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Top 10 Big 5 Interviews of 2022

This year’s quick-hit interviews revealed that Phil Collen sees a connection between your vibrato and ego, how a short-scale Strat is rocking Neal Schon’s world, Halestorm hates “Instagram guitar” faces, and Steve Vai’s secret weapon.


10. Lzzy Hale & Joe Hottinger

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Plus, which Halestorm guitarist’s custom Explorer is coolest—her baritone or his brand-new Mod Collection buy?

9. Band of Horses' Ben Bridwell

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Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell admonishes us (and himself) on how to “get your shit together” and stop annoying bandmates.

8. Dropkick Murphys' James Lynch

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Dropkick Murphys’ James Lynch on the cleverly hidden 1/4" jack on his go-to guitar. Plus, the sage advice from his dad that formed the foundation of his success.

7. Kirk Fletcher

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Bluesman Kirk Fletcher on his favorite Gibson ES-345 mods, and why we all need to push the soul “button” more.

6. Queensrÿche’s Michael Wilton

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Plus, why the platinum-selling progger has stuck with the same guitar brand for 30+ years.

5. Orianthi

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Plus, how her childhood Hendrix T-shirt figured into her latest signature PRS guitar.

4. Steve Cropper

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Plus, the Booker T. & the MG’s legend shares the toughest part of working with other musicians in the studio.

3. Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher

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Plus, how he minimizes stress during the riff-writing process.

2. Journey's Neal Schon

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Plus! The Journey legend talks about the short-scale Custom Shop Strat currently rocking his world.

1. Steve Vai

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Plus, what the shred shaman looks for in a guitar, and the surprising solo artist whose catalog he always has on hand.

“I do think that PTP circuits should stay that way, and circuits made for PCB sound great and don’t need to be handwired to sound good,” says R2R Electric's Cris Vincent, who is especially adept at creating vintage-flavored fuzz machines.

Do vintage parts make better pedals? Not always.

Treble boosters have been used by legends like Brian May, Tony Iommi, Rory Gallagher, Marc Bolan, Stevie Ray Vaughan—you name it. They have empirically proven their place in the evolution of rock ’n’ roll, and even paved the way for entirely new music genres. Naturally, as a pedal builder, I had to make my own. In fact, I was building treble boosters even before Sehat Effectors was born. Technically speaking, the circuit is simple—just a single transistor and a few components.

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PRS Guitars celebrates 40 years with the Limited Edition 40th Anniversary Custom 24-08 Semi-Hollow.

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Geppetto Guitars introduces The Atomic Punk humbucker pickup set, handcrafted with high wind bridge and low wind neck pickups for superior tone. Featuring AlNiCo magnets and customizable covers, this set, developed for gigging pro Jason Soules, offers versatility and quality craftsmanship.

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With only three controls, this deceptively powerful pedal was designed to offer everything from light overdrive to full on distortion with all the clarity and blissful grinding.

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