Louis Electric Buster

Beyond Deluxe

March 6, 2015 · Zac Childs

Louis Electric Buster Price: $1,595 (street) Contact: louisamps.com. Lou Rosano has been building amps in the Fender vein for more…

Standard in Custom

Schecter’s Custom Shop Marks 35 Years

July 6, 2015 · Ward Meeker

Riding high after 35 years with an array of original instruments, an impressive artist roster that started early with Pete…

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…

Immix Eleven V-Series 30 Amp/Cab

Immix Eleven V-Series 30 Amp/Cab

Lights! Sound! Action!

November 6, 2015 · Chip Wilson

Immix Eleven V-Series 30 Amp/Cab Price: Amp $1,995 (list); cabinet $895 (list) Contact: www.immix11.com Remember the first time you encountered…

First to Sunburst

The Origin of a Famous Finish

July 31, 2024 · Cliff Hall

Faced with anemic sales of its Les Paul Model in 1958, Gibson spiffed-up its goldtop with a sunburst finish in…

Bonnie Raitt

Struttin' Her Stuff

July 6, 2016 · John Heidt

The adjective “smooth” can sometimes get a bad rep, but as the new album by Bonnie Raitt readily shows, it…

  •  VG Q&A: Harmony History

     VG Q&A: Harmony History

    And an Archtop Mystery

    I recently received two guitars as gifts and am trying to learn more about them. The first is a Harmony I believe is from the early ’70s. Its serial number…

    Read more >>

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ARTISTS

Andrew Hendryx on a ’64 Fender Mandocaster

March 3, 2023 · Andrew Hendryx

 Andrew Hendryx Demoing ’64 Fender Mandocaster On a recent mandolin safari, Andrew Hendryx visited a shop in Asheville, North…

Pasquale Grasso

One-Man Duo

July 22, 2022 · Pete Prown

In the 1940s, jazz pianist Art Tatum wowed audiences with a virtuoso technique that sounded like two players. Today, Pasquale…

Charlie Parr

A Muse From Olden Times

November 28, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Charlie Parr makes new music from olden times. And he makes it the old way – not only using just…

Dana Sutcliffe

Here’s the Scoop

March 15, 2019 · Michael Wright

Many know Dana Sutcliffe from his classic guitar design, the Alvarez Dana Scoop produced from the late 1980s through the…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Classics: November 2021

Gibson Les Paul Personal

October 28, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Billy Soutar loves the vibe of his 1969 Les Paul Personal and matching LP-12 amp. While the guitar’s mahogany body,…

Brennen Leigh’s Heart-Tugging Honky-Tonk

September 5, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Shades of Norman Blake and Dolly Parton A student of the “Carter Scratch” guitar technique – melody on the low…

The Pedulla Buzz Bass

Fast and Fretless

September 23, 2019 · Willie G. Moseley

Introduced in 1980, the M.V. Pedulla Buzz Bass is one of the most-enduring examples of an upscale model offered fretless.…

National Model N-720

Star of an Era's End

November 3, 2005 · Michael Wright

Most acoustic guitar players will likely show disdain for any instrument with a bolt-on neck. Even though there have been…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Reverend Rick Vito Soul Agent

Swank Plank

February 8, 2024 · Pete Prown

Some guitars look great, while others sound or play great. With Reverends’ Rick Vito Soul Agent, you get all three…

Mario Guitars Serpentine

Custom Flagship

July 9, 2018 · Rich Maloof

Given that Mario Martin credits his guitar-building education to a stint at the Fender Custom Shop, it’s no surprise that…

L-Guitar Lance Glass

Tweak City

January 18, 2024 · Pete Prown

Builders love tweaking the creations of Leo Fender and his squad of ’50s innovators; California luthier Lance McCormick is making…

Strymon Iridium Amp & IR Cab

Model Citizen

March 4, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

It can be tough, living in the golden age of gear tech. Which piece of amazing equipment to get next?…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

The Martin OM-28

January 7, 2025 · George Gruhn and Walter Carter

Although popular music of the 1920s featured the tenor banjo as the preferred rhythm instrument, the guitar’s popularity rose steadily…

Six-Strings, 60 Years Ago

A Likely First

February 15, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Had he survived to this day, Elvis Presley – cultural icon extraordinaire – would be 80 years old. The man…

2023 August Issue on Spotify

August 2, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

This month we feature Steve Lukather, Dominic Miller, Steve Khan, Sam Kiszka, Selwyn Birchwood, Dave Davies, Brennen Leigh, and much…

Valvetech Amplifier Company’s VAC 25

Tractable Tweed

July 5, 2018 · Oscar Jordan

Who says pragmatic utility and classic tones have to be mutually exclusive? Not Rob Pierce, whose Valvetech Amplifier Company deals…

Chris Tapp

Heavy Adversity

August 10, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

Unphased by knee-jerk comparisons to rock duos like the White Stripes, Royal Blood, and Black Keys, The Cold Stares have…

