Gittler Classic Home Feature Image

Gittler Classic

Back to the Future

June 10, 2016 · Zac Childs

The Gittler guitar was invented in the late 1970s by Allan Gittler, whose vision to reduce the guitar to its…

Donner Arena 2000

Earthy Vibes

November 13, 2023 · Pete Prown

Donner has been making a name delivering import gear at absurdly low prices while maintaining solid quality. The Arena 2000…

Pop ’N Hiss: Thin Lizzy’s Jailbreak

Fight Or Fall

July 12, 2023 · Pete Prown

At the dawn of 1976, Thin Lizzy was in trouble. Neither of the quartet’s previous two studio albums, Nightlife and…

Rik Emmett

Triumphant Return

March 29, 2019 · Greg Prato

Triumph was one of the leading arena-rock acts of the late ’70s and early ’80s. Striking gold and platinum with…

Michael Sweet

Frontman, Shredder

December 3, 2013 · Oscar Jordan

The yellow-and-black attack of the Christian-metal band Stryper has returned. The band’s new album, Second Coming, helps mark 30 years…

ZVEX Woolly Mammoth 7

Fuzzy Beast

March 6, 2017 · Michael Dregni

Zachary Vex masterminds some of the most radical and downright fun pedals known to mankind. And as he states in…

  •  VG Q&A: Harmony History

     VG Q&A: Harmony History

    And an Archtop Mystery

    I recently received two guitars as gifts and am trying to learn more about them. The first is a Harmony I believe is from the early ’70s. Its serial number…

    Read more >>

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ARTISTS

Ace Frehley

Back From Space

March 14, 2010 · Lisa Sharken

Ace Frehley’s first solo album was released in 1978, when each member of Kiss simultaneously released solo albums. As it…

The Manakooras

Tiki Twang

June 7, 2023 · Pete Prown

Call it exotica or tiki twang, but the Manakooras play tropical instro that evokes visions of dreamy Pacific islands. Led…

 Isaiah Mitchell

Crowe’s Feat

December 2, 2022 · Pete Prown

When not playing with the Black Crowes, guitarist Isaiah Mitchell works with Earthless, a power trio that just released Night…

Duke Levine

Bonnie’s New Guitar Man

April 27, 2023 · Bob Dragich

After 29 years on the road, Bonnie Raitt guitarist George Marinelli decided to take a break. Stepping into the role…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

United Guitar Corporation

United They Stood…. A Jersey City Tale

January 24, 2022 · Peter Stuart Kohman

The history of the United Guitar Corporation, which unfolded in Jersey City, just over the river from the glitter of…

Martin D-28 and D-45

Definitive Flat-tops

April 4, 2018 · George Gruhn

Martin’s pre-WWII dreadnought guitars set the standard for the modern flat-top, and thus both have been inducted into the VG…

Gibson Style R Harp Guitar Feature Image

Gibson Style R Harp Guitar

February 3, 2015 · George Gruhn

Harp guitars with a standard six-string guitar neck and varying numbers of sub-bass harp-style strings have been made by a…

Fender Jazz Bass

October 10, 2014 · Peter Stuart Kohman

“Stack-knob” is a catch phrase that for decades has perked the ears of collectors; these relatively rare examples of the…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Heritage Guitars’ H-157W

Turnkey Head-Turner

April 16, 2019 · Zac Childs

In 1985, Heritage Guitars took over a certain factory space at 225 Parsons Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan, after the former…

Carr Skylark

The Carr Skylark

Desert-Island Amp

May 2, 2015 · Michael Dregni

The Carr Skylark Price: $2,390 (list) Contact: www.carramps.com If you could own only a single guitar amp – horror of…

Dawner Prince Electronics Pulse

A New Spin

February 10, 2022 · Michael Dregni

There are plenty of takes on the Leslie rotating speaker and its most famous stompbox offshoot, the Shin-ei Uni-Vibe. Dawner…

Providence Anadime Chorus ADC-4

Providence Anadime Chorus ADC-4

Don’t Call It a Comeback

July 31, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

Providence Anadime Chorus ADC-4 Price: $249 (list) Contact: www.providence-ltd.com The chorus pedal holds the distinction of once having been extremely…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Michael Johnny Walker

Michael Johnny Walker

Vintage Attitude Required

July 5, 2016 · Johnny Zapp

The term “vintage” isn’t always literal when it comes to gear, but it certainly can be used to describe attitude.…

Knaggs Chena Old Violin

Righteous Axe

October 11, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

With notable string-bending monsters like Larry Mitchell, Eric Steckel, and Steve Stevens singing the praises of Knaggs Guitars, Peter Wolf…

The Koch Studiotone

No-Sweat Double-Duty

June 10, 2020 · Phil Feser

Koch Amplifier’s 20-watt Studiotone uses an all-tube circuit powered by a matched pair of Ruby EL84 tubes producing 20 watts…

Jeff Hanna

A Half-Century of Dirt

March 11, 2019 · Willie G. Moseley

Equal parts anniversary party, all-star jam, and “you really needed to be there” celebration, a September ’15 performance by the…

