FEATURES
CARLOS SANTANA
Holding That Tone
From the moment his band stepped onstage in ’66, he was breaking new ground. Today, his status as an icon is unquestioned, his musical identity – and uniquely recognizable guitar tone – are beyond reproach. By Dan Forte
GIBSON STYLE 0
Early on, Gibson placed a high priority on mandolin production. And in 1908, the “suggestion” of its mandolin approach to guitar design became an obvious fact with the introduction of the Style O model with a scroll body shape. By George Gruhn
THE VG HALL OF FAME
From Django Reinhardt and the Dopyera brothers to the National tri-cone and Mesa Mark 1 Boogie amplifier, the ever-discriminating readers of VG have once again chosen the people and instruments to be immortalized in the VG Hall of Fame.
BOB’S PLAYBOY PICKERS
Bob Wills and the guitarists in his band, the Texas Playboys, deeply influenced country, rock, and jazz music. Wills was also one of the early high-profile musicians to endorse the amps and steels made by his friend, Leo Fender. By Rich Kienzle
THE TOKAI TALBO
The high-tech flagship of a brand known amongst aficionados of copy guitars for being one of the darlings of the 1970s/early-’80s “copy era,” it’s resplendent in its modern materials wrapped in a timeless, modern package. By Michael Wright
ICON CORNER
A Hero’s Gretsch 6117
In the Fall of 1960, this first-generation Gretsch 6117 Double Anniversary was purchased by U.S. Navy Commander Scott Carpenter, one of the original “Mercury Seven.” By Willie G. Moseley
THE DIFFERENT STRUMMER
The Roots of Modern Minstrelsy
It might be a stretch to say we wouldn’t have the modern guitar without The Prophet. But if the Moors had not invaded Spain, the music we express with it may have taken a decidedly different course. By Michael Wright
DEPARTMENTS
Vintage Guitar Price Guide
Builder Profile
Sandoval Engineering
Upcoming Events
Vintage Guitar Classified Ads
Dealer Directory
Readers Gallery
FIRST FRET
Reader Mail
News and Notes
New Sensor tube factory, Hurricane Relief, Springsteen tribute, In Memoriam, more!
Link Wray, 1929-2005
R.I.P. (Rumble In Peace)
By Dan Forte
Concert For Bangladesh
Rock Star-Studded Even on DVD
By Dan Forte
Dug Pinnick
Doin’ It Different
By Willie G. Moseley
Jim Weider
…And His Take on Jazz
By John Heidt
Ask Zac
By Zac Childs
A Certain Lefty 500/1
Forty-Year Search Turns Up “Holy Grail”
By Preston Gratiot
Jeff Cook
Never Going To Stop
By Willie G. Moseley
Don McLean
By John Heidt
COLUMNS
Q&A With George Gruhn
Acousticville
Bits and Pieces
By Steven Stone
Fretprints
Guitar Slim
By Wolf Marshall
Gigmeister
The Alesis Multimix 8
By Riley Wilson
The Sourcerer
David Grissom
By David Hamburger
TECH
Dan’s Guitar Rx
Amp Shipping 101
By Dan Erlewine
Guitar Shop
Pickup Mounts Done Right
By Tony Nobles
Amps
Resurrecting a Dormant Tube Amp, Pt. 2
By Gerald Weber
Ask Gerald
By Gerald Weber
REVIEWS
The VG Hit List
Music, Book and Video Reviews: Bill Kirchen, Gibson Brothers, Jackson Browne, North Mississippi All-Stars, The Guitar Amp Handbok, and others!
Check This Action
Who Needs Pickups?
Dan Forte
Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Höfner Verythin Classic, Gabriel Sound Garage Voxer 18, Alesis NanoVerb, Stephens Design Mojo V pickups.
Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!