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Bad Cat Amplifiers has released a pair of dual-overdrive pedals: the Burmese Drive and Siamese Drive are both hand-crafted in Southern California and feature two independent, identical overdrive circuits.

Merging vintage soul with modern versatility, the Burmese Drive is rooted in the legendary BB-style overdrive circuit and takes that classic transparent grit and injects it with Bad Cat’s unmistakable growl and harmonic depth. Each channel features its own Gain, Tone, and Output controls, plus a Bright/Warm toggle to tailor the feel and response for rhythm or lead tones. Players can run the channels separately or stack them for lush, saturated drive and increased harmonic complexity.

“We wanted to build a pedal that’s more than just another drive box—it’s two musical personalities that can be subtle, gritty, or feral depending on how you stack them,” said John Thompson, Owner of Bad Cat Amplifiers. “The Burmese Drive gives players that old-school warmth and openness with the precision and build quality we’re known for.”

Housed in a rugged black sparkle powder-coated chassis with custom Bad Cat tiger print graphics, the Burmese Drive delivers transparent response, articulate gain structure, and wide tonal sweep, making it equally at home pushing a clean amp, shaping rhythm tones, or stacking into lead saturation.

Burmese Drive features include:

• Dual overdrive circuits in one enclosure
• Based on the iconic BB-style circuit
• Independent Gain, Tone, Output, and Bright/Warm controls per channel
• True bypass operation
• 9V–12V DC center-negative power

The Siamese Drive brings the legendary tone and feel of the K-style circuit into a flexible format. Designed for players who demand musical precision, touch sensitivity, and harmonic complexity, the Siamese Drive delivers pure inspiration—times two.

At its heart, the Siamese Drive captures the unmistakable mid-forward punch, clarity, and bloom that made the original K-style circuit a modern classic. Each channel features its own Gain, Tone, and Output controls, allowing players to dial in rhythm and lead tones independently or stack both channels for rich, cascading overdrive textures. The result is tone that feels alive under your fingers—organic, articulate, and deeply responsive.

“The Siamese Drive is all about control and connection,” said John Thompson, Owner of Bad Cat Amplifiers. “We took one of the most musically revered overdrive circuits ever made and expanded it into a dual-channel format that gives players the freedom to blend, shape, and stack their sound in entirely new ways.”

The Siamese Drive is housed in a durable pearl white powder-coated enclosure with royal blue silk-screened graphics and Bad Cat’s signature tiger print design. Each pedal is designed to deliver tour-grade reliability, musical transparency, and a tactile feel that responds to every nuance of the player’s technique.

Key Siamese Drive features include:

• Dual K-style overdrive circuits
• Independent Gain, Tone, and Output per channel
• Stackable or standalone operation
• True bypass switching
• 9V–12V DC center-negative power

The Bad Cat Burmese Drive and Siamese Drive each carry a $269.99 street price and are available now through authorized Bad Cat dealers and at www.badcatamps.com.

PG contributor ‪@TomButwin‬ dives into the latest evolution of the green-box legacy: the TWA Source Code SC‑01 Overdrive. Designed by the legendary Susumu Tamura (yes—the original mind behind the TS808), this pedal combines vintage tone and handmade USA craftsmanship with serious modern enhancements: internal 18v voltage-boosting circuitry for extra headroom, a multi-transistor input buffer to preserve your guitar’s core tone, and a unique “Bite” control for dialing in even-order harmonics and amp-style saturation.

Shop the SC-01 at Godlyke: https://godlyke.com/products/sc-01-so...

Thomann has kicked off its Cyber Week savings with some big discounts before the big day! Black Friday may still be a little way out, but the deals start now over at Europe’s biggest music retailer. Let’s check out the best deals that have come early!

Save £339 on a Strandberg Boden 6 essential in Astro Dust – was £1050, now £711

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This Strandberg is already affordable for an ergonomic headless guitar, but with another big discount it’s a great way to enter into a totally new guitar universe. Who needs headstocks anyway?

Save £554 on a Gibson Marcus King ES-345 60’s – was £3499, now £2945

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Marcus King has pretty awesome taste in guitars, and this 1960s-style cherry red ES-345 is no exception. With more blues-rock style than you could shake a stick at, including two awesome humbuckers, a fixed vibrola tailpiece, split-block inlays and an engraved stud-anchor cover, this guitar’s even more enticing thanks to a heft discount.

Save £24 on a Harley Benton DNAfx GiT – was £129, now £105

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Maybe you’re new to the world of digital modelling and want to just dip a toe in – or maybe you’re a beginner guitarist on a budget. The DNAfx GiT is a great option in either case, even more so with a chunk of change knocked off the price!

Save £469 on a Fender LTD Am Pro II Stratocaster – was £1868, now £1399

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Fender’s Am Pro II range are some of the sleekest and most impressive guitars you can get from the brand outside of its Custom Shop models. This classic-styled Strat is loaded with high-performance features, and has an amazing saving of almost £500 for Thomann’s early Cyber Week deals!

Save £90 on a Martin GPC 10e Roadseries Special – was £879, now £789

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One of the best-sounding, affordable Martins out there, this guitar is also utterly beautiful, with a rich dark finish for its solid sapele back and sides.

Save £965 on a Taylor 314ce LTD 50 – was £2555, now £1590

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A saving of almost £1,000 is absolutely not to be sniffed at when it comes to this beautiful Taylor 314ce LTD 50. We gave it an absolutely glowing review upon release, and now’s a great time to get your hands on one!

Save £23 on a Boss Katana Mini X in limited-edition Blue – was £145, now £122

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Portable yet powerful, there’s a great discount on this pint-sized amp from Boss, finished in a cool limited-edition blue so you can stand out while you play.

Save £71 on a Peavey 6505 Piranha Micro Head bundle – was £159, now £88

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This mini amplifier head and cab bundle from Peavey is almost half-off – so you can blast //Demiurge// through a cranked amp, without breaking the bank – or your eardrums.

Save £855 on a Martin Custom D18 – was £5299, now £4444

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This top-of-the-line Martin D18 is perhaps the pinnacle of the brand’s instrument design, and you can save a whopping £855 right now. Perfect if you want to really up your acoustic game in 2026!

The post Almost £1,000 off a Taylor acoustic? That’s right, Thomann’s early Black Friday deals are here – see our top guitar picks! appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

Ace Frehley’s cause of death has been revealed as blunt trauma injuries to his head sustained following a fall.

