Music Industry starts war against online song lyrics and guitar tabs: Bastards! It's the Industry that is killing music.

JamMate UG-1, the USB guitar

Throat surgery for Status Quo's Rick Parfitt: I hope it all goes well for him. The remainder of the UK tour has been cancelled.

Parker Introduces Its First Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Vox Expands Custom Line With AC15 Custom Classic

Stretch - The Electric Bass Uke: based on the silicon-strung Ashbory bass, of course!

Practical advice and hints about how to pose like a God of Guitar

Mikey Guitar: Now this is really clever. Guitars and basses that can convert from fretted to fretless at the flick of a switch! Check out the demo videos - they have to be seen to be believed.

Visiting Dignitaries: Nick Paumgarten from The New Yorker hangs out with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons. Here are the Turbo Diddley guitars that Billy refers to in the article.

www.gibsonbass.com: I've just discovered this great site devoted to Gibson's bass guitars!

Guitar dealer continues search for the rare and unusual: "I love it when an old lady calls me, and her husband's passed away, and I can pay her a fair price," he says.

Guitar Musician News :: Lessons :: Learn to Play Guitar Like Jimi Hendrix

Mick Jones plays at memorial show for former BAD II guitarist Nick Hawkins

Blues guitarist Jay Owens dies at 58

Paris Music Museum features Gibson and Epiphone guitars in John Lennon Exhibit

Link Wray, RIP

Girls with guitars: The Times looks at some more up and coming all-female bands.

Guitar Intonation: What's this "intonation" malarkey all about then?

String Master automatic guitar tuner keeps your strings tight: Now I've seen everything! This device actually turns the machine heads for you.

Guitar gets refined by fire: guitarist swears that his guitar sounds better than ever having survived a house fire.

Guitar has Intel inside: Could this be what Ananova was whittering on about (below)?

Guitar surfing: A new guitar allows musicians to surf the internet and send emails while playing the instrument. Technology built into the guitar allows users to download chords from the net to play instantly reports The Sun. The Intel Concept Telecaster Guitar - currently in the design stage - is expected to cost thousands of pounds when it goes on sale. Ananova

Let Your iPod Teach You Guitar: Jam along, learn chords, scales and tune-up with iRocker.

Nashville's Guitar Art Limited Edition Book Available Now: This colorful limited edition, commemorative book highlights Nashville’s popular GuitarTown Project. The book includes beautiful photographs of all of the guitar sculptures and showcase guitars. It also includes profiles of the visual artists, as well as quotes and photographs of the many Country music artists who supported this project. From Kenny Chesney to Wynonna, the book is a memoir of the project which has been recognized worldwide. Proceeds from the sale of the book benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, United Way of Nashville, and The DISTRICT.

Watch Taylor turn a koa log into a guitar

Randall Announces V2 and T2 Guitar Amps: I think they should make a white one and call it a Hopkirk. I'll go get my coat...

Kahler returns with new bass tremolos and bridges: just when you thought it was safe...

Guitar Picker: Every guitar currently on Amazon - all on one page!

Paul McCartney and his Epiphone Casino on cover of Guitar Player

One Of A Kind Steinberger - Headless Horseman

NASA - How is a rocket like a guitar?: Guitars and rockets have a lot in common, but what's good for a musician might spell trouble for an astronaut.

Gibson offers new way to 'play' guitar: "Gibson Guitar has teamed with videogame developers Harmonix and RedOctane for a new musical simulation game called "Guitar Hero." The game will launch November 1 on the PlayStation 2 entertainment system..." It sounds hideous.

Guitar maker picks a winning partner: Patrick Eggle teams up with the Technology Innovation Centre (TIC) to develop a low-cost, high-volume guitar for the US using polymer technology.

What is Guitar Tablature and Can I Find It Online?

Woman finds Johnny Cash's guitar amid debris

Bo Diddley: 'I make a guitar do things that others can't'

Hottie Amplifiers: Guitar amps made from toasters! (Via the mighty Music Thing!)

It's the 11 string guitar man

Punk's Most Famous Guitar: An In-Depth Profile of Joe Strummer's Black Telecaster

Clone of Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock Strat up for auction

ZZ Top guitarist publishes book

Acoustic Guitars - Laminated Wood Versus Solid Wood

Sonic Youth recover stolen guitars

News Epiphone E Series Guitar Amps Now Shipping: Solid state amps with tube tone.

Guitar Musician News :: General :: Things To Know When Shopping For A Guitar Amplifier

Epiphone Announces New E Series Amplifiers

Alvin Stardust locks his £1,000,000 guitar away

Guitar Musician News :: General :: Buying A Guitar - Do You Know What To Look For?

Guitar Musician News :: Lessons :: How Many Guitar Chords Do I Need To Know?

Jackson Makes Jenna Guitar: guitars and porn stars. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

Paul, guitar are stars: The life and times of guitar legend and Waukesha native Les Paul are being chronicled in a documentary that is expected to air nationally on public television. (USA that'll be.)

Les Paul keeps rocking at age 90

Big Audio Dynamite guitarist Nick Hawkins dies

Version 2 of Guitar Rig Announced: with more amp and effects models, plus an upgraded foot controller/audio interface, Guitar Rig 2 also adds a selection of bass gear emulations.

Faith No More guitarist squashes competition: Jim Martin, formerly of Faith No More, has given up music and now grows pumpkins! (Just how many guitarists did Faith No More have, by the way? Another ex Faith No More guitarist, Dean Menta, has been playing guitar with Sparks for two or three years now.)

Guys know best guitars have plugs by Dave Barry. An amusing tale of middle-aged would-be guitar heroes!

Guitar Musician News :: Lessons :: Basic Guitar Chords: How to Easily Master the Guitar Chords

McCartney uses Paperback Writer guitar for new album

The FireWire Electric Guitar: another one you can plug straight into your computer. Now, where have I seen that guitar design before?

Secrets of Choosing the Perfect Acoustic Guitar

Leafing through a Japanese guitar magazine the other day, I was rather surprised to see an advert for a new line of Zemaitis guitars. How can Zemaitis guitars exist without Tony Zemaitis, who sadly passed away in 2002? His operation was hardly comparable to that of Gibson or Fender. He wasn't the head of a factory churning out guitars; he used to build all the instruments by hand.

