• 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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Bob’s Playboy Pickers

May 6, 2016 · Rich Kienzle

Bob Wills was, first and foremost, a fiddler. But he began his career in childhood, strumming guitar and mandolin chords…

Guild’s Orpheum Slope Shoulder 14-Fret Rosewood Dreadnought

Guild’s Orpheum Slope Shoulder 14-Fret Rosewood Dreadnought

Reviving the ’30s

October 24, 2014 · Steven Stone

Guild’s Orpheum Slope Shoulder 14-Fret Rosewood Dreadnought Price: $4,999 (list); $3,799 (street) Info: www.guildguitars.com. Compared to Martin’s longstanding factory location…

Way Huge Saffron Squeeze MkII

Way Huge Saffron Squeeze MkII

Fresh-squeezed

July 7, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Twenty years after its launch, the Way Huge Saffron Squeeze compressor has been improved upon. Doing fierce business with an…

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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…

Kenny Sultan

Left-Coast Blues Machine

September 26, 2012 · Preston Gratiot

Kenny Sultan is a best-selling author of music books and instructional videos covering blues guitar, and is the guitarist in…

EHX Good Vibes, Tone Corset

Rawk Boxes

July 3, 2019 · Michael Dregni

The musical spirit of the ’60s and ’70s lives again in two of EHX’s latest stompboxes: the Good Vibes analog…

  • 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

Carol Kay, Vintage Guitar magazine Home main image

Carol Kaye

Think "Extensive"

March 24, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

Contrary to what some aspiring bass players might think, the world’s most recorded electric bassist isn’t some modern-day L.A. dude…

Christopher Thorn

Alt-Rocker/Studio Guru

June 14, 2022 · Greg Prato

Best known as half of the guitar tandem in the ’90s alternative-rock band Blind Melon (that’s his rhythm on “No…

The Soul of John Black

Living In The Sunshine

July 16, 2014 · Oscar Jordan

I want to bring The Soul Of John Black a little bit closer to the root – me singing and…

Black Joe Lewis

Garage Soul

March 7, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Eectric Slave is the third album by Black Joe Lewis, and marks a return to the sound of his roots…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Classics: June 2022

David Hood’s Alembic Bass

February 8, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Like the engineers and musicians who, in the ’60s and ’70s, helped create legendary songs at FAME Studios and its…

Gibson J-35

Gibson J-35

July 5, 2016 · George Gruhn

Dreadnought guitars originated as early as 1916 with instruments made by Martin and distributed by Ditson, followed in 1931 with…

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Tommie James

August 6, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

“Buy That Guitar” podcast with special guest Tommie James Season 01 Episode 05 In Episode 5 of “Buy That Guitar,”…

Ampeg Gemini II G-15

Ampeg Gemini II G-15

April 5, 2016 · Dave Hunter

Preamp tubes: three 12AX7, one 6CG7, one 7199. Output tubes: two 7868. Rectifier: solidstate Controls: volume, treble and bass on…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Martin D-28 Standard

January 14, 2026 · Michael Shirek

If nobody mentioned that Martin’s new Standard line had been updated, a player might be forgiven for not immediately noticing…

Fargen Pete Anderson Tumbleweed

Fargen Pete Anderson Tumbleweed

Box Full Of Country

January 15, 2016 · Zac Childs

Fargen Pete Anderson Tumbleweed Price: $299 (list) Info: www.fargenamps.com. Pete Anderson is a touring roots and country guitarist probably best…

Keeley Electronics Seafoam Chorus

Keeley Electronics Seafoam Chorus

Side Effects

March 13, 2015 · Tom Guerra

Keeley Electronics Seafoam Chorus Price: $229 (list) Contact: www.robertkeeley.com In a world of proliferating effects pedals, discovering one that does…

Seymour Duncan ’78 Model

Upscale Touch

June 26, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

In the late ’70s, rock guitarists fell down the rabbit hole trying to achieve more sustain, harmonics, and extra crunch…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Steve Carr

Twenty-Five Years of Tonemaking

August 7, 2024 · Ward Meeker

In the mid ’90s, Steve Carr was a guitarist playing weekends and working weeknights as a waiter in a swank…

Univox Uni–Fuzz & Super–Fuzz

Univox Uni–Fuzz & Super–Fuzz

Full, Fat Fuzzzy

March 15, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Pete Townshend sent many a guitar and amp to an early grave. But there’s no known evidence of him doing…

Jon Butcher

Beyond the Axis

March 15, 2019 · Tom Guerra

One of the most-influential guitarists to emerge from Boston, Jon Butcher has just released his 14th album, 2Roads East.  We…

PRS Swamp Ash Special SE

Bolt-On Beauty

September 17, 2024 · Pete Prown

Known historically for its set-neck guitars, PRS has produced a number of killer bolt-ons, like the CE and Silver Sky.…

Eric Ambel

August 2, 2016 · Dennis Pernu

Eric “Roscoe” Ambel is accomplished guitarist (Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Steve Earle) and go-to “roots rock” producer (Bottle Rockets,…

Remembering Vic Flick

From Bond to the Beatles

October 8, 2025 · Pete Prown

The music world lost session legend Vic Flick on November 17, at age 87. While not a household name, Flick’s…

