We talk more new music with Shawn Starski, Nick Moss, Luther Dickinson, review the life and times of Doc Watson, and talk summer tours with Neil Giraldo, Wishbone Ash, and Fast Eddie Clarke.

We deliver the usual objective look at some great new gear, including the new Carr Bloke, Grover Jackson’s  GJ2 Arete 5-Star, Bare Knuckle Pickups, Carvin’s Steve Vai Legacy 3 VL300, the Walden Sean Harkness/CG4070E, Goodtone’s Roadrage PD, and the Mad Professor Golden Cello!

And of course, Dan Erlewine, Wolf Marshall, Will Kelly, Dan Forte, and Michael Dregni do the usual bang-up job.

Couples Connection
Mary Ford’s ’61 Les Paul Custom Finds a New Home
From a low-end Yamaha acoustic to a prime set of PRS Dragons, instruments of many ilks have been welcomed to the wood-and-wire gathering of guitars belonging to Gary and Gail Nichols. Last January, they added a guitar that gave the collection instant historical-heavy-hitter credibility. By Ward Meeker

Mark Tremonti
Rock Star, Amp Snob!
Many guitar heroes spent more than their fair share of time stowed away in their bedrooms, playing guitar while other kids in the neighborhood played baseball, kick the can, or spin the bottle. The hard-charging co-founder of Creed and Alter Bridge is another member of that “lone wolf” club. His latest project puts him out-front. By Ward Meeker

The Legend of Paul Kossoff’s Burst
The story of Paul Kossoff’s famed sunburst Les Paul begins in 1974 with a band that opened for Free in the U.K. Handling guitar for Beckett at the time was a young Wearside lad named Arthur Ramm. By Pete Prown

The Gibson Army & Navy Special
Gibson’s history is filled with unusual instruments, from Orville Gibson’s lyre mandolins to electric banjos to self-tuning guitars. For the ultimate combination of unique design, rarity, and historical importance, this double-soundhole version of the Army & Navy Special would be hard to equal. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

The Don Sarrell Banjo
Don Sarrell was an electrical engineer by trade, but music was in his blood – especially old-timey bluegrass. Not only could he play the music well enough to win several high-profile competitions, but this instrument, which he built in 1999, is the work of someone who very much knows their way around a wood shop. By Michael Wright

Peavey Forum Basses
This line, launched in the ’90s, exemplified the builder’s efforts to adhere to its founder’s mantra of “quality equipment for working musicians at fair prices.” By Willie G. Moseley

The Vox AC50
Where the evolution of guitar amplification traces musicians’ needs to be louder, the history of Vox follows, in particular, that need for one band – The Beatles. This amp was the result of a desperate effort by founder Tom Jennings and engineer Dick Denney. By Dave Hunter

The DeArmond Tremolo Control
A quaint electromechanical device, hidden within its small metal box is an electric motor with a spindle that shakes a vial containing electrolytic liquid. Signal runs through the fluid, and as it sloshes up and down, it allows more or less signal to pass, thus modulating the signal’s output volume. The result? True voodoo! By Michael Dregni

Reader Mail

News and Notes
MPI Hosts Duane Eddy; Waukesha Museum Gets Les Paul Items; Cowtown Guitars Helps Autism Charity; Vai, Musicians Foundation Offer Scholarship; In Memoriam, More!

Neil Giraldo
Road Routine
By Ward Meeker

Wishbone Ash
Powell, Manninen, and Elegant Stealth
By Willie G. Moseley

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

Shawn Starski
His Own Rules
By John Heidt

VG on Facebook

Nick Moss
Musical Horizons Beyond Chicago
By Willie G. Moseley

Luther Dickinson’s acoustic Odyssey
By Oscar Jordan

Doc Watson
1923-2011
By Rich Kienzle

The Return of Fast Eddie Clarke
The Art of Intense Guitar
By Oscar Jordan

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
Rice Custom Guitars

Upcoming Events

Dealer showcase

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

The (Way) Back Beat
’60s Guitar Adventures at Ampg, Part 2: From Studs to See Throughs
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Acousticville
Doc Watson… And Flat Picks
By Steven Stone

Guitars With Guts
Salvador Ibáñez
By R.E. Bruné

Fretprints
Derek & The Dominos
By Wolf Marshall

Dan’s Guitar Rx
Fixing a Southerner’s Jumbo
By Dan Erlewine

Shop of Hard Knocks
Re-Purposed for Tone, Part 2
By Will Kelly

The VG Hit List
CD and DVD Reviews: Oscar Aleman, Heart, Pat Metheny, Tedeschi-Trucks Band, Albert King, Allan Holdsworth, Way Down: Playing Bass with Elvis, Dylan, and Doors, & More, more!

Check This Action
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Reissue
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Carr Bloke, GJ2 Arete 5-Star, Bare Knuckle Pickups, Carvin Steve Vai Legacy 3 VL300, Walden Sean Harkness/CG4070E, Goodtone Roadrage PD, Mad Professor Golden Cello

Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!

We also talk new music with Steve Howe, Nick Moran, Lollo Meier, and Rodrigo Sanchez, take a look at the forthcoming sale of guitars and gear from the estate of Les Paul, and remember the greatness of Jim Marshall and Earl Scruggs.

On the gear front, we tell you about the PRS P22, the Mike Lipe Virtuoso, Laney’s L50 amp and L412 cab, Laney’s, Saint Blues Bluesmaster, Blindsier, and Delta Blues Box guitars, Resonant Electroncis’ Manifold Drive and Acceleron Fuzz pedals, and the GFI Student Model S-10 pedal steel!

Horse of Another Color
A Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 in something other than orange was, to most, unthinkable. But there are always those who prefer the road less traveled, and for them, the company created – on a custom-order basis – a 6120 in something other than Amber Red. By Edward Ball

Billy Duffy
Weapon: Chosen
As his peers in rock bands of the mid ’80s fell in line to play modified “superstrats,” he stuck with his trusty Gretsch White Falcon as his band, The Cult, scored international fame. Ironically, though, the guitar was at first more a solution than a choice. By Ward Meeker

The Gretsch Stereo chet
Gretsch caught audio’s latest technological wave in 1958, introducing stereo output on two production models. Curiously, it did not offer it on its most popular guitar – the Chet Atkins 6120. But that didn’t stop one guitarist from custom-ordering this in one ’63. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

The Yamaha SBG-3000
Yamaha introduced its first SG model in late ’73, and a bewildering variety of them appeared over the next decade, including this upscale rendition introduced in ’82, with similar looks, but significant changes under the hood. By Michael Wright

Basses From Bakersfield
The history of guitar manufacturing in the Bakersfield area of California includes names like Mosrite, Hallmark, and Standel. Two of the more unusual were the Gruggett Stradette and Epcor. By Willie G. Moseley

The Fender 5f4 Super amp
Amp-head folklore says the 2×10” tweed Super Amp of the late ’50s was Leo Fender’s favorite among his tube-powered creations of the time. Here’s a close look at why. By Dave Hunter

The Echoplex EP-2
With its arrival circa 1959, tape echo became accessible to the masses. Suddenly, any player could rock like Elvis or take sonic adventures like those of Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd. Today, its sounds are still the subject of heavy experimention. By Michael Dregni

Reader Mail

News and Notes
Petty, Heartbreakers Recover Stolen Guitars; McCartney Signs Bass for MusiCares; Team Josie Set for Relay For Life, Fender Produces Film on Strat Construction, More!

