• Seymour Duncan Announces the Slash 3.0 Pickup Set

    Seymour Duncan Announces the Slash 3.0 Pickup Set

    SANTA BARBARA, January 13th, 2026 – Seymour Duncan, a leading manufacturer of guitar and bass pickups, effects pedals, and pedal amps, is proud to announce that the Slash 3.0 Pickup…

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  • Thomas Custom Guitars

    Thomas Custom Guitars

    Rarities from the Pacific Northwest

    Certain makes and models of electric guitars are rightfully prized for their elegant physical designs and superior craftsmanship. Even better are those also revered for their playability and particularly rich…

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  • 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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National N-275

April 19, 2016 · George Gruhn

Gibson is widely known for its guitars, mandolins, and banjos, but many are unaware the company built instruments for nearly…

Elvis Presley

Guitar Royalty

May 15, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Should you ever forget why the King is the King, this ultimate boxed set of Elvis’ 57 albums and soundtracks,…

Phantom Guitarworks’ Teardrop

Droppin’ In On The ’60s

January 25, 2017 · Rich Maloof

Phantom Guitarworks is dedicated to producing odd-shaped guitars based on designs introduced in the early 1960s like the Vox Mark…

2023 February Issue on Spotify

February 2, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

This month we feature Jim McCarty, Joe Robinson, Vinnie Moore, Tom Rotella, Anthony Gomes, Humble Pie, Jimi Hendrix, The Cult,…

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…

Tech 21’s Fly Rig Brit and Cali

Little Monsters

March 15, 2019 · Pete Prown

In this age of shrinking guitar rigs, Tech 21’s Fly Rig pedals show just how guitar-related technology is getting smaller…

  •  Jason Isbell

     Jason Isbell

    New Vistas, Old Gear

    Jason Isbell’s powerful songs, compelling vocals, and formidable guitar skills have made him one of America’s most-respected singer/songwriters. A charismatic performer, his critically-lauded albums, solo and backed by the formidable…

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ARTISTS

Tinsley Ellis’ new dimension

April 30, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Unplugged, and Worth the Wait! A prominent blues artist since the late ’80s, Tinsley Ellis grabbed the ’37 National Style…

2025 June Issue on Spotify

June 3, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

This month, we feature The Meters’ George Porter, Tommy Emmanuel, Jedd Hughes, Dudley Taft, Lari Basilio, Ally Venable, The Police,…

Shredding and songcraft – Kire Najdovski

December 22, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Talas guitarist offers taste of “1985” Kire Najdovski does a great take on “Close to the Killer,” from Talas’ new…

Adrian Vandenberg

Return Of The Flying Dutchman

June 9, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

On Adrian Vandenberg’s latest album, Sin, the Flying Dutchman joins forces with former Yngwie Malmsteen vocalist Mats Levén for the…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

VOXAC50-HOME-MAIN-BIG

Vox AC50

April 21, 2015 · Dave Hunter

Vox AC50 Preamp tubes: one ECC82 (12AU7), three ECC83 (12AX7) Output tubes: two EL34s, fixed-biased Rectifier: solidstate Controls: Volume, Treble…

Mr. Smith goes to Rudy’s

“Upstairs” at a famed NYC guitar boutique

June 10, 2020 · Art Department

Nashville has Music Row and London has Soho, but if your heart starts palpitating at the mere mention of carved…

The ViVi-Tone Aggrandizer

The ViVi-Tone Aggrandizer

March 28, 2016 · Dave Hunter

• Preamp tubes: 6C5, 6F5 • Output tubes: two 6B5 • Rectifier: 80 • Controls: Volume, on/off switch • Speaker:…

Michael Bloomfield’s ’63 Telecaster

Michael Bloomfield’s ’63 Telecaster

This Guitar Killed Folk!

January 22, 2025 · Ward Meeker

A silver-spoon teen who loved sneaking into Chicago’s southside blues clubs, Michael Bloomfield reveled in absorbing all he could from…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Keeley Electronics Dark Side

Floyd Explorer

May 3, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

In the multi-verse of effects, Robert Keeley’s gizmos are a thing of beauty – particularly those that provide multiple sounds.…

Tone King Royalist MKIII

Firebreather U.K. Three-Speed

August 28, 2024 · Charlie Wilkins

British tube amps from the mid ’60s and early ’70s have inspired countless designs emulating their beloved tones. In 2014,…

Donner DST-700 Hyper

Value City

February 8, 2024 · Pete Prown

It’s often the case that guitars with roasted necks cost more than gloss poly finishes, but Donner is challenging that…

The Epiphone Nancy Wilson Fanatic

Heart Pounder

March 30, 2022 · Steven Stone

Sometimes, it takes awhile to dial-in a good idea. The Epiphone Nancy Wilson Fanatic improves on Gibson’s Nighthawk design from…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Analog Man BC183 Sun Face

Here Comes the (Black Hole) Sun

April 15, 2014 · Oscar Jordan

Analog Man BC183 Sun Face Price: $185 Contact: www.analogman.com Mike Piera has been building his line of stomp boxes bearing…

