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2015 Readers’ Choice Awards

February 15, 1990 · Vintage Guitar

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

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…

Geddy Lee

Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass: A Compendium of the Rare, Iconic, and Weird

August 7, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Nearly two years in the making, Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass: A Compendium of the Rare, Iconic, and…

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…

Lazy J 20

Deluxe inspiration

July 30, 2015 · Phil Feser

The Lazy J 20 Price: $2,700 (reviewed) Contact: www.lazyjprojects.com After moving to England and leaving behind the vintage Fender Deluxe…

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…

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ARTISTS

Mick Taylor’s ’58 Les Paul Standard

The Ya Ya’s Out!

July 3, 2019 · Ward Meeker

Hard-edged face of the British Invasion, the Rolling Stones introduced the world to the implements, trappings, and accessories of rock-and-roll…

Sue Foley: Tribute to Female Pickers

March 19, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

 Revisiting the Work of Pioneers From Austin by way of Ottawa, Sue Foley is known worldwide as a blues…

Ed Mundell

Gettin’ Ultra Electric

April 25, 2014 · Kathleen Johnson

Since he arrived in Los Angeles in 2010, it’s been “all systems go” for former Monster Magnet guitarist Ed Mundell.…

Pete Anderson

November 7, 2006 · Dan Forte

Despite prevailing trends and “industry wisdom” – an oxymoron Pete Anderson has disproved several times over – the 20-year association…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Sue Foley

Femme Flamenco

December 10, 2024 · Greg Prato

In a time when pop-music performers rely heavily on post-recording fix-ups and pre-recorded tracks onstage, it’s refreshing – even admirable…

The Fender “High-Powered” Twin

May 15, 2024 · Dave Hunter

1958-’59 Fender Twin Preamp tubes: one 12AY7, two 12AX7 Output tubes: four 5881 (6L6 equivalents), fixed bias Rectifier: GZ34 (5AR4)…

The Story of Nudie’s Mosrite Mandolin

December 20, 2017 · Ward Meeker

In the mid 1970s, Kosmo and Kathy Cominos collected knives, jukeboxes, wristwatches, etc… But their favorite finds were celebrity-associated musical…

Kramer Pacer Deluxe

Superstrat or Bust

August 26, 2025 · Michael Wright

On rare occasions, the zeitgeist – not some lucky designer – creates a guitar that captures hearts and minds. Such…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

The Pettyjohn Crush Compressor

Big Squeeze

October 3, 2019 · Pete Prown

Compressors can be a real mystery to guitarists who don’t understand the concept. Recording engineers bandy about words like “hard-knee”…

Marshall’s EH-1 Echohead, RG-1 Regenerator & RF-1 Reflector

Little Marshalls, Big Tones

July 14, 2020 · Phil Feser

Continuing the tradition set forth by the stout little metallic gray/gold boxes of the GV-2 Guv’nor Plus, BB-2 Bluesbreaker II,…

DoleSonic Half Back Stack

Tone Meets Crafts-manship

December 12, 2013 · Sean OBryan Smith

Shaw Audio Bass 130 Price: $1,350 Contact: www.tremcaster.com, phone: (330) 608-2043 In a day where gear companies often focus on…

BSM RM Majestic Treble Booster

December 6, 2021 · Oscar Jordan

Germany’s BSM is among the rare specialist among modern stompbox builders; their focus is one thing – making treble boosters…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Eric Johnson

Eric Johnson

Epiphanies

January 24, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

Eric Johnson’s new release, Europe Liv, is an impressive offering, but you wouldn’t know it from talking to the man…

Walrus The Melee

Super Soaker

December 23, 2023 · Pete Prown

Just when you think you’ve seen everything, along comes Walrus’ The Melee: Wall of Noise, a pedal with a built-in…

Electro-Harmonix Pico Canyon, Rerun

Spacious Sounds, Less Space

November 26, 2024 · Bob Dragich

Electro-Harmonix’s Pico pedals are designed for players running out of space on their pedalboards. Each occupies just 71/3 square inches…

Ibanez Artcore AGS73FM and Vintage VSA500HB

Solid Semis

October 3, 2019 · Pete Prown

In the past several years, many import guitar brands have improved their build quality while continuing to offer their goods…

Classics: June 2023

Danny Gattons ’51 Nocaster

February 2, 2024 · Ward Meeker

From learning a first lick to playing an entire song with friends, musicians thrive on motivations big and small. Growing…

Cort’s Sunset I and II Feature

Cort’s Sunset I and II

Jonesin’ For Tone

December 28, 2015 · Phil Feser

When Cort isn’t busy making guitars and basses for major musical instrument companies, they’re hard at work building some pretty…

