Valco El Grande

Valco El Grande

February 16, 2016 · Dave Hunter

Preamp tube: one 6SL7 Output tube: one 6V6GT Rectifier: 5Y3 Controls: Volume, Tone Speaker: 8″ Rola speaker Output: 5 watts…

Have Guitar Will Travel – 009 Featuring Mt. Joy

June 10, 2019 · James Patrick Regan

In this episode of “Have Guitar Will Travel”, James Regan talks with Matt (Quinn) and Sam (Cooper) from the indie band Mt Joy. The band…

Philip Sayce

Proactive Perseverance

December 13, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Philip Sayce is a living, breathing, godmonster beast on the Stratocaster. But his chops, tone, feel, and great songs don’t…

 Jason Isbell

New Vistas, Old Gear

January 2, 2026 · Rich Kienzle

Jason Isbell’s powerful songs, compelling vocals, and formidable guitar skills have made him one of America’s most-respected singer/songwriters. A charismatic…

Duke Robillard’s Swingin’ R And B!

June 14, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

 Blues/Jazz Great Jams on “Four Bills” Duke Robillard’s custom-made J.W. Murphy 17” archtop is the perfect accomplice for this…

Beat Portraits: Burns Volume 3

Backbone Instruments 1962-’64

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…

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ARTISTS

Scott Henderson

Scott Henderson

Vibe Station

July 8, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

On his new album, Vibe Station, Scott Henderson once again redefines fusion within a groove-heavy power trio format. As always,…

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…

Check This Action: Real Gone for a Change

August 13, 2025 · Dan Forte

“Hold it, fellas.” After languidly singing the first line of “Milk Cow Blues,” Elvis Presley halted the proceedings. “That don’t…

Check This Action: One Sax, Three Guitars

June 7, 2023 · Dan Forte

It starts with a tenor saxophone floating above spare electric guitar arpeggios. After a dipsy-doodle cadenza, the sax states a…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Hangin’ with Kid and Lisa “Little Baby” Andersen

September 5, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Smooth, Funky Blues With Soul Kid Andersen worked with Charlie Musselwhite and Elvin Bishop before scoring his current gig with…

Wes Beech

Life in The Plasmatics

October 29, 2025 · Ward Meeker

From the moment he met Rod Swenson and Wendy O. Williams, things for Wes Beech were never really “normal.” Walking…

The Gretsch 6169 Electromatic Twin Western

June 10, 2020 · Dave Hunter

What good was selling a newfangled electric guitar back at the dawn of the revolution if you didn’t have an…

BASSMAN-HOME-MAIN-THUMB

1964 Fender Bassman

February 17, 2016 · Dave Hunter

1964 Fender 6G6-B Bassman Preamp tubes: four 7025 (12AX7 types) Output tubes: two 5881 (a more-rugged 6L6 type), fixed-bias Rectifier:…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Metal Pedals JH-3

Metal Pedals JH-3

Swiss-Army Distortion

July 31, 2015 · Chip Wilson

Metal Pedals JH-3 Price: $235 (list) Contact: www.metalpedals.com Like a Swiss Army knife, the multifunction Metal Pedals JH-3 Johnny Hiland…

Danelectro ’66

Alluring Curves

April 19, 2019 · Pete Prown

The new Danelectro ’66 brings together several threads of retro-dom in one hip package. Visually, this Danny brings to mind…

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…

The Eastman SB55

Little Devil

May 6, 2022 · Michael Dregni

When re-creating a classic, it’s all too easy to feel hidebound to the original – especially if it’s an icon.…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

1976 Hagstrom Jimmy

May 6, 2022 · Michael Wright

In the world of archtop guitarmaking, the legendary luthier James L. D’Aquisto (1935-’95) is considered one of the greats. A…

Boulou & Elios Ferré

Fathers & Sons

December 6, 2024 · Michael Dregni

 Alongside Django Reinhardt, the music of the Ferré family is at the heart of Gypsy jazz. And it’s still beating…

A Little More Better

CopperSound’s Foxcatcher Boost/Overdrive and Polaris Chorus/Vibrato

April 16, 2020 · Rich Maloof

Offering hand-built pedals from their shop in Easton, Massachusetts, CopperSound seems to be finding a niche among small-batch builders, namely…

David Grissom

March 24, 2014 · Dan Forte

One of Les Paul’s favorite aphorisms when assessing other guitarists was, “Can his mother pick him out on the radio?”…

Paul Nelson

Sideman Steps Out

February 27, 2018 · Willie G. Moseley

Manhattan native Paul Nelson has been influenced by many great guitarists – some of whom gave him lessons, gigs, and/or…

