How to get better at guitar – 10 proven ways to improve your playing fast These small details can separate an amateur-sounding guitarist from a professional one Guitar World · Apr 24, 2025
“A classical guitar for the modern era, with all the specifications expected by the seasoned player”: Harley Benton seizes on the Polyphia-led nylon-string revival with a versatile acoustic-electric for under $300 The new model, which boasts a sleek look, an integrated piezo pickup system, and a “warm and resonant” tonal quality, is the latest addition to Harley Benton's budget-friendly acoustic line Guitar World · Apr 4, 2025
“A classical guitar for the modern era”: Harley Benton unveils the Custom LineNashville Nylon BK, and its latest nylon-string electro-acoustic hybrid is a super-affordable thinline that's designed to welcome electric players Nylon-string electro acoustics have been having a moment ever since Polyphia released Playing God, but at just $270 this might be the most affordable one we've seen yet MusicRadar · Apr 3, 2025
“Is he gonna call Eddie Van Halen a boomer?” Kirk Hammett weighs in on Tim Henson and the boomer bends controversy “It’s only accessible to… a very small category of people,” says the Metallica guitarist of Polyphia’s music Guitar World · Mar 25, 2025
“This gives me the sound I am after in my head”: Spiro – the virtuoso tipped for greatness by Tim Henson and Tosin Abasi – shares the secrets behind his speed picking technique that will help you play faster “Shred’s next great hope” has offered an insight into the concept behind his jaw-dropping right-hand technique Guitar World · Mar 21, 2025
“Not many people will let you go as hard as they let us go. With Cobra Kai, it’s like, ‘Turn the gain all the way up!’” How Cobra Kai’s soundtrack senseis brought black-belt guitarists Tim Henson, Tosin Abasi and Charlie Robbins to their musical dojo As the hit Netflix martial arts show takes the story global, its soundtrack composers are doing likewise. Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson explain why it’s a good time to explore their influences – and bring some virtuoso guitarists along for the ride Guitar World · Mar 7, 2025
Machine Gun Kelly made guitar “cool” again, claims Polyphia’s Tim Henson “MGK got a number-one record with a guitar on the cover, which is really cool!” Metal Hammer · Feb 21, 2025
“I walk in and Hans has me sit down. And he goes, ‘Let’s just get down to business. I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately’”: After his spiritual awakening, Tim Henson is ready for anything – heavy Polyphia, trippy solo records and A-list film collabs One of today’s premier guitar talents opens up on the future of Polyphia and their upcoming signature models, his debut solo record and how Machine Gun Kelly made guitar cool again… Guitar World · Feb 20, 2025
“Alien levels of precision. You can’t believe it until you sit in front of him and you’re like, ‘Whoa’”: We asked Tim Henson and Tosin Abasi who is blowing their minds right now. They both named the same guitarist This progressive virtuoso has already been labeled shred’s next hope – now he’s been tipped for greatness… and a Polyphia guest spot Guitar World · Feb 17, 2025
“We’ve got one song with Serj from System Of A Down and we just finished a second Babymetal collab”: Polyphia are making a “heavy” new album stacked with special guests Expect big riffs and even bigger names on the next Polyphia album Metal Hammer · Feb 7, 2025
“We’re making new guitars that don’t exist for the sole purpose of writing something”: Polyphia's Tim Henson teases new 8-string meisterworks that could require a whole new guitar to play along Never a band to take it easy, their latest output could rock both music and hardware to the next level MusicRadar · Feb 3, 2025
“It’s heavy… Lots of eight-string. We’re playing baritones, too. We’re making new guitars that don’t exist”: Polyphia’s next album is going to be brutal – and some big-name metal artists are already slated for guest appearances Tim Henson let us in on what’s next for the boundary-smashing instrumental band – and it’s all in the name of blowing festival crowds away (and maybe, just maybe, selling more guitars) Guitar World · Feb 3, 2025
“Lefties, thank a rightie today”: John Mayer on why right-handed guitar players were responsible for the eventual creation of the left-handed SE Silver Sky Mayer discusses the making of the left-handed version of his best-selling PRS signature guitar Guitar World · Jan 2, 2025
