Rosalie Allen’s SJ-200
On the pages featuring the Super Jumbo 200, Gibson’s 1940 catalog trumpeted, “This king of the flat-top guitars was especially created for professional entertainers...
The Supro 1600R Supreme and 600 Reverb
Supro amps from the late 1950s and early ’60s are some of the most stylish of the era, and boast circuits that generated classic...
Greg Lake’s Zemaitis Doubleneck
With progressive-rock juggernaut Emerson, Lake & Palmer, bassist/vocalist Greg Lake (1947-2016) played more than one instrument made by the renowned British luthier Tony Zemaitis.
Known...
Martin Bodies in the 19th Century
Exactly when did C.F. Martin begin formally using the two-part system indicating size and level of ornamentation on his instruments? Nobody knows for certain.
Martin...
Fender’s 1960 Bandmaster
The earliest renditions of our gear icons are often the most valuable, but on many occasions it’s the transition models – those that bridged...
The Micro-Frets Saga
Had fate been just a notch kinder, Ralph Jones might today be a ’60s counterculture icon alongside Bob Dylan, Muhammad Ali, and Steve McQueen.
Hyperbole?...
The Watkins Dominator
Is there any more stylish vintage amp than the V-front Watkins Dominator? This creation is delightfully twee yet utterly enticing – the allure of...
The Fender AA165 Pro Reverb
Fender’s “blackface” amplifiers made from late 1963 through ’67 have earned enduring “classic amp” status. Simultaneously collectible, they’re desired for their rich vintage tones...
The Story of Albanus Guitars
“Art for art’s sake.” The expression is common. But how often is it practiced?
In a basement studio on Chicago’s North Side, Carl Johnson epitomized...
Dumble Overdrive Special OD150 WR
Alexander Dumble’s creations were already established as legendary when we probed our first example in this space back in May of 2011. Since that...