Johnny Marr’s Gibson SG, which was stolen ten years ago, has been returned.
After a gig in Scala nightclub, Kings Cross, in 2000 the guitar was stolen by a fan.  The ‘fan’ apparently came across the guitar backstage and noticed it was unattended.  On a “spur of the moment decision”, he picked it up and walked out a fire escape.
The guitar, a 1964 SG in cherry red would normally be worth around UK £6,000 but the prosecutor in this case forwarded an estimated value of £30,000 because of the link with …

Clapton may have his Crossroads Festival but Toyota Park in Chicago is a long way from Eric’s native Surrey.
If you’re from the non-Toyota Park side of the pond, you might find the Guitar Nation Festival worth some consideration instead.
Guitar Nation is a two day music festival of performances, demonstrations, seminars and debates and it will take place in London Earl’s Court Olympia on May 8th and 9th, 2010.
The festival’s mission is to empower musicians and to help them make a living from their music as well as to improve their …

Details of Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival for 2010 have been announced.
The day-long festival will take part on Saturday, June 26th, 2010 in Toyota Park, Chicago.
Clapton claims that it’s a selfish thing – gathering so many musicians he admires together to hear them play – but the festival’s proceeds are to be donated to Clapton’s Crossroads Centre.  The centre, located on the island of Antigua provides addiction treatment programmes.
Selfish or not, there’s no doubt that Clapton has managed to gather an astonishingly brilliant selection of musicians to play their own …

Two new Epiphone competitions for all you greedy, competition geeks to enter.
First up, pop over to Epiphone and register to be in with a chance to win one of their new SST hybrid acoustic/electric guitars (left).  A chambered mahogany body and a spruce top with electrics from Shadow.  This is the steel string one.  Nice.
To win the SST, go to Epiphone.

Next up, Epiphone, Krank Amplification and RAZER (you have to do it all in uppercase – it’s the law) have teamed up to present the Big Rig Givaway.
By going the RAZER …

Still no official statement from the Chili Peppers as to Josh Klinghoffer’s role in the band replacing John Frusciante but the band has appeared in public with Klinghoffer on guitar.
At the MusicCares Person Of The Year, the RHCP played a cover of Neil Young’s A Man Needs A Maid. Footage was captured by a fan in the audience.  It’s not great footage but it’s worth a watch for all you Klinghoffer-watchers.

Previously:

Chili Peppers Klinghoffer Confusion
Klinghoffer and Chili Peppers: The Plot Thickens

OK, so we’re stretching things slightly by posting an article with only a (very) tenuous guitar-related link but the Woogie Board is so brilliantly insane that we had to let you know about it.
It’s an electric washboard.  Crazy?  Or crazy like a stoat?
Nah, mainly crazy.  But cool.
Here’s some information from Saint Blues Guitar Workshop about the Woogie Board electric washboard…
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – February 8, 2010 – Saint Blues Guitar Workshop announced today the launch of the Woogie Board, the first production electric washboard in partnership with Cody Dickinson of the …

How do you make a good thing better?
By doubling it.
Rotosound are now offering their best-selling R9 and R10 Rotos nickel-on-steel guitar strings in twin set packaging.  Rotosound are calling these packs, Double Deckers.
By doing this, Rotosound can reduce packaging by around 70% compared to buying two separate packs of strings.  This means savings to you too.  If you buy your strings in a Double Decker pack you’ll get them up to 20% cheaper than two individual packs.
The new Double Decker packs are coded R9-2 and R10-2 and represent Rotosound’s Rotos …

More from the Lick Library.  These guys like to keep busy.
On the 11th of February, 2010, the Lick Library will broadcast a real-time webcast from their own studios. This will feature an interactive session and live performances with Lick Library co-founder Stuart Bull.
Stuart has taught literally tens of thousands of guitarists worldwide with the award winning Lick Library Guitar Workshops. He has shredded with some of Rock and Metals greatest guitarists so he will be able to give you the benefit of his considerable experience.
As well as covering guitar tips …

Another release from the Lick Library.  Five releases if you want to be exact.
Never ones to sit on their guitar-playing hands, the boys and girls at the Lick Library have brought out five guitar tuition DVDs all celebrating the guitar-geekery of Jimmy Page.  And, lets face it, everyone could use a little more Pagey in their lives.
First up are two volumes of Led Zeppelin goodness.
Learn To Play Led Zeppelin Vol. 1 sees Jamie Humphries breadk down, note by note, five all time classic tracks from Zep.  Featured are Black Dog, …

A couple of weeks ago, we took a brief look at some of the new amps launched by Orange at this years NAMM.
Time to take a closer look at one of them.
This is the Orange Rockerverb II.  With it, Orange plans to build on the original Rockerverb reputation and to improve the specification and range available.  Orange tell us that the new Rockerverbs have been upgraded based on feedback received from both endorsers and players.
The new Rockerverb range includes both a 50-watt and 100-watt head and a 50-watt combo (available …