BC Audio Grand Prix 100

Hand-Wired Heaven

April 16, 2019 · Pete Prown

For the past few years, builder Bruce Clement of BC Audio has been getting attention for his killer-sounding and meticulously…

Catch Ron Bosse Rumblin’

February 10, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Great jazz on a Strat Ron Bosse learned to play saxophone in grade school and was raised on classic rock,…

MIM Hosts Stephen Stills and Ushers in Dragons and Vines Exhibition

December 7, 2016 · Johnny Zapp

On November 5th, Phoenix, Arizona’s Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) celebrated the opening of their newest exhibition, “Dragons and Vines: Inlaid…

Taj Mahal

December 30, 2016 · Rick Allen

Taj Mahal plays all sorts of folk, keyboard, and percussion instruments – and just about anything with strings. His deceptively…

Forty Quid of Klunk

Tales of the Harmony Bass

January 6, 2014 · Peter Stuart Kohman

Duh-Duh-Duh-Duh-Duh, Klunk! It’s not the most artful musical introduction, but it was effective. And by the time a screaming Hammond…

D’Angelico Premier Bob Weir SS

Touch of Grey

April 26, 2019 · Michael Dregni

When Bob Weir introduced his D’Angelico Premier SS at NAMM last January, he performed a set of Grateful Dead and…

  • Rik Emmett

    Rik Emmett

    Ten Telecaster Tales

    At the risk of starting a brawl, Rik Emmett’s guitar work was arguably too good for Triumph. As evidence, his latest project centers on a custom-built Loucin that inspired both…

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ARTISTS

Derek St. Holmes

Making Rock and Roll Cool Again

March 2, 2017 · Johnny Zapp

Derek St. Holmes has been in the rock and roll business since the early 1970s and is best known for…

Jim Weider

Telecaster Master, Camp Counselor

May 30, 2025 · Ward Meeker

Ever dream of hanging out with a couple handfuls of guitar legends while breathing fresh mountain air and (mostly) unplugging…

Gene Simmons

Night Vision

August 31, 2023 · Bret Adams

Between stints on its lengthy End of the Road farewell tour, Kiss has been issuing an Off the Soundboard series…

Happy Traum

Folk Guru: 1936-2024

June 25, 2025 · Dan Forte

On July 17, folk music lost one of its guiding lights with the death of Happy Traum at age 86.…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Hangin’ with Kid and Lisa “Little Baby” Andersen

September 5, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Smooth, Funky Blues With Soul Kid Andersen worked with Charlie Musselwhite and Elvin Bishop before scoring his current gig with…

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…

United They Stood, Part 2

Ghosts of Jersey City

July 11, 2022 · Peter Stuart Kohman

In the history of guitars, the tale of United Guitar Corporation is a ghost story – little documented and lost…

The Vox AC15

AMP-O-RAMA

June 24, 2020 · Dave Hunter

The Vox AC30 grabbed most of the headlines for years, but many tonehounds have come to appreciate the sweet, juicy…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Zerberus Nemesis Stone-Top

Let's Get Stoned

April 19, 2019 · Rich Maloof

When German luthier Frank Scheucher was first approached about building a guitar from stone, he had the same reaction you’re…

Blackstar Artist 15

All ’Rounder

March 5, 2019 · Michael Dregni

Blackstar’s Artist 15 is a British amp with an American accent. Though designed and built around good ol’ American-flavored 6L6…

Black Cat’s D&S and N-Fuzz

Two Faces of Fuzz

November 29, 2016 · Pete Prown

Located in south-central Connecticut, Black Cat blends an ear for vintage tones with an eye toward modern function and bulletproof…

Interstellar Audio Machines Octonaut Hyperdrive

Next-Level Drive

May 13, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Interstellar Audio Machines advertised its original Octonaut Hyperdrive as, “The only overdrive you’ll ever need.” Well… The new version offers…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Manouche Latcho Drom Swing 42

Hot Club Hot Stuff

December 27, 2017 · Michael Dregni

In the galaxy of Gypsy jazz guitars, the Modèle Special Chorus made by Sicilian-born, Parisian-based Antoine Di Mauro was something…

Nioma Guitars

Rarities from a West Coast Music School

September 2, 2014 · Peter Blecha

NIOMA musical instruments from the 1930s and ’40s – with their vaguely Hawaiian-looking name – have mystified vintage-guitar enthusiasts over…

B.C. Rich Acrylic Warlock

August 7, 2023 · Michael Wright

Most industries know a great idea when they see it and aren’t shy about jumping on a bandwagon. In 1969,…

Fender Super Reverbs from 1963 and ’68

First and Last

April 18, 2019 · Dave Hunter

Among the many distinct eras of vintage-amp production, Fender’s so-called “blackface” models are legendary. Made from late 1963 until ’67,…

Pop ’N Hiss: Bruford’s Allan Holdsworth

Landmark Fusion of One of a Kind

March 31, 2022 · Pete Prown

Jazz-rock fusion was vastly popular in the mid 1970s, but began to run out of steam as the “smooth jazz”…

