• 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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National Westwood Home Feature Image

National Westwood

May 12, 2016 · Michael Wright

Whether Valco – the company that made National guitars in the 1950s and ’60s – was actually inspired by U.S.…

Paul Reed Smith

Roaring With Hendrix

November 1, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Believe it or not, Paul Reed Smith can play the hell out of the guitar. In a world where most…

Eilon Paz

Stompbox: 100 Pedals of the World’s Greatest Guitarists & Stompbox Vintage & Rarities

October 14, 2021 · Michael Dregni

Sure, we’ve all got a “thing” about guitars. And for many, amps strike a similar chord. But there’s something special…

Excelsior Americana

March 7, 2014 · Dave Hunter

If you play any breed of twang, country, roots-rock or, well, “Americana,” could there possibly be a better amp than…

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La Baye 2X4

May 25, 2016 · Michael Wright

1967, the Summer of Love. Everything still seemed possible, and anything went. No more war, racial and gender equality, Fresh…

D’Angelico’s Deluxe Atlantic Baritone

Lowdown

November 13, 2023 · Bob Cianci

Baritone guitars have been around for decades, traditionally featured in Nashville and Hollywood studios and elsewhere to “sweeten” a track…

  • Rickenbacker’s Electric 12-Strings

    Rickenbacker’s Electric 12-Strings

    Double-bound for Glory

    George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacher founded Electro String in 1931 to manufacture what everyone would soon call “Rickenbacker” guitars. Success came early and their lap steels set standards of quality,…

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ARTISTS

Steve Vai

Taming The Hydra

November 7, 2025 · Oscar Jordan

After finishing a sold-out tour with Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson for the G3 Reunion concerts, Steve Vai joined Adrian…

In Memoriam: Rusty Russell

March 20, 2024 · Ward Meeker

Rusty Russell, a Nashville-based guitarist, songwriter, photographer, and writer who accompanied notable country and jazz musicians in studios and on…

Dave Murphy: Acoustic Country!

May 15, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

 Classic Ballad Style Country/folk/rock singer/guitarist Dave Murphy wrangled guitarist Chris Tarrow for this take on “Josephine,’ from Dave’s new…

Eric Gales

Reinvigorated Blues

March 28, 2019 · Greg Prato

Over the years, there have been instances when one renowned blues-rock guitarist or another found sobriety in the nick of…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

The Electra Endorser

December 2, 2025 · Michael Wright

Flame-top guitars were fairly common during the 1970s “copy era,” but few reached the levels of figure we often see…

'39 Gibson EH-185

’39 Gibson EH-185

March 18, 2016 · Dave Hunter

Preamp tubes: three 6J7, one 6N7 Output tubes: two 6L6 Rectifier: 5U4 Controls: Instrument Volume, Microphone Volume, Bass and Treble…

The Birth of the Gretsch Duo Jet

Gretsch Gets With It!

March 4, 2022 · Edward Ball

In 1950, Leo Fender introduced the Broadcaster. The first solidbody electric Spanish guitar to bear his soon-to-be-famous name, its thin…

Ted Nugent 1962 Gibson Byrdland

Ted Nugent’s 1962 Gibson Byrdland

November 12, 2015 · Willie G. Moseley

Anyone who’s ever caught Ted Nugent on tour has seen this instrument, and during the Summer of 2003 it was…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Harley Benton Double Vision

Mod Duo

March 22, 2024 · Pete Prown

In this era of combination pedals, it makes sense to house similar effects together, as in the Harley Benton Double…

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…

Aclam Guitar’s The Woman Tone Overdrive

Creamy Tribute

July 6, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

On November 26, 1968, Cream performed its last show, at Royal Albert Hall, and Eric Clapton left the band as…

Crazy Tube Circuits Stardust, Splash MKII, and Pin Up Fuzz

Pure Sanity

August 13, 2014 · Phil Feser

Crazy Tube Circuits Stardust, Splash MKII, and Pin Up Fuzz Price: $290 (splash MKll); $260 (Pin Up Fuzz); $235 (Stardust)…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Paul Quinn

Relentless Persistence

May 8, 2014 · Oscar Jordan

For Paul Quinn, music begins and ends with the blues. The soft-spoken guitarist began playing by listening to British blues…

TC Electronic Spark

Booster Shot

June 12, 2023 · Pete Prown

Everyone’s guitar tone sometimes needs a little assistance, especially playing with a band. To the rescue comes the TC Electronic…

Alvino Rey’s 1936 Gibson mini guitar Vintage Guitar magazine Home Main Big

Alvino Rey’s “Mini” Gibsons

April 20, 2016 · Lynn Wheelwright

Alvino Rey’s 1936 Gibson mini guitar. From its beginnings, Gibson has built custom orders and unique instruments for specific artists,…

The Hagstrom EDP46 DeLuxe

June 20, 2025 · Michael Wright

World War II was responsible for an unbelievable amount of what we today know as the modern world, from computers…