It seems someone (or some company more likely) has bought the rights to the Zemaitis name. My initial impression is that it sounds rather like sacrilege to me, although is it any worse than the Danelectro re-issue guitars courtesy of the Evets Corporation that have nothing whatsoever to do with the original Danelectro guitars, or the new American Vox guitars?

For more about Tony Zemaitis and the original Zemaitis guitars, see this article.

Penta Systems Pentasitar

Hurry hurry hurry! This auction ends soon. You really wanted a Penta Systems Pentasitar, didn't you? Awwwww... go on! It could be a real snip with a starting price of $2,199.00.
(Via MusicThing)

Johnson introduces new Viola Bass model: Inspired by the classic 60's era bass, Johnson's JJ-200 semi-hollowbody bass features two humbucking pickups with independent volume controls.

Chafin Custom Guitars introduces the Volante Custom

The Fender American Series: Evolution of a Revolution: "A Fender American Series guitar is set apart by features such as rolled neck edges, which makes it feel like you’ve been playing it forever. Then there are the staggered tuning machines, which eliminate a string tree, yet still provide a sharper string-break angle over the polished nut for improved performance."

Yeah, never mind all that... is that a hardtail Strat I see on the left in the photo?

A doubleneck travel guitar? Isn't that an oxymoron?

This tribute to Jimmy Page's Gibson doubleneck is part of Fernandes Guitars' new Art Rock series featuring 60/70s Rock Legend flavoured variations of their popular Nomad travel guitars (with built-in amplifier).

As well as the Two Heaven model shown above there is another Led Zeppelin-themed guitar, the Kashmir which is a Fernandes Nomad with a Danelectro DC-50 twist (lipstick pickup, "seal" scratchplate), and also one for Eric Clapton fans, the Sunshine Love which pays homage to Clapton's psychedelic Gibson SG. The series is completed with two basses - the Sunshine Love Bass and the Ladyland Bass.

However, the one fly in the ointment is that as far as I am aware, these are only available for the Japanese market and do not appear on the Fernandes Guitars website aimed at the rest of the world. I only found out about these guitars in the first place from a Japanese guitar magazine that a friend sent me. (I could hardly read a word of it, but there were lots of pretty pictures!)

Guitar worth £35,000 goes on show in store in Northampton: it's another doubleneck, kids. What a pity it's a PRS.

I've just waved goodbye to the Danelectro Convertible (above, right). It was a lovely guitar, but when I bought the doubleneck I made the decision that one of the other Danos had to go. I'd love to keep them all but I'm running out of space for all these guitars, so sometimes I have to adhere to a strict "one in, one out" policy when buying guitars. It was a tough decision deciding which of the Danos to get rid of. In the end I decided to keep the 56'U2 because that is one I put together from the remnants of two broken guitars, and therefore is much more personal to me. Anyway, I hope the Convertible is going to a good home.

New "Candy" Model Combo from TheAirtightGarage

MI Audio Announces Blues Pro Overdrive Pedal

Line 6 Offers Variax 700 In Two New Colours: Big wow! It's still as ugly as sin. Is it any wonder that people are taking the guts of Variax guitars and putting them in, for example, Squier Stratocaster bodies?

Kinks guitarist hopeful of reunion: Kinks guitarist Dave Davies is hopeful he can persuade his brother Ray to agree to reform the legendary British band.

Guitar Musician News :: Lessons :: Hey Guitar Players! Can You Play the Blues?

Guitar collector scores rare finds as he travels the globe seeking out new treasures: introducing Peter Blecha the rock'n'roll archaeologist.

Paul McCartney's 'Guitar Therapy'

Guitar Musician News :: Lessons :: Learning The Guitar Fretboard: Do you know what notes are where on your fretboard?

Fender Custom Shop Recreates the 1955 Strat: Fender Custom Shop has recreated the 1955 version of the Strat in a limited edition run, exactly fifty years on from the original.

Roger Waters says Pink Floyd will be back. Perhaps. Maybe. We'll see...

Keith Richards Named Top Rock Hell Raiser

Former Jimi Hendrix bandmate accuses author of 'revisionist history': Billy Cox sets the record straight.

Brian May Joins Yamaha Guitar Artist Roster: No, don't panic he's not retiring the Red Special! He's been using the Yamaha SLG100 silent guitar for live acoustic work. I myself tried one of these guitars at the London Guitar Show earlier in the year and was quite impressed with the sound.

Guitar Musician News :: Lessons :: Make a Game of Your Guitar Practice and Surprise Yourself

SimS Custom Shop: A great site showing guitar customisation projects by Martin Sims. Check out also their now legendary SimS L.E.D.s!

Phat Axx Overdrive Added to Indyguitarist's Pedal Line: "Available in either a diamond plate or more affordable Hammond enclosure, the Phat Axx adds a bass boost switch to its standard overdrive controls." I bet they're kicking themselves they didn't think of the skull knobs thing first.

Wicked Metal Pedal from Audiotech: "Designed for extreme distortion sounds, Audiotech's upcoming pedal comes complete with skull knobs." How absolutely wretched.

International Superstar Soraya Chats With Epi: Epiphone interviews another person I've never heard of.

An Interview With Edsel Dope (never heard of him), courtesy of Epiphone.

Texan Blues star Brown dies at 81: Grammy-award winning guitarist and singer Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown has died in Texas at the age of 81.

Nicknamed "Gatemouth" for his deep voice, he cited his father, a railway worker and fiddle player, as his greatest musical influence. "If I can make my guitar sound like his fiddle, then I know I've got it right."

Yamaha introduces new guitar and bass GigMaker packages: great for beginners.

Seven effects pedals from TC Electronic: vintage tremolo, vintage delay, and vintage compression pedals as well as four different flavors of vintage overdrive and distortion for both guitar and bass.

Ozzfest Over, Sabbath Guitarist Tony Iommi Resumes Solo Career

Signed Les Paul guitar auctioned for Katrina relief: Gibson donate classic guitar for Ebay auction.

American Capital Provides Up to $52.5 Million to Gibson Guitar: Cor! What do they need that money for?

