General Interest

Today, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) and the Fender Custom Shop (FCS) are proud to introduce the Limited Edition Ariel Posen Stratocaster®, an instrument with enough versatility and raw playing power to properly honor the virtuosic guitarist, songwriter, producer and vocalist. Posen’s playing is unique not just in its sheer technical proficiency and musicality, but in the way it spans a number of genres ranging from old delta blues to neo soul to good old fashion rock and roll. With this in mind, the Fender Custom Shop understood that Posen’s signature instrument had to come ready to tackle just about any sonic assignment under the sun. Thanks to a set of custom AP-90 pickups, designed in tandem with Tim Shaw, and simple but powerful controls, the Limited Edition Ariel Posen Stratocaster® can handle scorching hot solos and sultry chord work in equal measure.

“This is the most genuine and authentic representation of what I’m looking for in a guitar,” said Ariel Posen. “I was always a Strat ® guy and always felt most comfortable playing them, so it was important to capture those qualities. But the AP90 pickups really highlight my love for Jazzmasters—there’s something so open and airy about those guitars. More than anything, this Strat® embodies everything I love about Fender and condenses it into one instrument.”

Ariel Posen first arrived at the guitar after spending years on the road with his two parents, both touring musicians, and developing the musical itch for himself. While he began his journey on the piano, an adolescent love for ‘90s grunge and The Beatles found him swapping out the keys for a Strat®. Today, whether he is captivating packed venues across the world, on his upcoming U.S. Tour this fall, or regaling his social audience, Posen has carved out a place for himself among the heroes of modern day guitar playing.

From the Journeyman Relic® Faded Lake Placid Blue finish to the quarter sawn AA flame maple neck, the Limited Edition Ariel Posen Stratocaster® oozes with road worn charm. But don’t let this guitar’s vintage appeal fool you, it is outfitted with new, custom electronics that are versatile and powerful. A pair of pickups were custom made with Fender’s legendary pickup designer, Tim Shaw, to capture the full spectrum of Posen’s sonic vocabulary—from swampy, growling leads to glassy clean tones and everything in between, these pickups deliver perfect harmonic clarity across all playing styles. In tandem with the vintage-style hardtail Stratocaster® bridge and roasted alder body, it’s nearly impossible for this guitar to deliver anything short of full-bodied, resonant perfection.

LIMITED EDITION ARIEL POSEN STRATOCASTER® ($6,000.00 USD, £5,699 GBP, €6,799 EUR, $9,499.00 AUD, ¥1,045,000 JPY) From scorching, octave fuzz-soaked slide solos to beautifully crafted chord changes and soulful grooves, Ariel Posen’s guitar playing is unmistakable. As a self-proclaimed “Strat® guy,” Posen teamed up with the Fender Custom Shop to introduce the Limited Edition Ariel Posen Stratocaster®, creating the most authentic representation of what he’s looking for in a guitar. Drawing influences from both traditional Fender specs and more unconventional features, this Strat® can deliver anything from flowing, bell-like chime to gnarly, punchy tones.

The Faded Lake Placid Blue Relic® lacquer-finished 2-piece select roasted alder body, quartersawn AA flame maple neck and round-laminated rosewood fingerboard give this guitar the look and feel of a well-loved mid-‘60s instrument, while the dueling AP-90 pickups, simplified controls and cupcake knobs are distinctly representative of Ariel’s playing style and taste. The custom pickups were designed in tandem with Fender’s legendary pickup designer, Tim Shaw, to capture both the nuanced warmth and clarity of a vintage Jazzmaster® neck pickup and the powerful midrange bite of classic soapbar bridge pickups. When combined with vintage-style hardtail Stratocaster® bridge and roasted alder, these pickups enhance even the most gentle, subtle playing with full-bodied resonance and sustain.

Other premium features include 1969 “U” back-shape, 9.5” (241 mm) radius, 21 vintage upgrade (45085) frets, mother of pearl dot inlays, custom Caballo Férreo (master volume, master tone) wiring, 3-way switch, 3-ply parchment pickguard, vintage-style tuning machines bone nut, American Vintage ‘59-’64 string tree, deluxe hardshell case, Moody Leather Ariel Posen signature strap, The Rock Slide Ariel Posen signature brass slide, Dunlop Ariel Posen picks and certificate of authenticity.

