Phil “Big Dez” Fernandez

Blues Is Everywhere

April 30, 2021 · Rick Allen

6’2″/300-pound Phil “Big Dez” Fernandez is an international emissary of the blues. The French-born son of a Bosnian mother and…

Robben Ford

Crystal Visionary

June 3, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

Pure is Robben Ford’s first instrumental album since 1997’s Tiger Walk. A work of complex simplicity, it’s also a singular…

Roy Orbison & Friends

Black & White Night 30

May 26, 2017 · Rich Kienzle

The year 1987 saw Roy Orbison in the midst of a triumphant resurgence. His ’60s recording “In Dreams” was featured…

Danelectro Doubleneck

Twice the Tone

May 30, 2025 · Pete Prown

  Jimmy Page. Don Felder. Even Elvis Presley. In fact, who amongst us hasn’t drooled over a 6/12 doubleneck at…

Fender Mustang

Truly Transitional

April 28, 2020 · Willie G. Moseley

Despite its short scale, the Mustang has a potent sound, and as a result it was used by many notable…

Fire Custom Shop Sweet Chilli and Carpe Diem Overdrives

Brazilian Heat

April 19, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

There are some nifty analog effects pedals coming out of São Paulo, Brazil, nowadays, and among them, Fire Custom Shop…

  • 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

VG Q&A: Jimi Flip

Plus, Precision Bass rests and an odd Galliano

October 12, 2023 · Peter Stuart Kohman

I’ve never read why Jimi Hendrix played and set up a right-hand Strat to play left-handed. Surely, he could’ve found…

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)…

Yasmin Williams

Fearless Imagination

January 26, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

On her latest album, Urban Driftwood, Yasmin Williams’ wanderlust expands beyond the acoustic polyphony her fans know well. The songs…

Michael Bruce

Eighteen Again

October 8, 2019 · Johnny Zapp

Before there was an Alice Cooper, man and solo artist, there was the band called Alice Cooper. From 1969 to…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Tyler Morris – 1963 Fender Stratocaster

December 6, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Tyler Morris – 1963 Fender Stratocaster Tyler Morris guides us through his 1963 Fender Stratocaster in Fiesta Red. Follow Tyler…

Nick Moss – clean and tasty on “Scratch N Sniff”

October 27, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Instro-rock, fully greased Get ready to have your funtime socks knocked off, ‘cuz this exclusive Nick Moss run through “Scratch…

National-Dobro 6107A

National-Dobro 6107A

May 2, 2016 · Dave Hunter

Preamp tubes: 56, 57 Output tubes: two 2A3 Rectifier: 5Z3 Controls: Volume Output: 6 watts RMS +/- Speaker: one 10″…

1983 Peavey T-20 and T-20FL Vintage guitar magazine

Peavey T-20

The Next Step

March 30, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

Introduced in 1982, Peavey’s T-20 was different from other basses in the Peavey lineup, the two-pickup T-40, and the single-pickup…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

DNA Analogic Effects

Chemical Reaction

June 24, 2020 · Art Department

If you‘re a “first impressions mean a lot” kind of gearhead, DNA Analogic’s line of effects pedals may just win…

Jackson Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7

Seven Up

April 4, 2023 · Pete Prown

If you’ve at all followed crunchy guitar playing for the past 25 years, you know players often delve into ranges…

AXL USA Hand-Aged Bulldog

Bark and Bite

April 16, 2014 · Chip Wilson

AXL USA Hand-Aged Bulldog Price: $699.99 (street) Contact: www.axlguitars.com Unabashedly inspired by the classic Les Paul Junior, AXL Guitars’ limited-edition…

Marshall’s EH-1 Echohead, RG-1 Regenerator & RF-1 Reflector

Little Marshalls, Big Tones

July 14, 2020 · Phil Feser

Continuing the tradition set forth by the stout little metallic gray/gold boxes of the GV-2 Guv’nor Plus, BB-2 Bluesbreaker II,…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Tele Jimmy Bryant

Sixty Years of Tele-Kinetic Guitar Heroes

Flying Saucers! Tail Fins! Robots!