Guitar Musician News: Tuning your guitar the right way: You could have been doing it wrong all this time!

Limited Edition DSL100SL Stack from Marshall

ratemyaxe.com is relatively new to the web, but has potential as quite a nice little guitar gallery/community. Go on - register and post some pictures of your guitars. I'm certainly going to do so myself.

Is it just me that finds new product news about fuzz boxes (see two such examples below) particularly dull and unexciting? I mean, I've now got so many devices for overdriving the guitar, that there's simply too much choice, and it ends up getting in the way of the actual playing, the actual music.

Stereoscope Announces Fuzz IV Pedal

Indyguitarist Introduces Pinnacle Distortion/OD Pedal

Nikki Sixx plans book, soundtrack, etc...

Ozzy Osbourne & Zakk Wilde: Do they have a future together?

Guitar man is passing on skills with wood: A Bath-based wood-worker is helping young unemployed people make a fresh start by teaching them how to make guitars.

Dimebag's guitar enshrined at San Antonio's Hard Rock Cafe

Guitar Musician News - Why Play Guitar?

Les Paul more than just a guitar brand

Phil Lynott Statue Unveiled: After months of campaigning by Thin Lizzy fans and Dublin residents, legendary bassist and vocalist Phil Lynott has finally been immortalised in bronze.

Gretsch UK Tour - September 2005: Mike Lewis, International Marketing Manager of Gretsch guitars, will be hosting the tour where he will be presenting and demonstrating the finest collection of Gretsch guitars ever seen in the UK, including the USA Custom Shop Models.

Do you remember the Williams Keyboard Guitar that I briefly commented on last year following its appearance at the Summer NAMM show? Well, they've now got their website up and running at www.keytarinc.com. I still think it looks very silly, but wonder what anyone who's ever tried one thinks of its playability? (Don't ask me, I'm not a keyboard player).

The Stones: still rocking, still controversial: In an exclusive interview at the start of their world tour, rock legends The Rolling Stones talk about life on the road at 60-plus years, US politics and why they didn't play Live 8.

Vintage Guitar Magazine reviews Epiphone's new valve amps

I've been away for a few days, but have just noticed - this blog is now over three years old!

Voivod Guitarist Denis 'Piggy' D'Amour Dies Of Cancer At 45

Metallica's Kirk Hammett joins string quartet for concert

Modern Guitars Magazine: Yngwie Malmsteen Interview

This guitar man doesn't mind 'roadie' tag: Alex Alvarez, guitar tech for Mick Jagger, Los Lobos, Lenny Kravitz and others.

Win a signed Iron Maiden guitar

Battered but still standing, Kojis-built guitar sign survives Katrina

Variax 600 joins the Line 6 modeling guitar lineup

New 4-String Euro LX Model from Spector: Handcrafted in the Czech Republic, the Euro 435LX is a 35" scale bass features a body of figured maple of alder with a slice of walnut and active EMG pickups.

Line 6 announces Rotary Speaker pedal

Charles Kramer was instrumental to guitarists: Article about Charles "Duke" Kramer of Gretsch guitars, who died last month.

Guitarist and trumpet player Jeff Healey signs with roots music label Stony Plain Records: Wow, I hadn't realised that he played the trumpet as well!

Me and My Guitar by Brian Wilson. (No, not the ex Beach Boy).

Right Hand Guitar Playing Tip: How to achieve speed.

First Chinese Guitar Festival opens in S. China's Hainan Province

Farley's Journeyman Guitar Tool: A "Swiss Army Knife" for guitarists. (Farley's? I thought they made rusks for babies?)

Ergo Guitars by Charles Fox: Charles Fox has introduced the Ergo Noir guitar at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival. "The ergo noir is a high-performance 'super guitar' from the workshop of master luthier Charles Fox. The ergo is an instrument of unusual refinement and unlimited musical possibilities; a virtuoso guitar for exploring your most ambitious musical ideas and dreams. Besides sounding and playing like nothing else in the world, the ergo is also a compelling design object, an empowering musical partner, an inspiring creative muse, a player's dream, a performer's delight, a collector's prize, a serious investment and a high end walk on the wild side."

I recently got myself this Washburn WI64-DL secondhand at a very nice price. (It's much more purple in real life than the photo shows). As I may have mentioned before, I am not a fan of tone controls on guitars becuase they are usually pointless (i.e. they don't do anything other than roll off the treble) but this guitar features the Voice Contour Control (VCC) system which basically means you can mix between single coil and humbucker sounds - not just one or the other but all the "inbetween" positions as well!

Added to that it has the Buzz Feiten tuning system, and whilst I haven't quite worked out what exactly the Buzz Feiten tuning system actually is, I am not complaining because the guitar plays in tune all the way up to the top of the neck.

I've wanted one of these guitars since I tried out the Washburn WI64-DL at the London guitar show earlier this year. The guitar I've bought an earlier model that's now been discontinued, although I can't quite see from the specs on the Washburn website what the differences between the WI65-DL and the WI64-DL models actually are. But who cares? All in all, it's a fantastic guitar - a great buy.

New Book chronicles the history of Van Halen

What's rocking music: girls with guitars: article from The Guardian.

Ozzy is looking for new guitar player: interested parties should send a package showcasing their guitar skills to: Ozzy Osbourne Guitar Player, P.O. Box 5249, Beverly Hills, CA 90209.

The Who's Townshend destroys guitar for charity: "Pete doesn't tend to smash up guitars any more, but he made an exception in this case as it was for such a good cause."

For sale on eBay.co.uk: Danelectro Convertible, re-issue, semi-acoustic guitar

(item 7344141166 end time 27-Aug-05 13:25:35 BST)  SOLD

New Subhuman Model Guitar from Malden: Malden's latest electric guitar design is a double cutaway model featuring a mahogany body and dual high-output humbuckers. Is it just me, or does it look somewhat Parker-like?

Line 6 Announces TonePort UX1 and UX2 USB Audio Interfaces New interfaces designed for recording guitar, bass, and vocals on your computer.

Daguet Guitars: Guitars built to order by a French luthier. It's nice to see someone who doesn't just trot out the same old tired variations of Fender designs. Check out his Crestwood Deluxe replicas - they are stunning!

