Guitar Weekend - GuitarCheck Special

Six pages of mini-reviews — and every one a British beauty. Dave Burrluck reports on the London Barbican's second annual Guitar Weekend

Cheap Electrics

Guitars from Sakura, Vox, Westone, Hondo...

Farther along with Spirit's Randy California.

Billy Punter comes 'squeaky clean' at London's Rock Stop

With nearly 25 years in the music business, Cliff puts his music making into perspective.

Recording Chris de Burgh

Stephen Tayler tells Richard Buskin all about recording and mixing Chris de Burgh's recent single, 'By My Side'.

Books '84

instruments and playing in print

The whole music industry sliced into Twiglets

"...comes back from Hammersmith."

What we saw at the big fair, including famous gear and famous people.

Fela Kuti And King Sunny Ade

The King and the President of Nigerian music explain the effect Juju and Afro-Pop have had on white Rock music. Report by Michael Shore

This month, a specially extended Track Record looks at the making of two very different albums with one thing in common. The Stones' Dirty Work and Joe Jacksons' Big World were both recorded live

Music Synthesizer

The name might not be memorable - how about the synth?

Dan Goldstein talks to chief Twin Tom Bailey about the virtues of playing pop and the dangers of relying too much on technology. But there’s more to this man than meets the eye.

The superbly produced music of Frankie Goes To Hollywood embodies the whole spirit and character of modern hi-tech recording methods. With the release of their long-awaited second album 'Liverpool', it seemed an opportune moment for Paul Gilby to discover if there is more to the band than Trevor Horn's production techniques.

We interview the legendary improvising guitarist from German rock band Can

Richard Walmsley takes a ride with BSA down the R'n'B route and finds out how a green band avoid the Blues

IN THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN

From indie rock to sampled success - this band have used technology to change their sound and get themselves into the charts. David Bradwell talks technology, samples and football to Beloved people.

News Special

Read all the hot news from the biggest ever show of new instruments and gear

MIDI Controller

While the keyboard player, horn player and guitarist have enjoyed the benefits of the MIDI revolution, the humble bassist has been sadly neglected. Ollie Crooke gets down to (MIDI) basics.

Engineer Dave Meegan recalls how depression helped land him a plum position at Trevor Horn's Sarm West Studios. Chris Allison listened with great interest.

Yamaha TG100 General MIDI Tone Module

A lightweight multi-timbral module, with 28-voice polyphony and 192 sounds, which also acts as a MIDI Interface for your computer — where's the catch? Paul Wiffen looks hard but just can't seem to find it.

Chas De Whalley shivers with Pat Collier in Alaska... Waterloo

Oasis On Stage

Recording Electric Guitar

How to get the best in your studio from an electric guitar.