Check This Action: Box of Cacti

October 30, 2023 · Dan Forte

The 1970 debut album by Cactus blasted off with a gnarly guitar riff for the ages, as the band’s rendition…

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

Evolution

June 17, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram’s latest album shows the 22-year-old blues prodigy flourishing with maturity and tone for days. Titled 662, the…

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…

Oz Noy & Andrew Synowiec

Musical Combustion

October 8, 2025 · Oscar Jordan

New from Oz Noy and Andrew Synowiec is a guitar team-up highlighting hot licks, high energy, and strong songwriting. The…

The MXR M234 Analog Chorus and M87 Bass Compressor

Opposite Ends

August 27, 2013 · Sean OBryan Smith

MXR M87 Bass Comp and M234 Analog Chorus Price: $318 (M87 Bass Compressor), $170 (M234 Analog Chorus). Info: jimdunlop.com For…

Tony Mottola

Mr. Big, Guitar Pioneer

June 12, 2025 · Jim Carlton

Some argue that Tony Mottola was more legendary than famous. In a career spanning 50 years, the guitarist logged thousands…

Gibson’s Experimental Archtop

April 6, 2023 · George Gruhn and Walter Carter

Orville Gibson invented the carved-top guitar in the 1890s. The Gibson company refined the design with the addition of f-holes…

Andy Peake – Roots Without Boundaries

December 30, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Andy Peake – Roots Without Boundaries Andy Peake is a drummer/percussionist with a long list of accomplished-guitarist friends. For proof,…

JMI Vox AC15 “Two-Tone” 1×12″

TV Star

May 19, 2025 · Dave Hunter

The permutations of early Vox models remain endlessly fascinating to vintage-amp enthusiasts, and few get us as worked up as…

Dave Gonzalez

Western Soul Brother

April 27, 2020 · Wally Marx Jr.

For a guitarist with fans and admirers around the world, Dave Gonzalez is one humble man. “I’m still trying to…

Keeley Electronics Seafoam Chorus

Keeley Electronics Seafoam Chorus

Side Effects

March 13, 2015 · Tom Guerra

Keeley Electronics Seafoam Chorus Price: $229 (list) Contact: www.robertkeeley.com In a world of proliferating effects pedals, discovering one that does…

Vic Johnson

At Your Service

November 28, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Music fans might remember Vic Johnson as the wickedly eclectic guitarist from the ’80s band The Busboys; it thrived in…

Universal Audio Ruby, Woodrow & Dream

Model Of Perfection

July 28, 2023 · Pete Prown

With digital recording more popular than ever, audio designers are working to capture guitar tone directly, without miking an amp.…

Railhammer Hyper Vintage Humbucker

Poles Apart

August 6, 2015 · Lisa Sharken

Railhammer Hyper Vintage Humbucker Price: $139 list/ $89 direct Info: www.railhammer.com Developed by Joe Naylor of Reverend Guitars, Railhammers are…

Al Di Meola

Still Elegant

October 8, 2019 · Pete Prown

For close to 45 years, Al Di Meola’s career has brimmed with guitar virtuosity, taking him from red-hot fusion to…

Brian Tarquin

Shreddin’ for Veterans

December 14, 2023 · Ward Meeker

For guitarist Brian Tarquin, helping military veterans is part of life. The son of a World War II vet, he…

The Gibson Starfire TR 1000 RVT

Trans-Galactic Toneway

October 6, 2022 · Dave Hunter

Relatively unsung among early entrants to the field of solid-state guitar amplifiers, Gibson was the first high-output, high-quality manufacturer to…

Popa Chubby

Head, Heart, and Hands

October 12, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

Popa Chubby is back on the road again, preaching the gospel to blues fans around the world. His new album,…

Carl Verheyen

The Tools of Trading 8s

March 5, 2014 · Wolf Marshall

Carl Verheyen is a member of that elite (and shrinking) group of musicians known as “session guitarists.” Super-qualified pickers, they’re…

John Jorgenson

Stringed-Instrument Ecstasy

January 24, 2017 · Willie G. Moseley

The title of John Jorgenson’s new three-CD boxed set, Divertuoso, combines two words – “diverse” and “virtuoso” – to aptly…

Neal Schon

Driven Journey Man

April 27, 2023 · Bret Adams

It’s been 11 years since Journey released a new studio album, and its latest, Freedom, is packed with 15 arena-ready…

The Pickaso Guitar Bow

Fiddle Stick 

October 15, 2021 · Pete Prown

Ever since Jimmy Page grabbed a bow for “Dazed and Confused,” players have tried to bridge the gap between guitars…

Vox’s AC30CH and V212C Cabinet

Get Back

July 9, 2018 · Michael Dregni

The Beatles helped popularize Vox amps, and Sir Paul tours with them today because they still have that sound –…