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Gretsch’s 1953-’57 Duo Jet
Gibson’s Les Paul and ES-295 gave credibility to painted guitars, and by the mid ’50s Gretsch was making all of its new models available in swanky colors, including its workhorse, the solidbody Duo Jet. By R.J. Klimpert
GIBSON K-4 MANDOCELLO
Gibson was founded as a mandolin builder in 1902, with instruments of revolutionary design. The most successful was the mandocello, and the pinnacle of the company’s mandocello concept was the K-4. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter
RICHARD BENNETT
He has had a long and varied career as session player, producer, and touring sideman for folks with names like Mark Knopfler, Neil Diamond, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Marty Stuart, and others. His collection of guitars is no slouch, either. By Zac Childs
IBANEZ DESTROYER II
Neck-through guitars with fancy electronics didn’t cut it with the heavy metal bands in the early 1980s. Rather, players with poofy hair, spandex pants, and in-your-face playing styles were attracted to the radical shape of this sharp axe. By Michael Wright
THE DIFFERENT STRUMMER
Lap Steel Guitars: Part One, The Origins
Would we have had the electric guitar without the craze for Hawaiian music? Maybe, maybe not. But we certainly would not have had that mighty little wonder, the Hawaiian lap steel guitar. By Michael Wright
BASS SPACE
Doug Killmer’s ’63 Fender Jazz
Loopy, goofy and loping, Norman Greenbaum’s 1970 hit “Spirit in the Sky” was sort of a caboose on the psychedelic ’60s train. Today, though, it‘s considered a classic, and this is the bass you hear on it. By Willie G. Moseley
WHEN ONLY GIBSON IS GOOD ENOUGH
Any city has guitar shops with experienced people working on older instruments. Nashville musicians have plenty of options. One recent addition to the scene is different, however. By Steven Stone
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Landreth Plays for Charity, SXSW, Fender and Benedetto part company, Stolen Gear, In Memoriam, more!
Greg Koch
Pickin’ Man, Packer Fan
By Willie G. Moseley
Larry Carlton
By John Heidt
Mimi Fox
By John Heidt
Duke Robillard
Groovy Guitar-Groove-O-Rama
By John Heidt
Ask Zac
By Zac Childs
Wally Bryson
By Willie G. Moseley
Under Review
DVDs Examine Queen, Barrett, and Smal Faces
By Dan Forte
Simon Jones
Psychedelic Surf From England
By Johnny Simonetta
COLUMNS
Q&A With George Gruhn
Acousticville
Don’t Touch That Tortoise!
By Steven Stone
FretPrints
Hubert Sumlin
By Wolf Marshall
Gigmeister
Prepping For Summer
By Riley Wilson
TECH
Guitar Shop
“Nastying Up” Two J-45s
By Tony Nobles
Amps
Tube Guitar Amplifier Overdrive By Gerald Weber
Ask Gerald
By Gerald Weber
REVIEWS
The VG Hit List
Music, Book and Video Reviews: ZZ Top, George Benson, Santana, Erik Hokkanen, The R&B Bass Masters, more!
Check This Action
WMarty Stuart’s Inspired Trilogy
Dan Forte
Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Fender Jaguar Bass, Allen Accomplice Jr., VVT Lindy Fralin, Voodoo Amplification V-Plex
Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!