Unseen Hendrix footage released: Jimi Hendrix's legendary performance at the Woodstock festival in 1969 is to be released on DVD in its entirety.

Who recently hit this site using a Google search for danelectro convertible for sale uk? Drop us a line - I may be able to help you! Email me on gl.wilson AT ntlworld.com

For sale on ebay.co.uk: Parts-ocaster Strat, hardtail conversion, Squier etc...

(item 7343434490 end time 21-Aug-05 15:12:03 BST)   SOLD

For sale on ebay.co.uk: Silvertone / Harmony Archtop F-hole acoustic

(item 7343438827 end time 21-Aug-05 15:33:25 BST)   NOT SOLD - any offers?

iBooster Connects Guitars, Mics to Computers: more plug-in fun!

NS Design Introduces Bass Cello: "The Bass Cello allows any bass or cello player access to the exciting world of bowed electric sound," says Ned Steinberger, creator of the NS Bass Cello.

iUke USB Ukulele

ZZ Top Star Shows Off His Cars & Guitars: in his new book, "Billy F. Gibbons: Rock & Roll Gearhead".

ESP Launch Two New Guitars, LTD Range Expanded

This music made me pick up my guitar and play: Everyone's a fan, even the famous, and here some of them come over all gooey about the songs and albums that lit their fire - from the Times Online.

Sanox Sound Creator acrylic-bodied Strat and Countryman 6-string banjo

Here are a couple of new additions to my personal guitar collection:

The first is this clear acrylic Strat copy by Sanox Sound Creator (try as I might, I can't find out anything about them on the web). It's actually quite a good quality Japanese copy from the 1970s; Nile Rodgers from Chic used to play something similar, I believe. This particular example has been well-used and shows a fair few battle scars - the perspex is chipped beneath the bridge, and it has worn frets in places, etc. However, it does have that certain 'mojo' and it sounds and feels great - it's perfect for those Hendrix impressions! I have to confess that I actually prefer this beaten up old copy guitar to my real Fender Strat (a Japanese 'Antigua' reissue from 2004).

My other new addition is this Countryman guitar banjo. It's basically a banjo with a 6-string guitar neck on it, so it allows guitarists to play a 'second instrument' simply by using their current knowledge of the guitar. Sneaky, huh? A friend of mine commented that it's not a 'real banjo', but it sounds like one to me, and I can't be bothered with all that 4 and a half strings business! Anyway, it's a relative cheapy, I suppose, made in China but with an American-made Remo head, but it's very nicely built and as I say it has that authentic banjo sound.

Bullet Guitar Straps and Belts from SDA: pretend to be Lemmy.

Status Quo join Coronation Street and little Chutney gets a Telecaster!

Jimi Hendrix: I Don't Want to be a Clown Any More: one from the archives of Rolling Stone magazine.

Wietse's guitars: I love websites like this where people talk you through their guitar collections. This guy Wietse is from The Netherlands and he's built up quite a collection of interesting guitars by scouring his local fleamarkets. He's also refinished a few of the more damaged guitars and it looks like he's made a real nice job of them.

Hendrix 'left army after gay lie': Jimi Hendrix pretended to be gay so he would be discharged from the army, according to a new biography.

Harmony Central's Summer NAMM 2005 Coverage: press releases are being added daily at the moment. There's a whole bunch of guitar product news, but nothing that sets the world alight, to be honest.

Franz Ferdinand's Drummer Becomes Their Third Guitarist

Korn name new guitarist, confine him backstage: very very odd.

Guitars Once Owned by Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, and Others to Be Auctioned: click here for further info and photos! (I'm just amazed that they keep finding these old Hendrix guitars. There can't be any more left, surely?)

While my guitar gently creaks: the middle-aged are dusting off their guitars and playing again, says this article from the Telegraph.

Plaque for Clash legend Strummer

Blues star Long John Baldry dies

New Brian Setzer Black Phoenix Model from Gretsch: that's one cool looking guitar and I bet it sounds amazing too, but wow, it costs a pretty penny!

I found this story over on Music thing: Man builds two-string bass inspired by aliens. I must admit, it puts me in mind of Strawberry Alarm Clock's Mosrite guitars.

Katie Melua talks to Epiphone

Meet the New Kids on the Block! Fender introduces the Big Block series of guitars in the UK and Europe. Lots of black and chrome and block fingerboard inlays!

The original guitar god: The Guardian talks to Davy Graham.

Music event claims world record: A music festival in Surrey is claiming to have set a new world record for the biggest ever "air guitar ensemble". How cringingly embarrassing.

Tanglewood Guitars to Debut Premiere Series at Summer NAMM: Tanglewood announce a new line of mid-priced acoustic guitars and basses all featuring solid tops and Grover machine heads.

Pink Floyd guitarist writes opera: Roger Waters has completed his first opera after 16 years in the making. (I know he was the bassist, I'm just repeating the BBC headline).

Chet's guitars speak again in tribute by Knopfler

Flamenco to fire up Dundee guitar festival

The £1million guitar: Seventies' pop star Alvin Stardust faces a tough decision.

New Moral White Line from Oscar Schmidt

Marshall Ships Handwired Plexi Stack Reissue

Stones guitarist Richards joining Depp on Pirates set: Johnny Depp has persuaded Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards to play a cameo role in the sequels to "Pirates of the Caribbean".

Priceless guitars rescued from blaze at Hard Rock Cafe in London

Crazy J

Plenty of other blogs have recently been featuring Crazy J, guitar-playing robotic creation of the Georgia Institute of Technology. I feel it's time to remind you all of some previous guitar-robots that I've listed on this blog, namely GuitarBot (watch the videos of that thing in action - it's quite impressive) and the similarly-named but altogether more scary GTRBOT of Captured by Robots.

Led Zeppelin voted 'ideal supergroup'

Show must go on for Ravi Shankardespite two of his treasured sitars being broken during a flight from Lebanon.

The return of Frankie 2

I was never happy with this project as it was. The left-handed neck wasn't really working for me and the roller nut I'd installed made the action too high at the head end of the neck. Tonight, I replaced the neck for a more ordinary Stratocaster neck - a Squier Strat neck with 22-fret rosewood fingerbaord. I also removed the tremolo bridge, the springs, etc, and have installed one of these fab Hot Rod hardtail bridges from Custom Shop Parts. It now plays beautifully!

