The Burke Guitar

The Axe that Time Forgot

April 13, 2021 · Ward Meeker

For more than 60 years, aluminum has been used as a component in guitar construction. Exactly whose idea it was…

Alex Machacek

Stripped Down

February 16, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

When you get the thumbs-up from icons like John McLaughlin and Chick Corea, it’s got to feel good. But, fusion…

Arlen Roth

Flourishing After Adversity

December 21, 2020 · Dan Forte

By any measure, Arlen Roth’s recent spate of creativity would be impressive. It began with his solo acoustic CD, Drive…

Bukka White – Jitterbug Swing, Vintage Guitar magazine presents Tom Feldmann

Bukka White – Jitterbug Swing

May 6, 2016 · Tom Feldmann

Tom Feldmann teaches the riff from Bukka White’s classic Jitterbug Swing. www.tomfeldmann.com Guitar info: Flammang Guitars Model P30-S, Red spruce…

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…

Eric Clapton’s “Blackie”

Eric Clapton’s “Blackie”

March 13, 2015 · Willie G. Moseley

This may well be the most desirable Fender Stratocaster on the face of the planet. And it happens to be…

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ARTISTS

Vahdah Olcott-Bickford and the Martin Style 00-44G

Special Signature

March 10, 2023 · Walter Carter

Of the nearly 200 artists who have been granted a “signature” Martin guitar, only one was given their own style…

Oz Noy

Coming to America

April 27, 2020 · John Heidt

When Oz Noy mov-ed to New York City at age 24 in 1996, he was an established guitarist in his…

John Pizzarelli Swings On A Vintage D’angelico

September 4, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Jazz Ace on an Heirloom Guitar For this exclusive rendition of “Just In Time,” swing ace John Pizzarelli grabbed the…

J.D. Simo

Psychedelia and Satan

December 2, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

Psychedelic bluesman J.D. Simo deploys impressive wah skill, blistering fuzz tones, and hypnotic grooves that will expand your consciousness. His…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Magnatone X-5 Zephyr

Last Gasp

June 14, 2023 · Michael Wright

Ever since Lonnie Mack unleashed The Wham of That Memphis Man and Buddy Holly sang “Peggy Sue,” Magnatone amplifiers have…

Tom Petty and Mike Campbell

Guitars at Heart for 30 Years

July 14, 2020 · Ward Meeker

Remember the first time you strummed a D chord or fumbled your way oh-so-slowly through “Walk Don’t Run”? Chances are…

Dallas Rangemaster and Scala Combos

Texas Two Step

May 9, 2023 · Dave Hunter

Fascinating also-rans, C-list classics, or both, the amps manufactured by London-based Dallas Music Ltd beginning in 1959 tie directly to…

The Audiovox 736 Electric Bass and 936 Amp

Rare Pair

August 12, 2022 · Peter Blecha

Eight decades ago, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer revealed the story of Paul H. Tutmarc debuting his latest invention – a solidbody…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Killer Guitar Components Killer Trem Bridge

Bridging the Gap

March 1, 2017 · Phil Feser

In the mid 1950s, Leo Fender and his crew spent countless hours on the design and manufacture of their revolutionary…

Budda Verbmaster 112 Home

Budda Verbmaster 112

Versatile 18-Watter

September 30, 2013 · Tom Guerra

Budda Verbmaster 112 Price: $1,800 (street) Contact: budda.com As part of its Hand-Wired series, Budda has reissued the tube-rectified Verbmaster…

Taylor T3

Tone Poet

January 6, 2014 · Pete Prown

The Taylor T3 Price: $2,998 Info: www.taylorguitars.com. Some guitar players never touch a tone knob, while others view it as…

Ibanez BWM1 Bob Weir Cowboy Fancy

Return of Cowboy Fancy

January 8, 2018 · Pete Prown

The mid ’70s were a time for bold experimentation in guitar design, particularly with electronics. Guitarists were discovering replacement pickups,…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Neil Young

Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition

December 3, 2023 · Pete Prown

Young’s 1972 smash delivered on the promise of CSNY, offering California rock rife with acoustic guitars, piercing lyrics, and cozy…

Jim McCarty

Detroit Rock Royalty

October 4, 2023 · Dan Forte

Playing Detroit in 2013, Joe Bonamassa had a special treat in store for the crowd. “The best, most badass guitar…

Keeley Electronics’ D&M Drive

Tone Stacker

July 24, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

As the gear industry seeks to reach new segments, Robert Keeley has turned his attention from making products for road…

Fretprints: Fenton Robinson

Unsung Blues Icon

June 4, 2022 · Wolf Marshall

In the encyclopedia of American music, there oughta be a picture of Fenton Robinson next to “unsung blues hero.” Drop…

Danelectro’s Four-String Basses

January 8, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

The guitars and basses made by Danelectro in the ’60s epitomized “no frills.” And though they were considered the nadir…

