Organised by online magazine All Out Guitar, and Lick Library, Guitar Idol 2009 saw the public and professional judges select the best guitarists from around the world.

The 12 Finalists came from all over the globe including, Brazil, Ecuador, Bosnia, Italy, Chile and were be invited to play live in front of thousands in London and take home fabulous prizes from sponsors including Marshall, PRS, Ernie Ball/MusicMan, Blackstar Amplification, Mayones Guitars, The Guitar Institute and Rock School.

Live judges included Phil Hilborne, Jamie Humphries and Jamiroquai’s Rob Harris, and the overall winner was chosen by public vote on a live webcast sent out all over the world, on a unique online voting system broadcast here.

The winner, Jack Thammerat won a high end PRS guitar, Marshall JVM amplifier and double stack cabinets plus additional sponsors prizes.

We caught up with Mark Bass’s Pete Ward who talked us through the MoMark system and the company’s other new amp, the Little Mark III.

Master Guitar Virtuoso, Steve Vai, bought his Alien Guitar Secrets master class to the 2009 London International Music Show at ExCeL exhibition centre.

This was Vai’s only UK appearance this year and culminated in a special performance guesting with the Phil Hilborne band featuring Nicko McBrain on drums.

The series of two sold out master classes was a unique and once in a lifetime opportunity for the select few people to hear Steve discuss guitar techniques, the music business and a few attendees were able to jam with Steve in this intimate environment.

The day also saw a host of stars play the show’s main stage including Grammy award winning country picking guitarist, Albert Lee, the critically acclaimed band, Swans in Flight featuring bass players Marco Mendoza and TM Stevens and killer guitarist Jan Akkermann.

Throughout the day there were a host of signings from special guests including Black Stone Cherry, Doug Wimbish and Steve Diggle from the Buzzcocks.

Watch MusicRadar’s interview with Steve Vai at LIMS 09 here.

Check out the video below, in which Peavey’s Tom Allen gives us a whistlestop tour of ReVavler Mk III… this time in Pro Tools!

Not-so-unsuspecting, because seats at the workshop are scarce and sold quickly – although this is hardly surprising: lucky ticket holders will be privy to Steve’s expert teachings gleaned from 30-odd years as one of the world’s leading guitarists. Steve will cover everything from the music business to finding your own musical identity, and some fans will even get the chance to jam with the triple-Grammy-winner.

But that’s today. So what was Steve Vai doing yesterday? Well, chatting to MusicRadar, of course. Video camera-in-hand, we were ushered into a private room to film an exclusive interview – on Alien Guitar Secrets; on Naked Tracks; on his upcoming live DVD, Where The Wild Things Are; and on, erm… beef yoghurt (Steve brought it up, not us).

We were also treated to a sneak preview of the new DVD – although, despite our best hidden camera efforts, MusicRadar was unable to film any of it. But it was impressive stuff none the less: expect crazy visuals, dazzling arrangements, virtuoso violinists, a strap-on drum-kit complete with smoke-breathing skull (really) and, naturally, plenty of brilliant guitar playing.

Here’s our interview.

Nova Repeater features the same great sound that made TC Electronic’s Nova Delay the first choice pedal for Paul Gilbert [Joe Satriani], Doug Aldrich [Whitesnake], Nils Lofgren [Bruce Springsteen] and Allen Hinds [Mary J. Blige]. After listening to the guitar-playing community, however, TC Electronic has trimmed out any excess baggage while also including additional features over the Nova Delay, and being a TC product the Nova Repeater comes in a streamlined and easy to use interface.

Nova Repeater is all about simplicity. There are no hidden features or complicated functions, just the world’s best delays – including authentic tape delay reproductions and the dynamic effects introduced on TC Electronic’s legendary 2290 delay – all in an affordable and easy-to-use package.

Nova Repeater is equally at home in front of an amp or within a delay effects loop, and with two inputs it has the option of having rhythmic delays as well as spillover between two different delay presets.

Nova Repeater is the only pedal in its price range to feature a dedicated tap-tempo delay switch, and also includes TC Electronic’s amazing ‘audio tapping’ technology that lets guitarists set the tempo with their playing. With six types of TC-quality delays and an unsurpassed feature set, Nova Repeater is a bargain delay pedal with the heart, character and awesome sound of a boutique classic. In short, Nova Repeater is the essential lean, mean, delay-machine!

BOSS® and Fender® USA have collaborated to create the FRV-1, a stunning recreation of the 1963 Fender Reverb®.

A staple sound of rockabilly, country, blues, surf rock and even grunge rock, this tube-driven reverb sound is now available in an affordable, rugged compact pedal.

The FRV-1 recreates the classic spring-reverb sound of the 1963 Fender Reverb via patented COSM® technology. Three classic controls for Dwell, Tone, and Mix allow players to refine their tone, adding buttery warmth or sparkling twang.

The FRV-1 is expected to be available in late July.

Tickets can be bought from the on-site box office on all four show days. Opening hours 9.30am – 5pm. The ticket prices are from £5 to £25.

Preview Thursday: £20.

MFY Friday: £16 or £5 per student when part of a school group attending with teachers.

Saturday: £16 or £25 (includes ‘Phil Hilborn & guests’ concert at 5.05pm).

Sunday: £16 or £25 (includes ‘Phil Hilborn & guests’ concert at 3.45pm). Children under 5yr FREE.

Seminars, music lessons and main stage live music (excluding ‘Phil Hilborn & guests concert) are all FREE once you have purchased your ticket.

Farida guitars will be taking its full range of guitars – including the Farida D-32, winner of five gold stars in Guitarist, and the Farida FLP-26 Skinny, winner of a Total Guitar Best Buy award – to LIMS.

PLUS, word on the street is that singer-songwriter Sandi Thom will be visiting the Farida stand on Thursday 11 June to collect her new Farida signature model electro-acoustic guitar.

See Farida Guitars’ official site for more details or check them out in person at LIMS (stand #H30).