Elizabeth Cotton, Doc Watson, and Various Artists

Classic Piedmont Blues From Smithsonian Folkways

June 27, 2017 · Rick Allen

It’s less improvisational than other types of blues, but East Coast (a.k.a. Piedmont) blues is no less expressive or impassioned.…

Frank Zappa

Apostrophe (’) 50th Anniversary

July 3, 2025 · Pete Prown

Great googly-moogly! Frank Zappa’s potty-mouth masterpiece is a half-century old and now fêted with a 75-track box set. The original…

Selmer Truvoice

Selectortone Automatic

May 24, 2021 · Dave Hunter

Selmer Truvoice Selectortone Automatic, ca. 1961 Preamp tubes: one ECC83, two EF86 Output tubes: two EL34, cathode-bias Rectifier: GZ34 Controls:…

Dario Lorina

Black Label Soloist

May 21, 2019 · Greg Prato

Best known as Zakk Wylde’s right-hand man in Black Label Society, Dario Lorina is an accomplished shredder in his own…

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…

The Fractal VP4

Pedal Power

September 8, 2025 · Pete Prown

Famous for amp and cabinet models made to replace an amp for direct recording or plugging right into a PA,…

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,…

Home Feature Image

Singular Sound BeatBuddy

Drums Even You Can Play

May 6, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Everyone knows a good drummer joke. Or two. Drummers are indeed a special breed. Singular Sound’s BeatBuddy drum-machine pedal, however,…

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…

Roland V-Studio 20

The Roland V-Studio 20

January 13, 2014 · Pete Prown

Roland V-Studio 20 Price: $300 (street) Info: www.rolandus.com. Home digital recording has come a long way in the last 20…

Chris Shiflett

Lost at Sea

December 6, 2024 · Rich Kienzle

Rock icons have made forays into country since the Everly Brothers paved the way in the ’50s, followed by Duane…

Breedlove Organic Performer Pro Concert Aged Toner CE

Natural Beauty

October 11, 2023 · Pete Prown

With climate change on the minds of so many, guitar builders have started to offer more instruments that are good…

Adrian Belew

Still Going Up

June 29, 2023 · Pete Prown

Even after 45 years of guitar heroics with King Crimson, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, and solo, Adrian Belew’s career is…

Classics: October 2022

Eddie Quinn’s Gibson L-5

June 14, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Had you been a music-loving resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana, at the height of the jazz age, you would’ve caught wind…

Jack Petruzzelli

Jack Petruzzelli

Fab Sideman For Osborne, Wainwright, Smith

October 9, 2015 · Dan Forte

“The first time the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan, I was in my mother’s womb,” says Jack Petruzzelli. “That was…

Hall & Collins Signature Echo

Echo Rock

March 5, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

For guitarists whose lives are dedicated to replicating the echo effects heard on songs like Hank Marvin’s “Apache,” Hall &…

Bobby Womack

Bobby Womack

1944-2014

February 25, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

Guitarist, soul singer, and songwriter Bobby Womack passed away June 27. He was 70 and had suffered from diabetes, Alzheimer’s,…

Eric Johnson

Getting Up Close With Eric Johnson

November 27, 2013 · Oscar Jordan

Eric Johnson’s latest release, Up Close, is his most lively studio project to date. With a looser vibe and the…

June Millington

Rock-Guitar Hero

October 8, 2019 · Dave Rubin

Fanny, the legendary all-girl quartet from the early ’70s, kicked to the curb the notion of “they play good… for…

Doobies, Brothers

A Discussion with Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons

January 3, 2014 · Ward Meeker

American music rarely is more pure than when it comes from the minds, hands, and mouths of the Doobie Brothers.…

Setting Up Effects

Certain Guidelines Apply to a Signal Chain, But Your Ears Are the Ultimate Judge

June 2, 2015 · Lisa Sharken

One question frequently asked by guitar players is how to set up effects and arrange them in a 
proper signal…

Saga of Ted Newman Jones

A Guitar for Mr. Richards

The Saga of Ted Newman Jones

July 7, 2016 · Ward Meeker

For anyone who visited the tiny workshop inhabited by guitar builder Ted Newman Jones in the 1970s and ’80s, two…

Dominic Miller

Vagabond

April 19, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

When Sting’s guitar player puts out a solo album, guitarists listen. Having played on thousands of sessions, Dominic Miller’s 16th…

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…

Greg Douglass and the Accomplices

November 1, 2016 · Dan Forte

For years, Greg Douglass was San Francisco’s best-kept guitar secret. At the dawn of psychedelia, his band, Country Weather, made…

Susanna Hoffs

The Deep End

March 16, 2024 · Bret Adams

The Bangles vocalist/rhythm guitarist’s fifth solo album is a folk-enriched blend of covers by classic and contemporary artists, enlivened by…

Check This Action: A Mess of Blues

March 10, 2023 · Dan Forte

It doesn’t happen often, but I still encounter people who think the blues is strictly sad music. I tell them…

The Dean Ween Group

March 30, 2017 · Dennis Pernu

The Dean Ween Group’s debut showcases all the genre-hopping shenanigans that became the stock in trade of Ween’s first band…