Giffin Vikta

Feelin’ Special

May 10, 2014 · Pete Prown

Giffin Vikta Price: $2,295 Contact: www.premierbuildersguild.com Roger Giffin is a guitarmaker to the stars, having built for Eric Clapton, Pete…

Pirate Guitar Effects’ Plank Overdrive and Boost

Walk The Plank

April 24, 2019 · Chip Wilson

Every pro guitarist who has laid eyes on the Pirate Guitar Effects Plank has initially thought they recognized the logo…

Boss’ SD-1-4A Super Overdrive

Black Magic

July 22, 2022 · Pete Prown

Boss’ SD-1 has 40 candles on its cake and the company is celebrating with the SD-1-4A, a new Super Overdrive…

BILLYDUFFY_HOME-MAIN-BIG

Billy Duffy

Weapon: Chosen

January 14, 2016 · Ward Meeker

Billy Duffy has long been a different sort of bloke. As his peers in rock bands of the mid ’80s…

Gibson J-185

The Gibson J-185

November 20, 2015 · George Gruhn

The J-185 is regarded by many players and collectors as the finest-sounding Gibson flat-top made after World War II. The…

Manouche courtesy of La Pompe Attack

March 27, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

(Gypsy) Jazzin’ a James Taylor Tune La Pompe Attack shows us their take on James Taylor’s “Traffic Jam,” from their…

  • Rik Emmett

    Rik Emmett

    Canadian Custom

    Rik Emmett is a master of many guitar styles and other artistic endeavors. As co-lead vocalist/guitarist in the hard-rock trio Triumph from 1975 to ’88, he experienced life as a…

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ARTISTS

Midge Ure

Midge Ure

Many Facets and Musical Stylings

February 28, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

Humanitarian, activist, guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Midge Ure has been a vital performer since the ’70s. Former guitarist/vocalist for Ultravox,…

NANCYWILSON

Nancy Wilson

Sister Act

March 13, 2015 · Will Kelly

After the release of the acclaimed Red Velvet Car in 2010, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson and their band, Heart,…

Mike Zito

Reemerging with Resurrection

May 9, 2022 · Willie G. Moseley

It’s obvious why guitarist Mike Zito’s 2020 album was titled Quarantine Blues, but he’s compelled to clarify the reasoning behind…

Have Guitar Will Travel 088 – Kevin Bernier and De’Wayne

June 8, 2023 · James Patrick Regan

In Ep 88 of “Have Guitar Will Travel,” host James Patrick Regan speaks with guitarist Kevin Bernier of the Suffers,…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Jimmy Bryant

Country-Jazz Virtuoso

September 23, 2019 · Wolf Marshall

When Leo Fender strode into a cowboy bar on the outskirts of Hollywood one day in 1950, he had no…

Alvino Rey’s 1936 Gibson mini guitar Vintage Guitar magazine Home Main Big

Alvino Rey’s “Mini” Gibsons

April 20, 2016 · Lynn Wheelwright

Alvino Rey’s 1936 Gibson mini guitar. From its beginnings, Gibson has built custom orders and unique instruments for specific artists,…

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…

Martin Elegant, a.k.a. “Lula”

December 29, 2014 · George Gruhn

It’s an extraordinarily rare event to find a high-grade, historically significant mid-1800s guitar in a pawn shop, but that is…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Blackstar Limited Edition JJN-20R MkII

Rockin' Blues Power

February 10, 2022 · Charlie Wilkins

If you don’t know about Jared James Nichols, you likely will soon. One of the hottest up-and-coming blues/rock players on…

BluGuitar Amp1

Tiny Tube Terror

July 10, 2019 · Pete Prown

The trend toward the miniaturization of guitar gear shows no signs of slowing. Thanks to modern technology, guitarists are fitting…

Oddfellow Caveman Drive

Oddfellow Caveman Drive

Tone Evolution

February 2, 2016 · Pete Prown

Oddfellow Caveman Drive Price: $174.99 (list) Info: www.oddfellowfx.com. Handmade in California, the Oddfellow Caveman Drive is a boutique pedal whose…

BC Audio Amplifier No. 10 Mk. II

BC Audio Amplifier No. 10 Mk. II

Big-Tone City

March 11, 2016 · Pete Prown

BC Audio Amplifier No. 10 Mk. II Price: $2,495 (list) Contact: www.bcaudio.com Bruce Clement is known for his quality amp…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Peavey Vypyr VIP2

Backline in a Box

May 7, 2014 · Oscar Jordan

Peavey Vypyr VIP2 Price: $199.99 Contact: www.peavey.com For more than 40 years Peavey’s ongoing evolution while building guitars, amps, and…

Jensen Tornado Stealth Speakers

Sheer Magnetism

April 23, 2019 · Yoel Kreisler

Jensen has been in the speaker game for a very long time and its wares are some of the most…

Ray Cummins Tutorial No. 07

Ray Cummins – Guitar Tutorial #7

October 28, 2019 · Doug Yellow Bird

Ray Cummins’ latest exclusive lesson for VG expands on the art of playing “thumbstyle” a la Chet Atkins. Using his…

Soundgarden

May 2, 2017 · Dennis Pernu

If Mudhoney mined the irreverent punk yang of the “grunge” sound that began seeping from the Pacific Northwest in the…

S’Alright (Or Left)

