THE YEAR’S BEST GUITAR STUFF

SET THE CONTROLS FOR THE HEART OF 2025

AND SO ENDS another wild year in guitar

SOUNDING BOARD

Got something you want to say? EMAIL

NEWS OF THE (GUITAR) WORLD

JANUARY 2025 PAGE TWENTY-EIGHT

OUR FAVORITE GEAR YEAR OF THE

JANUARY 2025 AGE THIRTY-SIX

THE GUITARISTS OF THE YEAR

GUITAR WORLD’S EDITORS AND WRITERS SELECT 2024’S GAME-CHANGERS AND TASTEMAKERS

GRACE BOWERS

After a “whirlwind” year, the 18-year-old sensation discusses her love of SGs, inspiring a new generation of female guitarists, and how she’s more than just a blues player

MATTEO MANCUSO

The Italian jazz-shredder on social media, his love of the Yamaha Revstar and the advice given to him by Steve Vai

THE JESUS LIZARD

Duane Denison tells you everything you need to know about his gear, trying to sell Steve Howe a guitar in the Seventies and — oh, yeah! — 2024’s Rack, the Jesus Lizard’s first new studio album in 26 years

The Return of Tab Benoit

AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE COMMITTED TO THE ROAD, THE LOUISIANA BLUES ARTIST IS BACK WITH A NEW 10-SONG COLLECTION, I HEAR THUNDER

MY PEDALBOARD JOEY SANTIAGO

WHAT THE LONGTIME PIXIES GUITARIST SEES WHEN HE LOOKS DOWN

The Bad Ups

PHILADELPHIA PUNKS LOAD UP WITH PAINT-PEELING POWER CHORDS ON THEIR DEBUT ALBUM

The Linda Lindas

“MUSIC IS ALWAYS THE PRIORITY — SO I JUST DROP IN TO SCHOOL WHEN I CAN.” NOW THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE TO HEAR!

Within the Ruins

JOE COCCHI REVISITS HIS CLASSIC PHENOMENA TONE (AND A COUPLE OF COMIC BOOKS) TO CRUSH THROUGH A SUPERHEROIC SEQUEL

INQUIRER RICHIE KOTZEN

FIRST GUITARS, FIRST GIGS AND THAT TIME HE GOT REALLY, REALLY, REALLY SICK ON STAGE

The Courettes

A PAIR OF FUZZ-TINGED GARAGE ROCK MANIACS EXPAND THEIR SOUND — AND THE RESULTS ARE EXQUISITE

SOUND CHECK

Peavey Invective .112 By Chris Gill AMP-MODELING APPS,

MELODIC INVENTION

How to create memorable single-note themes

WRAP IT UP

How to end a slow blues solo

THE RIGHT APPROACH

Using approach notes to solo over a I -VI -II -V progression

FREE RIDER

A look at the iconic playing of Free’s Paul Kossoff

Performance Notes

HOW TO PLAY THIS MONTH’S SONGS

1978-PRESENT PROCO RAT

CATEGORY: DISTORTION PEDAL

“KILLING FLOOR”

Slash feat. Brian Johnson

“ACE OF SPADES”

Motörhead

“MISIRLOU”

Dick Dale & His Del-tones