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Kurt Cobain’s In Utero Guitars and Gear

Quick Answer: To record Nirvana's third studio album In Utero, Kurt Cobain used a 1970s Univox Hi-Flier (Phase 2), a borrowed Veleno aluminum guitar, and his 1969 Fender Competition Mustang.…

The Beatle Who Saved a Chili Peppers Chorus – “Desecration Smile” Story

Desecration Smile While working on their 2006 double album, Stadium Arcadium, the Red Hot Chili Peppers struggled with one particular song. The verses of "Desecration Smile" were amazing - moody,…

Noel Gallagher’s Gear on Definitely Maybe

Quick Answer: Noel Gallagher recorded Oasis’ debut album, Definitely Maybe, mostly just with his 1992 Epiphone Les Paul Standard and a 1953 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop conversion borrowed from The…

John Frusciante’s Guitars, Amps, and Pedals on By the Way (2002)

Quick Answer: On the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ 2002 By the Way album, John Frusciante relied heavily on his iconic 1962 Fender Stratocaster as his main guitar, with some of…

John Frusciante’s Gear on Stadium Arcadium: Guitars, Amps, Pedals, and Effects Explained

Quick Answer: On the Stadium Arcadium album, John Frusciante used his 1954 Fender Stratocaster and his 1962 Fender Stratocaster as the main guitars. For amplification, he relied on Marshall Major…

What Gear Did Kurt Cobain Use on Nevermind? Guitars, Amps, Effects, and Studio Notes

Quick Answer: To record Nevermind, Kurt Cobain used a mix of cheap and reliable gear - a 1969 Fender Mustang, a 1965 Fender Jaguar, a Mosrite Gospel Mark IV, a…

How Jimi Hendrix Learned Guitar by Ear

Quick Answers: When did Jimi Hendrix start playing guitar? In 1958, when he was about 15 years old. How did Jimi Hendrix learn to play guitar? He taught himself by…

Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock Gear – Guitars, Amps, and Effects Explained

Quick Answer: At Woodstock 1969, Jimi Hendrix played a white 1968 Fender Stratocaster through a stack of 1969 JMP model 1959 Super Lead amps. His effects setup consisted of a…

John Frusciante’s Gear on Californication – Complete Breakdown

Quick Answer: On the Californication album, John Frusciante primarily used a 1954 Fender Stratocaster, paired with a Marshall JTM-45 and a Marshall Super Bass amp. Main effects included the Boss…

How to Get the ‘Wicked Game’ Guitar Tone – Effects, Amp & Gear Guide

Artist: Chris IsaakAlbum: Heart Shaped WorldRelease Year: 1989Guitarist: James Calvin Wilsey Wicked Game by Chris Isaak is one of those instantly recognizable songs because of its haunting, atmospheric guitar tone,…

The Ultimate List of the Greatest 12-String Guitar Songs Ever

The 12-string guitar has sort of a mystique all its own. It’s the secret weapon behind some of the most unforgettable riffs in rock history, from the jangling intro of…

Is Fender making a John Frusciante Signature Stratocaster?

With John Frusciante back in the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the guitar world has been buzzing with one big question: Is Fender finally going to release a John Frusciante signature…

The Night Kurt Cobain Brawled at Trees Dallas and Smashed More Than Guitars

Kurt Cobain’s chaotic night at Trees in Dallas on October 19, 1991, remains one of the most infamous moments in Nirvana’s early career. What started as a typical show took…

Isolated Vocal Tracks – 17 Voices That Marked The Last Century

Isolated vocal tracks, also known as vocal master tracks, offer an intimate listening experience where we can truly feel the emotion and expression in a singer's voice. In this setting,…

Behind the Scenes – Artist Salaries at Woodstock 1969

Woodstock 1969 is one of those events that’s engraved into the cultural consciousness, not just because of how big it was in terms of attendance, but for what it represented.…

