• Super PickupGiveaway 2025

    Super PickupGiveaway 2025

    Win Big! 11 Sets! 11 Winners! Win a set of pickups from one of these sponsors: Deadline is March 15, 2026. Complete the survey below to enter giveaway. One entry…

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Mesa/Boogie Mark Five: 25

Mesa/Boogie Mark Five: 25

Stage, Studio, Etc.

March 30, 2016 · Julian Burtell

Mesa/Boogie Mark Five: 25 Price: $1,299 (list) Contact: www.mesaboogie.com Housed in teensy cabinets, so-called “lunchbox” amps are all the rage,…

Forrest Lee, Jr. and Friends

August 26, 2014 · Michael Dregni

Forrest Lee, Sr. was a country music legend most folks have likely never heard tell of. So why should they…

Kinga Glyk

Real-Life Bass

January 14, 2025 · Pete Prown

Like a tightrope walker, bassist Kinga Glyk finds a delicate balance between funk-fusion virtuosity and wicked, booty-moving grooves. Deploying her…

Wampler Effects Pedals

Filling the Gaps

August 10, 2016 · Brett Jochim

Brian Wampler, who developed a reputation first for modding effects pedals, then for building originals including a custom overdrive for…

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Ibanez PN1-NT

Parlor for Pennies

June 9, 2016 · Pete Prown

In recent years, the parlor guitar has exploded into popularity, reviving a 19th century instrument that was, as its name…

John Notto double-up

November 17, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Dirty Honey guitarist shares riffs from “Can’t Find the Brakes” John Notto used his road-dog Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul…

  • Rickenbacker’s Electric 12-Strings

    Rickenbacker’s Electric 12-Strings

    Double-bound for Glory

    George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacher founded Electro String in 1931 to manufacture what everyone would soon call “Rickenbacker” guitars. Success came early and their lap steels set standards of quality,…

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ARTISTS

Jack Bruce

Shadows and (Erstwhile) Short-Scale Basses

April 14, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

Veteran bassist Jack Bruce is back in action with a new album and tour. Best known for his membership in…

Jake Shimabukuro

Ukulele Hero

August 29, 2022 · Dan Forte

It’s one of the most unlikely success stories in music. Armed with a four-string tenor ukulele, a young Hawaiian videos…

Classics: February 2024

Sean Slade’s 1964 SG Junior

October 25, 2024 · Dennis Pernu

They might not seem to have a ton in common aside from first names. J Mascis, Dinosaur Jr.’s co-founder and…

How Ron Wood’s New Barbarians Saved the Stones

Ear-to-Ear Violence

January 5, 2018 · Michael Dregni

Today, the Rolling Stones continue to perform live, more than 50 years since their first gig. But few realize how…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Rickenbacker 345

January 2, 2024 · George Gruhn

Rickenbacker guitars have a look, feel, and sound that is remarkably distinct from those made by any other manufacturers. In…

Gibson EB-4L

Right Ideas, Wrong Era

April 15, 2010 · Willie G. Moseley

The antennae of many guitar collectors/enthusiasts pop up when they encounter a Gibson-made instrument bearing a six-digit serial number with…

The (Way) Back Beat: A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody

Fretted cheesecake advertising through the years, Part Two

April 5, 2024 · Peter Stuart Kohman

Last month, we began looking at some of the more entertaining fretted instrument advertising of the 20th century, in what…

Rosewood Dobro

Rosewood Dobro

January 18, 2016 · George Gruhn

In the 1930s, the original Dobro company went through a series of ownership changes and licensing agreements. It did not…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Gibson L-5S Ron Wood Signature

Serious Lumber

January 25, 2017 · Bob Dragich

In 1972, Gibson introduced the L-5S as a smaller, thinner solidbody version of its L-5 hollowbody. Most mistook it for…

Squier Paranormal Custom Nashville Stratocaster

No Choice Required

November 26, 2024 · Bob Dragich

Can’t decide between a Tele and a Strat? The new Squier Paranormal Custom Nashville Stratocaster may ease your worried mind.…

Sebago Sound DT50

Texas Tone – And More

March 1, 2014 · Max Prown

Sebago Sound DT50 Price: $1,999 Contact: sebagosound.com The DT50 is the 50-watt version of Sebago Sound’s acclaime d Double Trouble…

Carr Amplifiers’ Mercury V

Carolina Combo

April 16, 2019 · Ray Wuolo

Back in June 2003, Carr’s original eight-watt Mercury combo earned high praise in VG for its top-of-the-line components, attention to…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

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Buzz Feiten

Unsung Hero

May 1, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

An unsung hero, accomplished inventor, and builder possessing priceless musical knowledge, Buzz Feiten’s list of session credits could fill a…

John McLaughlin

The Montreux Years

January 17, 2023 · Pete Prown

This retrospective from the Swiss jazz festival spans 28 years, covering miles of jazz-rock territory. In 1984, McLaughlin formed a…

John Monteleone

The Chisels Are Calling

December 25, 2023 · Rich Kienzle

Captured in this documentary, John Monteleone’s hand-crafted fretted instruments draw inspiration from the past. His chief inspirations are legendary guitar…

Eastwood Sidejack DLX 20th LTD

Horn Section

August 4, 2024 · Pete Prown

If you love twangy guitars from the ’60s, you know about Mosrites – the immortal slabs of The Ventures and…