According to a report obtained by TMZ [via Blabbermouth], a CT scan of Frehley’s head revealed “multiple contusions, bone fractures to the back of his skull, haemorrhages and a subdural hematoma”, all linked to head trauma suffered during the guitarist’s fall. The report also indicated bruises were found on Frehley’s hip, thigh and abdomen, and that he had suffered a stroke.

According to TMZ, the 74-year-old musician spent nearly two weeks in hospital following the fall, and was placed on life support following a brain bleed.

Last month, Frehley’s longtime manager John Ostrosky told the New York Post that the musician had been laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York on 22 October, following a private memorial on 21 October at Sinatra Memorial Home in Yonkers.

Frehley’s death last month prompted an outpouring of tributes from the guitar community, from the likes of Tom Morello, Nuno Bettencourt, Opeth, John 5, Rush’s Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee and many others.

“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley,” Kiss wrote in their own post. “He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of Kiss’s legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”

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Ace Frehley was a founding member of Kiss in 1973 alongside Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss. He left the band nearly 10 years later to pursue a solo career, amid rising tensions within the band over creative direction. Frehley later rejoined the band from 1996 until 2002.

During his tenure with the band, Frehley – affectionately known as the Spaceman – helped write hits including I Was Made For Lovin’ You, Rock and Roll All Nite, Love Gun and Detroit Rock City.

The post Ace Frehley died of blunt trauma injuries to his head, report reveals appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

Taylor Guitars, the leading global builder of premium acoustic guitars, today announces the expansion of its collaboration with Jacob Collier with two new 5-string models designed to make the acclaimed artist's innovative DAEAD tuning accessible to a broader range of players.

Following the success of the October 2024 launch of the Jacob Collier Signature Model 5-String, featuring a Grand Concert body crafted with solid, Select-grade Hawaiian koa, Taylor is now introducing the Jacob Collier Academy 22e 5-String and the Jacob Collier GS Mini 5-String. Both new models feature Jacob's preferred DAEAD tuning along with fresh aesthetics and are designed within Taylor's Academy Series and GS Mini frameworks, giving players more accessibly priced options to explore Collier's unique musical approach.

The unveiling of these new models follows the October 10 release of Collier's critically acclaimed album, The Light For Days, which recently earned him his 16th GRAMMY® nomination in the Best Arrangement, Instruments & Vocals category for his reimagining of the Beach Boys classic “Keep An Eye On Summer” — fittingly arranged for his bespoke 5-string guitars.

"These new 5-string models are a total dream come true for me," says Jacob. "Each is so distinct in their own right. For them to be accessible to more people, while maintaining the same spirit that inspired the original designs, is a wonder. I'm so looking forward to more folks having the opportunity to discover this 5-string world and make their own magic with it."

The collaboration began when Collier approached Taylor about creating a custom 5-string acoustic guitar featuring his preferred DAEAD tuning — where the lower strings are tuned by fourths while the higher strings are tuned by fifths. That custom instrument, built by Andy Powers, Taylor's Chief Guitar Designer, President and CEO, became a staple of Collier's performances. The tuning makes common chord shapes easier for beginners to form with their fingers, while for experienced players, it unlocks a new tonal landscape ripe for musical exploration.

JACOB COLLIER ACADEMY 22E 5-STRING

Great for new and experienced players alike, Taylor's Academy Series guitars deliver rich acoustic tone and an accessible, comfort-enhanced playing experience. The Jacob Collier Academy 22e 5-String features a solid walnut top paired with layered walnut back and sides in a Grand Concert body, producing crisp highs, a warm midrange and satisfying low-end depth.

A built-in walnut beveled armrest softens the contact point on the strumming arm, reducing pressure and allowing for more fluid motion. Incorporating visual details selected for the original Jacob Collier model, this guitar features a smoked eucalyptus fretboard and bridge. The model includes a slender, easy-playing Taylor neck, matte-finish body, understated 4mm Dot fretboard inlays, standard chrome tuners, and Fishman Presys VT electronics.

Key Specifications:

• Back/Side Wood: Layered Walnut
• Top Wood: Solid Walnut
• Neck: Mahogany or Maple
• Fretboard: Smoked Eucalyptus
• Nut Width: 1-11/16"
• Scale Length: 24-7/8"
• Bracing: Academy Series Bracing
• Electronics: Fishman Presys VT

JACOB COLLIER GS MINI 5-STRING

Inspired by the GS Mini's bold voice, fun-size proportions and up-for-anything personality, Jacob put his signature aesthetic spin on Taylor's popular compact model. Jacob worked with Taylor designers to create a custom asymmetric rosette design marked by vibrant colors and geometric abstraction — a visual flourish that makes this guitar pop on any wall.

The guitar features a torrefied Sitka spruce top paired with layered sapele back and sides, producing a clear, balanced acoustic voice with played-in character. Perfect for travel, writing sessions, and intimate performances, the GS Mini 5-String maintains the tonal clarity essential to Collier's musical approach in a portable format. Known for creating music everywhere from green rooms to hotel rooms during his extensive touring schedule, Collier collaborated closely on this model to ensure it could capture musical ideas anywhere inspiration strikes.

Key Specifications:

• Back/Side Wood: Layered Sapele
• Top Wood: Torrefied Sitka Spruce
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fretboard: West African Ebony
• Nut Width: 1-11/16"
• Scale Length: 23-1/2"
• Bracing: X Bracing
• Electronics: None

JACOB COLLIER SIGNATURE MODEL 5-STRING [ORIGINAL MODEL]

Jacob Collier's original 5-string signature Taylor guitar is a Taylor Grand Concert body style featuring a natural, wood-centric aesthetic with richly variegated Select-grade koa and marbled West African ebony, giving each instrument a unique visual personality. Signature details include a customized Hawaiian koa truss rod cover with Jacob's laser-etched logo, a custom interior label, a branded guitar strap, antique chrome Gotoh 510 tuners, and onboard LR Baggs Element VTC electronics with soundhole-mounted controls, all shipping in a Taylor AeroCase.

