FEATURES
Good Try!
Bond Electra-glide and Messenger guitars Two stories about noble technological innovations that didn’t change the world in any way! By Michael Wright
Braxton Schuffert
Mentor to Hank Williams He contributed to the evolution of country music in its “childhood” when he served as mentor to a gangly teenager named Hiram. By Willie G. Moseley
Charlie Christian
Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines, Lester Young, and Charlie Parker all changed the way their instruments were played. Charles Henry Christian can certainly be added to that distinguished list. By Peter Broadbent
“I Found Charlie’s ES-250!”
A bout with insomnia and a copy of a certain guitar magazine lead to the find of a lifetime. By Lynn Wheelwright
Trash Talkin’
A conversation with Southern Culture On The Skids’ Rick Miller His band doesn’t fit into any pigeonhole, has always been its own boss, and has succeeded famously as sort of a cottage industry. By Teisco Del Rey
Gibson’s Les Paul Recording Model
Les Paul’s fame will rest on the classic solidbody Gibson that bears his name. But his career is also distinguished by his fascination with electronic gadgets, like this highly novel model. By Michael Wright
Joanna Connor
Worcester, Chicago, and Beyond Born and raised in Massachusetts, Joanna Connor grew up in a musical household and moved to Chicago when its blues scene beckoned. These days, she’s calling her own shots. By Willie G. Moseley
DEPARTMENTS
Reader Mail
First Fret: News and Notes
– In Memoriam: Joe Strummer, Zal Yanovsky
– Junior Watson
– Les Paul Donates to Museum
– Stolen Gear
Vintage Guitar Price Guide
Upcoming Events
Builder Profile
Carr Amplifiers
Vintage Guitar Classified Ads
Readers’ Gallery
Advertising Index
COLUMNS
Viewpoints
Four Factors of the Current Music Scene
By Ken Bronowski
Executive Rock
Pairing Up in the Peach State
By Willie G. Moseley
Handbill
The Tiger Blues Band
By Kelly Hagen
Q&A With George Gruhn
The Curse of Aging Nitrocellulose
Acousticville
Mandolins That’d Make Lloyd Proud
By Steven Stone
FretPrints
Carlos Santana
By Wolf Marshall
Studio Aces
Jon Kurnick
By Jim LaDiana
Gigmeister
Fender’s California Strat
By Riley Wilson
TECH
Guitar Shop
Rattle-Can Redux
By Tony Nobles
Amps
Fine-Tuning Your Amp Setup
By Gerald Weber
Ask Gerald
By Gerald Weber
REVIEWS
Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
Legendary Tones’ Time Machine Boost, RNB Guitars
Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!
The VG Hit List
Record, Video, and Book Reviews
Check This Action
Honky Tonk Heroes
By Dan Forte
