FEATURES
The Different Strummer
’60s Yamaha Guitars The company demonstrated quality and independent design even when other importers were mostly making cheap copies. It may even have a catalyst for changing the American perception of Japanese guitars in the mid ’70s. By Michael Wright
1921 Santos Hernandez Classical Guitar
A very fine and rare instrument, this guitar was made by one of the most important and talented guitarmakers of the first half of the 20th century. By R.E. Bruné
Rod Prince
Perpetuating the Legend of the Puppy One of the greatest examples of late-’60s “psychedelic” guitar music was “Hot Smoke and Sassafras.” The song featured snarling feedback, abrupt timing changes, and roaring power chords all courtesy of Rod Prince. By Willie G. Moseley
Dweezil Zappa
Sustaining the Zappa Legacy As the eldest son of a legend, Dweezil Zappa followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a talented guitarist and songwriter, albeit one who finds it difficult to relate to today’s pop music and its non-guitar-playing fans. By Lisa Sharken
Bobby Womack
Playin’ With Soul If James Brown is the Godfather of Soul, then Bobby Womack is the Emperor. Gifted with an enviable voice, he’s also an in-demand guitarist who has played with Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Joe Tex, George Benson, Sly Stone, and many others. By Oscar Jordan
“Play It, Steve!’
Steve Cropper: Guitarist, Songwriter, Producer, Legend One of the most influential players on the scene, his style epitomizes letting the groove do its thang. From his beginnings as a session player with Stax Records to Booker T and the MGs, the Blues Brothers, and countless others, his name has reached household status among musicians. By Guy Lee
Buck Page
“The Longest Endorsement Gap” If there was a Guinness Book record for the longest time between endorsements, he’d be the winner. The guitarist signed with Gretsch in 1940, only to have his musical career cut short by World War II. But he came back to the brand 58 years late. By Willie G. Moseley
Guitars of the Cold War
Part One: Instruments, conditions an extension of life in Russia In 1957, Western musicians brought what were probably the first electric guitars in Russia when Kruschev allowed the staging of Moscow’s first jazz festival. By Edward Pitt
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The Great VG Giveaway 2002
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COLUMNS
Viewpoints Anybody Interested in an Untapped Market?
By Roy Lee Byrd
Executive Rock The Gittler Gets Grounded
(For Now)
By Willie G. Moseley
Q&A With George Gruhn Necksets and Devaluation
Acousticville “Yeah, I do need more than one!”
By Steven Stone
FretPrints Joe Pass
By Wolf Marshall
Gigmeister The String Thing
By Riley Wilson
Little Things Stringing Up, Stretching Out
By Lisa Sharken
TECH
Guitar Shop Six Basics of Guitar Tone
By Tony Nobles
Amps Building a Power Attenuator
By Gerald Weber
Pickup Questions
By Seymour Duncan
Ask Gerald
By Gerald Weber
REVIEWS
Vintage Guitar Gear Reviews A whole lot of everything!
Gearin’ Up! All the latest cool stuff!
The VG Hit List Record, Video, and Book Reviews
Spotlight Recommended Contemporary and Reissue Recordings
By Jim Hilmar