Key Specifications:

• Top, Back & Sides: Solid, Select-grade Hawaiian Koa
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fretboard & Bridge: West African Ebony
• Nut Width: 1-11/16" (4.28 cm)
• Scale: 24-⅞" (63.18 cm)
• Bracing: Taylor V-Class® Bracing
• Tuning Machines: Gotoh 510 with Antique Chrome Buttons
• Electronics: LR Baggs Element VTC

"Jacob is so gifted — a one-of-a-kind musician," says Andy Powers. "After hearing him write and perform music on these instruments since their creation, we're excited to expand this collaboration with models that make the acoustic guitar accessible for entry-level players while offering an inspiring new sonic palette for experienced players to explore."

AVAILABILITY

For US customers, a limited number are available now to arrive before Christmas. UK and Europe customers can order now and guitars will ship early next year. Customers outside the US, UK and Europe can join the waitlist for future availability. The new models will be coming to authorized Taylor dealers in late 2025. Check THIS LINK for availability in your area.

For Taylor Guitars media inquiries, please contact Alex Jessup (alex.jessup@jessuppr.com) at JESSUP PR. For Jacob Collier media inquiries, please contact Chris Taillie (ctaillie@shorefire.com) or Greg Jakubik (gjakubik@shorefire.com) at Shore Fire Media. Follow Taylor Guitars on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok. Follow Jacob Collier on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

“These go to 11.” Some of the most immortal words uttered in rock music’s history. So iconic even, that they’ve inspired a new amp from Marshall to celebrate the recent release of Spinal Tap II.

Billed as the “loudest amp ever made” – we would hope so – the Spinal Tap JVM410H Limited Edition is built on the DNA of the 100-watt JVM410H, with a few tweaks celebrating the sequel to the cult rockumentary film.

• READ MORE: AFI guitarist ditched tube amps because they made him feel “constrained” sonically – does he have a point?

Those classic words appeared in the original This Is Spinal Tap movie, when Nigel Tufnel – portrayed by Christopher Guest – shows Rob Reiner his modded Marshall, on which all its knobs go to 11, rather than the conventional 10.

Truth be told, guitarists have been trying to get more than the 10 units of volume available to them for decades (let’s not talk about how it’s relative). So now, with the launch of the Marshall Spinal Tap JVM410H Limited Edition, that myth finally becomes a reality.

“Marshall has always been part of Spinal Tap’s DNA, quite literally,” says Hugh Gilmartin, Artist Relations & Marketing Manager at Marshall.

“It’s poetic to finllay make the amp that fans have talked about for forty years. It’s a celebration of sound, satire and everything that makes rock both ridiculous and great.”

Only 20 of these amps exist worldwide – with 11 being sold exclusively via the Sweetwater Gear Exchange. Pricing hasn’t been announced quite yet, but we do know that all profits will be donated to charities chosen by Spinal Tap.

At its core, the amp is a JVM410H, but this limited-edition version has a number of visual tweaks, including custom panel artwork, renamed channels, all knobs going to 11, and a master volume knob which goes beyond, to infinity, specifically. There’s also a bold Spinal Tap logo on the back.

Credit: Marshall

You might remember when Nigel Tufnel spoke about this amp back in September, marvelling at the fact its master volume knob goes not just to 11, but all the way to infinity.

“Marshall has made for me an amplifier, the head, and if you look at the dials, it now goes to Infinity. Just think about that for a moment. Think about infinity – oh, my God, that’s literally infinity,” he said.

“There’s a beautiful madness in this project,” continues Hugh Gilmartin. “It’s not about nostalgia, it’s about honouring a moment that defined how we all see rock, volume and humour.”

You can learn more at Marshall. Spinal Tap II is out now.

The post Marshall partners with Spinal Tap on the “loudest amp ever made” – with knobs that go to 11 and a master volume that goes to infinity appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

Two channels. Six gain circuits. Endless combinations. Enter for your chance to win Brothers AM—the analog boost, overdrive, and fuzz machine built for stacking, blending, and sonic exploration.

Chase Bliss Brothers AM Giveaway

Chase Bliss Brothers AM

Made in collaboration with Analog Man himself, Brothers AM is a tribute to the legendary King of Tone overdrive.

It takes that coveted circuit, gives you advanced control, and tosses in a couple exciting bonuses – but it doesn’t mess with what made it so good in the first place.

A stack of sunny saturation that always manages to sound just right.

Fender has partnered with The Smiths legend Johnny Marr on a new signature Jaguar model.

Built on the classic Jaguar blueprint but with a number of modern appointments and Marr-chosen specs, the Johnny Marr Signature Special Jaguar is the latest in a line of signature model collaborations between the Smiths man and the Big F.

“The Jaguar has been central to my sound and style for nearly 15 years,” says Johnny Marr. “With this new model, I wanted to create an instrument that feels classic but also pushes players to explore new tones and possibilities. 

• READ MORE: “Dear UPS, where are my guitars?”: Johnny Marr slams UPS over “lost” guitars ahead of tour

“Fender has once again brought that vision to life in a way that I didn’t think could be possible until now. From my work with The Cribs playing gritty in your face indie, to the cinematic soundscapes I crafted with Hans Zimmer, the Jaguar has been an incredible asset in helping me expand my sound, no matter the genre or the occasion.”

Key specs include an enhanced neck profile inspired by Marr’s own original 1965 Jaguar, a Jaguar bridge with Mustang saddles and a vintage-style floating trem, and custom-wound, Johnny Marr-designed single-coil Lipstick pickups in the bridge, middle and neck positions. There’s also a custom gloss nitrocellulose black lacquer finish and 22-fret fingerboard with ivory dot inlays.

These are controlled by an all-new pickup selection system: a unique four-position blade switching system, as well as three slide-switch options for “maximum tonal versatility”.

Credit: Fender

“Johnny Marr’s legacy as one of the most inventive guitarists of the last four decades is undeniable,” says Max Gutnik, Chief Product Officer at Fender. “His distinctive style and tone has inspired generations of players over the years. The new Signature Special Jaguar is a versatile, performance-ready twist on his classic instrument that delivers a captivating tone with great feel. We’re thrilled to share it with guitarists everywhere.”

The new Johnny Marr Signature Special Jaguar follows in the footsteps of his first signature Fender Jaguar in 2012, which was designed by the Fender Custom Shop to reflect his personal modded 1965 Jaguar model.

The Johnny Marr Signature Special Jaguar is available now, priced at $2,999/£2,949.

For more information, head to Fender.

