• 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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Bad Cat Cub V EL34 Amp

First-Class Blast

October 9, 2025 · Dave Hunter

The Bad Cat Cub has evolved through several iterations since arriving with the maker’s inaugural lineup 25 years ago. It…

The Fleshtones

It’s Getting Late (…and More Songs About Werewolves)

October 9, 2025 · Dan Forte

Frontman Peter Zaremba and guitarist Keith Streng have led New York’s Fleshtones for nearly 50 years. Drummer Bill Milhizer joined…

Gibson EH-150

An Odd Gibson EH-150

10 Strings, Lap-Style

December 1, 2021 · George Gruhn

Lap-steel guitars were the first commercially available electrics – ancestors of the guitars we plug in today, regardless of their…

The Gretsch 6120 Tenor

December 2, 2014 · George Gruhn

This 1958 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 four-string tenor guitar is a very rare variation of the model. Gretsch built other…

Check This Action: Back Aboard

May 1, 2023 · Dan Forte

Despite (or because of) the huge Folk Boom of the late ’50s and early ’60s, these days “folk” is almost…

Alvino Rey’s 1936 Gibson mini guitar Vintage Guitar magazine Home Main Big

Alvino Rey’s “Mini” Gibsons

April 20, 2016 · Lynn Wheelwright

Alvino Rey’s 1936 Gibson mini guitar. From its beginnings, Gibson has built custom orders and unique instruments for specific artists,…

  • 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

Eric Johnson

Rescued Relics

March 30, 2023 · Bret Adams

For nearly 50 years, Eric Johnson has been a revered guitarist/multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and vocalist whose music expands far beyond the…

Black Joe Lewis

Garage Soul

March 7, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Eectric Slave is the third album by Black Joe Lewis, and marks a return to the sound of his roots…

Cliff Goodwin

335 Reunion

April 18, 2014 · Willie G. Moseley

Cliff Goodwin was catapulted into the big time on a decade-long stint with Joe Cocker that began in the late…

Nili Brosh

Bright Horizons

March 16, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

The saying goes, “If you want to get something done, ask a busy person to do it.” But don’t ask…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Andy Peake – Roots Without Boundaries

December 30, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Andy Peake – Roots Without Boundaries Andy Peake is a drummer/percussionist with a long list of accomplished-guitarist friends. For proof,…

Gibson Humbucker

Crunchy, Clean Dirt

January 20, 2023 · Gil Hembree

Gibson and Fender may be the longstanding heavyweight rivals of the electric guitar game, but they have one very important…

Ted Newman Jones’ West-Texas Guitars

Melodious Coterie

June 10, 2022 · Ward Meeker

Boxcars Among the vast papers, drawings, photographs, and tapes at Texas Tech’s Crossroads of Music Archive is a guitar beloved…

The Gretsch 1955-’61 White Falcon

Jimmie Webster’s Master Showpiece

March 28, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Mike Campbell: Rick Gould. When it came to fancy electric guitars in the early/mid 1950s, Gibson’s Super 400 was ensconced…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

The Orange Acoustic Pedal

Juice To Spare

July 22, 2022 · Michael Shirek

Since the dawn of amplification, engineers have sought a better mousetrap – a more-transparent signal chain that preserves signal and…

Positive Grid Spark

Cloud Nine

October 15, 2021 · Pete Prown

Once upon a time, you had a guitar, amp, and pedals – a complete guitar universe. Today, there’s a fourth…

DryBell Module 4

Compress Yourself

August 28, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

  Inspired by the Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer, Drybell Musical Electronic Laboratory’s Module 4 Compressor adds several highly usable features.…

Providence Silky Drive and Stampede DT

Japanese Silk (and Stomp)

July 24, 2015 · Pete Prown

Providence Silky Drive and Stampede DT Price: $394 (Silky Drive); $249 (Stampede DT) Info: www.providence-ltd.com. From the Land of the…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

NANCYWILSON

Nancy Wilson

Sister Act

March 13, 2015 · Will Kelly

After the release of the acclaimed Red Velvet Car in 2010, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson and their band, Heart,…

Marshall Handwired Series 2245THW Head and 1960AHW Cabinet

Marshall Handwired Series 2245THW Head and 1960AHW Cabinet

Bluesbreaker Redux

March 29, 2016 · Zac Childs

Marshall Handwired Series 2245THW Head and 1960AHW Cabinet 2245THW Prices: $4,800 (list); $3,299.99 (street); 1960AHW Prices: $2,180 (list); $1,399.99 (street)…

Carlos Santana

Holding That Tone

April 5, 2022 · Dan Forte

Carlos Santana is illustrating a point. “Most people play like this – around the note,” he says, making a fist…

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…

2022 February Issue on Spotify

February 2, 2022 · Doug Yellow Bird

This month we feature Twisted Sister, Bruce Forman, Styx, Warren Haynes, Greg Martin, Dave Specter, Eric Krasno, Graham Dechter, Eric…

