• 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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David Bowie’s Young Americans

January 15, 2026 · Bret Adams

David Bowie was always creatively restless. The English musician decided to step away from the glam rock he’d recorded for…

Chuck Loeb

“Most Wanted” For Melody

June 23, 2020 · John Heidt

From its terrific melodies to the meat-and-potatoes playing that makes him a mainstay of smooth jazz radio, guitarist Chuck Loeb’s…

The String Sling

Trapper Keeper

January 9, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Almost all of us have a guitar – maybe even two – we like a bit more than “the other…

Fender “Wide-Panel” Twin

The Fender “Wide-Panel” Twin

June 29, 2016 · Dave Hunter

While Fender’s high-powered 5F8-A Twin of 1958-’60 (VG, March ’09) has been much raved about in recent years, there’s a…

Arv Garrison

Forgotten Hero of Bebop Guitar

May 8, 2023 · Wolf Marshall

American music history is fraught with tales of forgotten heroes. In the ’40s, jazz guitarists like Tiny Grimes, George Barnes,…

Adam Levy’s Wistful Elegance

February 28, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Vintage ES-335 on “And They All Sang” Famous for supplying charismatic guitar parts while backing Nora Jones and Tracy Chapman,…

  • 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

Jim Heath

A Reverend By Any Other Name

November 12, 2020 · John Heidt

Jim Heath is better
known to most folks as psychobilly guitar fiend The Reverend Horton Heat. But on his latest release,…

Fretprints: Kim Thayil

The Grungy Flowering of Soundgarden

December 6, 2021 · Wolf Marshall

In 1991, a movement emerged from Seattle that shook the musical world to its core. Seemingly overnight, a cadre of…

Adam Hawley’s Joyous Jazz

January 22, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Adam lays it down on “Escape” Jazz hitmaker Adam Hawley, who has backed Jennifer Lopez, Natalie Cole, and played in…

Wata

Mega-Decibel Fuzz

April 25, 2019 · Greg Prato

Anyone who digs fuzzed-out hard rock with amps pushed to their limit should add Boris to their play list. Hailing…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Supro’s 600R DeLuxe

Supro’s 600R DeLuxe

“The Magic of Concert Hall Sound”

January 23, 2017 · Michael Dregni

In the early days of reverb, no one was thinking about surf music; they were striving instead to replicate the…

National-Dobro 6107A

National-Dobro 6107A

May 2, 2016 · Dave Hunter

Preamp tubes: 56, 57 Output tubes: two 2A3 Rectifier: 5Z3 Controls: Volume Output: 6 watts RMS +/- Speaker: one 10″…

Gibson’s GA-8 Discoverer

Sonic Satellite

May 4, 2022 · Dave Hunter

By the end of the 1950s, “space” was the name of the game, and any forward-thrusting gear that hoped to…

The Sammick Viper

April 29, 2021 · Michael Wright

Some guitars hit the market at the perfect time to becom e classics – think Les Paul and Stratocaster. Some…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Bad Cat Jet Black Combo

Back in Black

September 17, 2024 · Charlie Wilkins

Guitar players around the globe praised Bad Cat’s Black Cat amp for its tone, but wanted more punch. Its ear…

David Allen Bazooka Overdrive

David Allen Bazooka Overdrive

Ka-Boom!

February 10, 2016 · Chip Wilson

David Allen Bazooka Overdrive Price: $250 (list) Contact: www.dallenpickups.com An Internet search for “overdrive pedals” yields 1,610,000 hits, indicating a…

Way Huge Saffron Squeeze MkII

Way Huge Saffron Squeeze MkII

Fresh-squeezed

July 7, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Twenty years after its launch, the Way Huge Saffron Squeeze compressor has been improved upon. Doing fierce business with an…

Lace Cybercaster LS

Modern Mixer

July 10, 2019 · Chip Wilson

The mere name of Don Lace’s Cybercaster may set calloused fingertips to head-scratching. After all, “cyber” connotes cutting-edge, futuristic. How…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Doyle Bramhall II

December 9, 2016 · Rich Kienzle

In the 15 years since his debut album, Welcome, Doyle Bramhall, II has been in great demand. Along with a…

Whitey Kirst

Life After Iggy

September 20, 2019 · Johnny Zapp

Whitey Kirst is known for smoldering lead-guitar tone and collaborating with punk-rock pioneer Iggy Pop. After four albums and hundreds…

Oxford Guitar Supply

Fine Finish

May 8, 2025 · Joe Bigley

One factor keeping many people from working on their guitars is the availability of tools and materials to make those…

Marty Friedman

Marty Friedman

En Fuego on Inferno!

