• 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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2022 March Issue on Spotify

March 1, 2022 · Doug Yellow Bird

This month we feature Elton John’s Davey Johnstone, Chris Leuzinger, John 5, Keb’ Mo’, John Hall and Larry Hoppen from…

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

Ugly, But An Oldy

March 16, 2024 · Dan Erlewine

In the March issue, I introduced you to my apprentice, Blake Burkholder, and the restoration he was doing to a…

Album of the Year

February 8, 2017 · Vintage Guitar

From 2012 to the present — read about each Readers' Choice Awards Albums.

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…

Classics: July 2021

Warren Garstecki’s 1932 Gibson HG-22

March 4, 2022 · Ward Meeker

Warren Garstecki is a collector who keys on vintage Gibsons with interesting histories, like the HG-22. Introduced in 1929, the…

A Tribute To Chuck Berry

That Brown-Eyed Handsome Guitar-Playing Man

March 27, 2019 · Michael Dregni

When those first notes of Chuck Berry’s first Chess single came blasting out of the radio in July of 1955,…

  • 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

Honkytonk Homage

Guitars Venerate Bakersfield Landmark

April 29, 2024 · Willie G. Moseley

Country-music fans familiar with the history of Bakersfield, California, know of Trout’s nightclub. The last of the venues that gave…

Paul Gilbert

One-Man Electrical Jam

March 30, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

Paul Gilbert’s 16th solo album, Werewolves of Portland, is an ambitious DIY project where he plays all the instruments. From…

Eric Gales

Journey to Love

October 4, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

The latest from Eric Gales features the production talents of Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith, and a face-melting guitar duel, but…

Pop ’N Hiss: Brian Setzer’s The Knife Feels Like Justice

Cat Out of the Bag

March 4, 2022 · Tom Guerra

Changing genres after achieving great success can be a risky career move for a musician. But after making it big…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

GA-20’s Matt Stubbs and Pat Faherty

FlashBack Sounds, Forward Steps

August 8, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Musical gateways opened by Jimi Hendrix and the Doors led Matt Stubbs to become a disciple of Johnny “Guitar” Watson,…

Classics – May 2021

January 25, 2022 · Ward Meeker

This 1940 ES-250 with serial number 96385 left the Gibson factory bound for retailer New York Band on October 25,…

Martin OM-18 and 000-28

March 13, 2014 · Bill Bush

What makes these two Martins remarkable is not necessarily their rarity or historical importance, though both would be welcome additions…

The Slingerland May Bell

February 1, 2022 · Michael Wright

It’s hard to imagine a more poorly “documented” guitar brand than Slinglerland. The company has been around since before World…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Becos FX TS8-JZ Ziffer Overdrive

Dirty Deeds

December 8, 2022 · Pete Prown

Based on the highly revered Maxon/Ibanez 808 circuit and co-designed with guitarist Jordan Ziff (Ratt, Marty Friedman, Hot Crazy), the…

Schertler’s JAM 150

Schertler’s JAM 150

Plays Well with Others

October 21, 2015 · Rich Maloof

Schertler’s JAM150 Price: $1,249.99 (list); $999.99 (street) Info: www.schertler.com Schertler’s JAM150 is a compact combo amp capable of pulling double-duty…

Tech 21’s Acoustic Fly Rig

String Wings

October 3, 2019 · Rich Maloof

Adding to its line of compact DI/multi-effects units for traveling guitarists, Tech 21’s Acoustic Fly Rig is more than a…

IK Multimedia iRig HD

Pocket Rocket

March 2, 2017 · Pete Prown

Ain’t technology grand? With a device like the iRig HD, you can plug your guitar into an iPhone, iPad, or…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

McKinley James

Payin’ Dues in Rhythm & Blues

May 30, 2025 · Pete Prown

If you listen to early electric blues and R&B records, you’ll often notice the original sessions were cut without a…

Fretprints: Earl Hooker

Unsung Blues-Guitar Legend

December 6, 2022 · Wolf Marshall

Chicago, 1959. Ask any blues musician where to go, and the answer was likely, “Wherever Earl Hooker is playing.” Earl…

Taurus Devil Drive and Acid Reflux

No Bull Tone

December 27, 2017 · Phil Feser

Russ Pedersen and his crew at Arkansas-based Taurus Pedals build a wide variety of distortion, overdrive, chorus, fuzz, boost, and…

Lari Basilio

The Artist’s Way

February 2, 2026 · Oscar Jordan

On Lari Basilio’s latest record, Redemption, art and life collide to make beautiful music. Effortless instrumental guitar techniques merge with…

The “Conversion” Les Paul

The “Conversion” Les Paul

Myth, Magic – and Mojo!

