• 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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Have Guitar Will Travel 075 – Sam Weber

May 12, 2022 · James Patrick Regan

On Ep 75 of “Have Guitar Will Travel,” host James Patrick Regan interviews singer/songwriter Sam Weber who grew up in…

Andy Wood

Charisma

July 3, 2025 · Oscar Jordan

On Andy Wood’s fourth solo effort, the Nashville guitarist combines imaginative compositions with guitarmanship that merges technical ability, emotion, polish,…

Freddie King’s Gibson ES-345 Keeps on Playin’

Family Ties

May 29, 2019 · Ward Meeker

Watching her baby boy become rapt whenever his grandma played country blues on her guitar, Ella May King had a…

Charlie Starr

Celestial Guide

April 15, 2020 · Ward Meeker

“It’s hot! 77 degrees,” exclaims Charlie Starr from a hotel room in Augusta, Georgia, a few hours before the third…

Xotic Effects RC Booster Reissue

Return of A Legend

October 11, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Twenty years ago, Xotic Effects unleashed its iconic RC Booster. With variable Gain, EQ, and Volume controls, it was a…

Thomas Nordegg

Indispensible

January 24, 2017 · Oscar Jordan

At certain large-scale rock shows, there’s often a white-haired gentleman running onstage to hand guitars to artists like Steve Vai,…

  •  Reverend Sensei H90

     Reverend Sensei H90

    Live Wire

    So you want a Gibson-style solidbody that can cover humbucker-powered rock, yet also twangier/glassier tones using a P-90 pickup. Check. You also want to grab high frets via double-cutaway and…

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ARTISTS

Jimmy James’ Psychedelic R&B

September 4, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

“Parlor Strut” on a vintage Harmony! Proving that ’60s import guitars can make cool sounds, Parlor Greens guitarist Jimmy James…

The Soul of John Black

Living In The Sunshine

July 16, 2014 · Oscar Jordan

I want to bring The Soul Of John Black a little bit closer to the root – me singing and…

Motörhead Bassist Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister Passes

1945-2015

December 29, 2015 · Willie G. Moseley

Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, founding bassist for the iconic heavy metal band Motörhead, died December 28, two days after reportedly being…

Jamie Kime

Jamie Kime

Lord Of The Jam

April 12, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Jamie Kime’s first solo record, Alleys, displays a mix of lush guitar tones, poignant soundscapes, and evocative panoramas. We recently…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Rickenbacker Transonic Home Feature Image

Rickenbacker Transonic

March 24, 2016 · Dave Hunter

Rickenbacker Transonic TS100 Topology: Solid State Output: 100 watts RMS Controls: Volume, Treble, Bass controls and Hollow, Mellow and Pierce…

Stromberg G-5

May 7, 2023 · George Gruhn and Walter Carter

In the world of archtop guitars, the Stromberg name represents the ultimate instrument – in size, at least – in…

Holy Cripes!

The Story of Jerry Garcia’s Last Guitars

December 29, 2015 · Steve Armato and James D. McCallister

Steve Cripe left a unique legacy in the annals of music history. He was not a guitar player, not a…

D’Aquisto New Yorker Classic

March 27, 2024 · George Gruhn and Walter Carter

During his 30-plus years as an independent guitarmaker, James L. D’Aquisto was acclaimed as the premier maker of archtop guitars.…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Home Feature Image

Echopark Clarence

Wayback Machine

June 10, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Gabriel Currie’s Echopark Guitars have been played around the world by some of the music industry’s heaviest hitters. His is…

ZT Amplifiers Club and Lunchbox Acoustic

Big Things, Small Packages

January 24, 2014 · Sean OBryan Smith

In two short years of existence, ZT Amplifiers has found a unique place for itself in the world of boutique…

Demeter FZO-1 Fuzzy Octavulator

Demeter FZO-1 Fuzzy Octavulator

Fuzz Flavors

October 24, 2014 · Zac Childs

James Demeter has a long history in the amp and effects biz. His project-boxed/Dymo-labeled Tremulator pedal pre-dates the ’90s boutique…

Fishman Loudbox Mini

Little Big Man

July 28, 2023 · Pete Prown

The Fishman Loudbox Mini is just what its name says – a small amp that delivers the company’s renowned audio…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Check This Action: Playing Guitar With The Ventures

December 8, 2022 · Dan Forte

Think of your favorite rock band, and imagine sitting in with them – or better yet, being a member. The…

Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams

Live at Levon’s!