Greatest Album Covers of All Time – From 1967 to 2021

Album cover art in the past was a unique experience. It was not only about the music, but the artwork was also part of the journey. The covers were full-sized,…

Decoding the Noise in the Intro to Led Zeppelin’s ‘Immigrant Song’

The opening of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" grabs your attention immediately with a mysterious and powerful build-up that has intrigued fans since the track’s release. As soon as the song…

How The Mamas and The Papas Landed in Hot Water with Censors

In music history, The Mamas and the Papas' debut album, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, stands out not only for its harmonious tracks but also for the…

Brian May speaks out on Guitar Player Rankings, Mentions Kurt Cobain

By now, most of you have probably heard about the Rolling Stones's Top 250 Guitar Players of All Time list. These lists never make any sense - but this time…

Tom Morello’s “Nightmare” Performance – Story of a Mishap at Reading Festival 1993

Tom Morello, the acclaimed guitarist known for his work with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, is revered for his technical prowess and innovative use of effects pedals. But even…

Rare 1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard with Bigsby Listed on Reverb – A Closer Look

When it comes to vintage Les Paul Standards, three years are most coveted: 1958, 1959, and 1960. However, it’s the 1959 models that are often hailed as the "Holy Grails"…

How Good is OpenAI’s DALL-E at Drawing Guitars

Just this morning, I woke up with an invitation to join the DALL·E platform. In case you're not familiar with what this is - it's OpenAI's innovative AI system that…

Jimmy Page on how “Stairway to Heaven” came to be, and Guitars Used

There’s no doubt that Stairway to Heaven remains one of the most iconic songs in rock history—an anthem that resonates with generations of guitarists and music lovers. For many, it…

The Most Expensive Guitars in the World

This is a list of the most expensive guitars ever sold. A couple of notes before we begin - most of the guitars on this list were sold through auction,…

John Frusciante’s Unlimited Love/Dream Canteen Pedalboard (2023 Update)

Ever since the Red Hot Chili Peppers announced John Frusciante’s return to the band, gearheads everywhere have been eager to know what kind of equipment he’ll be using. Fortunately, we…

Eric Clapton’s Unplugged – The Story Behind the Acoustic Reinvention of Layla

There’s no denying that the original recording of Layla, featuring Duane Allman, is one of the most iconic songs in rock and roll history. However, a track already legendary in…

Guitarist Makes a 6-String Guitar Sound Like a 12-String in Wish You Were Here

Ever since I came across Yoni Schlesinger’s cover of Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms, I’ve been a fan and a loyal subscriber. Originally, he created the cover as a YouTube…

The End of the Stairway to Heaven Lawsuit – Led Zeppelin vs. Spirit

The long-running lawsuit claiming that Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven was based on a chord progression from Spirit’s song Taurus has finally reached its conclusion. The lawsuit, filed in 2014…

12 Must-See Rock Music and Guitar Movies for Every Music Lover

Whether you're a guitarist or just looking for some rock-and-roll-inspired films, we’ve put together a list to get you started. While you’ll likely check out other recommendations, we’ve included a…

Josh is Out, John is In – Peppers go Back to the Old Formula

As a surprise to pretty much everyone aside from the band members themselves, Flea recently announced on his Instagram account that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to make…

Meet Thierry Raynaud, a Talented Miniature Guitar Maker from France

We recently had a chance to chat with Thierry Raynaud, whose hobby really caught our attention. Thierry is a miniature guitar maker and someone who is really passionate about what…

The Super Rare Fender “Charley” Lipstick Stratocaster in the Style of SRV

As part of my ongoing effort to encourage readers to point out any mistakes or share their own stories on GroundGuitar, I’m occasionally lucky enough to be contacted by people…

Best Guitarists of the 90s and Their Greatest Live Moments

Creating the ultimate list of anything, especially when it comes to ranking the best guitarists, is always tricky. Everyone has their favorites, and preferences can vary widely. Instead of trying…

