Taylor T3

Tone Poet

January 6, 2014 · Pete Prown

The Taylor T3 Price: $2,998 Info: www.taylorguitars.com. Some guitar players never touch a tone knob, while others view it as…

Austin Guitarst Eric Hisaw on “Someone Else.”

June 1, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

 Rockabilly Meets Punk! Straight outta Austin, Eric Hisaw and his early-’80s import Fender Tele play a cool living-room rendition…

Bakersfield twang from Nashville Honeymoon

December 27, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Vintage Instruments, Traditional Sounds Nashville Honeymoon plays country music laden with Bakersfield influence – the best kind! Here, Hank Maninger…

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives

May 2, 2017 · Dan Forte

For decades, Stuart has been one of country music’s biggest champions, and may yet be its savior. His Fabulous Superlatives…

Carlos Santana

Musical Outreach

September 7, 2022 · Bret Adams

Carlos Santana’s creative drive is obsessive, restless – and relentless. For his latest album, Blessings and Miracles, he pooled the…

Seth Lover

Seth Lover

Humbuckers and Other Lover innovations

February 24, 2010 · Stephen Patt

The history of the musical instrument business is full of stories, from the drab to the miraculous. Some bean counters…

  • 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…

    Read more >>

NOW AVAILABLE!

CURRENT ISSUE

Join 25,700+ subscribers & be notified when new articles & more becomes available!

ARTISTS

Robert Randolph

The Sacred Steel, Family, and SRV

January 3, 2014 · Ward Meeker

Living testament to the versatility of the pedal-steel guitar and a rarity in pop music, Robert Randolph adroitly addresses the…

Pop ’N Hiss: Eric Johnson

Eric Johnson’s Ah Via Musicom

January 24, 2022 · Pete Prown

There were innovative Stratocaster records before Ah Via Musicom, but Eric Johnson’s 1990 opus changed the rules of the game…

Ron Jackson: Standards and Originals

May 23, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Warm, Inviting Jazz a la Montgomery and Benson Jazz guitarist Ron Jackson is a specialist on the seven-string. Here, he…

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest  Timm Kummer

December 23, 2025 · Ram W. Tuli

Season 03 Episode 09 In Episode 3.9 of “Buy That Guitar,” host Ram Tuli is joined by Timm Kummer, a…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Dave Murphy: Acoustic Country!

May 15, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

 Classic Ballad Style Country/folk/rock singer/guitarist Dave Murphy wrangled guitarist Chris Tarrow for this take on “Josephine,’ from Dave’s new…

John Sebastian & Arlen Roth

Reimagine the Lovin’ Spoonful

February 6, 2023 · Dan Forte

In the ’60s, the Lovin’ Spoonful boasted one of the most impressive song catalogs in rock and roll. During the…

Vox Symphonic Bass

Fender Bender

July 12, 2023 · Peter Stuart Kohman

Despite the way collectors and dealers freely apply the term “lawsuit guitars,” documented examples are few. One time it did…

Roy Smeck’s Gibson L-5

One For the “Wizard”

March 1, 2023 · George Gruhn

Player endorsements are part of the tradition of guitarmaking going back to its earliest use for public performance. LeRoy G.A.…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Gibson’s Memphis ES-275

History Now

July 9, 2018 · Pete Prown

Take a quick glance at the Gibson Memphis ES-275 and you might think this is a venerable Gibson from decades…

Jim Dunlop BG95 and EVH95 Signature Cry Baby Wahs

Voodoo Chasin’

April 16, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

Wah users needn’t settle for stock tonal options like those heard on the “Theme From Shaft” or “Voodoo Child (Slight…

Home Feature Image

Electro-Harmonix Soul Food, Nano Big Muff

Add OD, To Taste

November 4, 2015 · Pete Prown

Price: Soul Food, $89.25 (list), $62.81 (street); Nano Big Muff, $95.64 (list), $69.80 (street) Info: www.ehx.com Guitarists have an insatiable…

Gibson Everly Brothers SJ-200

Full Dress

March 20, 2024 · Michael Shirek

Gibson has always had a knack for producing distinctive guitars. The EDS-1275 in Cherry finish will forever be tied to…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

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…

Richie Kotzen

Solo and Salty

April 19, 2019 · Ward Meeker

Richie Kotzen was one of those kids – always entertaining the family with song and dance, usually in a crazy…

So-Cal Steel

Asher Guitars & Lap Steels Ben Harper Signature Model

December 27, 2017 · Chip Wilson

If Nashville is the pedal-steel capital, surely Southern California is a lap steel hotspot. David Lindley and Ben Harper, along…

The Wildhearts

December 10, 2025 · Pete Prown

In the raging ’90s, The Wildhearts blasted out of Newcastle upon Tyne like some unholy melding of Guns ’N Roses,…

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

Heart & Soul Blues

October 4, 2024 · Ward Meeker

Born and raised in Clarksdale, Mississippi – homeland of the Delta blues – Christone Ingram learned gospel music in the…

