• 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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Eric Clapton

December 30, 2016 · Dan Forte

With Eric Clapton’s 2014 announcement that he would no longer tour, his tribute album to J.J. Cale the same year,…

Britt Daniel

Spoonful of Sounds

April 14, 2020 · Michael Dregni

If the Beatles were still around, chances are they’d be checking out Spoon. Like the Fab Four, the group revels…

Steve Cropper

Fired Up

March 1, 2022 · Michael Dregni

When you think of guitar heroes, Steve Cropper may not be on top of the list. Not one for spangled…

Don Leady’s Stylish Instro!

February 9, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Roots-rock doyen does “Blue Cumbia 3” LeRoi Brothers co-founder (and Tail Gators head honcho) Don Leady used his real-deal vintage…

 The Guitars of Gary Rossington 

A Legend’s Legacy

October 30, 2025 · Ward Meeker

When the time came for Gary Rossington’s family to decide what to do with his guitars and amps after his…

Alex Lifeson

Rush Keeps Rollin

November 16, 2015 · Elliot Stephen Cohen

“A lot of critics perceived us as being pretentious,” says Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson of his band’s early years. “We…

  • Carr Skylark Special 1×12

    Carr Skylark Special 1×12

    Take Flight

    Arriving a little more than 10 years after the original Skylark, Carr Amplifiers’ new Skylark Special adds versatility and enhanced tonal depths to squeeze a lot more into this diminutive…

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ARTISTS

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest John Majdalani

July 23, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest John Majdalani Season 01 Episode 03 In Episode 3 of “Buy That Guitar,”…

Brian Setzer

Brian Setzer

Rocking Back to the Future

October 27, 2015 · Michael Dregni

Brian Setzer wears several hats – rockabilly, swing, even hard-rocking Christmas music. But through it all, by and large he…

Jussi Jaakonaho

Sunburst Finnish

July 18, 2019 · Pete Prown

There’s a vibrant instro-guitar scene in Finland and among its chief architects is Jussi Jaakonaho. Well known as a producer…

Joel Shapira

Solo Flight

July 18, 2019 · John Heidt

Guitarist Joel Shapira has released a string of fine recordings, but his latest, In Essence, is his first stab at…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Larry Wexer

August 20, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Larry Wexer Season 01 Episode 07 In Episode 7 of “Buy That Guitar,”…

Star Board: Rudy Jaramillo

Star Board: Rudy Jaramillo

April 28, 2016 · Ward Meeker

Rudy Jaramillo is quick to mention that his effects setup is very simple. “I go into my 1) Boss tuner,…

Beat Portraits: Burns Volume 1

Beginnings – The Early 1960s

January 31, 2018 · Peter Stuart Kohman

In early 2009, VG columnist Peter Stuart Kohman turned his focus on Burns, the pioneering British guitar builder. We’ve compiled…

The Duane Allman “Layla” Guitar?

A ’57 Gibson Les Paul Emerges To Tell a Story

March 7, 2018 · Ward Meeker

Taken in trade by a music store in Florida, it was sold to a local recording studio in 1977. Shortly…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Prestige Guitars DC Coupe Custom T Hybrid

“Tele” Twist

April 19, 2024 · Bob Dragich

The first Telecasters were so good that today they’re made almost exactly as they were 70 years ago. Working just…

Lipe Guitars Maestro

Lipe Guitars Maestro

Whole Lotta Mahogany

February 2, 2015 · Zac Childs

Lipe Maestro Price: $4,900 Contact: lipeguitars.com; phone (818) 352-6212 Mike Lipe has a wall of gold records. Why? Not because…

Donner DST-700 Hyper

Value City

February 8, 2024 · Pete Prown

It’s often the case that guitars with roasted necks cost more than gloss poly finishes, but Donner is challenging that…

ESPVIPER-HOME-MAIN-BIG

ESP LTD Viper 256P

Metal Cruncher

January 26, 2013 · Pete Prown

ESP LTD Viper 256P Price: $399 (street) Info: espguitars.com. In the protoplasmic days of heavy metal, Tony Iommi slashed away…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Ruppert Acouswitch and Basswitch IQ DIs

Switching Up

March 27, 2016 · Phil Feser

Ruppert Acouswitch and Basswitch IQ DIs Price: $600 each with gigbag Info: www.rmi.lu. Part DI, part preamp, and part A/B…

Martin OM-18 and 000-28

March 13, 2014 · Bill Bush

What makes these two Martins remarkable is not necessarily their rarity or historical importance, though both would be welcome additions…

Fretprints: Metallica’s Master of Puppets

Genre Giant

July 31, 2025 · Wolf Marshall

In 1984, Kerrang magazine coined the buzzword “thrash,” signaling the arrival of an unprecedented heaviness in rock music – not…

Greg Martin John Sebastian’s ’59 Gibson Les Paul Standard Vintage Guitar magazine Feature Image

John Sebastian’s ’59 Gibson Les Paul Standard

Vintage Guitar magazine Presents Greg Martin's Head Shop

April 30, 2018 · Doug Yellow Bird

This is a regular series of exclusive Vintage Guitar online features where The Kentucky Headhunters’ Greg Martin looks back on…

