Cash Box Kings

Oscar’s Motel

February 9, 2024 · Rich Kienzle

For two decades, the Cash Box Kings have stood apart from the multitudes of “blues bands” that focus on bar-band…

The “Okie Dokie Stomp” Esquire

Gate’s Swing

October 9, 2019 · Ward Meeker

As a high-school student and emerging guitarist in Houston in the early ’60s, John Andrews couldn’t get a club gig…

ToneSpeak 12″ Line

Speaking of Tone…

July 10, 2023 · Julian Burtell

New to the musical-instrument side of speaker building, but far from neophyte, Misco introduced its ToneSpeak guitar speakers in 2021…

John Scofield and his Trio!

December 29, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Fusion Legend Offers Sample From Latest Album, “Uncle John’s Band” John Scofield and his trio, bassist Vicente Archer and drummer…

Crucial Audio Echo-Nugget

Crucial Audio Echo-Nugget

Things Just Got Serious

May 2, 2015 · Pete Prown

Crucial Audio Echo-Nugget Price:$799 (list) Contact: www.crucialaudio.com It’s hard not to be impressed by the physical presence of the Crucial…

Ya’ Gig What Ya’ Pay For

Incase’s Tour Bag is ultra-functional, durable

May 27, 2020 · Phil Feser

It wouldn’t be a surprising reaction. “A $200 gig bag?” And one could reasonably assume the price includes a guitar.…

  •  VG Q&A: Harmony History

     VG Q&A: Harmony History

    And an Archtop Mystery

    I recently received two guitars as gifts and am trying to learn more about them. The first is a Harmony I believe is from the early ’70s. Its serial number…

    Read more >>

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ARTISTS

Bex Marshall and her ’63 Hummingbird

August 26, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Family History Straight from the “Classics” feature in the August issue, here’s Bex Marshall playing the ’63 Gibson Hummingbird bought…

Alex Skolnick

Bit of Metal, Bit of Jazz

February 27, 2018 · Greg Prato

The worlds of metal and jazz guitar couldn’t be more opposite – one specializes in volume and riffing, the other…

Carl Verheyen

The Tools of Trading 8s

March 5, 2014 · Wolf Marshall

Carl Verheyen is a member of that elite (and shrinking) group of musicians known as “session guitarists.” Super-qualified pickers, they’re…

 Jason Isbell

New Vistas, Old Gear

January 2, 2026 · Rich Kienzle

Jason Isbell’s powerful songs, compelling vocals, and formidable guitar skills have made him one of America’s most-respected singer/songwriters. A charismatic…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Hofner 185

April 14, 2016 · Peter Stuart Kohman

Have you heard the line, “If Hendrix had a Magnatone, Strats would be worth $200 now?” A highly debatable proposition,…

Gibson GA-20

The Gibson GA-20

November 16, 2015 · Dave Hunter

Behold, this specimen that checks off all the right boxes for fans of vintage amps; beautifully clean, it has a…

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,…

The Watkins Clubman

July 6, 2018 · Dave Hunter

The hokey, amphetamine-tempo’d folk music known as “skiffle” was all the rage with Britain’s youth in 1955, and rock and…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Gretsch G5260 Electromatic Jet Baritone

From Surf to Cinema

March 8, 2023 · Michael Shirek

In the days before seven- and eight-string guitars, the easiest way to go low was to grab a baritone guitar.…

Fender Pro Junior IV SE

More Function, Fewer Funds

September 11, 2023 · Bob Dragich

In a sea of inexpensive, feature-laden digital modeling amps, Fender is doubling down on its simple all-tube Pro Junior IV…

Eastwood Sidejack DLX 20th LTD

Horn Section

August 4, 2024 · Pete Prown

If you love twangy guitars from the ’60s, you know about Mosrites – the immortal slabs of The Ventures and…

Providence Silky Drive and Stampede DT

Japanese Silk (and Stomp)

July 24, 2015 · Pete Prown

Providence Silky Drive and Stampede DT Price: $394 (Silky Drive); $249 (Stampede DT) Info: www.providence-ltd.com. From the Land of the…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Gretsch 6134 White Penguin

March 12, 2014 · George Gruhn

There’s no doubt the White Penguin is one of the rarest Gretsch instruments. It is estimated that no more than…

Dan’s Guitar RX: A New Tool Makes Luthiery Easier

With a Little Help…

April 4, 2022 · Dan Erlewine

I recently discovered a sturdy pedestal stand that holds a guitar by its neck and makes repair, builds, and setup…

Loar LH-309 VS Archtop

One Cool Cat

June 10, 2014 · Pete Prown

Loar LH-309 VS Archtop Price: $569.99 (street) Contact: theloar.com As the retro craze delves deeper into six-string history, a spate…

Dallas Shaftesbury 30

March 7, 2017 · Dave Hunter

We mine the rich seam of obscure vintage American tube amps on a regular basis here in the pages of…

The SeaGlass Route6jr

Boutique Nobility

April 25, 2016 · Anders Fransson

Roger Mello of SeaGlass Guitars officially opened shop in 2011. Today, he offers four electric models; his Route6jr maintains the…