As for the parts that I removed, I may keep them for a future project or else I might have a clear out and sell them on eBay.

(Click on the photo to enlarge it).

Register now for a chance to win an autographed Tony Iommi signature Epiphone G-400 electric guitar!

Kona Adds Jazz Style Electric to Guitar Lineup

Alex Gregory's prototype Fender Stratocaster 7-string is on eBay: unlike modern 7-stringers this originally featured an extra high string rather than a low B.

Caption contest: Machine gun bass guitar over on Engadget

At 90, guitarist Les Paul plays on

Pulp Fiction intro with a mixer and a guitar: two non-guitarists figure out how to play the Pulp Fiction theme (Dick Dale's "Miserlou") with a guitar and a food mixer!

Those Live 8 "Africa" guitars: I've yet to see a close-up picture of one. The only glimpse I got from Saturday's Live 8 concert in London was when Joss Stone's guitarist used one for one song. Have you signed the petition, by the way?

Georgian musician plays guitar for over 14 hours to set world record

Bidding has ended for this item: So, none of you fancied shelling out three quarter of a million dollars for an ex-Hendrix 1965 Strat?

Revealed at last! It's the James Bond theme guitar!

World's biggest guitar sign on display: It's that sign again!

Pop stars auction tsunami guitar: another more contemporary signed guitar.

Alvin Stardust's £600,000 guitar! Over the years it's been signed by The Beatles, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly amongst others.

Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton explains legendary twin-axe attack

Gibson Announces Eric Clapton Crossroads 335 Model

RKS Guitars Wins Two 2005 Industrial Design Excellence Awards: check out the radical designs for yourself again over at www.rksguitars.com.

Get free guitar cut outs from New Order sleeve designer: Around 500 guitar cut outs designed by Peter Saville will be left across the capital to promote the launch of new hand-held game and music consol the Sony PSP, and they can be taken home by those who find them.

JamLab Makes Computer Recording Easy for Guitarists: M-Audio's JamLab combines a USB audio interface with a 1/4" input and line/headphone output with software effects, amp simulation, and drum loops for jamming with.

New Additions to Parker's Current Guitar Lineup

There's no real reason for this picture here, other than to illustrate an alternative use for a Vox amp (a seat for a cat!). Actually, I'm just testing this new picture upload facility on Blogger. Never mind... normal service will be resumed shortly!

The Flying V ukulele!

Jazz guitarist Billy Bauer dies aged 89

Blues guitarist Harry "Big Daddy" Hypolite killed in Car Crash

Turning 80 sweet for blues guitarist B.B. King

Jimi Hendrix's infamous 1966 Fender guitar hits the auction block: see this ebay auction here.

The Pac Man Guitar

Guitar signed by Blur and Led Zeppelin up for grabs

Yamaha Announce the A2 Air Guitar: "...Yamaha’s newly developed A.I.R. technology (Alternative Internal Resonance) shatters this precondition, specially positioned ‘sound tubes’ pass through a lightweight body at intricately selected angles. This allows string vibrations, which normally only resonate the top of the guitar body are more effectively ‘transmitted’ through the whole instrument..."

Archer Debuts Kasim Sulton Signature Bass

Zoom Announces G2 Multi-Effects Pedal: Their most powerful pedal to date, the G2 features 96kHz sampling rate and 24-bit converters, plus up to 5 second of delay, built-in tuner, and drum machine.

Last week I went to see DKT/MC5 again, this time in Oxford. I also remembered to take my camera this time! As ever, they played an exciting set full of the MC5's best known songs.

What I want to know is, what model Fender Stratocaster is it that Wayne Kramer uses these days? It's a hardtail Strat, that's for certain (despite the "with Synchronized Tremolo" legend on the headstock!), and on the scratchplate near the pickup selector switch there is a Fender "F". Does anyone have any ideas what model it might be? Just curious...

Win Roger McGuinn's Seven-String Martin Guitar!

Rick Vito and Reverend team up for signature guitar line

Korn guitarist writes for Dimebag

Rock guitarist dies in house fire: Welsh rock guitarist Robert "Tich" Gwilym died in a house fire in Cardiff over the weekend, South Wales Police have confirmed.

The Cure recruit former guitarist: Porl Thompson rejoins for a third time!

The world's largest Hard Rock guitar sign: when completed it'll be 112 feet tall!

Jimmy Page lays down guitar for upcoming Jerry Lee Lewis release

Soul Asylum's bassist, Karl Mueller, dies at 41

Ace Frehley presents Les Paul with signature model guitar: Original Kisss guitarist Ace Frehley presented the legendary Les Paul with his own signature model of the guitar on Monday, June 13th at the Iridium Jazz club in New York.

Glasgow student wins award for travel guitar

Adelaide guitar factory goes up in flames

Epiphone's All New Valve Junior Amplifier: now this looks neat!

StroboSoft Accurately Tunes Guitar Via PC

All That Remains autographed guitar giveaway: www.razorandtiemedia.com/contests/allthatremains

Guitarists find Atkins' style finger-pickin' good: that is the Tampa Bay FingerStyle Guitar Players.

AC/DC gutarist Malcolm Young voted "Most Underrated Guitarist"

Dragonforce guitarist named "Best Shredder"

Oasis guitarist makes fun of brother

Science search plucks guitarist from obscurity: A nationwide search for the "Pop Idol of science" has been won by an electric guitar-playing civil servant.

Brian May gets encore at the Palace: guitar legends Brian May and Jimmy Page are among Britain's greatest musicians honoured by the Queen this week, whilst Live Aid founder and Ultravox star Midge Ure gets an OBE along with guitarist John Mayall, the father of British blues.

Have guitars, will travel: Rhett Butler explains how he plays two guitars at once.