Dave Gant’s Amp Collection

Key Collection: Nashville pro Dave Gant fosters an impressive gathering of amps

May 7, 2024 · Ward Meeker

Dave Gant grew up in Ada, Oklahoma, and while the city of 17,000 will never be confused with Memphis or…

Tony Valentino

75, Still Rockin’

March 29, 2017 · Elliot Stephen Cohen

Most fans of classic-rock radio know The Standells garage-punk classic “Dirty Water,” which was listed in Rolling Stone’s “Top 500…

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…

JHS’ SuperBolt and Morning Glory Pedals

Zep in a Box

October 7, 2014 · Pete Prown

Started with a quick repair to a Boss pedal in Josh Scott’s Mississippi apartment, JHS has evolved into a well-regarded…

Jimmie Vaughan

Full Plate, New Strats

October 8, 2019 · Johnny Zapp

After trading football for guitar at age 13, Jimmie Vaughan forged a remarkable career as a blues-roots guitarist, first with…

The Clark Gainster

Trick Your Tweed

June 10, 2020 · Art Department

Before he got into the effects pedal biz, Michael Clark had a reputation for building killer tweed-inspired amps. In 2001…

Noshir Mody’s Elegant Flow

December 1, 2023 · Doug Yellow Bird

 Contemporary-jazzer sets the mood with “The Yards” Noshir Mody’s new album, “A Love Song,” is highlighted by his elegant…

Bark: Infectious DIY Garage Rock

December 29, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Enjoy Tim Lee’s Bass VI Twang Tim Lee grabbed his Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI modded with a Lindy Fralin…

Music Nomad Precision Setup Gauge Set

The Set Up

May 8, 2025 · Julian Burtell

There’s nothing like playing a properly set-up guitar, but taking it to a repair shop can be expensive – especially…

Taylor AD17e

Tube SaviorDream Machine

November 8, 2022 · Pete Prown

Taylor’s AD (American Dream) line aims to put affordable U.S.-made acoustics in the hands of most any player. The new…

Kim Simmonds

1947-2022

November 12, 2023 · Willie G. Moseley

The British blues movement of the late ’60s lost one of its original proponents and practitioners when Savoy Brown lead…

Have Guitar Will Travel 070 – JJ Wilde and J.D. Smigelski

February 23, 2022 · James Patrick Regan

The latest episode of “Have Guitar Will Travel” finds host James Patrick Regan speaking with indie rocker JJ Wilde and…

Kalamazoo KG-1

April 21, 2010 · Michael Wright

Collectible value in guitars can be defined any number of ways, and not just by having a popular brand name…

Paul Quinn

Ramming It

November 30, 2016 · Greg Prato

As one of the leading bands of the early-’80s New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement, Saxon is responsible for…

Check This Action: The Swinging Steel of Bobby Black

January 17, 2023 · Dan Forte

Few instruments are as synonymous with a genre as pedal steel and country music. But for a seemingly conservative style…

The Charvel Model 4

January 25, 2016 · Michael Wright

Certain guitar brands develop a mystique among aficionados – sometimes it’s even deserved! Somewhere on this continuum lie Charvel USA…

Peter Rowan

Carter Stanley’s Eyes

July 5, 2018 · Rich Kienzle

Peter Rowan spent 1963 through ’67 as lead singer/guitarist with Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys before his own…

Harden Muddy Waters

Mojo Working

August 13, 2025 · Pete Prown

Harden Engineering is a small Chicago shop that specializes in hand-made instruments in a variety of shapes and sizes and…

Henriksen’s The Bud

This One’s For You

March 15, 2019 · Pete Prown

In theory, a big guitar amp should sound larger than a smaller one. Then there’s Henriksen’s The Bud. Based on…

David Hidalgo Plays Joe Walsh’s ’59 Les Paul

June 29, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

 David Hidalgo Plays Joe Walsh’s ’59 Les Paul The video that helped convince Joe Walsh to reunite with his…

Jazz Player of the Year

February 6, 2017 · Vintage Guitar

George Benson Awarded in 2018 Even within the category of jazz, it’s hard to pin down guitar wizard George Benson.…

Susan Santos’ Blues-Rock Riffage

July 31, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Solo take on “Have Mercy” Susan Santos grabbed her LsL T Bone, plugged into a Bugera V5 Infinium amp, and…

The MXR M234 Analog Chorus and M87 Bass Compressor

Opposite Ends

August 27, 2013 · Sean OBryan Smith

MXR M87 Bass Comp and M234 Analog Chorus Price: $318 (M87 Bass Compressor), $170 (M234 Analog Chorus). Info: jimdunlop.com For…

Black Cat’s D&S and N-Fuzz

Two Faces of Fuzz

November 29, 2016 · Pete Prown

Located in south-central Connecticut, Black Cat blends an ear for vintage tones with an eye toward modern function and bulletproof…