• Seymour Duncan Announces the Slash 3.0 Pickup Set

    Seymour Duncan Announces the Slash 3.0 Pickup Set

    SANTA BARBARA, January 13th, 2026 – Seymour Duncan, a leading manufacturer of guitar and bass pickups, effects pedals, and pedal amps, is proud to announce that the Slash 3.0 Pickup…

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  • Thomas Custom Guitars

    Thomas Custom Guitars

    Rarities from the Pacific Northwest

    Certain makes and models of electric guitars are rightfully prized for their elegant physical designs and superior craftsmanship. Even better are those also revered for their playability and particularly rich…

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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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Eastwood La Baye 2x4 Devo Signature Model

Eastwood La Baye 2×4 Devo Signature Model

Whip It Good

July 7, 2016 · Pete Prown

For decades, guitarists have lovingly referred to their solidbody guitars as “planks.” In the mid ’60s, a small builder called…

Fretprints: Fenton Robinson

Unsung Blues Icon

June 4, 2022 · Wolf Marshall

In the encyclopedia of American music, there oughta be a picture of Fenton Robinson next to “unsung blues hero.” Drop…

We’re an American Band: A Journey Through The USA Hard Rock Scene, 1967-1973

Various artists

May 13, 2024 · Pete Prown

Early hard-rock bands were often British (Led Zep, Sabbath, Purple), but this box set looks at the American acts morphing…

Manouche Latcho Drom Swing 42

Hot Club Hot Stuff

December 27, 2017 · Michael Dregni

In the galaxy of Gypsy jazz guitars, the Modèle Special Chorus made by Sicilian-born, Parisian-based Antoine Di Mauro was something…

Smith/Kotzen

January 25, 2022 · Bret Adams

This is one of those projects that gets guitar fanatics drooling. Iron Maiden cornerstone Adrian Smith and prolific American veteran…

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)…

  • 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 >>

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ARTISTS

Jeff Berlin

December 17, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Bass Master Homage to Jack Bruce In the December issue, bass master Jeff Berlin recalls the first time he heard…

Pop ’N Hiss: Rage Against the Machine’s Evil Empire

Strife Under Pressure

September 18, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

With a title taken from a Ronald Reagan quip about the Soviet Union, Rage Against The Machine’s second album, Evil…

Ritchie Blackmore

Machine Head at 45: Tone Secrets of Deep Purple’s Masterwork

April 22, 2019 · Pete Prown

In any conversation about the dawn of hard rock and metal, several bands rise up –  Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath,…

Brian Tarquin

Music, Books, and Bookings

July 2, 2019 · John Heidt

Brian Tarquin is thriving in “steady as ya’ go” mode. Since his VG  interview in February ’15, he has released…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

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…

“Boogie Mod” Dual Showman

January 2, 2026 · Dave Hunter

What do you do when the humble blackface Bandmaster you acquired sight-unseen turns out to harbor one of rock’s hottest…

Gospel Guitars

Semie Moseley’s Venerated Brand

February 28, 2019 · Willie G. Moseley

When he wasn’t crafting Mosrites, Semie Moseley could often be found on the road, providing music for evangelists. It makes…

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:…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Visual Sound Route 66 V3 American Overdrive

Visual Sound Route 66 V3 American Overdrive

Get Yer’ Kick

April 15, 2016 · Anders Fransson

Visual Sound Route 66 V3 American Overdrive Price: $179 (street) Contact: www.truetone.com/ Over the years, the Route 66 pedal by…

Cordoba 15CFM

Hawai’i Not?

January 21, 2022 · Pete Prown

The ukulele phenomenon shows no signs of slowing, with models ranging from well under $100 on up to thousands. The…

Reverend Ron Ashton Vintage Guitar magazine

Reverend Guitars Ron Asheton Model

Raw Power

June 18, 2014 · Pete Prown

Reverend Guitars Ron Asheton Model Price: $1,079 Info: www.reverendguitars.com. If Ron Asheton had recorded just one album in his musical…

Meris LVX Delay

Next-Gen Echo

September 17, 2024 · Pete Prown

Designed for guitarists drawn to effects with a simple, straightforward interface, Meris LVX Modular Delay System is an attention-getter. Perfect…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

D’Angelico Excel EXL-1

Laudable Likeness

July 24, 2019 · Michael Dregni

Few vintage guitars are as vaunted as John D’Angelico’s original handcrafted Excel archtops. Building a new – and affordable –…

Falbo Alpha Series Hollowbody

Falbo Alpha Series Hollowbody

Top Dog

April 7, 2016 · Bob Dragich

Falbo Alpha Series Hollowbody Price: $3,450 (base); $6,250 (as reviewed) Info: www.falboguitars.com Frank Falbo set the acoustic guitar world on…

Biography of a Phantom: A Robert Johnson Blues Odyssey

Robert “Mack” McCormick

March 20, 2024 · Bret Adams

The legend of Robert Johnson looms large, from his music to the myth of the Faustian bargain made at the…

