Kentucky Colonels

1966

May 13, 2024 · Pete Prown

Clarence White is best known as the B-bendin’ Telecaster pioneer with the Byrds – and his tragic 1973 death. But…

Jim Marshall Passes

April 6, 2012 · Ward Meeker

Jim Marshall, who pioneered guitar amplifiers used by some of the greatest names in rock and roll, died today. He…

Classics: November 2021

Gibson Les Paul Personal

October 28, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Billy Soutar loves the vibe of his 1969 Les Paul Personal and matching LP-12 amp. While the guitar’s mahogany body,…

Stromberg G-5

May 7, 2023 · George Gruhn and Walter Carter

In the world of archtop guitars, the Stromberg name represents the ultimate instrument – in size, at least – in…

Paul Gilbert

All About Vintage – Import Style

February 2, 2010 · Lisa Sharken

Paul Gilbert was a teenager when he appeared on the music industry’s radar after Mike Varney of Shrapnel Records introduced…

Jimmy Olander’s D-Bender Baritone

December 4, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

 Big-string licks galore! In the mood to play a bit, December cover guy Jimmy Olander grabbed a guitar he…

  •  VG Q&A: Harmony History

     VG Q&A: Harmony History

    And an Archtop Mystery

    I recently received two guitars as gifts and am trying to learn more about them. The first is a Harmony I believe is from the early ’70s. Its serial number…

    Read more >>

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ARTISTS

Brian Tarquin

Shreddin’ for Veterans

December 14, 2023 · Ward Meeker

For guitarist Brian Tarquin, helping military veterans is part of life. The son of a World War II vet, he…

Ty Tabor

On a Roll

March 2, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

King’s X guitarist Ty Tabor is on a roll. Despite the band being on hiatus due to bassist Dug Pinnick’s…

Tony Mottola

Mr. Big, Guitar Pioneer

June 12, 2025 · Jim Carlton

Some argue that Tony Mottola was more legendary than famous. In a career spanning 50 years, the guitarist logged thousands…

Dan Fogelberg

May 26, 2020 · Willie G. Moseley

The sociopolitical attitude of the American population is often said to be gauged in reference to a town in Illinois.…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Premier Twin 12

February 5, 2016 · Dave Hunter

Sometimes it takes just the slightest aesthetic twist to get an amp nut all worked up. This 1960 Premier Twin…

The (Way) Back Beat: A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody

Fretted cheesecake advertising through the years, Part One

April 5, 2024 · Peter Stuart Kohman

There are many ways for an advertiser to attract attention, and in the history of 19th- and 20th-century print hucksterisim…

Standel 400S

June 12, 2023 · Willie G. Moseley

In the early days of the American electric guitar/amplifier industry, Standel was known for building high-quality amplifiers used by the…

Robbie Robertson, 1943-2023

Lasting Legacy

June 11, 2024 · Dan Forte

It’s ironic that Robbie Robertson was famous mostly for his songwriting, because beneath the minimal, compositional style that marked his…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Electro-Harmonix 45000 Multi-Track Recorder

Gettin’ Loopy!

September 17, 2015 · Pete Prown

Electro-Harmonix 45000 Multi-Track Recorder Price: $476.21 (street); $119.25 (foot controller) Info: www.ehx.com. Looping has a rich history, with roots tracing…

Sweet Sustain

Guitar Tech Craig’s Dino Sauce Compressor

April 16, 2020 · Chip Wilson

Imagine a Strat tuned to open G, a D chord being floated at the seventh fret with a Craftsman deep-well…

Ohana Ukueles

Ohana Ukuleles

Serious Fun

September 7, 2014 · Steven Stone

Ohana Ukuleles Price: $249 (SK-35, CKP-70R); $259 (SK-28) Info: www.ohana-music.com. Just like guitars, ukuleles come in all quality levels, from…

Babicz Octave Blue Flame

Flaming Glory

December 29, 2010 · Chip Wilson

When a vintage-minded guitarist recollects cracking open the case of a big ol’ hollowbody and catching a glimpse of flame,…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Strymon Cloudburst

Celestial Seasonings

February 8, 2024 · Pete Prown

Equipped with powerful delay, modulation, and pitch-shifting abilities, Strymon’s new Cloudburst stretches its “Ambient Reverb” label by adding space and…

Eric Clapton

December 30, 2016 · Dan Forte

With Eric Clapton’s 2014 announcement that he would no longer tour, his tribute album to J.J. Cale the same year,…

The Supro “Model 24”

July 25, 2014 · Dave Hunter

Okay, Zep police, sound the alarm and prepare to loose the hounds – we are finally about to lift the…

Richie Kotzen

Richie Kotzen

Fight For Familiarity

January 26, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

So he’s not burning up the Top 40, but Richie Kotzen has been a soul-crooning monster guitarist for a very…

Fender’s J Mascis

Fender’s J Mascis Artist Jazzmaster – J’s Rockin’ Axe

January 30, 2014 · Phil Feser

Introduced in the late 1950s as Fender’s “jazz guitar,” the Jazzmaster was also supposed to compete in the market with…