Home Feature Image

La Baye 2X4

May 25, 2016 · Michael Wright

1967, the Summer of Love. Everything still seemed possible, and anything went. No more war, racial and gender equality, Fresh…

Return Of The Prodigy

Michael Schenker

September 8, 2025 · Oscar Jordan

Michael Schenker is back with an album covering the music of his early days. My Years With UFO is a…

“Telecaster Bob” Bain

Studio Immortal

June 22, 2018 · Jim Carlton

For seven decades, he flexed his chops on more sessions than any living guitarist, laying down famous licks on Mancini’s…

'62 Les Paul Rarity

’62 Les Paul Rarity

December 21, 2015 · George Gruhn

In its early years, the Gibson Les Paul Custom evolved through several body-style and spec changes and was the earliest…

Bobby Black

Steel Before and After Commander Cody

October 19, 2015 · Rich Kienzle

When he got the invitation, Bobby Black wasn’t sure. The pedal-steel virtuoso, a 20-plus-year veteran of San Francisco’s music scene,…

Thom Douvan

Thom Douvan

Motown and More

July 5, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

Released in April, guitarist Thom Douvan’s third album, All Over Again, is a mix of self-penned instrumentals (with one notable…

Max Cavalera

Roots Revisited

April 15, 2019 · Greg Prato

To the casual fan, heavy metal can get a bit “same sounding” after a while. But then there are those…

Ralph Towner

Fifty Years and Counting

April 29, 2024 · Pete Prown

As a young musician, Ralph Towner wrote “Icarus,” a revolutionary jazz piece that became a crossover hit for the Paul…

Jimmie Vaughan

The Pleasure’s All Mine

January 25, 2022 · Rich Kienzle

Vaughan’s 2010 album, Blues, Ballads and Favorites, honored his blues, R&B, country and rock roots, followed a year later by…

Walter Trout

“Reborn” and Rockin’

May 21, 2019 · Greg Prato

After having his life saved by a liver transplant and releasing Battle Scars, an album that chronicled his health struggles,…

BASSMAN-HOME-MAIN-THUMB

1964 Fender Bassman

February 17, 2016 · Dave Hunter

1964 Fender 6G6-B Bassman Preamp tubes: four 7025 (12AX7 types) Output tubes: two 5881 (a more-rugged 6L6 type), fixed-bias Rectifier:…

Marcus King

Young Blood

June 9, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Young gun Marcus King enlists Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys as producer on this latest project. Young Blood combines…

Tommy Skeoch

Rock and Roll Forever

October 8, 2019 · Johnny Zapp

Tommy Skeoch is revered for delivering guitar tone with equal parts attitude and guttural conviction. Since his departure from Tesla…

Grace Bowers

Truth of Youth

May 28, 2025 · Pete Prown

The word “prodigy” is overused in the music biz, but Grace Bowers is a real-deal young funkster. Just 18 years…

Hall of Fame – Instruments

February 10, 2017 · Vintage Guitar

From 1990 to the present — read about each Readers' Choice Awards Instruments.

Mayfly Goddess Chorus

Come As You Are

February 8, 2024 · Charlie Wilkins

Chorus pedals have been around for decades and for many players are an integral part of their tone. But not…

Dan Auerbach

Black Keys’ Road Map Back to Blues, British Rock

March 6, 2014 · Michael Dregni

Forget about the classic quartet. Forget the power trio. Forget any preconceived shortcomings you may have concerning a rock-and-roll duo.…

Hangin’ with Kid and Lisa “Little Baby” Andersen

September 5, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Smooth, Funky Blues With Soul Kid Andersen worked with Charlie Musselwhite and Elvin Bishop before scoring his current gig with…

Belfast Bluesman Dom Martin

January 2, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Gallagher, Buchanan Inspiration! Dom Martin grew up listening to blues-guitar legends including his Irish countryman Rory Gallagher, and has created…

Mundell Lowe

Jazz All Around

July 3, 2019 · Jim Carlton

Mundell Lowe is arguably the most successful jazz guitarist of his era. He routinely performed with such luminaries as Charlie Parker,…

Fender Player Jaguar

Updated Offset

October 15, 2021 · Rich Maloof

Priced at entry level and built in Mexico, Fender’s Player Series provides affordable access to Fender’s most iconic solidbodies. The…

2025 June Issue on Spotify

June 3, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

This month, we feature The Meters’ George Porter, Tommy Emmanuel, Jedd Hughes, Dudley Taft, Lari Basilio, Ally Venable, The Police,…

Tyler Morris Features a Martin Style 2 1/2-17

October 16, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Tyler Morris Playing a Martin Style 2 1/2-17 Tyler Morris grabbed his 19th-century Martin Style 2 1/2-17 to play a…

Nalle Colt

Keeping Old-School Alive

May 11, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Vintage Trouble has emerged as one of the hardest working bands on the music scene. Laced with an ultra-cool visual…

Tim Sult

Heavy-Duty Metal

November 30, 2016 · Greg Prato

With a new Clutch recording, the listener always knows what lies in store – colossal riffing, valley-deep grooves, and manly-man…