• Super PickupGiveaway 2025

    Super PickupGiveaway 2025

    Win Big! 11 Sets! 11 Winners! Win a set of pickups from one of these sponsors: Deadline is March 15, 2026. Complete the survey below to enter giveaway. One entry…

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Fishman’s Fluence Greg Koch Gristle-Tone P90

A Quiet Place

June 15, 2022 · Pete Prown

With the miracle of micro-electronics, you can pack a massive amount of tone into a tight space. Case in point:…

King Crimson and Toby Amies

In the Court of the Crimson King

October 30, 2023 · Pete Prown

This film asks the musical question, “Is Robert Fripp a virtuoso guitarist, sensitive tone-poet – or brutal taskmaster?” The answer…

Garage Guru

The Epiphone Crestwood

December 6, 2021 · Pete Prown

The original Epiphone Crestwood was built at Gibson’s Kalamazoo factory, alongside Les Pauls and other ’50s classics. A double-cut solid-body,…

Mel Bay D’Aquisto

Teacher’s Aid

March 28, 2019 · George Gruhn

Melbourne “Mel” Bay (1913-1997) began his musical career at the age of 13 in his hometown of Bunker, Missouri. Largely…

Ralph Towner, John Abercrombie Quartet, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Dewa Budjana

Fusion Heros

February 27, 2017 · Pete Prown

The ECM label is renowned for its brand of atmospheric jazz-fusion highlighted by gorgeous audio quality. Two of its guitar…

Muireann Bradley, Old Soul

January 22, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Vintage Blues, Vintage L-50 Direct from Ireland, 17-year-old Muireann Bradley indulges us (and tugs at our Led Zep heartstrings) with…

  • Rickenbacker’s Electric 12-Strings

    Rickenbacker’s Electric 12-Strings

    Double-bound for Glory

    George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacher founded Electro String in 1931 to manufacture what everyone would soon call “Rickenbacker” guitars. Success came early and their lap steels set standards of quality,…

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ARTISTS

Leslie West

Still Climbing

May 7, 2014 · John Heidt

Upon first viewing you’ll notice that The Sound and the Story is different. The new video from guitarist Leslie West…

Allen Hinds

Flowing

November 7, 2025 · Oscar Jordan

On The Good Fight, guitarist Allen Hinds finds the sweet spot between melodic fusion and good, earthy music for the…

John Pisano

John Pisano

The Godfather of Jazz Guitar

February 22, 2016 · Jim Carlton

He’s a straight-ahead jazz guitarist who wrote a smash-hit pop song that’s still yielding handsome royalties. In addition, he has…

Will Lee

Letter Winner

October 28, 2015 · Ward Meeker

Musicians being artists and artists needing to express themselves, it says something that Will Lee’s new album, Love, Gratitude &…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Tom Petty and Mike Campbell

Guitars at Heart for 30 Years

July 14, 2020 · Ward Meeker

Remember the first time you strummed a D chord or fumbled your way oh-so-slowly through “Walk Don’t Run”? Chances are…

Watkins Rapier 33

October 8, 2015 · Michael Wright

If you were an American teenager in the late 1950s or early ’60s, and you wanted to play the new…

Robin Basses

Robin Basses

A Photo Retrospective

November 29, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

Alamo Music Products holds a unique place in the history of electric guitars and basses. The Houston-based company began its…

Bob Spalding: Instrumental Legend

October 30, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Ventures Guitarist plays “New Space” sampler With a catalog that extends more than 60 years, The Ventures just keep on…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

PRS 25th Anniversary Swamp Ash Special NF

From Jimi to Eric to Angus

September 29, 2011 · Pete Prown

PRS 25th Anniversary Swamp Ash Special NF Price: $3,908 (retail)/$2,329 (street) Contact: PRSguitars.com. The PRS 25th Anniversary Swamp Ash Special…

Fender ’48 Dual Professional JB

Bring The Growl

March 20, 2024 · Brett Jochim

Among early Fender amps, the tweed Deluxe and Bassman garner the lion’s share of affection. But the first amp given…

Fender Player II Series Telecaster

Twang Banger

May 30, 2025 · Dave Hunter

As the world’s first mass-production solidbody electric guitar fast approaches its 75th birthday, Fender continues to offer variations on the…

The Cicognani SexyBoost2

Top-Tier Driver

May 10, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

Italy’s Cicognani Engineering makes amplifiers, pedals, and nifty accessories. With a client list that includes Robben Ford, Richard Fortus, and…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Kirn Vaquero

Ride ’Em, Cowboy

February 9, 2023 · Bob Cianci

Veteran builder Ron Kirn, noted for his Fender-inspired creations, has produced his first original design, and it exudes quality along…

Mike McCready

Strat Swap: Fender CS Mark Anniversary of Ten

June 13, 2022 · Ward Meeker

“I smashed a lot of guitars!” says Mike McCready of his nights onstage as Pearl Jam rode the crest of…

Guild’s S-100/S-200 “Kickstand” Models

November 30, 2016 · George Gruhn

Much like several other well-known manufacturers, Guild has, through the years, changed ownership, locations, and identities. Guild was founded in…

Cliff Goodwin, Solo

December 1, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Joe Cocker alum plays “Leap of Faith,” Cliff Goodwin was Joe Cocker’s guitarist for a decade and has also backed…

Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Southwest Survivors

May 30, 2025 · Rich Kienzle

TexiCali marks the latest chapter in the partnership of L.A. roots-rock vet Dave Alvin and revered West Texas singer/songwriter Jimmie…

Robbie Robertson

The Many Sides of

October 26, 2015 · Dan Forte

It’s difficult to say which is more ironic: the fact that Robbie Robertson, one of rock guitar’s true stylists, is…

Frank DiBussolo

Jazz Master

January 14, 2025 · Steve Walker

Frank DiBussolo is an eight-time Grammy nominee who has been a featured soloist in the bands of Buddy Rich, Dizzy…

Reddick Voyager Custom

Swap Meet

June 9, 2023 · Pete Prown

The concept of pickup-swapping guitars has been around for decades, almost always with cumbersome results. With the Voyager, Reddick Guitars…

Thomm Jutz plays “Come All You Fair And Tender Ladies”

November 27, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Flatpicked English folk with an Appalachian touch Sparse and haunting, Thomm Jutz and his ’48 Martin D-18 share a solo…

David Bromberg

Swearing On The Blues

November 1, 2016 · Michael Dregni

David Bromberg likes to quote the great fiddler Johnny Gimble, who once famously said, “There’s only two kinds of music…

Various Artists

Bill Frisell and Thomas Morgan and Dominic Miller

June 27, 2017 · Pete Prown

Bill Frisell is a living jazz icon, famed for his ethereal tone and snaking post-bop lines. Here, he partners with…

Zakk Wylde

Stripped Down BLS for Unblackened

July 18, 2014 · Lisa Sharken

When Zakk Wylde was asked to record a new DVD/CD package, he decided to give his Black Label Society fans…

The Quaker City Night Hawks

April 24, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Advertised as “The spirit of ZZ Top meets Texas boogie rock,” the Night Hawks play up the image of unpretentious…

Pop ’N Hiss: Uriah Heep’s Demons and Wizards

Under Its Spell

May 6, 2022 · Bret Adams

Hard rock/heavy metal and progressive rock were burgeoning genres in the early ’70s, and music fans by the millions eagerly…

Dogu Custom Electric Guitars’ MOS-01

Dogu Custom Electric Guitars’ MOS-01

This Old Strat

October 2, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

Dogu Custom Electric Guitars’ MOS-01 Price: $2,200 (list) Contact: www.actionfigurestudios.com Improving upon classic designs is a consistent theme in the…

Jon Kammerer Customs Tone Pod Scorpius Deluxe

Comfort and Joy

September 11, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

For 25 years, Jon Kammerer has been on an evolving pursuit to design a comfortable guitar with superior tone and…

Fretprints: Paul Simon

Postmodern Troubadour: The Simon & Garfunkel Years

October 26, 2022 · Wolf Marshall

Troubadours – poet/musicians active in Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries, played a defining role in Western civilization. The…

Tagore Grey

British Steel

February 3, 2022 · Pete Prown

If you’ve been starving for good old-fashioned hard rock, the Treatment has your number. The British band has been building…

The Marcus King Band

December 30, 2016 · John Heidt

It’s easy to see why Warren Haynes has so much respect for young Marcus King. The 20-year-old guitarist, vocalist, and…

Edgy Alt-Blues from Jesse Dayton and Samantha Fish

June 15, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Duo rips on “Settle For Less” Proving that sparks can fly when regional styles collide, Texas native Jesse Dayton and…

Check This Action: The Sound Of The Surf

September 12, 2023 · Dan Forte

Before acts like the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean sang about surfing, guitar bands in Southern California started playing…

BSM RM Majestic Treble Booster

December 6, 2021 · Oscar Jordan

Germany’s BSM is among the rare specialist among modern stompbox builders; their focus is one thing – making treble boosters…

Xotic Effects’ Wah XW-1

Xotic Effects’ Wah XW-1

State-Of-The-Art MousEtrap

April 13, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Xotic Effects’ Wah XW-1 Price: $295 (list); $249 (street) Contact: xotic.us/ The chase for tone sometimes seems like never-ending “Tom…

Epiphone Empero1965 Main

1965 Epiphone Emperor

November 1, 2022 · George Gruhn

The Epiphone Emperor has a long, convoluted history. It first appeared in Epiphone’s catalog in late 1935 as a response…

Keith Nelson

Keith Nelson

Buckcherry Gear Jammer

June 21, 2016 · Ward Meeker

Over the last few years, Buckcherry has offered a lot of music to fans – online via its monthly Singles…

Mike Baggetta Brings the Morricone Sauce!

March 10, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

New Album Explores Styles with Keltner, Watt Check out Mike Baggetta and his Iris AB (serial number 46) playing the…

Tommy Smith

Leogun’s Led Zep Connection

March 3, 2016 · Willie G. Moseley

Some of the loudest buzz – literally and figuratively – in music surrounds the London-base power trio Leogun, fronted by…

The BBE Soul Vibe

Taking Soul to New Levels

July 1, 2020 · Eric C. Shoaf

The original Shin-Ei Uni-vibe became hugely famous after Jimi Hendrix used it with Band of Gypsys (and at Woodstock). Later…

Have Guitar Will Travel 099 – Trapper Schoepp

June 21, 2024 · James Patrick Regan

In episode 99 of “Have Guitar Will Travel”, presented by Vintage Guitar Magazine, host James Patrick Regan speaks with guitarist…