• Duke Robillard – Lowdown

    Duke Robillard – Lowdown

    Vintage Guitar is happy to offer the premier of the new music video by Grammy nominee Duke Robillard. “Lowdown” is the  first single from his upcoming album, Blast Off!, set…

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  • 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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Ya’ Gig What Ya’ Pay For

Incase’s Tour Bag is ultra-functional, durable

May 27, 2020 · Phil Feser

It wouldn’t be a surprising reaction. “A $200 gig bag?” And one could reasonably assume the price includes a guitar.…

Classics: January 2022

Sam Ash’s Early PRSs

September 1, 2022 · Ward Meeker

Sammy Ash first laid eyes on a PRS guitar in the early ’80s, after catching a glimpse of one in…

Home Feature Image

Gretsch’s “Golden” Tenors

January 30, 2014 · Edward Ball

In the 1950s and early ’60s, the electric guitar was establishing itself as a key part of the new voice…

Born in Chicago

Various artists

June 19, 2024 · Pete Prown

Tweaked and re-cut, this documentary charts the rise of America’s greatest urban blues and its gradual adaptation into rock. There…

Martin OM-18P Plectrum Guitar

Martin OM-18P Plectrum Guitar

February 24, 2016 · George Gruhn

While the most commonly played and collected Martin guitars have a six-string neck, the company has also made a number…

Phantom Reissue 1964 PH12

Ghost of Vintage Past

September 25, 2014 · Chip Wilson

From the Hollies to the Mahavishnu Orchestra, from Robert Junior Lockwood to the Stones, the electric 12-string has a prominent…

  • Carr Skylark Special 1×12

    Carr Skylark Special 1×12

    Take Flight

    Arriving a little more than 10 years after the original Skylark, Carr Amplifiers’ new Skylark Special adds versatility and enhanced tonal depths to squeeze a lot more into this diminutive…

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ARTISTS

GA-20’s Matt Stubbs and Pat Faherty

FlashBack Sounds, Forward Steps

August 8, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Musical gateways opened by Jimi Hendrix and the Doors led Matt Stubbs to become a disciple of Johnny “Guitar” Watson,…

Samantha Fish: Slide-Blues Fury!

May 13, 2025 · Doug Yellow Bird

“I’m Done Runnin’” on a D-18 VG readers know Samantha Fish is the real deal. Here, she uses a Martin…

Ray Benson

Ray Benson

Where There’s a Wills, There’s a Wheel

March 30, 2016 · John Heidt

Asleep At the Wheel’s latest album is the band’s third tribute to Bob Wills. Long-time leader Ray Benson recently talked…

Don Culig

Dream Finish

August 12, 2025 · Ward Meeker

The Covid pandemic forced immeasurable change on humanity. Much of it involved temporary adaptation, but there were also plenty of…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

The Oud

The Oud

Ancient to Modern

July 5, 2016 · Neil Haverstick

If Beatles guitarist George Harrison had used an oud instead of a sitar to give “Norwegian Wood” its distinct sound,…

1963 Fender 6G7-A Bandmaster

Last of the Oxbloods

May 2, 2024 · Dave Hunter

Those who love vintage amplifiers are often fascinated by little anomalies that present themselves in an otherwise period-correct specimen, and…

Border Crossing

C.F. Martin and the Influence of German and Spanish Guitar Designs

May 30, 2017 · George Gruhn

It has often been said that today’s Martin guitars are direct descendants of the instruments made in Vienna by Johan…

Fender‘s 50th Anniversary Strat

Height of the Reissue

June 11, 2015 · Ward Meeker

In celebration of the 50th “birthday” of its famous Stratocaster model, Fender has taken the reissue concept to new heights.…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Henriksen’s JazzAmp 112-ER

All That Jazz

January 10, 2014 · Chip Wilson

Henriksen’s JazzAmp 112-ER Price: $999 (retail) Info: www.henriksenamps.com. Traditionally, jazz guitarists have sought a mellow tone in which single notes…

Strymon Sunset Dual Overdrive

Category Killer?

April 26, 2019 · Rich Maloof

Taste in overdrives is so subjective. A player might luck into a stellar $50 mini pedal or feel the absolute…

Awesome Musical Instruments T3 Pickup Switch Upgrade

Wicked Switch

December 22, 2014 · Phil Feser

Awesome Musical Instruments T3 Pickup Switch Upgrade Price: $149.99 (black or white three-ply); $164.99 (white pearloid); $169.99 (brown tortoiseshell) Info:…

ZT Amplifiers Club and Lunchbox Acoustic

Big Things, Small Packages

January 24, 2014 · Sean OBryan Smith

In two short years of existence, ZT Amplifiers has found a unique place for itself in the world of boutique…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Walden Sean Harkness 12-String, CG4070E

Grand-Auditorium Cousins

April 26, 2016 · Chip Wilson

Walden Sean Harkness 12-String, CG4070E Price: $1,100 (Sean Harkness Model); $1,350 (CG4070E-CERT) Info: www.waldenguitars.com. With 16 years of producing attractive,…

Jim Peterik

Of the Bard, Brian Wilson, Buddy Guy and "Butt-Ugly" RDs

March 10, 2014 · Willie G. Moseley

Veteran guitarist/songwriter/vocalist/keyboard player/producer Jim Peterik’s career has taken yet another intriguing turn in its long and ever-active history. The Chicago-area…

Ibanez EKM100

Ibanez EKM100

Soul On Ice

March 4, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Ibanez EKM100 Price: $2,799.99 (list) Contact: www.ibanez.com Fans of contemporary soul, jazz, and funk should be well aware of Soulive.…

Dan’s Guitar RX: Reviving a ’56 Duo-Jet, Part Two

Ugly, But An Oldy

March 16, 2024 · Dan Erlewine

In the March issue, I introduced you to my apprentice, Blake Burkholder, and the restoration he was doing to a…

JOEBONAMASSA_HOME-MAIN-BIG

Joe Bonamassa

Driving

February 2, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

Joe Bonamassa’s latest record, Driving Towards The Daylight, is a return to the blues. After two successful studio albums with…

VG Q&A: ’71 Mahogany Precision?