Kelly Mulhollan

Divine Inspiration

May 15, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Arkansas farmer Ed Stilley was plowing his fields in 1979 when he was struck down by a heart attack; lying…

Frank Zappa

Funky Nothingness

June 19, 2024 · Dan Forte

The stream of archival Zappa releases would be overkill if not for the fact that the quality remains excellent –…

A Master’s Pallet

George Fullerton’s Fender Jazzmaster

A Master's Pallet

March 20, 2015 · George Gruhn

This Jazzmaster is an interesting example of what went on behind the scenes at the Fender factory with the research…

Airline Bojotar

Airline Bojotar

Hybrid G-String Machine

July 6, 2016 · Chip Wilson

There’s something about the Airline Bojotar that makes one ask, “What if Keef had added a high-G banjo string to…

Maestro Agena, Orbit, and Mariner

Wavy Gravy

December 23, 2023 · Pete Prown

Everyone loves modulation and filter pedals – those swishy, soupy sound makers that doll up a guitar’s signal. Maestro is…

Bassics BPA-1

Defined Tone

July 24, 2019 · Pete Prown

Low-end tone is a critical component of a live mix or studio recording – if the bass doesn’t sound good,…

Peerless Retromatic

Peerless Retromatic

Modern Vintage

April 27, 2016 · Pete Prown

Peerless Retromatic Price: $1,699 Info: www.peerlessguitars.eu While many new guitars of the last decade have touted authentic (or semi-authentic) “retro”…

Phil DeGruy

Laughin’ Matters

April 14, 2020 · Jim Carlton

Phil deGruy is the rare jazz artist who’s also a bona fide entertainer – and a funny one, at that.…

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Pete Huttlinger

A Narrative (and album) From the Heart

August 13, 2014 · Willie G. Moseley

To call Pete Huttlinger a survivor is an understatement. The notable Nashville fingerpicker has fought back from a major stroke…

Home Feature Image

25 Most Valuable Amplifiers

May 24, 2015 · Dave Hunter

Text by Dave Hunter Data compiled by Alan Greenwood and Gil Hembree Vintage Guitar is marking 25 years of publication…

Eric Johnson

Getting Up Close With Eric Johnson

November 27, 2013 · Oscar Jordan

Eric Johnson’s latest release, Up Close, is his most lively studio project to date. With a looser vibe and the…

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…

G&L Fallout

Form Follows Function

June 12, 2014 · Phil Feser

G&L Fallout Price: $1,400 (retail) Info: www.glguitars.com. From automobiles to kitchen appliances to, of course, electric guitars, designers have gotten…

Mike McCready

Strat Swap: Fender CS Mark Anniversary of Ten

June 13, 2022 · Ward Meeker

“I smashed a lot of guitars!” says Mike McCready of his nights onstage as Pearl Jam rode the crest of…

Steve Evans’ Guitars & Cars Passion Project

Pretty Pairs

April 12, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Steve Evans was just 12 years old in 1968, when he began to appreciate the sleek bodies of electric guitars…

Pasquale Grasso

One-Man Duo

July 22, 2022 · Pete Prown

In the 1940s, jazz pianist Art Tatum wowed audiences with a virtuoso technique that sounded like two players. Today, Pasquale…

Rickenbacker 481

November 24, 2020 · Michael Wright

It’s hard to imagine an instrument other than guitar that has undergone more innovation through its modern history. Perhaps we…

Carvin Steve Vai Legacy 3 VL300

The Legend Continues

October 26, 2015 · Phil Feser

Carvin Steve Vai Legacy 3 VL300 Price: $899 Info: www.carvin.com. For more than 13 years, Steve Vai has been collaborating…

Taurus Devil Drive and Acid Reflux

No Bull Tone

December 27, 2017 · Phil Feser

Russ Pedersen and his crew at Arkansas-based Taurus Pedals build a wide variety of distortion, overdrive, chorus, fuzz, boost, and…

Vinnie Moore

Double Exposure

October 28, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Neoclassical shredder Vinnie Moore’s latest features vocals for the first time. Double Exposure is a heavy-rock record saturated with funky…

MTD Kingston Rubicon 6-22

MTD Kingston Rubicon 6-22

Crossing the Rubicon

January 8, 2015 · Chip Wilson

MTD Kingston Rubicon 6-22 Price: $999 Info: www.mtdkingston.com Intuitive, player-oriented design, prime materials, and first-class execution distinguished Michael Tobias’s work…

Tom Feldmann

No Need to Sell Your Soul

November 25, 2015 · Michael Dregni

“And the Oscar goes to…” If they gave out Academy Awards for the best guitar instructional film, Tom Feldmann’s latest…

Recording Electric Guitars

The Art of Home Recording

July 8, 2016 · Dave Hunter

The process might seem simple – stick mic in front of amp, press "Record." Truth is, though, that even just…

Epiphone’s ES-339 PRO

Scale-Sized Kicks

July 8, 2015 · Pete Prown

Epiphone’s ES-339 PRO Price: $400 street Info: www.epiphone.com. The Gibson ES-335 quickly revealed its versatility and tone following its introduction…

Dan’s Guitar RX: Finding An Old Friend, Part 2

What Goes Around…

July 26, 2024 · Dan Erlewine

In the September, issue I told the story of the ’58 ES-335 I sold to my friend, Al, for $225…