Looking for versatility without cranking a stadium-level rig?

In this video, PG contributor Tom Butwin puts three sub‑50-watt amplifiers to the test: the British‑voiced Suhr SL15, the mid‑’60s American‑style PRS Sonzera 20, and the gig‑ready solid‑state Blackstar Debut 50R. Tom explores the tones, features, and ideal use cases of all three amps—highlighting who they're best suited for and how they perform in different setups. Which one fits your playing style and needs?

Suhr SL15 15-watt Tube Amplifier Head - Black Tolex/Gold Faceplate

PRS Sonzera 20 20-watt 1 x 12-inch Tube Combo Amp

Blackstar Debut 50 50W Guitar Combo Amp Black

The Blackstar Debut 50R 50W Guitar Combo Amp

As an increasing number of brick and mortar guitar stores are being forced to close down, Guitar Center has announced its latest plan to keep its physical stores up and running.

According to Business Wire, Guitar Center has reached an agreement with investors to extend the payback period on its debts. The three-year debt extension is intended to allow the company more time to “deliver on its business plan”.

• READ MORE: Comedian Bill Burr says “the number one place to see sad men” is Guitar Center

The plan is to carry out a Senior Secured Notes Exchange, essentially meaning that it will be reaching new terms and repayment conditions with its investors. While 8.5% of the company’s Senior Secured Notes were originally due for repayment in 2026, 70% of its investors have agreed to renew their terms, moving the repayment deadline to 2029.

The company hopes to have all of the new terms and conditions for its Senior Secured Notes investors finalised by August.

It’s a challenging time for physical music stores. Just last year, Sam Ash shut up shop, and Guitar Center’s CEO Gabe Dalporto also went on record saying that the company needs to “evolve” to survive.

“If you want to experience musical instruments and start off or accelerate your journey as a musician, the world needs Guitar Center,” he told Music Inc last May. “Our customers need us and our vendors need us,” he says. “But in order to earn the right to be here, we need to evolve and execute better.”

“I want customers to walk into [a store] and have the same experience I had when I was younger and just be hit in the face with, ‘Wow, this is amazing. This is a playground. This is where I belong,’” he added. “And that means having a much more premium assortment that’s more easily accessible where I can get in and grab a guitar and plug it in and try all these pedals and effects and just geek out and have a great time.”

Earlier this year, Dalporto also discussed how the human touch is the key to company maintaining its status as the biggest music store chain in the US. “It really is the premium product where people are going to take that time and care a lot and want to experience it [in person],” he explained on the Know Your Gear podcast. “That’s why it’s important to us. We are leaning into that really high-quality, premium product where experience matters. That’s where we can win against Amazon.”

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Over the years and through their shared love of the blues, Joe Bonamassa and Joanne Shaw Taylor have struck up quite the friendship.

And in a new interview with Classic Rock, the pair recall how it started at the Notodden Blues Festival in 2008.

“We ran into each other at the hotel check-in,” Bonamassa reveals. “And I offended you. Because you wanted to show me your really nice old Les Paul, and I just said: ‘I don’t like Les Pauls’ and walked off,” Taylor tells him.

• READ MORE: “They just happened to sound like someone else, but that’s not their fault. So, stop it”: Tobias Forge defends Greta Van Fleet – and says the future of rock is bright

After the pair later struck up a friendship, Taylor recalls once having to drive from Maine to Detroit. “Joe would phone and keep me company,” she says. “I didn’t have any money. And you’d say: ‘Okay, I’ve booked you into a nice Marriott, get a good night’s sleep. Don’t pull into some dodgy shithole.’” 

On why they clicked in the first place, Bonamassa reflects: “We share a dry, cutting sense of humour. Joanne loves it when I go off, ranting and raving.”

“And I poke the bear,” Taylor adds. “There’s also massive trust between us. That was a real benefit when Joe started producing me. We recorded Fade Away, which is about losing my mum, and he’s one of the few people – because she passed away a long time ago – who’s actually met her.”

“When I met Joanne, my life had just changed,” adds Bonamassa. “I’d played the Albert Hall for the first time. Next thing you know, there’s more people waiting for a meet and greet than were at the shows two years before. Things had got weird. I don’t believe I handled the pressure very well. And Joanne got me through a lot of that.”

When asked whether they are secretly a couple, Joanne Shaw Taylor replies: “We are basically married. Just without any of the fun stuff.

