• Duke Robillard – Lowdown

    Duke Robillard – Lowdown

    Vintage Guitar is happy to offer the premier of the new music video by Grammy nominee Duke Robillard. “Lowdown” is the  first single from his upcoming album, Blast Off!, set…

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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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Mick Mars

The Other Side Of Mars

December 6, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

On his first solo album, former Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars leaves his glam-metal discography in the rearview, instead going…

Larry Collins 1944-2024

January 8, 2024 · Ward Meeker

Larry Collins, a guitar prodigy mentored by renowned flatpicker Joe Maphis, and half of the ’50s brother/sister act The Collins…

Awesome Musical Instruments T3 Pickup Switch Upgrade

Wicked Switch

December 22, 2014 · Phil Feser

Awesome Musical Instruments T3 Pickup Switch Upgrade Price: $149.99 (black or white three-ply); $164.99 (white pearloid); $169.99 (brown tortoiseshell) Info:…

Parsons/White StringBender

August 17, 2017 · Edward B. Driscoll Jr.

From the origins of country-rock to Jimmy Page, Metallica, and a slew of modern country-pickin’ wizards, the string bender lends…

The Roland Space Echo

Perfect Slap-Back

September 4, 2015 · Michael Dregni

When Brian Setzer kickstarted the Stray Cats into action in 1979, his gear lineup was a hodgepodge of orthodox rockabilly…

First ’Burst

May 30, 2017 · Walter Carter

In May of 1958, a worker at the Gibson factory pulled two Les Paul guitars – serial numbers 8 3087…

  • 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…

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ARTISTS

Reflecting on Steve Cropper: A Playlist

December 4, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

Steve Cropper was just 20 years old when his band, the Mar-Keys, began backing singers in the studios of Stax…

Six-String Kicks

Six-String Kicks

Wood from Famed Bowling Alley Set to Sing

March 31, 2016 · Ward Meeker

Few things scratch America’s cumulative itch for nostalgia like Route 66 – the famed wagon-trail-cum-highway that offered passage to those…

Al Joseph

Prog-Metal Creation

September 20, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

Al Joseph is breaking new ground in prog-metal. Known for his riveting guitar playing and instruction with Jam Track Central,…

Depression-era classic by Roger McNamee

February 23, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Moonalice guitarist on a ’42 000-21 Roger McNamee used his ’42 Martin 000-21 to play the Depression-era classic “Brother Can…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Willie G. Moseley

July 8, 2025 · Ram W. Tuli

Season 03 Episode 01 In Episode 3.1 of “Buy That Guitar,” host Ram Tuli is joined by longtime VG contributor…

Gibson Blond j-35 Photo: Kelsey Vaughn, courtesy George Gruhn. Vintage Guitar magazine Home Feature

Gibson’s “blond” J-35

January 17, 2016 · George Gruhn

In the world of vintage guitars, people tend to use the words “blond” and “natural” interchangeably to describe a finish…

Adam Levy’s Wistful Elegance

February 28, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Vintage ES-335 on “And They All Sang” Famous for supplying charismatic guitar parts while backing Nora Jones and Tracy Chapman,…

Tracii Guns

Black Diamond Shine

January 11, 2024 · Artemis Records

There’s no denying that with Tracii Guns manning L.A. Guns’ lead-guitar slot, the sleaze veterans become a different animal. Since…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Teye Guitars Gypsy Queen

Teye Guitars Gypsy Queen

The Art of Tone

October 23, 2015 · Sean OBryan Smith

For Austin-based Teye Guitars, taking guitar construction to new artistic heights has been a basic tenet since their inception. Mastermind…

FireBelly Amplifiers’ Tweed 1955SE, PR3512SE

FireBelly Amplifiers’ Tweed 1955SE, PR3512SE

Tale Of Two Princetons

April 1, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

FireBelly Amplifiers’ Tweed 1955SE, PR3512SE Price: $949 (Tweed 1955SE); $1,595 (PR3512SE) Contact: www.firebellyamps.com The quest for vintage tone continues, and…

Strobel Rambler Travel Bass

Traveling in Style 

December 2, 2016 · Phil Feser

As a rule, travel guitars and basses are intended to help one keep up their chops while on the road…

EMG T-52 Set

July 22, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

EMG pickups have been around since 1976, offering a diverse line of active pickups used in just about every genre…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Taylor’s 326ce Urban Ash

Tonewood Tales

April 7, 2022 · Pete Prown

When hunting for a new acoustic, it’s useful to learn about tonewoods and construction, as both play a huge role…

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…

Wampler Effects Pedals

Filling the Gaps

August 10, 2016 · Brett Jochim

Brian Wampler, who developed a reputation first for modding effects pedals, then for building originals including a custom overdrive for…

Raul Malo’s Instrumental Side

November 1, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

 Mavericks frontman with a vintage Jazzmaster Though he is renowned and beloved for his vocals in the Mavericks, Raul…