November 12, 2014 · Oscar Jordan

As he gears up for a co-headlining tour with Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Gus G., Marty Friedman has 13 solo albums…

Pop ’N Hiss: Robben Ford and Yellowjackets

Inside Story

March 11, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

In 1975, 24-year-old Robben Ford was making a name for himself on the Los Angeles music scene, where competition was…

Looking for the Magic: American Power Pop in the Seventies

Various artists

October 8, 2024 · Pete Prown

Power pop is a concoction of teen-themed vocals, a relentless beat, and wild, joyous guitars. With 74 tracks, this box…

John Hart

May 15, 2016 · John Heidt

“Unsung” is a good word to describe John Hart. He’s been part of the jazz-guitar scene for more than two…

Fender’s Classic Player Strat HH

Fender’s Classic Player Strat HH

The Humbucker Paradox

November 5, 2015 · Pete Prown

Fender’s Classic Player Strat HH Price: $949.99 (list) Contact: www.fender.com One of the great guitar myths is that pro Fender…

Zakk Wylde

Doomsayer

August 11, 2022 · Greg Prato

Best-known as Ozzy Osbourne’s longest-tenured guitarist, Zakk Wylde has also been the leader of Black Label Society since the late…

K.K. Downing

Preaching Metal

July 7, 2022 · Bret Adams

Classic heavy metal will never fade as long as K.K. Downing remains one of its torchbearers. Sermons of the Sinner,…

Supro Comet 1610RT

Desert-Island Jams

April 16, 2019 · Michael Dregni

Supro’s Comet 1610RT just may be the perfect desert island amp – a high-gain, low-watt 1×10 combo that maybe doesn’t…

Heavy Trash

May 15, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Heavy Trash is an on-again-off-again band headed by Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray. They’ve released three superlative albums of their…

Taylor T3

Tone Poet

January 6, 2014 · Pete Prown

The Taylor T3 Price: $2,998 Info: www.taylorguitars.com. Some guitar players never touch a tone knob, while others view it as…

Fender Mike McCready Strat

Evener Flow

August 27, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Mike McCready’s beat up sunburst ’60s Strat looms large in the history of grunge; heard on Pearl Jam’s illustrious body…

Mark Erlewine’s 40 Years with Willie Nelson’s Trigger

Wooden Wonder

April 26, 2019 · Ward Meeker

For a decade, Willie Nelson chased fame as a performer in the Nashville mold of the ’60s – hair coifed,…

Marcus King

Young Blood

June 9, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

Young gun Marcus King enlists Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys as producer on this latest project. Young Blood combines…

Marshall JCM800 2203

Marshall JCM800 2203

May 2, 2016 · Dave Hunter

Preamp tubes: three ECC83. Output tubes: four 6550. Rectifier: solidstate Controls: Pre-Amp Volume, Master Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass, Presence. Speakers:…

Charlie Starr

Celestial Guide

April 15, 2020 · Ward Meeker

“It’s hot! 77 degrees,” exclaims Charlie Starr from a hotel room in Augusta, Georgia, a few hours before the third…

Larry Carlton

Farewell, Mr. 335

January 30, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

As music becomes more unfamiliar and the past becomes a long reflection in the rear-view, veteran guitarists are increasingly mindful…

Zemaitis’ CAG-200HS

Heart And Soul

March 15, 2019 · Michael Dregni

The lutherie art of Tony Zemaitis resulted in some of the rarest, most admired, and most valuable of guitars. Among…

Taylor T5z-12 Classic DLX

12-String Tech

October 28, 2024 · Pete Prown

Taylor’s acclaimed merging of acoustic and electric guitars continues to evolve with the T5z-12, a thinline 12-string with five-way pickup…

The Fender Stratocaster

Aiming High

July 5, 2017 · Richard R. Smith

In 1953, Leo Fender started planning a new standard guitar – the Stratocaster. His partner, Don Randall, who headed Fender…

Demeter Mighty Minnie Pedalboard Amplifier

Demeter Mighty Minnie Pedalboard Amplifier

Mighty Fine

October 30, 2015 · Bob Dragich

Demeter Mighty Minnie Pedalboard Amplifier Price: $899.99 Info: www.demeteramps.com Years ago, backstage after a concert, slide-guitar virtuoso Sonny Landreth mentioned…

The Vox Saturn IV

June 30, 2015 · Willie G. Moseley

In the mid 1960s, England’s Vox company was in the right place at the right time. Buoyed by frontline British…

 Yasmin Williams

Art of Collaboration

October 8, 2025 · Pete Prown

Yasmin Williams turned heads a few years ago with her brilliant solo acoustic music, often playing the guitar flat on…

The Art of Home Recording - Microphones and Their Uses

Microphones and Their Uses

The Art of Home Recording

July 11, 2016 · Dave Hunter

The means to make high-quality home recordings are well within the grasp of every guitarists. But, they can only as…

Metal Pedals’ Raw Hide, Hard Core XXX

Saddle Up!

August 8, 2014 · Sean OBryan Smith

Metal Pedals’ Raw Hide, Hard Core XXX Price: $175 (Raw Hide); $230 (Hard Core XXX) Info: www.metalpedals.com. For many discerning…

Little Wing: The Jimmy McCulloch Story

Paul Salley

September 7, 2022 · Bret Adams

When a former Beatle name-checks you before a guitar solo on your very first recording with the band, you must…

Warren Haynes

Peace, Love, and Rock & Roll

May 3, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Warren Haynes and his Gov’t Mule crew aren’t the kind of guys to let something like a pandemic slow them…