August 2007

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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!

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