• Michael Manring

    Michael Manring

    Bass Convergence

    Most music fans who learn that the eclectic trio 3Below is all bass players will react with, “You gotta be kiddin’!” However, musicians who appreciate the unusual will stay for…

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NEWSWIRE

ARTISTS

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Steve West

Life Since “Louie, Louie”

May 7, 2016 · Dan Forte

What constitutes a Guitar Hero? Is it Hendrix or Van Halen, or is it your seminal six-string inspiration? Or what…

Happy Halloween

September 30, 2011 · Doug Yellow Bird

The Great Vintage Guitar Pumpkin! Also, check out some fun Halloween videos here.

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…

Jol Dantzig

Back to Hands-On at Hamer

March 16, 2011 · Willie G. Moseley

Jol Dantzig with a Hamer Monaco III. Photos courtesy Jol Dantzig. When the Hamer Standard first appeared in an unassuming…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

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Traynor YBA-2 Bass Mate

May 10, 2016 · Dave Hunter

Canadian amp maker Traynor gets a lot of respect in some circles for turning out solid, good-sounding tube amps that…

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…

Gibson Wall-Board Guitar

Out of the Woods, Off the Wall

September 28, 2024 · Deke Dickerson

In the world of “guitarcheology,” it’s well-documented that the truly interesting stuff – prototypes, one-offs, custom instruments – usually surface…

A Master’s Pallet

George Fullerton’s Fender Jazzmaster

A Master's Pallet

March 20, 2015 · George Gruhn

This Jazzmaster is an interesting example of what went on behind the scenes at the Fender factory with the research…


APPROVED GEAR

CopperSound Strategy

Strat-Jack Boost

October 13, 2022 · Bob Dragich

CopperSound pedals started in the winter of 2014 as a group of friends in Massachusetts who wanted to build pedals…

Walrus Audio’s Bellwether Dela

The Bell Tolls For Thee

November 29, 2016 · Rich Maloof

The Bellwether from Walrus Audio is a high-end analog delay notable for its tone, adaptability, and depth of control. The…

Fender Joe Strummer Campfire

Punk Burner

April 1, 2022 · Dennis Pernu

Punk legend Joe Strummer might not be the first name that comes to mind when the subject turns to “acoustic…

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.…

  •  Prestige Guitars Unveils 2026 Heritage Series Guitars 

     Prestige Guitars Unveils 2026 Heritage Series Guitars 

     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 14, 2025  Vancouver, BC — Prestige Guitars is proud to announce the return of the Heritage Series, featuring an all-new lineup of guitars for 2026. The new Heritage models include the Elite in Pelham Blue and Gold Top, the return of the Troubadour in its sleek Matte Black finish and new…

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  •  Gator’s G-TOUR Truck Pack Line Grows Smaller 

     Gator’s G-TOUR Truck Pack Line Grows Smaller 

    11.15.2025  TAMPA, FL – As part of an expanding range of truck pack solutions, Gator has introduced a more compact addition to its G-TOUR Series with the GTOURTRK2222HS. Designed for tighter loadouts and reduced cargo space, the new size retains the ATA-style construction and tour-grade protection of larger G-TOUR truck pack models while offering a…

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  • Soldano SLO Plus Super Lead Overdive

    Soldano SLO Plus Super Lead Overdive

    Icon In Reach

    If the iconic Soldano SLO-100 is perpetually on your wish list but its price tag keeps you from pulling the trigger, its creator now has a realistic alternative. Expanding on the original single-channel SLO Overdrive pedal, the SLO Plus introduces a Normal channel alongside Overdrive, each with dedicated controls that allow for detailed tweaking of…

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  • Orange Dual Baby, Gain Baby, and Tour Baby 100

    Orange Dual Baby, Gain Baby, and Tour Baby 100

    Playpen Power

    For 2025, Orange has expanded on its compact Pedal Baby introduced a few years back with a new trio – the Dual Baby, Gain Baby, and Tour Baby. All 100-watt amps with solid-state Class A/B output stages, Jfet preamp stages (another form of solid-state), and two footswitchable channels, they’re housed in 12″ x 3.25″ x…

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  • Boss SDE-3 Dual Digital Delay

    Boss SDE-3 Dual Digital Delay

    Double Echo

    Based on the famed Roland SDE-3000 rack unit, Boss’ SDE-3 combines some classic delay sounds of the 1980s, updated with a bevy of modern tricks and features. Like a lot of delays, it can be run in mono, but you’ll get the biggest bang going in stereo to different amps or outputs. The core of…

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Saga Gitane DG-250M

Saga Gitane DG-250M

One Loud Blond

April 9, 2015 · Chip Wilson

Saga Gitane DG-250M Price: $949 Info: www.sagamusic.com Features: Open-gear 14:1-ratio tuners, solid spruce top with “petite bouche” oval soundhole, birdseye…

Rickenbacker 325

A Pop Icon and His Beloved Axe

August 24, 2022 · R.J. Klimpert

Details In 1962, the Ac’cent Vibrato replaced the original Rick’s standard Kauffman unit, which was derived from a nearly 30-year-old…

Gibson Les Paul Special 3/4

January 18, 2010 · George Gruhn and Walter Carter

Gibson’s double-cutaway Les Paul Special 3/4 from 1959 is one of the rarest Les Pauls from the “golden era.” It’s…

Sheryl Bailey

New Ground in The SBQ

August 6, 2024 · Wolf Marshall

Sheryl Bailey has enjoyed a steady upward trajectory since her career launched 20 years ago. One of the leading proponents…

Eric Ambel

Proficient Professional

December 26, 2017 · Dennis Pernu

Ace sideman (Joan Jett, Steve Earle), producer of note (Bottle Rockets, Nils Lofgren, Marshall Crenshaw), and proprietor of Brooklyn’s 24-track…