Instrumental success for guitar builder - Colfax resident now an international craftsman

When he couldn't play the guitar, Vine Grove man decided to make them

Guitar pick enthusiast to expand his collection this summer

Solo Bass Competition set for October

Budda Introduces Superdrive 45 Series II Amps

Satriani, Metheny, Vai and Santana signed guitars auctions

Music Man unveil new Sting Ray and Sterling models with dual pickup options

Here's my old battered cello guitar that was rescued and brought back to life through the efforts of a couple of friends. I really can't take any credit for this project, as all the work was done for me. This work included re-glueing the body, re-setting the neck, sanding the remaining old finish off (someone had made a half-arsed attempt previously) and re-spraying in this gorgeous gold.

I've strung her up tonight for the first time and the initial impressions are good. The sound is sweet and I have achieved a very nice playable action. I just need to play the new strings in a bit and get the tuning stabilised, as they always sound overly bright when you first put them on.

In case you don't remember, this is what she looked like before!

SonyBMG Breaks Out Big Guns For Rory Gallagher Anthology

Guitarist will be cast in stone: A statue of the Rolling Stones' rock legend Brian Jones is to be erected in his home town of Cheltenham.

House Music Pioneer From The Band Ten City Meets Legendary Guitar Player From The Rock Band Thin Lizzy on Branch Recording: Andy Gee? When did he play guitar for Thin Lizzy?

FR3000V Tube Drive Reverb from Guyatone

New Petite Jumbo Model from Bourgeois: Designed for fingerstyle guitarists, the latest Bourgeois model features a 16" jumbo-style body constructed with European Spruce and Madagascar Rosewood.

Women with Guitars Chicago goes international with June 24 & 25 concerts: Seven singer-songwriters strum and strut their stuff.

Bell's Still Ringing True With The Blues: interview with original Thin Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell.

Rush Guitarist Rocks the Ritz: Alex Lifeson files lawsuit against hotel.

Queen guitarist May praises charity

Rose Tattoo guitarist quits touring because of cancer

Made In Japan Fenders: This guy imports high quality MIJ Fender non-export models into the UK. Some fab guitars there, mainly Strats though.

The 13th Fret Acoustic Guitar Discussion Forum

Travel guitars: A round-up courtesy of Treknologies.

In celebration of Les Paul, father of the electric guitar: he'll be 90 later this month!

Siegmund Guitars Introduces Outcaster Guitar: Chris Siegmund's latest design is available as either a Strat and Tele-style ash-bodied guitar with hollowed out sides, f-hole, and variety of custom options. See: www.siegmundguitars.com

TheAirtightGarage Releases Betsy Tonebuster 115 Combo

Canadian guitar legend Domenic Troiano dead at 59

Guitar festival backs planting of forests: A guitar festival has become the first event in Scotland to tackle climate change through tree planting.

Former Heathen bassist passes away

The Darkness replace bassist with roadie Richard Edwards

Transparent Kiddie Guitars

Double-bodied guitar!

Glenn Branca and his double-bodied guitar! Well, here's an idea that's been waiting to happen for a very long time, but I don't think anyone has been daft enough to make it reality until now.

Calder Originals guitar case: could it really be airport baggage-handler proof?

Proud to be an American: Guitar-maker, 77, receives citizenship

The Neck Sock: just what every guitarist needs!

Passport Travel Guitars Added to Breedlove's Atlas Series

Guitar sculpture back safely; as pledged, no questions asked

The Teeny-Weeny Tweedy Twin! - A Real Fender Twin - Mini Size!

Your chance to meet bassist Marcus Miller! in London this July.

Fender American Deluxe Jazz Bass now available as a Fretless

Darkness bass player leaves band: Frankie Poullain quits.

Line 6 Announces Bass PODxt Live: a cunning box of tricks from Line 6, for bassists.

New Alnico Humbucking Pickup from Swineshead: Designed to produce both humbucking and single coil sounds, the A.M.P. uses 12 individual alnico V rod magnets for truer single coil sounds than traditional coil-split humbuckers.

The Uke-Ellie: Here's the forthcoming bid for Ukulele World Domination from Risa Instruments!

Indie Guitars: I've seen some of these at my local music shop and at the recent London Guitar Show and I must say I was very impressed with the quality, especially for such afforadable instruments. Well worth checking out.

New book teaches you to mod pedals yourself: Indyguitarist has published a new book, available as hardcopy or electronic download, for those interested in modding their own pedals, with several dozen different pedals covered.

Johnson Introduces New Bluegrass Series Guitars: Designed with bluegrass players in mind, Johnson's latest guitars feature a solid Engelmann spruce top and choice of back/side woods.

Guitarist Eric Johnson to Bloom in June

Guitarist's guitarist: Leo Kottke

Cool Acoustics: Innovation in Guitar Design: here are those plastic guitars from Loughborough University (see previous post).

Plastic guitars strike a chord: Apparently, "A new type of guitar that sounds and plays like more pricey models, but is made almost entirely of plastic and so will be much cheaper, could have the top-end manufacturers fretting over their profit margins, thanks to British inventors."

Guitar Virtuoso Produces Innovative New Guitars: After 7 years of development, and the approval of four patents by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Byrd Super Avianti Balance Compensated Wing Guitars are now in production in the USA and available to the general public.

Chasing a world record at guitar festival: Kirkmichael Guitar Festival is aiming to enter the record books by having a guitar built from scratch in three days.

Fender introduces the Ensenada Series: two new American built acoustics.

Phase II Passive Soapbars Added to Basslines Family

Wendler Releases Nylon String electroCoustic Model

Here's my latest baby:
Cool, eh?

Screaming guitars take their place beside Music City fiddles

Building guitars strikes a chord for Blackford grad: Oh, dear, I wish they'd avoid these cliched headlines!

Vintage guitars not just for players

Randy Ellefson Endorsed By Alvarez Guitars

New Tweak Fuzz Stomp Box from Seymour Duncan

Clapton returns for Cream dates

If You LOVE Guitars, Check This Out!: Fender Europe's Messe 2005 Photo Gallery.

Win an Epiphone Wildkat plus Peppers Ghost tshitrts, posters, CDs...

Traveler Guitar Introduces New Portable Guitar Amp: it's the size of a laptop and incorporates flat panel speaker technology by NXT.

