• The Electra Endorser

    The Electra Endorser

    Flame-top guitars were fairly common during the 1970s “copy era,” but few reached the levels of figure we often see on modern high-end guitars. Then came the Electra Endorser X935CS,…

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Steve West

Life Since “Louie, Louie”

  • David Hamburger

    David Hamburger

    Top-Tier Tutorial

    Whoever said, “Those who can’t do, teach” has never heard David Hamburger. Among his two dozen instructional books and videos, Beginning Blues Guitar, awarded Best New Educational Book or Video…

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NEWSWIRE

ARTISTS

Alex Masi

Alex Masi

Danger Zone

May 22, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

Grammy-nominated guitarist Alex Masi has been maneuvering his way through the shark-infested waters of the music industry since the 1980s.…

Tim O’Brien

Trailbrazing Triple-Threat

November 30, 2004 · Steven Stone

If Tim O’Brien was a ballplayer, he’d be at least a “triple threat.” He’s a superb songwriter, a stellar mandolin…

Aldo Nova

Fully Engaged

February 7, 2023 · Bret Adams

I did a lot of disappearing acts in my career. And when I disappear, I disappear,” Aldo Nova says with…

Michael Staertow

Michael Staertow

Gramm Backer

April 11, 2016 · Chuck Riley

You may not recognize the name, but Michael Staertow has been playing some of classic rock’s most memorable riffs for…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Fender Mustang Bass

Truly Transitional

March 4, 2010 · Willie G. Moseley

Ca. 1967 Fender Mustang Bass, serial number 219057. VG archive. Instrument courtesy of Rockahaulix. Fender’s short-scale Mustang Bass, introduced in…

Wah-Wah Pedals

An Evaluation of Effects and Pedals

June 5, 2001 · Eric Kraft

The idea for this article came about when I purchased a box of effects pedals from the owner of a…

Marshall 2100 Lead & Bass

Rock Breaker

February 1, 2024 · Dave Hunter

Adescendant of the legendary “Bluesbreaker” combo that helped launch the cranked-Marshall sound into the annals of rock, the 2100 combo…

Gibson’s Experimental Archtop

February 1, 2024 · George Gruhn

Orville Gibson invented the carved-top guitar in the 1890s, and his company refined the design with f-shaped sound holes in…


APPROVED GEAR

Martin CEO 8.2E

Corner-Office Acoustic

April 26, 2019 · Chip Wilson

Which new Martin is based on a vintage-reissue with a pronounced low-end? Noooo, the model designation does not begin with…

Arteffect Bonnie Wah

Cry No More!

May 12, 2010 · Phil Feser

Israel-based Arteffect’s new Bonnie wah pedal is an accurate re-creation of the highly soughtafter vintage Vox Clyde McCoy wah. The…

Tech 21 English Muffy

Killer Combo

January 18, 2024 · Pete Prown

The Tech 21 Character Plus Series aims to combine a vintage amp with one classic overdrive/fuzz/booster circuit, essentially giving two…

Marshall Handwired Series 2245THW Head and 1960AHW Cabinet

Marshall Handwired Series 2245THW Head and 1960AHW Cabinet

Bluesbreaker Redux

March 29, 2016 · Zac Childs

Marshall Handwired Series 2245THW Head and 1960AHW Cabinet 2245THW Prices: $4,800 (list); $3,299.99 (street); 1960AHW Prices: $2,180 (list); $1,399.99 (street)…

  •  Gator’s G-TOUR Truck Pack Line Grows Smaller 

     Gator’s G-TOUR Truck Pack Line Grows Smaller 

    11.15.2025  TAMPA, FL – As part of an expanding range of truck pack solutions, Gator has introduced a more compact addition to its G-TOUR Series with the GTOURTRK2222HS. Designed for tighter loadouts and reduced cargo space, the new size retains the ATA-style construction and tour-grade protection of larger G-TOUR truck pack models while offering a…

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  • Soldano SLO Plus Super Lead Overdive

    Soldano SLO Plus Super Lead Overdive

    Icon In Reach

    If the iconic Soldano SLO-100 is perpetually on your wish list but its price tag keeps you from pulling the trigger, its creator now has a realistic alternative. Expanding on the original single-channel SLO Overdrive pedal, the SLO Plus introduces a Normal channel alongside Overdrive, each with dedicated controls that allow for detailed tweaking of…

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  • Orange Dual Baby, Gain Baby, and Tour Baby 100

    Orange Dual Baby, Gain Baby, and Tour Baby 100

    Playpen Power

    For 2025, Orange has expanded on its compact Pedal Baby introduced a few years back with a new trio – the Dual Baby, Gain Baby, and Tour Baby. All 100-watt amps with solid-state Class A/B output stages, Jfet preamp stages (another form of solid-state), and two footswitchable channels, they’re housed in 12″ x 3.25″ x…

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  • Boss SDE-3 Dual Digital Delay

    Boss SDE-3 Dual Digital Delay

    Double Echo

    Based on the famed Roland SDE-3000 rack unit, Boss’ SDE-3 combines some classic delay sounds of the 1980s, updated with a bevy of modern tricks and features. Like a lot of delays, it can be run in mono, but you’ll get the biggest bang going in stereo to different amps or outputs. The core of…

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  • Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Reissue

    Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Reissue

    Dual-Mode Delivery

    The evolution of Randall Smith’s legendary high-gain Mesa/Boogie design into the revered Mark IIC+ of the mid ’80s established a rock amp that many guitarists still consider the epitome of the form. Building on what was already a high-gain amp by the standards of the day, the M/B team piled on even more gain, more…

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Red Witch Zeus Bass Fuzz Suboctave and SoloDallas Schaffer Replica

Circuits Gone Wild

March 5, 2019 · Pete Prown

Fuzz and octavers are among the hottest pedals around, with some builders even melding them to great effect. The Red…

Star Board: Carl Verheyen

March 7, 2014 · Ward Meeker

In each issue of “Signal Chain,” we’ll take a guided tour of pro players’ pedalboards. We’re calling the feature “Star…

Hall of Fame – Instruments

February 10, 2017 · Vintage Guitar

From 1990 to the present — read about each Readers' Choice Awards Instruments.

HomeWrecker Pickups

Slumbering Strats, Awake!

March 10, 2015 · Oscar Jordan

In 2011, session guitarist Joshua Hernandez began winding pickups in his living room. From these modest beginnings, and with no…

Jessi Colter

Edge of Forever

October 8, 2024 · R.K. Watkins

 After husband Waylon Jennings’ death 22 years ago, Jessi Colter resumed her recording and performing career with several albums that…