The Pinecaster: Early Electric Guitars 1920-1955

Nacho Baños and Lynn Wheelwright

January 17, 2023 · Michael Dregni

Four volumes, 960 pages, more than 1,000 photos and historical documents – The Pinecaster is heavier than the heaviest 1958…

2017 Readers’ Choice Awards

January 11, 2017 · Vintage Guitar

Each year, Vintage Guitar asks fans to select Readers’ Choice winners for Album of the Year, Artist of the Year,…

Bobby “Blue” Bland

The Guitarists of Blues’ Crown Prince

October 16, 2015 · Dan Forte

On June 23 of last year, the blues lost one of its greatest singers with the death of Bobby “Blue”…

Eric Krasno

Front Man

January 5, 2018 · Oscar Jordan

Because Eric Krasno isn’t quite busy enough performing 188 dates a year with Soulive, moonlighting with the band Lettuce, or…

The Beatles’ Casinos

January 17, 2018 · Andy Babiuk

Of all the guitars made famous by the Beatles, the only one that John, Paul, and George had in common…

Allan Holdsworth

The Man Who Changed Guitar Forever!

May 26, 2017 · Pete Prown

With a career spanning 45 years, Allan Holdsworth’s blistering, bop-fueled legato radically altered our approach to electric guitar, and he’s…

Johnny Hiland

Mr. Versatility

March 8, 2010 · Ann Wickstrom

“…when you’re onstage, in the heat of the moment in the middle of a solo, you want to have bandmates…

Lollygagger FX Canaglia Overdrive

Rude ’Tude

July 9, 2018 · Oscar Jordan

Sean Wright’s love for guitars and electronics has resulted in a family business that realizes his vision of stompbox perfection.…

From Badass to Bonamassa

New Pedals from MRX, Cry Baby, and Way Huge

May 20, 2021 · Max Prown

The latest from Dunlop includes a pair of overdrives and a fresh addition to the venerable Cry Baby wah family.…

Al Di Meola

Elegant Warrior

December 27, 2017 · Oscar Jordan

An evolved, technical player and soulful composer, his work has been staggering – from spellbinding compositions employing diverse jazz, rock,…

The Marshall Major

Force Commander

March 3, 2022 · Dave Hunter

Any player who shows up these days with a 200-watt guitar amp will elicit a hearty, “Are you out of…

Sonny James's Epiphone Excellente

Epiphone Excellente

Sonny James' Epiphone Excellente

November 19, 2002 · Walter Carter

The Epiphone Excellente was the fanciest flat-top Gibson made in the 1960s, and to some ears it was Gibson’s best.…

Jay Jay French

Twisted Tales

October 3, 2022 · Bret Adams

There are music-business survivors, and then there’s Jay Jay French. Twisted Sister’s founder/co-lead guitarist/manager has led a life of wild…

Dan’s Guitar RX: Reviving a ’56 Duo-Jet

Ugly, But An Oldy

January 11, 2024 · Dan Erlewine

Blake Burkeholder, a repair expert in my shop, has always wanted a Gretsch. So, when he found a ’56 Duo-Jet…

Faces

At the BBC: Complete BBC Concert & Session Recordings, 1970-1973

August 13, 2025 · Dan Forte

Rod Stewart & Faces were sloppy and raucous enough to make the Rolling Stones look like Air Supply. Okay, not…

Z.Vex Fuzz Probe

Z.Vex Fuzz Probe

There-Mayhem

May 6, 2016 · Michael Dregni

The Z.Vex Fuzz Factory pedal unleashed sonic possibilities ranging from a horde of wasps to the (presumed) sound of the…

The Voxmobile

Too Fast to Live, Too Cool to Die

March 22, 2018 · Dave Hunter

Free love, slick guitars, hot cars! Few pieces of late-’60s pop culture were anywhere near as hip and groovy as…

Classics: Larkin Poe

American Gothic

September 25, 2023 · Oscar Jordan

The latest album from Grammy-nominated axe-slinging sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell is a showcase of artists rising to new heights.…

Jim Lauderdale

Hope

July 22, 2022 · Rich Kienzle

Inspired by the pandemic, veteran singer/songwriter Lauderdale stresses resiliency and renewal on these 13 originals, enhanced along the way by…

Donner DST-400

Seeing Green

February 7, 2023 · Dennis Pernu

If the pandemic had a silver lining beyond more time at home with our toys, it was the growth of…

Cimarron Guitars’ Model P

From the Parlor to the Stage

September 24, 2013 · Sean OBryan Smith

Cimarron Guitars has being making custom instruments since 1978 in the dry, mild climate of southwest Colorado. The company’s Model…

Gator Cases MiniVault

Rolling Rack

August 4, 2024 · Ward Meeker

Every gigging guitarist who lugs their own gear (so, 95 percent of us) knows firsthand how instrument cases take a…

Scott Holt

Mojo Risin’ in Foghat

August 6, 2024 · Bret Adams

It’s been more than 50 years since Foghat unleashed its freewheeling rock and roll, steeped in its blues beginnings. Sonic…

Rik Emmett

Canadian Custom

January 14, 2026 · Bret Adams

Rik Emmett is a master of many guitar styles and other artistic endeavors. As co-lead vocalist/guitarist in the hard-rock trio…