PRS SE NF3

Expanded Options

May 8, 2025 · Bob Cianci

The latest result of PRS Guitars “reverse-engineering”/ reconsidering its own instruments, the SE NF3 is the first PRS to be…

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…

Pop ’N Hiss: Prince’s 1999

Music, Sex, and The New World Order

January 31, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

1981, the world was enveloped in the Cold War, with its nuclear weapons, Reaganomics, and uncertainty. Prince Rogers Nelson had…

Out-Stratting the Strat

Out-Stratting the Strat

The Story of the G&L S-500

March 1, 2016 · Gabe Dellevigne

It would be an understatement to say that Leo Fender, with the help of George Fullerton, was prolific in the…

Dusty Hill

1949-2021

June 1, 2022 · Dan Forte

It didn’t take long for testimonials to pour in to VG following the death of ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill.…

Ernie Ball’s Music Man Cutlass/Stingray

Talkin’ Tonewoods

April 24, 2019 · Pete Prown

For many builders of solidbody guitars, the challenge is to improve on a handful of pioneering designs from the 1950s…

  •  VG Q&A: Harmony History

     VG Q&A: Harmony History

    And an Archtop Mystery

    I recently received two guitars as gifts and am trying to learn more about them. The first is a Harmony I believe is from the early ’70s. Its serial number…

    Read more >>

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ARTISTS

Pop ’N Hiss: Taste

Breakout Blues

August 26, 2025 · Willie G. Moseley

The ’60s may have been the most musically significant decade in the history of popular music, but very few countries…

Chuck Loeb

“Most Wanted” For Melody

June 23, 2020 · John Heidt

From its terrific melodies to the meat-and-potatoes playing that makes him a mainstay of smooth jazz radio, guitarist Chuck Loeb’s…

John 5

In the Hands

November 2, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

On his latest album, John 5 stays true to himself as he dips into his famous bag of Tele tricks…

Dave Specter, Swimming in ’verb!

February 15, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Twangy Texas blues via Chicago Dave Specter (no relation to Phil!) uses his reissue Jazzmaster plugged into a ’65 Vibrolux…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

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…

Freddie Green

Artistry in Rhythm

December 5, 2024 · Jim Carlton

Fellow musicians called him “Pep” or “Pepperhead.” He was also known as “Mr. Rhythm,” and he could drive a band…

Hilary Gardner returns with a fresh take on a holiday classic!

December 24, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Hilary Gardner returns! Ready to set the tone for your holidays, Hilary Gardner and her band return for a fantastic…

Webster-Chicago RMA 375 Model 166-1

Grammy Winner

July 18, 2019 · Dave Hunter

Modified or repurposed amps generally don’t fit into our monthly discussion here, but some are representative enough of a certain…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

John Page Classic Aqua Burst AJ

Classy & Sassy

January 18, 2024 · Pete Prown

The John Page Classic Aqua Burst AJ is another hip offering from the former Fender Custom Shop honcho and co-founder,…

Oxford Guitar Supply

Fine Finish

May 8, 2025 · Joe Bigley

One factor keeping many people from working on their guitars is the availability of tools and materials to make those…

Roland’s JC-22 Jazz Chorus

More Than Just Chime

March 13, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

The original Roland Jazz Chorus doesn’t get the kind of love that American and British amps in the rock and…

Retro and Wonderful

The EHX Mainframe Bit Crusher

December 6, 2021 · Oscar Jordan

The Mainframe Bit Crusher is a nasty little pedal that warps, mangles, distorts and produces lo-fi digital sounds and trippy…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Steve “Frog” Forgey

August 5, 2025 · Ram W. Tuli

Season 03 Episode 04 In Episode 3.4 of “Buy That Guitar,” host Ram Tuli is joined by Steve “Frog” Forgey…

EHX Tortion JFET Overdrive

EHX Tortion JFET Overdrive

January 25, 2016 · Ray Wuolo

EHX Tortion JFET Overdrive Price: $198.67 (list)/$179 (street) Contact: www.ehx.com Having teenage metal-shredders at home makes one appreciate that a…

Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor-II PRO

Archtop Ruler

January 24, 2017 · Michael Dregni

In the early 1950s, the grand old luthiers like Epiphone and Gibson couldn’t believe there would ever be a market…

Ian Crichton

“We’re A Real Band”

March 1, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

Having weathered fame and changing musical trends, guitarist Ian Crichton has carved an indelible niche as the guitarist in Saga,…

Thin Lizzy

The Acoustic Sessions

November 7, 2025 · Bret Adams

Thin Lizzy’s first studio release in decades, this album reimagines tracks recorded 50+ years ago by the trio of vocalist/bassist…

Jack Bruce

Shadows and (Erstwhile) Short-Scale Basses

April 14, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

Veteran bassist Jack Bruce is back in action with a new album and tour. Best known for his membership in…

