Guthrie Govan: The Guitarist Other Guitarists Study
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Gibson's Leadership Shakeup: What It Means for the Brand and Its Future
Gibson has announced a major leadership transition. Here's what it means for the iconic guitar brand, its future, and guitar players everywhere.
Joe Bonamassa: The Last Great Blues Guitar Hero?
From opening for B.B. King at age twelve to becoming one of the biggest names in modern blues, Joe Bonamassa has spent his career keeping the blues alive for a new generation of guitar players.
History of the Riff: How "Sunshine of Your Love" Changed Rock Guitar Forever
The story behind Cream's legendary "Sunshine of Your Love" riff — how Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, and Ginger Baker created one of rock's most influential guitar moments.
Jake E. Lee: The Guitar Hero Who Had the Impossible Job of Replacing Randy Rhoads
Jake E. Lee faced one of rock's toughest jobs—replacing Randy Rhoads. Here's how he forged his own legacy with Ozzy Osbourne through unforgettable riffs, iconic solos, and two classic albums.
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TONE DECODED
TONE DECODEDTone Decoded: Joe Bonamassa Finally Embraces Amp Modeling — What the Fender Tone Master Says About the Future of Guitar Tone
One of guitar's biggest tube amp advocates is using Fender's Tone Master Pro. Here's what it means for the future of guitar tone.
TONE DECODEDTone Decoded: Mark Knopfler — The Sound of Taste, Touch, and Timing
Mark Knopfler built one of the most recognizable guitar sounds in history with a Stratocaster, a clean Fender amp, a compressor, and his fingers. Here's exactly how his tone works — and how to get it.
TONE DECODEDTone Decoded: How John Mayer Gets His Legendary Guitar Tone
From Continuum to Dead & Company — decoding the guitars, amps, pedals, and touch behind John Mayer's instantly recognizable tone.
TONE DECODEDHow Brian May Got His Legendary Queen Guitar Tone: Gear, Secrets & Settings
From the homemade Red Special to the Vox AC30, the sixpence coin, and the treble booster — how Brian May built one of the most recognizable guitar voices in history.
TONE DECODEDTone Decoded: Inside Kurt Cobain's Raw, Basement Grunge Sound
Kurt Cobain's tone wasn't pristine — it was angry, broken, loud, and human. Here's exactly how he built the Nevermind and In Utero sound from cheap Fenders, a Boss DS-1, and pure attitude.
TONE DECODEDTone Decoded: How John Petrucci Built One of the Greatest Modern Metal Tones Ever
Crushing heaviness, crystal-clear articulation, and violin-like sustain — without muddy chaos. We break down the amps, effects, and signature gear behind John Petrucci's surgical Dream Theater tone.
FEATURED GEAR
Fender, Charvel, and Line 6 — the guitars and gear we'd actually buy. Affiliate links support the magazine.
Fender Player Stratocaster
- ✓ Modern C neck with comfy 9.5" radius
- ✓ Player Series Alnico V singles cover most genres
- ✓ Excellent mod and upgrade platform
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
- ✓ V-Mod II pickups with push-push series wiring
- ✓ Rolled fingerboard edges and bone nut
- ✓ Locking tuners and Pop-In trem arm
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM
- ✓ Caramelized maple neck with compound 12-16" radius
- ✓ Seymour Duncan Custom Shop pickups
- ✓ Gotoh Custom 510 trem stays in tune
Line 6 Helix Floor Multi-Effects Processor
- ✓ Dual-DSP power for parallel rigs
- ✓ Pro-grade I/O for live and studio
- ✓ Scribble-strip switches readable on dark stages
Line 6 Helix LT Multi-Effects Processor
- ✓ Same HX modeling engine as the flagship
- ✓ Lighter and more pedalboard-friendly
- ✓ Best value in the Helix lineup
PENTATONIC PRECISION
MASTERCLASS
A one-hour-a-day practice system designed to lock your pentatonic shapes across the entire fretboard — with phrasing exercises, speed drills, and solo integration by Patrick Lawlor.
BEST OF
Guitar Center vs Sweetwater in 2026: Which One Should Guitarists Trust?
Guitar Center and Sweetwater are the two biggest names in music retail — but they offer very different experiences. Here's an honest, experience-driven comparison to help you decide which one to trust with your next guitar purchase.
Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500 in 2026: The Ultimate Buyer's Guide
You don't need to spend a grand to get an acoustic that sounds great and stays in tune. Here are the six best acoustic guitars under $500 in 2026 — ranked, compared, and reviewed with Amazon buying links.
Best Guitars for Metal in 2026: From Budget Shredders to Stage-Ready Machines
From the Jackson Soloist to the ESP LTD EC-1000 and Schecter C-1 SLS Elite — the 10 best metal guitars of 2026 ranked, compared, and reviewed with Amazon and Reverb buying links.
Best Guitars Under $1,000 in 2026: The Ultimate Buyer's Guide
If you've got $1,000 to spend on an electric guitar in 2026, you're in one of the sweetest spots in the market. Here are the five we'd actually buy — plus the used picks that punch way above their weight.
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EXPLORE
GUITAR TALK
Deep dives into the players who shaped electric guitar history.
/ 02TONE DECODED
How the legends got their sound — rigs, settings, and secrets.
/ 03ICONIC SOLOS
Note-by-note breakdowns of the solos that changed everything.
/ 04SIGNATURE GEAR
The guitars, amps, and pedals behind the players you love.
/ 05BEST OF LISTS
Greatest guitarists, riffs, and rigs of all time — ranked.
/ 06GUITAR 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.
LATEST
Why Does My Guitar Go Out of Tune? 11 Causes (And How to Fix Each One)
Discover the 11 most common reasons guitars go out of tune and learn practical fixes to keep your instrument stable and sounding its best.
Tone Decoded: Joe Bonamassa Finally Embraces Amp Modeling — What the Fender Tone Master Says About the Future of Guitar Tone
One of guitar's biggest tube amp advocates is using Fender's Tone Master Pro. Here's what it means for the future of guitar tone.
The Guitar Plugged Top 25 Guitar Solos of All Time
From Gilmour's Comfortably Numb to Eddie Van Halen's Eruption — the 25 guitar solos that changed music, changed players, and still make us stop whatever we're doing.
Tone Decoded: Mark Knopfler — The Sound of Taste, Touch, and Timing
Mark Knopfler built one of the most recognizable guitar sounds in history with a Stratocaster, a clean Fender amp, a compressor, and his fingers. Here's exactly how his tone works — and how to get it.
Guitar Center vs Sweetwater in 2026: Which One Should Guitarists Trust?
Guitar Center and Sweetwater are the two biggest names in music retail — but they offer very different experiences. Here's an honest, experience-driven comparison to help you decide which one to trust with your next guitar purchase.
Wolfgang Van Halen: Carrying the Legacy While Forging His Own Path
Explore Wolfgang Van Halen's journey from Van Halen bassist to Mammoth WVH frontman and how Eddie Van Halen's influence shaped his playing and songwriting.