• 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…

    Read more >>

The String Sling

Trapper Keeper

January 9, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Almost all of us have a guitar – maybe even two – we like a bit more than “the other…

PureSalem Honey Bunny, Pink Beard, Attack Captain

Bring The Fuzz

December 27, 2017 · Chip Wilson

Remember your first fuzz pedal? Maybe, like a certain reviewer, you literally worked up a sweat trying to strike a…

Metallica

72 Seasons

March 16, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Metallica’s 11th album is a blast from the band’s hard-charging past, and does not disappoint. As the follow-up to 2016’s…

Lazy J Cruiser Deuce

Lazy J Cruiser Deuce

Revved Up

February 12, 2015 · Chip Wilson

Lazy J Cruiser Deuce Price: $420 Info: www.lazyjprojects.com. The Lazy J Cruiser Deuce is more complex than your classic stomp-and-go…

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…

Jenny Boyd

Jenny Boyd

Searching For The Source

February 26, 2016 · Dan Forte

Dr. Jenny Boyd is founder and director of Spring Workshops, “organizing psychotherapeutic groups for people in need of personal development.”…

  • 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,…

    Read more >>

NOW AVAILABLE!

CURRENT ISSUE

Join 25,700+ subscribers & be notified when new articles & more becomes available!

ARTISTS

Steve Stevens plays “77”

August 28, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

Steve Stevens plays “77” Live from the dressing room at Wembley Arena just before a sold-out performance with Billy Idol,…

Carlos Santana

Holding That Tone

April 5, 2022 · Dan Forte

Carlos Santana is illustrating a point. “Most people play like this – around the note,” he says, making a fist…

Rik Emmett

Triumphant Return

March 29, 2019 · Greg Prato

Triumph was one of the leading arena-rock acts of the late ’70s and early ’80s. Striking gold and platinum with…

Ernie Isley

Burning Desire

July 2, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

Contrary to what longtime fans may have heard, Ernie Isley didn’t take guitar lessons from Jimi Hendrix. Though Ernie hung…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

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…

Marshall 2100 Lead & Bass

Rock Breaker

February 1, 2024 · Dave Hunter

Adescendant of the legendary “Bluesbreaker” combo that helped launch the cranked-Marshall sound into the annals of rock, the 2100 combo…

The G&L El Toro

April 26, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

At the beginning of 1983, Leo Fender was just more than three years into his last guitar-manufacturing venture when he…

Gibson GA-200 Rhythm King Vintage Guitar magazine

Gibson GA-200 Rhythm King

July 9, 2015 · Dave Hunter

Preamp tubes: two 12AX7, one 12AY7, two 6BJ8, two 6SK7, one 6V6 (used as a voltage divider) Output tubes: two…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Crazy Tube Circuit White Whale V2

Twin Tones

July 10, 2025 · Bob Dragich

Introduced in 2017, Christos Ntaifotis’ original White Whale tremolo/reverb became one of his company’s best sellers. Its success, however, didn’t…

Eastwood’s Classic 6 TA PHo

Phish Food

August 10, 2023 · Pete Prown

If you’ve seen Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio onstage, you may have noticed an unusual archtop in his mitts – a…

Demeter FZO-1 Fuzzy Octavulator

Demeter FZO-1 Fuzzy Octavulator

Fuzz Flavors

October 24, 2014 · Zac Childs

James Demeter has a long history in the amp and effects biz. His project-boxed/Dymo-labeled Tremulator pedal pre-dates the ’90s boutique…

Guild Polara Kim Thayil

Get Your Grunge

June 26, 2024 · Bob Cianci

With Soundgarden, guitarist Kim Thayil helped define the grunge movement. His unusual weapon of choice was the Guild S-100 Polara,…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

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…

John Leventhal

Ready to Rumble

December 13, 2024 · Rich Kienzle

“I’ve been lucky enough to make a career co-writing and producing records with great singers and lyricists, John Leventhal explains.…

Reinier Voet’s double-up demo

May 1, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Gypsy jazz, direct from Amsterdam Reinier Voet shows us bits of “Swing 49” and the solo-guitar piece “Bagatelle Nr1,” both…

Great Eastern FX Small Speaker Overdrive

Little Big Tones

March 13, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Recording engineers and DIYers have long known what a small amp can do in a big room – that is,…

Music Nomad Precision Setup Gauge Set

The Set Up

May 8, 2025 · Julian Burtell

There’s nothing like playing a properly set-up guitar, but taking it to a repair shop can be expensive – especially…