Credit: Fender

The post Johnny Marr is synonymous with the Fender Jaguar – and he’s just launched a new signature model based on his prized 1965 model appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

What with all the dynamic ticket pricing drama, many were sceptical as to whether Oasis’ reunion shows would deliver enough bang for your buck. However, if you ask Jon Bon Jovi, the tour was worth every penny.

Speaking to Virgin Radio UK, Bon Jovi praises the Gallagher brothers for delivering a tour packed with true, bona fide “rock ‘n’ roll” for the masses. Specifically, Oasis haven’t forgotten what matters most: killer guitar tone. “I’m telling you, the guitar tones alone were worth the price of admission!” he insists.

Bon Jovi notes that he enjoyed the show “immensely,” claiming that it was a reminder of rock’s heyday. “I needed to go and smell a rock ‘n’ roll band, you know?” he says. “I needed to be out there and see what a rock band looked like on a stage again.”

• READ MORE: “I had no idea what the guitar was intended to be used for”: The inside story on Noel Gallagher’s Oasis reunion Les Paul

The star notes that the show will undoubtedly stir up more hunger for old school rock bands – the kind that don’t rely on stage production, solely letting their music do the talking. “People really want a rock band again!” he said. “No dancers, no tricks, no loops, no recorded stuff. They wanted to hear a rock band!”

“The audiences ate it up,” he added. “They loved it… this was a much bigger venue than they’ve ever played in America. [It was also the] first time I’ve seen them live, and they were really good.”

This isn’t the first time Bon Jovi has voiced his appreciation of Oasis’ recent tour. At a recent press conference announcing his first world tour since having vocal surgery, the singer reflected on how Oasis’ reunion has reignited excitement around rock ‘n’ roll.

“I think post-Covid people wanted that kind of experiential thing,” he explained back in September [via The London Standard]. “They wanted to get together again and feel that joy. So [Oasis’ show felt] bigger than ever.”

“There was a time, 10, 12 years ago that I used to hear people say, ‘rock is dead’,” he continues. “I think rock is alive and well again, so the promise of what Oasis brought is going to give a lot of young rock bands an opportunity to shine again.”

Bon Jovi is set to embark on his Forever Tour with his band next year, and it will their first tour in eight years. The tour will kick off next July at Madison Square Garden, running up til September with a triumphant finale at London’s Wembley Stadium.

For more information on Bon Jovi’s tour, head to his website.

The post “The guitar tones alone were worth the price of admission!”: Jon Bon Jovi claims Oasis’s tour reignited the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

Growing up in Clarksdale in the Mississippi Delta, perhaps it was inevitable – or at least highly predictable – that Christone “Kingfish” Ingram would go on to carve a path of blues stardom.

At just 26, Kingfish has cemented himself as a champion of modern blues, honing his six-string chops on the live circuit throughout his teenage years, sharing the stage with the likes of Samantha Fish, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Eric Gales, and with a number of killer blues albums already under his belt.

• READ MORE: Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden is bullish about the future of pop-punk: “You haven’t seen the last pop-punk stadium band”

And as he explains in a new interview with Classic Rock, he owes a great deal of that success to his hometown.

“There’s not much to do in Clarksdale – it’s either music, sports or illegal stuff,” he says. “I chose music because it was around me 24/7. I lived right next to guys who were in a blues band.”

“I was never shy about my love of blues music,” he goes on. “My classmates would ask questions and I’d explain about blues being the root and all other music being its fruit. Maybe I gave them some understanding of what it was…

“Some people think that the blues is ‘my baby left me’ and long guitar solos, but it’s a whole lot deeper than that. Blues is life experience. Blues is pain and anger. But it’s also good times. All across the world, I find people who appreciate that.”

Kingfish recently revealed his latest signature model by Fender, the Delta Day Telecaster Deluxe. Paying homage to his Delta origins, the guitar is the same as his previous Mississippi Night-finished Telecaster Deluxe which arrived in 2022, but now sports a Daphne Blue finish plus a three-ply white Parchment pickguard.

We were lucky enough to catch up with Kingfish back in September, when he broke down his six most influential blues guitar albums of all time.

Highlighting Curtis Mayfield in particular as a “prophet”, singling out his album Super Fly, the soundtrack to the 1973 movie of the same name, Kingfish said: “Curtis Mayfield has to be here. Super Fly is an important album. I always say that Curtis Mayfield was a prophet. History repeats itself and he really prophesied a lot of what we are seeing today for sure man.”

Check out Voodoo Charm, from Kingfish’s latest album Hard Road, below:

The post “There’s not much to do in Clarksdale – it’s either music, sports or illegal stuff”: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram on his formative years as a guitarist in the Mississippi Delta appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

The last time Good Charlotte visited the UK in 2019, they came in with quite a bang. One solitary UK date at London’s 10,000-capacity Alexandra Palace, bringing out Architects frontman Sam Carter for a performance of Leech. Six years later, after somewhat of a hiatus, that ‘go big or go home’ attitude will define their present and future, says guitarist Benji Madden.

• READ MORE: These are the five greatest hardcore and metal breakdowns according to Drain guitarist Cody Chavez

“We’re making emotional decisions,” he begins. “I would really like to create an environment where we don’t have to take a hiatus. We find a pace [that] people understand. We may not do 100 shows, but if we do 15, you’ll know that we really want to be there. Hopefully everything that we do, going forward, feels limited edition.”

Underlining this mindset is their return to the top of the Slam Dunk Festival bill next May, for what will be their only two dates in all of Europe. This comes after they returned from hiatus with August’s stellar eighth album Motel Du Cap, mixing their signature uber-melodic rock with balladry and unexpected collaborations, including US rap icon Wiz Khalifa.

Image: Jen Rosenstein

Diary Of A CEO

‘Hiatus’ is perhaps the wrong word for Benji and his twin brother Joel (vocals), who have been busy running their management company MDDN, working with artists like Architects, Bad Omens and Poppy. “They’ve influenced us as much as we’ve had any influence on them,” Benji tells Guitar.com. “They’re not running the same race as everybody else, and I think we instinctually gravitate to those people.”

When it came to getting the Good Charlotte train up and running once again, Benji’s added experience – professional and personal – meant the band could operate on terms that simply weren’t available to them in their breakout period, being talked into things by people who “wanted commission” and saying yes to everything. “We’ve got our baby back, and we’re not letting anyone touch it.”

