• 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…

    Read more >>

Valco ‘Thunder stick’

April 5, 2010 · Nathaniel Riverhorse Nakadate

Put your gut money on a dark horse every so often, and you might find the rest of the regurgitating…

John Monteleone

The Chisels Are Calling

December 25, 2023 · Rich Kienzle

Captured in this documentary, John Monteleone’s hand-crafted fretted instruments draw inspiration from the past. His chief inspirations are legendary guitar…

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…

Marty Stuart

Country Roots Master

April 18, 2019 · Bob Cianci

For 30-plus years, Marty Stuart has blended traditional country, rockabilly, and honky-tonk into a potent mix. Following stints as a…

Philip Sayce

Scorched-Earth Tones

May 9, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

Philip Sayce’s album Scorched Earth Volume 1 was a live recording from 2016 that displayed the kind of blistering blues-rock…

Martin’s “12-Fret” 000-42

December 21, 2013 · George Gruhn

Martin has never been a stranger to producing certain guitars in very limited quantities. But just how rare is the…

  • 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,…

    Read more >>

NOW AVAILABLE!

CURRENT ISSUE

Join 25,700+ subscribers & be notified when new articles & more becomes available!

ARTISTS

Albert Castiglia

Righteous and Raucous

January 5, 2018 · Willie G. Moseley

Guitarist Albert Castiglia’s blues-based music has gone through a lot of changes since VG first interviewed him in 2008. In…

Toronzo Cannon

Blues The Chicago Way

May 9, 2017 · Oscar Jordan

“I’m not trying to be a starving artist at 48 years old,” says blues man Toronzo Cannon when asked if…

Kevn Kinney

Kevn Kinney

Small 'N Happy

December 14, 2015 · Ward Meeker

As any fan of Drivin ’N Cryin can attest, Kevn Kinney at his creative best surrenders little to the greatest…

John Sykes 1959-2024

Remembering a Heavy Hero

January 28, 2026 · Pete Prown

The guitar universe was rocked by John Sykes’ death from cancer, December 21 at age 65. Forty years ago, the…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Greg Martin honors Dickey Betts

August 29, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Tribute licks Kentucky Headhunters co-founder Greg Martin was a senior in high school when he first heard the Allman Brothers…

Gibson J-35

Gibson J-35

July 5, 2016 · George Gruhn

Dreadnought guitars originated as early as 1916 with instruments made by Martin and distributed by Ditson, followed in 1931 with…

EKO 995

February 22, 2012 · Willie G. Moseley

The Beatles’ appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in February of 1964 is often referred to as the most important…

Keith Richards’ 1963 Gibson SG Custom

Ready to Ramble

February 9, 2022 · Jim Carlton

In 1961, Gibson introduced the double-cutaway Les Paul to replace the original version, which had been endorsed by guitarist Les…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

BC Audio JTX45 Octal Plex

Plexi Class

March 1, 2017 · Ray Wuolo

In an amp world full of boutique clones, Bruce Clement has developed a unique twist on the venerable ’60s British…

Fender Vaporizer Amp

Fender Vaporizer Amp

Retro on 11

March 9, 2015 · Phil Feser

Fender’s Vaporizer Amp Price: $399.99 (street) Info: www.fender.com Given the popularity of smartphones, tablets, digital recorders, and amp modeling in…

Mooer’s Slow Engine Volume Swell

Bring It Up

March 15, 2019 · Pete Prown

Long out of production, the Boss Slow Gear was one of the coolest pedals of the ’80s, duplicating the sound…

Tone Electronix Animalizzer

Fuzz Feast

January 27, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

At first glance, Tone Electonix’s Animalizzer might appear to be a Big-Muff-style fuzz with too many knobs. A closer look…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Jeff Beck

Blow By Blow

October 30, 2024 · Wolf Marshall

 What is jazz? What is rock? These questions perpetually confound and divide music experts and listeners. Similar spirited debates have…

Lake Street Dive

July 6, 2016 · Michael Dregni

It doesn’t get much more wonderfully pop than Lake Street Dive. And with the band’s latest, they’ve produced their best…

Fender Strat-o-Sonic

May 27, 2020 · Phil Feser

Mahogany body, P-90-style pickups, wraparound tailpiece, 243/4″ scale? Sounds like a Gibson Les Paul Special. But alas, the instrument bearing…

Carolina Guitar Show

August 28, 2012 · Upcoming Events From Vintage Guitar

[gallery]

SITORI-HOME-MAIN-BIG

Sitori Sonics pedals

New Highs with Sitori Sonics’ Doob Dreamer, Tidal Phase, and Reel Repeat

September 14, 2015 · Tom Guerra

Sitori Sonics pedals Price: $188 list (Doob Dreamer, Reel Repeat); $168 (Tidal Phase) Info: sitorisonics.com. Despite the vast possibilities of…

