FEATURES
BRUCE HALL
A Quarter-Century with REO Speedwagon
We catch up with the Champaign native who, 25 years ago, jumped at the chance to play with with some hometown boys destined for stardom. By Willie G. Moseley
DAVE AMATO
He’s been REO’s lead guitarist for 14 years, loves to hit the road regularly, and he’s a guitar fanatic who gets giddy when talking about his collection of Strats, Les Pauls, and other axes. By Ward Meeker
Mary Kaye
Beyond the Stratocaster Connection
She and and her trio were early pioneers on the Vegas “lounge” act scene. She was high-profile and a Fender endorser, but she never had a ’50s Strat like the one that carried her name… until now! By Willie G. Moseley
The First “Mary Kaye” Stratocaster
Not a “Mary Kaye” Strat, the “Mary Kaye” Strat! It‘s rare indeed when a guitar of such pedigree not only emerges, but does so with a complete history in tow. By Iain Ashley Hersey
TELE STAR 5004
Late-’60s pop culture was heavily influenced by the U.S. “space race” with the U.S.S.R. These guitars, imported by Tele-Star Trading, were modest instruments that caught the eye with their sparkle finishes and gadgety tops. By Michael Wright
THE BASS SPACE
National 85
One of the strangest aggregations in the history of electric stringed instruments – even today, it looks funky. So imagine the reaction when it was introduced in the ’60s! By Willie G. Moseley
DAVID DOUCET
BeauSoleil’s Acoustic Pioneer
From his first solos with BeauSoleil, he took the guitar into unexplored territory in Cajun music, where it had previously been confined to rhythm while the fiddle and accordion took center stage. By Dan Forte
THE DIFFERENT STRUMMER
D’Agostino Guitars, Takamine Solidbodies
Two companies that warrant a closer look, even if their histories are short. D’Agostino mostly specialized in re-branding, while Takamine paid close attention to trends. By Michael Wright
DEPARTMENTS
Reader Mail
First Fret: News and Notes
Father’s Day tribute, new albums by Casady, Skynyrd, Ray Benson, others, Entwistle auction results, In Memoriam, more!
Vintage Guitar Price Guide
Dealer News
Builder Profile I Pharaoh Amplifiers
Upcoming Events
Vintage Guitar Classified Ads
Readers Gallery
Dealer Directory
COLUMNS
Executive Rock
Whatever Happened to the Other Neophytes?
By Willie G. Moseley
Q&A With George Gruhn
Acousticville
The Acoustic Guitar of the Future
By Steven Stone
FretPrints
Oscar Moore
By Wolf Marshall
Gigmeister
Pro Tools Free
By Riley Wilson
Bitter Ol’ Guitar Curmudgeon
Reversing Pickup Phase
By Stephen White
TECH
Amps
Amplifier Circuit Layouts
By Gerald Weber
Ask Gerald
By Gerald Weber
REVIEWS
The VG Hit List
Music, Video, and Book Reviews: David K. Wilcox, Steely Dan, Tony Joe White, Kim Wilson, Jing Chi, Nick Moss, Crowsong, and more!
Check This Action
I Hear Dead People
By Dan Forte
Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
SIB pedals, Demeter, Epiphone Les Pauls, Wolfetone pickups
Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!