June 21, 2016 · Pete Prown

One of the more intriguing topics in guitardom is the Gibson Les Paul “conversion.” What is it? Most of the…

1924 Martin 00-45

1924 Martin 00-45

October 11, 2015 · George Gruhn

When trying to determine originality, guitar dealers and collectors have a tendency to study instruments with the care of a…

Bettie Serveert

Go Dutch!

April 22, 2019 · Kathleen Johnson

Bettie Serveert is still going strong, 25 years after bursting on the scene in Amsterdam at the height of alternative…

Strymon Flint Tremolo and Reverb

Our Man Flint

December 19, 2013 · Rich Maloof

Strymon Flint Tremolo & Reverb Price: $200 Info: www.strymon.net. In just a few short years, Strymon has established itself as…

Calexico

El Mirador

February 7, 2023 · Michael Dregni

Calexico has long crisscrossed the border between American (blues, country, rock and roll) and Latin-American sounds, but the band’s latest…

Carl Verheyen

The Tools of Trading 8s

March 5, 2014 · Wolf Marshall

Carl Verheyen is a member of that elite (and shrinking) group of musicians known as “session guitarists.” Super-qualified pickers, they’re…

Recording King Ray Whitley

August 24, 2025 · George Gruhn and Walter Carter

As a maker of high-quality instruments, Gibson was hit hard by the onset of the Depression in the 1930s. Company…

Tommy Emmanuel Straight Blazin’!

June 26, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Fingerpicking mastery on “Son of a Gun Whoa…. Check out Tommy Emmanuel backstage at the Grand Ole Opry with his…

Anne McCue

Comes Into Her Own

July 13, 2020 · Dan Forte

As impressive as 2004’s Roll was, the eclectic Koala Motel (on Messenger Records) represents a major step up in Anne…

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,…

Kelly Mulhollan

Divine Inspiration

May 15, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Arkansas farmer Ed Stilley was plowing his fields in 1979 when he was struck down by a heart attack; lying…

IK Multimedia iRig HD

Pocket Rocket

March 2, 2017 · Pete Prown

Ain’t technology grand? With a device like the iRig HD, you can plug your guitar into an iPhone, iPad, or…

Dallas Perkins dazzles on “Mexican Puppets”

March 14, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Dallas Perkins: Elemental Experiments Progressive-rock shredder Dallas Perkins brings it with “Mexican Puppets,” a track from his new instrumental album,…

Travis Tritt

Studio Snap-Back

April 6, 2022 · Ward Meeker

It’s not often a superstar performer willfully steps away from creating new music for a decade. For country singer/songwriter/guitarist Travis…

Arlen Roth & Jerry Jemmott

Super Soul Session

February 9, 2024 · Dan Forte

Roth is well-known for his “Hot Licks” instructional videos and method books. But his career is far from academic, having…

Carr Bloke

Carr Bloke

No Regular Fella

November 11, 2015 · Zac Childs

From early models such as the Carr Slant 6V and the Rambler to more recent offerings such as the Artemus…

Shawn Starski

His Own Blues

December 2, 2013 · John Heidt

After spending nearly a decade with harp ace Jason Ricci, guitarist Shawn Starski has stepped out with a self-titled album…

Guild Jetstar

High Flyer

October 14, 2019 · Bob Cianci

In 1964, Guild launched its original Jetstar as the company’s budget-friendly solidbody. With a more-conventional shape than the S-200 Thunderbird…

Snarky Puppy’s Mark Lettieri

December 30, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Empire Central: Funky homage to Dallas Snarky Puppy guitarist Mark Lettieri took a minute at soundcheck to use his PRS…

Dan’s Guitar RX: Rock-And-Roll High School(er)

Building a From-Scratch Class Project, the Conclusion

September 18, 2023 · Dan Erlewine

In my November ’22 column, Ceil Thompson’s class-project guitar was nearing completion – the lacquer coats were applied and, after…

Bad Cat Jet Black Combo

Back in Black

September 17, 2024 · Charlie Wilkins

Guitar players around the globe praised Bad Cat’s Black Cat amp for its tone, but wanted more punch. Its ear…

Hofner 185

April 14, 2016 · Peter Stuart Kohman

Have you heard the line, “If Hendrix had a Magnatone, Strats would be worth $200 now?” A highly debatable proposition,…

2021 July Issue on Spotify

June 23, 2021 · Doug Yellow Bird

This This month we feature Blackberry Smoke, Mark O’Connor, Steve Cropper, Ian Crichton, Jane Getter, Jesse Aycock, Ally Venable, Al…

Spirit

It Shall Be, 1968-’72

July 5, 2018 · Pete Prown

Rock history is littered with truly gifted bands that inexplicably never broke big, from The Move to The Replacements. Spirit…

Gibson Kalamazoo Award

Designer's Dream Come True

February 1, 2016 · Gil Hembree

In 1978, Gibson craftsman Wilbur Fuller produced the company’s first hand-carved, tuned-by-ear custom guitar. The instrument, which in a blind…