Designer Gibson Guitar Auction to Benefit Breast Cancer Research: unique SGs featuring artwork by the likes of Sheryl Crow, Rod Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres, Melissa Etheridge, David Carradine, Mick Fleetwood, Joe Perry of Aerosmith and Brian Johnson of AC/DC.

Win an Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500 M acoustic guitar autographed by Killer Beaz. I have no idea who he is - perhaps someone could enlighten me?

Great Guitar Giveaway: sign up to the newsletter for your chance to win a guitar!

The Real Gipsy Kings are Here - Gypsy Pistoleros are The Gipsy Kings Meets Motley Crue! Allegedly.

Three New Lefties from Fender

UltraPick: could this be the ultimate plectrum?

Slipknot Bassist Hospitalised

Roy Rogers, The Master Slide Guitarist, Launches The New Slide Zone Website

Kasabian guitarist receives head injury at gig

The London Guitar Show 2005 will be at Wembley again, 6-7th May. I'm trying to work out if I'm going to be able to make it along myself.

Jimi Hendrix's brother avenges legal defeat by picking up the guitar

Guitar maker devises harp for physically disabled people

Burns Introduces Shadows Custom Signature Guitar: limited to a run of just 500 guitars in "Shadow Pink", the Shadows Custom Signature model comes complete with luxury case and photo signed by Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch.

Epiphone and Gibson Day at Fuller's Vintage Guitar: the highlight of the day's festivities, apparently, is a guitar toss where contestants throw "non-functioning guitars" up to distances of 60 feet!

Guitar love yields successful business: article about Andrew White Guitars.

Gator's G-Gig-Box provides pedal board and guitar stand in one

Mad tiny lobster-finish guitars: I was wondering what had happened to Stump Preacher guitars.

Variax Workbench Released for Mac and PC: Line 6 has released their software/hardware package that allows Variax electric guitar users to customize their models, create custom tunings, and share models with others.

Who star Entwistle items for sale: I don't think there are any basses or guitars this time though.

American Head Charge guitarist Bryan Ottoson was found dead

Alesis XGuitar with Built-In Effects

PRS 513 Rosewood Wins '05 MIPA Best Electric Guitar (Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...)

New AXON AX 100 mk II Guitar-to-MIDI-controller

New-Look Fender Jaguar Guitars

Mark Twain guitar valued at $15m

Jerry Byrd, steel guitar pioneer, dies aged 85

A Guitar Wizard: Tim White's incredible "inflatable" Chrysalis guitar. I believe I linked to his website in the early days of this blog, but that the site disappeared from the net soon after. I was wondering what became of Chrysalis Guitars...

Korg ToneWorks AX3000G Modelling Signal Processor: New MultiFX from Korg.

Brian May defends decision to play Rome while the city mourns the Pope

ESP Statue of Liberty Guitar: Is that proper? That is the question, posed by Music Thing.

The Legacy Continues... Epiphone Sheraton

Squier Master Series

Fender's Jargon Buster: a comprehensive dictionary of Fender terms.

No Doubt give up their guitars: all in the name of charity.

For Buddy Guy, the guitar's the thing

Naming rights for L.A. Universal Amphitheatre sold to Gibson Guitar

Guitar Wolf's Bassist Billy dies of heart attack

The Guitar That Saw The Light: Optek's Fretlight, of course!

Rock legend Young out of hospital: Neil Young has left hospital and is making "excellent" progress after having brain surgery last week.

Meet the Music Maker: Seymour Duncan

Tacoma Guitars: now part of the Fender family, and they're giving away a JR55 guitar to celebrate (US residents only).

Guitarist Rod Price, founding member of Foghat, dies

Megadeth/Eidolon guitarist to auction off his last Jackson guitar

Guitar Center creates the ultimate Jimi Hendrix experience

Clapton's guitar 'genius' legacy: Blues guitarist and singer Eric Clapton is celebrating his 60th birthday today, alongside a forthcoming reunion with his old band Cream.

JamPod for guitarists - portable iPod play-along

Black Sabbath guitarist rocks the cure: Tony Iommi does his bit to help fund breast cancer research.

Introducing Roy Buchanan AKA The World's Greatest Unknown Guitarist: book review by Blogcritics.org.

Local craftsman makes one-of-a-kind guitars: Bender guitars in Maine.

Q magazine lists 100 greatest guitar tracks ever

Computer Music Guitar Special: this magazine from Future Music could be very useful!

Kravitz helps Brazil hunger fight: Lenny Kravitz has given an electric guitar worth $5,000 (£2,600) to Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to help raise funds for the president's campaign to wipe out hunger in the country by 2006.

Ten Triple-Neck Guitars

Ten guitars shaped like guns

Guitar-themed ties: what all the best dressed guitarists are wearing. Perhaps.

The Voxmobile: Is it a car? Is it an amp?

Darkness singer gets wax double: The wax double of Justin Hawkins at Madame Tussauds will judge the air guitar skills of visitors! (What I want to know is, is that a limited edition Justin Hawkins signature Gibson Les Paul they've given to the dummy?)

Sammy Hagar guitar up for Mill Valley auction

The Fender So-Cal Speed Shop Guitar: It's a Strat with a funny paint job!

Dewey Decibel's FlipOut Guitar: what a weird concept. I think it's him who's flipped out!

Axrak: groovy guitar racks.

Former Queens Of The Stone Age bassist offers his services: Former member Nick Oliveri has offered to rejoin the band.

Guitarist ends legal battle with Rod: Ray Jackson of Lindisfarne claims he composed the mandolin "hook" to Rod Stewart's worldwide hit Maggie May in 1971 - and was paid only £15.

Queen guitarist calls Elton a 'silly boy': handbags at dawn for Brian May and Elton John.

Luthier enjoys creative freedom when crafting guitars: interesting article about Burrell Guitars (those bizarre ergonomic acoutics).

£50,000 for star's guitar collection: ex Oasis guitarist, Bonehead, is selling 14 of his guitars.

Garth Brooks signs guitar after original signature found to be fake

Win an SG special from Epiphone

New 2005 Models from Burns: Burns USA announce the addition of the Vista Sonic 5 bass to its product line, as well the Premier Series of acoustic guitars.