“We live next-door to each other in Nashville. After this interview is done I’m walking to his apartment, because I noticed there’s a dead bird on his patio!”

Joe Bonamassa recently performed three shows in Ireland in tribute to Rory Gallagher. In a reflective post on social media, he called the shows “the biggest honour and greatest challenge of my musical life”.

The post “We are basically married, just without any of the fun stuff”: Joanne Shaw Taylor on her friendship with Joe Bonamassa appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

Sweetwater has announced the return of GuitarFest,which is coming to the company’s Fort Wayne campus on Saturday, September 27. The nation’snumber one online retailer for music makers will welcome guitar players and music fans toexplore manufacturer booths from some of the top guitar name brands such as Gibson, Fender,and Marshall. There will also be appearances by major artists throughout the day.

Now in its second year, Sweetwater’s GuitarFest promises a packed schedule designed to excite guitar enthusiasts and music lovers alike. Attendees will have the opportunity to hang out and connect with their favorite brands and some of their favorite artists.

“We’re thrilled to bring GuitarFest back for its second year,” commented Samantha Hunter, director of artist relations and campus events at Sweetwater. “We’ve taken everything we learned from last year’s event — along with the valuable feedback from attendees — and used it to make the experience this year even better. We truly believe 2025’s GuitarFest will be an unforgettable celebration for music lovers of all kinds.”

Sweetwater will showcase the latest guitar and related gear releases along with vendors on-site to answer and demonstrate the very latest guitar innovations. GuitarFest also marks the culmination of eight days of in-store deals as part of Guitar Month at Sweetwater.

Artist appearances will be announced in the coming weeks. Early registration for this free event is available now at Sweetwater.com/guitarfest/ where visitors can also stay up–to date on all the planned activities.

This event is family friendly and takes place on Sweetwater’s state-of-the-art campus located at 5501 US Highway 30 West in Fort Wayne. The Sweetwater campus includes the largest music store in the United States and other attractions for visitors to enjoy.

Richie Sambora has turned to NFL rehab experts to help him play the guitar again after a “gruesome” hand injury he suffered earlier this year.

According to People, the former Bon Jovi guitarist is on the road to recovery after an accident in April that had him needing emergency surgery to rebreak and reset his left hand.

Now, he’s undergoing rehabilitation with top-tier sports medicine experts who typically treat NFL athletes – and he’s healing at double the typical rate, according to a source speaking to the publication. Despite describing the process as “arduous, slow, and painful,” the source says Sambora remains focused on regaining his strength and getting back into shape.

• READ MORE: “You couldn’t be in a rock band unless you looked a certain way”: Why Tim Pierce didn’t join Bon Jovi – despite playing guitar on their first hit

Sambora’s injury happened just a week before his scheduled performance at the Unbridled Eve Derby Gala on 2 May. While playing a casual game of touch football back in his hometown of New Jersey – where he’d been caring for his mother – the guitarist caught a pass and was knocked into a curb, fracturing his hand in two places.

“He caught a ball and some guy gave him a touch right into a curb. He was completely swollen, and fractured his hand in two places,” the source told People. “He’ll undergo surgery next week.”

Sambora, 65 at the time, eventually underwent emergency surgery to rebreak and reset the bones. Incredibly, he still took the stage at the Derby Gala, performing four Bon Jovi hits – Livin’ on a Prayer, It’s My Life, I’ll Be There for You, and Wanted Dead or Alive – all of which he co-wrote.

Richie “rocked the house” despite being in “so much pain,” the source said. “When he told the doctor he was going to the Derby, the doctor said, ‘You’re out of your mind.’ But he said, ‘See ya! I’m going.’ That’s the kind of guy Richie is. He’s a man of his word.”

Now 66, Sambora spent his birthday earlier this month (11 July) in Princeville, Hawaii, enjoying a relaxed round of golf with friends as he continues to rest and promote his new single, Born to Rock.

“It’s a fun and happy anthem for those who were born to rock! Plain and simple,” Sambora told People. He also shared the song on Instagram, writing, “My birthday gift to you.”

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A post shared by Richie Sambora (@therealsambora)

The post Richie Sambora turns to NFL rehab experts to help him play guitar again after “gruesome” hand injury appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

Chet Atkins may have been known as the Country Gentleman, but even he wasn’t one to let unfounded claims about his guitar playing slide.

