Plant, a 15-minute blues jam, a TV crew that wanted footage, and a count-in in E. The next morning's take became the most famous wah intro ever recorded.
Gear LaunchThe Fender Jaguar History: How Fender's Flagship Flopped, Then Became Alt-Rock's Secret Weapon
Fender launched the Jaguar in 1962 as its most expensive, most complicated guitar. It lost to the Strat, died in 1975, then got rescued by punks, shoegazers and a kid from Aberdeen who bought one out of the classifieds.
HistoryPearly Gates: How a 1936 Packard Bought Billy Gibbons the Most Famous 1959 Les Paul in Rock
A $250 share of a 1936 Packard bought Billy Gibbons a near-mint 1959 Les Paul Standard. The history of Pearly Gates, its pickups, Gibson's $39,999 clone and the new Pearly Gates Les Paul Standard.
Breaking NewsTrey Spruance Rejoins Faith No More for 2027, 31 Years After King for a Day
Trey Spruance is back in Faith No More for 2027, 31 years after King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime. What he said, his history with Mike Patton, and the band's confirmed 2027 tour dates.
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SEYMOUR DUNCAN PAINTS EDDIE VAN HALEN'S FRANKENSTEIN PICKUPS IN STRIPES: CUSTOM, CLASSIC AND PLUS, EXPLAINED●FRIEDMAN VX-30: DAVE FRIEDMAN'S 30-WATT EL84 AMP TAKES ON EARLY-'60S BRITISH CHIME●JIMMY PAGE'S SUNDRAGON DRAGONETTE PUTS THE LED ZEPPELIN I SUPRO INTO A 6-WATT, $9,000 COMBO●GIBSON'S 1957–1960 P.A.F. REISSUE SETS SPLIT THE HOLY-GRAIL HUMBUCKER INTO FOUR DISTINCT VOICES●
SEYMOUR DUNCAN PAINTS EDDIE VAN HALEN'S FRANKENSTEIN PICKUPS IN STRIPES: CUSTOM, CLASSIC AND PLUS, EXPLAINED●FRIEDMAN VX-30: DAVE FRIEDMAN'S 30-WATT EL84 AMP TAKES ON EARLY-'60S BRITISH CHIME●JIMMY PAGE'S SUNDRAGON DRAGONETTE PUTS THE LED ZEPPELIN I SUPRO INTO A 6-WATT, $9,000 COMBO●GIBSON'S 1957–1960 P.A.F. REISSUE SETS SPLIT THE HOLY-GRAIL HUMBUCKER INTO FOUR DISTINCT VOICES●
HOT DEBATE
#1
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Goes Back to Ledbetter Heights: 30 Years, the Original Rig and Better Hands
Thirty years after a Shreveport teenager cut Ledbetter Heights between high school classes, Kenny Wayne Shepherd has re-recorded it with Noah Hunt singing and the old rig plugged back in. Here's how he got here, how he plays, and what he plays through.
Read Discussion · 19 min read
#2 · Hot Take
Stephen Wilson Jr.'s "Stand By Me" at the Print Shop: The Nylon-String Cover That Made a Songwriter a Star
A battered nylon-string, a pick, a Fender combo and a Ben E. King song he'd been carrying since childhood. Here's how Stephen Wilson Jr.'s "Stand By Me" got out of an Atlanta-area basement, and what guitar players can learn from how he plays it.
#3
Friedman VX-30: Dave Friedman's 30-Watt EL84 Amp Takes On Early-'60s British Chime
Friedman's new VX-30 is a 30-watt, all-tube EL84 head, 2x12 combo and matching cabinet inspired by a 1963 copper-panel Top Boost amp. Official US prices, specs and stock as of November 10, 2026.
Read Discussion · 18 min read
#4
Jimmy Page's Sundragon Dragonette Puts the Led Zeppelin I Supro Into a 6-Watt, $9,000 Combo
Sundragon and Jimmy Page's Dragonette pairs the Nymph preamp with a scaled-down power section from Page's Led Zeppelin I Supro: 6 watts, a 10-inch speaker, $9,000 and only 50 made.
Read Discussion · 15 min read
/ Signal Path
All Breakdowns TONE DECODED
TONE DECODEDEric Johnson Tone Decoded: Rig, '54 Strat, Pedals & Picking
Eric Johnson just walked Guitarist through his touring rig for the first time in 13 years. Here's how the three-amp setup, the '54 Strat, the pedals and his picking hand add up to the most-studied lead tone in instrumental rock, and how to get close today.