Steve Turner

The March To Fuzz

April 29, 2024 · Dennis Pernu

Thirty-five years after Steve Turner and Mudhoney became forever linked with two legendary pedals by coining their debut EP Superfuzz…

JOHNNYSMITH-HOME-MAIN-BIG

The Guild and Gibson Johnny Smith Models

December 3, 2013 · Jim Hilmar

The name “Johnny Smith” is synonymous with class, elegance, and style. Most guitar players are familiar, if not with the…

Flying High Again

The Eastwood Airline ’59 3P

April 15, 2020 · Pete Prown

Long before the brazen, pointy electrics of the 1980s, Airline created a model with all kinds of modern angles and…

Classics: Tommy Castro’s ’66 Fender Stratocaster

December 12, 2025 · Ward Meeker

Tommy Castro has never been much for sitting with a guitar teacher, preferring instead to rely on good ol’ time…

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…

Jon Herington

October 4, 2016 · John Heidt

Jon Herington, best known for his current work as Steely Dan’s lead guitarist, put out one of the decades’ great…

Setting Up Effects

Certain Guidelines Apply to a Signal Chain, But Your Ears Are the Ultimate Judge

June 2, 2015 · Lisa Sharken

One question frequently asked by guitar players is how to set up effects and arrange them in a 
proper signal…

Joel Hoekstra

Joel Hoekstra

Busy Smilin’

January 28, 2016 · Bret Adams

When does Joel Hoekstra sleep? To say the always-smiling guitarist has a full plate is an understatement. For several years,…

Orianthi Lights It Up

December 7, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

New Music, Signature J-200 With her still-newish signature Gibson J-200, Orianthi strums and sings a chill version of the hard-rocking…

Reggie Young

Never Too Late

April 18, 2019 · Zac Childs

After six decades as a session musician, guitarist Reggie Young has released his first solo album, Forever Young. A showcase…

Harden Muddy Waters

Mojo Working

August 13, 2025 · Pete Prown

Harden Engineering is a small Chicago shop that specializes in hand-made instruments in a variety of shapes and sizes and…

Maestro Fuzz-Tone

December 8, 2015 · Michael Dregni

Fuzz. It’s the sound of fury, aggravation, indignation, and – considering the history of the most famous fuzzbox of all…

Little Wing: The Jimmy McCulloch Story

Paul Salley

September 7, 2022 · Bret Adams

When a former Beatle name-checks you before a guitar solo on your very first recording with the band, you must…

Jared James Nichols’ glorious goldtop

April 27, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Mods and pedals need not apply! Watch Jared James Nichols tear it up on “Dorothy,” his ’52 Gibson Les Paul,…

The Providence Velvet Comp, Red Rock OD, and Phase Force

The Providence Velvet Comp, Red Rock OD, and Phase Force

Tones of Destiny

April 6, 2015 · Zac Childs

The Providence Velvet Comp, Red Rock OD, and Phase Force Price: $199 (per piece, list) Contact: www.providence.jp Providence is a…

Dave Gonzalez

Western Soul Brother

April 27, 2020 · Wally Marx Jr.

For a guitarist with fans and admirers around the world, Dave Gonzalez is one humble man. “I’m still trying to…

Carvin Steve Vai Legacy 3 VL300

The Legend Continues

October 26, 2015 · Phil Feser

Carvin Steve Vai Legacy 3 VL300 Price: $899 Info: www.carvin.com. For more than 13 years, Steve Vai has been collaborating…

Faces

At the BBC: Complete BBC Concert & Session Recordings, 1970-1973

August 13, 2025 · Dan Forte

Rod Stewart & Faces were sloppy and raucous enough to make the Rolling Stones look like Air Supply. Okay, not…

Keeley Electronics’ D&M Drive

Tone Stacker

July 24, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

As the gear industry seeks to reach new segments, Robert Keeley has turned his attention from making products for road…

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…

Wally Stocker

A Baby Grows Up

September 11, 2014 · Ken Sharp

After decades away from the music scene, guitarist Wally Stocker is back on his feet again and back where he…

Michael Manring

Bass Convergence

November 7, 2025 · Willie G. Moseley

Most music fans who learn that the eclectic trio 3Below is all bass players will react with, “You gotta be…

Jorge Harada

Whole Lotta Rockabilly

March 11, 2019 · Michael Dregni

Call it twang with attitude. Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers’ new album, Little Black Heart, is a heady mix of…

Soldano Astro-20 combo

Rock Machine

November 26, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Mike Soldano is the man behind amp tones that influenced a generation of guitarists, his hot-rodded ideas having been used…