Mick Ralphs Home Thumb

Mick Ralphs

Back To Bad Co., And Beyond

February 7, 2014 · Willie G. Moseley

Guitarist Mick Ralphs, whose pulverizing riffs were first heard in the late ’60s in the original Mott the Hoople, has…

Guild Polara Kim Thayil

Get Your Grunge

June 26, 2024 · Bob Cianci

With Soundgarden, guitarist Kim Thayil helped define the grunge movement. His unusual weapon of choice was the Guild S-100 Polara,…

Ray Bonneville

Ray Bonneville

Easy Groove

January 18, 2016 · John Heidt

Ray Bonneville’s latest album, Easy Gone, glides on a steady groove. “I really like the way it sounds with these…

Mick Fleetwood & Friends

Celebrate the Music of Peter Green & Early Years of Fleetwood Mac

May 10, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

British blues icon Peter Green passed away July 25, 2020, at the age of 73. As one of the founding…

Fender’s 70th Anniversary Esquire

One-Pickup Wonder

February 10, 2022 · Michael Dregni

In the past, Fender has paid homage to its history with precise replicas of certain classics. The company’s 70th Anniversary…

Mighty Poplar

Ace: Mighty Poplar

January 25, 2024 · Rich Kienzle

The term “supergroup” is overused in every musical genre, but Mighty Poplar is one; mandolinist Andrew Marlin is part of…

Black Cat Vibe and TWA’s Triskelion Mk. II

Opposites Attract

March 31, 2017 · Pete Prown

In today’s world of proliferating boutique pedals, guitarists have a staggering array of divergent options. Case in point, the Black…

Danelectro ’59 Resonator

Book This Dano

July 5, 2018 · Chip Wilson

While guitar enthusiasts expend a lot of brain power waxing poetic about tonewoods, for many VG readers of a certain…

Yates McKendree

Blues Emotion

October 4, 2023 · Sean McDevitt

Yates McKendree hasn’t yet turned 22, but he has already digested a lifetime’s worth of American roots music. The proof…

Paul Benjaman: Tulsa twanger

August 27, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Funky solo from “Undercover of Night” On his new album, “My Bad Side Wants a Good Time,” Paul Benjaman serves…

Roland Micro Cube

Mighty Mouse

November 4, 2013 · Pete Prown

Roland Micro Cube Price: $130 (street) Info: www.rolandus.com. Every once in a while you have to pinch yourself and thank…

Eastwood Marksman 5

Bullseye!

October 13, 2015 · Zac Childs

Eastwood Marksman 5 Price: $999 (retail) Info: www.eastwoodguitars.com. Reviving great and unusual designs from the past has been the focus…

The Alligator Christmas Collection

Various artists

August 12, 2024 · Pete Prown

First released in 1992, this cornucopia of blues is now on red vinyl, celebrating the spirit of the season. The…

Chris Leuzinger

Country Crunch

November 17, 2022 · Ward Meeker

Growing up in the tropical air of West Palm Beach, it’s little wonder that Chris Leuzinger’s first musical revelations had…

Fender Jazz Bass

October 10, 2014 · Peter Stuart Kohman

“Stack-knob” is a catch phrase that for decades has perked the ears of collectors; these relatively rare examples of the…

Tremcaster Single Ninety Home Feature Image

Tremcaster Single Ninety

Best of Both Worlds

January 7, 2014 · Sean OBryan Smith

Today’s guitar market is one of extreme preferences. For some, the idea of countless options and exotic woods and craftsmanship…

John 5 - Telewiedler

John 5

Telewielder

March 1, 2016 · Ward Meeker

Since ditching his spot backing alternative-metal singer Marilyn Manson 10 years ago, superhuman guitarist John 5 has used his skills…

Z.Vex Fuzz Probe

Z.Vex Fuzz Probe

There-Mayhem

May 6, 2016 · Michael Dregni

The Z.Vex Fuzz Factory pedal unleashed sonic possibilities ranging from a horde of wasps to the (presumed) sound of the…

Gomez Amplification “G” Reverb

Wet, Hot, or Blue

April 6, 2010 · Phil Feser

As amp builders go, Dario G. Gomez is about as fresh as they come. Though he has been repairing tube…

Dan Wilson

In Mighty Footsteps

June 17, 2022 · Pete Prown

A riveting soloist, Dan Wilson honed his chops as a sideman to jazz greats like organist Joey DeFrancesco and bassist…

Daniele Gottardo plays “Spirals”

January 30, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

American rock guitar meets European classical Guitar virtuoso Daniele Gottardo used his Charvel Custom Shop guitar (with scalloped fretboard) to…

Hannu Könönen: Surf Stirred with Rautalanka

March 1, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

From Finland’s Icy Fjords Hannu Könönen used his home-assembled guitar to play “Lets’s Surf to the Dawn,” a track from…

Walrus Audio Iron Horse Distortion V2

Versatile Beast

April 26, 2019 · Art Department

Like virtually every distortion pedal on the market, Walrus Audio’s Iron Horse Distortion V2 will produce enough distortion to molest…