FEATURES
TOM PETTY & MIKE CAMPBELL
Guitars at Heart for 30 Years
Through 30 years and 50 million records, their guitar-inspired music has never pandered to fans, managers, or record labels. And their guitar collection includes some of the most-heard instruments in rock. By Ward Meeker
JEREMY SPENCER
Return of Fleetwood Mac’s Original Slide Master
The former member of Fleetwood Mac and interpreter of the late, great Elmore James just released his first album in 27 years, marking a return to the blues and rock he played 35 years ago. By Dan Forte
MARTIN 000-30
When a guitarmaker introduces a new feature at the same time an existing feature is being discontinued, the result can be a rare configuration of specifications. This Martin 000-30 from 1919 is one good example. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter
GUILD THUNDERBIRD S-200
Introduced just after Gibson’s radical Flying V and Explorer designs were deemed failures, and several years before babyboomers started getting high (and thus would’ve found it “cool”), the Guild Thunderbird nonetheless is a bona fide American guitar classic!By Michael Wright
ICON CORNER
Mosrite Joe Maphis model
Mosrite was a pioneer in its band/brand association with the Ventures and rapid-fire picker Joe Maphis, whose signature model was distinguished by a semi-hollow body and walnut back and sides. By Willie G. Moseley
THE DIFFERENT STRUMMER
Engineering Art: German Guitars, Part Two
Many of the first guitarmakers in the U.S. emigrated from Germany, including C.F. Martin. Here’s a look at the key builders who stayed in Germany, and exported guitars around the world. By Michael Wright
DEPARTMENTS
Vintage Guitar Price Guide
Builder Profile
Phantom Guitar Works
Upcoming Events
Vintage Guitar Classified Ads
Dealer Directory
The Great VG 20th Anniversary Giveaway
Register to win your share of $35,000 in prizes!
Readers Gallery
FIRST FRET
News and Notes
Carvin marks 60 years, Seattle Parks honor Hendrix, Blind Pig turns 30, Dick Dale catalog reissues, “In Memoriam,” more!
John Wetton
Back In Asia
By Willie G. Moseley
Casher Update
Checking In With the L.A. Studio Stalwart
By Oscar Jordan
Sugar Hill Set Marks 25 Years
By Steven Stone
Ask Zac
By Zac Childs
Anne McCue
Comes Into Her Own
By Dan Forte
Walter Jr.
A Taste of (and from) Louisiana
By John Heidt
Phil Brown
A Different Kind of Jimi
By John Heidt
Surf All Day, Race All Night
Sundazed Reissues ’60s Surf and Hotrod
By Dan Forte
COLUMNS
“401K” Guitars
Emerging Markets
By Gil Hembree
Q&A With George Gruhn
Acousticville
A Curmudgeon Goes on Vacation
By Steven Stone
Fretprints
Angus Young
By Wolf Marshall
TECH
Dan’s Guitar Rx
Gas Attack!
By Dan Erlewine
Guitar Shop
Goin’ Nuts
By Tony Nobles
Amps
Building a Tube Amp
By Gerald Weber
Ask Gerald
By Gerald Weber
REVIEWS
The VG Hit List
Music and Video Reviews: Tom Petty, Los Lobos, Ronnie Earl, Omar & the Howlers, plus Led Zep and Muddy Waters on DVD, more!
Check This Action
Blues, Ballads, A Pop Song, Some New Age…By Dan Forte
Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Collings I-35, Zemaitis GZ-3200DF, Gomez “G” Reverb, Marshall EH-1, RG-1, RF-1
Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!