In a recent interview with Guitar World, Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler reflects on his time working with the fingerstyle legend – and recalls the one time he ever saw Atkins genuinely annoyed: when fellow guitarist John Fahey suggested he relied on double-tracking to pull off his intricate playing.

• READ MORE: “I got away with murder!”: Is Mark Knopfler a ‘guitar hero’? He certainly doesn’t think so

“I only remember him being slightly put-out once, when John Fahey said he’d been double-tracking. Chet was not pleased by that,” says Knopfler. “And he wrote to whatever magazine it was and said, ‘You can learn to do this with your own two hands; you don’t need double-tracking.’”

While Atkins wasn’t opposed to multi-tracking in his own recordings, Knopfler notes that the musician only used it when “doing something even more complicated.”

“I mean, Chet liked multi-tracking too, of course, but only if he was doing something even more complicated,” he explains. “But he could play Yankee Doodle and Battle Hymn of the Republic at the same time.”

The two guitarists formed a bond in the late ’80s that eventually led to their Grammy-winning 1990 album Neck and Neck. Their friendship grew with informal jams in Atkins’s office, where the musician’s modest tastes often surprised Knopfler.

“I remember, Chet Atkins gave me a [call]. Because we were both pickers in that sense – but, of course, Chet was otherworldly,” he says. “I used to go round to his office and hang out, and I’ll never forget, we once played and sang the song Kentucky all morning.”

“Chet had such facility and knowledge, and yet what he wanted to do was play Kentucky – which has two chords – all morning long. He’d say to me, ‘You’re pretty good, but you’re no Mark Knopfler.’”

“He always had good jokes,” Knopfler continues. “You know, you’d get to the end of something and he’d go, ‘Very educational.’ And then he’d say, ‘A little below above average.’ Or something like that. Very dry.”

The post “You can learn to do this with your own two hands!”: The stinging rebuke Chet Atkins gave John Fahey over unfounded accusations appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

Guitar Center has officially launched Rig Advisor, an “AI-powered shopping assistant” designed to help musicians navigate the often overwhelming world of music gear.

Dubbed the first-ever in-store AI shopping tool in music retail, Rig Advisor promises a smoother and smarter browsing experience by delivering real-time, personalised recommendations based on your local store’s inventory.

• READ MORE: “Bring the competition on”: Guitar Center CEO says he’s not afraid of big brands like Gibson and Fender selling products direct

As Guitar Center would have you know, Rig Advisor isn’t just another chatbot slapped onto a screen. Rather, it’s a mobile-based tool that “helps customers discover, compare, and explore gear in real time by prioritising products available at that specific store location”.

You can access it by scanning a QR code in-store, where you can then ask questions, compare products, or search for gear inspired by specific songs or artists. Whether you’re chasing John Mayer’s tone or building your first podcasting setup, Rig Advisor provides instant, store-specific suggestions based on what’s available on the shelves.

“Rig Advisor is like having a professional gear consultant in the palm of your hand, delivering lightning-fast answers as you explore our music stores,” says Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto. “It will turn our stores into tech-powered music hubs where creativity, curiosity, and inspiration lead the way.”

Besides its friendly interface, the beauty of Rig Advisor lies in its practicality. Say you’re curious about the difference between a tube amp and a solid-state one – Rig Advisor will break it down in plain English. You can even build full rigs – pedals, amps, mics, the whole deal – based on your current setup or a goal you have in mind.

And because it pulls from your chosen store’s live inventory, whatever it recommends is actually there to try today. No more falling in love with a piece of gear online only to find it out of stock.

The tool is also available in multiple languages, with the AI smart enough to respond in whatever language you use to ask your question.
Now live in locations across the US, Rig Advisor aims to “[enhance] the in-store experience by giving musicians an easy way to navigate options and make more confident decisions, whether they’re browsing solo or working with a store expert.”

In other news, a Guitar Center employee from Ohio was recently found to have used customers’ credit cards for personal purchases after they were rude to him.

Reports claim that management had learned of the purchases after a customer called about a transaction made at the store that was not his. The employee, 18, is also believed to have copied the credit cards of two other customers.

Learn more at Guitar Center.

