• Seymour Duncan Announces the Slash 3.0 Pickup Set

    Seymour Duncan Announces the Slash 3.0 Pickup Set

    SANTA BARBARA, January 13th, 2026 – Seymour Duncan, a leading manufacturer of guitar and bass pickups, effects pedals, and pedal amps, is proud to announce that the Slash 3.0 Pickup…

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  • Thomas Custom Guitars

    Thomas Custom Guitars

    Rarities from the Pacific Northwest

    Certain makes and models of electric guitars are rightfully prized for their elegant physical designs and superior craftsmanship. Even better are those also revered for their playability and particularly rich…

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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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Collings Julian Lage OM1 JL

Great Expectations

July 3, 2019 · Pete Prown

The late Bill Collings and his craftsmen are renowned for their beautiful-sounding guitars. It’s apt they’ve connected with a beautiful-sounding…

The Uncanny Approach of Walter Strauss

December 27, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Fingerstylist melds melodies, polyrhythms, and visceral picking on “Fabara” Walter Strauss shows his extraordinary technique with help from his Sexauer…

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…

Fender’s Brad Paisley Road Worn Telecaster

Country Composite

May 21, 2019 · Yoel Kreisler

One of the newest models from Fender’s Artist series is designed to appeal to vintage Telecaster fanatics, country twangers, and…

Fretprints: Robben Ford

The Early Years: Emergence of a Blues/Jazz Virtuoso

January 24, 2022 · Wolf Marshall

“Who is this kid?” gasped incredulous attendees of the Guitar Explosion festival at the Hollywood Bowl in June, 1973. It…

Def Leppard

Diamond Star Halos

April 12, 2023 · Bret Adams

Def Leppard has always emphasized loving ’70s glam rock and protested being labeled a heavy metal band. Okay – but…

  •  Jason Isbell

     Jason Isbell

    New Vistas, Old Gear

    Jason Isbell’s powerful songs, compelling vocals, and formidable guitar skills have made him one of America’s most-respected singer/songwriters. A charismatic performer, his critically-lauded albums, solo and backed by the formidable…

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ARTISTS

Classics: June 2022

David Hood’s Alembic Bass

February 8, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Like the engineers and musicians who, in the ’60s and ’70s, helped create legendary songs at FAME Studios and its…

Michael Johnny Walker

Michael Johnny Walker

Vintage Attitude Required

July 5, 2016 · Johnny Zapp

The term “vintage” isn’t always literal when it comes to gear, but it certainly can be used to describe attitude.…

Frank DiBussolo

Jazz Master

January 14, 2025 · Steve Walker

Frank DiBussolo is an eight-time Grammy nominee who has been a featured soloist in the bands of Buddy Rich, Dizzy…

Have Guitar Will Travel – 033 Featuring Pete Bernhard

August 18, 2020 · James Patrick Regan

James Patrick Regan welcomes Pete Bernhard, guitarist with Devil Makes Three, to the latest “Have Guitar Will Travel” podcast. They…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Etched in Time

“Signature” Gibsons from the Early Days of Cable

January 7, 2014 · Ward Meeker

In 1984, Christian Roebling went from being just another guy watching TV to creating what was likely the first television…

The España 6/12 Doubleneck

April 27, 2023 · Michael Wright

More is always better, right? Eleven is better than 10 on an amplifier, three pickups are better than two, and…

Guild S-200 Thunderbird

July 14, 2020 · Michael Wright

Back in 1958, when Gibson introduced its revolutionary Explorer, Flying V, and mysterious Moderne, the public – rather like Queen…

The Bass That Waited

Rickenbacker’s Early 4000 and 4001

April 29, 2021 · Peter Stuart Kohman

In the January and February installments, we looked at Gibson’s Thunderbird, an instrument condemned by its maker to a quick…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

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…

Walla Walla Maverick Pro Series

To a T

July 10, 2019 · Pete Prown

Walla Walla has carved a niche in the world of highly customized guitars and basses in the tradition of those…

KRAMER_PACER_HOME-MAIN-BIG

Kramer 84 and Pacer Vintage

Tap, Shred, Dive!

January 4, 2016 · Sean OBryan Smith

Kramer 84/Pacer Vintage Price: $1,166 (84); $1,267 (Pacer Vintage) Info: kramerguitars.com It’s hard to think of ’80s guitars as vintage,…

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…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

MARK DUTTON

Mark Dutton

A.K.A. “Muddy”: Vintage Vibes, Retro Grooves

January 24, 2017 · Johnny Zapp

Mark “Muddy” Dutton is one cool cat with an impressive resumé and an affinity for the budget-friendly basses of yesterday.…

Fretprints: Stevie Ray Vaughan

The Blues Man’s Jazzy Side

March 4, 2022 · Wolf Marshall

Stevie Ray Vaughan is the uncontested blues champion of the new age. Though he’s been gone more than 30 years,…

Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour

Friendlytown

May 31, 2025 · Rich Kienzle

From his earliest days in Memphis, Steve Cropper’s virtuosity stemmed from his powerful mastery of rhythm and flawless sense of…

Holbrook TS50 Tommy Skeoch Head

More Than Modded

July 24, 2019 · Phil Feser

After Kevin Holbrook and rock guitarist Tommy Skeoch began working on a custom amp, the former took several trips to…

Foghat

Sonic Mojo

October 8, 2024 · Bret Adams

 Few things in life are guaranteed – but one is that drummer Roger Earl will keep Foghat truckin’. For 50-plus…