Steve Howe
Yes: In The Present
By Oscar Jordan

Nick Moran
All About the Band
By John Heidt

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

Meier, lafertin, Rosenberg – and Marvin
Following Django’s Path
By Michael Dregni

VG on Facebook

Rodrigo Sanchez
Cuban Orchestra Helps Create Area 52
By Oscar Jordan

Earl Scruggs
1924-2012
By Walter Carter

James Charles Marshall
1923-2012
By Dave Hunter

Les Paul Gear Sells For Charity
By Wolf Marshall

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
GuitarKitsUSA

Upcoming Events

Dealer showcase

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

The (Way) Back Beat
Half-Forgotten Fretted Makers
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Acousticville
New Rules for “Bootleg” Recording
By Steven Stone

Fretprints
Yngwie Malmsteen: The Classic Years
By Wolf Marshall

Dan’s Guitar Rx
Leilani Love, Part 2: The Cleanup
By Dan Erlewine

Shop of Hard Knocks
Inlaid Upgrade
By Will Kelly

The VG Hit List
CD and DVD Reviews: John Pizzarelli, Marty Stuart, Alabama Shakes, Mud Morganfield, Tab Benoit, Regal Musical Instruments: 1895-1955, more!

Check This Action
Funeral for a Friend
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
PRS P22, Laney L50/L412, Mike Lipe Virtuoso, GFI Student Model S-10SM, Resonant Electronic Manifold Drive/Acceleron Fuzz, St. Blues Bluesmaster/Blindsider/Delta Blues Box

Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!

This month in VG

We feature the 25 greatest guitar songs of the ’70s, as chosen via a poll at VintageGuitar.com. We also review the greatest guitar tracks of Gary Moore, along with previously unpublished interview with the Irish guitar hero who passed away February 6. We also tell you about an amazing exhibit of stringed instruments at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is highlighted by three particular archtop guitars. George Gruhn and Walter Carter detail how the Epiphone Soloist Emperor was created in a time when its builder was in a heated battle with Gibson to determine who made the biggest and best archtop. Then, Michael Wright talks about the unconsciously-retro Espana EL-31, Willie Moseley extolls the virtues of the Harmony H44 Stratotone, and Dave Hunter gives us an up-close and personal look at a 1982 Dumble OD Special played by Robben Ford.

We also remember famed lap-steel master Buddy Charleton, and then talk about new music with Kevin Eubanks, Gurf Morlix, Claude Hay, Frank Tanton, and
Robbie Calvo. Wolf Marshall breaks down three of the coolest licks ever recorded by Joe Perry, and we tell you who jammed with who at this year’s Deke’s Guitar Geek Festival.

If it’s time to upgrade your gear, take a look at our reviews of the Reverend Rick Vito, the Bluesman Vintage 3-Speed Coupe, K&K Meridian Pro, the Naylor Heads-Up Strap, MTD Kingston CRB/Saratoga basses, and the TC Electronic BH500.

All this and much more are in the May issue of VG.

FEATURES

The 25 Most Valuable Guitars
There are few collectibles in modern pop culture that are as cool as guitars. They’re functional, tactile art that inspires players and music fans alike. But beyond fond memories, for some, guitars serve as investments. Here’s a look at 25 guitars that, thanks to certain players, songs, and the laws of supply and demand, have become exceedingly valuable.

Pretty in Pink
Jay Jay French Aligns Industry Giants for a Cause
In 1999, guitarist Jay Jay French was forced to examine his priorities when his six-year-old daughter, Samantha, was diagnosed with uveitis. And he came up with a very cool way to raise awareness of the condition. By Ward Meeker

Lee Dickson
Three Decades with Clapton
For more than 30 years, he served as guitar tech and assistant to Eric Clapton. Directly responsible for the care and feeding of some of the most iconic guitars in rock music, his wards bore names like Blackie and Brownie, the Crashocaster, and others! By Will Kelly

Three Larsons
At first glance, these guitars appear to be a different sizes of the same model. However, when it comes to guitars built by the Larson Brothers, nothing is that simple. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

The Veillette-Citron Shark
It’s not often a guitar is said to have been inspired by a TV show, but that is the case with this one… in a pretty roundabout way! By Michael Wright

One Fudged 335
Vinnie Martell’s ‘63 Gibson
When it entered the market in the spring of ’58, Gibson’s ES-335TD was designed to get “bite” while having a lighter weight. This one is special because Vinnie Martell used it to record Vanilla Fudge’s “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” and other tracks. By Willie G. Moseley

The Orange GRO100
Orange Amplifiers were born soon after Marshall and made a name for themselves with a hip image that was impossible to miss. The Graphic Overdrive, or GRO100, is one of the company’s classics. By Dave Hunter

DEPARTMENTS

The Great VG 25th Anniversary Giveaway
Win a b3 Metal-XS guitar and Two-Rock Studio Pro amp valued at $5,594, from Premier Builder’s Guild!

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
Strobel Guitars

Upcoming Events

Dealer Showcase

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

FIRST FRET

Reader Mail

News and Notes
Fretware Turns 40, Archtop Builders Exhibit, Mississippi Honors Wilder, Saint Blues Suspends Imports; In Memoriam, More!

Mark Sganga
Brazilian Trip
By John Heidt

John Cipollina on DVD
Quicksilver’s Stylish Animal
By Dan Forte

The Mike Eldred Trio
Ecletic Virtuoso
By Michael Dregni

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

Steve Wariner
Hooked on Instrumentals?
By Willie G. Moseley

VG on Facebook

Jeff Berlin
The Father of Fast
By Willie G. Moseley

Dave Flett
By Pete Prown

NAMM 2011
Amped in Anaheim
By Preston Gratiot

COLUMNS

The (Way) Back Beat
Vintage Electric Adventures
Magnatone Moments, Part 3
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Acousticville
Instrument Marketing
By Steven Stone

Fretprints
Steely Dan
By Wolf Marshall

TECH

Shop of Hard Knocks
Shield Yourself!
By Will Kelly

REVIEWS

The VG Hit List
CD and DVD Reviews: Drive-By Truckers, Jinx Jones, The Grascals, The Doors with Albert King, Star Guitars, more!

Check This Action
Supercalguitarilistic
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Epiphone SG, D. Allen pickups, Hoyer ERN Prestige, Leprechaun pedalboards, Seymour Duncan Mag Mic, Whirlwind effects

Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!

The 25 Most Valuable Guitars
There are few collectibles in modern pop culture that are as cool as guitars. They’re functional, tactile art that inspires players and music fans alike. But beyond fond memories, for some, guitars serve as investments. Here’s a look at 25 guitars that, thanks to certain players, songs, and the laws of supply and demand, have become exceedingly valuable.

Pretty in Pink
Jay Jay French Aligns Industry Giants for a Cause
In 1999, guitarist Jay Jay French was forced to examine his priorities when his six-year-old daughter, Samantha, was diagnosed with uveitis. And he came up with a very cool way to raise awareness of the condition. By Ward Meeker

Lee Dickson
Three Decades with Clapton
For more than 30 years, he served as guitar tech and assistant to Eric Clapton. Directly responsible for the care and feeding of some of the most iconic guitars in rock music, his wards bore names like Blackie and Brownie, the Crashocaster, and others! By Will Kelly

Three Larsons
At first glance, these guitars appear to be a different sizes of the same model. However, when it comes to guitars built by the Larson Brothers, nothing is that simple. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

The Veillette-Citron Shark
It’s not often a guitar is said to have been inspired by a TV show, but that is the case with this one… in a pretty roundabout way! By Michael Wright

One Fudged 335
Vinnie Martell’s ‘63 Gibson
When it entered the market in the spring of ’58, Gibson’s ES-335TD was designed to get “bite” while having a lighter weight. This one is special because Vinnie Martell used it to record Vanilla Fudge’s “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” and other tracks. By Willie G. Moseley

The Orange GRO100
Orange Amplifiers were born soon after Marshall and made a name for themselves with a hip image that was impossible to miss. The Graphic Overdrive, or GRO100, is one of the company’s classics. By Dave Hunter

DEPARTMENTS

The Great VG 25th Anniversary Giveaway
Win a b3 Metal-XS guitar and Two-Rock Studio Pro amp valued at $5,594, from Premier Builder’s Guild!

