FEATURES
RIDING WITH LOS LOBOS
30 Years & Still Going Strong
Arguably the most important American band to come out of the 1980s, musically and sociologically, its contributions have secured the band’s place in the history of many styles. By Dan Forte
THE BASS SPACE
1960s Truetone Bass
This ’60s cheapo is the Western Auto house brand equivalent of a Kay #5915 and was, in its initial state, perhaps noteworthy for what it didn’t have – markers on the fretboard! By Willie G. Moseley
1929 Gibson GB-3 Guitar Banjo
Gibson’s Mastertone banjos arrived in 1925, boasting innovative features more suited for Dixieland music. In the hands of a skilled player, a six-string guitar banjo has a sound that rivals a good resonator guitar. By George Gruhn
THE BANGLES
Yesterdays… and Today
After a 10-year separation, the two-guitar band that rose to prominence in the 1980s with hits like “Manic Monday” and “Walk Like an Egyptian” reunited in ’99 to overwhelming response. By Kraig Sollenberger
JERRY SCHEFF
Before and Beyond Elvis
Best known for holding down the bottom-end in Elvis Presley’s fabled TCB Band, he has been a fixture in the recording scene for decades. And he has always done things his own way. By Willie G. Moseley
MARIAN HALL
First Lady of the Steel Guitar
Few, if any, women are mentioned amidst the legends of the steel guitar, but Marian Hall is one to remember. Her sound and style were vital to country, jazz and swing in the 1950s and early ’60s. By Cindy Cashdollar
THE DIFFERENT STRUMMER
Yamaha’s Full Metal Jacket
When you think of Superstrats, you don’t think of Yamaha. Nevertheless, it made some very nice examples of the form, in the shadow, perhaps, of its better known SG/SBGs. This is their story. By Michael Wright
DEPARTMENTS
Dealer News
Vintage Guitar Price Guide
Builder Profile
Butler Custom Sound
Upcoming Events
Vintage Guitar Classified Ads
Dealer Directory
The Great VG Giveaway ’04
Win a D’Addario/Planet Waves gear package!
Readers Gallery
FIRST FRET
Reader Mail
News and Notes
First World Guitar Congress, New Albums, Gibson Songwriting Contest, S.I.R Moves, Dr. Dylan, In Memoriam, more!
Barney Kessel 1923-2004
By Dan Forte
Executive Rock
Now Hear This…
By Willie G. Moseley
First Look! Clapton Throws a Party
Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival
By Dan Forte Photos by Eddie Malluk.
Classic Concerts
Elvis Presley
By Willie G. Moseley
BR549’s New Blood
By John Heidt
COLUMNS
Q&A With George Gruhn
Acousticville
Chinese-Made Mandolins
By Steven Stone
FretPrints
Barney Kessel
By Wolf Marshall
Gigmeister
Thoughts Are Things
By Riley Wilson
The Bitter Ol’ Guitar Curmudgeon
Guitar 101
By Stephen White
TECH
Dan’s Guitar Rx
Fixing Lil’ Junior, Part 2
By Dan Erlewine
Guitar Shop
Pimp My Guitar
By Tony Nobles
Amps
Five Ways to Preserve Your Vintage Amp
By Gerald Weber
Ask Gerald
By Gerald Weber
REVIEWS
The VG Hit List
Music and Book Reviews: Fleetwood Mac, Jimi Hendrix, The Pretty Things, Gurf Morlix, Thackery and Benoit, Blasters and Nat King Cole on DVD, more !
Check This Action
Uniquely American Music
Dan Forte
Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Gibson Cloud 9 Les Paul, Aiken Invader, Line 6 Variax Acoustic, Guyatone Flip Tube Echo, Floyd Rose Redmond Model One!
Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!