• Duke Robillard – Lowdown

    Duke Robillard – Lowdown

    Vintage Guitar is happy to offer the premier of the new music video by Grammy nominee Duke Robillard. “Lowdown” is the  first single from his upcoming album, Blast Off!, set…

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  • 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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The Yosco No. 2

Tenor Banjo

March 6, 2014 · Michael Wright

The banjo and American music cross paths in a remarkably entangled web of complexity. The banjo was brought to the…

Henry Garza

Henry Garza

From Tragedy to Revelation

September 8, 2014 · Oscar Jordan

Los Lonely Boys’ new album, Revelation, draws from several influences while retaining the band’s Texas/Mexican identity. Collaborating with a group…

Sunny War

Anarchist Gospel

December 25, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Sunny War’s latest record blurs stylistic boundaries, rejecting fatuous labeling. Instead, it’s a document of the human experience – a…

Aldo Nova

Fully Engaged

February 7, 2023 · Bret Adams

I did a lot of disappearing acts in my career. And when I disappear, I disappear,” Aldo Nova says with…

National N-275

April 19, 2016 · George Gruhn

Gibson is widely known for its guitars, mandolins, and banjos, but many are unaware the company built instruments for nearly…

The DGN Custom Guitars Paragon Standard

In Search of Perfection

August 7, 2013 · Pete Prown

DGN custom guitars paragon standard Price: $3,000 (base) Contact: DGNcustomguitars.com. For the past few years, luthier Dan Neafsey has been making…

  • Carr Skylark Special 1×12

    Carr Skylark Special 1×12

    Take Flight

    Arriving a little more than 10 years after the original Skylark, Carr Amplifiers’ new Skylark Special adds versatility and enhanced tonal depths to squeeze a lot more into this diminutive…

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ARTISTS

Fretprints: Kim Thayil

The Grungy Flowering of Soundgarden

December 6, 2021 · Wolf Marshall

In 1991, a movement emerged from Seattle that shook the musical world to its core. Seemingly overnight, a cadre of…

Chris Bishop Oscar Jordan Vintage Guitar magazine

Chris Bishop

Wizards and Technology

September 5, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

Riff rockers Crobot have been promoting their first album, Something Supernatural, with a live show offering full-bombast rock, contagious funk,…

Toronzo Cannon

Blues The Chicago Way

May 9, 2017 · Oscar Jordan

“I’m not trying to be a starving artist at 48 years old,” says blues man Toronzo Cannon when asked if…

Melodic, accessible – and shredtastic – it’s Lari Basilio!

December 16, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Just for VG followers, a solo take on “Novo” Lari Basilio grabbed her signature Ibanez LB1 (dig the purple finish…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Saga of Ted Newman Jones

A Guitar for Mr. Richards

The Saga of Ted Newman Jones

July 7, 2016 · Ward Meeker

For anyone who visited the tiny workshop inhabited by guitar builder Ted Newman Jones in the 1970s and ’80s, two…

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,…

Gibson EH-150

An Odd Gibson EH-150

10 Strings, Lap-Style

December 1, 2021 · George Gruhn

Lap-steel guitars were the first commercially available electrics – ancestors of the guitars we plug in today, regardless of their…

Tom Petersson’s Gretsch 12-string Basses

Tricked-Out Trio

December 26, 2017 · Willie G. Moseley

Cheap Trick fans are aware of his contribution to the band’s songs, but few know he actually invented the 12-string…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Phantom Reissue 1964 PH12

Ghost of Vintage Past

September 25, 2014 · Chip Wilson

From the Hollies to the Mahavishnu Orchestra, from Robert Junior Lockwood to the Stones, the electric 12-string has a prominent…

EHX Lizard Queen

Filthy Fuzz

March 20, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

In 2021, JHS Pedals founder Josh Scott teamed with graphic designer Daniel Danger to design a ’70s-style/E-H-inspired fuzz pedal. The…

Gretsch Roots Collection: Jim Dandy Flat-top, Dixie 6 Guitar-Banjo

Back to the Country

December 15, 2014 · Dennis Pernu

Gretsch Roots Collection: Jim Dandy Flat-top, Dixie 6 Guitar-Banjo Price: $239 retail (Jim Dandy Flat Top) and $499 retail (Dixie…

PRS SE Custom Semi-Hollow

Multi-Functional Gem

January 17, 2014 · Phil Feser

While most guitarists are familiar with PRS (and some dream every day of adding one of the company’s Private Stock…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Carl Filipiak

Knack for Jimi

November 14, 2020 · John Heidt

After 20 years of play-ing and recording his blistering fusion of jazz and rock, Carl Filipiak’s latest record, I Got…

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…

Album of the Year

February 8, 2017 · Vintage Guitar

From 2012 to the present — read about each Readers' Choice Awards Albums.

Ro-Pat-In’s First Electric Spanish

Granddaddy to the Stars!