Southpaw Guitars Marks 35 Years

November 30, 2016 · Ward Meeker

Even before they started jamming together on old Gibson acoustics in the mid ’70s, Jimmy Duncan and Bill Townsend, co-founders…

Gibson Johnny Smith

June 29, 2015 · George Gruhn

In 1961, Gibson’s Johnny Smith model not only associated Gibson with one of the most popular guitar stylists of the…

Andy Gill

The Gang’s All Here

February 27, 2018 · Greg Prato

One of the most original-sounding guitarists to emerge from the post-punk/new wave movement of the late ’70s was Gang of…

Valvetech Suplex

A Kinder, Gentler Plexi

July 13, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Used by rock royalty, the 100-watt Marshall Model 1959 Super Lead unleashed hellacious tones. Problem was, it was ridiculously loud…

Have Guitar Will Travel 052 – Cesar Gueikian

June 9, 2021 · Art Department

Gibson’s newly appointed Brand President, Cesar Gueikian, returns to “Have Guitar Will Travel,” with host James Patrick Regan. Cesar is…

Mick Ralphs Home Thumb

Mick Ralphs

Back To Bad Co., And Beyond

February 7, 2014 · Willie G. Moseley

Guitarist Mick Ralphs, whose pulverizing riffs were first heard in the late ’60s in the original Mott the Hoople, has…

Lonnie Mack

Strike Like Lightning

April 24, 2024 · Sean McDevitt

Lonnie Mack hadn’t released an album in eight years when this comeback effort arrived in January of 1985. His first…

Tedeschi Trucks Band

All The Way Live

May 25, 2017 · Oscar Jordan

Live albums can be a remedy for contract disputes or a way to stall for time during a creative dry…

Flamin’ Groovies

Live 1971 San Francisco

June 27, 2017 · Pete Prown

Flamin’ Groovies are best known for the ’76 power-pop gem “Shake Some Action,” but this show – recorded five years…

Beauty and the Bastards

July 6, 2016 · John Heidt

This album is a set of songs beautifully assembled by guitarist Danny Mangold. He recruits various friends, including his former…

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Binky Philips

July 15, 2025 · Ram W. Tuli

Season 03 Episode 01 In Episode 3.2 of “Buy That Guitar,” presented by Vintage Guitar magazine, host Ram Tuli engages…

Brian Tarquin

Shreddin’ for Veterans

December 14, 2023 · Ward Meeker

For guitarist Brian Tarquin, helping military veterans is part of life. The son of a World War II vet, he…

George Cotsirilos – Jazz Sans Cliché

December 14, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Deft work on an L-5 for “The Three Doves” George Cotsirilos grew up listening to Bloomfield, Hendrix, and Clapton, then…

2024 May Issue on Spotify

May 9, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

This month we feature Gary Clark, Jr., The Beatles, Deep Purple, Johnny A, Scott Hebderson, Kinga Glyk, D.K. Harrell, Frank…

Vega De Luxe Electric Plectrum Banjo

April 5, 2017 · George Gruhn

Billed as “the latest orchestral sensation… unparalleled for versatility,” Vega’s electric banjos – developed to compete with one being made…

Epiphone Crestwood

’60s Un-Gibson Solidbody

July 14, 2017 · Eric C. Shoaf

Gibson’s acquisition of Epiphone in 1957 presented a tremendous challenge to guitar designers and marketers at the company. One challenge…

Coppock Guitars

Vintage Rarities from the Pacific Northwest

June 3, 2023 · Peter Blecha

The obscure Coppock brand of electric guitars first surfaced in 1994, with the publication of Electric Guitars & Basses: A…

Shawn Starski

His Own Blues

December 2, 2013 · John Heidt

After spending nearly a decade with harp ace Jason Ricci, guitarist Shawn Starski has stepped out with a self-titled album…

Woody Harris: Fingerstyle a la Fahey, Basho

April 25, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Reemergence With a Rare Guitar Woody Harris used his ’76 John Mello guitar (“It has dimensions of a classical guitar,…

Dusky Electronics Toasted Overdrive

Let It Burn

March 13, 2023 · Bob Cianci

Dusky Electronics’ new Toasted Overdrive is an upgrade of the company’s two-stage MOSFET amp in a box; builder Chris Rossi…

Mark Lettieri’s funky finesse

January 2, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

Virtuoso take on “Greenspace” Stepping out from his band, Snarky Puppy, Mark Lettieri exhibits the finesse, funk, and fury that…

Pop ’N Hiss: The Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet

Feast Your Ears

October 30, 2024 · Bret Adams

The Rolling Stones were back. Well, they’d never really gone anywhere, but most fans thought they’d lost their way with…

Tremcaster Single Ninety Home Feature Image

Tremcaster Single Ninety

Best of Both Worlds

January 7, 2014 · Sean OBryan Smith

Today’s guitar market is one of extreme preferences. For some, the idea of countless options and exotic woods and craftsmanship…

Gretsch’s ’55 Falcon G6136-55

Gretsch’s ’55 Falcon G6136-55

Look at that “Cadillac”

July 19, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Gretsch’s 1955 White Falcon was the pink Cadillac of guitars – quite possibly the most outlandish guitar ever produced. The…

Mojotone ’58 Quiet Coil Strat Pickups

Quiet, Please

March 31, 2017 · Phil Feser

Players love that single-coil sound but hate the noise and hum that generally come with them. For the most part,…