Go Pro

Live Forever

By the time this issue of Guitarist hits

Stage Struck

With experience at both Lowden and Atkin, Ciaran McNally now has his own name on the headstock.  Designed with Shane Hennessy, this handmade electro is a thoroughbred for pro-grade gigs

Golden Hynde

If you’ve given up hope of owning a vintagespec Tele, here’s an affordable nitro-clad ’65- style pretender that’s set to be talk of the town

the Wishlist

Dream gear to beg, borrow and steal for

Eye Poppin’ Candy

Combine the vast experience of Joe Knaggs and his team with the fiery blues-metal style of Eric Steckel and we get a superlative single-cut on every level.  Sit back and enjoy the ride…

The Man Behind The Signature

We catch up with Eric Steckel while he’s hunkered down in LA and waiting to get back on the road

Singled Out

There are plenty of tasty versions of Gibson’s benchmark design, including from Gibson itself, of course. Here are six showstoppers

The Third Dimension

We’ve had Telecaster and Stratocaster versions, now comes the Acoustasonic Jazzmaster. The best Acoustasonic yet or just a “rowdy cousin”? We find out…

The Rowdy Cousin

As the latest addition to the Acoustasonic family, this Jazzmaster pushed the design team in “different and interesting directions”. Fender’s Tim Shaw talks us through its creation

Atreides Analog Weirding Module

A synth-style pedal ready to give your music a sci-fi flavour

Cry Baby GCB65 Custom Badass

Limited-edition wah offers the best of both with Fasel and Halo inductors

Oceans 12

EHX builds on its previous Oceans reverb – this one goes to 12!

Gas Supply

Our pick of the month’s most delectable and wallet-bothering new gear

The Players

The latest news, views and happenings from the world of your favourite guitarists

Albums

The month’s best guitar music –a hand-picked selection of the finest fretwork on wax

Tones Behind The Tracks

Shred legend Marty Friedman spills the beans on the third in his Tokyo Jukebox series, which celebrates his love for Japan

Ready, Steady…

As musicians gear up to get #BackToLive, Adam Goldsmith explains how he’s honing his practice regime and sight-reading in preparation

Call Of Duty

Neville Marten returns to his days working on guitars and recalls a fishy incident involving a repair that had hitherto gone particularly well…

On The Mend

Alex Bishop attempts a tricky repair job on an unusual handmade guitar, and tries to preserve its character at the same time, warts and all

Making Small Sound Big

Forget what you think you know about how small acoustic guitars sound, urges Taylor’s Andy Powers. Jamie Dickson listens up…

Alex Lifeson’s Open Chords

This issue, Richard Barrett explores the Rush legend’s pioneering approach to achieve wider, fuller sounds

Feedback

Your letters to the Guitarist editor. Drop us a line at guitarist@futurenet.com

Lo-Fi

Stefan Fast of YouTube channel ThePedalZone lives his best lo-fi life as he shares some steps towards a perfectly imperfect tone

STEVE CRADOCK

The Ocean Colour Scene man reflects on the mystique of flat-wound strings and recounts a lucky strike with some JCM800s

ACOUSTIC GUITAR TONEWOOD

David Dyke of Luthiers Supplies in East Sussex explains more about the most common types of acoustic guitar tonewood

STRAIGHT EIGHTS

Are we stuck in a rut when it comes to string gauge? Is big still best? Maybe we’re missing out, reckons Dave Burrluck, as he wrestles with some thinner wires

LIGHT WORK

Options abound in the light string gauge market

Radioshop Loaded Pickguards

This hassle-free upgrade from Radioshop Pickups can transform the look and sound of virtually any S-type guitar

ClassicGear

Gretsch 6122 C Chet Atkins Country Gentleman

Vintage Icons

1965 Fender VI i in Burgundy Mist Metallic

PIERRE BENSUSAN

When the world turned upside down last year, the French-Algerian DADGAD maestro was forced to abandon a mammoth North American tour. And yet his feeling of connectedness has only grown since – and so maybe, he reflects, his latest album “could have not come at a better time…”

FRANK ZAPPA

Towards the end of last year, a new documentary on the life and times of Frank Zappa was premiered in the United States and now, after a few months’ wait, Zappa is available for fans to stream in the UK. We go behind the scenes and speak about the man and his music with the film’s director, Alex Winter, and producer Ahmet Zappa, as well as former Zappa band guitarists Steve Vai and Mike Keneally

THE CENTRAL SCRUTINIZERS

ALEX WINTER PHOTO BY PHILIP CHEUNG, COURTESY OF

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

STEVE VAI PHOTO BY GREG WURTH Steve Vai

SPIRIT OF ’88

MIKE KENEALLY PHOTO BY DANIEL KNIGHTON/FILMMAGIC It’s amazing

SHUT UP ’N PLAY YER GUITAR

Where do you begin when you try to put together a listening guide to Zappa’s vast repertoire? Well, you can ask a bunch of known ‘Frankophiles’ to pick their favourite track or era of the man’s music, for starters…

THE MOTHERLODE

STEVE LUKATHER

Growing up in Los Angeles with school friends Steve, Jeff and Mike Porcaro, Steve Lukather would play on thousands of records and become part of the legendary rock band Toto. We hook up with Luke to talk about how The Beatles sowed the musical seed, learn about his stellar career, and the stunning new solo album, I Found The Sun Again

‘MARK I’ MESA/BOOGIE

Vintage amp restorer Fabio Cutolo of FM Amps explains how he resurrected a ‘Mark I’ Mesa/Boogie by transforming it back into the original giant killer it once was in its glory days of the 1970s

TAPESTRY OF TONE

Dale Wilson is one of the most sought-after master builders in Fender’s Custom Shop. We join him to hear how art and resonator history collided to inspire a unique Telecaster

Blues Headlines

Richard Barrett is on a mission to make you a better blues player – with full audio examples and backing tracks

Trading Licks

Robbie Calvo helps you enhance your lead playing with expert concepts to add to your own licks