• 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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Rockn’ Stompn RS-4

Order!

May 8, 2025 · Joe Bigley

Powering up your favorite rig in the wrong order can lead to, at minimum, a loud pop through your valued…

Vic Juris

The Core of Big Apple Jazz

April 22, 2019 · Jim Carlton

Every noted jazz artist in the world is familiar with Vic Juris. His body of work commands serious respect and…

Matching Mojo

May 4, 2023 · Willie G. Moseley

During the “guitar boom” of the 1960s, one method of getting a band noticed was to equip it with matching…

Fender Mustang

Truly Transitional

April 28, 2020 · Willie G. Moseley

Despite its short scale, the Mustang has a potent sound, and as a result it was used by many notable…

Dan’s Guitar RX: Building a From-Scratch Class Project, Part Two

Rock-And-Roll High School(er)

July 13, 2023 · Dan Erlewine

In the August issue, we introduced you to Ceil Thompson, a high-school intern in my shop who’s building a guitar…

Pop ’N Hiss: Albert King’s Born Under a Bad Sign and Live Wire/Blues Power

Power, Indeed

October 29, 2025 · Dan Forte

In February of 1968, Albert King stepped onto the stage of San Francisco’s Fillmore Auditorium for the first time. With…

  • 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

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…

Jeff Plankenhorn’s “Alone At Sea”

January 9, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Tasty slide on a square-neck Oahu Singer/songwriter Jeff Plankenhorn’s music is a rootsy mix that embraces blues and pop while…

Tracy G

Dio Disciple

July 9, 2019 · Greg Prato

Ronnie James Dio had a knack for collaborating with talented guitarists – Ritchie Blackmore in Rainbow, Tony Iommi in Black…

Ron Wood

Stone Solo

April 7, 2015 · Elliot Stephen Cohen

“I’ve always wanted to rock,” gushes 63-year-old Ron Wood, whose journey from the shy 10-year-old washboard player in older brother…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Dad’s Day 2021

VG’s Annual Salute to Fathers Who Inspire

March 7, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Marty Ashby’s very musical family has been playing together since he was a little kid. Here’s a shot of them…

One of Two of a Kind

Gibson’s L-3 Ganus Brothers Special

July 9, 2018 · George Gruhn

Making custom instruments has always been problematic for companies designed to manufacture in quantity. Though it had an unenforced policy…

 Jason Isbell

New Vistas, Old Gear

January 2, 2026 · Rich Kienzle

Jason Isbell’s powerful songs, compelling vocals, and formidable guitar skills have made him one of America’s most-respected singer/songwriters. A charismatic…

Gibson Goldtops

Molten Mojo, Head-To-Head Vintage Versus Reissue

May 28, 2022 · Nathaniel Riverhorse Nakadate

In the good ol’ days of 1952, jazzmeister Les Paul strutted to the center of the world’s stage and proudly…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Line 6 Catalyst 100

Natural Vibe

April 4, 2023 · Pete Prown

The latest array of amp modelers from Line 6 – pioneers in the field – is the Catalyst, in 60-,…

Newman Guitars 5 String

Less Is More

August 13, 2025 · Rich Maloof

Getting one’s hands on a five-string electric like the one Ted Newman Jones built for Keith Richards in the ’70s…

Musicvox Space Cadet USB 30″ Custom

Short-Scale Slugger

March 2, 2017 · Pete Prown

Don’t be confused by the USB in this four-string’s name – there’s no computer-cable hookup. Instead, USB stands for “ultimate…

HomeWrecker Pickups

Slumbering Strats, Awake!

March 10, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

In 2011, session guitarist Joshua Hernandez began winding pickups in his living room. From these modest beginnings, and with no…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

5150 Iconic Series 60-Watt 2×12

Little Monster

April 24, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

When Edward Van Halen released his 5150 head with Peavey in 1992, it quickly grew famous for its massive gain,…

Pop ’N Hiss: Santana’s Caravanserai

Pageant of Enlightenment

November 4, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

By the summer of 1971, 24-year-old Carlos Santana and his band – Neal Schon on guitar, drummer Michael Shrieve, Gregg…

Thom Douvan

Thom Douvan

Motown and More

July 5, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

Released in April, guitarist Thom Douvan’s third album, All Over Again, is a mix of self-penned instrumentals (with one notable…

Have Guitar Will Travel 052 – Cesar Gueikian

June 9, 2021 · Art Department

Gibson’s newly appointed Brand President, Cesar Gueikian, returns to “Have Guitar Will Travel,” with host James Patrick Regan. Cesar is…

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.…

Alive! Guitar Revived

The Tale of Frampton’s ’54 Les Paul Custom

February 1, 2021 · Ward Meeker

Gifted to Peter Frampton after a 1970 Humble Pie concert at Fillmore West in San Francisco, for years, this ’54…

Lance Lopez

Hard-Time Music

August 7, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Lance Lopez is back and better than ever. Trouble Is Good is wild, hellacious, and packed with three essential influences…

