FEATURES

Lee Roy Parnell
New label, new guitar, new style He has foregone country hits to play new, rootsy blues/rock, and his new album has 10 songs of smokin’ slide, blues-influenced stringbending, and the talents of Bonnie Bramlett, Delbert McClinton, Jack Pearson, and Keb Mo. By Guy Lee

Brad Gillis
Weekends and warriors The Night Ranger guitarist also played with Ozzy, and has been accumulating a collection of vintage guitars he used to record two solo albums, and video game soundtracks. By Willie G. Moseley

The Different Strummer
Pre-Gibson Epiphone Solidbodies A classified ad led Tony Marc to leftovers from Epiphone’s Philadelphia tenure, including unfinished tops and bodies, one-off guitars, and prototypes of Epiphone’s responses to Fender. By Michael Wright

Brent Rowan
The right tool for every studio job One of a select few on the “A list” of studio musicians in Nashville; look at a major country CD from the last five years, and there’s a 50/50 chance his credits are on it. By Steven Stone

Dave Alvin
X Blaster, Grammy winner He has been on the scene since the late ’70s, making himself a fixture as a guitarist, songwriter, and bandleader. His latest album is a trip through the songbook of American music history. By John Heidt

Ted McCarty: Musical Pioneer
Part II, The Gibson Years Our conversation with the late former president of Gibson continues with Chicago Musical Instruments (CMI) boss Maurice Berlin asking McCarty to see what was wrong with one of Berlin’s companies in Michigan. By Gil Hembree

Of Grand Prix and Buffalo
From Italy, via Galanti Contrary to what many might think, the first wave of imported guitars during the mid ’60s did not originate in Japan; probably the single largest source was Italy, from whence these two models emerged. By Michael Wright

Robby Krieger
Psyche soundtracks and SG necks His lyrical riffs and raucous tone were critical to the Doors’ unique sound. But he also has forged a career as a solo artist, and today is as busy as ever. By Willie G. Moseley

CMH Records
Heritage Meets Vintage At first, it seems silly – bluegrass tributes to ZZ Top, Clapton, Hendrix. But listen close and you’ll get an earful of vintage gear played by masterful musicians. By Tim Bradley

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