• 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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Home Feature Image

Avid Technology Eleven Rack

Rack and Roll

June 10, 2016 · Pete Prown

The proliferation of digital guitar gear grows by leaps and bounds every year as more players learn to love the…

Susan Tedeschi

Just Won’t Burn

October 29, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Fantasy Records is celebrating Susan Tedeschi by reissuing the album that introduced her to lovers of soulful music the world…

Holy Cripes!

The Story of Jerry Garcia’s Last Guitars

December 29, 2015 · Steve Armato and James D. McCallister

Steve Cripe left a unique legacy in the annals of music history. He was not a guitar player, not a…

Jim Marshall Passes

April 6, 2012 · Ward Meeker

Jim Marshall, who pioneered guitar amplifiers used by some of the greatest names in rock and roll, died today. He…

ToneConcepts, Nels Cline Co-Op on Goo Distortion Pedal

August 3, 2016 · Ward Meeker

The ToneConcepts Goo distortion pedal was designed in cooperation with guitarist Nels Cline. It has controls for Volume, Shininess (tone),…

Dennis Budimir

November 13, 2023 · Jim Carlton

Renowned studio guitarist Dennis Budimir died in Los Angeles on January 10. He was 84. Early in his career, Budimir’s…

  • The story of the Martin F-50

    The story of the Martin F-50

    Our friend Nate Westgor from Willie’s American Guitars shares the story of Martin’s first step into the booming 1960s electric guitar market. Enjoy, and have a wonderful holiday season from…

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ARTISTS

Nick Perri

Constant Creator

March 16, 2024 · Ward Meeker

The elements of life that mold a person are constant and ever-evolving. Influence is all about perspective. Philadelphia-born Nick Perri…

Freddie Krc gets “Dandy” on a ’64 SJ

December 10, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

FTop-Flight Tune by Texas Stalwart You can’t blame Freddie Krc for loving his ’64 Southern Jumbo, which he’s using here…

Buddy Emmons

Buddy Emmons

1937-2015

July 5, 2016 · Rich Kienzle

Buddy Emmons, who revolutionized the pedal-steel guitar both musically and technically, died July 21 in Nashville after suffering a heart…

Jeff Plankenhorn

New Innovations For Lap Steel

December 26, 2017 · Willie G. Moseley

Jeff Plankenhorn has always made music his way, using stringed instruments he created. He picked up guitar at age 10,…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Carvin DN640K

January 27, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

Doubleneck instruments have always been a unique niche in the guitar market, for good reason. They’ve also carried an air…

Greg Martin John Sebastian’s ’59 Gibson Les Paul Standard Vintage Guitar magazine Feature Image

John Sebastian’s ’59 Gibson Les Paul Standard

Vintage Guitar magazine Presents Greg Martin's Head Shop

April 30, 2018 · Doug Yellow Bird

This is a regular series of exclusive Vintage Guitar online features where The Kentucky Headhunters’ Greg Martin looks back on…

 The Guitars of Gary Rossington 

A Legend’s Legacy

October 30, 2025 · Ward Meeker

When the time came for Gary Rossington’s family to decide what to do with his guitars and amps after his…

1978 Dean Z

May 25, 2005 · Michael Wright

The mid 1970s were a turbulent time in guitar history. The American guitar establishment – at least Gibson and Fender…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Gretsch G5191BK Tim Armstrong Electromatic

Cool Player, Punk Heart

November 5, 2013 · Sean OBryan Smith

Few punk-rock guitarists have made their mark like Tim Armstrong. Through his work with renowned punkers Rancid, Armstrong has torn…

The Reverend Koch Gristle 90

Pop The Hood

July 28, 2022 · Pete Prown

What happens when you mix a classic design with the creativity of twang ace Greg Koch? You get the Reverend…

DoleSonic Half Back Stack

Tone Meets Crafts-manship

December 12, 2013 · Sean OBryan Smith

Shaw Audio Bass 130 Price: $1,350 Contact: www.tremcaster.com, phone: (330) 608-2043 In a day where gear companies often focus on…

Fralin’s Wide-Range Humbucker

July 22, 2019 · Pete Prown

Gibson and Fender have a long history of influencing each other’s designs. When hard rock and warm, jazzier textures were…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Les Claypool

Child’s Play

September 20, 2019 · Greg Prato

The words “concept album” conjure images of long-haired, cape-wearing prog musicians from the ’70s. On their ninth studio album, The…

Sue Foley

Femme Flamenco

December 10, 2024 · Greg Prato

In a time when pop-music performers rely heavily on post-recording fix-ups and pre-recorded tracks onstage, it’s refreshing – even admirable…

Bruce Kulick

Wielding Power On BK3

May 15, 2014 · Lisa Sharken

With his new album, BK3, Bruce Kulick brings out the big guns on what he calls his “…strongest solo disc…

