Star Board: Jared Scharff

Star Board: Jared Scharff

April 12, 2016 · Ward Meeker

“Saturday Night Live” staff guitarist Jared Scharff uses this custom pedalboard, built by Matt Brewster, 30th Street Guitars, New York…

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Kustom’s The Bag

A New Dimension in Electro-Thoracity

May 1, 2016 · Michael Dregni

When Steppenwolf’s John Kay took the stage, it was easy to believe he was performing a suitably ’60s ceremony celebrating…

Nick Perri

Constant Creator

March 16, 2024 · Ward Meeker

The elements of life that mold a person are constant and ever-evolving. Influence is all about perspective. Philadelphia-born Nick Perri…

Harvey Valdes does Bach – Electrified!

July 12, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Artist Plugs in to Tackle Work of a Master Harvey Valdes shows us how he does J.S. Bach’s “BMV 999…

DGN Blaster

Jerry in a Box

December 23, 2023 · Pete Prown

DGN Guitars’ Dan Neafsey is known mostly for his guitar craftsmanship, notably the Kalos and Terrapin models inspired by Jerry…

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25 Most Valuable Basses

May 24, 2015 · Peter Stuart Kohman

Vintage Guitar is marking 25 years of publication with a year full of features. This month, using data compiled for…

  • 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

Jim Weider

Telecaster Master, Camp Counselor

May 30, 2025 · Ward Meeker

Ever dream of hanging out with a couple handfuls of guitar legends while breathing fresh mountain air and (mostly) unplugging…

Good Times In Bad

The Origin of Fender’s Vintage Series

December 4, 2023 · Ward Meeker

The years leading up to CBS Musical Instruments’ 1985 sale of the Fender brand were fluid times at the instrument…

Andrew Synowiec’s Ebullient Tonefest

January 5, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Uplifting Instrumental Rock! Check out Andrew Synowiec and his Heritage Custom Core H-150 P90 ripping through a chunk of “Lead…

Tinsley Ellis

Tinsley Ellis

Tougher Than Ever

March 22, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

After decades of roadhouses, bars, and international touring, bluesman Tinsley Ellis is still going strong. A 1979 graduate of Emory…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Guild’s S-100/S-200 “Kickstand” Models

November 30, 2016 · George Gruhn

Much like several other well-known manufacturers, Guild has, through the years, changed ownership, locations, and identities. Guild was founded in…

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…

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…

GIBSON F-7 1934

1934 Gibson F-7

January 12, 2015 · George Gruhn

Prior to Gibson’s innovations, mandolins were bowl-back instruments with a lute-like back usually constructed with rosewood or maple back ribs…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

The Vox Bruno TB35C2

Yankee Doodle Tony

November 1, 2013 · Phil Feser

When it comes iconic guitar tone – especially “British” tone – Vox and its flagship AC30 are at the top…

The Daddy Mojo Ozark

All But The Kitchen Sink

May 21, 2019 · Bob Cianci

For a decade, Daddy Mojo has been making cigar-box guitars that refine the vibe of those rudimentary instruments. In 2016,…

Dr Z Octal Six 1×12 combo

Valve Variation

August 13, 2025 · Charlie Wilkins

Classic guitar amplifiers have made certain vacuum tubes household names (among gearheads) – 12AX7, 12AT7, 6L6, 6V6, EL84, and EL34.…

Jam Pedals’ LucyDreamer Supreme

Crunchilicious

October 14, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

Like so many boutique gear companies, Jam Pedals has established a distinct sonic stamp. Its effects have an uncompromising retro…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Chris Tapp

Low-End Addendum

December 14, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

On the latest Cold Stares album, Voices, guitarist Chris Tapp did the unthinkable – he hired a bass player! With…

Fretprints: Jack Wilkins

Farewell to a Modern Jazz Master

July 26, 2024 · Wolf Marshall

Jazz guitar recently lost one of the great ones. Jack Wilkins, champion of modern traditionalism (or is it traditional modernism?)…

Feature Guitar

Cardinal’s Magpie

Bird in Hand

March 4, 2014 · Pete Prown

Cardinal Magpie Price: $4,300 Contact: www.cardinalinstruments.com While most folks are happy to buy guitars off the rack, the Cardinal Magpie…

The Rascals’ Gene Cornish

Wild Legacy

April 26, 2019 · Elliot Stephen Cohen

Gene Cornish is fond of the time he spent in the ’60s pop band The Rascals, which he credits for…