The Electro-Harmonix Superego Synth Engine

Synthful

March 19, 2014 · Phil Feser

Electro-Harmonix Superego Synth Engine Price: $283.60 (retail); $212.70 (street) Contact: www.ehx.com Building on the success of its Freeze Sound Retainer…

Lollygagger FX Canaglia Overdrive

Rude ’Tude

July 9, 2018 · Oscar Jordan

Sean Wright’s love for guitars and electronics has resulted in a family business that realizes his vision of stompbox perfection.…

Mark Sampson

Back Cat

November 7, 2025 · Ward Meeker

Epitome of the restless designer/tinkerer, Mark Sampson has co-founded four guitar-amplifier companies, two of which – Matchless and Bad Cat…

Shannon McNally

The Waylon Sessions

March 4, 2022 · Michael Dregni

Does the world really, truly need yet another tribute to quintessential country outlaw Waylon Jennings? Yes – especially when it’s…

Visual Sound Route 66 V3 American Overdrive

Visual Sound Route 66 V3 American Overdrive

Get Yer’ Kick

April 15, 2016 · Anders Fransson

Visual Sound Route 66 V3 American Overdrive Price: $179 (street) Contact: www.truetone.com/ Over the years, the Route 66 pedal by…

Tinsley Ellis

Tinsley Ellis

Tougher Than Ever

March 22, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

After decades of roadhouses, bars, and international touring, bluesman Tinsley Ellis is still going strong. A 1979 graduate of Emory…

William Peale, Jr. Gibson Super 400

Sharp-Shooter Special

April 9, 2019 · George Gruhn

The iconic “singing cowboy” was created by Hollywood actors like Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Tex Ritter, and others. Many used…

GIBSONTALFARLOW-HOME-MAIN-BIG

Gibson Tal Farlow

April 18, 2016 · Kevin Vey

The Tal Farlow is one guitar in a quartet of full-depth Gibson Artists models first cataloged in the early 1960s. Introduced…

Gibson’s Budget Redux

The SB Series Guitars and Basses

March 2, 2017 · Willie G. Moseley

As the 1960s rolled into the ’70s, Gibson had established itself in the electric-bass market with front-line instruments such as…

Marty Stuart

A Country-Music Odyssey

December 16, 2023 · Dan Forte

Marty Stuart’s life is the stuff of movies. Just nine years old when he started singing and playing guitar in…

Steve Gunn

May 15, 2016 · Kathleen Johnson

Drawing inspiration from a decade on the road, guitarist-singer-songwriter Steve Gunn’s debut for Matador Records chugs along like a handsome…

BILL KIRCHEN

Bill Kirchen

Telemaster Offers A Word To The Wise

December 16, 2011 · Dan Forte

Trying to top 2006’s Hammer Of The Honky-Tonk Gods, Bill Kirchen’s eighth solo album, would seem a mighty tall order.…

GluBoost MasterGlu, Fill N’ Finish, MasterTint, and Gludry Accelerator

Stick-To-It-Iveness

May 21, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

There exists a subculture of guitarists who build, customize, or resurrect their own instruments, or help friends with theirs. GluBoost’s…

MIM Hosts Stephen Stills and Ushers in Dragons and Vines Exhibition

December 7, 2016 · Johnny Zapp

On November 5th, Phoenix, Arizona’s Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) celebrated the opening of their newest exhibition, “Dragons and Vines: Inlaid…

Guyatone LG-160T

The Secret's Out!

May 24, 2006 · Michael Wright

Like plants, Japanese guitars have an almost secret life of which few people outside are aware. While many Americans in…

Michael Lee Firkins

Meditations in Southern Rock

April 2, 2014 · Oscar Jordan

Michael Lee Firkins began his career as the ’80s shred era wound down and grunge began to boom. His out-of-the-box…

Cliff Gallup

Crazy Fingers

April 22, 2019 · Michael Dregni

There was a custom at Owen Bradley Film & Recording Studios in Nashville; artists cut vocal tracks with backing from…

Pandemic Peak?

The Guitar Market’s “Covid Surge”

February 9, 2022 · Ward Meeker

In the September ’20 issue, VG surveyed guitar dealers to learn how they’d been impacted by the early weeks of…

Electro-Harmonix Epitome, Tone Tattoo

Tone to the Third Squared

December 16, 2014 · Pete Prown

The Electro-Harmonix Epitome, Tone Tattoo Price: $491.84 list (Epitome) and $292.35 list (Tone Tattoo) Info: www.ehx.com The concept is smart…

The Thompson Tremor Bender

Big Bend

April 29, 2020 · Zac Childs

Longtime musician and professional tool-and-die maker Don Thompson recently introduced the Tremor Bender, a retrofit stringbending device for most Fender-…

Dave Edmunds

Dave Edmunds

Full Solo Circle

July 8, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

The career of Welsh guitarist Dave Edmunds has included hits and collaborations with other notable musicians, including Rockpile, with bassist…

Kay’s K161 Thin Twin

Post-war Blues Box

July 5, 2018 · Pete Prown

In his day, Jimmy Reed was a huge influence on everyone from Eric Clapton and Mike Bloomfield to the Rolling…