Influenced by Benson, Montgomery, and Christian: Jorge Garcia

August 15, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Flavorful Jazz on “Dedicated to You” Jazz guitarist Jorge Garcia brings many flavors to his musical table. Here, his ’77…

Sonny Burgess

1929-2017

May 9, 2019 · Michael Dregni

Sonny Burgess, one of the last of the great Sun Records stars, died August 18. He was 88 and had…

TWA Hot Sakè and Dynamorph

Circuit City

April 23, 2019 · Pete Prown

Totally Wycked Audio (TWA) builds a line of cool stompboxes that consistently push the envelope in the right direction. Two…

Squier Paranormal Custom Nashville Stratocaster

No Choice Required

November 26, 2024 · Bob Dragich

Can’t decide between a Tele and a Strat? The new Squier Paranormal Custom Nashville Stratocaster may ease your worried mind.…

Manouche courtesy of La Pompe Attack

March 27, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

(Gypsy) Jazzin’ a James Taylor Tune La Pompe Attack shows us their take on James Taylor’s “Traffic Jam,” from their…

Park 45

Masked Marshall

March 28, 2019 · Dave Hunter

When is a Marshall not a Marshall? When it’s a Park, of course! Though it might not scream “classic rock…

Frampton, Foreigner Join HoF

Rockin’ the Hall

September 8, 2025 · Bret Adams

Peter Frampton, Foreigner, Alexis Korner, and John Mayall became classmates during the 39th Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction…

Fender’s “First-Gen” Strat

August 9, 2016 · George Gruhn

The Fender Stratocaster is arguably the most popular electric guitar model in the world. From the time of its introduction…

The Fender Tremolux

January 29, 2024 · Dave Hunter

Most amp nuts are utterly fascinated by Fender’s rapid evolution from archaic to modern through the course of the 1950s.…

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…

Sue Foley’s Pinky Tele

January 28, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Powerhouse Blues on “Dallas Man” Sue Foley and her band (Corey Keller on drums and John Bradley on bass) tear…

Stephen Ulrich

Stephen Ulrich

Film Noir Guitar

March 29, 2016 · Pete Prown

The instrumental music of Big Lazy echoes of Hollywood soundtracks – scores from gritty detective flicks, suspenseful prison breakouts, and…

PRS SE NF3

Expanded Options

May 8, 2025 · Bob Cianci

The latest result of PRS Guitars “reverse-engineering”/ reconsidering its own instruments, the SE NF3 is the first PRS to be…

Allan Holdsworth

1946-2017, Lion of Legato

April 15, 2019 · Pete Prown

Music fans were relaxing on Easter Sunday when word of Allan Holdsworth’s death began filtering about, bringing shock to the…

Taj Mahal

December 30, 2016 · Rick Allen

Taj Mahal plays all sorts of folk, keyboard, and percussion instruments – and just about anything with strings. His deceptively…

Patterson Hood

Drive-By Truckers Change Gears

June 26, 2020 · John Heidt

It’s a brave new world for Drive-By Truckers and their latest album, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark. Guitarist/songwriter Patterson Hood says…

1968 Fender Vibrolux Reverb

Silver Serenade

May 21, 2019 · Dave Hunter

Amplifier collectors swarm to models with descriptors like “first year” and “golden age,” but other types can be far more…

Have Guitar Will Travel – 051 Featuring Greg V.

May 25, 2021 · James Patrick Regan

Guitarist Greg V. has backed songwriter Bonnie Hayes, Randy Jackson, Ronnie Montrose, drummer Buddy Miles, and stepped into a certain…

Corb Lund’s (Acoustic) Roots Rock!

February 22, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Low-key in the living room Corb Lund rescued his ’80s Kramer Ferrington from a hair ballad so he could use…

Hilton Valentine

1943-2021

January 24, 2022 · Dan Forte

“The first song I learned on guitar was ‘House of the Rising Sun’ by the Animals.” The statement could have…

Universal Audio Ruby, Woodrow & Dream

Model Of Perfection

July 28, 2023 · Pete Prown

With digital recording more popular than ever, audio designers are working to capture guitar tone directly, without miking an amp.…

Killer Guitar Components Killer Trem Bridge

Bridging the Gap

March 1, 2017 · Phil Feser

In the mid 1950s, Leo Fender and his crew spent countless hours on the design and manufacture of their revolutionary…

Weller El Dorrado

Rock-and-Roll Screamer

July 10, 2025 · Pete Prown

Tucked away in southwest Illinois near St. Louis, luthier Steve Weller is making interesting instruments. His El Dorrado model is…

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…

George Lynch

New Roads

March 6, 2024 · Pete Prown

A lynch pin is a narrow shaft of metal that keeps a wheel from falling off – without it, the…

Gov’t Mule

Peace… Like a Rive

April 19, 2024 · Bret Adams

It’s fortunate the world still has artists like Gov’t Mule to influence aspiring musicians and prove that it’s possible to…