FEATURES
NEIL GIRALDO
Guitarist, Producer, Partner
The Cleveland native paid his dues on the Midwest circuit before nearly hitting the big time with Rick Derringer. Then came the call to be the musical director for an up-and-coming female rocker… By Ward Meeker
BRYAN LEE
Have Blues Guitar – Will Travel
Hearing him play the blues erases any stereotypes you may have about his blindness, and blurs the color line pretty well, too. And at any given time, his audience may include the likes of B.B. King or Sting. By Dan Forte
THE HISTORY OF MARSHALL AMPS
Part One: The Birth of the Marshall
From the first JTM to models for Clapton and Townshend, Jim Marshall has been building amps since the early 1960s. Though inspired by others, his amps are entities unto themselves. By Edward B. Driscoll, Jr.
RITCHIE BLACKMORE
From “Temple of the King“ to King Alphonse X
The heavy metal forefather’s current (and unique) musical effort, Blackmore’s Night, nurtures his love of ancient musical genres, and uses ancient-style instruments.
By Willie G. Moseley
UNIVOX HI-FLYER
Another product of the ’70s “copy era,“ this Mosrite-inspired guitar frequently shows up in the hands of “alternative” players who, whether they know it or not, are paying tribute to the legacy of the Ventures. By Michael Wright
THE BASS SPACE
’80s Guild Pilot
Plenty of guitar aficionados agree that Guild has maintained a high degree of quality over the decades. However, it has never been a big factor in the electric bass business. By Willie G. Moseley
THE DIFFERENT STRUMMER
Favorites from Fender’s Forlorn Years
By the early ’80s, Fender was suddenly floundering. So CBS set up a team to set things straight. Some interesting instruments emerged from the turmoil. By Michael Wright
DEPARTMENTS
Reader Mail
First Fret: News and Notes
Gibson relaunches Valley Arts, New credit card fraud schemes, Bruce Kulick, Brian Tarquin, SXSW/New Orleans Jazz Fest, In Memoriam, more!
The Great VG Giveaway 2003
Carl Martin effects pedals
Vintage Guitar Price Guide
Dealer News
Builder Profile
Ozark Instrument Builders
Upcoming Events
Vintage Guitar Classified Ads
Readers Gallery
Dealer Directory
COLUMNS
Executive Rock
Semi-Sweet Revenge
By Willie G. Moseley
Q&A With George Gruhn
Acousticville
Mandolin Tones, Mandolin Teaching
By Steven Stone
FretPrints
Keith Richards
By Wolf Marshall
Gigmeister
G&L Legacy
By Riley Wilson
TECH
Amps I Tube Guitar Amp Quirks
By Gerald Weber
Ask Gerald
By Gerald Weber
REVIEWS
The VG Hit List
Music, Video, and Book Reviews: Cream, Reckless Kelly, Alex De Grassi, Charlie Hunter, Chris Smither, Children of the Blues and more!
Check This Action
Hometown Guitar Heroes
By Dan Forte
Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews
G&L S-500 Deluxe, Maven Peal Zeeta 0.5>50, Rob Allen Mouse 30 bass
Gearin’ Up!
The latest cool new stuff!