National Style 3 Hawaiian

February 9, 2023 · George Gruhn

Metal-bodied guitars built by the National String Instrument Company before World War II represent a giant leap in guitar design…

Cory Wong

Emperor Of The North

October 11, 2021 · Oscar Jordan

Cory Wong’s latest solo album, Striped, is a jubilant record and his eighth this year. Defying the temperature of the…

Blues guitarist Charlie Apicella’s “Booze and Blues” and “Just Like a Woman”

September 29, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

Honoring B.B., Rainey Being V.P. of the North Jersey Blues Society isn’t the only thing that separates Charlie Apicella from…

John Pizzarelli

From Stage to Seven-String

April 28, 2024 · John Heidt

The John Pizzarelli Trio is back on the road supporting its latest album, Stage and Screen. Joined by Isaiah J.…

Def Leppard

Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard

April 24, 2024 · Bret Adams

When Def Leppard released its 1980 debut, On Through the Night, most members were barely out of their teens. Now…

Dan Fogelberg’s Gretsch White Penguin

June 10, 2015 · George Gruhn

Dan Fogelberg’s success as a singer and songwriter far overshadows his reputation as a musician, but the man whose tenor…

Marty Friedman’s Melodic Grandeur

June 26, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Vintage Strat, new style on “Illumination” A devout Jackson user with a longstanding signature model, Fender Strat that’s also heard…

Wes Montgomery: His Life and His Music

Oliver Dunskus

December 9, 2021 · Wolf Marshall

You don’t have to be a bebopper thumbing a Gibson L-5 to appreciate the music of Wes Montgomery – arguably…

John 5 and the Creatures

The Horror

March 30, 2017 · Oscar Jordan

Making good music requires a stimulating muse or inspiration. For some it’s love, happiness, loss, or regret. For guitarist John…

Bob Dylan

Judas!

December 30, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Breaking out of the box and kicking down barriers seems the first item on the daily to-do list for many…

Stromberg Master 400

August 9, 2017 · George Gruhn

Considered by many to be the ultimate orchestral rhythm guitar, these very rare instruments are among the most sought-after, and…

Teye Apache

Sound, Feel, Mojo

March 6, 2017 · Ray Wuolo

One of three stunning L-series models (along with its brothers, the El Toro and Cleopatra) introduced by guitar builder Teye,…

Matchless Superchief 120

May 30, 2017 · Dave Hunter

A maker at the forefront of the “boutique amp” movement, Matchless is known for its Class-A designs – that is,…

The KW Cabs ST-220T SSB

Who Woodn’t?

March 7, 2022 · Tom Guerra

Like you, Kurt Wyberanec knows that good extension cabinets, like acoustic guitars, serve their player as resonant sound chambers. Those…

Robert John & The Wreck’s Henry James

July 28, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Cali-Style Southern Rock Southern-fried rock from California? You bet it’s tasty. Check out the guitar work of Henry James Schneekluth…

LA LOM

The Los Angeles League of Musicians

July 3, 2025 · Pete Prown

It’s Latin, it’s surfy, it’s twangy – okay, what the heck is it? LA LOM is an instrumental trio that…

Eric Krasno

Front Man

January 5, 2018 · Oscar Jordan

Because Eric Krasno isn’t quite busy enough performing 188 dates a year with Soulive, moonlighting with the band Lettuce, or…

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…

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…

The Musical Instrument Museum

Blooms in the Desert

January 27, 2017 · Michael Wright

When traveling the American desert southwest, one should expect the unexpected. Visit in the springtime and you might witness the…

National N-275

April 19, 2016 · George Gruhn

Gibson is widely known for its guitars, mandolins, and banjos, but many are unaware the company built instruments for nearly…

Neal Schon

Neal Schon

“The Guitar Is My Voice”

July 5, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Long before Neal Schon helped Journey sell more than 80 million albums, he was a rock-fusion gunslinger who turned down…

Reflecting on Steve Cropper: A Playlist

December 4, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

Steve Cropper was just 20 years old when his band, the Mar-Keys, began backing singers in the studios of Stax…

Lazy J 20

Deluxe inspiration

July 30, 2015 · Phil Feser

The Lazy J 20 Price: $2,700 (reviewed) Contact: www.lazyjprojects.com After moving to England and leaving behind the vintage Fender Deluxe…

Status Quo’s Francis Rossi

On Guitars, Music, and Elusive Success

October 13, 2015 · Elliot Stephen Cohen

“I’m only as good now as I should have been when I was 25,” laughs Francis Rossi, the 64-year-old lead…

1939-’42 Gibson SJ-100

$100 Cowboy Flat-Top

September 1, 2023 · Peter Stuart Kohman

Through the 1910s and early ’20s, Gibson catalogs denigrated flat-top guitars as inferior, unworthy of the company name. But that…