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…

Al Joseph

Prog-Metal Creation

September 20, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

Al Joseph is breaking new ground in prog-metal. Known for his riveting guitar playing and instruction with Jam Track Central,…

Dogu Custom Electric Guitars’ MOS-01

Dogu Custom Electric Guitars’ MOS-01

This Old Strat

October 2, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

Dogu Custom Electric Guitars’ MOS-01 Price: $2,200 (list) Contact: www.actionfigurestudios.com Improving upon classic designs is a consistent theme in the…

Have Guitar Will Travel – 028 Featuring Mark Agnesi

June 9, 2020 · James Patrick Regan

In the new episode of “Have Guitar Will Travel,” host James Patrick Regan speaks with Mark Agnesi, Gibson’s Director of…

Jubu Smith

Jubu

May 31, 2025 · Pete Prown

John “Jubu” Smith (Whitney Houston, Tony! Toni! Tone’!, Raphael Saadiq) has joined with seven-string renegade Charlie Hunter for an instrumental…

Chemistry Design Werks’ Holeyboard 123

May 10, 2022 · Julian Burtell

Chemistry Design Werks’ Holeyboard 123 is made of 1/8″ aluminum with overlapping surfaces that can be adjusted from 13″ to…

Have Guitar Will Travel 071 – Adrian Belew & Turkuaz’s Dave Brandwein

March 10, 2022 · James Patrick Regan

In episode 71 of “Have Guitar Will Travel,” James Patrick Regan talks to guitarist/frontman Dave Brandwein of the band Turkuaz,…

Friedman Motor City Drive & Fuzz Fiend

Sonic Rapture

April 26, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

An innovative designer, builder, and repairman, Dave Friedman has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry,…

D’Angelico’s Deluxe Atlantic Baritone

Lowdown

November 13, 2023 · Bob Cianci

Baritone guitars have been around for decades, traditionally featured in Nashville and Hollywood studios and elsewhere to “sweeten” a track…

Gretsch 6130 Round-up

Head ‘em out!

March 29, 2019 · Ward Meeker

The romantic concept of the “Old West” – an enduring element of American pop culture – was spurred by pulp…

Carla Olson & Mick Taylor

Sway: The Best of Carla Olson & Mick Taylor

April 12, 2023 · Bret Adams

There’s a timelessness to the earthy, powerful rock and roll captured in this collection. The blend of Textones founder Olson’s…

Have Guitar Will Travel 139 – Buck Dharma from Blue Oyster Cult

December 12, 2024 · James Patrick Regan

In episode 139 of “Have Guitar Will Travel,” presented by Vintage Guitar Magazine, host James Patrick Regan speaks with guitarist…

Home Feature Image

Larry Parypa

Sonics Thunder

May 7, 2016 · Elliot Stephen Cohen

“I never thought this would happen to us all these years later,” marvels Sonics guitarist Larry Parypa on the reception…

Tim Sult

Heavy-Duty Metal

November 30, 2016 · Greg Prato

With a new Clutch recording, the listener always knows what lies in store – colossal riffing, valley-deep grooves, and manly-man…

Looking for the Magic: American Power Pop in the Seventies

Various artists

October 8, 2024 · Pete Prown

Power pop is a concoction of teen-themed vocals, a relentless beat, and wild, joyous guitars. With 74 tracks, this box…

Gibson Marauder M-1

June 8, 2023 · Michael Wright

Every once in awhile, someone in Gibson R&D gets a brainstorm like, “I know! Why don’t we make a bolt-neck…

Have Guitar Will Travel 086 – Ruthie Foster

April 26, 2023 · James Patrick Regan

The new episode of “Have Guitar Will Travel” has host James Patrick Regan speaking with Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/guitarist Ruthie Foster, who grew…

Blues guitarist Charlie Apicella’s “Booze and Blues” and “Just Like a Woman”

September 29, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

Honoring B.B., Rainey Being V.P. of the North Jersey Blues Society isn’t the only thing that separates Charlie Apicella from…

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…

The Birth of the Gretsch Duo Jet

Gretsch Gets With It!

March 4, 2022 · Edward Ball

In 1950, Leo Fender introduced the Broadcaster. The first solidbody electric Spanish guitar to bear his soon-to-be-famous name, its thin…

Eric Gales

Journey to Love

October 4, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

The latest from Eric Gales features the production talents of Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith, and a face-melting guitar duel, but…

Fryette Valvulator GP/DI Amp

Totally Tubular

April 19, 2019 · Pete Prown

Guitarists are often trying to get more convincing tube tones on their home and studio recordings, but finding authentic valve…

Whitey Kirst

Life After Iggy

September 20, 2019 · Johnny Zapp

Whitey Kirst is known for smoldering lead-guitar tone and collaborating with punk-rock pioneer Iggy Pop. After four albums and hundreds…

Eastwood RD Artist

RD Our Lips

July 9, 2018 · Pete Prown

Issued during Gibson’s infamous “Norlin era,” the original RD Artist has become surprisingly collectible over the years, thanks to its…