Effectrode’s Fire Bottle Magnetic Pickup Booster

Effectrode Fire Bottle Magnetic Pickup Booster

The Box That Went to Harvard

January 21, 2016 · Pete Prown

The Effectrode Fire Bottle is a pedal that deviates from the norm and offers something fresh. Unlike a chorus, distortion,…

Realistic Entertainer-34

January 26, 2016 · Dave Hunter

As prolific as the Radio Shack chain was in the ’60s, it’s surprising we don’t see more vintage Realistic guitar…

Grez Mendocino Short Scale Bass

Time-Machine Tone

April 3, 2023 · Michael Shirek

In the beginning, there was the Precision Bass. Following Leo Fender’s revelation, things branched out in all directions as builders…

Lari Basilio

Love, Law, and Guitars

June 29, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Lari Basilio’s latest album, Your Love, is highlighted by spellbinding note density, feel, and whiplash twists and turns. Her forté…

Beat Portraits: Burns Volume 4

Shadows and Light

February 7, 2018 · Peter Stuart Kohman

In Beat-era England, before The Beatles, one band reigned supreme – The Shadows. Starting as Cliff Richard’s backing group, this…

Country Player of the Year

February 6, 2017 · Vintage Guitar

Albert Lee Awarded in 2018 Known primarily as a virtuoso sideman, over the past half-century, Albert Lee journeyed from British…

Duke Robillard’s Swingin’ R And B!

June 14, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

 Blues/Jazz Great Jams on “Four Bills” Duke Robillard’s custom-made J.W. Murphy 17” archtop is the perfect accomplice for this…

Belén Bandera – Jazz Soundscape

November 15, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

 Spanish singer shines on “Arbre” Accompanied by Jaume Llombart’s beautiful playing on a ’92 Gibson ES-350T modded with a…

Tracy G

Dio Disciple

July 9, 2019 · Greg Prato

Ronnie James Dio had a knack for collaborating with talented guitarists – Ritchie Blackmore in Rainbow, Tony Iommi in Black…

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…

Bad Company

July 6, 2016 · Pete Prown

Thanks to advances in audio tweaking, studio engineers can now take 40-year-old concert tapes and make them sound thrilling. Case…

Gibson Barney Kessel Custom Prototype Vintage guitar magazine

Gibson’s Experimental Kessel Prototype

Gibson Barney Kessel Custom model

May 18, 2016 · George Gruhn

This is a guitar which for all practical purposes appears to be a Gibson Barney Kessel Custom model, but the…

Have Guitar Will Travel 068 – Sammy Ash

January 28, 2022 · Doug Yellow Bird

Episode 68 of “Have Guitar Will Travel” features guitarist, collector, and entrepreneur Sammy Ash, who grew up in his grandparents…

A Tribute to Leslie West

Various artists

December 8, 2022 · Pete Prown

Here’s a much-deserved tribute to the Mountain guitarist who died in 2020, getting his due thanks to a procession of…

United Guitar Corporation

United They Stood…. A Jersey City Tale

January 24, 2022 · Peter Stuart Kohman

The history of the United Guitar Corporation, which unfolded in Jersey City, just over the river from the glitter of…

’Bursting with Surprises

’Bursting with Surprises

Celeb Guitars Make a Splash at U.K. Guitar Show

January 16, 2015 · Ward Meeker

Peter Hoarty and his wife, Gail, have been hosting guitar shows in England since 1998, when they rented space to…

Neil Young

November 24, 2014 · Dennis Pernu

In more ways than one, Journey Through The Past – the title of Neil Young’s 1972 directorial film debut –…

Fender Blu DeTiger x Player Plus Jazz Bass

Ladies’ First

August 13, 2025 · Ward Meeker

With a quick glance and a dash of judginess, Fender’s Blu DeTiger x Player Plus Jazz Bass looks like what…

Eric Clapton

A Return To The Crossroads: Slowhand Meets Mr. Johnson

January 30, 2020 · Lisa Sharken

In many ways, 2004 marks a return to the crossroads for Eric Clapton. With his latest disc, Me And Mr.…

Mario Guitars Serpentine

Custom Flagship

July 9, 2018 · Rich Maloof

Given that Mario Martin credits his guitar-building education to a stint at the Fender Custom Shop, it’s no surprise that…

Xotic Effects RC Booster Reissue

Return of A Legend

October 11, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Twenty years ago, Xotic Effects unleashed its iconic RC Booster. With variable Gain, EQ, and Volume controls, it was a…

Malinoski’s New Moon

On The Horizon

June 19, 2014 · Pete Prown

Last ’Burst?

Single-Cut Saga From the End of an Era

April 24, 2019 · Ward Meeker

Certain instruments are nearly as famous as the heroes who play them – we know them as Blackie, Lucille, Greeny,…

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters

November 1, 2016 · Rich Kienzle

On this latest album, Ronnie Earl and his band freely and unabashedly mourn and honor the late David Maxwell, the…