Trinity River Offers New Electric/Acoustic, Lefty Models

ESP Guitars celebrates 30 Year Anniversary

Mark Knopfler's many guitars

Quo Rick's guitar is a big hit: Rick Parfitt donates a Telecaster to Children's charity. (By the way, look out for Status Quo appearing in a forthcoming episode of ITV soap Coronation Street!)

Mark Knopfler says he's every guitar teacher's nightmare

Nancy Wilson of Heart: The Interview, courtesy of Epiphone Musical Instruments.

Edwyn Collins has brain surgery

Guitar legends greeted by Queen: Eric Clapton, Brian May and Jimmy Page meet Queen Betty the Two.

New Jimmy Bruno Archtop Model from Sadowsky

Berkleemusic Adds New Guitar Programs for April 4th Semester: Berkleemusic is now enrolling four new online guitar courses and five new college credit certificate programs for their spring semester, beginning on April 4th.

Introducing the Squier® Master Series

Line 6 Adds Variax 300 to Guitar Family: Over 25 historic guitar sounds in an affordable solid-body guitar.

Korn guitarist Brian 'Head' Welch says he's leaving band to focus on religious beliefs

Gibson Guitar and Celebrities Join Forces for Charity Auction in aid of breast cancer.

Steinberger Announces Synapse Series Instruments: Ned Steinberger is back in the fold, with new innovations!

Hendrix fueled future of rock

Reverend releases USA Advanced Series Guitars

Gibson and Epiphone expand amplifier offerings

The Eric Johnson Stratocaster Guitar ... It's in the details! from www.fender.com

Eric Clapton to headline Glastonbury... in 2007!

Guitarist Pat Metheny brings a generation of influences to 'The Way Up'

Death By Audio Introduces Supersonic Fuzz Gun: FIVE knobs on a distortion pedal? Well, I'll be damned!

Jimi Hendrix's guitar sells for £100,000

New innovation in slide guitar: separate rings for each finger increases versatility.

Steve Morse, Music Man Celebrate 20 Years with Signature Y2d Guitar

New Double Cutaway Electrics from Kona Guitars: does that head look weird on a Strat to you, or is it just me?

Michael Anthony's NAMM 05 pics: the Van Halen bassist shares his photos.

A guitar to honor a craftsman: C.F. Martin names limited edition for legendary worker Longworth.

Slack key guitar album captures first Hawaiian Music Grammy

Introduction to the Optek Fretlight Guitar and an Interview with Optek Founder, Rusty Shaffer

Auction to Feature Three Fender Stratocasters Owned by Jimi Hendrix

Les Paul to Be Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame

Led Zeppelin celebrate Grammy honour

Spotlight on Daisy Rock Guitars: some more Winter NAMM 2005 coverage that I'd missed out on at the time. Great to see Daisy Rock who specialise in "guitars for girls" going from strength to strength!

The Lucite Strat: The Sensational Story of the See-Through Stratocaster.

Win an Epiphone Zakk Wilde Les Paul

Seagull Introduces Mini Jumbos: these acoustics are nice'n'curvy!

Build Your Own Pickups with Stew-Mac Kits

Kona Guitars Announces Gold Series

Danelectro guitars are back (again) with the updated 56 U2 Pro model.

AC/DC, Slash, Metallica sign guitars for kid's benefit

Aerosmith guitarist goes solo: Joe Perry releases a solo album because he figures that "If my motorcycle hits a tree, my wife's gonna have nothing to put out."

Riverwest shop fixes guitars of the stars: Members of Deep Purple, Stones and others rely on repairman to rejuvenate instruments.

Music Man Bongo Bass Goes Stealth with New Finish

New Damien Collection Instruments from Schecter

Supermodel Karen Mulder and Epiphone at French charity bash Les Enfoires

Fender and the Sound of the Fifties

Music Man offers Buttercream limited edition instruments

ZZ Ryder introduces Renegade V6 Guitar: it's like a Flying V with several extra chunks taken out of it!

Single Coils Added to Swineshead Pickup Selection

Schecter debuts Hellraiser collection

New EuDaly Special model from Wendler Instruments: Available in 6- or 7-string models, the latest electroCoustic guitar features a piezo bridge along with passive pickups for a range of sounds.

Godin introduces Detour model electric guitar

Line 6 launches Rifftracker:new hardware/software recording rig for guitarists.

Zakk Wylde guitars: Epiphone announce two new signature models.

Girl for guitar hero Eric: Eric Clapton has become a dad for the fifth time at the age of 59.

Missing Larrivee guitar turns up on eBay: “I’m very delighted, and so is Puff the Magic Dragon,” said the owner Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary.

Ultra Light Les Paul: more on this lightweight from Epiphone.

Eric Griffiths, RIP: Eric Griffiths, guitarist and founding member of The Quarrymen, the band that became The Beatles, died on Saturday following a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 64.

Gibson's new models for 2005

B C Rich Dagger Special Edition Semi-Hollowbody: check out those F-holes!

New B C Rich Archtop Bich and Archtop Bich Baritone

New Evil Edge Mockingbird from B C Rich

Two New Freeway Models from Godin

New Electric 12-String from Depinto Guitars with a strong Mosrite influence!

Move over, boys. Girls with guitars are leading the new rock revolution: article from The Independent.

Who's Guitar? Gibson recreate Pete Townshend's "No.1" Les Paul Deluxe guitar complete with the added middle pickup and 2 mini toggle switches to tap it and put it out of phase.

Guitar Karaoke from Fender: Fender announce the World's first guitar digital entertainment centre with built-in effects and instrument backing with drum beats and bass lines.

Synth Guitar For Less Than $800: Godin break the price barrier with the Godin Freeway SA.

No More Rusty Guitar Strings: Elixir introduce longer lasting anti-rust strings.

Zombie joins the BC Rich family of unique body styles: Guess what? It's pointy!!!

BC Rich introduces Platinum Series Eagle Bass

Tech 21 offers new XXL pedals for guitar and bass

Schecter Banshee 'Modern Vintage' Electric Guitar: I like the styling of this one. It looks familiar but different at the same time.

Martin Offers OMC-16E Maple and Koa Models with Elllipse Blend

Four New Aura-Equipped Martin Acoustics Announced

Martin HD-7 Roger McGuinn Signature Edition