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
Strobel Guitars

Upcoming Events

Dealer Showcase

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

FIRST FRET

Reader Mail

News and Notes
Fretware Turns 40, Archtop Builders Exhibit, Mississippi Honors Wilder, Saint Blues Suspends Imports; In Memoriam, More!

Mark Sganga
Brazilian Trip
By John Heidt

John Cipollina on DVD
Quicksilver’s Stylish Animal
By Dan Forte

The Mike Eldred Trio
Ecletic Virtuoso
By Michael Dregni

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

Steve Wariner
Hooked on Instrumentals?
By Willie G. Moseley

VG on Facebook

Jeff Berlin
The Father of Fast
By Willie G. Moseley

Dave Flett
By Pete Prown

NAMM 2011
Amped in Anaheim
By Preston Gratiot

COLUMNS

The (Way) Back Beat
Vintage Electric Adventures
Magnatone Moments, Part 3
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Acousticville
Instrument Marketing
By Steven Stone

Fretprints
Steely Dan
By Wolf Marshall

TECH

Shop of Hard Knocks
Shield Yourself!
By Will Kelly

REVIEWS

The VG Hit List
CD and DVD Reviews: Drive-By Truckers, Jinx Jones, The Grascals, The Doors with Albert King, Star Guitars, more!

Check This Action
Supercalguitarilistic
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Epiphone SG, D. Allen pickups, Hoyer ERN Prestige, Leprechaun pedalboards, Seymour Duncan Mag Mic, Whirlwind effects

Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!

FEATURES

25 Great Guitar Songs of the ‘60s
We asked readers to interact via VintageGuitar.com and tell us which songs from the 1960s stand out in their minds for great guitar parts. Here’s what they told us! By Alan Greenwood and Ward Meeker

Bud-Electro Serenader Guitars
Rarities from the Pacific Northwest
Produced by the Seattle-based Bud-Electro Manufacturing Company, Serenader was essentially the “Son of Audiovox,” given that the man behind the brand, Bud Tutmarc, was also the namesake son of the man who made and marketed those trail-blazing Audiovox instruments. By Peter Blecha

Hall of Fame
Whether by traditional mail-in ballot or online, voters by the thousands made their voices heard, and we welcome new inductees to the VG Hall of Fame. This year, the honors go to Robert Johnson, Paul Smith, and the Gibson Byrdland.

The Guild S-100NB Standard Carved
Some guitars just don’t seem to be in the right place at the right time. Here’s a good example. Meant to be quintessentially ’70s, it felt more ’60s and didn’t truly find its place until the ’90s! By Michael Wright

’50s Kay Basses
Among collectors of vintage electric guitars and basses, the terms “kitsch” and “tacky” are often applied to Kay instruments. But are such derogatory terms fair? By Willie G. Moseley

The Matchless Spitfire
How many knobs does stellar tone require? When an amp packs all the juicy good stuff of this little wonder, two will do for most occasions. By Dave Hunter

DEPARTMENTS

DEPARTMENTS
Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
Fatboy Guitars

Upcoming Events

Dealer Showcase

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

FIRST FRET

First Fret
Reader Mail

News and Notes
Fans Gather to Honor Krive, Koontz; PRS Donates to MI; New Orleans Musicians Village Reopens; Clapton Selling More Guitars; In Memoriam; Stolen Gear, More!

Steve lukather
The Humble Hero Returns
By Pete Prown

Rik Emmett
Ecletic Virtuoso
By Oscar Jordan

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

“Why Does My Wrist Hurt”
Advice on Treating CTS, Courtesy of the Rock Doc
By Stephen Patt

VG on Facebook

Frank Marino
The Father of Fast
By James Byrd

Tony Savarino
Long Road to Twang
By John Heidt

Jerry Jennings
Not Exactly Deja Vu
By Willie G. Moseley

Jose Neto
From Belafonte to Winwood
By Will Kelly

Vince Martell
Fudge Forever
By Willie G. Moseley

Bird Bath
PRS Guitars’ Tech Center Applies Shine, Spruces Up Sounds
By Ward Meeker

COLUMNS

COLUMNS
The (Way) Back Beat
Vintage Electric Adventures Magnatone Moments, Part 2
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Guitars With guts
1927 Francisco Simplicio No. 161
By R.E. Bruné

Acousticville
Stick ’Em in Your Ear!
By Steven Stone

Fretprints
Slayer
By Wolf Marshall

TECH

TECH
Shop of Hard Knocks
Re-Carving a Neck
By Will Kelly

Dan’s Guitar Rx
Making Binding
By Dan Erlewine

Talkin’ Amps…
Doug Anderson: Vintage Vox Restoration
By David Jung

REVIEWS

REVIEWS
The VG Hit List
CD and DVD Reviews: Steve Lukather, Mike Eldred Trio, Kevin Eubanks, Rick Holmstrom, Mountains Come Out of the Sky, more!

Check This Action
World Series
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Dagmar, DiMarzio pickups, Fender Blacktop Jazzmaster, Godin Shifter, Hottie 429, Sadowsky LS-17, Shaw Tone Rod, Simple Amps Student SE, Voyage-Air Belair

Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!

Gretsch Gets With It!
The Birth of the Duo Jet
After Leo Fender introduced the Broadcaster and Gibson with the Les Paul, Gretsch quickly jumped aboard the solidbody bandwagon with the “Gretsch Electromatic Solid Body Guitar,” a.k.a. the 6128 Duo Jet. By Edward Ball

Mary Osborne
Charlie’s Angel
Citing Charlie Christian as her mentor, she is the only female guitarist to make a significant impact on jazz in the 1940s and ’50s. Historians also cite her as one of the early architects of R&B and rock and roll. By Jim Carlton

The Dobro Model 156
John Dopyera’s goal in forming the Dobro company was to make a resonator that undercut National’s tri-cones. He accomplished that goal, then quickly introduced more-ornate models like the No. 156 from 1931. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

The Kazuo Yari Model AR300
Adjustable necks that use a truss rod to control relief are today a given on virtually all guitars. While there may be more contemporary examples of this technology, this guitar’s neck-tilt capability embodies more curiosities than just its neck-to-body connection! By Michael Wright

The Eko 995
The Beatles’ appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” is a seminal moment in the history of rock, and many budding bassists wanted an instrument like the one Paul McCartney played on the show; his was a Höfner, which was out of reach, cost-wise, for most at the time. But there were cheaper alternatives… By Willie G. Moseley

the fender princeton
For years, the Fender Deluxe of the ’60s and early ’70s held the title of “favorite small vintage combo.” But the smaller Princeton has some singular sonic virtues, and recent trends behoove a look at a lesser-seen “tweeny” that offers an alternative flavor. By Dave Hunter

DEPARTMENTS

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
Ceramaxx Guitar Company

Upcoming Events

Dealer Showcase

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

FIRST FRET

Reader Mail

News and Notes
DBZ Donates Dio Guitar; Guitarology Turns One; Eddie Lang Day in Philadelphia; Student Layout Featured; Stolen Gear; More!

