• 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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Tom Feldmann

October 28, 2014 · Michael Dregni

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

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…

 PRS Swamp Ash Special

Narrow(field) Win

January 14, 2026 · Pete Prown

The bolt-on Swamp Ash Special has been around for nearly three decades, but PRS just retooled the U.S.-built version and…

Fender ’68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb

Small Wonder

August 11, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

Fender’s ’68 Custom amp series has become popular among pickers who love old-school looks and sounds but prefer contemporary modifications…

Boss MT-2 3A Metal Zone

Captain Crunch

November 10, 2022 · Pete Prown

Over the years, the Boss Metal Zone has often been lampooned for its ferocious personality. But if you plug one…

Ram Tuli Crunches Numbers for The Guide

Strats and Data

June 11, 2024 · Ward Meeker

Combine a knack for numbers with a love of old guitars and you get… well, you might get any of…

  • Rickenbacker’s Electric 12-Strings

    Rickenbacker’s Electric 12-Strings

    Double-bound for Glory

    George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacher founded Electro String in 1931 to manufacture what everyone would soon call “Rickenbacker” guitars. Success came early and their lap steels set standards of quality,…

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ARTISTS

Nicolas Meier

Jeff Beck Sideman Steps Out

March 2, 2017 · Pete Prown

If you’ve been to a Jeff Beck concert in the past few years, you may have said to yourself, “Who’s…

Ruyter Suys

Ruyter Suys

Loud and Proud

January 21, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Nashville Pussy is fronted by the husband-and-wife team of Blaine Cartwright and Ruyter Suys. Its new album, Up The Dosage,…

Kansas’ Leftoverture

Iconic American Prog

December 23, 2023 · Willie G. Moseley

Progressive rock emerged from the British psychedelic scene in the late ’60s with bands like the Nice, Procol Harum, Moody…

Tomas Janzon swings on “Ascending”

May 30, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Silky-Smooth on a vintage hollowbody Hip as all get-out, Tomas Janzon plays some of the silkiest jazz you’ll hear this…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Custom-Order Gibson B-45-12

March 14, 2016 · George Gruhn

The term “rare” is applied to guitars in far too many instances. Usually an appealing term, its overuse can be…

Rickenbacker 4005

November 24, 2020 · Willie G. Moseley

California’s Rickenbacker guitar company has a tradition of things a bit differently. One of the earliest electric guitars was their…

VG Q&A: Fret Differential

And Examining Two Budget Archtops

August 29, 2025 · Ward Meeker

Can someone please explain the differences between playing an instrument with jumbo frets versus one with smaller/shorter frets? – John Mackey…

Mark Erlewine’s 40 Years with Willie Nelson’s Trigger

Wooden Wonder

April 26, 2019 · Ward Meeker

For a decade, Willie Nelson chased fame as a performer in the Nashville mold of the ’60s – hair coifed,…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Charis Acoustic SJ

Charis Acoustic SJ

Spirit in the Wood

February 1, 2016 · Chip Wilson

Charis Acoustic SJ Price: $4,800 (base); $7,100 (as reviewed) Info: www.charisacoustic.com. The spiritual aspects of music perhaps originate with the…

Tech 21 Fly Rig 5

Tech 21 Fly Rig 5

Tone To Carry-On

March 21, 2016 · Rich Maloof

Tech 21 Fly Rig 5 Price: $249 (list) Contact: www.tech21nyc.com Long before the Line6 POD, the Box of Rock, or…

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…

Daredevil Pedals’ Atomic Cock

Daredevil Pedals Atomic Cock

Green Monster

January 27, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Daredevil Pedals’ Atomic Cock Price: $150 (list) Info: www.daredevilpedals.com. Despite the many clever take-aways one could derive from its name,…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Xotic Effects RC Booster Reissue

Return of A Legend

October 11, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Twenty years ago, Xotic Effects unleashed its iconic RC Booster. With variable Gain, EQ, and Volume controls, it was a…

Midge Ure

The Unexpected Retrospective

November 7, 2025 · Willie G. Moseley

While guitarist Midge Ure was a member of Visage and was briefly in an early version of Thin Lizzy, he’s…

Greg Douglass and the Accomplices

November 1, 2016 · Dan Forte

For years, Greg Douglass was San Francisco’s best-kept guitar secret. At the dawn of psychedelia, his band, Country Weather, made…

Have Guitar Will Travel – 044 Featuring Ricky Byrd

February 12, 2021 · Art Department

The new episode of “Have Guitar Will Travel” features Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Byrd. The New York…

Reverend Descent H90 Baritone

Deep Twang

July 13, 2016 · Pete Prown

Electric baritones have increased in popularity for the last 20 years. Filling the gap between standard-tuned electric guitar and bass,…