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Willie G. Moseley

July 8, 2025 · Ram W. Tuli

Season 03 Episode 01 In Episode 3.1 of “Buy That Guitar,” host Ram Tuli is joined by longtime VG contributor…

Robby Krieger

New Musical Directions

March 13, 2014 · Willie G. Moseley

For all of his decades of noteworthy guitar work, Robby Krieger isn’t resting on his laurels. In 2002, Krieger and…

Jules Leyhe says “Start Your Engines”

January 11, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Greasy, dirty slide on this VG exclusive Jules Leyhe takes his ’61-reissue SG for a slidin’ spin through “Start Your…

Full Dozen, Semi-Hollow

12 Variations on a Classic Design

December 2, 2016 · Vintage Guitar

To complement our February 2016 issue survey of the semi-hollow electric guitar, we tested 12 examples of the form as…

Snarky Puppy’s Mark Lettieri

December 30, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Empire Central: Funky homage to Dallas Snarky Puppy guitarist Mark Lettieri took a minute at soundcheck to use his PRS…

Dan’s Guitar RX: A New Tool Makes Luthiery Easier

With a Little Help…

April 4, 2022 · Dan Erlewine

I recently discovered a sturdy pedestal stand that holds a guitar by its neck and makes repair, builds, and setup…

Rik Emmett

Triumphant Return

March 29, 2019 · Greg Prato

Triumph was one of the leading arena-rock acts of the late ’70s and early ’80s. Striking gold and platinum with…

Larry Coryell

1943-2017

March 27, 2019 · Vintage Guitar

Guitarist Larry Coryell died February 19 in New York City after performing the previous night at the Iridium. He was…

Pandemic Peak?

The Guitar Market’s “Covid Surge”

February 9, 2022 · Ward Meeker

In the September ’20 issue, VG surveyed guitar dealers to learn how they’d been impacted by the early weeks of…

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,…

Donner DST-400

Seeing Green

February 7, 2023 · Dennis Pernu

If the pandemic had a silver lining beyond more time at home with our toys, it was the growth of…

Malinoski’s New Moon

On The Horizon

June 19, 2014 · Pete Prown

Phil Collen

A Rock Cat Plays the Blues

February 27, 2018 · Greg Prato

In the eyes of many, there’s quite a difference between arena rock and blues rock. But not to Phil Collen,…

Josh Smith

Swingin’ Hard

March 31, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Josh Smith has been very busy. When he’s not on tour or sharing production duties with Joe Bonamassa for artists…

Furry Lewis' 1968 Gibson B-25N

Furry Lewis’ 1968 Gibson B-25N

Heart In Hand

January 19, 2015 · Ward Meeker

Born in the heart of Mississippi’s fabled Delta region – from where Robert Johnson emerged and a blues-music form was…

Electrifying Sounds of Post-War Guitar

Road to Rock

The Electrifying Sounds of Post-War Guitar

March 10, 2016 · Pete Prown

Fans often mark the beginning of rock and roll as either Elvis Presley’s Sun Sessions or Bill Haley & the…

Check This Action: The Salad Days of British Blues

October 29, 2024 · Dan Forte

What springs to mind when you hear the term “British blues movement”? Is it covers of Slim Harpo, Muddy Waters,…

Area 51 The Alienist Voicing Boost

Manmade Tone Monster

April 24, 2019 · Michael Dregni

Gather ’round, children, for a scary bedtime story. Once upon a time, there was no such thing as a high-gain…

Soldier’s Story

Six Strings Document Tale of the “Blue and Gray” in World War I

November 3, 2016 · Ward Meeker

Through blood, dirt, rain, and all other forms of hell in the trenches of World War I, U.S. Army Private…

Jake Andrews’ video encore: “Eyes On The Prize”

September 8, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Austin Great Goes Full Steam for “Eyes On The Prize” Jake Andrews’ video encore: “Eyes On The Prize” Jake Andrews…

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…

Joanna Connor

Blue-Collar Virtuoso

June 9, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Joanna Connor’s latest is her most-potent album to date. Best Of Me serves up a feast of guitar styles and…

David Bowie’s Young Americans

January 15, 2026 · Bret Adams

David Bowie was always creatively restless. The English musician decided to step away from the glam rock he’d recorded for…

Guitar Tone Company’s Bloody Finger

Rugged Facelift

December 27, 2017 · Oscar Jordan

While honing his ears at Greene Street Recording Studio in New York, David Harrington was inspired to build studio-quality stompboxes.…