FEATURES
44 JOE BONAMASSA
Young Gun, Old Guitars
At just 30, he is already a veteran who for years has been sharing stages and jamming with the likes of Buddy Guy, Stephen Stills, Robert Cray, Danny Gatton, B.B. King and many others. By Willie G. Moseley
BRYAN SUTTON
Solo or Session
A talented multi-instrumentalist, Bryan Sutton is a session player and successful solo artist. He grew up surrounded by music, and never thought of doing anything else with his life. Plus, a look at his vintage axes. By Zac Childs
38 AMP-O-RAMA
The Marshall Model 1958
In the heyday of rock and roll, many amp builders were on a quest for volume. But as discriminating players learned that louder is not always more toneful, certain amps have since become tone-chaser favorites. By Dave Hunter
40 EPI ZEPHYR EMPEROR REGENT
It not only is the most deluxe electric guitar Epiphone ever made, but is the culmination of a 20-year rivalry that kept Epiphone and Gibson at the forefront of innovation through the 1930s and ’40s. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter
50 RAY BENSON’S GIBSON ES-355
Anyone with a taste for real country music – in particular, Western swing – will recognize this guitar for many things, including the Lone Star Beer sticker. It is every bit as iconic a Texas image as Bob Wills’ Stetson and cigar. By Teisco Del Rey
56 CUSTOM KRAFT RED FURY
Some of the most significant players in American guitar history (like Sears) never actually shaved a neck or wired a pickup. Another example is Custom Kraft, built by St. Louis Music and originally labeled with the Kay brand. By Michael Wright
60 BASS SPACE
The Fender Bass V
The classic “4 vs. 5” debate started in 1961 with the introduction of this, the original five-string electric bass. But alas, it’s mostly noted for being the first bass deleted from the Fender product line. By Willie G. Moseley
DEPARTMENTS
Vintage Guitar Price Guide
Builder Profile
JCA Circuits
Upcoming Events
Vintage Guitar Classified Ads
Dealer Directory
Readers Gallery
FIRST FRET
Reader Mail
News and Notes
Ford Museum/Museum of Making Music exhibits, Fritz Brothers, Stolen Gear, In Memoriam, more!
Holy Grails
Dallas Show Displays Heavy Hitters
Santana’s “Hymns For Peace”
Star-Studded Summit at Montreux
By Dan Forte
Jinx Jones
Keeping it Together
By John Heidt
Rodrigo Y Gabriela
The King (and Queen) of Acoustic Metal
By Dan Forte
Ask Zac
By Zac Childs
Ana Popovic
Singing The Blues
By Oscar Jordan
J.J. Grey
Southern by Default, Gifted by Nature
By John Heidt
Jeff Golub
Gotham Guitar Tribute
By Willie G. Moseley
To: Dad
Fathers and Children Celebrate Father’s Day ’07
COLUMNS
The (Way) Back Beat
Inna-Gadda-De-Vita: Fun With Endorsements, Part II: Roy Smeck
By Peter S. Kohman
Q&A With George Gruhn
Acousticville
New Guild Acoustics
By Steven Stone
Guitars With Guts
Manuel Hernández
By R.E. Bruné
“401K” Guitars
Fender Basses
By Gil Hembree
Fretprints
Steve Howe
By Wolf Marshall
TECH
Dan’s Guitar Rx
A Cool One from the Cold War
By Dan Erlewine
Guitar Shop
Upgrades That Work
By Tony Nobles
Talkin’ Amps With…
Jess Oliver and the Birth of the B-15N
By David Jung
REVIEWS
The VG Hit List
The Doors, John McLaughlin, Jaco Pastorius, Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter, Tone Man, more!
Check This Action
Doors Slam
By Dan Forte
Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Headstrong Verbrovibe/Prima 30, PRS 513, Hagstrom Viking
Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!