Cash Box Kings

Oscar’s Motel

February 9, 2024 · Rich Kienzle

For two decades, the Cash Box Kings have stood apart from the multitudes of “blues bands” that focus on bar-band…

Carr Bel-Ray 1×12

Brit-Based Invasion

December 23, 2024 · Charlie Wilkins

Carr Amplifiers are renowned for their build quality and vintage-inspired tones. Not one to rest on his laurels, founder Steve…

Bondra & Morris – Fallin’ For You

February 12, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Bondra & Morris – Fallin’ For You Check out “Bondra & Morris” featuring Vintage Guitar online contributor Tyler Morris (Guitar),…

Ana Popovic

Memphis via Belgrade

April 9, 2014 · Ward Meeker

Ana Popovic was but a toddler when she started to absorb major musical mojo through her father’s love of the…

Barney Kessel’s ES-350 Rides Again

Return Of An Icon

October 13, 2022 · Rusty Russell

Bruce Forman acquired Barney Kessel’s beloved Gibson ES-350 in mid 2021. In prep for recording Reunion!, he made the guitar…

2025 August Issue on Spotify

August 11, 2025 · Doug Yellow Bird

This month, we feature Rick Derringer, Kid Ramos, Booker T and The M.G.’s, Steve Stevens, Phil Manzanera, Doug Aldrich, Kenny…

Roy Orbison & Friends

Black & White Night 30

May 26, 2017 · Rich Kienzle

The year 1987 saw Roy Orbison in the midst of a triumphant resurgence. His ’60s recording “In Dreams” was featured…

Death By Audio’s Deep Animation

The Other Side

October 14, 2019 · Tom Guerra

If you thought envelope filters died out after Jerry Garcia passed into the great beyond, think again. Submitted as proof…

Eric Bibb plays “Bring Me a Little Water, Sylvie”

July 30, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Soulful Blues Beyond I-IV-V Sensational fingerstylist Eric Bibb uses the ’47 Levin Model 13 Ambassadör to honor us with a…

Rick Nielsen

Storied Career

January 5, 2018 · Elliot Stephen Cohen

“Many years ago, I was in the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ dressing room with my son, Daxx,” recalls Rick Nielsen. “Flea…

The Les Paul Becomes The SG

Double Time

April 24, 2019 · George Gruhn

It may be difficult to imagine now, but Gibson’s original Les Paul was only a modest success. Introduced in 1952,…

Earl Slick

Martian Connection – and More

April 1, 2022 · Willie G. Moseley

Brooklyn-born guitarist Earl Slick is best-known for his work with David Bowie, which spanned several decades. His recent participation with…

Webster-Chicago RMA 375 Model 166-1

Grammy Winner

July 18, 2019 · Dave Hunter

Modified or repurposed amps generally don’t fit into our monthly discussion here, but some are representative enough of a certain…

Crucial Audio WahVelope

Tube Funk

September 12, 2023 · Pete Prown

Crucial Audio makes high-end tube pedals and studio gear at its shop in southern Delaware. Its latest, the WahVelope, is…

Univox Uni–Fuzz & Super–Fuzz

Univox Uni–Fuzz & Super–Fuzz

Full, Fat Fuzzzy

March 15, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Pete Townshend sent many a guitar and amp to an early grave. But there’s no known evidence of him doing…

 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…

Bell 30 RV Stereo-Reverb Combo

Accordion to Plan

August 5, 2022 · Dave Hunter

1961 Bell 30 RV Stereo-Reverb • Preamp tubes: three 6EU7, one 7199, one 12AU7, one 12AX7 • Output tubes: four…

Fretprints: Led Zeppelin

October 29, 2025 · Wolf Marshall

One of the truly classic rock albums, Led Zeppelin’s IV brought together the band’s towering advances achieved with its first…

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…

Taylor AD11e-SB

Small Gem

January 18, 2024 · Pete Prown

This latest addition to Taylor’s American Dream line builds on its Grand Theater (GT) series of small-body guitars, the goal…

Martin CEO 8.2E

Corner-Office Acoustic

April 26, 2019 · Chip Wilson

Which new Martin is based on a vintage-reissue with a pronounced low-end? Noooo, the model designation does not begin with…

Fishman’s Aura Spectrum DI, ToneDEQ

Potent Preamps

March 13, 2019 · Pete Prown

Unlike most electric guitarists, acoustic-electric pickers tend to worry about preamps. A lot. This front stage is critical because acoustic…

Soldano SLO Plus Super Lead Overdive

Icon In Reach

November 14, 2025 · Charlie Wilkins

If the iconic Soldano SLO-100 is perpetually on your wish list but its price tag keeps you from pulling the…

Robin Trower

Bridge of Skies

November 1, 2024 · Greg Prato

At age 78, Robin Trower remains at the top of his game, musically – still offering smoldering solos from his…