That freedom bleeds into Motel Du Cap, which still packs some punch when it comes to guitar riffs. Take the earworms of lead single Rejects, for example, or the ice-cold swagger to Bodies, which Benji credits to production wizards (and MDDN clients) Jordan Fish, formerly of Bring Me The Horizon, and Zakk Cervini.

“That song is literally if you let Jordan Fish join Good Charlotte for a day!” jokes Benji. “One of my favourite songs in Good Charlotte history is Keep Your Hands Off My Girl, and we wanted to find a vibe that was the next version of that element.” Benji actually shares a Suhr Modern T with Zakk, one that has been plastered all over recent albums from Bring Me The Horizon and All Time Low, as well as Motel Du Cap, he reveals.

The album’s daring forays into genres including EDM and country means, on the whole, Benji’s riffs play a less prominent role than in greatest hits like The Anthem and The River. Taking inspiration from Jimi Hendrix, Prince and Tom Petty, Benji explains that he shies away from finding moments to be a “guitar God”, grounded in the belief that his riffs – however present or minimal – must serve the wider purpose of the song.

“Everyone’s got an ego,” he admits, “but if you are serving the song, that guitar part is going to be memorable. If you are a guitar player, your skills go completely to waste if you’re not working with a fucking great songwriter. Your moment to shine will come in these moments of great songs. Serve the execution of that song, and make it a fucking classic.”

Well said, Benji. To conclude our conversation, we asked him who he thinks are the five most important guitar players in pop-punk, a genre in which Good Charlotte have cemented their place in the history books.

Image: Jen Rosenstein

Joe Strummer, The Clash

“I would probably start with Joe Strummer, bringing punk to the mainstream. I’m not an historian, but there was probably a bunch of music his parents liked, and then he got into some bands that are not mainstream. He did his version of it, and mixed those things, and it was The Clash.”

Eric Melvin, NOFX

“I think about NOFX records, and what they [helped] drive in the world of kids starting bands. They were the quintessential beginning of pop-punk – in the form of what we do – and Blink-182.”

Noodles, The Offspring

“In the 90s, again, I think they had a huge effect on a lot of kids starting bands. People sleep on The Offspring, and what they were in America in the ’90s. Again, taking a bunch of these underground punky influences, and whatever he grew up listening to, and putting it into this radio rock – but it’s still pop punk – pushed the genre ahead.”

Tom DeLonge, Blink-182

“No doubt, he took everyone we just mentioned, but added his own artistry to it, and you can see his development. He brings an artistry, and all those guys do – Travis [Barker, drummer] Mark [Hoppus, bassist], they have this incredible mix of elements that make Blink so relatable for so many people.

“But as a guitarist, I think you can tell he’s a really smart, curious guy. You can tell he’s a really curious guy. He’s a really cerebral person. All the Angels & Airwaves records, but then what he does in Blink, and how it mixes with the other two guys. There’s no doubt he’s one of the most important pop-punk guitar players of all time.”

Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day

“If I have to go number one, it’s Billie Joe from Green Day. They’ve taken pop-punk all the way from clubs to stadiums and now a bunch of pop-punk bands have done – or will do – stadiums. You haven’t seen the last pop-punk stadium band. Green Day will be the [next] Rolling Stones, as they continue on and play stadiums all over the world.

“Again, it goes back to, ‘How can I become a guitar hero? How can I become a guitar player that’s remembered in time?’ It’s all about the songs. Billie Joe has his own feel, and his own journey, too. That would be the poster child to me, because they are a fixture in the culture of what people love and remember and associate with. That makes him a really important pop-punk guitar player.

“And then I would give myself an honourable mention!”

Motel Du Cap is out now. Good Charlotte will headline Slam Dunk Festival on 23rd and 24th May 2026.

The post Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden is bullish about the future of pop-punk: “You haven’t seen the last pop-punk stadium band” appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

Stompbox builds synth-like sounds and atmospheres from tone particles

This last year has been, without doubt, the absolute worst of my life. I lost my mum. I lost three other family members. My wife had several hospital visits and an operation. I suffered a bunch of health stuff. Already in treatment for depression and anxiety, the sheer weight of everything I was trying to deal with meant that if I was not at work, I was at home just laying on the sofa staring at the walls. I was bursting into tears at random moments or memories every day. Things got bad. You know the kind of bad I mean. The kind where there were two nights in particular where I almost never came home. 

I’m seeing an amazing therapist now who is really helping me. I feel like I’ve come through the deepest darkest parts of my depression and grief now. A big part of that has been forcing myself to look for the light. Turning off the phone and letting myself get lost in books. Going for long walks and feeding the local birds (I could write a whole article about the birds in the neighbourhood now, the family of magpies who gather around me and sing for peanuts, the spotted dove pair, the crafty Currawongs, the dishevelled little Magpie Lark who flies in circles around my head like I’m in a Loony Toons cartoon and I’ve just been hit in the head with a mallet).

And one of the other things that’s really helped has been setting up a pedalboard in the living room so I can just play with no fuss whenever I feel like it. 

Earlier this year I got a TONEX Pedal by IK Multimedia. I’d already been using TONEX in my recording setup but the depressive funk I’ve been in meant that my computer stuff was no longer all hooked up and my studio space was basically being used as storage. So I brought my monitors out into the living room, popped them either side of the TV an sound bar, plugged in my pedalboard (it stashes nicely out of sight under the TV cabinet) and now I have this little rig that I can immediately hook into when I need it. I have a Line 6 HX One before the TONEX pedal and an Eventide H9 after it, all connected via MIDI into some Hotone controllers so I can do all sorts of fun clever stuff. I spend hours with a guitar in my lap creating presets and fine-tuning tones, downloading tone models and generally just playing guitar for fun again. I love to pop on YouTube or the Retro channel on Aussie streaming service Binge and just play along, no expectations, no pressure, just let my ear take me where it will. 

It’s so healing. 

The one thing that has been able to quiet my mind on my worst days has been that feeling of picking up the guitar and instantly turning into notes. Becoming music. My conscious mind shuts off and I’m just focused on sound and melody. It’s a kind of meditation that takes you outside of yourself in one way and very deep into your subconscious in another. And through it all, I’m starting to regain the urge to write, to get my recording stuff set up again, to play guitar for people, to maybe even put together a band and get out there.