Just Add water
Fender’s Cumberland Flood Guitar for Nash20
By Rusty Russell

Dream Date
Hendrix Strat Helps Kenny Wayne Shepherd Transcend Mere Mortals
By Ward Meeker

Mehran
A True “World” Musician
By Willie G. Moseley

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

Steve Hillage
Psychedelic Hero of the Canterbury Scene
By Pete Prown

VG on Facebook
Getting Up Close with Eric Johnson
By Oscar Jordan

Re-Cutting Apple
EMI Reissues Music From One-Time Beatles Label
By John Heidt

Marty Stuart
Current Traditions
By John Heidt

Lucky Peterson
Turning the Blues Around
By Dan Forte

Billy Sherwood
From Yes to Yoso
By Pete Prown

Market Rebound?
Sights at/Thoughts on Arlington 2010
By Lisa Sharken

COLUMNS

The (Way) Back Beat
Vintage Electric Adventures: Magnatone Moments, Part One
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Acousticville
No-Flare Photo Share
By Steven Stone

Fretprints
Mick Mars
By Wolf Marshall

TECH

Shop of Hard Knocks
String Theory
By Will Kelly

Dan’s Guitar Rx
Rottin’ Deal
By Dan Erlewine

Talkin’ Amps…
Doug Anderson: Vintage Vox Restoration, Part Two: The Cab
By David Jung

REVIEWS

The VG Hit List
CD and DVD Reviews: Junior Wells, Jefferson Airplane, Michael Schenker, Rush, Rolling Stones, holiday music, Stevie Ray Vaughan – Day by Day, Night After Night, more!

Check This Action
A Comfortable Crossroads?
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Guild Standard Series Acoustics, Electro-Harmonix Germanium 4 Big Muff Pi, Grace Designs m103, Pigtronix Envelope Phaser 2, Swell Pedals B-TOD V2/B-Pro 2

Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!

FEATURES

Ron Wood
Stone Solo
The longtime guitarist for the Rolling Stones has also collaborated with legends ranging from B.B. King to David Bowie to Aretha Franklin. He recently released his seventh solo album, complete with no-frill rock-and-roll guitar sounds and an impressive cast of fellow rock renegades. By Elliot Stephen Cohen

Movie Star, Rancher
Mid-’50s Muse of Wire and Wood
After World War II, change was afoot among the nation’s guitar manufacturers, who were quick to take advantage of changes in popular music. One result was the guitar that would become Gretsch’s most popular acoustic. And this one is a movie star! By Ward Meeker

The Epiphone Coronet
In 1959, this guitar was quite a sight. Not only was a solidbody out of character for its builder, but most thought Epiphone had gone out of business years earlier. Ironically, the company had been raised from the dead by a former arch rival! By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

The Ibanez Concord
Guitar historians love solving the puzzles presented by copy guitars – and guitar players often end up with interesting alternatives! Both circumstances are embodied in this instrument. By Michael Wright

The Guild Starfire Bass
In the mid ’60s, Guild took its knocks for making guitars that looked “inspired by” Gibson models. Fans of the brand think the sterotype is unfair, of course, and certainly, many Guilds from the era have their own intrigue. One very good example is the Starfire Bass. By Willie G. Moseley

The Vox Pacemaker V-3
Though U.S.-made with two EL84 output tubes, crank up this mid-’60s offering and you get plenty of juicy sag. With the right guitar and attitude, it’ll tease out an accurate “Day Tripper,” “I’m Down,” or “Ticket to Ride” tone. By Dave Hunter

Reassessing Gibson Shipping Numbers
Part 3: The Pre-War Super Jumbo
Recent research on Gibson electric steel guitars has raised doubts about the accuracy of the company’s oft-referenced shipping totals. Our final essay on the subject takes a closer look at the pre-war Super Jumbo models. By A.R. Duchossoir

DEPARTMENTS

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
Wampler Pedals

Upcoming Events

Dealer Showcase

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

FIRST FRET

Reader Mail
News and Notes
Stars Auction Guitars in Nashville; Robin Guitars Closes; Duane Allman Gear at ABB Museum; Ponderosa Stomp; New Music by Principato, Lukather.

All Amped UP!
Builders Gather Again in L.A.
By Bob Dragich

hendrix in words, pictures, and music
By Dan Forte

MimiFox
Breaking Barriers in Jazz
By Pete Prown

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

Robby Krieger
New Musical Directions
By Willie G. Moseley

VG on Facebook
Eric krasno
Beatles in the Pocket
By John Heidt

Sittin’ Around With George Lynch
By Oscar Jordan

Dave Specter
Groovin’
By John Heidt

Viva DeConcini
Best Laid Plans
By John Heidt

COLUMNS

The (Way) Back Beat
Solid Eccentricity, 1963
Part 2: Solid Reluctance From Gretsch
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Acousticville
Fire!: A Close-Call Reminder
By Steven Stone

Fretprints
John Fogerty
By Wolf Marshall

TECH

Shop of Hard Knocks
Six Plus Six Equals Eighteen
By Will Kelly

Dan’s Guitar Rx
Pretty as a Picture, Full of Surprises, Part 2
By Dan Erlewine

Talkin’ Amps…
Doug Anderson: Vintage Vox Restoration
By David Jung

REVIEWS

The VG Hit List
CD and DVD Reviews: Robert Cray, Eric Clapton, Kenny Burrell, Bill Frisell, Dave Specter, John Mellencamp, more!

Check This Action
Creed’s Cannon
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Vox AC30C2X/AC15C1, ZT Amplifiers, Effectrode PC-2A, Richmond Empire, SuperVee BladeRunner

Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!

FEATURES

Into The New Rising Sun
Speculating on Jimi Hendrix’s Later Career Moves
It has been 40 years since the passing of Jimi Hendrix. In his honor, this month we look at two unexplored aspects of his life and work, including the largely untapped oeuvre of Jimi’s later studio work. By Pete Prown

Decades of Designs: The Story of
J.T. Riboloff
A guru is “somebody who has a reputation as an expert, leader, teacher, or practitioner in a particular field.” J.T. Riboloff – part of the team that restored Gibson’s reputation and market share, and now is now designing unique guitars for Samick – is a guitar-design guru. By Vaughn Skow

Reassessing Gibson Shipping Numbers Part 2: The Advanced L-5
Recent research on Gibson electric steel guitars has raised doubts about the accuracy of the company’s oft-referenced shipping totals. In the second of three essays on the subject, we take a closer look at the pre-war Advanced L-5. By A.R. Duchossoir

The Gibson Super Jumbo 100
It has the undeserved status of being one of Gibson’s more obscure models. But a closer look reveals that, in terms of aesthetics and performance, it should be ranked among Gibson’s most noteworthy models. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

The Harmony Cremona
Ever since the Spanish guitar took on its modern form, some would say its story has been about a march toward more volume. And not until the early ’30s did archtops begin to replace banjos in big bands. One early mid-market contender was the Harmony Cremona. By Michael Wright

Robin’s ’80s Import Basses
VG readers are familiar with the Robin brand’s reverse “imported then domestic” chronology. These basses are the first import models marketed by the company (and one of them is from the very first shipment). By Willie G. Moseley

The Rickenbacker Transonic
Having graced the U.S. tours of Led Zeppelin, the Jeff Beck Group, and Steppenwolf in the late ’60s, then Cheap Trick after, the Rickenbacker Transonic series should have secured its shrine in the annals of geardom, yet it has all but vanished from memory. What went wrong? By Dave Hunter

DEPARTMENTS

The VG Hall of Fame Giveaway
Win a St. Blues 61 South!

