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…

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest John Majdalani

July 23, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest John Majdalani Season 01 Episode 03 In Episode 3 of “Buy That Guitar,”…

Tommy Shaw and James Young

Styx’s Crowning Achievement

April 1, 2022 · Bret Adams

“One thing I like about how Styx does progressive stuff is we try and make it friendly progressive, not math,”…

Vox/Thomas Organ V-14 Super Beatle

Solid Sound

September 20, 2023 · Dave Hunter

After producing some of the most-iconic guitar amplifiers of the early 1960s, Vox leaned unwittingly into a failing technology –…

Blackstar’s HT Series Pedals

Gain to the Third Power

September 17, 2013 · Phil Feser

Blackstar Amplification is known for its successful Artisan, Series One, and HT amp lines. Its new HT effects line includes…

1843 Martin & Coupa

Retail Rarity

September 20, 2019 · George Gruhn

In 1833, C.F. Martin, Sr. and his family arrived in New York City. A trained luthier, Martin had studied under…

  • Rik Emmett

    Rik Emmett

    Canadian Custom

    Rik Emmett is a master of many guitar styles and other artistic endeavors. As co-lead vocalist/guitarist in the hard-rock trio Triumph from 1975 to ’88, he experienced life as a…

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ARTISTS

Austin legend Jon Dee Graham plays “This Old Guitar”

April 16, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

From the Continental Club to You! Jon Dee Graham’s parts Strat has been his stage and studio mainstay for more…

Les Paul Remembered

Les Paul Remembered

June 1, 2015 · Ward Meeker

When news of the passing of Les Paul spread through the guitar community August 13, 2009, reaction was swift and…

Stanley Clarke

Stanley Clarke

Godfather of Bass

February 2, 2016 · Ward Meeker

Despite being widely credited for pushing the electric bass past its status as a rear-of-the-stage device intended to simply help…

Zakk Wylde

Stripped Down BLS for Unblackened

July 18, 2014 · Lisa Sharken

When Zakk Wylde was asked to record a new DVD/CD package, he decided to give his Black Label Society fans…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

The Thompson Tremor Bender

Big Bend

April 29, 2020 · Zac Childs

Longtime musician and professional tool-and-die maker Don Thompson recently introduced the Tremor Bender, a retrofit stringbending device for most Fender-…

Guyatone LG-160T

The Secret's Out!

May 24, 2006 · Michael Wright

Like plants, Japanese guitars have an almost secret life of which few people outside are aware. While many Americans in…

Epiphone Rivoli

March 17, 2010 · Willie G. Moseley

Former Gibson president Ted McCarty (1909-2001) is credited for his leadership of the company when it peaked in terms of…

Gibson J-35

Gibson J-35

July 5, 2016 · George Gruhn

Dreadnought guitars originated as early as 1916 with instruments made by Martin and distributed by Ditson, followed in 1931 with…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Magnatone Panoramic Stereo

Tales of True Vibrato

January 8, 2018 · Ray Wuolo

Magnatone amplifiers date back to the 1940s and ’50s – the era of Hawaiian-steel guitar – and boasted pearloid-covered casework…

Electro-Harmonix Pico Canyon, Rerun

Spacious Sounds, Less Space

November 26, 2024 · Bob Dragich

Electro-Harmonix’s Pico pedals are designed for players running out of space on their pedalboards. Each occupies just 71/3 square inches…

Providence Anadime Chorus ADC-4

Providence Anadime Chorus ADC-4

Don’t Call It a Comeback

July 31, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

Providence Anadime Chorus ADC-4 Price: $249 (list) Contact: www.providence-ltd.com The chorus pedal holds the distinction of once having been extremely…

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…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Fender Blu DeTiger x Player Plus Jazz Bass

Ladies’ First

August 13, 2025 · Ward Meeker

With a quick glance and a dash of judginess, Fender’s Blu DeTiger x Player Plus Jazz Bass looks like what…

Silver Lining

Gibson and the Master Models

December 26, 2017 · George Gruhn

Recognized today as visionary, when introduced in 1922, Gibson’s Master Model L-5 and F-5 were expensive to produce and lacked…

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…

MXR Dyna Comp Mini

A Classic, Compressed

April 23, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

In the ’70s, the original MXR Dyna Comp found its way onto a plethora of now-classic vinyl sides and was…

Doyle Bramhall II

December 9, 2016 · Rich Kienzle

In the 15 years since his debut album, Welcome, Doyle Bramhall, II has been in great demand. Along with a…

Henry Garza

Henry Garza

From Tragedy to Revelation

September 8, 2014 · Oscar Jordan

Los Lonely Boys’ new album, Revelation, draws from several influences while retaining the band’s Texas/Mexican identity. Collaborating with a group…

Charlie Musselwhite’s blues chops on a vintage J-45

December 28, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

See it Here: “Blues Gave Me a Ride” Charlie Musselwhite and his ’54 Gibson J-45 do it up (so) right…

Steve Ripley In the studio with a miscellany of tools of the trade - everything fom his favorite Tele to a National resoglas.