Joanna Connor

4801 South Indiana Avenue

February 9, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

Blues-rock queen Joanna Connor’s latest release finds her receiving branding advice from none other than Joe Bonamassa. Impressed by her…

The Metallica Blacklist Album

Various artists

September 12, 2022 · Pete Prown

Conquering the charts 30 years ago with their “black album,” Metallica has become the global ambassador for heavy metal –…

Nate Bergman

Skankin’ With Lionize

November 12, 2014 · Oscar Jordan

The members of Lionize blend heavy rock with reggae to create infectious tunes… kind of like if the guys in…

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…

The Schaffer-Vega Diversity System

Making Rock Roll

December 8, 2021 · Michael Dregni

“ The best thing I ever did in the beginning was not use effects,” AC/DC’s Angus Young told VG in…

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…

Dave Mason with Chris Epting

Only You Know & I Know

May 30, 2025 · Bret Adams

Guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Dave Mason has endured the familiar rock-star highs and lows in his unusual career, and several unique experiences are…

Robben Ford

Made To Last

July 5, 2018 · Oscar Jordan

When Robben Ford approaches traditional blues, he takes ownership, transporting it to new places. This latest five-song EP is no…

Ana Popovic

Blues Jazz & Soul

January 5, 2018 · Oscar Jordan

Ana Popovic brings to her music an inspiring drive and work ethic. Super-appreciative of her fans, she recently released three…

Jay Geils

More of That Jazz

April 13, 2017 · Johnny Zapp

Guitar maestro Jay Geils is a musical chameleon. In the ’70s, the J. Geils Band kicked out nine records that…

ZT Amplifiers’ Lunchbox Junior

Tasty Treat

September 29, 2013 · Erik Elkins

ZT Amplifiers Lunchbox Junior Price: $149 (street) Info: www.ztamplifiers.com. ZT Amplifiers is known for producing compact amps that generate sounds…

Ricky Byrd

Cool and Greasy

April 3, 2014 · Elliot Stephen Cohen

“I wanted to make the type of album I would’ve liked to have heard when I was 13 – cool and…

Johnny Nicholas

Full-Circle in Louisiana

November 30, 2021 · Willie G. Moseley

Johnny Nicholas has been playing “roots music” since long before the term existed. A childhood friend of Duke Robillard, he…

2022 January Issue on Spotify

December 30, 2021 · Vintage Guitar

This month we feature Carlos Santana, Dean DeLeo and Tom Bukovac’s Trip The Witch, Pat Martino, Danny Kortchmar’s The Immediate…

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…

Phil Campbell

Motöring Ahead

February 27, 2018 · Greg Prato

From 1984 through 2015, Phil Campbell was the guitarist in Motörhead, and for the last 20 years of the band’s…

2021 October Issue on Spotify

November 2, 2021 · Doug Yellow Bird

This month we feature Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Blind Melon’s Christopher Thorn, ZZ Top, Brian May, Eric Clapton, Robben Ford,…

Tim Bogert’s Modified Fender

One Fudged Bass

August 22, 2013 · Willie G. Moseley

When Vanilla Fudge helped pioneer the progressive-rock movement in the latter half of the ’60s, bassist Tim Bogert played more…

Have Guitar Will Travel – 047 Featuring Reb Beach

March 24, 2021 · Art Department

In the new episode of “Have Guitar Will Travel,” host James Patrick Regan welcomes Reb Beach. The renowned guitar slinger for Winger and Whitesnake delves into his…

Peekamoose Model 3

Modern Retro

August 9, 2016 · Pete Prown

There’s no shortage of cool, retro-looking solidbodies on the market today, from the big guys as well as the increasing…

Arv Garrison

Forgotten Hero of Bebop Guitar

May 8, 2023 · Wolf Marshall

American music history is fraught with tales of forgotten heroes. In the ’40s, jazz guitarists like Tiny Grimes, George Barnes,…

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…

Dumpstaphunk

Where Do We Go From Here

May 4, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

Dumpstaphunk’s fourth studio album combines earthy ’70s funk, vintage soul, ripping guitar, and New Orleans swagger. The NOLA natives consist…

J.D. Simo

Playing for Elvis

July 13, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Psych-blues guitar maestro J.D. Simo was the wizard behind the guitar work heard on Elvis, the new Baz Luhrmann film…

Pat Martino

Redefined Jazzman

March 2, 2022 · Wolf Marshall

Pat Martino is a legend. He has been delighting the globe’s collective ear for more than 50 years, making an…