April 2, 2014 · Pete Prown

Taking a cue from the burgeoning world of television, in 1951, Leo Fender married the name “Telecaster” to his new…

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Tommie James

August 6, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Tommie James Season 01 Episode 05 In Episode 5 of “Buy That Guitar,”…

Steinar Karlsen

Nordic Surf Slinger

March 2, 2017 · Pete Prown

Scandinavia is no stranger to good “instro” music. The past 60 years have produced guitar-fueled legends like the Spotnicks (Sweden),…

Rickenbacker Guitars: Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fireglo

Martin Kelly and Paul Kelly

January 17, 2023 · Michael Dregni

At long last, Rickenbacker gets the treatment it deserves, with this glorious large, comprehensive, and colorful history of the guitars,…

Michael Staertow

Michael Staertow

Gramm Backer

April 11, 2016 · Chuck Riley

You may not recognize the name, but Michael Staertow has been playing some of classic rock’s most memorable riffs for…

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…

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…

Gretsch 6119 Tennessean

Gretsch 6119 Tennessean

June 21, 2016 · George Gruhn

Chet Atkins was the most important endorser ever employed by the Gretsch company. When introduced in the 1950s, models bearing…

Jim Lauderdale

My Favorite Place

May 2, 2025 · Rich Kienzle

Since his 1991 debut, Planet of Love, Jim Lauderdale has produced a body of award-winning work few modern country or…

Billy Gibbons

On The Move

December 4, 2013 · Lisa Sharken

Before ZZ Top, Billy Gibbons launched his career as guitarist and front man with a Texas-based group called the Moving…

Styx

Crash of the Crown

April 4, 2022 · Bret Adams

BreaBreaking While 2017’s concept album The Mission embraced progressive rock, the new Styx album has even higher ambitions. Returning to…

Ben Reynolds

Mudd Slinger

April 3, 2024 · Pete Prown

If you’re into heavy, swampy rock and roll, the Chickasaw Mudd Puppies first album in decades, Fall Line, will satisfy…

Dallas Shaftesbury 30

March 7, 2017 · Dave Hunter

We mine the rich seam of obscure vintage American tube amps on a regular basis here in the pages of…

Chaos Audio Stratus Multi FX Pedal

Smart, Swift Stomp

December 23, 2023 · Charlie Wilkins

Imagine a world where all of your pedals work together so seamlessly that you can quickly and easily experiment with…

Kim Simmonds

1947-2022

November 12, 2023 · Willie G. Moseley

The British blues movement of the late ’60s lost one of its original proponents and practitioners when Savoy Brown lead…

Vega Model 120

April 4, 2017 · Dave Hunter

Viewed from our contemporary perspective, it’s difficult to fully appreciate how different the music scene in general – and the…

2021 August Issue on Spotify

July 27, 2021 · Doug Yellow Bird

This This month we feature Ray Benson’s Asleep at the Wheel, Neal Schon, Styx’s Tommy Shaw and James Young, Paul…

Jensen Tornado Stealth Speakers

Sheer Magnetism

April 23, 2019 · Yoel Kreisler

Jensen has been in the speaker game for a very long time and its wares are some of the most…

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…

David Bowie’s Young Americans

January 15, 2026 · Bret Adams

David Bowie was always creatively restless. The English musician decided to step away from the glam rock he’d recorded for…

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…

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:…

Burns Steer Cutaway

The Burns Steer Cutaway

June 3, 2011 · Sean OBryan Smith

The story of the Burns Steer Cutaway begins in 1925 with the birth of the “British Leo Fender,” James Ormston…

Fender ’48 Dual Professional JB

Bring The Growl

March 20, 2024 · Brett Jochim

Among early Fender amps, the tweed Deluxe and Bassman garner the lion’s share of affection. But the first amp given…

Connie Smith

Love, Prison, Wisdom and Heartaches

May 2, 2025 · Rich Kienzle

Connie Smith’s career began with her ebullient 1964 hit “Once a Day,” now part of the Library of Congress’ prestigious…

John Monteleone

The Chisels Are Calling

December 25, 2023 · Rich Kienzle

Captured in this documentary, John Monteleone’s hand-crafted fretted instruments draw inspiration from the past. His chief inspirations are legendary guitar…

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…

Michael Schenker

Golden Guitar Jubilee

January 25, 2022 · Greg Prato

Incredibly, it’s been 50 years since Michael Schenker recorded his first guitar bit on a studio album – the Scorpions’…

2024 February Issue on Spotify

February 1, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

This month we feature Osborne Brothers, Robben Ford, Campilomgo & Cardenas, Myles Goodwin, Jef Beck, Hawkwind, Adam Levy, Sue Foley,…