The post Meet Rig Advisor, Guitar Center’s new in-store AI shopping assistant: “It’s like having a professional gear consultant in the palm of your hand” appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

Taylor Swift is unquestionably one of the most popular and successful artists of the 21st century. Her music has been categorized as everything from pop to folk to country to rock, and while it would be a stretch to call her music guitar-centric, she does play guitar and has nonetheless inspired a generation of people to pick up the guitar and start trying to find their own voice. In that sense, it’s worth taking a look at some of the artists who inspired Swift herself to become the musician she is today.

• READ MORE: These are Dave Grohl’s four biggest guitar-playing influences

Shania Twain

Few influences are more important than the one who inspired you to pick up a guitar in the first place and for Taylor Swift, she has often claimed that it was Shania Twain. This should come as no surprise, as Shania was very popular during Taylor’s formative years. While Twain is not known for her guitar-playing prowess, she does play guitar, especially in her early career.

For Twain and Swift, the guitar is not used for flashy, impressive solos; it is merely a tool for conveying the songwriting ideas they both have. Nobody is going to put Taylor Swift or Shania Twain on a list of great technical guitar players, but as far as using the guitar as a tool to write hit songs, they are both hugely influential.

Shania Twain provided an essential step in the musical evolution of Taylor Swift, most notably the first step – the inspiration to pick up a guitar and make music with it. That step should never be underestimated. Swift has in kind no doubt inspired millions of young people to pick up a guitar and play music. It’s the wonderful legacy of the guitar as a pop music icon that continues to bear fruit over 70 years after it first appeared.

Matt Slocum

The guitarist of Christian rockers and one-hit wonders Sixpence None The Richer might not be on many guitar playing Mount Rushmores, but they hold a special significance for Taytay. After she had been inspired to pick up a guitar by Shania, Swift has stated in several interviews that the first song she actually learned to play was Kiss Me – and from that moment, the music world would never be the same!

Ronnie Cremer

Every musician has to start somewhere by learning the basics of guitar playing. For Taylor Swift, that came in the form of a guitar instructor named Ronnie Cremer who lived in her hometown of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Some might imagine formal guitar lessons to be a highly structured, “run through the scales again” sort of affair.

But according to most reports, Cremer was instrumental in teaching Swift the basics – chords, tuning, how to use a capo, etc. From there, they focused on real world applications of those building blocks such as using the guitar as a tool for songwriting – not necessarily technical proficiency. These lessons took place for about two years in 2002-2003 – Swift would have been about 12 years old at the time.

The Chicks

While Taylor Swift may never be known for her technical guitar playing prowess, she will forever be known as an electric performer. At the time of writing this article, she has the highest-grossing tour of all time at over two billion dollars.

According to an interview with ABC Swift claimed that her electric live performances were inspired by The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks), “Early in my life, these three women showed me that female artists can play their own instruments while also putting on a flamboyant spectacle of a live show,” she explained.

The Chicks’ influence is also evident in her daring songwriting that leans into feminist empowerment. Swift continued, “They taught me that creativity, eccentricity, unapologetic boldness and kitsch can all go together authentically… Most importantly, they showed an entire generation of girls that female rage can be a bonding experience between us all the very second we first heard Natalie Maines bellow ‘that Earl had to DIE’.”

Joni Mitchell

It has been said that Taylor Swift’s 2012 album Red was inspired by Joni Mitchell’s 1971 album Blue. Both artists have written deeply personal autobiographical songs with lyrics that could be described as confessional. Swift would no doubt call Joni a trailblazer for the path she is currently treading through the industry. Mitchell’s influence on Swift’s songwriting style is evident to even untrained ears. Swift has also claimed that she learned to play Mitchell’s song A Case of You early on in her career.

Liz Rose

Liz Rose is a songwriter from Nashville who has worked with Swift throughout her career. Her role seems to have been very much that of a mentor who was able to sculpt Swift into the songwriter she is today, perhaps more specifically, her understanding of melody. She was instrumental in encouraging Swift to write songs about her own personal experiences which ended up working out incredibly well for her. Rose co-wrote several hit songs with Swift, such as You Belong With Me, Teardrops on My Guitar, White Horse, and All Too Well.

Taylor Swift has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest pop stars in history, alongside The Beatles and Michael Jackson. But her journey is not over, and it seems like the guitar – and her guitar influences –will always have a place in her music.

The post These are Taylor Swift’s six biggest guitar influences appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.