Playing guitar has been a huge part of my healing, alongside the very hard, very intentional work I’m putting in with my therapist to turn these feelings around, and those long walks listeing to music or podcasts or just the sound of nature, and feeding my bird friends which makes me feel engaged in the natural world around me. It’s all important. I don’t know if I would have found my joy in playing guitar again if it wasn’t for that TONEX Pedal sitting on my board (and now I see there’s a TONEX Plug headphone amp unit which is funny cos just last week I posted on Facebook that I wish IK would release one, and while I often have advance knowledge of products due to my work at a guitar store and in the music media, in this case I had no idea). 

Ultimately inspiration is wherever you find it: a new guitar, a new tuning, a new pickup or amp, finding new material to learn. In my case, just having my favourite guitar sounds within easy reach has been really energising, at a time where I needed something to lift me up. I don’t think I’ll ever be over my depression and I’ll never get over all the loss of the past 12 months and especially losing my mum. But I’m trying really hard to remember the good when I’m dragged down by the bad. And playing guitar is really, really good. 

The post How a guitar pedal helped pull me out of a depression pit appeared first on I Heart Guitar.

After more than five decades of electrifying performances, chart-topping hits, and timeless anthems, the iconic rock band JOURNEY is saying goodbye the only way they know how — with a thunderous, full-throttle Final Frontier Tour spanning cities across North America.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers will be touring an all new stage production across North America with their catalog of global chart-topping hits, including "Don't Stop Believin”, "Any Way You Want It", "Faithfully", "Lights" and more in a celebration of legacy, love and the fans who made it all possible. All dates will be A Special Evening With.

Presented by AEG Presents, Journey’s final tour launches February 28, 2026 at Giant Center in Hershey, PA and will span 60 cities across North America including stops in Austin, Atlantic City, Montreal, Vancouver and more before wrapping up the first leg in Laredo, TX. See all dates below.

JOURNEY features founder Neal Schon (lead guitarist), Jonathan Cain (keyboards, backing vocals), Arnel Pineda (lead vocals) Jason Derlatka (keyboards, vocals), Deen Castronovo (drums, vocals) and Todd Jensen (bass). Neal Schon is a 3x Hall of Fame inductee, having been inducted to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame. Jon Cain is a recipient of two BMI songwriter awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey.

“This tour is our heartfelt thank you to the fans who’ve been with us every step of the way — through every song, every era, every high and low,” said Journey founder Neal Schon. “We’re pulling out all the stops with a brand-new production — the hits, the deep cuts, the energy, the spectacle. It’s a full-circle celebration of the music that’s brought us all together.”

“As its founding member, I carry the Journey torch to this day, wherever I go. The sentiment and spirit of the band will always remain,” Schon added. “While this marks a farewell to one powerful chapter of the Journey we’ve shared, I want everyone to know I’m not done. Music is still burning strong inside me, and there are new creative horizons ahead. This tour is both a thank you and the beginning of what’s next.”

“It’s been an incredible ride,” added Jonathan Cain, “We’ve shared our music with millions and this tour is about gratitude, connection and one last chance to feel that magic together. We wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“I’m honored to be part of this legacy and I’m grateful for having been welcomed with such open arms,” says Arnel Pineda. “Every night on stage has been a dream come true.”

Citi is the official card of the tour and cardmembers will have access to presale tickets in the U.S. beginning Tuesday, November 11 at 10 AM Local time through the Citi Entertainment program (for complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com). The general public on sale is Friday, November 14 at 10 AM Local time.

A limited number of exclusive VIP Packages will be available offering premium reserved tickets, custom merchandise and much more.

Whether you’ve followed them since the vinyl days or just discovered their sound, this is your moment to be part of rock history. Don’t miss the final curtain call.

Tickets and more information can be found at https://journeymusic.com/.

2026 TOUR DATES

Feb 28 - Hershey, PA - GIANT Center

Mar 02 - Pittsburgh, PA - PPG Paints Arena

Mar 04 - Washington, D.C. - Capital One Arena

Mar 05 - Trenton, NJ - CURE Insurance Arena

Mar 07 - Ottawa, ON - Canadian Tire Centre

Mar 09 - Hamilton, ON - TD Coliseum

Mar 11 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre

Mar 12 - Quebec City, QC - Vidéotron Centre

Mar 14 - Hartford, CT - PeoplesBank Arena

Mar 16 - Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena

Mar 17 - Indianapolis, IN - Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Mar 19 - Milwaukee, WI - Fiserv Forum

Mar 21 - Memphis, TN - FedExForum

Mar 22 - Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena

Mar 25 - N. Little Rock, AR - Simmons Bank Arena

Mar 26 - Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center

Mar 28 - New Orleans, LA - Smoothie King Center

Mar 29 - Bossier City, LA - Brookshire Grocery Arena

Mar 31 - Austin, TX - Moody Center

Apr 03 - Oklahoma City, OK - Paycom Center

Apr 04 - Wichita, KS - INTRUST Bank Arena

Apr 06 - Sioux Falls, SD - Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

Apr 08 - Des Moines, IA - CASEY’S CENTER

Apr 09 - Lincoln, NE - Pinnacle Bank Arena

Apr 12 - Salt Lake City, UT - Delta Center

Apr 14 - Boise, ID - ExtraMile Arena

Apr 15 - Spokane, WA - Spokane Arena

Apr 17 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum

Apr 19 - Eugene, OR - MATTHEW KNIGHT ARENA

Apr 21 - Sacramento, CA - Golden 1 Center

Apr 22 - Bakersfield, CA - Dignity Health Arena

Apr 24 - Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center at Fresno State

May 15 - Tampa, FL - Benchmark International Arena

May 16 - Jacksonville, FL - VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena

May 18 - Columbia, SC - Colonial Life Arena

May 20 - Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center

May 21 - Greensboro, NC - First Horizon Coliseum

May 23 - Atlantic City, NJ - Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall

May 27 - State College, PA - Bryce Jordan Center

May 28 - Charlottesville, VA - John Paul Jones Arena

May 30 - Knoxville, TN - Food City Center

May 31 - Savannah, GA - Enmarket Arena

Jun 03 - Hampton, VA - Hampton Coliseum

Jun 04 - Roanoke, VA - Berglund Center Coliseum

Jun 06 - Worcester, MA - DCU Center

Jun 07 - Manchester, NH - SNHU Arena

Jun 10 - Buffalo, NY - KeyBank Center

Jun 11 - Allentown, PA - PPL Center

Jun 13 - Cincinnati, OH - Heritage Bank Center

Jun 14 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena

Jun 17 - Evansville, IN - Ford Center

Jun 18 - Fort Wayne, IN - Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

Jun 20 - Champaign, IL - State Farm Center

Jun 21 - Green Bay, WI - Resch Center

Jun 24 - Moline, IL - Vibrant Arena at the MARK

Jun 25 - Springfield, MO - Great Southern Bank Arena

Jun 27 - Tupelo, MS - Cadence Bank Arena

Jun 28 - Lafayette, LA - CAJUNDOME

Jul 01 - Corpus Christi, TX - Hilliard Center

Jul 02 - Laredo, TX - Sames Auto Arena

Totally Wycked Audio (TWA) has released the Source Code™ next-gen soft-clip overdrive. The TWA Source Code is the ultimate evolution of the iconic Tube Screamer and was designed by Susumu Tamura, the creator of the legendary TS808 circuit.

Drawing upon Tamura’s 50+ years of experience in the field of overdrive design, TWA’s Source Code reimagines the classic TS circuit that so many guitarists love (and some love to hate!) and launches it into the future. Since 2021, Tamura has been carefully analyzing every aspect of his enduring soft-clip circuit to optimize its performance. His newest creation builds upon the strengths of the classic “green box” while offering improvements that enhance the original circuit and expand its capabilities.

In addition to traditional Drive, Tone and Level controls, the US-made Source Code pedal includes a new “Bite” control knob for adjusting the amount of even-order harmonics present in the output signal.

The SC-01 Source Code overdrive features include:

• Next -generation 808-style overdrive designed by Tube Screamer creator Susumu Tamura
• All-new multi-transistor input buffer circuit to preserve original guitar tone accurately
• “Magic IC” OpAmp for increased harmonic content and more amp-like feel
• All-new “Bite” control adjusts amount of even-order harmonics present in the output signal.
• +6 dB boost circuit for increased output level without altering tone
• Drive, Tone & Level controls
• External 9VDC or 9V battery operation
• 18V operation via internal voltage inverter for improved operation & increased headroom
• Top-mounted jacks for easier implementation on pedalboards
• Mechanical True Bypass switching
• Handmade in USA

The TWA Source Code pedal carries a $299 street price. For more information visit www.godlyke.com

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Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) announces its 9th Annual Veterans DayCelebrity Auction, an exciting campaign to raise funds for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans. Thisyear’s event features an incredible lineup of celebrities, musicians, authors, and sports figures led byaward winning journalist, CNN anchor and HFOT National Board Ambassador Jake Tapper, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter and fellow National Board Ambassador Wynonna Judd, and acclaimed actorand filmmaker George Clooney.

“Homes For Our Troops is doing extraordinary work by providing life-changing, adapted homes to severely injured Veterans, helping them reclaim their independence and rebuild their lives,” adds George Clooney. “I’m truly honored to support this amazing cause and to headline this auction as it marks its ninth year.”

Participants can make an impact by bidding on personal Zoom experiences, luxury items, and autographed memorabilia to help Homes For Our Troops continue its critical work of restoring freedom and independence for our nation's most severely injured post-9/11 Veterans.

“For the ninth consecutive year, I’m honored to host the Veterans Day Celebrity Auction for Homes For Our Troops. As a proud National Ambassador, it’s a privilege to help raise vital funds to provide severely injured post-9/11 Veterans with the specially adapted custom homes they need and deeply deserve," says Jake Tapper.

Event Details:

Who: Homes For Our Troops, hosted by Jake Tapper, Wynonna Judd and George Clooney

What: 9th Annual Veterans Day Celebrity Auction to benefit post-9/11 severely injured Veterans

Where: Online at eBay.com/hfot

When: Hosted on eBay, bidding for this special online 10-day event begins on Nov. 11, 2025 at 4pm PST / 7pm EST, and ends on Nov. 21, 2025 at 4pm PST / 7pm EST, at eBay.com/hfot.

This year’s auction features over 100 exclusive items and experiences. A few of the celebrities, comedians, sports teams, authors, and musicians participating include: Ben Stiller, Chris Evans, Dave Matthews Band, Elizabeth Banks, Harlan Coben, Henry Winkler, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Jon Bon Jovi, Kristen Bell, Paul Rudd, Sarah Silverman, Will Ferrell, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Texas Rangers, plus many more!

"I am privileged to serve as a National Ambassador for Homes For Our Troops and to return as a headliner for the Celebrity Auction. This extraordinary mission plays a vital role in restoring freedom and independence to the injured Veterans who have bravely served our nation. It is both an honor and a responsibility for us as Americans to stand behind them and show our unwavering support,” says Wynonna Judd.

"We are proud to mark the ninth annual Veterans Day Celebrity Auction, led by HFOT National Board Ambassador Jake Tapper. This event represents not only an opportunity to raise critical funds, but also to bring heightened awareness to our mission of supporting severely injured post-9/11 Veterans,” says HFOT President/CEO Brigadier General, USA (Ret) Tom Landwermeyer. “We are sincerely grateful to the many celebrities and public figures who lend their voices and influence, helping us shine a national spotlight on the importance of restoring freedom and independence to those who have sacrificed in service to our country."

Wolfgang Van Halen’s childhood was steeped in rock royalty, but these days he’s the one safeguarding the magic. The 34-year-old musician, who recorded Mammoth’s third album, The End, in the legendary 5150 studio, says protecting the space is now a lifelong responsibility.

“I live in my childhood home now, so the studio’s right there,” the young Van Halen tells Classic Rock. “Yeah, I feel very protective over 5150. It’s what I need to watch and protect, for the rest of my life now.”

The studio, immortalised through countless Van Halen records, has become Wolfgang’s own creative haven. Here, he sings and plays every instrument on Mammoth’s latest release, merging brooding 90s grunge influences with metallic heft and melodic pop sensibilities.

• READ MORE: Wolfgang Van Halen thinks it would be “unfair” to call him a “nepo baby”

But the legacy of his father, Eddie Van Halen, occasionally shines through – most vividly on the album’s title track, which kicks off with a 40-second tapping solo reminiscent of Eddie’s iconic moves in Hot For Teacher.