Rickenbacker 481

November 24, 2020 · Michael Wright

It’s hard to imagine an instrument other than guitar that has undergone more innovation through its modern history. Perhaps we…

Oddfellow Napoleon Boost

Oddfellow Napoleon Boost

Little Dictator

March 10, 2016 · Pete Prown

Oddfellow Napoleon Boost Price: $119.99 (list) Contact: www.oddfellowfx.com Overdrive is one of the guitarist’s great joys. Unlike flat-out distortion, overdrive…

Strobel Rambler Travel Bass

Traveling in Style 

December 2, 2016 · Phil Feser

As a rule, travel guitars and basses are intended to help one keep up their chops while on the road…

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…

Alex Lifeson

Rush Keeps Rollin

November 16, 2015 · Elliot Stephen Cohen

“A lot of critics perceived us as being pretentious,” says Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson of his band’s early years. “We…

“Telecaster Bob” Bain

Studio Immortal

June 22, 2018 · Jim Carlton

For seven decades, he flexed his chops on more sessions than any living guitarist, laying down famous licks on Mancini’s…

Tone Pump Solara Studio

Tone Pump Solara Studio

Clean ’N Dirty

February 9, 2016 · Zac Childs

Tone Pump Solara Studio Price: $1,099 (list) Contact: www.tonepumpamplifiers.com The story is a familiar one. A guy learns to repair…

VG Q&A: Jimi Flip

Plus, Precision Bass rests and an odd Galliano

October 12, 2023 · Peter Stuart Kohman

I’ve never read why Jimi Hendrix played and set up a right-hand Strat to play left-handed. Surely, he could’ve found…

Ray Benson

Ray Benson

Where There’s a Wills, There’s a Wheel

March 30, 2016 · John Heidt

Asleep At the Wheel’s latest album is the band’s third tribute to Bob Wills. Long-time leader Ray Benson recently talked…

Rivera Shaman Series Pedals

Holy Tones

May 25, 2016 · Max Prown

Rivera Shaman Series Pedals Price: $299 each (street) Info: www.rivera.com. With roots stretching to the late ’70s, SoCal-based Rivera Amplification…

Have Guitar Will Travel 073 – Crimson Apple’s Shelby Benson and OTTTO

April 13, 2022 · James Patrick Regan

Episode 73 of “Have Guitar Will Travel” is a two-fer starting with guitarist Shelby Benson from the dark-pop band Crimson…

Steve Evans’ Guitars & Cars Passion Project

Pretty Pairs

April 12, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Steve Evans was just 12 years old in 1968, when he began to appreciate the sleek bodies of electric guitars…

Breedlove FF and KO Mandolins

Breedlove FF and KO Mandolins

New Traditionalists

January 13, 2016 · Steven Stone

Breedlove FF and KO Mandolins1 Price: FF $2,265 (list), $1,699 (street); KO $1,999 (list), $1,499 (street) Info: www.breedlovemusic.com. Unlike luthiers…

Maestro Rover R0-1

The UFO of Rotating Speakers

August 6, 2016 · Michael Dregni

To record “Little Wing,” Jimi Hendrix plugged his Stratocaster into his usual amplifier, then did the unthinkable; he ran guitar…

Mesa/Boogie Mark Five: 25

Mesa/Boogie Mark Five: 25

Stage, Studio, Etc.

March 30, 2016 · Julian Burtell

Mesa/Boogie Mark Five: 25 Price: $1,299 (list) Contact: www.mesaboogie.com Housed in teensy cabinets, so-called “lunchbox” amps are all the rage,…

Yamaha THR10

Practice Perfection?

December 10, 2013 · Phil Feser

Yamaha THR10 Price: $299 Contact: usa.yamaha.com As a rule of thumb, practice amps are a compromise. Blissfully portable, they typically…

Phil Brown

A different kind of Jimi

July 13, 2020 · John Heidt

Records featuring the music of Jimi Hendrix are pretty far from a new thing. Since Jimi’s death, various forms of…

Tony Gilkyson

Inevitable Musician

September 9, 2024 · Dan Forte

Whether nature or nurture, it seems inevitable that Tony Gilkyson would become a musician. His father, Terry, was a folk…

Andrew Synowiec

Pyrotechnics and Substance

September 9, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Andrew Synowiec’s latest album, Fun, is loaded with ferocious pentatonics, muscular grooves, and the kind of instrumentals that harken to…

The Eastwood Super Axe

Chet Powered!

December 5, 2025 · Pete Prown

Wait – what? Did Eastwood just bring back the Super Axe, that incredibly rare bird from the late ’70s? Indeed,…

Pieta Brown and Valerie June

May 26, 2017 · Michael Dregni

Singer/songwriter Pieta Brown enlists talent – and lots of it – to back her ethereal songs and vocals on her…

DoleSonic Half Back Stack

Tone Meets Crafts-manship

December 12, 2013 · Sean OBryan Smith

Shaw Audio Bass 130 Price: $1,350 Contact: www.tremcaster.com, phone: (330) 608-2043 In a day where gear companies often focus on…

Boss’ SD-1-4A Super Overdrive

Black Magic

July 22, 2022 · Pete Prown

Boss’ SD-1 has 40 candles on its cake and the company is celebrating with the SD-1-4A, a new Super Overdrive…