Jonathan Horsley
Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars and guitar culture since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitar World. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halen’s Panama.
Latest articles by Jonathan Horsley
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NAMM 2025: Morley teams up with Pantera’s Rex Brown for signature wah with “intense monstrous sweep”
By Jonathan Horsley published
Based on Brown’s Pro Series II Wah, with gnarly glow-in-the-dark details, this Sweetwater exclusive is available now
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NAMM 2025: PRS unveils “roadworthy workhorse,” a Swamp Ash comeback and new core series electronics
By Jonathan Horsley published
PRS makes an impressive start to its 40th anniversary year with two high-end electrics, hardware upgrades for S2 and select Bolt-on models – and what about those DMO humbuckers?
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Pigtronix unveils Cosmosis I, shrinking its ambient reverb into a compact single-footswitch pedal
By Jonathan Horsley published
One small footprint on your pedalboard, one giant leap for your electric guitar sound
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NAMM 2025: Has Mooer captured the amp profiler market with the feature-packed GS1000?
By Jonathan Horsley published
Mooer Audio harnesses the power of AI and its MNRS profiling tech to take on on Neural DSP, Kemper and IK Multimedia head-on
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NAMM 2025: “Muscle… rich multi-dimensional sound” – IK Multimedia unveils Tonex Cab FRFR speaker
By Jonathan Horsley published
The Tonex Cab is the most compact 1x12 FRFR speaker on the market but it packs a wallop
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NAMM 2025: Boss unveils Waza Tube Amp Expander Core, a home recording powerhouse for tube amp owners
By Jonathan Horsley published
The feature-packed reactive load box is reimagined with a smaller footprint that's ideal for the home recording enthusiast, and guitarist with a tube amp and neighbours
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NAMM 2025: Boss launches V-800 V-Guitar Processor and promises to “completely transform” your sound
By Jonathan Horsley published
The V-800 can turn your electric guitar into a sonic chameleon, nailing the tones of another electric, turning it into an acoustic, a sitar or a huge range of sounds – and it works with bass guitars too
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Shergold Masquerader Standard SM11 review
By Jonathan Horsley published
Another home run from Patrick James Eggle? This Masquerader could be the real deal for those seeking an affordable doublecut with a difference
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NAMM 2025: Verso unveils Sine, a totally unique electric guitar with a freely movable pickup system
By Jonathan Horsley published
Just when you think you have seen it all, along comes the Verso Sine, with its moveable pickups and Sine pad that allows you to mechanically control the volume for swells and tremolo effects
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Walrus Audio expands utility range with the Canvas Rehearsal, a practice tool for your pedalboard
By Jonathan Horsley published
Plug your guitar in, send audio to the Canvas Rehearsal via Bluetooth or cable, and there are a number of customisable metronome features on hand to make you a better player
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A backline icon returns as Mesa/Boogie officially releases twin-channel 90s Dual Rectifier
By Jonathan Horsley published
The sound of '90s hard-rock, metal and grunge lives again
![Orianthi [left] wears a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses as she takes a solo on her signature PRS electric guitar; Michael Jackson wears mirrored shades and a gold bullet-belt as he performs at the half-time Super Bowl show in 1993.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tza9Zx5GwG6h38uSoxjLda-320-80.jpg)
Orianthi on what she learned from Michael Jackson and the King of Pop's ear for guitar tone
By Jonathan Horsley published
The pop icon died before Orianthi got the chance to play live with him but the intensity of the rehearsals left a lasting impression on the Aussie guitar phenom
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“Inspired by the popular Iron Label series”: The new Ibanez Blackout acoustics are… kinda metal
By Jonathan Horsley published
Three fresh cutaway electro-acoustics from Ibanez for those who enjoy throwing the horns while playing cowboy chords around the campfire – and there is even a 7-string
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“One of the most unique pieces to come through our showroom”: Mike Bloomfield’s '66 Tele for sale
By Jonathan Horsley published
Restored to its original specs, steeped in mojo, played by one of the all-time greats, this Tele could be yours for a cool $325,000. And judging by the demo videos, it sounds as good as it ever did.
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Mooer unveils the Hornet 15W Li, a digital combo with rechargeable battery and heaps of amps and FX
By Jonathan Horsley published
The latest edition of the Hornet has a rechargeable lithium battery for on-the-go practice, presets, individual tap tempo buttons for modulation and delay types, Bluetooth, and it weighs just just 2.9kg
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Ibanez unveils AZ series S-styles, offering flame-maple finishes and dyna-MIX switching for $549
By Jonathan Horsley published
These grown-up hot-rodded S-styles are supremely versatile and are decked out in premium features such as jumbo stainless steel frets and roasted maple necks
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“There is still no power but we have survived”: Joe Bonamassa returns to Nerdville West, after LA wildfires threaten home and vintage gear collection
By Jonathan Horsley published
Bonamassa says fires raged in Studio City and Runyon Canyon and could "easily" have taken Nerdville as a red flag warning of critical fire conditions remains in place across LA and southern California
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Mesa/Boogie announces imminent return of the two-channel Dual Rectifier
By Jonathan Horsley published
Mesa/Boogie says the classic high-gain head will be reissued on 14 January
![Jeff Baxter sits in profile as he plays an Olympic White Stratocaster [left]; Jack White plays his signature Telecaster live onstage](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L6bSPXrJDorkqvSMQXgSAo-320-80.jpg)
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter to perform at NAMM 2025 and present TEC Innovation Award to Jack White
By Jonathan Horsley published
The legendary Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers guitarist will host NAMM’s 40th annual TEC Awards and appear at seminars on song structure, music marketing, and sound therapy
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One of Status Quo legend Rick Parfitt’s stage-played Fender Telecasters is up for sale
By Jonathan Horsley published
It might not be the modded circa 1960 model that was the late Quo man's main stage guitar but this white Tele is worth rocking all over the world
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Steve Vai on the King Crimson riff that had him beat – and how a tip from Fripp helped him nail it
By Jonathan Horsley published
Celebrating the ‘80s material of prog trailblazers King Crimson, the BEAT Tour gave Vai a welcome fix of “high-information music” but some of Fripp’s material pushed him to the limit
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Keeley Electronics and Sweetwater team up for exclusive $99 fuzz, overdrive and reverb pedal series
By Jonathan Horsley published
Behold, a trio of US-made stompboxes from a top-tier builder at a very budget-friendly price
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Mesa/Boogie founder Randall Smith on how his high-gain amps were influenced by hotrodded muscle cars
By Jonathan Horsley published
In his latest YouTube video, Smith talks tubes, the similarities between automobile and amp hotrodding culture, and admits that not everybody understood his quest for more distortion
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