Have Guitar Will Travel 099 – Trapper Schoepp

June 21, 2024 · James Patrick Regan

In episode 99 of “Have Guitar Will Travel”, presented by Vintage Guitar Magazine, host James Patrick Regan speaks with guitarist…

Kevn Kinney

Kevn Kinney

Small 'N Happy

December 14, 2015 · Ward Meeker

As any fan of Drivin ’N Cryin can attest, Kevn Kinney at his creative best surrenders little to the greatest…

McKinley James

Payin’ Dues in Rhythm & Blues

May 30, 2025 · Pete Prown

If you listen to early electric blues and R&B records, you’ll often notice the original sessions were cut without a…

McGregor Cozmic Fuzzball

Sweet & Gnarly

November 9, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

The culmination of a quest to build the perfect transparent overdrive, Garth Heslop’s Cozmic Fuzzball is the third pedal in…

Brian Tarquin

Brian Tarquin

No Idle Hands

May 2, 2016 · John Heidt

Brian Tarquin is more than keeping busy. In the space of six weeks, he recently released two very different instrumental…

B.B. King

In France

November 7, 2025 · Dan Forte

By 1977, when this French live album was recorded at the Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival, the “King of the Blues”…

Tinsley Ellis

Naked Truth

January 9, 2025 · Sean McDevitt

It’s hard to believe that Tinsley Ellis, one of contemporary blues’ most-prominent artists since the late ’80s, is only now…

Jon Kammerer Guitars’ Pegasus

Jon Kammerer Guitars’ Pegasus

This Horse Has Wings

April 6, 2015 · Ray Wuolo

Jon Kammerer Guitars’ Pegasus Price: $2,300 (list) Contact: www.jonkammerercustoms.com Anyone who has ever plugged an acoustic guitar into an amp…

Dave Stryker

Dave Stryker

Fits To a T

July 5, 2016 · John Heidt

The latest project from jazz guitarist Dave Stryker, Messin’ With Mister T, is a tribute to late saxophonist Stanley Turrentine,…

Keeley Electronics’ D&M Drive

Tone Stacker

July 24, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

As the gear industry seeks to reach new segments, Robert Keeley has turned his attention from making products for road…

Dad’s Day 2021

VG’s Annual Salute to Fathers Who Inspire

March 7, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Marty Ashby’s very musical family has been playing together since he was a little kid. Here’s a shot of them…

Monster Mike Welch

From Phenom To Blues Veteran

April 28, 2024 · Dan Forte

Twenty-seven years after his debut album at age 17, Monster Mike Welch delivers perhaps his best disc yet with Nothing…

Eric Johnson

Acoustic Resonance

March 11, 2019 · Oscar Jordan

On Eric Johnson’s new – and first all-acoustic album – EJ, the guitarist takes a break from the intervallic inventions…

Crazy Tube Circuit White Whale V2

Twin Tones

July 10, 2025 · Bob Dragich

Introduced in 2017, Christos Ntaifotis’ original White Whale tremolo/reverb became one of his company’s best sellers. Its success, however, didn’t…

Heart

August 30, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Heart is beating hard again. It’s been four years since Ann and Nancy Wilson’s last release, but the sisters are…

Greta Van Fleet’s Jake Kiszka

Heavy Steps : Road Ready

February 9, 2022 · Ward Meeker

“Rock and roll is a young man’s game.” Once upon a time, it was the genre’s calling card. A half-century…

Marty Friedman

Wall of Shred

July 2, 2019 · Greg Prato

Between playing on Cacophony’s landmark 1987 shred album, Speed Metal Symphony, and Megadeth’s 1990 classic, Rust in Peace, Marty Friedman…

The Reverend Thundergun Bass

Three In One

September 18, 2013 · Sean OBryan Smith

Players who love a hotrod Lincoln, a good drive-in, or a rocking retro guitar are familiar with Reverend Guitars, a…

Steve Dawson

February 9, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

 Channeling Sol Hoopii in “Singin’ the Blues” Steve Dawson used his unplugged Celtic Cross Weissenborn model lap steel and…

Fender ’48 Dual Professional JB

Bring The Growl

March 20, 2024 · Brett Jochim

Among early Fender amps, the tweed Deluxe and Bassman garner the lion’s share of affection. But the first amp given…

Bumblefoot

Prog Shred Ain’t Dead

July 18, 2019 · Greg Prato

After bursting onto the scene in 1995 with the screwball shred classic The Adventures of Bumblefoot, Ron Thal (a.k.a. Bumblefoot)…

Watkins Joker

Beat-Gen Beaut

April 22, 2019 · Dave Hunter

This could be just what every well-heeled young “Beat” guitarist and singer in Britain needed in the early 1960s –…

Elliot Easton

Different Directions

January 9, 2014 · Willie G. Moseley

Lefty guitarist Elliot Easton has chosen a different route for his most recent musical venture, but its sonic direction should…

Black River Delta

March 15, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Swedish disciples of pre-World War II blues Erik Jacobs, Erik Nilsson, and Pontus Ohlsson, hauled a bunch of gear up…