FEATURES
KEITH URBAN
Down-Under Über-Picker
The super-talented artist not only writes hit songs, gathers accolades, and recently married a movie star, he’s also a straight-up hellacious guitar picker and gear lover of the highest order! By Zac Childs
AMP-O-RAMA
The Vox AC15
Designed by Dick Denney in 1957, the little Vox AC15 is appreciated by “tonehounds” for its sweet, juicy glories, and ability to hit its sonic sweet spot at volumes equally friendly to ears and microphones. By Dave Hunter
EPIPHONE EXCELLENTE
When Gibson acquired Epiphone in 1957, its plan was to introduce a line designed to be slightly less expensive than the equivalent Gibson model. But in the acoustic flat-top line, it wasn’t quite that cut-and-dried. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter
CHARLIE GRACIE
Rock’s Unsung Pioneer
He had a #1 hit in 1957 that bankrolled the company whose roster subsequently boasted Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, and others. And for decades, he was more a footnote than a chapter in rock history. By Dan Forte
THE DOMINO CALIFORNIAN REBEL
California’s reputation for non-traditional thinking should make it no surprise that when its makers wanted to name an outré guitar design, they attached an association with the state, as with this 1967 Domino Californian Rebel!
By Michael Wright
BASS SPACE
Gibson’s EB-4L
While initial reaction to it was akin to “big deal,” some of Gibson’s innovations in the early 1970s had merit. And if you wanted to play a long-scale Gibson SG-shaped bass, it was the only game in town! By Willie G. Moseley
THE DIFFERENT STRUMMER
Semie Moseley: The Lost Interview, Part Three
We conclude our exclusive series of transcriptions with never-before-told tales from the 1970s that find Semie down in spirit, but planning one more run at the brass ring. By Michael Wright
DEPARTMENTS
DEPARTMENTS
Vintage Guitar Price Guide
Builder Profile
Goodsell Amplifiers
Upcoming Events
Vintage Guitar Classified Ads
Dealer Directory
The Great VG Giveaway
Register to win a First Act Delia worth $2,500!
Readers Gallery
FIRST FRET
FIRST FRET
Reader Mail
News and Notes
Gretsch, Chet Together Again, Petty, Emmanuel, and Frampton Grammy noms, Electric Prunes EP, BBE Donates to Wounded Warrior, In Memoriam, more!
John Hammond
Ripe to Write
By John Heidt
Chuck Loeb
“Most Wanted” for Melody
By John Heidt
Greg Howe
By Oscar Jordan
Ask Zac
By Zac Childs
Jim Campilongo
Sounds Abound
By John Heidt
Robert Lockwood, Jr. 1915-2006
By Dan Forte
The Steepwater Band
By Ward Meeker
Johnny Rivers
By Elliot Stephen Cohen
COLUMNS
COLUMNS
Q&A With George Gruhn
Acousticville
Hey, Kid! Wanna Buy a Cheap Mandolin?
By Steven Stone
Fretprints
Link Wray
By Wolf Marshall
“401K” Guitars
Insurance Assurance
By Gil Hembree
TECH
TECH
Guitar Shop
Tuning Gear Tune-Up
By Tony Nobles
Talkin’ Amps With…
Bill Yates: Vintage Amps Under $1,000, Part One: The Gibsons
By David Jung
REVIEWS
REVIEWS
The VG Hit List
Vince Gill, Michael Powers, Bill Kirchen, Tony Furtado, The Pretenders, Doug Sahm, Building a Selmer Maccaferri Guitar, more!
Check This Action
Harry Smith’s Enduring Influence
By Dan Forte
Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Chicago Blues Box Buddy Guy signature amp, DNA Analogic effects, HAO Sole Pressure & Rust Driver, HomeBrew Hematoma, Vibratos by Stetsbar, StepMax, and SuperVee!
Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!