• 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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Steve Dawson

February 9, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

 Channeling Sol Hoopii in “Singin’ the Blues” Steve Dawson used his unplugged Celtic Cross Weissenborn model lap steel and…

Davy Knowles

Manx Bluesman

March 8, 2023 · Dan Forte

  The Isle Of Man, which sits in the middle of the Irish Sea, measures 15 by 30 miles. The…

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…

Premier Twin 12

February 5, 2016 · Dave Hunter

Sometimes it takes just the slightest aesthetic twist to get an amp nut all worked up. This 1960 Premier Twin…

Peekamoose Model 3

Modern Retro

August 9, 2016 · Pete Prown

There’s no shortage of cool, retro-looking solidbodies on the market today, from the big guys as well as the increasing…

ZT Extortion Expressive Distortion

Mutant Distortion

May 8, 2014 · Rich Maloof

ZT Amplifiers put their name on the map four years ago with the compact Lunchbox solid-state amp. Now they continue…

  • 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,…

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ARTISTS

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…

Phil Chen

1946-2021

November 3, 2022 · Dan Forte

His business card read “Phil Chen De Bassman,” and his picks had “OD” after his name, standing for the Order…

Johnny Moeller and Mike Keller

Two for T(-Birds)

August 8, 2016 · Ward Meeker

Every fan of blues music is familiar with the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Founded in 1974 by two guys who would go…

Tagore Grey

British Steel

February 3, 2022 · Pete Prown

If you’ve been starving for good old-fashioned hard rock, the Treatment has your number. The British band has been building…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

30 Most Valuable Guitars

December 27, 2017 · Ward Meeker

To mark VG’s 30th anniversary, we dig into the 30 most-valuable production guitars.

Paul Bigsby’s Myrtlewood Guitars

April 30, 2024 · Deke Dickerson

= Few things are as satisfying as a guitar with a good story to tell. Some vintage guitars might be…

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+

The Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+

September 25, 2015 · Dave Hunter

Early Mesa/Boogie Mark Series amps were something of a sensation, but even with the line now having stretched all the…

Jim Lauderdale’s honkey-tonk toe-dip

January 31, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Singer/Songwriter’s Stylistic Twist Jim Lauderdale paid a visit to one of his favorite Nashville hangs and grabbed a gorgeous 1940…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

M&V Guitars and Pickups Atlas Large-Pole Precision Bass Pickups

Big Bottom

November 4, 2014 · Ray Wuolo

M&V Guitars and Pickups Atlas P Bass-Style Pickups Price: $75 Info: www.mvguitars.com. Let’s face it –  when it comes to…

Loar LH-309 VS Archtop

One Cool Cat

June 10, 2014 · Pete Prown

Loar LH-309 VS Archtop Price: $569.99 (street) Contact: theloar.com As the retro craze delves deeper into six-string history, a spate…

Radial Headload Guitar Amp Load Box

Taming a Shrew

March 1, 2017 · Julian Burtell

As low-power amps gain in popularity, one wonders what will happen to all the 50- and 100-watt amps starting to…

API Audio TranZformer GT and LX

Stripped Down

July 10, 2019 · Phil Feser

Automated Processing Inc. (API) is best-known for its high-end mixing consoles for broadcast and recording, along with the mic preamps,…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Seymour Duncan ’78 Model

Upscale Touch

June 26, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

In the late ’70s, rock guitarists fell down the rabbit hole trying to achieve more sustain, harmonics, and extra crunch…

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…

George Cotsirilos – Jazz Sans Cliché

December 14, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Deft work on an L-5 for “The Three Doves” George Cotsirilos grew up listening to Bloomfield, Hendrix, and Clapton, then…

Bill Nelson

Brit-Guitar Deluxe

April 14, 2020 · Pete Prown

Bill Nelson is one of the unsung heroes of British rock guitar. From his ’70s work with Be Bop Deluxe…

Epiphone Greeny Les Paul

A Legend Within Reach

November 26, 2024 · Bob Dragich

Following Peter Green Collectors Edition and Custom Shop tribute models from Gibson (priced in the tens of thousands), Epiphone recently…

The First “Mary Kaye” Stratocaster

May 15, 2022 · Iain Ashley Hersey

The Fender “Mary Kaye” Stratocaster. A term guitar aficionados have come to associate with a ’50s Strat with blond finish…

Gwenifer Goes “Cattywomp”

October 2, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

Fierce fingerstyle! Hailing from Wales, former punk-rock drummer Gwenifer Raymond’s fingerstyle playing is inspired by greats like John Fahey and…