Rusty Young

1946-2021

April 5, 2022 · Rich Kienzle

Rusty Young, the versatile pedal-steel guitarist, guitarist, singer/songwriter, and original member of the pioneering country-rock band Poco, died at his…

Universal Audio’s OX Amp Top Box

The Tube Abides

October 14, 2019 · Ray Wuolo

Since the mid ’60s, electrical engineers have been trying to drive a stake into the heart of the vacuum tube,…

The Chicago Blues Box Buddy Guy Signature Amp

Buddy’s New (Tool) Box

June 24, 2020 · Art Department

Whether you’re a blues guitarist, jazz guy, or a power-chord rock player, certain players draw your attention, whether for the…

Dave Mason

Now We All Know

June 24, 2025 · Bret Adams

In his new autobiography, Only You Know & I Know, guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Dave Mason looks back on his incredible life, including…

Robin Trower

Bridge of Skies

November 1, 2024 · Greg Prato

At age 78, Robin Trower remains at the top of his game, musically – still offering smoldering solos from his…

Reverend Billy Corgan

Smashing Sounds

January 9, 2023 · Pete Prown

Reverend’s new twist on its Billy Corgan Signature guitar updates several features but remains a stylish retro-meets-modern solidbody. The most…

Summer NAMM ’18

July 21, 2018

[caption id="attachment_30756" align="alignleft" width="640"] Blogger Haily Powers at Fender booth[/caption] [caption id="attachment_30756" align="alignnone" width="300"] Blogger Haily Powers at Fender booth[/caption]…

James Williamson & Deniz Tek

Stooge meets a Birdman

September 23, 2019 · Greg Prato

The words “proto punk” arouse recollections of furiously strummed guitars and amps cranked to 10. For many, its sound and…

The Bad Cat Era 30

Retro-Great

December 5, 2025 · Dave Hunter

So often has the phrase “Mark Sampson era” been applied to pre-2000 Matchless amps or early examples of the Bad…

Pop ’N Hiss: Toto

Fine Line

April 8, 2024 · Bret Adams

In 1978, disco ruled the charts and airwaves. Rock teetered on wobbly legs and there was nary a crunchy guitar…

The Gibson Les Paul Special

February 25, 2010 · George Gruhn and Walter Carter

Gibson’s Les Paul Special was the last of the original Les Paul “family” of guitars introduced, and it was the…

Eric Gales

Reinvigorated Blues

March 28, 2019 · Greg Prato

Over the years, there have been instances when one renowned blues-rock guitarist or another found sobriety in the nick of…

Tyler Morris and a 1953 Gibson Les Paul model

March 28, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Tyler Morris and a 1953 Gibson Les Paul model Tyler Morris showcases his 1953 Gibson Les Paul goldtop and GA-70…

Traveler AG-105EQ

Traveler AG-105EQ

Savvy Traveler

February 5, 2015 · Bob Dragich

Traveler AG-105EQ Price: $499.99 (street) Info: www.travelerguitar.com When it comes to “travel guitars,” players are often forced to sacrifice size…

EVH Stripe Series Star

Romeo Delight

March 1, 2017 · Oscar Jordan

There was time when guitarists waited for new Van Halen records like ferrets on crack. After all, in the early…

Misa Kitara

Axe of the Future?

August 11, 2014 · Pete Prown

Misa Kitara Price: $789 Info: www.misadigital.com. The guitar synthesizer has been around for more than 30 years and made significant…

Carvin 8-15-B

Mail-Order Prize

January 11, 2024 · Dave Hunter

In the days when the printed catalog was king, Carvin guitars and amplifiers often boasted a stature that outweighed their…

Vox Real McCoy Chrome Wah Ltd and V846 Vintage Wah

Replica Treadles

May 8, 2025 · Oscar Jordan

Thanks to notable users ranging from Del Casher and Frank Zappa to Jimi Hendrix and Kirk Hammett, the “wah wah”…

Extreme

Six

March 20, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Extreme’s sixth studio album – their first since 2008’s Saudades de Rock – was a long time coming. With only…

BluGuitar Amp1

Tiny Tube Terror

July 10, 2019 · Pete Prown

The trend toward the miniaturization of guitar gear shows no signs of slowing. Thanks to modern technology, guitarists are fitting…

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Larry Wexer

August 20, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Larry Wexer Season 01 Episode 07 In Episode 7 of “Buy That Guitar,”…

Have Guitar Will Travel – Featuring 004 BottleRock Music Festival Pt. 1

May 13, 2019 · James Patrick Regan

James connects with cool guitarists at the 2018 BottleRock Napa Valley music festival, including the Struts’ Adam Slack, Rudy and…

Phantom Reissue 1964 PH12

Ghost of Vintage Past

September 25, 2014 · Chip Wilson

From the Hollies to the Mahavishnu Orchestra, from Robert Junior Lockwood to the Stones, the electric 12-string has a prominent…

Van Morrison

Wild Nights

August 2, 2016 · Michael Dregni

In the history of live recordings, there are a handful widely considered to be all-time classics: B.B. King’s Live at…