AC/DC’s “You Shook Me” Unplugged Acoustic on the Howard Stern Show

AC/DC is one of those rare bands that has always avoided doing any kind of unplugged version of their songs. An AC/DC track always sounds exactly how it’s meant to—blaring…

The Only Two Times Jimi Hendrix Was Filmed Playing Acoustic Guitar

Jimi Hendrix is someone we rarely saw with an acoustic guitar in hand. The late '60s were dominated by electrics, and the few impromptu acoustic performances Jimi gave were mostly…

Best Distortion Pedal, Bang for Your Buck (2019)

Distortion pedals are a tricky subject for a few reasons. First, distortion as an effect is a spectrum, and there's no clear definition of what's the right 'amount' of distortion.…

Jeff Buckley Delivers a Stunning Phone Performance of Dylan’s ‘I Shall Be Released’

YouTube can be a goldmine for hidden gems, where unexpected treasures and amazing talent pop up from both well-known and lesser-known artists. One such gem I recently stumbled upon during…

How to Age/Relic Plastic Guitar Hardware (Pickup Covers, Knobs)

What's worse than brand new white plastic hardware on my Stratocaster? Brand new plastic hardware that's supposed to look old, but doesn't. Yes, I know that relicing and aging guitars…

How to Clean Vinyl Records with Wood Glue (With Images)

Recently I got into the habit of cleaning every single vinyl record that I buy with a simple trick - wood glue. I often by records on the local flea…

Post Malone did a surprisingly good cover of RATM’s “Killing in the Name”

You probably wouldn’t expect Post Malone to be associated with the world of guitars and rock music, but it turns out he has quite a connection. Born in 1995, Post…

John Frusciante’s Slane Castle 2003 Rig – Guitars, Pedals, Amps, and Setup

Quick answer: At Slane Castle in 2003, John Frusciante played most of the concert on his 1962 Fender Stratocaster, though a combination of two Marshall Silver Jubilee amps and a…

Rare Kurt Cobain Guitar Pedal Sparks Debate on History Channel’s ‘Pawn Stars’

It’s surprising how often a piece of gear pops up for sale with the seller claiming it once belonged to a rock star from the past century. And, naturally, the…

Chili Peppers’ Saturday Night Live Performance was an Awkward One

Like many bands suddenly thrust into the spotlight, the Red Hot Chili Peppers faced their fair share of issues, especially after the release of their groundbreaking 1991 album, Blood Sugar…

The Epic Moment Rene Martinez Replaced Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Guitar On Stage

f you’ve ever delved into the world of guitar techs, one name you’ll likely come across is Rene Martinez. Currently touring with one of the industry’s biggest names, John Mayer,…

John Frusciante Breaks Down “Dani California” Step by Step

Dani California is one of the standout singles from the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ 2006 album Stadium Arcadium, which also marked John Frusciante’s final appearance as the band’s lead guitarist.…

This is how SRV’s “Pride and Joy” Sounds on a Cheap Toy Guitar from Walmart

Unusual things can be spotted in Walmart stores late at night across the U.S., but often, they leave you questioning humanity and your own existence on Earth. Maybe Mars, with…

Watch James May Assemble a Stratocaster from the Ground Up

As part of a new BBC Four program, James May (formerly of Top Gear and The Grand Tour) took on the challenge of building an electric guitar from scratch. His…

“Stuff”: A Short Documentary on a Dark Period in John Frusciante’s Life

In 1993, Johnny Depp and Gibby Haynes—the lead singer of the Butthole Surfers—decided to create a short documentary about John Frusciante. Frusciante was a young guitarist who had transitioned from…

Kurt Cobain’s Alleged Guitar Sold on “Final Offer”

In 2012, a guitar allegedly owned by Kurt Cobain appeared on the Discovery Channel show "Final Offer." Since exploring guitars is a key theme of this website, I decided to…