Guitarist/Producer Yates McKendree Shines on “Wise”

February 27, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

 New album reflects array of influences Though just 21, Yates McKendree is already a veteran of storied stages, and…

Thomas Custom Guitars

Rarities from the Pacific Northwest

January 9, 2026 · Peter Blecha

Certain makes and models of electric guitars are rightfully prized for their elegant physical designs and superior craftsmanship. Even better…

Effector 13 Improbability Drive

“Beam Me Up, Jimi” – The Effector 13 Improbability Drive – spacey, fuzzy, and funky

August 15, 2013 · Phil Feser

We understand how you might react. “Another drive pedal?” There are so many… a lot of them similar, or 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…

Heavy Trash

May 15, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Heavy Trash is an on-again-off-again band headed by Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray. They’ve released three superlative albums of their…

Chris Butler’s Vox Mark VI: Waitress Server

December 10, 2024 · Ward Meeker

Melding garage rock with glam, punk emerged in the early ’70s, set on stirring society’s pot. From New York to…

Ray Cummins – Guitar Tutorial #9

September 13, 2022 · Ray Cummins

Ray Cummins – Guitar Tutorial #9 For his ninth exclusive lesson for VG, Ray Cummins shows how to play a…

Mike Keneally Makes the Gravy

June 23, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Dig his Meaty “Celery” The track is called “Celery,” but Mike Keneally sure makes it meaty! With a splash of…

Late 1920s Gibson L-1 "Florentine" Home page main

Late 1920s Gibson L-1 (Flattop)

Gibson "Florentine"

April 9, 2015 · George Gruhn

Because I don’t know what to call this Gibson guitar, I refer to it as a “Florentine,” for lack of…

PRS NF 53

Mojo, Distilled

June 26, 2024 · Pete Prown

Players who appreciate simple, elegant, well-built guitars may find themselves enamored with the new PRS NF 53, inspired by one…

Jake E. Lee

The Legend Returns

May 29, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

Jake E. Lee found fame replacing Randy Rhoads to co-write two of Ozzy Osborne’s most popular albums – Bark At…

Lace Cybercaster LS

Modern Mixer

July 10, 2019 · Chip Wilson

The mere name of Don Lace’s Cybercaster may set calloused fingertips to head-scratching. After all, “cyber” connotes cutting-edge, futuristic. How…

Gary Rossington

1951-2023

January 11, 2024 · Ward Meeker

As a boy, Gary Rossington would grab a broom and mime in front of a mirror whenever an Elvis Presley…

Classics: November 2022

Vern Juran’s Harmony stratotone

July 13, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Like many baby-boomer kids, 11-year-old Vern Juran was into slot-car racing and bikes with ape-hanger handlebars, banana seats, and sissy…

Pentangle

The Albums

July 5, 2018 · Dan Forte

Take Five When one thinks of bands with two (or more) lead guitarists, groups like the Eagles, Buffalo Springfield, Quicksilver…

S’Alright (Or Left)

Southpaw Guitars Marks 35 Years

November 30, 2016 · Ward Meeker

Even before they started jamming together on old Gibson acoustics in the mid ’70s, Jimmy Duncan and Bill Townsend, co-founders…

Henriksen’s JazzAmp 112-ER

All That Jazz

January 10, 2014 · Chip Wilson

Henriksen’s JazzAmp 112-ER Price: $999 (retail) Info: www.henriksenamps.com. Traditionally, jazz guitarists have sought a mellow tone in which single notes…

Guthrie Trapp

Life After Dark

July 5, 2018 · John Heidt

Guthrie Trapp has spent the last couple decades in Nashville, supporting major acts in the studio and on the road.…

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…

Jim Campilongo

Back to the Country

March 2, 2017 · John Heidt

A misconception of his own making led to Jim Campilongo’s latest effort with the band Honeyfingers. “I enjoy my trio…

Luther Dickinson

Luther Dickinson

Acoustic Odyssey

December 9, 2013 · Oscar Jordan

When Luther Dickinson isn’t writing and performing with the North Mississippi Allstars or on the road with The Black Crowes,…

The Electro-Harmonix Superego Synth Engine

Synthful

March 19, 2014 · Phil Feser

Electro-Harmonix Superego Synth Engine Price: $283.60 (retail); $212.70 (street) Contact: www.ehx.com Building on the success of its Freeze Sound Retainer…

The Dean Ween Group

March 30, 2017 · Dennis Pernu

The Dean Ween Group’s debut showcases all the genre-hopping shenanigans that became the stock in trade of Ween’s first band…

Bark: Infectious DIY Garage Rock

December 29, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Enjoy Tim Lee’s Bass VI Twang Tim Lee grabbed his Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI modded with a Lindy Fralin…

Michael Wilton

Michael Wilton

Rebuilding the Queensrÿche Brand

August 31, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

The highly publicized firing of singer Geoff Tate from the band Queensrÿche has divided fans and spawned two touring bands…