ZZ TOP LA GRANGE

Welcome…

Technically, I’ve never actually owned a Telecaster. I

“LIKE TWO GUITARS PLAYING AT ONCE…”

In recent weeks, former Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson

“THE FIRST THING I DIAL IN? THE GUITAR RESPONSE”

LAMB OF GOD GUITARIST MARK MORTON TELLS TG ABOUT HIS RIG AHEAD OF NEW ALBUM, LIVEINRICHMOND,VA

“THE RED SPECIAL IN A PARALLEL UNIVERSE”

WITH THE HELP OF BRIAN MAY, AMERICAN GUITARIST ARIELLE IS LAUNCHING A NEW SIGNATURE MODEL

“THE WAY I BEND FROM ONE NOTE TO THE NEXT – THAT’S WHAT DRAGS PEOPLE IN”

MARTY FRIEDMAN’S LEAD WORK WITH MEGADETH SET THE BENCHMARK FOR TASTEFUL METAL SHREDDING. BUT ON HIS NEW SOLO ALBUM, TOKYOJUKEBOX 3, HE IS ONCE AGAIN REINTERPRETING JAPANESE POP IN HIS OWN INIMITABLE WAY

NEW WAVE

Yamaha’s flagship  Pacifica 612 gets  a facelift

THE PRETTY RECKLESS

And So It Went (feat. Tom Morello)

BLUES SCALE RIFFS

GETTING STARTED WITH…

JEFF BUCKLEY HALLELUJAH

TG and Rockschool take a look at the late singer-songwriter’s seminal cover in this Grade One duo arrangement for acoustic guitar

OPEN-MIC SONGBOOK FLEETWOOD MAC GO YOUR OWN WAY

Dust off your 12-string acoustic and take a look at this huge hit from Fleetwood Mac’s chart-topping Rumours album

“WE WANTED THIS TO BE UNIQUE”

The new album from Architects sees the British metal heroes expanding their horizons for their most ambitious work to date. Guitarists Josh Middleton and Adam Christianson discuss the creative process for an album that sets the bar high for 2021

Michael Schenker

IN THE 1970S, MICHAEL SCHENKER EMERGED AHEAD OF EDDIE VAN HALEN AS A GAME-CHANGING GUITAR HERO WHOSE GENIUS WOULD INFLUENCE GENERATIONS. BUT AS HE REVEALS THE SECRETS OF HIS UNIQUE STYLE AND CREATIVE APPROACH, HIS MESSAGE IS SIMPLE: “BE YOURSELF. DON’T TRY TO BE ANYBODY ELSE”

California Jam

As neighbours in LA, Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith and virtuoso fusioneer Richie Kotzen have been jamming together for years. Now, they’ve created a new album together, sharing a mutual love of the blues, and swapping guitars whenever the mood took them

TELECASTER MASTERS

It’s time for some Telecaster tuition as the world’s biggest T-style players tell TG about their affinity for Fender’s classic singlecut and the tones, songs and performances it has inspired

“FIERY TONES, INCREDIBLE BENDS, WILD VIBRATO...”

The art of blues great Albert Collins , aka ‘The Master Of The Telecaster ’

“THE FIRST TIME I EVER USED A TELE WAS THE DAY I RECORDED THIS CHARMING MAN...”

“My most famous one is my green sunburst

“NO ONE’S GOING TO NICK THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE A SACK OF SH*T!”

For much of Quo’s career, you and Rick

THE GAME CHANGER

Inaugurating the electric guitar as a consumer product, Leo Fender’s Telecaster was the bolt-on from the blue that changed the world with a tone that could fight its way through any mix

“HE BROUGHT THE VOLUME AND TONE KNOBS UP FULL, AND LEFT THEM THERE”

Photo: Getty With his trusty Tele in hand,

“SCREW YOU AND YOUR METAL GUITARS!”

What made you gravitate towards Telecasters? Growing up

15 BEST TELES

Shopping for a T-style? Take a look at our rundown of the best options available now

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Springsteen was quite the monogamist when it came

“YOU’VE GOT CLARITY AND CHIME,BUT YOU’VE ALSO GOT FIREPOWER!”

Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen reveals the role of

“IT’S PROBABLY THE BEST GUITAR DESIGN EVER”

If the Telecaster has made its name as

COUNTRY LIFE

Get to grips with the Tele stylings of eight country guitar greats

“THIS CLASSIC GUITAR BECAME AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE!”

With over 11 million albums sold and countless

TELE-OLOGY

Learn the tonal techniques behind five classic tracks by Tele-toting masters

KEITH RICHARDS

A LIFE IN  GUITARS

WHAT’S ON TELE?

Learn three classic Telecaster riffs with TG’s video lessons

THE GAS STATION

REAL WORLD REVIEWS OF THE BEST NEW GEAR

START ME UP!

Five awesome new products to get your gear engine revving this month…

BOSS GT-1000 CORE AMP MODELLER/FX PROCESSOR

Boss put the power of their flagship GT floorboard into a stompbox

EPIPHONE INSPIRED BY GIBSON HUMMINGBIRD

Inspired By or rival to?

FENDER CHRISSIE HYNDE TELECASTER

Is this 60s model finish the real deal?

MXR FOD OVERDRIVE

A non-signature Dookie Drive? F-off and buy!

LUKE MARK AND ISAAC WOOD BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD

Two singles. That’s how much music Black Country,