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
Ugly Amplifiers

Upcoming Events

Dealer Showcase

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

FIRST FRET

Reader Mail

News and Notes
Seymour Duncan names CEO; New releases; Stolen Gear; more!

Ronnie Earl
Stratocaster Royalty
By Bob Dragich

Lee Ritenour’s Six-String Theory
By Oscar Jordan

Rocky Mountain High
COC Guitar Festival and Workshop
By Debra Devi

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

Josh Smith
From Blues to Pop, With Soul
By Oscar Jordan

VG on Facebook

George Cotsirilos
The Power of Three
By John Heidt

Charlie Musselwhite Plays the Blues… on Guitar
By Dan Forte

Graeme Taylor
Gryphon’s Folk-Rock Wizard
By Pete Prown

Russell Dashiell
Satellite-Beep Secrets Revealed
By Willie G. Moseley

Bruce Forman
Swingin’ Statesman of West Coast Jazz
By Pete Prown

COLUMNS

The (Way) Back Beat
Solid Eccentricity, 1963
Part 1: The Guild S-200 Thunderbird
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Acousticville
Acoustic Environments
By Steven Stone

Guitars With Guts
1882 Antonio de Torres
By R.E. Bruné

Fretprints
Tony Iommi
By Wolf Marshall

TECH

Shop of Hard Knocks
Bridge of Size
By Will Kelly

Dan’s Guitar Rx
Pretty as a Picture, Full of Surprises
By Dan Erlewine

Talkin’ Amps…
Pedalboards, Fact and Fiction, Part 2: Effects
By David Jung

REVIEWS

The VG Hit List
CD, DVD, and Book Reviews: Eric Clapton, Brian Setzer, Tom Petty, Derek Trucks Band, Roy Orbison, Walter Trout, Tony Jo White, Gretsch 6120: The History of a Legendary Guitar, more!

Check This Action
Close Enough For Jazz, II
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Ibanez AF105, Epiphone Zenith, Nordstrand VP, Morley Minis, EWS pedals, E-H Deluxe Memory Boy, Xaviere guitars

Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!

FEATURES

The Heavenly Guitar of
Carlos Santana
His latest CD could be viewed as the artist playing it safe, or it could be a risky move. Using guest singers ranging from Joe Cocker to Chris Cornell to India.Arie, he tackles classic guitar-driven songs, along the way proving there is still only one Carlos Santana. By Dan Forte

SRV Memories
Twenty years after the passing of a legend, VG contributors recall the greatness that was.

Reassessing Gibson Shipping Numbers
Part 1: The Pre-War Super 400
Recent research on Gibson electric-steel guitars has raised doubts about the accuracy of company’s oft-referenced shipping totals. In the first of three essays on the subject, we take a closer look at the Super 400 in the “pre-war” era.” By A.R. Duchossoir

An Epiphone Custom
After Gibson purchased Epiphone, Ted McCarty wanted to make it an “almost a Gibson” brand – a step below Gibson. Despite his intentions, some customers simply preferred an Epiphone. The proof is in this custom-ordered guitar from 1965. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

The Vox Starstream
There is intrigue and politics in the stories about many of the guitars we cherish. Most is normal company business, but sometimes a guitar has more color behind its existence. One loaded example is the cool ’68 Vox Starstream. By Michael Wright

The Rickenbacker 4000
For all of the “icon” accolades afforded Rickenbacker’s two-pickup 4001, it’s easy to forget the model wasn’t the company’s first bass. That honor belongs to the single-pickup 4000. By Willie G. Moseley

Keith Richards’ ‘77 Mesa/Boogie Mark I
With a hint of nostalgia, we recall a time when even the biggest rock stars had to plead their case with Randy Smith to jump a waiting list for the amps he was turning out from his California home. By Dave Hunter

DEPARTMENTS

The VG Hall of Fame Giveaway
Win a St. Blues 61 South!

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
Hot Rod 6 Strings

Upcoming Events

Dealer Showcase

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

FIRST FRET

Reader Mail

News and Notes
Steve Miller to Teach at USC, John Jorgenson Plays for Troops in Iraq, Nils Lofgren; In Memoriam, more!

Toulouse Engelhardt
12-Strings for Sci-Fi and Surf
By Willie G. Moseley

James Williamson
Raw Power Reconnection
By Rick Allen

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

Andy Aledort
From Page to the Stage
By John Heidt

VG on Facebook

Billy White, Jr.
Second Time‘s the Charm
By Rick Allen

Randy Bachman
Back in Overdrive
By John Heidt

Nels Cline
Jazzmaster Love Affair
By Michael Dregni

Jared Scharff
Saturday Night’s Alright
By Tom Guerra

COLUMNS

The (Way) Back Beat
$150 Worth of Low-End
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Acousticville
Rockygrass Academy 2010
By Steven Stone

Fretprints
Funk Guitar
By Wolf Marshall

TECH

Shop of Hard Knocks
Building a Head-Turner
By Will Kelly

Dan’s Guitar Rx
Pyramid Scheme
By Dan Erlewine

Talkin’ Amps…
Pedalboard: Fact and Fiction
By David Jung

REVIEWS

The VG Hit List
CD, DVD, and Book Reviews: Marty Suart, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Greg Koch Trio, John Mellencamp, Duke Robillard, Big Head Todd, Larry Carlton, Electric Guitar and Basses: A Photographic History, more!

Check This Action
Joyful Noises
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
“Lunchbox” amps by Mesa, Egnater, Ibanez, Gizmoaudio Sawmill Distortion/OD, Martin OMC Cherry, Guitar Player Wanted: Vocals a Plus DVD, Budda V20/Budda Wah, St. Blues 61 South, VHT Special 6, Dunlop MXR ’75 Vintage Phase 45/DVP-1

Gearin’ Up!

FEATURES

Albert Lee
The Gypsy Spirit Of A Country-Guitar Hero
We talk in-depth with the man Eric Clapton calls, “…a great, great player, fluid, lyrical and free, like a jazz musician but with country scales, like Django, but with a bluegrass past.” And, he has some impressive instruments, too! By Dan Forte

Taking Stock
A Post-Flood Nashville Roundtable
Weeks after “the flood,” reality has set in for Nashville’s players. While nearly every repair bench in the city is seeing flood cases, most techs are being asked to bring only a small number of go-to instruments or favored vintage goodies back to life, even by those who lost big. By Rusty Russell

Freddie Green
Artistry In Rhythm
Also known as “Mr. Rhythm,” his guitar was a subtle yet unmistakable motivating and metronomic force. Others emulated his style and function, but Green was the archetype – the most famous rhythm guitarist in jazz. By Jim Carlton

The Martin OM-28
In guitardom, one of the more subtle innovations of the ’20s was the introduction of Martin’s Orchestra Model, which had 14 frets clear of the body. It and the introduction of larger-bodied guitars in the early ’30s marked the acoustic flat-top guitar’s arrival and the divergence of steel-string flat-tops from gut-string classicals. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

Round And Round She Goes
Guild In The Post-Fender Era
Since its beginnings in 1952, Guild has gone through changes in ownership, locales, materials, structural specs, equipment, personnel, and techniques. It has been a strange odyssey, indeed. By Jay Pilzer

The Kapa Continental CO-XII-V
A major part of the emergence of rock-and-roll music involved the folk revival of the mid 1960s. One of the instruments that came to the fore was the 12-string guitar. Here’s one example from the era. By Michael Wright

The Standel 920S
The first instrument shown in the company’s 1967 catalog, this unique guitar was also a display model at the NAMM show in Chicago. By Willie G. Moseley

The Fender 5G4 Super Amp
With transition-era specs and cosmetics that have been revisited far less than those of their tweed predecessors and blackface successors, the tan-Tolex amps of the early ’60s are fun to check out. And this is one of the cleanest vintage Fenders of any era that you are ever likely to find! By Dave Hunter
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DEPARTMENTS

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
Satellite Amplifiers

Upcoming Events

Dealer Showcase

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

FIRST FRET

Reader Mail

News and Notes
Gregg Allman recuperating; Bachman, Turner Reunite; Thomas Appointed Fender CEO; Stolen Gear; In Memoriam, more!