Vintage Instruments and the Ban on Ivory Trade

Vintage Instruments and the Ban on Ivory Trade

February 3, 2016 · George Gruhn

A presidential executive order issued February 11 proposes a wide ban on trade in ivory has widespread implications for trade…

Jerry Douglas

Helping Hiatt

May 1, 2022 · Rich Kienzle

In April of 2020, Jerry Douglas and his band were set to back singer/songwriter John Hiatt on his new album,…

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Bruce Kulick

B-A-C-K to KKB

May 7, 2016 · Ward Meeker

Most associate the name, face, and licks of Bruce Kulick with his 12-year stint in the non-masked Kiss. A busy…

Magnets and Magic The PAF – Yesterday, Today

Magnets and Magic

The PAF – Yesterday, Today

June 21, 2016 · Ward Meeker

When it came to launching a solidbody electric guitar, Fender beat Gibson to the punch with its Broadcaster model in…

JOHNNYSMITH-HOME-MAIN-BIG

The Guild and Gibson Johnny Smith Models

December 3, 2013 · Jim Hilmar

The name “Johnny Smith” is synonymous with class, elegance, and style. Most guitar players are familiar, if not with the…

Graham Parker plays “We Did Nothing”

January 3, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Reflective take on the world In his review of Graham Parker’s “Last Chance To Learn The Twist,” Dan Forte recalls…

The Chase Bliss Clean

Posh Squash

December 5, 2025 · Pete Prown

With is Clean compressor, Chase Bliss set out to create a pedal that would duplicate the vivid interactivity of a…

Ana Popovic

Power

February 8, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Blues-rock barnstormer Ana Popovic’s latest is about love, perseverance, strength, and survival. After rising victoriously from 14 cancer treatments in…

Andrews Spectraverb 16

No Limits

January 8, 2018 · Phil Feser

Taking inspiration from Fender’s classic AB763 Deluxe Reverb, the hand-wired Andrews Spectraverb 16 uses a pair of JJ 6V6 power…

The Koch Studiotone

No-Sweat Double-Duty

June 10, 2020 · Phil Feser

Koch Amplifier’s 20-watt Studiotone uses an all-tube circuit powered by a matched pair of Ruby EL84 tubes producing 20 watts…

Have Guitar Will Travel – 043 Featuring Ranger Doug

January 26, 2021 · Art Department

The new episode of “Have Guitar Will Travel” features host James Patrick Regan’s conversation with “Ranger Doug” Green, guitarist, front man,…

Paul Nelson

Main Man to the Blues Man

May 27, 2014 · Tom Guerra

Paul Nelson is not only Johnny Winter’s second guitarist, but the blues icon’s musical director, producer, songwriter, and – many…

Buddy Whittington

Guitar-Lover’s Smorgasbord

May 20, 2021 · Willie G. Moseley

Though his status as a member of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers has changed since VG last talked to him, guitarist Buddy…

Have Guitar Will Travel – 021 Featuring Jake Shimabukuro

January 10, 2020 · James Patrick Regan

In the new episode of “Have Guitar Will Travel,” host James Patrick Regan speaks with ukulele artist Jake Shimabukuro, who talks…

Bob Spalding: Instrumental Legend

October 30, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Ventures Guitarist plays “New Space” sampler With a catalog that extends more than 60 years, The Ventures just keep on…

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Chris Isaak

Sun Worship

May 9, 2014 · Ward Meeker

Most pop-music fans became aware of Chris Isaak through his 1991 hit “Wicked Game” and its uber-high-profile video, directed by…

Charis Acoustic SJ

Charis Acoustic SJ

Spirit in the Wood

February 1, 2016 · Chip Wilson

Charis Acoustic SJ Price: $4,800 (base); $7,100 (as reviewed) Info: www.charisacoustic.com. The spiritual aspects of music perhaps originate with the…

Fender Blu DeTiger x Player Plus Jazz Bass

Ladies’ First

August 13, 2025 · Ward Meeker

With a quick glance and a dash of judginess, Fender’s Blu DeTiger x Player Plus Jazz Bass looks like what…

United They Stood, Part 2

Ghosts of Jersey City

July 11, 2022 · Peter Stuart Kohman

In the history of guitars, the tale of United Guitar Corporation is a ghost story – little documented and lost…

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…

Popa Chubby’s Dangerous Attitude

November 23, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

NYC blues beast rips on “I Don’t Want Nobody A fixture in New York City blues joints and familiar face…

Elliot Easton

Different Directions

January 9, 2014 · Willie G. Moseley

Lefty guitarist Elliot Easton has chosen a different route for his most recent musical venture, but its sonic direction should…