Danelectro ’84

Love Struck

May 30, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

The Danelectro name first surfaced on amplifiers in the late 1940s, then later on guitars made with Masonite bodies and…

Fire Custom Shop Sweet Chilli and Carpe Diem Overdrives

Brazilian Heat

April 19, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

There are some nifty analog effects pedals coming out of São Paulo, Brazil, nowadays, and among them, Fire Custom Shop…

George Lynch

George Lynch

Home Run with KXM

March 25, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Creative chemistry is an under-discussed topic when it comes to a successful collaborative effort. With the right people, sparks can…

Roland Micro Cube

Mighty Mouse

November 4, 2013 · Pete Prown

Roland Micro Cube Price: $130 (street) Info: www.rolandus.com. Every once in a while you have to pinch yourself and thank…

J.D. Simo

Tele-Free Trio

January 8, 2014 · Zac Childs

J.D. Simo moved to Nashville seven years ago and quickly landed in the coveted hot spot as the lead guitarist…

Influenced by Benson, Montgomery, and Christian: Jorge Garcia

August 15, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Flavorful Jazz on “Dedicated to You” Jazz guitarist Jorge Garcia brings many flavors to his musical table. Here, his ’77…

Trevor Rabin

Return with Rio

August 8, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

The first vocal album in 34 years from the former Yes guitarist (there was a killer instrumental CD in 2012…

In Memoriam: Rusty Russell

March 20, 2024 · Ward Meeker

Rusty Russell, a Nashville-based guitarist, songwriter, photographer, and writer who accompanied notable country and jazz musicians in studios and on…

Brian Tarquin

Music, Books, and Bookings

July 2, 2019 · John Heidt

Brian Tarquin is thriving in “steady as ya’ go” mode. Since his VG  interview in February ’15, he has released…

The String Sling

Trapper Keeper

January 9, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Almost all of us have a guitar – maybe even two – we like a bit more than “the other…

2016 Readers’ Choice Awards

February 16, 1990 · Vintage Guitar

Each year, VG asks readers to select Readers’ Choice winners for Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, and…

Bob Dylan

Judas!

December 30, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Breaking out of the box and kicking down barriers seems the first item on the daily to-do list for many…

Gus G’s rippin’ “Demon Stomp”

January 21, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Rock God on his signature Jackson Star Rock god Gus G – Ozzy vet and Firewind shredder – rips through…

Pink Floyd

Primal Floyd

January 26, 2017 · Pete Prown

Priced at more than $500, this 27-disc set is a Floyd-freak’s dream come true. It’s a monster collection of early…

1978 Dean Z

May 25, 2005 · Michael Wright

The mid 1970s were a turbulent time in guitar history. The American guitar establishment – at least Gibson and Fender…

Martin GPCE Inception Maple

Bold Beginning

December 23, 2024 · Michael Shirek

Almost 100 years ago, Martin reinvented the flat-top box when it began delivering X-braced, square-shouldered, and oversized dreadnoughts. Now, the…

ZZ Top

The First 20 Years, Un-Remixed

March 3, 2014 · Dan Forte

Usually, the hook with boxed reissues is that they include previously unreleased songs, alternate takes, live material, and maybe some…

Fender Blender

The Fender Blender

Extreme Fuzz

July 7, 2016 · Michael Dregni

When Robin Trower segued from his wah-driven blues-rock riffing into the slowed, deep-blues groove of the second half of his…

Dave Gonzalez

Western Soul Brother

April 27, 2020 · Wally Marx Jr.

For a guitarist with fans and admirers around the world, Dave Gonzalez is one humble man. “I’m still trying to…

Fabrizio Grossi leads band through exclusive take on “Right Down Below.”

January 14, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Ready for the Soul Garage Experience? Fabrizio Grossi gathered the Soul Garage Experience for this VG-exclusive take on “Right Down…

Dan Wilson’s celebration of jazz legends

September 28, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Homage with Superb Musicality On his latest album, “Things Eternal,” jazz wizard Dan Wilson fuses post-bop, spirituality, and the songs…

Allan Holdsworth

1946-2017, Lion of Legato

April 15, 2019 · Pete Prown

Music fans were relaxing on Easter Sunday when word of Allan Holdsworth’s death began filtering about, bringing shock to the…

Have Guitar Will Travel – 032 Featuring Brad Gillis

July 27, 2020 · James Patrick Regan

For Episode 32 of “Have Guitar Will Travel,” host James Patrick Regan sits with Brad Gillis to discuss his storied…

MXR Slash Octave Fuzz SF01 and Slash Cry Baby Classic SC-95 Home Big

MXR Slash Octave Fuzz SF01 and Slash Cry Baby Classic SC-95

Slash 'N Burn

January 27, 2014 · Erik Elkins

MXR SF01 Slash Octae Fuzz Price: $129 (street) Contact: jimdunlop.com MXR’s new Slash Octave Fuzz pedal employs three fuzz “flavors”…

Toy Caldwell Jim Summaria, http://www.jimsummariaphoto.com

Toy Caldwell

Marine and Marshall Tucker Guitarist Toy Caldwell

November 10, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

One of the earliest VG interviews Willie G. Moseley did with a veteran “Southern rock” musician was a conversation with…