February 9, 2024 · Dan Forte

The term “versatile” is laughable when it comes to Larry Campbell. A handful of the artists he has recorded, produced,…

Pop ’N Hiss: Rage Against the Machine’s Evil Empire

Strife Under Pressure

September 18, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

With a title taken from a Ronald Reagan quip about the Soviet Union, Rage Against The Machine’s second album, Evil…

Check This Action: Feeling Jazzy

July 2, 2025 · Dan Forte

Jazz guitar is one of my main loves, whether it’s Eddie Lang’s work with Bing Crosby in the early ’30s…

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 Scofield

January 27, 2017 · Rich Kienzle

The history of jazz guitarists playing country tunes is long and distinguished, starting with Slim Bryant, Les Paul, and George…

Reinier Voet’s double-up demo

May 1, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Gypsy jazz, direct from Amsterdam Reinier Voet shows us bits of “Swing 49” and the solo-guitar piece “Bagatelle Nr1,” both…

Rickenbacker 481

November 24, 2020 · Michael Wright

It’s hard to imagine an instrument other than guitar that has undergone more innovation through its modern history. Perhaps we…

Warren Haynes

Peace, Love, and Rock & Roll

May 3, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Warren Haynes and his Gov’t Mule crew aren’t the kind of guys to let something like a pandemic slow them…

Van Wilks

Stormin’ out of Austin

March 29, 2017 · Willie G. Moseley

Texas-born guitarist/vocalist Van Wilks’ first new album in a decade, 21st Century Blues, is full of loud Texas tones. Born…

Pop ’N Hiss: Rage Against the Machine’s Evil Empire

Strife Under Pressure

September 18, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

With a title taken from a Ronald Reagan quip about the Soviet Union, Rage Against The Machine’s second album, Evil…

Life in the Fast Lane

Mick Wall

June 19, 2024 · Bret Adams

Despite personality conflicts and substances galore, The Eagles created impeccably crafted music. Mick Wall’s book explains how Glenn Frey, Don…

Whooooo Wal You?

John Entwistle’s fretless ’78 Wal

January 10, 2020 · Willie G. Moseley

Wal began building electric basses in the early 1970s as a collaboration between Englishmen Pete Stevens and Ian Waller. Their…

Jared James Nichols’ glorious goldtop

April 27, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Mods and pedals need not apply! Watch Jared James Nichols tear it up on “Dorothy,” his ’52 Gibson Les Paul,…

Home Feature Image

2015 Readers’ Choice

May 25, 2015 · Vintage Guitar

Each year, VG asks readers to select Readers’ Choice winners for Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, and…

Feature Guitar

Cardinal’s Magpie

Bird in Hand

March 4, 2014 · Pete Prown

Cardinal Magpie Price: $4,300 Contact: www.cardinalinstruments.com While most folks are happy to buy guitars off the rack, the Cardinal Magpie…

Sam Kiszka

Ethereal Energy

April 3, 2024 · Ward Meeker

Guitar rock in 2023 doesn’t get bigger or ballsier than Greta Van Fleet. A veritable steamroller since “Highway Tune” launched…

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…

The Bass That Waited

Rickenbacker’s Early 4000 and 4001

April 29, 2021 · Peter Stuart Kohman

In the January and February installments, we looked at Gibson’s Thunderbird, an instrument condemned by its maker to a quick…

Dave Mustainen

Alive and Shredding

June 5, 2023 · Bret Adams

One of the most rugged, resilient rock musicians ever, Megadeth founder Dave Mustaine is a thrash-metal pioneer who has weathered…

Lari Basilio

Love, Law, and Guitars

June 29, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Lari Basilio’s latest album, Your Love, is highlighted by spellbinding note density, feel, and whiplash twists and turns. Her forté…

Austin Mics DIY Summer Reverb

for Kicks and More

September 12, 2023 · Phil Feser

Rick Wilkinson’s Austin Mics company, based in San Diego, specializes in do-it-yourself ribbon-microphone kits and DIY guitar pedals. His latest…

Gretsch Malcolm Young “Red Beast” Signature Jet

Let There Be Rock

September 11, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Forty-odd years beyond when AC/DC first hit American airwaves, the band still inspires multitudes of guitarists with intoxicating riffs, mesmerizing…

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…

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…

The Rickenbacker B14A

Silver Service

April 4, 2022 · Dave Hunter

  For most guitarists today, glimpsing a vintage Rickenbacker combo elicits a response like, “Wait… Rickenbacker made amps?” But remember,…

Manouche courtesy of La Pompe Attack

March 27, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

(Gypsy) Jazzin’ a James Taylor Tune La Pompe Attack shows us their take on James Taylor’s “Traffic Jam,” from their…

In Memoriam: Rusty Russell

March 20, 2024 · Ward Meeker

Rusty Russell, a Nashville-based guitarist, songwriter, photographer, and writer who accompanied notable country and jazz musicians in studios and on…

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…