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Top 10 Big 5 Interviews of 2021

This year we uncovered that Billy Gibbons X-rayed his hands, John 5 celebrated his unsung guitar hero, and why Tommy Shaw has beef with the guitar industry. Now see our most memorable chats from 2021.


10. Red Fang's David Sullivan

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The sludge-metal aficionado takes the mic on Teles, "Holy Grails," and how he stays chill in the spotlight.


9. Megadeth’s David Ellefson

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Metal's bass icon on his Jackson's P-pickup mod, Kiss' 'Destroyer,' and the owner of his lonely '80s heart.


8. Blackberry Smoke's Charlie Starr

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The Southern-rock ringleader opens up about his vintage-refin No. 1 and not letting trolls get him down.


7. John 5 on How He Gets Old-School Tones from His Metal-Friendly Tele

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Plus, find out which guitar hero the Rob Zombie sideman “begs and pleads” with you to listen to.


6. Steve Stevens

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Billy Idol’s trusted sideman digs deep on classic prog and even gets a little zen as he takes on our questions.

5. Yngwie Malmsteen

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How does the same answer apply to three of our five questions? Everyone's favorite sweep-picking Swede loves going against the grain—that's how!


4. Billy F. Gibbons

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The ZZ Top legend on what makes his "Pearly Gates" Les Paul so special, why he recently had his hands x-rayed, and the "slithering" slide guitarist whose work still inspires him.

3. John Petrucci

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The Dream Theater legend shares surprising desert-island-album and guitar-hero picks, and remembers finally saying "screw it " to self-consciousness about his "super nerdy" secret weapon.


2. Warren Haynes Reveals His Secret Studio Weapon

Premier Guitar …And it's not his vintage Les Paul. Plus, the Gov't Mule mainstay "cheats" on his desert-island album pick.

1. Styx’s Tommy Shaw on What Irks Him About the Guitar Industry

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Plus, how he cried the day Wes Montgomery died, and the surprise family connection with his prized '54 Tele.


Wampler Pedals releases the Brent Mason signature ReWired pedal.


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The body shape of this 6-string seems surprisingly ergonomic, but that perception changes when you hold its neck!

Originally priced at $25 and tagged for the student market, this guitar built at the Kawai factory sounds surprisingly good, but its neck is a “husky” fit.

Recently, I celebrated a birthday—and let me tell you, after 50 I just feel thankful for a shot at another day. I’m at the point in life where I wake up with injuries, like random bruises or sore joints after a good night of sleep. What the heck! As part of being over 50, I find it necessary to keep up on my vaccinations and health things, and in my recent travels, I was surprised to learn that so many people have a birthday around the same time as me. It started with various phlebotomists, doctors, and nurses. Then it continued with people at work and social media messages. I never really thought about it before, but I did some research and, in fact, more babies are born in September than in any other month! My birthday is October 6, but according to my dear mom, I was two weeks late (as usual).

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Hand-built in the USA, this pedal features original potentiometer values, True Bypass, and three unique modes for versatile distortion options. Commemorative extras included.

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Tone Tweaks Made Easy: Beginner's Guide to Tubes
- YouTube

Want to know how tubes shape your tone? Join PG contributor Tom Butwin as he breaks down preamp vs. power tubes, tone tweaks, and biasing, in this ultimate beginner's guide to tube amps. From Fender cleans to Marshall grit, learn how to unlock the full potential of your amp!

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