Steve Ripley

First Takes & Extra Takes

January 4, 2019 · Willie G. Moseley

Ed. Note: Guitarist/producer/recording artist/guitar innovator (we could add more to that list!) Steve Ripley has passed away (January 3, 2019)…

Ace Frehley

The Space Man’s Cover Plan

May 9, 2017 · Greg Prato

Few guitarists in hard rock have proven as influential as Ace Frehley; just about any guitarist interviewed after the mid…

2023 August Issue on Spotify

August 2, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

This month we feature Steve Lukather, Dominic Miller, Steve Khan, Sam Kiszka, Selwyn Birchwood, Dave Davies, Brennen Leigh, and much…

Arlington Guitar Show 2014

October 24, 2014 · Lisa Sharken

[caption id="attachment_19064" align="alignleft" width="300"] '50s Fender Deluxe amp at Wildwood Music of Texas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_19065" align="alignleft" width="225"] '53 Harmony Stratotone…

Beat Portraits: Burns Volume 10

Saga of The Lost Supersounds

February 21, 2018 · Peter Stuart Kohman

In early 2009, VG columnist Peter Stuart Kohman turned his focus on Burns, the pioneering British guitar builder. We’ve compiled…

Rush

February 27, 2017 · Pete Prown

Grab your hankies, Rush fans – this DVD doc captures moments from the trio’s R40 farewell tour, along with reminiscences…

Iron Maiden 

Nights of the Dead, Legacy of the Beast

December 9, 2021 · Pete Prown

From the 2019 tour, this two-CD live set from Mexico captures the British metalers in top form, four decades after…

PRS SE 245 Single Cut

Dressed to Impress

August 28, 2013 · Pete Prown

PRS SE 245 Single Cut Price: $650 (street). Info: prsguitars.com Pick up the PRS SE 245 and turn it around…

Ronnie Montrose

Remembering Ronnie

Phillips Finishes Guitarist’s Final Recordings

December 7, 2014 · Willie G. Moseley

Ricky Phillips has many fond memories of his friendship and musical association with Ronnie Montrose (1947-2012). The bassist is finishing…

Richie Kotzen

Venn Master

August 12, 2025 · Pete Prown

If a Venn diagram reveals a surprising truth between overlapping concepts, Richie Kotzen is the Venn core of heavy rock,…

Ask Zac: Deep Dive on the Wide Range

Plus, Joey Molland’s Stratotone

December 1, 2021 · Zac Childs

I have collected several Fender Wide Range humbucking pickups from the early ’70s, and I’m curious about how to check…

Ace Frehley

Shock Waves

December 13, 2024 · Bret Adams

As an original member of rock titans Kiss, “Space Ace” Frehley inspired countless budding musicians. His new album, 10,000 Volts,…

Tommy Allsup

1931-2017 From Buddy Holly to Bob Wills

March 14, 2019 · Dan Forte

No article on the late Tommy Allsup would be complete without the story of an unsuccessful coin flip saving his…

Carl Verheyen

Riverboat Music

August 5, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

On his new album, Riverboat Sky, Carl Verheyen combines passionate musicality, spellbinding virtuosity, and ebullient rock and roll. It’s also…

Rose Lee Maphis

August 29, 2022 · Willie G. Moseley

Rose Lee Maphis, country-music legend and musical partner/widow of guitarist Joe Maphis, died October 26. She was 98. Maryland-born Rose…

Dallas Rangemaster and Scala Combos

Texas Two Step

May 9, 2023 · Dave Hunter

Fascinating also-rans, C-list classics, or both, the amps manufactured by London-based Dallas Music Ltd beginning in 1959 tie directly to…

Classics: November 2021

Gibson Les Paul Personal

October 28, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Billy Soutar loves the vibe of his 1969 Les Paul Personal and matching LP-12 amp. While the guitar’s mahogany body,…

“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…

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Rick Hogue

September 3, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Rick Hogue Season 01 Episode 09 In Episode 9 of VG’s “Buy That…

Soul Tramp Tweed 12

5E3 (Non) Copy

January 8, 2018 · Anders Fransson

Soul Tramp Amps are builder Don Hill’s take on classic amp circuit designs… for instance, his Tweed 12 offers a…

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Joe Satriani

Shockwave Supernova

May 7, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Joe Satriani’s latest record is a concept album that bridges the gap between traditional blues guitar techniques, and the fiery…

Amptweaker’s TightFuzz and Bass TightFuzz

A Good Buzz

October 23, 2015 · Phil Feser

Amptweaker’s TightFuzz and Bass TightFuzz Price: $280 retail/$199 street (TightFuzz); $310 retail, $219 street (Bass TightFuzz) Info: www.amptweaker.com. Since the…