Banjo Master Tony Trischka Plays “Chinese Breakdown”

June 27, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Prime “Earl Jam” sample! One of the most influential figures in roots music, Tony Trischka, master of the five-string, shows…

Shannon McNally

The Waylon Sessions

March 4, 2022 · Michael Dregni

Does the world really, truly need yet another tribute to quintessential country outlaw Waylon Jennings? Yes – especially when it’s…

Martin 000-30

December 23, 2009 · George Gruhn

When a guitar maker introduces an innovative new feature at the same time an appealing, existing feature is being discontinued,…

Matteo Mancuso

The Journey

June 19, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

When guitarists as diverse as Al Di Meola and Joe Bonamassa are singing your praises, something’s up. Sicilian guitar prodigy…

Josh Meader

Jazz Evolution

January 14, 2026 · Pete Prown

Josh Meader is a jazz and fusion player who breaks ground with virtuosity that’s never flashy for its own sake.…

Supro S6651

Supro S6651 Big Star

March 8, 2016 · Dave Hunter

Don’t we guitarists just love gear that looks like it was salvaged from our mom’s kitchen circa 1961? Give us…

Ken Fischer

1945-2006

June 10, 2020 · Dave Hunter

Although by most estimates he produced fewer than 100 Trainwreck amps, Ken Fischer – tech, designer, and amp-maker – will…

Nancy Wilson

Fire in the Heart

December 8, 2014 · Will Kelly

In the early ’70s, women didn’t play rock guitar. Nor did they front bands. Nancy Wilson was an exception. Few…

Vox Pacemaker V-3

February 12, 2014 · Dave Hunter

1965 Vox Pacemaker v-3 Preamp tubes: three Mullard ECC83 (12AX7) Output tubes: two Mullard EL84, cathode-biased, no negative feedback Rectifier:…

Robert Randolph Vintage Guitar magazine Facebook Live

Robert Randolph Demonstrates the “I Want It” Riff

February 2, 2017 · Robert Randolph

Robert Randolph’s new album, "Got Soul," streets on February 17. Here, he uses a SlideKing, made by Jackson Steel Guitar…

Dave Wyndorf

Tab of God

July 2, 2019 · Greg Prato

In the early ’90s, a handful of bands were trailblazers in the realm of “stoner rock”; Kyuss, Sleep, Fu Manchu,…

Jimmy Olander’s D-Bender Baritone

December 4, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

 Big-string licks galore! In the mood to play a bit, December cover guy Jimmy Olander grabbed a guitar he…

Lollar’s Gold-Foil Pickup

After the Gold Rush

May 10, 2014 · Ray Wuolo

Lollar’s Gold-Foil Pickup Price: $180 (list, each) Info: www.lollarguitars.com Gold-foil pickups are exotic beasts – just like many of the…

Lance Lopez

Hard-Time Music

August 7, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Lance Lopez is back and better than ever. Trouble Is Good is wild, hellacious, and packed with three essential influences…

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…

Clapton’s Fool

History’s Greatest Guitar?

November 23, 2015 · J. Craig Oxman

Eric Clapton’s The Fool. A name immediately recognizable to guitarists, yet baffling to others. What is Clapton’s Fool? Very simply,…

Fender The Edge Strat, Edge Deluxe Amp

What You’re Looking For

January 8, 2018 · Michael Dregni

Leo Fender once famously said, “A guitar is just a hammer.” If you haven’t yet found a hammer that fits…

Davy Knowles

Manx Bluesman

March 8, 2023 · Dan Forte

  The Isle Of Man, which sits in the middle of the Irish Sea, measures 15 by 30 miles. The…

St. Moritz Stereo

December 9, 2021 · Michael Wright

The notion of a stereo guitar became almost implicit when guitars started having two pickups. But it didn’t become a…

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…

Ray Cummins – Guitar Tutorial 5

Ray Cummins – Guitar Tutorial #5

June 27, 2018 · Ray Cummins

In his fifth exclusive lesson for www.VintageGuitar.com, Ray Cummins demonstrates and explains his use of harmonics on Gibson Country Gentleman plugged into…

Valvetech Amplifier Company’s VAC 25

Tractable Tweed

July 5, 2018 · Oscar Jordan

Who says pragmatic utility and classic tones have to be mutually exclusive? Not Rob Pierce, whose Valvetech Amplifier Company deals…

Los Lobos

Native Sons

July 11, 2022 · Rich Kienzle

The venerable Los Angeles band (guitarists Cesar Rosas, David Hidalgo and Louie Pérez, Jr., bassist Conrad Lozano and sax man…

Greg Howe

June 23, 2020 · Oscar Jordan

Nimble-fingered fusion monster Greg Howe has been keeping busy since the release of Extraction in 2003. He has appeared as…

Bob Page

November 13, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Bob Page, co-founder of the vintage-instrument shop Buffalo Brothers, died December 24 after falling and suffering a head injury at…