100 Years of Boston’s MFA

Playable Exhibits

May 9, 2019 · Michael Wright

Musical instruments – guitars – present an interesting philosophical dichotomy. On one hand, they’re utilitarian objects whose very purpose –…

2025 May Issue on Spotify

May 2, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

This month, we feature The Dobbie Brothers, Popa Chubby, Joey Molland, Carlos Alomar, Cream, David Bowie, Rush, Norman Harris, Greg…

Eastwood’s Classic 6 TA PHo

Phish Food

August 10, 2023 · Pete Prown

If you’ve seen Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio onstage, you may have noticed an unusual archtop in his mitts – a…

The (Way) Back Beat: A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody

Fretted cheesecake advertising through the years, Part 3: The 1960s

April 5, 2024 · Peter Stuart Kohman

Fretted-instrument advertising in the 20th century relied heavily on “glamor” or “cheesecake.” Electric instruments and accessories, in particular, are still…

Musicvox Space Cadet and MVX-15 Studio Custom

Musicvox Space Cadet and MVX-15 Studio Custom

Rockin’ Down the House

August 31, 2015 · Pete Prown

Musicvox Space Cadet and MVX-15 Studio Custom Price: $999 (Space Cadet)/$699 (MVX-15) Contact: www.musicvox.com For nearly two decades, Musicvox’s designs…

Monster Mike Welch

From Phenom To Blues Veteran

April 28, 2024 · Dan Forte

Twenty-seven years after his debut album at age 17, Monster Mike Welch delivers perhaps his best disc yet with Nothing…

Marcin

Dragon In Harmony

October 9, 2025 · Oscar Jordan

Acoustic/electric sensation Marcin effortlessly traverses the fretboard with a guitar style that embraces the companionable influences of classical, flamenco, and…

Blackbird Guitars’ Lucky 13

Blackbird Guitars’ Lucky 13

Nice Roll

March 2, 2016 · Chip Wilson

Blackbird Guitars’ Lucky 13 Price: $1,850 (list)/$2,050 (with Fishman electronics) Info: www.blackbirdguitar.com What has a 13-fret neck, a small-but-curvaceous body…

Beat Portraits: Burns Volume 11

Burns Oddities and Ends

February 21, 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…

D.K. Harrell

Blues Boy

January 14, 2025 · Pete Prown

B.B. King may be gone, but on The Right Man, D.K. Harrell picks up the baton and carries that legendary…

The DryBell Vibe Machine V-2

Catch A Wave

March 13, 2019 · Yoel Kreisler

DryBell is renowned for one of the most authentic and pedalboard-friendly Uni-Vibe recreations on the market. Five years after launching…

Debut Drive

Slamo Guitars’ Turquoise Cabronita

April 16, 2020 · Bob Cianci

Slamo Guitars may not have yet achieved the name recognition of certain others, but Frank Silano has been building guitars…

Prodigal Sunburst

Joe Walsh Reunites with a ’59 Les Paul Standard

March 9, 2023 · Ward Meeker

A master of delivering crystal-clear musical messages with an off-kilter wit, whether talking, singing, picking, or sliding on guitar, everything…

2016 Readers’ Choice Awards

February 16, 1990 · Vintage Guitar

Each year, VG asks readers to select Readers’ Choice winners for Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, and…

Christmas 1968

Vintage Guitar magazine Presents Greg Martin's Head Shop

December 24, 2016 · Greg Martin

This is a regular series of exclusive Vintage Guitar online articles where The Kentucky Headhunters’ Greg Martin looks back on…

2021 May Issue on Spotify

June 7, 2021 · Doug Yellow Bird

This month, we feature, Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis, Lee Ritenour, Steve Lukather, Michael Schenker, Yasmin Williams, Tony Rombola, Rod Abernethy,…

Ian Hunter

Defying the Odds

January 31, 2024 · Tom Guerra

Taking advantage of the time off in the early days of the pandemic, Ian Hunter hunkered down in his Connecticut…

Keeley Halo Dual Echo

Dot Matrix

July 6, 2023 · Pete Prown

In this latest Keeley offering, the goal is capturing Andy Timmons’ “Halo” sound, which mines the world of dotted-8th delay…

TWA Triskelion MK3 Harmonic Energizer

Functional Filter

January 6, 2023 · Tom Guerra

Based on the Systech Harmonic Energizer pedal made famous by Adrian Belew, Frank Zappa, and Greg Lake, the TWA Triskelion…

Coppersound Kingpin Clipper and Iris Optical Compressor

Royal Restraint

August 4, 2024 · Charlie Wilkins

With the growing popularity of small-footprint effects, Coppersound’s Kingpin Germanium Clipper and Iris Optical Compressor nicely fit the bill –…

Blood, Sweat & Tears

What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?

April 24, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

In 1970, Blood, Sweat & Tears was one of the most popular bands on Earth. The Woodstock headliner’s second album…

Furch Blue Deluxe SW

Czech Mate

January 18, 2023 · Pete Prown

You might not recogonize the Furch brand, but the Czech Republic builder has spent that last 40-plus years gaining a…

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…

Ray Cummins – Guitar Tutorial 5

Ray Cummins – Guitar Tutorial #5

June 27, 2018 · Ray Cummins

In his fifth exclusive lesson for www.VintageGuitar.com, Ray Cummins demonstrates and explains his use of harmonics on Gibson Country Gentleman plugged into…