Simon Bradley
Simon Bradley is a guitar and especially rock guitar expert who worked for Guitarist magazine and has in the past contributed to world-leading music and guitar titles like MusicRadar (obviously), Guitarist, Guitar World and Louder. What he doesn't know about Brian May's playing and, especially, the Red Special, isn't worth knowing.
Latest articles by Simon Bradley
![The unashamedly brash and bright Ferrari Red finish of our example ticks all the right boxes](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/54a7dfe8bd1d790002698e8e3a79f4b9-320-80.jpg)
Jackson 30th Anniversary Soloist
By Simon Bradley last updated
An ultra-limited edition of the Soloist built by one of the men who was there in 1984. But can a modern recreation ever get close to the real thing? Let's see...
![The SL5 combo follows on from Slash's limited edition Marshall AFD100 signature head](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e3216ae3350a4f8ca214272e700f98e1-320-80.jpg)
Marshall SL5
By Simon Bradley last updated
The classic Slash tone crammed into a small combo amp
![TC Electronic's new Ditto pedal is a looper intended for use solely by guitarists](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ef158c26ff434061f9d8c66318c53cae-320-80.jpg)
TC Electronic Ditto Looper
By Simon Bradley last updated
A super-small, ultra-simple single-track looper designed specifically for use by guitarists
![The faux-aged antique brown finish gives the HB36 a serious dollop of inherent vibe](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4d2edc6ded9e111d3ea6308482081008-320-80.jpg)
Washburn HB36 Vintage
By Simon Bradley last updated
A classic semi, complete with faux ageing and a very low price tag. But does it sound any good?
![Will the BP120 put you ahead in the bass race?](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/308e57cea119dcd3d0b545734611add8-320-80.jpg)
Gear4Music BP120 multi FX pedal
By Simon Bradley last updated
A decent and affordable selection of bass effects and beats to play along with.
![The Metal X certainly looks the part.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e6ce84b95460903cfd33090a6958dd5e-320-80.jpg)
Gear4Music Harlem Electric Guitar
By Simon Bradley last updated
The Metal X looks great and sounds great: leave the whammy alone and you'll be away.
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5da9f2c35a638ad8bcf43326ca0bb490-320-80.jpg)
VIDEO: PRS JA-15 & Knaggs Chena Tier 3 demo
By Simon Bradley last updated
An exclusive video demo of just two incumbents of the huge feature within the latest issue of Guitarist magazine that focuses on the humble semi-acoustic
![Now in it's fifth incarnation, the iconic DigiTech Whammy pedal](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e50d4b0fcf99176ce376bd9b63b3ffbd-320-80.jpg)
DigiTech Whammy (5th Generation)
By Simon Bradley last updated
The pitch-bending classic gets updated
![A combination of gnarly fuzz with octaves both above and below the note you're playing](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/157f2880083f1c50cb1c882e44fc1f7a-320-80.jpg)
MXR SF01 Slash Octave Fuzz
By Simon Bradley last updated
Slash gets further down and dirtier...
![Dunlop's SC95 Slash Cry Baby Classic sports a cool relic'd finish.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e984c1ee977dbf6b8f8bb17f2b2f2d65-320-80.jpg)
Dunlop SC95 Slash Cry Baby Classic
By Simon Bradley last updated
Welcome to the wah-wah
![As your channel selection changes on the Carvin VL300 Legacy 3, so does the colour of the case LEDs.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3cc593068af1a655d9c68d3fdbfeb2d9-320-80.jpg)
Carvin VL300 Legacy 3
By Simon Bradley last updated
The latest version of Steve Vai's signature amp head drops down in size but does it retain its myriad features and versatile tones?
![The Vigier Excalibur's 24-fret neck (with zero fret) is highly playable despite the extra girth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/49d4043709730d550d65070f482d15b3-320-80.jpg)
Vigier Excalibur Special 7
By Simon Bradley last updated
A new seven-string from France that mixes quality luthiery with a flamed maple top and a veritable rainbow of finish options
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f58891803312d15a3df22ea947208eb1-320-80.jpg)
VIDEO: Steve Vai on touring with David Lee Roth
By Simon Bradley last updated
Just how wild was life on the road with the Van Halen frontman? Find out...
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f858f23c6c9a2d9a9bceed1cf04821fa-320-80.jpg)
VIDEO: Steve Vai discusses For The Love Of God
By Simon Bradley last updated
In conversation with the virtuoso guitarist
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bb6f4d6b7c571e2ce177e269fe1f8a66-320-80.jpg)
Brian May's Guyton Double-Neck
By Simon Bradley last updated
Suffolk luthier Andrew Guyton adds a neck to Brian May's Red Special, one of the rock world's most iconic guitars
![GJ2's humbuckers are the company's own vintage-voiced Habanero models.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/60ed1afd7f757c4fcef94ba834bdd7e8-320-80.jpg)
GJ2 Arete Four-Star
By Simon Bradley last updated
Grover Jackon returns with a new fully customisable boutique design
![Double humbuckers are standard across GJ2 the range; black hardware is extra.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/61ecf4d5c6e5e3d4dfdb21bd9de0ce52-320-80.jpg)
GJ2 Arete Five-Star
By Simon Bradley last updated
Back in the '70s, Grover Jackson instigated the idea of hot-rodding guitars for the rock fraternity. Now he re-emerges…
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1f92d1fa7d5ad057fc3fff772fda63a0-320-80.jpg)
Guitarist issue 355 - on sale now!
By Simon Bradley last updated
Only in issue 355 of Guitarist… Slash talks new album, guitarists pay tribute to Jim Marshall, plus new interviews with Eric Johnson, Warren Haynes, Walter Trout and Joe Bonamassa!
![The new Idol's appearance is classic Gibson-alike.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/36fe41c996c234ced7afbe0a9daccdb7-320-80.jpg)
Washburn Idol WINPRO
By Simon Bradley last updated
A cornerstone of the Washburn catalogue enjoys a makeover, complete with brand new pickups. Let's take a look at the results
![The Void would be hard-pressed to look any more metal.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/52cc24e416aa6fbd3f18ab754ba9290b-320-80.jpg)
Peavey PXD Void II
By Simon Bradley last updated
This extreme axe aims to show that, as Tenacious D once said, nothing can destroy the metal
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