“Guitare Guitare”
Luthiers Gather Again in Montreal
By George Gruhn

Anthony Phillips
British Cult Icon
By Pete Prown

Creed Bratton
Quality Control
By John Heidt

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

The Hot Club of Detroit
All That Gypsy Jazz
By John Heidt

VG on Facebook

Peter Parcek
Learning the Hard Way
By John Heidt

Robert Randolph
Mixing Old With New
By John Heidt

Jennifer Batten
The Sky’s the Limit
By Willie G. Moseley

COLUMNS

The (Way) Back Beat
Top O’ The Line, For Only $150!
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Acousticville
Good Vibrations
By Steven Stone

Fretprints
Iron Maiden
By Wolf Marshall

TECH

Shop of Hard Knocks
If The Kit Fits, Build It, Part 2
By Will Kelly

Dan’s Guitar Rx
Nothing Wrong With a Little Rust
By Dan Erlewine

Talkin’ Amps…
Great Speakers, On the Cheap
By David Jung

REVIEWS

The VG Hit List
CD, DVD, and Book Reviews: Rolling Stones, Los Lobos, Joe Negri, Robert Cray, Indigenous, Shelter From the Storm: Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Years, more!

Check This Action
Close Enough For Jazz
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
PRS 25th Anniversary Amps, Keeley Phaser, Dingwall Combustion, Burriss Dirty Red/DC Cab, Fender Super-Sonic 22, Michael Kelly Nostalgia Heirloom, Tech 21 Character Series, Sonuus G2-M

Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!

FEATURES

In Detail
The Gibson ES-5
When it came to Spanish-style electric guitars, Gibson was a reluctant participant, wading into the market in 1936. After WWII, it was more enthusiastic, though it didn’t get really serious until ’49, when it launched this guitar. By Ward Meeker

Joe Negri
Royal Handyman, Jazz Legend
Long before becoming Handyman Negri on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” he had already been a teen guitar prodigy, first-generation bopper, and a peer of the giants of jazz guitar. Though New York beckoned, he stayed home and became a star, anyway. By Rich Kienzle

The Recording King Ray Whitley
Gibson was hit hard by the Depression in the 1930s, when president Guy Hart diverted some production to budget-priced instruments and took on contract work for outside distributors. The company made several archtop acoustics under other names, including this instrument. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

Steve Miller
Some people call him rock icon, Part 2
Last month, we talked with the renowned songwriter/performer about his fascinating musical pedigree. This time, we discuss how he came to possess a small army of recent-issue Gibsons, the indie luthiers who have helped him build a guitar collection, and a few other “interests.” By Ward Meeker

The Westone Padauk II
For vintage-guitar enthusiasts who like puzzles, there’s nothing better than trying to solve the mazes that are Japanese-guitar history. One of the more popular involves Matsumoku Moto, whose vast repertoire included this guitar. By Michael Wright

Drake Levin’s Epiphone Sheratons
Guitarist for the classic/mid-’60s lineup of Paul Revere and the Raiders, the late Drake Levin used these guitars to record many of the band’s hits and for years played them onstage. By Willie G. Moseley

The Sonola Reverb Amp 98-RT
A prime example of how an obscure vintage amp can be a true hero in the recording studio, the Sonola further proves that “classic amp tone” isn’t always best served by the amps on the A list. By Dave Hunter

DEPARTMENTS

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
Blackstone Appliances

Upcoming Events

Dealer Showcase

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

FIRST FRET

Reader Mail

News and Notes
Bassists Play Nashville Benefit, Southpaw Guitars Turns 30; In Memoriam, more!

“Save Spanky!”
One Player’s Nashville Post-Flood Story
By Rusty Russell

Workingman’s Blues
How the Floods Affected Nashville Rank-and-File Players
By Rusty Russell

Paul Bell
The Nighthawks Soar on Sirius
By Willie G. Moseley

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

Coco Montoya
Souled
By John Heidt

VG on Facebook

Kal David
Decades of Dedication
By Willie G. Moseley

John 5
The Art of Malice
By Oscar Jordan

Hi-Ho Silver Lining
L.A. Musicians Make the Most of Bad Economy
By Clint Eastman

COLUMNS

The (Way) Back Beat
Top O’ the Line, 50 Years Ago, Part 2
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Acousticville
Schertler: Swiss for “Can You Hear Me Now?”
By Steven Stone

guitars with guts
What Wood Would Woody Wield?
By R.E. Bruné

Fretprints
Tom Petty and Mike Campbell
By Wolf Marshall

TECH

Shop of Hard Knocks
If the Kit Fits, Build It
By Will Kelly

Dan’s Guitar Rx
A Vintage LP Junior Gets “Right”
By Dan Erlewine

Talkin’ Amps…
Andy Brauer – Draw! A 12AX7 Shootout
By David Jung

REVIEWS

The VG Hit List
CD, DVD, and Book Reviews: Jimmie Vaughan, Stryker/Slagle Band, Elvin Bishop, Alejandro Escovedo, Willie Nelson, Return of the King: Elvis Presley’s Great Comeback, more!

Check This Action
Talkin’ Blues with Cyndi Lauper
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Teye El Doblon, Vintage 47 Amps, Music Man Petrucci JPX6, Lollar Imperial Humbuckers, Carl Martin Vintage Series pedals, Agile AL-2000, NS Design NXT-5, Swell V.2 pedals

Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!

FEATURES

Steve Miller
Some People Call Him Rock Icon
From a fabled upbringing that included being shown chords by Les Paul and Mary Ford to getting lead-lick lessons from T-Bone Walker, his life has been a chase-the-dream fantasy come true. Today, he’s regarded as a pioneering rock songwriter and performer, and still has the proverbial irons in many fires. By Ward Meeker

Andy Johns
Mix Master Recalls Working With Guitar Legends
A legend for having mixed, produced, and/or engineered some of the highest of high-water-mark albums, he has worked closely with guitarists bearing the names Page, Beck, Hendrix, Richards, Van Halen, and many more. By Ward Meeker

Dad’s Day 2010
VG’s Annual Ode To Fathers Who Inspire

Letritia Kandle And The Magnificent Grand Letar
Any list of electric-guitar innovators includes names like Les Paul, Alvino Rey, Charlie Christian, Merle Travis, etc. But Letritia Kandle certainly deserves mention – her 1937 Grand Letar being cutting-edge in many ways! By Deke Dickerson

The Vega Deluxe Five-String Banjo
Founded in the 1880s by Julius and Carl Nelson, Vega’s banjo roots go back to 1875 and include many innovations. Though it also made flat-tops, mandolins, archtops, and electric guitars, the company’s notoriety rests on its banjos. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

The Kay K-142
The early days of solidbody electrics were a brave new world full of potential, and this guitar steers a curious path through the early alternatives. By Michael Wright

The G&L El Toro
In 1983, Leo Fender decided to diversify G&L’s bass lineup; the El Toro didn’t stray from the traditional designs of the company’s L and SB models, but it did offer a new electronic twist. By Willie G. Moseley

1960 Vox AC30
Few vintage tube amps have attained the reverence of Vox. Often discussed with a catch in the breath, they include the tone goddess AC30. And then there’s this one – queen of the goddesses! By Dave Hunter Birotary rackside gyle purview antibiotics, extraterrestrial steeplechaser notify undercoupling expense neuroectoderm leukoencephalitis crude cyl outpouching. Perorate complexity foaming indenyl capristor.
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DEPARTMENTS

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
65amps

Upcoming Events

VG Showcase

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

FIRST FRET

Reader Mail

News and Notes
TV Jones theft at Musikmesse, Dallas Guitar Show; In Memoriam, more!

