January 2009

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FEATURES

ROCCO PRESTIA
The Power of Tower
What has been called “the hardest-working right hand in the bass business” belongs to Francis “Rocco” Prestia, who for most of the last 40 years has been with soul ambassadors Tower Of Power. By Dan Forte

AMP-O-RAMA
1961 Ampeg M-15
It may have been more at home behind Wes Montgomery or Kenny Burrell on a small stage, but beneath its hood lies a bundle of ingredients found in desirable blues and classic rock amps from another maker! By Dave Hunter

1949 BIGSBY TENOR
By the 1950s, tenor guitarists were a dying breed. So electric tenor guitars are relatively rare, and this tenor guitar made by solidbody pioneer Paul Bigsby is one of the rarest of all electric guitars. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

BRAD PAISLEY
Keep Pushing Play
Country artists long ago left instrumental music in the scrap heap, but it dominates Brad Paisley’s new album, which reflects influences from Eric Johnson to Tal Farlow, Johnny Smith to Robben Ford. By Zac Childs

BROADCASTER 0033
A Fender “Holy Grail”
At first glance, one is struck by the clean condition of this very early Fender jewel. But look closer and you’ll find many features that make it even more noteworthy. By Ignacio “Nacho” Baños

REX SOLIDBODY
Most vintage-guitar enthusiasts are content to pursue well-known treasures, while others appreciate a good mystery like this circa 1959 Rex solidbody electric guitar, which has long resisted the forces of enlightenment. Can you help? By Michael Wright

BASS SPACE
Silvertone Basses by Danelectro
The Beatles’ appearance on Ed Sullivan in ’64 sent droves of aspiring guitarists to Sears to order a Silvertone instrument, made by Danelectro. Here are two prime examples. By Willie G. Moseley

DEPARTMENTS

Vintage Guitar Price Guide

Builder Profile
Hound Dog Corp./Alessandro High-End Products

Upcoming Events

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Dealer Directory

Readers Gallery

FIRST FRET

Reader Mail

News and Notes
Arlington ’08, Wishbone Ash Releases Live Argus, L.A. Amp Show, Young, Willcutt Adds Burriss Line, more!

Paul Barrere
The Feats and Famous Friends
By Willie G. Moseley

Albert Cummings
Building a Career
By John Heidt

Grayson Capps
Schizophrenic Rott
By John Heidt

Ask Zac
By Zac Childs

Whit Smith
Cowtown’s Six-String Swinger
By Dan Forte

Jimmy Herring
Southern Jazz-Rock Monster
By Pete Prown

Nils Lofgren
Tribute to a Mentor (And His Martin D-18)
By Willie G. Moseley

Monte Montgomery
By Pete Prown

COLUMNS

The (Way) Back Beat
Beat Portraits: The Four-String White Whale – Fender/Arbiter’s 1966 Slab-Body Precision Bass
By Peter S. Kohman

Q&A With George Gruhn

Acousticville
The Mortgage Market
By Steven Stone

“401K” Guitars
Parker Guitars
By Gil Hembree

Fretprints
Magic Sam
By Wolf Marshall

TECH

Dan’s Guitar Rx
Saddle Hold-Still
By Dan Erlewine

Talkin’ Amps With…
Andy Brauer: Making a New Les Paul Sound “Vintage”
By David Jung

REVIEWS

The VG Hit List
CD, DVD, and Book Reviews
Roy Orbison, Cheap Trick, B.B. King, Steve Hunter, Ike & Tina Turner, Hand Made, Hand Played, more!

Check This Action
Spanning The Globe
By Dan Forte

Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
PRS Starla, TC Electronic Nova System, Reverend Roundhouse RT, GeekMacDaddy British Ball Breaker, Danelectro ’63 Guitar and Baritone

Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!

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