Wolfgang also keeps intimate reminders of his father close: the words “play play,” written in red and blue on his right arm, were transferred from a Christmas card and serve as a permanent life lesson.

“He was being silly, and he wrote it with both markers to almost make it like a 3D effect,” says Wolfgang. “I just use it as kind of a life lesson, so that if I’m playing guitar I can always see that, just to make sure I keep following it.”

Offstage, the pressures of life in a Van Halen household are still felt. While en route to support Metallica on their 2024 M72 World Tour, Wolfgang says he experienced a panic attack on the plane to Mexico City.

“I’ve never in my life been freezing but completely drenched in sweat,” he recalls. “It fucked me up. It felt like it was forever, but it was probably about a 10-minute thing. In hindsight it’s hilarious, but during, very traumatic.”

“I guess I am my toughest critic,” the musician adds. “Since I was 14, growing up under scrutiny, I think that might have a lot to do with it. I’ve been to therapy, I’m medicated, all of that. It’s just about working through it and being comfortable in yourself – not needing approval from others.”

The post “I feel very protective over 5150. It’s what I need to watch and protect, for the rest of my life now”: Wolfgang Van Halen on his father’s legendary studio appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

Musician and YouTuber Rick Beato has interviewed some of the biggest names across music, especially from the world of guitar, and yet despite having the opportunity, he’s never wanted to play any of their instruments himself.

Beato has worked in the music industry since the 1980s, having been a musician himself as well as a producer and educator, to name just a couple of the strings to his bow. His channel, which has over five million subscribers, features interviews with the likes of David Gilmour, Wolfgang Van Halen, Les Claypool, and many more.

• READ MORE: “We’re going on a pedal quest!”: This YouTuber has created a Dungeons & Dragons inspired pedalboard game – and we wanna play…

In an interview with Guitar Player, Beato shares just how magical it is to sit alongside his guitar heroes, not only to pick their brains but to watch them play in person and close up. However, even when some of their most prestigious gear accompanies them, Beato has no desire to get his hands on it himself.

“Never. I try and never touch anyone’s instruments. Even if they do [offer], I’m like, I don’t want [to]. I’ve had people hand me things,” he says. “I had Peter Frampton, the first time I met him, he handed me his black Les Paul and I handed it right back to him. Larry Carlton handed me his [Gibson ES-] 335. I handed it right back to him. ‘I’m not going to play this.’ I’ve had so many people hand me their guitars, and I’m like, ‘No, thank you.’”

According to Beato, it’s because the players impress him the most, not their gear. He’d much rather observe them in all their glory than spend time playing their instruments. As an example, he goes on to talk about one of his recent guests, Neal Schon from Journey.

“I’ve watched Neal play a thousand times but you can’t tell what people are doing unless you’re right next to them,” explains Beato. “Like his right hand? I can’t… He showed me how he holds the pick, and how he picks and everything, and he kind of uses it at an angle, but he is so relaxed.”

You can watch Beato’s interview with Schon below:

Find out more about Rick Beato or view more interviews via his official YouTube channel.

The post “Peter Frampton handed me his black Les Paul and I handed it right back to him”: Why Rick Beato refuses to play the guitars of his interview guests appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

John Scofield is undeniably one of the preeminent forces in contemporary jazz guitar. Along with a few of his peers—see Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Mike Stern—he modernized the sound of our instrument and the genre. But there’s much more to Scofield than just jazz.

To break down the deepest of Scofield’s records and talk about the intricacies of his playing, we called up another great, Adam Levy. There’s a great chance you’ve heard Levy alongside artists such as Tracy Chapman or Norah Jones, and his solo discography is deep! Adam has a host of Scofield know-how, so we get right to it.

Thanks to our Sponsor

Learn More! two-rock.com

AFI’s Jade Puget is another guitarist who’s switched over to the world of amp modelling, as he began to feel constrained with his tube amps.

Puget has previously been known to play through Diamond’s NitroX amp heads – powered by six 12AX7 preamp tubes and four EL34s – which he spoke of in a rig rundown back in 2017. These days, his signal runs through a pair of rack-mounted Line 6 Helix units in a stereo configuration, and a computer running Ableton. He has an RJM Mastermind and Effect Gizmo that are programmed to control all of his pedals, the Helix, and Ableton.

AFI released their 12th album, Silver Bleeds The Black Sun…, back in October, and in a newly updated rig walkthrough, Puget has shared why he’s happy to have made the ‘trade off’ between the pros and cons of real life tube amps with modellers and future-forward tech.

• READ MORE: “Not many people want to watch a band stand in front of their amp line”: Metallica guitar tech thinks ditching real amps helped the band improve spectacle of their live shows

Speaking to Premier Guitar in the new video, he explains, “I played tube amps for the better part of 30 years. I just wanted to expand, try something new, and a lot of what I’ve been doing on the recordings have been more getting into sound design and trying to take my tones elsewhere.

“Tube amps are great. They sound amazing, but you’re kind of constrained to whatever that tube amp sounds like, even if it sounds amazing, that’s the sound. And I wanted to really be able to tap into a ton of different sounds,” he shares.

“I’ve been using Helix’s for a while, I’ve been using the Native plugin for a long time, but I thought, you know… My last rig was a Bob Bradshaw rig that I had made in 2002, and it was falling apart. Like, it was held together by chicken wire and duct tape. So, it was just time for a new rig regardless of where I went. [I was] like, I’m going to build this rig myself, because the Bradshaw was a great rig, but I didn’t build it. So, if I build it, I know how it goes together and if something goes wrong, I know how to fix it.”

Asked if there was much of an adjustment period for getting used to a modeller, Puget replies: “Yeah, there is this kind of low mid, beefy thing that’s very difficult to recreate with models, and I spent a lot of time experimenting.

“IRs are important of course when you’re talking about modelling, getting the right IR and getting the right cab, or getting the right amp emulation. It can sound fizzy, it could be weird, it could be thin, but I think after a lot of experimentation and work I’ve figured out something that sounds good. I feel like you’ll always be missing a little bit of that air, but what you get in return is some things that you can’t get with the tube amp. It’s a little bit of a trade-off.”

You can watch the full rundown below:

AFI will play at Sick New World festival in 2026 – you can find out more via the AFI website. Silver Bleeds The Black Sun… is out now.

The post AFI guitarist ditched tube amps because they made him feel “constrained” sonically – does he have a point? appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.