• 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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Pat Martino

1944-2021

August 29, 2022 · Wolf Marshall

Music suffered an incalculable loss with the passing of Pat Martino, who died in his sleep on the morning of…

Full Dozen, Semi-Hollow

12 Variations on a Classic Design

December 2, 2016 · Vintage Guitar

To complement our February 2016 issue survey of the semi-hollow electric guitar, we tested 12 examples of the form as…

Music Man’s Hybrid Boogie Amp: The RD-50

December 26, 2017 · Paul Bechtoldt

Say hey, fellow guitarists! If you live in the Northeast, it’s great to have a hobby that doesn’t require going…

Check This Action: Up Jumped Elmore

January 14, 2026 · Dan Forte

When someone recently asked me to recommend the most essential Elmore James album, I answered, “Any and all.” I’ve never…

Austin Guitarst Eric Hisaw on “Someone Else.”

June 1, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

 Rockabilly Meets Punk! Straight outta Austin, Eric Hisaw and his early-’80s import Fender Tele play a cool living-room rendition…

Shane Fontayne

Cool Under Pressure

March 31, 2023 · Pete Prown

Shane Fontayne has held down the guitar hot seat for top artists including Bruce Springsteen, Ian Hunter, Sting, Joe Cocker,…

  • Rickenbacker’s Electric 12-Strings

    Rickenbacker’s Electric 12-Strings

    Double-bound for Glory

    George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacher founded Electro String in 1931 to manufacture what everyone would soon call “Rickenbacker” guitars. Success came early and their lap steels set standards of quality,…

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ARTISTS

Eliza Gilkyson

Not Your Typical Folkie

June 22, 2015 · Dan Forte

“My dad was my biggest influence, especially melodically. He loved dark melodies,” says Eliza Gilkyson of her father, the late…

Ed Sanner

Fuzz Redux

January 24, 2017 · Willie G. Moseley

While not well-known in California guitar lore, Ed Sanner’s electronics designs have been heard by millions of guitar fans, and…

Kim Simmonds

Kim Simmonds

Back to Basics with Savoy Brown

November 11, 2014 · Willie G. Moseley

Under the aegis of founder Kim Simmonds, Savoy Brown has always been a band “subject to change.” Formed in 1965,…

Eli Cook

All Over the Map

July 18, 2019 · Willie G. Moseley

Eli Cook’s seventh album, High-Dollar Gospel, is an Americana-style showcase of sounds, instrumentation, and varied tunings played on an interesting…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

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…

Dan’s Guitar RX: Reviving a ’56 Duo-Jet

Ugly, But An Oldy

January 11, 2024 · Dan Erlewine

Blake Burkeholder, a repair expert in my shop, has always wanted a Gretsch. So, when he found a ’56 Duo-Jet…

J.D. Simo

Playing for Elvis

July 13, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Psych-blues guitar maestro J.D. Simo was the wizard behind the guitar work heard on Elvis, the new Baz Luhrmann film…

Thomas Custom Guitars

Rarities from the Pacific Northwest

January 9, 2026 · Peter Blecha

Certain makes and models of electric guitars are rightfully prized for their elegant physical designs and superior craftsmanship. Even better…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Maestro Ranger Overdrive and Invader Distortion

Evil Twins

July 28, 2023 · Michael Dregni

Maestro’s new all-analog overdrive and distortion pedals are like evil twins – two black-sheep siblings that differ in concept but…

Musicvox Space Cadet USB 30″ Custom

Short-Scale Slugger

March 2, 2017 · Pete Prown

Don’t be confused by the USB in this four-string’s name – there’s no computer-cable hookup. Instead, USB stands for “ultimate…

Bad Cat Cub V EL34 Amp

First-Class Blast

October 9, 2025 · Dave Hunter

The Bad Cat Cub has evolved through several iterations since arriving with the maker’s inaugural lineup 25 years ago. It…

PRS Guitars’ McCarty

Ted Talkin’

March 6, 2017 · Pete Prown

In the late 1980s, Ted McCarty, the man who served as president of Gibson during the company’s “golden age,” became…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Vintage Instrument Research

An Ever-Changing Landscape

May 9, 2019 · George Gruhn

Fretted instruments can be examined in much the same way as zoological taxonomist or forensic pathologist would approach them. They…

Side Hustle

Thom Rotella

September 8, 2025 · Rich Kienzle

Rotella’s long-established fretboard brilliance has put him in some heady music, film, and TV sessions over the decades (including frequent…

Fender American Professional Jazzmaster

Return Of The Rebel

April 19, 2019 · Michael Dregni

From the get-go, Fender’s Jazzmaster was the black sheep of the family – that wild-at-heart uncle your ma warned you…

Tony Gilkyson: Country-Rocker, Punk

January 24, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Tasty licks On A Vintage Kay An alumnus of country-rock’s Lone Justice and punk-rockers X, Tony Gilkyson plugged his vintage…

Valvetech Suplex

A Kinder, Gentler Plexi

July 13, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Used by rock royalty, the 100-watt Marshall Model 1959 Super Lead unleashed hellacious tones. Problem was, it was ridiculously loud…

Fuchs Blackjack-21 II Combo

Fuchs Blackjack-21 II Combo

Hit Me!

