FEATURES
76 WATTS THE HARD WAY
The VG Low-Watt Tube Shootout ’05
For guitarists, the richness and warmth of tube saturation is the key to nirvana. But big tube amps and small rooms don’t mix, so we gave a listen to handful of low-watt amps. Here’s what we found. By Bob Dragich
IN DETAIL
Fender’s 1951-’54 Telecaster
Fender’s first Spanish-style guitar was a lesson in functional simplicity with its solid body, single pickup, and bolt-on neck. And it didn’t receive a welcome fit for the legend it would become. By Ward Meeker
BASS SPACE
The Gibson RD Artist
Gibson’s oft-maligned RD solidbodies were introduced in 1977 with a body silhouette like a melted Firebird and active circuitry designed by a keyboard synthesizer guy. Did they deserve the bum rap? By Willie G. Moseley
1934 MARTIN 12-FRET D-28
Twelve-fret D-28s are extremely scarce – 17 were made. And this one appears to be a custom-order, with solid peghead, style 45 neck ornamentation, single-bound fingerboard, vertical peghead logo, and snowflake fingerboard inlays. By George Gruhn
MIKE WILHELM
The Saga (and Seeds) of The Charlatans
In the early summer of ’65, The Charlatans played a gig that, along with its handbill, were harbingers of “psychedelic” music, or “acid rock.” Guitarist Mike Wilhelm was there to bear witness. By Willie G. Moseley
1968 YAMAHA SG-3C
From a guitar perspective, the Class of ’68 produced a true whack pack, including this SG-3C, perhaps the only guitar which the term “pulling your ear” might literally refer to playing its earlobe-shaped body! By Michael Wright
BEYOND THE PARLOR
Part 1: The Guitar in Non-Anglo America
In the first of three features on the subject, we explore what was the arguably the most extensive and skillful guitar culture of the 19th century – that of non-English-speaking communities. By Tim Brookes
THE DIFFERENT STRUMMER
Back to the Future: Retro Guitars, Part 1
Blame it on Kurt Cobain for releasing Nevermind, or us for making a fetish of old guitars. Whoever is to blame, several things came together in the early ’90s to create a category of guitars we now call “retro.” By Michael Wright
DEPARTMENTS
Vintage Guitar Price Guide
Builder Profile
Homebrew Electronics
Upcoming Events
Vintage Guitar Classified Ads
Dealer Directory
The Great VG Giveaway
Win a Koch Twintone worth $2,150!
Readers Gallery
FIRST FRET
Reader Mail
News and Notes
Les Paul Turns 90, Austin Slide Weekend, B.B. King monument, PRS Wins MIPA award, Schultz Retires, In Memoriam, more!
Robert Cray
Looking Forward
By Willie G. Moseley
Duke Robillard and Ronnie Ear
Together Again
By Eric C. Shoaf
Victor Wooten
No More “Octopus Arms”
By Willie G. Moseley
Sun0)))
Rumbling Homage
By Ken Johnson
Ask Zac
By Zac Childs
The Sadies
By John Heidt
Greg V
By John Heidt
Mick Mars
The Boys Are Back
By Lisa Sharken
Royce Campbell
By John Heidt
COLUMNS
Q&A With George Gruhn
Acousticville
My Favorite
By Steven Stone
FretPrints
Lee Ritenour
By Wolf Marshall
Guitars With Guts
1967 Robert Bouchet
By R.E. Bruné
Gigmeister
Bone Up Your Promo Pack
By Riley Wilson
TECH
Dan’s Guitar Rx
Rx For a Loose Fret Ends
By Dan Erlewine
Guitar Shop
The Feel is The Deal
By Tony Nobles
Amps
Cap Jobs Done Right
By Gerald Weber
Ask Gerald
By Gerald Weber
REVIEWS
The VG Hit List
Music, Book and Video Reviews: Bernard Allison, Joe Perry, Hubert Sumlin, John Scofield, Little Milton, The Guitar An American Life, more!
Check This Action
Never Too Country
Dan Forte
Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Kendrick K Spot, Bixonic Expandora 2000R, E-H POG/English Muff’n, Framptone Talkbox, Talos Basic, Rigel G 110!
Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!