January 10, 2023 · Lynn Wheelwright

The story of George Beauchamp’s invention of what would become the first commercially successful electric guitar is shrouded in the…

Soldano Astro-20 combo

Rock Machine

November 26, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Mike Soldano is the man behind amp tones that influenced a generation of guitarists, his hot-rodded ideas having been used…

Music Man’s Hybrid Boogie Amp: The RD-50

December 26, 2017 · Paul Bechtoldt

Say hey, fellow guitarists! If you live in the Northeast, it’s great to have a hobby that doesn’t require going…

Matteo Mancuso

Journey Into the Future

June 10, 2024 · Pete Prown

Emerging as a social-media sensation several years ago, Matteo Mancuso is changing the way we see and hear guitar. Using…

John Oates’ Prized Guild F-30

Roots Return

October 8, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

Most people know Hall & Oates as a pop-music hit machine that has sold millions of records. What you may…

Neal Schon

Driven Journey Man

April 27, 2023 · Bret Adams

It’s been 11 years since Journey released a new studio album, and its latest, Freedom, is packed with 15 arena-ready…

Gibson Everly Brothers SJ-200

Full Dress

March 20, 2024 · Michael Shirek

Gibson has always had a knack for producing distinctive guitars. The EDS-1275 in Cherry finish will forever be tied to…

Falbo Alpha Series Hollowbody

Falbo Alpha Series Hollowbody

Top Dog

April 7, 2016 · Bob Dragich

Falbo Alpha Series Hollowbody Price: $3,450 (base); $6,250 (as reviewed) Info: www.falboguitars.com Frank Falbo set the acoustic guitar world on…

Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor-II PRO

Archtop Ruler

January 24, 2017 · Michael Dregni

In the early 1950s, the grand old luthiers like Epiphone and Gibson couldn’t believe there would ever be a market…

Cliff Goodwin

Double Trouble

July 11, 2024 · Pete Prown

Veteran rocker Cliff Goodwin has worked with everyone from Joe Cocker to Robert Palmer in a long, 4/4-heavy career. Now…

Fargen Olde 800 MKII, Sonic Edge J&J Overdrive

Decades of Tone

May 9, 2016 · Zac Childs

The Fargen Olde 800 MKII Price: $1,949 Info: www.fargenamps.com. For 10 years, Ben Fargen has established a reputation for building…

Have Guitar Will Travel – 040 Featuring Johnny Hatton

December 15, 2020 · Art Department

  In Episode 40 of “Have Guitar Will Travel,” host James Patrick Regan speaks with bassist Johnny Hatton, whose current…

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…

Joe Osborn photo: Ed Hirsch.

Joe Osborn

A Few (Hundred) Hits

July 8, 2004 · Vintage Guitar

Ed. Note: Joe passed away December 14th, 2018, he was 81. Joe Osborn. His face has never been on a…

The Prestige Classic TBK

Hidden Treasure

October 15, 2021 · Bob Cianci

One of the best-kept guitar secrets, Prestige is a small Vancouver-based operation that has flown under the radar for 18…

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Redd Volkaert

July 29, 2025 · Ram W. Tuli

Season 03 Episode 03 In Episode 3.3 of “Buy That Guitar,” host Ram Tuli is joined by Redd Volkaert, one of…

Scott Holiday

Unrivaled Son

February 17, 2016 · Johnny Zapp

Regardless of the state of pop or rock music, it’s invigorating when a group comes along to remind us what…

Gilby Clarke - Grit & Glory

Grit & Glory

Gilby Clarke and His Guitars

May 9, 2016 · Ward Meeker

The drive to succeed – along with certain workaholic tendencies – revealed themselves early in rock guitarist Gilby Clarke. On…

Swart Atomic Jr.

Splitting The Atom

April 23, 2019 · Phil Feser

When Swart decided to split their Atomic Jr. five-watt combo into a piggyback, they not only went from an 8″…

Return of the Trashmen

Return of the Trashmen

Bird Is Still The Word

February 10, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Surf’s up – again! Thanks to the prodding of guitarist/impresario Deke Dickerson, The Trashmen recently recorded their first album in…

Robben Ford

Crystal Visionary

June 3, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

Pure is Robben Ford’s first instrumental album since 1997’s Tiger Walk. A work of complex simplicity, it’s also a singular…

Alan Lancaster

August 29, 2022 · Ward Meeker

Alan Lancaster, co-founder and longtime bassist in Status Quo, died September 26. He was 72 and had been living with…

Newman Guitars’ Honeycomb Chambered Jr.

Way Cool Version

June 7, 2023 · Tom Guerra

Following Ted Newman Jones’ passing in 2016, protégé Jeff Smith took over Newman Guitars and is furthering the vision, using…

Keeley Electronics Dark Side

Floyd Fare

August 10, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

In the multi-verse of effects pedals, Robert Keeley’s compressors, dirt boxes, and workstation gizmos are a thing of beauty –…

Betty Davis and Mahalia Barnes

Nasty Girl

October 4, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Betty Mabry was known far and wide by the sobriquet of the Nasty Girl. She earned the moniker for being…

Michael Staertow

Michael Staertow

Gramm Backer

April 11, 2016 · Chuck Riley

You may not recognize the name, but Michael Staertow has been playing some of classic rock’s most memorable riffs for…