Plus, a ’60s Conrad 12-String and Converting a ’65 ES-345TD-SV to Mono

June 5, 2025 · George Gruhn

I have a Fender Precision Bass with a 1971 neck date and serial number 296XXX, and I’ve always suspected the…

Bryan Beller

Bass Aristocracy

December 13, 2024 · Pete Prown

If you love daredevil musicians, you’ll dig The Aristocrats. A contemporary-fusion trio, the band includes guitar monster Guthrie Govan (VG,…

Guild A-20 Marley

Get Up, Stand Up

October 12, 2022 · Pete Prown

When it comes to famous Bobs in rock, Dylan is first to mind. But just behind him is another songwriting…

The Highwaymen

August 30, 2016 · Rich Kienzle

Country’s first supergroup emerged from a 1984 Johnny Cash Christmas special taped in Switzerland. Along with Marty Stuart, the guests…

Dave Stryker

Dave Stryker

Fits To a T

July 5, 2016 · John Heidt

The latest project from jazz guitarist Dave Stryker, Messin’ With Mister T, is a tribute to late saxophonist Stanley Turrentine,…

Walrus Audio Eons Five-State Fuzz

November 13, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Hot on the heels of its Ages Five-State Overdrive and Eras Five-State Distortion, Walrus Audio has unleashed the Eons Five-State…

Buddy Guy

Keeping the Blues Alive and Definitely Kicking

April 18, 2016 · Dan Forte

It was February 21, 2012. As part of the White House’s music series, “Red, White & Blues” featured a cavalcade…

Fenders American Vintage Series

Devilish in Detail

December 11, 2013 · Phil Feser

Fender American Vintage Series Price: $2,400 retail/$1,999.99 street (’52 Telecaster); $2,874 retail/$2,299.99 street (’59 Stratocaster); $2,874 retail/$2,299 street (’65 Jazzmaster…

Have Guitar Will Travel – 040 Featuring Johnny Hatton

December 15, 2020 · Art Department

  In Episode 40 of “Have Guitar Will Travel,” host James Patrick Regan speaks with bassist Johnny Hatton, whose current…

Rivet ’63/’64 Pickup Set

Pole Position

July 3, 2019 · Zac Childs

Rivet Pickups founder David Petschulat made the first locking vibrato with fine tuners for the EVH company, and worked stints…

John Page Classic Aqua Burst AJ

Classy & Sassy

January 18, 2024 · Pete Prown

The John Page Classic Aqua Burst AJ is another hip offering from the former Fender Custom Shop honcho and co-founder,…

Blackstar Amped 2

Satisfying Sounds

February 8, 2024 · Brett Jochim

Blackstar’s entry to the growing market of “all in one” compact amplifier/effects units claims to offer a high degree of…

Xotic ProVintage 5-String

July 3, 2019 · Pete Prown

Over the last few years Xotic has grown its rep thanks to top players who have endorsed its Leo-inspired guitars…

The Eastwood Super Axe

Chet Powered!

December 5, 2025 · Pete Prown

Wait – what? Did Eastwood just bring back the Super Axe, that incredibly rare bird from the late ’70s? Indeed,…

Pop ’N Hiss: Hawkwind’s Space Ritual

Primal Cosmic Rock

October 30, 2024 · Willie G. Moseley

Among the evolutionary tangents of London’s pop-music scene in the late ’60s were the original stylings of progressive rock, psychedelia,…

John Mayer

Sob Rock

July 13, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

John Mayer’s latest is a somber ode to the soft-rockin’ ’80s – think Henley and Hornsby. But don’t start eye-rolling…

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…

Gittler Classic Home Feature Image

Gittler Classic

Back to the Future

June 10, 2016 · Zac Childs

The Gittler guitar was invented in the late 1970s by Allan Gittler, whose vision to reduce the guitar to its…

The Mike Eldred Trio

August 30, 2016 · Michael Dregni

The Mike Eldred Trio’s latest was recorded at Memphis’ hallowed Sun Studios, but the deep blues are straight outta the…

James Williamson & Deniz Tek

Stooge meets a Birdman

September 23, 2019 · Greg Prato

The words “proto punk” arouse recollections of furiously strummed guitars and amps cranked to 10. For many, its sound and…

Friedman Amplification JEL-20

Firebreather

August 4, 2024 · Charlie Wilkins

For 25 years, Dave Friedman has been creating amplifiers that helped him (eh-hem) gain amp-guru status. His limited-run Jake E.…

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…

Teye Guitars’ Master Series Knights Templar

Knight Time

April 23, 2019 · Chip Wilson

Guitar fanatics find inspiration from different players. And if Woody swapping licks and practicing “the ancient art of weaving” with…

Susan Tedeschi

Just Won’t Burn

October 29, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Fantasy Records is celebrating Susan Tedeschi by reissuing the album that introduced her to lovers of soulful music the world…