FEATURES
ELLIOT EASTON
Driving The New Cars
In the late ’70s, The Cars rolled out to become the preeminent American band carrying the “new wave” flag, and its sound was fueled by the playing and tones of a skilled guitar player/collector. By Willie G. Moseley
ABOVE & BEYOND
Buck Owens, 1923-2006
He influenced everbody from Merle Haggard to the Beatles. And long before he was the front man who made Teles and pedal steels cool, he was a session guitarist for some of music’s biggest names. By Dan Forte
GIBSON NICK LUCAS
Les Paul and Chet Atkins may have helped popularize the electric guitar, but Nick Lucas, who was a pop superstar when he and Gibson created this instrument, played a pivotal role in popularizing the guitar, period. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter
QUEEN OF SCOTS
Southern Culture Bassist Mary Huff
A vision with a Precision in fishnet stockings, go-go boots, and the ever-present bouffant wig, she’s half of one of the pumpin’est rhythm sections to be found anywhere. By Dan Forte
FENDER COMPETITION MUSTANG
Cars and the California lifestyle are inextricably intertwined. So it’s no surprise Fender marketed this collision of cars and guitars; after all, if you can’t have a flametop, racing stripes aren’t a bad alternative! By Michael Wright
LITTLE BROTHERS TURN 50
Fender’s Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic
Often forgotten, the diminutive student-grade duo went from concept to reality in short order to capitalize on teenagers taking up guitar to play along with “Rock Around the Clock.” By Terry Foster and Tim Pershing
BASS SPACE
1981 G&L L-1000
Another example of Leo Fender trying to better the single-pickup bass while acknowledging that the Precision he designed was still the industry standard, decades after its introduction. By Willie G. Moseley
THE DIFFERENT STRUMMER
Lap Steel Guitars, Part 2: The Instruments
Since their debut as the homely Electro “Frying Pan,” they’ve fired Hawaiian combos and western swing bands, created a market for “electric guitars,” and spawned the pedal-steel guitar. By Michael Wright
DEPARTMENTS
Vintage Guitar Price Guide
Builder Profile
Ballurio Guitars
Upcoming Events
Vintage Guitar Classified Ads
Dealer Directory
The Great VG Giveaway ’06
Win an autographed Peavey Omniac JD guitar and Classic amplifier!
Readers Gallery
FIRST FRET
Reader Mail
News and Notes
Austin GuitarTown, ToneFest ’06, Summer Tours, New Music, In Memoriam, more!
Major Blunders
Capitol (Nearly) Butchers the Beatles By Dan Forte
Ask Zac
By Zac Childs
Tony Gilkyson
By John Heidt
Forrest Lee, Jr.
By John Heidt
Joe Gooch
Takin’ It To ’Em With Ten Years After
By Willie G. Moseley
Brad Wilson
By John Heidt
COLUMNS
Q&A With George Gruhn
Acousticville
Midwinter Musings
By Steven Stone
FretPrints
Albert Lee
By Wolf Marshall
Guitars With Guts
Ca. 1912 Manuel Ramirez Model 26
By R.E. Bruné
TECH
Dan’s Guitar Rx
Which Way Is Up?
By Dan Erlewine
Guitar Shop
Guitar “Electronics”
By Tony Nobles
Amps
Vintage Amp, New Caps
By Gerald Weber
Ask Gerald
By Gerald Weber
REVIEWS
The VG Hit List
Music, Book and Video Reviews: Albert Lee, Herb Ellis, Tab Benoit, Tal Farlow, State of The Blues, more!
Check This Action
Best Argument For Public TV
Dan Forte
Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Vox AC30 Brian May, Fender Super-Sonic, Carl Martin Vintage Series pedals
Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!