Jane Getter

Jazz-Rock Premonitions

March 2, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

Jane Getter’s Anomalia is a mostly instrumental album that traverses the hypnotic seas of jazz-rock, with lyrics. A fusion of…

Bergen Guitars ST and TL

Messing with Perfection

March 4, 2014 · Chip Wilson

Bergen Guitars ST and TL Price: $2,195 (ST, base)/$2,595 (as tested); $1,895 (TL, base)/$2,295 (as tested) Info: www.bergenguitars.com. If your…

Anders Osborne

Making Tracks

January 5, 2018 · John Heidt

When Anders Osborne, his band, and various friends went into the studio to work on what became Spacedust & Ocean…

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Avid Technology Eleven Rack

Rack and Roll

June 10, 2016 · Pete Prown

The proliferation of digital guitar gear grows by leaps and bounds every year as more players learn to love the…

Spoon

Lucifer On The Sofa

November 17, 2022 · Michael Dregni

Ten studio albums in, Spoon’s latest just may be its purest rock-and-roll record. What took so long? The band’s early…

The Eastwood BW Artist

Dead Again

April 29, 2022 · Pete Prown

Thanks to über-tonemeister Carlos Santana, extended jamming, and the rise of overdrive, the ’70s gave rise to a solidbody trend…

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…

Tom Petersson’s Gretsch 12-string Basses

Tricked-Out Trio

December 26, 2017 · Willie G. Moseley

Cheap Trick fans are aware of his contribution to the band’s songs, but few know he actually invented the 12-string…

Magnatone Twilighter

Magnatone Twilighter

King of Vibrato

January 9, 2014 · Michael Dregni

Magnatone Twilighter Price: $2,249 (12″ combo, list) Info: www.magnatoneusa.com. Magnatone is dead, long live Magnatone! The original Magnatone amp company…

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Buzz Feiten

Unsung Hero

May 1, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

An unsung hero, accomplished inventor, and builder possessing priceless musical knowledge, Buzz Feiten’s list of session credits could fill a…

Musicvox Space Cadet USB 30″ Custom

Short-Scale Slugger

March 2, 2017 · Pete Prown

Don’t be confused by the USB in this four-string’s name – there’s no computer-cable hookup. Instead, USB stands for “ultimate…

Tx-Watt Flagship

Tone Big as Texas

January 30, 2023 · Tom Guerra

For more than three decades on the Texas roadhouse circuit, guitarist Jack Kay’s love of vintage Fender and Marshall tones…

Them Vibes

Electric Fever

June 27, 2017 · John Heidt

Nashville band Them Vibes latest recalls rock’s past without sounding dated or cliché. Much of the reason for that is…

Thurston Moore

Rock N Roll Consciousness

June 27, 2017 · Dennis Pernu

There’s always been a push/pull relationship between the worlds of hippie-inspired jam bands and punk-inspired indie rock. While the latter…

Reverend Mike Watt Wattplower

July 3, 2019 · Phil Feser

During four years of back and forth, Reverend Guitars and legendary punk-rock bassist Mike Watt (Minutemen, Firehose, Stooges), developed a…

Pop ’N Hiss: The Black Crowes’ Shake Your Money Maker

Hard To Handle

August 21, 2024 · Pete Prown

At the dawn of the ’90s, rock and roll was not in a good place. MTV had spurred a craze…

Steve Stevens plays “77”

August 28, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

Steve Stevens plays “77” Live from the dressing room at Wembley Arena just before a sold-out performance with Billy Idol,…

Eric Zolan

Funky and Blue

January 4, 2024 · Pete Prown

Guitarist Eric Zolan whips up a perfect confection of jazz, blues, and R&B in his playing, heard on his latest,…

Vox’s AC30CH and V212C Cabinet

Get Back

July 9, 2018 · Michael Dregni

The Beatles helped popularize Vox amps, and Sir Paul tours with them today because they still have that sound –…

Bryan Sutton

Bryan Sutton

Into His Own

May 3, 2015 · Steven Stone

Bryan Sutton ranks as one of the most accomplished and in-demand acoustic players in Nashville. In 1991, fresh from high…

Alairex H.A.L.O.

Heavenly Possibilities

July 22, 2014 · Oscar Jordan

Alairex H.A.L.O. Price: $399 Info: www.alairex.com. Guitarist Alex Aguilar is a veteran player, former guitar-mag columnist, and today runs an…

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Nate Westgor

July 10, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Nate Westgor Season 01 Episode 01 In Episode 1 of “Buy That Guitar,”…

Alex Masi

Alex Masi

Danger Zone

May 22, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

Grammy-nominated guitarist Alex Masi has been maneuvering his way through the shark-infested waters of the music industry since the 1980s.…

Andrew Hendryx

Andrew Hendryx – Lesson: “Into The Mystic” on a mandolin

March 15, 2019 · Andrew Hendryx

Andrew Hendryx lesson of Van Morrison’s “Into The Mystic” on Mandolin Andrew Hendryx uses his Collings MF5 (with D’Addario strings)…