“This one is a prototype. We’re getting close to the finish line tho!”: Abasi Concepts set introduce an extended-range nylon-string to its lineup and Tosin Abasi got so excited with it he spilled his coffee Tosin Abasi teases nylon-string version of the Larada 7-string and promises it is coming soon. Misha Mansoor wants one. We all do MusicRadar · Dec 12, 2024
Guitar World · Nov 20, 2024 “We’ll say, ‘You’re a master shredder. We want to hit this moment on screen with some type of arpeggio or shred lick’”: Polyphia's Tim Henson revealed as the virtuosic guitarist behind the fast-paced, flamenco-inspired piece in Cobra Kai's final season Henson follows in the footsteps of Charlie Robbins, Myrone, and Andrew Synowiec, who were all featured in the blockbuster show's guitar-driven soundtrack
Guitar World · Sep 2, 2024 Did Tim Henson just tease the arrival of his first Japanese-made Ibanez signature guitars – and a new 8-string? The Polyphia guitarist debuted a new white colorway on both a six– and 8-string Ibanez TOD builds –and now fans are speculating about the prospect of a Prestige line
Guitar World · Aug 27, 2024 “Classical-flamenco percussive playing is not a gimmick – it’s a level-up of the guitar world”: Steve Vai mentored him, Tim Henson lent him his talents, and now he’s invented his own “semi-open” tuning – Marcin is on a mission to redefine acoustic guitar Flamenco-classical sensation Marcin Patrzalek is in the enviable position of releasing his debut album with millions of fans already in awe of his talents. Now he wants to steal some limelight off the “electric guitar big boys” and showcase the future of the acoustic guitar
Guitar World · Aug 13, 2024 “Tim FaceTimed me, saying, ‘I’m doing this cover and there’s a part I can’t get right. I think you would do great with it’”: Polyphia’s Tim Henson called him his favorite new guitar player. But RJ Pasin considers himself a producer more than a guitarist After getting clean, Pasin has committed to a formidable work ethic – now he has millions of followers, he’s guested with Bring Me The Horizon, and he’s getting busy with Tim Henson
Guitar World · Aug 2, 2024 “The way he managed Tim Henson's solo… Speechless!” Marcin brings virtuosic acoustic playing to mainstream TV – and tackles Tim Henson’s guest solo with a mid-song guitar switch – in Late Show performance The percussive guitar extraordinaire wowed with his ambidextrous modern acoustic playing
Guitar World · Aug 1, 2024 “World firsts, chunky rhythms and the lead tone of a generation”: Long-awaited Tim Henson 7-string headlines mega new Ibanez signature guitar drop – including a Paul Gilbert Fireman with a world-first mod The Polyphia guitarist’s first extended-range signature guitar lines up alongside fresh models for Paul Gilbert, Andy Timmons, Pat Metheny and John Scofield
Guitar World · Jul 30, 2024 “The dude is so cracked. He comes up with the most insane sounds you’ve ever heard”: Polyphia’s Tim Henson names his favorite new guitar player Henson is working with the guitarist on upcoming Polyphia and solo records
Guitar World · Jun 27, 2024 “When I play guitar, it sounds like a guitar. Ultraman needed a superhero”: Polyphia’s Tim Henson revealed as the mystery shredder behind Netflix’s epic new blockbuster Henson used two of his Ibanez signatures to lay down the spectacular guitar lines that soundtracked Ultraman: Rising
MusicRadar · Jun 21, 2024 “There’s something about the JCM800 that just feels really good”: Polyphia’s Tim Henson and Scott LePage on why the classic Marshall tube amp has become a mainstay of their backline No, progressive guitar’s boundary pushers are still using digital amp modellers, but as Henson says, “You just can’t beat the warmth of a tube amp”
Metal Hammer · Jun 21, 2024 Watch Babymetal play Metal Galaxy standout Brand New Day live with megastar shredders Polyphia The kawaii metal idols were recently joined by Polyphia’s Tim Henson and Scott LePage at their festival, Fox Fest
Guitar World · Jun 21, 2024 “We were like, ‘What’s the difference between the POD Farm and the Axe-Fx?’ You realize it’s all about whoever is behind it, not the product itself”: Polyphia share their top tips for entering the daunting digital modeler world Having experienced a lot of “user error” while trying to wrap their heads around amp modelers, Tim Henson and Scott LePage offer some sage advice to fellow amp sim-strugglers