DECODE THE TONE
TONE DECODEDDimebag Darrell Didn't Just Make Metal Heavier—He Made It Swing
Inside the fearless Texas guitar language, brutal-but-musical tone, and melodic instinct that made Dimebag Darrell impossible to imitate — and impossible to replace.
DECODE THE TONE
TONE DECODEDTone Decoded: Billy Gibbons’ “La Grange” — The Texas Tone That Sounds Dirtier Than It Really Is
No fuzz pedal. No stack of distortion boxes. Just a 1955 Strat, Pearly Gates, a 1969 Marshall Super Lead, and Billy Gibbons’ hands. Here is how the dirtiest-sounding riff in Texas blues-rock actually works.
DECODE THE TONE
TONE DECODEDBilly Gibbons: The Secrets Behind the Coolest Guitar Sound in Texas
How a 1959 Les Paul, impossibly light strings, vicious right-hand technique and an almost supernatural understanding of space turned three chords into one of the most recognizable sounds in rock.
DECODE THE TONE
TONE DECODEDThe Infamous Stevie Ray Vaughan Soundcheck
No crowd. No spectacle. Just Stevie Ray Vaughan checking levels at the Syria Mosque in 1986 — and sounding absolutely monstrous. What the footage reveals about tone, touch and the myth of the rig.
DECODE THE TONE
TONE DECODEDThe Last 10%: Why You Can Copy a Famous Guitarist’s Entire Rig and Still Miss the Tone
You bought the guitar, the amp, and the pedals — so why doesn’t it sound right? The last 10 percent of guitar tone is the most important part, and it’s almost never about the gear list.
DECODE THE TONE
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Fender Player Stratocaster
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Line 6 Helix LT Multi-Effects Processor
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- ✓ Lighter and more pedalboard-friendly
- ✓ Best value in the Helix lineup
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/ Ranked. Debated. Definitive.
BEST OF
BEST OF LISTS
Fender Standard vs Player II: Is the Cheapest Fender Still the Best Deal?
Indonesia-made Fender Standard Series vs Mexican Player II — specs, street prices, ceramic vs Alnico, and who should buy which in 2026.
Patrick Lawlor·October 31, 2026 12 min read
BEST OF LISTS
The 10 Greatest Guitar Harmonies of All Time
One guitar states the melody. The second one changes its emotional weight. We rank the ten harmonized guitar moments that define the twin-lead sound.
Patrick Lawlor·September 16, 2026 13 min
BEST OF LISTS
20 Songs That Made an Entire Generation Want to Play Guitar
Every guitarist has one: the song that made a guitar feel less like an object and more like a doorway. These 20 didn't just become classics — they created players.
Patrick Lawlor·September 6, 2026 9 min
BEST OF LISTS
Top 20 Guitarists Defined by One Solo
One unforgettable guitar moment can turn a great player into a permanent part of rock history. These are the 20 guitarists most defined by a single solo.
Patrick Lawlor·September 3, 2026 9 min read
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/ The Index
EXPLORE
/ 01
GUITAR TALK
Deep dives into the players who shaped electric guitar history.
/ 02GUITAR NEWS / MUSIC RELEASES
The latest album announcements, releases, and essential news from the guitar world.
/ 03TONE DECODED
How the legends got their sound — rigs, settings, and secrets.
/ 04ICONIC SOLOS
Note-by-note breakdowns of the solos that changed everything.
/ 05SIGNATURE GEAR
The guitars, amps, and pedals behind the players you love.
/ 06BEST OF LISTS
Greatest guitarists, riffs, and rigs of all time — ranked.
/ 07GUITAR GARAGE
Guitar Garage is where The Guitar Plugged gets practical. From restringing a Floyd Rose to setting pickup height, fixing fret buzz, cleaning fretboards, and dialing in better tone at home, this is the hands-on section for guitar players who want to keep their gear playing right.
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Guitar Talk
History of the Riff: Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" and the Wah Intro Recorded for a TV Crew
A packed Record Plant, a 15-minute blues jam, a TV crew that wanted footage, and a count-in in E. The next morning's take became the most famous wah intro ever recorded.
Swipe up
Image Credits
- Charvel San Dimas KOA wood electric guitar closeup with a black background — Nenad Stojkovic · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to fit the page layout; promotional WebP versions use a 4:5 crop.