FEATURES
ST. BLUES GUITARS
Then and Now
St. Blues is the epitome of a brand with a unique niche in guitar lore. Born in a Memphis music store where notable guitarists often took instruments for repair, it now ranks among the revitalized. By Willie G. Moseley
AMP-O-RAMA
1964 Fender Super Reverb
Although plenty of players turn to this 4×10″ 40-watter as “a tweed Bassman with effects,” there’s a whole lot more to it than that… And, if you will, a little less, too. By Dave Hunter
5 x 18 = BRITISH CRUNCH BLISS
For many guitarists, there is no equal to the sound of a British amp driven to distraction with the volume knob twisted clockwise until it’ll turn no more! We gather five amps that replicate a certain British-made 18-watt legend and give them the business. By Bob Dragich
GIBSON ROY SMECK ELECTRIC TENOR BANJO
As instrument builders began developing electric versions of every instrument, Gibson enlisted one of the biggest instrumental stars of the era to ensure the success of its first electric banjo. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter
RICK VITO’S TALE OF TWO GRAILS
Find of a Lifetime
Thanksgiving, 1990, was truly a holiday to remember for for the renowned Bob Seger/Fleetwood Mac guitarist who tells what may be the most remarkable “right place at the right time” story. By Ward Meeker
1967 EKO CONDOR
In many ways, ’67 marked a farewell to innocence before a tempestuous storm that was about to break (King, Kennedy, the Chicago Democratic Convention…). And so, in many ways, was this nifty EKO reflective of the transitional Summer of Love. By Michael Wright
BASS SPACE
1982 Gibson Victory
When you consider their status as a last-gasp instrument from Gibson’s waning days as a property of Norlin, the ironically dubbed “Victory” series of guitars and basses had a lot going for them. By Willie G. Moseley
DEPARTMENTS
Vintage Guitar Price Guide
Builder Profile
Burriss Amplification
Upcoming Events
Vintage Guitar Classified Ads
Dealer Directory
The Great VG Giveaway ’08
Win a Bluetron Blueverb amp!
Readers Gallery
FIRST FRET
Reader Mail
News and Notes
Freddy Powers, Electric Guitar in Wichita, Hendrix tribute tour, All-Star Guitar Night, Guiness Guitar Record, In Memoriam, more!
On The Jimmy Reed Highway
With Omar Dykes and Jimmie Vaughan
By Dan Forte
True ’60s TV Variety
“Best of Jimmy Dean” on DVD
By Rich Kienzle
Tony Vega
Never Too Late for The Blues
By John Heidt
Ask Zac
By Zac Childs
John Jorgenson
Continued Gypsy Inspiration
By Michael Dregni
Chris Duarte
Texas Guitar Makes a Comback
By John Heidt
Matt Schofield
Top-Ranked Brit
By Willie G. Moseley
The Sadies
Brothers in Collaboration
By John Heidt
COLUMNS
The (Way) Back Beat
A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody: Fretted Cheesecake Advertising Through the Years, Part 3
By Peter S. Kohman
Q&A With George Gruhn
Acousticville
Mandolin of the Future?
By Steven Stone
“401K” Guitars
“Supply and Demand” and the 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard
By Gil Hembree
Fretprints
Johnny “Guitar” Watson
By Wolf Marshall
TECH
Guitar Shop
Cosmetic Surgery
By Tony Nobles
Dan’s Guitar Rx
A Höfner Bass Gets Straight, Part 2
By Dan Erlewine
Talkin’ Amps With…
erry Kilgore: The Tube Tramp Tells the Truth, Part 2
By David Jung
REVIEWS
The VG Hit List
Moby Grape, Dick Dale, Omar Dykes/Jimmie Vaughan, John Fogerty, Pink Floyd, Riot on the Sunset Strip, more!
Check This Action
Pickin’ In The Living Room
By Dan Forte
Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Gadow guitars, E-H Nano LPB-1/Soul Preacher, Line 6 Variax 700/Bass Floor POD
Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!