February 29, 2016 · Rich Maloof

Fuchs Blackjack-21 II Combo Price: $1,750 Info: www.fuchsaudiotechnology.com Andy Fuchs is an authority in the world of guitar amps. One…

SCOTTY MOORE's GIBSON ES-295 Vinatge guitar Magazine

Scotty Moore’s Gibson ES-295

First Guitar of Rock and Roll

March 28, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Like a hound dog hit by lightning, the first notes of rock and roll blasted out of radios across the…

The Vox AC30C2X and AC15C1

Brit-Rock Mojo in a Box

August 20, 2013 · Pete Prown

Fully appointed in classic Vox dress, the famed British amp maker’s new AC30C2X and AC15C1 both sport enough of that…

Ryan Carraher

Night Music

March 12, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

Jazz guitarist Ryan Carraher defines “vocturnal” as “a portmanteau of the words ‘nocturnal’ and ‘voyage.’ It’s a fitting title for…

Check This Action: So Long, Charlie and Top

January 23, 2024 · Dan Forte

I was saddened to hear of the passing of ’50s rocker Charlie Gracie on December 16. The 86-year-old rocker sure…

Harp Legend Charlie Musselwhite

May 30, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

Stringin’ on “Blue Lounge” Harp legend Charlie Musselwhite has recorded and performed with a stunning array of guitarists in his…

Ampeg R-12-R Reverberocket

July 11, 2014 · Dave Hunter

1962 Ampeg R-12-R Reverberocket Preamp tubes: two 6SL7, two 6SN7 Output tubes: two 6V6, cathode-biased Rectifier: 5Y3 Controls: Volume, Tone,…

Chris Tapp’s “Got No Right”

March 7, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Cold Stares’ Guitarist Digs In, Grooves Out Chris Tapp grabbed his real-deal Gibson ’52 goldtop (running through a Kingtone Blues…

1978 Gibson RD Artist

May 5, 2016 · Michael Wright

Throughout most of the 1970s, Les Pauls ruled the guitar roost. But toward the end of the decade, some players became…

Coral Electric Sitar

Coral Electric Sitar

April 6, 2016 · George Gruhn

For centuries, Indian musicians have utilized the resonant sympathetic strings of the sitar to create the unique sounds of classical Indian…

Collings CJ-45 T

Golden Child

October 12, 2022 · Michael Dregni

Every now and then, you pick up a guitar and realize you’re holding magic in your hands. Welcome to the…

Benson Set to Host Breezin’ With The Stars Retreat

October 30, 2024 · Ward Meeker

In the December ’24 issue of Vintage Guitar, the legendary George Benson discusses his new album, the forthcoming sale of…

Echopark Ghetto Bird

Sweet Emotion

February 3, 2014 · Pete Prown

Echopark Ghetto Bird Price: $6,800 (as reviewed) Contact: www.echoparkguitars.com You know you’re holding something special when the guy who previously…

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Daniel Escauriza

August 27, 2024 · Doug Yellow Bird

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Daniel Escauriza Season 01 Episode 06 In Episode 8 of “Buy That Guitar,”…

VG Q&A: Odd Dots

Import fretboard markers, and Kay’s Model 1961

April 8, 2024 · Michael Wright

In the mid ’60s, why did some Japanese electric-guitar manufacturers put the marker on the 10th fret rather than the…

Joe Peña

Bad Breakups, Free Guitars

June 26, 2020 · John Heidt

“[My ’59 Les Pal Junior] sounds so good that whoever’s going to play the main part in a song plays…

Danelectro ’66

Alluring Curves

April 19, 2019 · Pete Prown

The new Danelectro ’66 brings together several threads of retro-dom in one hip package. Visually, this Danny brings to mind…

Gibson Super 400 PN

January 27, 2014 · George Gruhn

The Gibson Super 400 Premiere cutaway acoustic first appeared in Gibson literature in the 1940 catalog, on a page showing…

Crucial Audio Echo-Nugget

Crucial Audio Echo-Nugget

Things Just Got Serious

May 2, 2015 · Pete Prown

Crucial Audio Echo-Nugget Price:$799 (list) Contact: www.crucialaudio.com It’s hard not to be impressed by the physical presence of the Crucial…

Check This Action: Animals Let Loose

April 12, 2023 · Dan Forte

As a kid, I dug The Beatles, Stones, Yardbirds, Kinks, Manfred Mann, and pretty much the whole British Invasion. But,…

Gibson’s Memphis ES-275

History Now

July 9, 2018 · Pete Prown

Take a quick glance at the Gibson Memphis ES-275 and you might think this is a venerable Gibson from decades…

D.K. Harrell

Blues Boy

January 14, 2025 · Pete Prown

B.B. King may be gone, but on The Right Man, D.K. Harrell picks up the baton and carries that legendary…

Hot Tuna

Live at Sweetwater / Live in Japan

May 13, 2024 · Rich Kienzle

Jorma Kaukonen, who started as an acoustic folk-blues guitarist, returned to that style in 1969 when he and bassist Jack…

Buddy Whittington

Guitar-Lover’s Smorgasbord

May 20, 2021 · Willie G. Moseley

Though his status as a member of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers has changed since VG last talked to him, guitarist Buddy…