I’ve been writing about music and music gear, in one form or another, for many decades now. I’ve been playing music—writing, recording, performing, for even longer. And I’ve been reading music magazines—specifically guitar magazines—longest of all.
As a child, music magazines were treasure troves of insider knowledge and practical—or, depending on the artist being interviewed, thoroughly dubious—wisdom. They were to be studied, pored over, dog-eared, and piled in messy, corner-of-the-room stacks that eventually got jammed into messier, stuffed-to-the-point-of-exploding cabinets. With guitar magazines, this fascination, and pack-rat behavior, was amplified in every way. It felt like the secrets to an entire universe were unlocked every month. And not just the basics like how to play, what to buy, and what was new. You learned how to write and arrange music, how to change strings, how to repair necks, how to wire pickups, how to modify amps, how to design a signal path, how to establish your own unique sound. How to create.
This creative spirit is what I feel has always set guitar magazines apart, from back in the days when the industry was crammed full of titles and print was the main engine, to now, when it’s even more crucial to give readers something tangible—to entertain, but also to teach. To explore and inspire. To discuss, commiserate (because let’s face it, this world can often be frustrating and challenging), and build community around our shared obsession.
This mindset led me into journalism and has kept me here all these years. And so it’s with tremendous excitement and pride that I join Premier Guitar as your new Editorial Director. I’ve been reading the title since its inception, and over the years have contributed stories on artists I greatly admire—I’ll point to interviews with Thurston Moore and Jim Campilongo as two recent examples. I’ve known our recently retired Editorial Director Ted Drozdowski since I was a managing editor in my first magazine job out of college (trust me—that’s a long time), and I thank him for this incredible opportunity.
I’ve always loved Premier Guitar for delivering quality content from some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry. And it’s not just about putting the stars of the day in every issue—we tell stories from every corner of our musical universe. This issue exemplifies that approach. We celebrate the unsung heroes who keep our industry humming, with a feature on StewMac and Allparts—companies that have revolutionized the DIY guitar universe, and spotlight the often-overlooked guitar techs whose expertise keeps our biggest names sounding their best, night after night.
We also showcase the standard bearers and icons. We sit down with legends like Vernon Reid, a fellow New Yorker whom I had the privilege of interviewing about his new solo album, Hoodoo Telemetry, which finds him gathering sounds and influences from across space and time. We go deep with ascending talents like Daniel Donato, whom I recently watched deliver some incendiary cosmic country with his band, the aptly named Cosmic Country, ripping truly mind-boggling licks on his DGN Custom Epoch semi-hollow under a perfect late-summer evening sky. We dive into experimental territories with Los Angeles metal band Agriculture and their challenging new record The Spiritual Sound, and visit with Winnipeg’s Living Hour to explore their dreamy, noisy soundscapes.
And on our cover, we have Daron Malakian—a figure who straddles both worlds as one of the oddest and most unlikely mainstream rock stars—examining his creative process with both System of a Down and his own project, Scars on Broadway. His approach to songwriting and guitar playing challenges conventional thinking in the best possible way.
But none of these artists outshine our columnists, who month after month provide some of the most insightful commentary in the guitar universe. Their expertise and passion illuminate everything from technique to tone, from vintage gear to cutting-edge technology. They cover everything from oddities to esoterica to recording to performing, drawing from lifetimes of experience.
And then there’s the gear itself—the star of our show. Whether you’re hunting for your next dream guitar, investigating the latest pedal innovations, digging into amplifier design, exploring software and recording technology, or tracking down that one missing link that’ll finally complete your rig, we’re here to guide you through it all.
There’s also exciting news on the horizon. We’re working on a fresh new look and implementing several behind-the-scenes improvements that will enhance your Premier Guitar experience. Stay tuned—good things are coming.
My goal is simple: to continue Premier Guitar’s tradition of being your most trusted guide through this ever-changing landscape. Whether you’re a weekend warrior, a touring professional, or somewhere in between, we’re here to feed your passion, fuel your creativity—and help you seriously geek out on guitars and gear.
Now let’s make some music together.
