FEATURES
King’s Ransom
Seagal, Gibbons, and Albert King’s Flying Vs
United by their devotion to a musical form and a deep respect for one of its legends, an action-film superstar and rock-and-roll icon spend some quality time with three guitars made famous by blues royalty. By Wolf Marshall
The Airline 62-9015A
From Montgomery Ward’s Airline range, this gem was manufactured by Danelectro and defines the glories of the ’60s-department-store tube amplifier. By Dave Hunter
Gibson’s Mastertone banjos
Gibson knew the tenor banjo would be popular when it made its first one in 1918. But one model in particular is representative of the company’s desperate attempt to develop a five-string that could compete in the market. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter
Paul Gilbert
All About Vintage – Import-Style!
A teenager when he hit the scene, he unveiled the heavy metal band Racer X in the mid ’80s and made his mark as a top player in the genre. A longtime Ibanez enthusiast, his collection includes some early gems. By Lisa Sharken
Höfner’s Fledermausgittarre
A Bat By Any Other Name
Pure Höfner showpiece in concept and execution, only 12 were made. And for as pedestrian as it may be in terms of materials, its design was a radical departure. Today its sole purpose is to entice aficionados and collectors! By Ward Meeker
The Teisco SD-4L
Time was, it mattered where a guitar was built. Like in 1963, when this Teisco was made in Japan. In the minds of the Americans for whom it was created, that meant “cheap.” But was it really that bad? By Michael Wright
The Carvin DN440T
A veritable poster child for the custom-build ethos on which Carvin was founded, this unique doubleneck bass from the late 1980s combines the company’s stock offerings with a couple of one-off twists. By Willie G. Moseley
DEPARTMENTS
Vintage Guitar Price Guide
Builder Profile
Metal Pedals
Upcoming Events
Vintage Guitar Classified Ads
Dealer Directory
Readers Gallery
FIRST FRET
Reader Mail
News and Notes
Taj Mahal inducted to Blues HoF, Cactus Cafe turns 30, Peavey Gifts Delta Music Institute, In Memoriam, more!
Larry Coryell
The Godfather of Fusion Returns
By Pete Prown
Guy King
Chicago’s Latest Royalty
By John Heidt
Ask Zac
By Zac Childs
Danny Caron
Busy in the Bay
By John Heidt
Andreas Oberg
Euro-Jazz Powerhouse Shares Craft
By Pete Prown
Fareed Haque
Wordly Jazz Virtuoso
By Pete Prown
Cris Jacobs
Guitar Views From a Bridge
By John Heidt
Gary Louris
Acoustic Flood
By Wallace Marx Jr.
COLUMNS
The (Way) Back Beat
The Burns Story, 1964: Solid Heyday
By Peter S. Kohman
Q&A With George Gruhn
Acousticville
Great “Truths” of Collecting
By Steven Stone
“401K” Guitars
The Guild Starfire III
By Gil Hembree
Fretprints
Surf’s Up!
By Wolf Marshall
TECH
Dan’s Guitar Rx
Fretless Finish Fix-Up
By Dan Erlewine
Talkin’ Amps With…
Cabinet Building 101
By David Jung
Shop of Hard Knocks
Top 10 $10 Tricks, Part Two
By Will Kelly
REVIEWS
The VG Hit List
CD, DVD, and Book Reviews: Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, David Grissom, Nick Lowe, Tennesse Ernie Ford, Bryan Clark, Neptune Bound: The Ultimate Danelectro Guitar Guide, more!
Check This Action
R&B Royalty
By Dan Forte
Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Fender Road Worn guitars, Stromberg Newport Hollowbody, Blackbird Rider, Centrance AxePort Pro, Retro-Sonic pedals, Dan Armstrom Green Ringer/Orange Squeezer, Lindy Fralin Hum-Cancelling P90s
Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!