PRS SE Alex Lifeson: Paul Reid Smith has introduced the new SE Alex Lifeson acoustic guitar, which is a more affordable version of their Private Stock model. From PRS:

The SE Alex Lifeson is a road-worthy guitar for players in need of a stage and studio-ready instrument. The thinline body provides musicians with a comfortable playing experience and the PRS bracing pattern gives the guitar a resonance and warmth that will catch every ear in the room.

Top 10 Acoustic RUSH Songs: Guitar World has complied a list of the Top 10 Acoustic RUSH Songs. You’ll find classics such as Closer to the Heart, The Trees, and more. You can check out YouTube videos for each of the Top 10!

2015 Tour: The ultimate math-rock band will be celebrating its 40th anniversary tour starting in May and visiting 34 cities throughout North America. If you’ve never seen them, now is your chance! Check out tour dates and more info here.

How to Stabilize Your Tuning: If your guitar just doesn’t sound “right,” even when the tuner says all the strings are in tune, then head over to Premier Guitar to learn some great tips on maintaining better tuning. Learn about setting the intonation, nut adjustments and lubing (yes, it sounds bad), as well as Fender and Gibson-specific tuning issues.  You can also look at our brief overview on using a tempered tuning. It doesn’t matter how good you play; if it’s out of tune, it sounds bad.

The History of Guitar Effects: The Atlantic and Object Lessons have put together an overview of guitar effects following the journey over time from analog to digital and back.  The essay looks at how modifications to amps and stomp boxes has changed the sound of guitars and music.

Before professional studio production enabled granular tweaks in sound, standalone guitar effects emerged from deliberately converting hardware faults—often caused by the limitations of amplifiers—into positive features. By the end of the 1970s, it had become impossible to imagine how R&B, blues, and rock could have existed without these fortuitous mistakes

The 50 Fastest Guitarists: Guitar World has a slideshow featuring video/audio examples from 50 of the fastest guitarists ever.  The list covers the expected metal/rock heavyweights (Steve Vai, Buckethead, Dimebag Darrell) as well as country (Johnny Hiland), flamenco (Paco de Lucia), jazz (Jimmy Bryant) and more. Take a look at the list. Who do you think is missing?

Solo like B.B. King, Clapton, and More: Our discounted Masters of Blues lesson package will teach you how to play like the greats of blues guitar.

New Gear Alert: Artiphon has successfully funded a Kickstarter for a new product called the INSTRUMENT 1. This digital multi-instrument allows you to simulate the sound and feel of a guitar, ukulele, keyboard, violin, upright bass, drums, and more.  It can serve as a traveling instrument for writing and practicing on the go.

If you want to play like a guitar, you can chord and strum in familiar ways. In a piano preset, put it on your lap and the frets become “keys” like a piano (with up to six stacked octaves at your fingertips!). If you’re a drummer or a DJ, transform a whole fret into a pressure-sensing pad like a drum machine. And if you want to play a violin or pedal steel, slide your fingers along the strings to create sweeping fretless melodies.

It looks like you can expect the INSTRUMENT 1 to start shipping in early 2016

Retro Finger-Tapping: While widely popularized by guitarist Eddie Van Halen, it’s been evident for some time that he did not invent the technique (nor did he ever claim such). What is rather amazing, is how far back guitarists have been using this technique, since it didn’t really gain exposure until the 1980s. This video is from 1965, and features Italian guitarist Vittorio Camardese.

12 Bar Blues: Learn how to play a slow blues progression that has a down and dirty feel to it.

The Path to Great Tone: Have you ever tweaked your guitar sound to the point where it sounded absolutely incredible, but when combined with the rest of the band, it just didn’t cut it? Peter Thorn has written a great article in Premier Guitar about how we have to think about our tone in the full context of how it will be applied, both in the studio and on the stage. So before you think you have your next killer tone, think how it will blend with the bass, drums, keyboards, and other instruments.

Iron Maiden: The New Wave of British Heavy Metal rockers have often tapped into movies as the inspiration for their songs. VH1 has complied a list of the 10 Best Iron Maiden Songs with theatrical influences, complete with YouTube videos.

Aluminum Frame Guitars: Looking for a new concept in guitar construction? Relish Guitars, a company out of Switzerland, has created a streamlined design for the 21st Century. The body architecture is very different than traditional models in that it incorporates an aluminum frame. Pickup selection is through a touch sensor, rather than a toggle switch. You’ll be hard pressed to find these at your local guitar shop.  But they were at NAMM this year (video reviews) so maybe distribution will pick up soon.