In the days before seven- and eight-string guitars, the easiest way to go low was to grab a baritone guitar. Radio waves and film scores of the ’60s were filled with examples of the middle sister of the guitar family – from surf to country to cinematic Westerns. A rebirth of sorts is in session,…

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For nearly two centuries, Martin has been building acoustic instruments befitting the company’s august reputation. The slew of budget-friendly models in its Performing Artist series offer modern takes on traditional models. The new SC goes a step further, blowing up the blueprint. Made in Mexico as part of the Road Series, the SC-13E Special Burst…

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In a career spanning more than 60 years, Happy Traum has been a fixture of the American folk scene, from the Village to Woodstock and the New World Singers to a duo with his brother, Artie. Along the way, he made collaborative stops with Bob Dylan, Allen Ginsberg, and a galaxy of folk stars. His…

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Among the famous names in American guitar lore is Dan Erlewine – guitarist, builder, VG columnist and editorial consultant, and of course, world-class repair expert who literally wrote the book on the craft. Now he has partnered with Iris Guitar to bring to life a reimagined version of his personal favorite guitar – a 1937…

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Since the dawn of amplification, engineers have sought a better mousetrap – a more-transparent signal chain that preserves signal and adds less noise. With its new Acoustic Pedal, Orange takes inspiration from its past advances and packages them neatly in a preamp that gets the most out of an acoustic/electric guitar’s signal. The Orange Acoustic…

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The big, booming dreadnought has been a Martin hallmark since its debut in the 1930s. From that tradition comes Martin’s Dreadnought Junior, a smaller, more playable version of the signature shape. The DJr-10E StreetMaster is the one of the latest entries in Martin’s Junior lineup, with solid construction and gig-ready electronics. It’s not a full-sized…

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From the time the first self-branded models shipped from Nazareth, Pennsylvania, in the early 1930s, the Martin dreadnought has been one of the most recognizable guitars in American music. The big bluegrass cannon has undergone tweaking and tinkering, but today’s specimens carry on the dreadnought tradition. One newcomer is the D-13E Ziricote. From the made-in-Mexico…

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Though it looks to be straight from a ’60s catalog, Fender’s 60th Anniversary Jazz Bass isn’t a true reissue. Rather, it’s a “celebration” of the innovation, style, and vibe appreciated by anyone lucky enough to have ever played an original “stack knob” Jazz. At 9 pounds, 4 ounces, the 60th Anniversary’s alder body is neither…

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