Features

• State The Obvious ( 6 Articles )
  Hi, my name's Alex Curran and I'm writing exclusively for GuitarTool.co.uk, I will be trying to give a different view on the varying aspects of the world of Rock with my regular(ish) column State the Obvious.

  Feel free to get in touch to let me know what you think of my articles and about anything you would like to see in future.

• Chris Juergensen - Effects Columnist ( 5 Articles )
  Effects have always been an important aspect of the guitarist's sound. In order to use them to their full potential, it is important to understand how they work, how the order in which they are placed in the signal chain affects tone and which ones work well with the style and genre you associate yourself with. Each instalment in this column will examine the basic categories of effects in the same order that they are usually placed in the signal chain. Each column will focus on some of the history makers plus review the best new units on the market.
• DIY Dunce ( 2 Articles )
  If, like me, you've always fancied being one of those 'Can do' guitarists that you see on forums and in rehearsal rooms, telling everybody that they 'dropped in a Bare Knuckle' or 'chucked on a set of Gotohs', but basically haven't got a clue where to start.
  
  If your face adopts a fixed grin when you are told that you 'just need to shim the neck' or that you should 'cut a new nut', then this might well be the place to find a little inspiration.
  
  DIY Dunce is my attempt to show that however inept you are at anything practical, however unlikely it is that it might work out in the end, literally anybody (and I mean anybody) can build, enhance and maintain their guitar.
  
  But, this isn't one of those columns where some expert talks you through the steps and you get lost at step one and give up.
  
  No, I'll come out and say it - I am completely useless at anything practical.
  I can't paint,
  I can't solder,
  I definitely can't begin to think about doing any kind of woodwork,
  and in fact it is more than fair to say that I am the last person in the world who is qualified to write this column.
  
  But saying all that, I have a deep wish to build my own guitar, to make some pedals and generally do something interesting and learn a bit along the way.
  
  Why should you read it?
  Well, I'm promising to make all of my idiot mistakes in public, and you never know, if I actually manage to do some of these things, it will quite literally mean that anybody can. It will probably amuse you too, even if it is in a roll-you-eyes kind of way. It could be fun, and I hope you pop in occasionally and see what I've been upto.
• Girls Rock! ( 1 Article )
  Hi all, my name's Clare McEwen and I'll be writing a new column for you over the coming weeks. I'll start with some articles on my favourite ladies that rock in the guitar world, beginning with PJ Harvey. I should say that although the column is named 'Girls Rock', it's not just for girls... think of it as the guitar world from a female perspective.

  Anyway, hope you enjoy my column and feel free to get in touch or comment about my articles and anything you'd like to see in them in the future.