Recovery in Music City
Nashville Repair Experts “Triage” Flood-Damaged Instruments
By Walter Carter

Mark Egan
The Musical Truth
By Willie G. Moseley

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

Jonny Lang
Not a Kid Anymore
By John Heidt

Laura Chavez
Learning to Slide
By John Heidt

VG on Facebook

Nick Curran
Not Just Another Blues Punk
By Dan Forte

Eric Bibb
At the Crossroads
By Michael Dregni

Sam Broussard
Cajun Guitar Ace
By Pete Prown

COLUMNS

The (Way) Back Beat
Top O’ the Line, 50 Years Ago
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Acousticville
Perfect Personal Recording Device?
By Steven Stone

Fretprints
Lynyrd Skynyrd
By Wolf Marshall

TECH

Shop of Hard Knocks
Strats, You’ve Been Set Up!
By Will Kelly

Dan’s Guitar Rx
One Cracked Strat, Part 2
By Dan Erlewine

Talkin’ Amps…
Blackie Pagano – Rectifiers, Part 2: The A/B Experimen
By David Jung

REVIEWS

The VG Hit List
CD, DVD, and Book Reviews: Peter Frampton, Martin Taylor, Johnny Winter, The Sadies, Roky Erickson, Moby Grape, Chuck Berry, Rickenbacker Electric 12-Strings, more!

Check This Action
The Blues Are in Good Hands
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Martin GPC-PA1, Gretsch Tim Armstrong Electromatic, Shaw Audio Full Tilt 18, Peavey PowerSlide, Fender G-DEC-3, Samick JTR Guitars

Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!

FEATURES

Gretsch’s “Golden” Tenors
Tenor guitars were popular in the ’20s, when musical tastes motivated a move away from the banjo. But major companies were still making them in the ’50s and early ’60s, when the electric guitar was establishing itself as a key part of the new voice of popular music. By Edward Ball

Behind The Banner
In 1942, Gibson conceived the acoustic models that would become the backbone of its flat-top line until the ’70s. Recognized thanks to their “banner headstock,” the wartime instruments have a few unusual appointments that warrant a closer look. By A.R. Duchossoir

Drew Zingg
Here, There, Everywhere
A household name in the music industry, his career was jump-started when he signed with Steely Dan as lead guitarist in the ’90s. Today he’s busy on several fronts and a solo CD is in the works. By Ann Wickstrom

The Martin 0-28K
The exotic figuration of Hawaiian koa wood has a visual appeal that matched the exotic sound of Hawaiian music in the 1920s. And Koa guitars played a large role in Martin history, including introducing steel strings to the brand. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

The Supertone H-2294
It’s hard to imagine, but the electric guitar was not an overnight success. Part of the reason was many early electric guitars did not sound good. Ironically, today, that makes them fascinating. Here’s a case in point. By Michael Wright

The Carvin V440
In the ’80s, electric instruments were marketed in all sorts of oddball shapes and colors. Carvin entered the fray in ’84 with its V220, followed the next year by this bass. By Willie G. Moseley

The Supro “Model 24”
Even if no big-name artist had ever played through the mid-’60s Supro Model 24 (like Jimmy Page did!), it’s still one of the hippest-looking and coolest-sounding combos on the planet. By Dave Hunter Birotary rackside gyle purview antibiotics, extraterrestrial steeplechaser notify undercoupling expense neuroectoderm leukoencephalitis crude cyl outpouching. Perorate complexity foaming indenyl capristor.
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Helianthine seeming opioid pilgrim?

DEPARTMENTS

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
Big Tex Guitars

Upcoming Events

VG Showcase

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

FIRST FRET

Reader Mail

News and Notes
SoCal Lap-Steel show; Nat’l Guitar Museum Honors Edwards; Burton, Rawls, Kirchen Jam at SXSW; In Memoriam, more!

Johnny A.
What You Hear is What You Get
By Willie G. Moseley

Herb Ellis
1921-2010
By Jim Carlton

Andy McKee
Acoustic Guitar Sensation
By Pete Prown

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

Michael Dinallo
Radio King
By Rick Allen

Geoff Hartwell
Learning to Slide
By John Heidt.

Bill Kirchen
Telemaster Offers A Word to the Wise
By Dan Forte

Sam Miltich
Hot Club of the Cold Northwoods
By Michael Dregni

Peter Frampton
Family, Frets, and the Funk Brothers
By Willie G. Moseley

COLUMNS

The (Way) Back Beat
$100 Down, $50 Years Ago, Part IV
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Acousticville
Death of a Guitar Company
By Steven Stone

Fretprints
Freddie Green
By Wolf Marshall

TECH

Shop of Hard Knocks
Quick Pickup Fix
By Will Kelly

Dan’s Guitar Rx
One Cracked Strat
By Dan Erlewine

Talkin’ Amps…
Blackie Pagano – Rectifiers: Tube vs. Solidstate
By David Jung

REVIEWS

The VG Hit List
CD, DVD, and Book Reviews: Jason and the Scorchers, Frank Zappa, Iggy & the Stooges, Coco Montoya, Christine Ohlman, Nick Moss, Free, Raisin’ Cane: The Wild and Raucous Story of Johnny Winter, more!

Check This Action
Hendrix: The Real Experience
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Wizard Modern Classic amp, PRS 25th Ann. Swamp Ash Special, Victoria VIC 105, Visual Sound Garage Series, Way Huge Aqua Puss, Little Walter 30 Watt, Black Cat pedals

Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!

This month in VG

We speak with world-famous guitar builder Paul Reed Smith. Influenced by music early in life, instead of writing “Born To Run” or playing the lead on Tom Petty’s “Refugee,” guitar history will recall him as the Ted McCarty (or Leo Fender) of his generation.

Then, Dave Hunter tells us why among Fender “tweed” amps, the 5D5 Pro is an important starting point for studying both its predecessors and its successors. George Gruhn and Walter Carter explain how despite the popularity of Gibson’s ’50s thinline electrics, the acoustic archtop L-5CT didn’t quite fly, and Willie Moseley reveals how the Peavey Dyna-Bass was an important evolutionary step in the company’s history. Then, we offer up the details on two funky instruments – one you may have actually played, the other that, thanks to Communism, came to market way too late: check out our features on the Riverhead Jupiterand the Leningrad Hollowbody 409.

Robb Lawrence stops in to visit about his two books on Les Paul, the man. Andy Babiuk talks about making garage music a la his heroes, and Dan Forte breaks down the details on the DVD box set on the British Invasion. Stopping by to discuss their new music are Julien Kasper, Jon Dalton, Rich Tozzoli, and Zac Harmon.

If you’re the tinkering type, you’ll want to take a look at Will Kelly’s Shop of Hard Knocks column, where he shows us how to build our own pickups, Dan Erlewine’s Guitar Rx where he makes a new bridge for an Epiphone Texan, and David Jung’s Talkin’ Amps…, where he puts a bunch of EL84 tubes through their paces.

