Patrick Lawlor
Founder & Editor-in-Chief · The Guitar Plugged
Professional guitarist with over 20 years of playing experience. Retail gear specialist at Guitar Center and Bass Pro Shops. Content creator with 50,000+ followers across social media. Founder of The Guitar Plugged.
Why I'm qualified to write about guitars
20+ Years Playing
Two decades of hands-on guitar experience across rock, blues, metal, and acoustic styles.
Retail Gear Expertise
Leadership roles at Guitar Center and Bass Pro Shops — thousands of guitars and amps handled, demoed, and sold.
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Created The Guitar Plugged to deliver honest, experience-driven guitar coverage independent of algorithmic content farms.
Content Creator
50,000+ followers across Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Millions of combined video views.
Brand Collaborations
Fender, DistroKid, TrueFire, Card Chords, Enya — partnerships built on real product knowledge.
Specialties
Classic rock, guitar gear, tone analysis, instructional content for lead playing.
ARTICLES BY PATRICK
10 Things Every Gigging Guitarist Needs (And the One Thing They Always Forget)
Every guitarist obsesses over amps and pedals, but smooth gigs come down to preparation. Here are 10 essentials every gigging guitarist needs — plus the one thing almost everyone forgets.
Top 10 Guitar Tones of All Time: The Sounds That Changed Music Forever
From Brian May's orchestra-in-one-guitar to Eddie Van Halen's Brown Sound, these are the ten greatest guitar tones ever captured on tape — and the rigs that made them legendary.
Iconic Solos: Why the "Free Bird" Solo Feels Like Flying
Allen Collins' four-minute Free Bird solo isn't about speed — it's about momentum, repetition, and reckless tone. Here's why it still gives guitarists chills.
History of the Riff: "Surfing with the Alien" – Joe Satriani's Instrumental Masterpiece
How Joe Satriani's 1987 instrumental classic proved that guitar-driven music could go mainstream — and inspired a generation of players in the process.
Joe Perry's Guitar Tone Decoded: The Secret Sauce Behind Aerosmith's Legendary Sound
Inside Joe Perry's iconic tone — the vintage Les Pauls, cranked Marshalls, key pedals, and playing techniques that define Aerosmith's sound.
Guthrie Govan: The Guitarist Other Guitarists Study
Discover why Guthrie Govan is considered one of the greatest living guitarists, from The Aristocrats and Asia to his legendary solo album and signature Charvel.
The Top 25 Guitar Riffs of All Time, Ranked
From Whole Lotta Love and Smoke on the Water to Crazy Train and Enter Sandman — the 25 greatest guitar riffs ever recorded, ranked.
Gibson's Leadership Shakeup: What It Means for the Brand and Its Future
Gibson has announced a major leadership transition. Here's what it means for the iconic guitar brand, its future, and guitar players everywhere.
Joe Bonamassa: The Last Great Blues Guitar Hero?
From opening for B.B. King at age twelve to becoming one of the biggest names in modern blues, Joe Bonamassa has spent his career keeping the blues alive for a new generation of guitar players.
History of the Riff: How "Sunshine of Your Love" Changed Rock Guitar Forever
The story behind Cream's legendary "Sunshine of Your Love" riff — how Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, and Ginger Baker created one of rock's most influential guitar moments.
Jake E. Lee: The Guitar Hero Who Had the Impossible Job of Replacing Randy Rhoads
Jake E. Lee faced one of rock's toughest jobs—replacing Randy Rhoads. Here's how he forged his own legacy with Ozzy Osbourne through unforgettable riffs, iconic solos, and two classic albums.
Why Does My Guitar Go Out of Tune? 11 Causes (And How to Fix Each One)
Discover the 11 most common reasons guitars go out of tune and learn practical fixes to keep your instrument stable and sounding its best.
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