The Supro Hampton

Island Unto Itself

March 13, 2019 · Michael Dregni

Supro’s vintage Ozark guitar is famed as Jimi Hendrix’s first axe. According to legend, his father bought him an off-white…

Taylor 814ce

Taylor 814ce

New Life at 40

October 28, 2015 · Stephen Stone

Taylor 814ce Price: $4,378 (list); $3,399 (street) Info: www.taylorguitars.com Of all the guitars in Taylor’s product line, the 814ce is…

Gibson J-185

The Gibson J-185

November 20, 2015 · George Gruhn

The J-185 is regarded by many players and collectors as the finest-sounding Gibson flat-top made after World War II. The…

Fender American Professional Jazzmaster

Return Of The Rebel

April 19, 2019 · Michael Dregni

From the get-go, Fender’s Jazzmaster was the black sheep of the family – that wild-at-heart uncle your ma warned you…

Have Guitar Will Travel – 034 Featuring Nalle Colt

August 31, 2020 · James Patrick Regan

Episode 34 of James Patrick Regan’s “Have Guitar Will Travel” podcast features Vintage Trouble guitarist Nalle Colt. They delve into…

Ronnie Earl

Redemption, Reconciliation, and Reinvention

March 31, 2017 · Bob Dragich

Ronnie Earl is one of the most prolific blues guitarists working today. And though his solo career now spans almost…

Last ’Burst?

Single-Cut Saga From the End of an Era

April 24, 2019 · Ward Meeker

Certain instruments are nearly as famous as the heroes who play them – we know them as Blackie, Lucille, Greeny,…

Classics: October 2022

Eddie Quinn’s Gibson L-5

June 14, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Had you been a music-loving resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana, at the height of the jazz age, you would’ve caught wind…

Home Feature Image

Top 50 Guitar Songs of the ’70s

May 25, 2015 · Vintage Guitar

By the Readers and Staff of Vintage Guitar Vintage Guitar marked 25 years of publication with a year full of…

Gibson’s Fabulous Florentines

Archtop Elite

January 3, 2025 · Wolf Marshall

The image of Elvis Presley on his 1968 NBC “comeback special” was, in a word, badass. Dressed in black leather…

Mike Minasi

Better Building Through Mental Shedding

April 27, 2020 · John Heidt

Mike Minasi’s trip to his first CD, Body Resilient, included several detours, including one that saw him step away from…

Guild Basses in the Early 1980s

Traditional, Temporary

Guild Basses in the Early 1980s

June 21, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

The early ’80s were a unique time in the history of American electric guitars. Fender and Gibson were both owned…

Jo’ Buddy’s One Man Stomptet

Lockdown Sessions & Beyond, Vol. 1

April 19, 2024 · Dan Forte

Finnish guitarist Jussi Raulamo has led so many aggregations it’s hard to keep track. From Jo’ Buddy & Down Home…

Supro Amulet 1×10

Old-School Soul

December 23, 2023 · Charlie Wilkins

Paying homage to low-powered tube amps from yesteryear, the Supro Amulet was designed to re-create classic Supro sounds with a…

Classics – May 2021

January 25, 2022 · Ward Meeker

This 1940 ES-250 with serial number 96385 left the Gibson factory bound for retailer New York Band on October 25,…

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…

Have Guitar Will Travel 058 – Marc Ribler

October 6, 2021 · Doug Yellow Bird

“Have Guitar Will Travel” host James Patrick Regan welcomes guitarist/songwriter/producer Marc Ribler, music director for Little Steven and the Disciples…

Great Eastern FX Small Speaker Overdrive

Little Big Tones

March 13, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Recording engineers and DIYers have long known what a small amp can do in a big room – that is,…

John Pizzarelli

Better Days

June 10, 2022 · Pete Prown

In just over a one-week period in April of 2020, John Pizzarelli turned 60, lost his father (famed jazz guitarist…

1962 Premier E-727

April 24, 2024 · Michael Wright

One of the least un-derstood aspects of American guitar history is the role of musical instrument distributors. It’s one thing…

Pete Seeger

Pete Seeger

1919-2014

September 8, 2014 · Ward Meeker

Renowned folk singer/songwriter, musicologist, organizer, and political activist Pete Seeger died January 27 at a hospital in New York City.…

Tyler Amp Works’ HM-18 Combo

Jersey Original

April 26, 2019 · Anders Fransson

New Jersey has a history as home of some iconic amplifiers, and Tyler Amp Works in Westfield is a father-son…

Pop ’N Hiss: Bruford’s Allan Holdsworth

Landmark Fusion of One of a Kind

March 31, 2022 · Pete Prown

Jazz-rock fusion was vastly popular in the mid 1970s, but began to run out of steam as the “smooth jazz”…

A Mick Ralphs Sampler – Definitive Listening

June 27, 2025 · Willie G. Moseley

Curated by Vintage Guitar’s Willie G. Moseley, this playlist showcases the evolution of Mick Ralphs’ sound through various songs he…