And in the likely(!) event you’re shopping for new gear, you’ll want to read our reviews of cool new stuff from Gadotti, ProCo, Tomaszewicz, Egnater, Fervor pickups, Ultrasound, WMD, and Reunion Blues.

Here’s a look at Paul’sFirst Guitars!

FEATURES

Paul Reed Smith
He was influenced by music early in life. But instead of writing “Born To Run” or playing the lead break on Tom Petty’s “Refugee,” guitar history will recall Paul Smith as the Ted McCarty (or Leo Fender) of his generation. By Ward Meeker

The Fender 5D5 Pro
Among Fender “tweed” amp models, it sits in the center both chronologically and developmentally. That makes it a great jumping-off point for studying both its predecessors and its successors. By Dave Hunter

The Gibson L-5CT Gibson’s first thinline electrics of the ’50s were popular. But when the company applied the concept to an acoustic archtop and created the L-5CT, sales were disappointing, even with a promotional splash provided by a popular comedian and TV-show host. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

One Fine 409: The Leningrad Hollowbody
Born when such instruments were on their way out in the West, the 1970 Lunacharsky Factory of Folk Musical Instruments model 409 was more reminiscent of Kays and Harmonys from the 1950s and ’60s. By Edward Pitt

The Riverhead Jupiter
There are many patterns in guitar history, but one prominent theme repeats the tradition based on the apprenticeship/journeyman/master model. Such a pattern weaves the story of Riverhead guitars – a brand in the wrong place at the wrong time. By Michael Wright

The Peavey Dyna-Bass
Introduced in 1986, the Dyna-Bass was a major evolutionary step up from Peavey’s T-series instruments or the Foundation Bass. Though styled with classic lines, its active circuitry marked a first for a Peavey bass. By Willie G. Moseley

DEPARTMENTS

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
Monroe Guitars

Upcoming Events

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

FIRST FRET

Reader Mail

News and Notes
Tours by Frampton/Yes, Styx/Kansas/Foreigner, and Wishbone Ash, Father’s Day photos wanted, In Memoriam, more!

The British are Back
DVD Box Documents British Invasion
By Dan Forte

Chronicling Les Paul
By Eric C. Shoaf

VG on Facebook

Andy Babiuk
Out In the Garage
By John Heidt

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

Julien Kasper
Go With the Flow
By John Heidt

Jon Dalton
Unplanned Perfection
By John Heidt

Rich Tozzoli
Talking Tone
By Pete Prown

Zac Harmon
Positive Blues Power
By Rick Allen

COLUMNS

The (Way) Back Beat
$100, 50 Years Ago, Part III
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Acousticville
Every Decade or So, Part II
By Steven Stone

Fretprints
Judas Priest
By Wolf Marshall

TECH

Shop of Hard Knocks
Roll Your Own… Pickups
By Will Kelly

Dan’s Guitar Rx
New Bridge for an Epi Texan, Part II
By Dan Erlewine

Talkin’ Amps…
An EL84 “Showdown”
By David Jung

REVIEWS

The VG Hit List
CD, DVD, and Book Reviews: Drive-By Truckers, Johnny Cash, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Luther Allison, Johnny A, Wilson Pickett, Frank Vignola, Gibson’s Fabulous Flattops (Second Edition), more!

Check This Action
Guitar Heroes, 40 Years Late
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Gadotti ElectroKing, ProCo Rat ‘85 White Face, Tomaszewicz TZZ-35212L, Egnater Renegade 112, Fervor pickups, Ultrasound DS4, WMD Super Fat Man, Reunion Blues Continental gig bag.

Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!

FEATURES

The Beatles’ Casinos

Of all the guitars made famous by the Beatles, the only one that John, Paul, and George had in common was the Epiphone Casino. Each owned one and used it for countless recordings and performances. By Andy Babiuk

’66 Epiphone Casino

In the Epiphone line of the ’60s, the Casino occupied middle ground in appearance and electronics, ranking below the Sheraton, Riviera, and even the Crestwood Custom. But thanks to the Beatles, it is probably the best-known of all Gibson-made Epi models. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

The House of Stathopoulo Harp Guitar

Surreal Missing Link

One of the rarest Epiphone instruments lends a glimpse into a transitional era prior to the formation of what would become one of the most recognizable names in guitar history. By Paul Fox

Trainwreck Express “Nancy”

Amps bearing the Trainwreck brand have long been among the most desirable. And after the passing of Ken Fischer they’ve been fixed to an even higher standard by the laws of supply and demand. This one, dubbed “Nancy,” was built by Fischer in 1986. By Dave Hunter

Kenny Sultan

Left-Coast Blues Machine

A blues-guitar authority, as a kid he hit L.A. blues clubs to watch T-Bone Walker and Doc Watson. A guitarist by age 12, he spent his youth and adolescence enamored with the form, and today purveys it as half of an acclaimed duo. By Preston Gratiot

The Yamaha Image

Whether you say “acoustic” or “electric,” Yamaha is never the first name that leaps to mind among guitar aficionados. Nevertheless, it has historically offered wonderful designs, innovative features, and exceptional quality. One Yamaha that answers all these encomiums is the Image. By Michael Wright

The Vox Saturn IV

In the mid 1960s, Vox was buoyed by endorsers such as the Beatles and Paul Revere & the Raiders. The company signed deals with almost every popular band; even one-hit-wonders such as Music Machine (“Talk Talk”) brandished Vox guitars like the Saturn IV. By Willie G. Moseley

DEPARTMENTS

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile

TogaMan

Upcoming Events

Vintage Guitar Classified Ads

Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

FIRST FRET

Reader Mail

News and Notes

Musician’s Hall of Fame Closes, New Music by Beck and Frampton, Deke’s Guitar Geek Fest, In Memoriam, more!

John Jorgenson’s Gypsy Jazz Orchestra

By Michael Dregni

Charlie Apicella

Ain’t That a Groove?

By John Heidt

Ask Zac

By Zac Childs

J.D. Simo

Young Tele King on Broadway

By Zac Childs

Winter NAMM ’10

By Preston Gratiot

Jimmy Wyble

1922-2010

By Jim Carlton

Love and Theft

Doing Time

By Will Kelly

Sean Chambers

The Tampa-Texas Connection

By Willie G. Moseley

COLUMNS

The (Way) Back Beat

$100, 50 Years Ago, Part II

By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Guitars with Guts

1846 Manuel Gutiérrez

By R.E. Bruné

Fretprints

Robbie Krieger

By Wolf Marshall

Acousticville

Every Decade Or So…

By Steven Stone

TECH

Talkin’ Amps…

Sleeper Amps: The Watkins Dominator MkI

By David Jung

DAn’s Guitar Rx

New Bridge For an Epi Texan

By Dan Erlewine

Shop of Hard Knocks

Resurrecting a “SuperStrat”

By Will Kelly

REVIEWS

The VG Hit List

CD, DVD, and Book Reviews: Sweet Mikey C, Debbie Davies, Oz Noy, Muriel Anderson, Bob Seger, Richard Bennett, The Modern Era of the Les Paul Legacy, more!

Check This Action

What Would Django Do?

By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews

Godin 5th Avenue CW Kingpin II/Richmond Dorchester, Big Tex ’53 Blackguard, Boedigheimer BB-1/Boutique, Epiphone Emperor Swingster, WGS G10A/G10C, Danelectro ’59 Original DC, Bilt Relevator, More!

Gearin’ Up!

The latest cool new stuff!