2025 January Issue on Spotify

January 15, 2025 · Vintage Guitar

This month we feature Lynyrd Skynyrd, Plasmatics, Jerry Douglas, Phil Lesh, Mark Farner, Larkin Poe, Peter Frampton, Foreigner, Ronnie Baker…

Remembering Jeff Beck

The Guitar Hero, Defined

December 4, 2023 · Ward Meeker

Jeff Beck, the guitarist who pushed the ’60s British Invasion band the Yardbirds from its electric-blues roots to a contemporary…

Summer NAMM ’18

July 21, 2018

[caption id="attachment_30756" align="alignleft" width="640"] Blogger Haily Powers at Fender booth[/caption] [caption id="attachment_30756" align="alignnone" width="300"] Blogger Haily Powers at Fender booth[/caption]…

Robben Ford

The One and Only

April 8, 2014 · Dan Forte

There’s never been a shortage of young guitar hotshots, but in recent years, particularly among blues players, these phenoms seem…

Keeley Halo Dual Echo

Dot Matrix

July 6, 2023 · Pete Prown

In this latest Keeley offering, the goal is capturing Andy Timmons’ “Halo” sound, which mines the world of dotted-8th delay…

Paul Quinn

Ramming It

November 30, 2016 · Greg Prato

As one of the leading bands of the early-’80s New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement, Saxon is responsible for…

  • Carr Skylark Special 1×12

    Carr Skylark Special 1×12

    Take Flight

    Arriving a little more than 10 years after the original Skylark, Carr Amplifiers’ new Skylark Special adds versatility and enhanced tonal depths to squeeze a lot more into this diminutive…

    Read more >>

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ARTISTS

Don Leady’s Stylish Instro!

February 9, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Roots-rock doyen does “Blue Cumbia 3” LeRoi Brothers co-founder (and Tail Gators head honcho) Don Leady used his real-deal vintage…

Leon Rhodes

Country-Jazz Genius, Terrific Texas Troubadour

August 15, 2002 · Jim Hilmar

Leon Rhodes 1932-2017 We are saddened to hear of the passing of guitar legend Leon Rhodes, one of the most-beloved…

Christmas 1968

Vintage Guitar magazine Presents Greg Martin's Head Shop

December 24, 2016 · Greg Martin

This is a regular series of exclusive Vintage Guitar online articles where The Kentucky Headhunters’ Greg Martin looks back on…

Sue Foley

Still Playing Pinky

September 8, 2022 · Michael Dregni

Sue Foley’s Paisley-finished Telecaster is the one guitar to which she has remained true since her debut album, Young Girl…


CLASSIC INSTRUMENTS

Fender’s 1960 Bandmaster

Power of Three

March 20, 2019 · Dave Hunter

The earliest renditions of our gear icons are often the most valuable, but on many occasions it’s the transition models…

William Peale, Jr. Gibson Super 400

Sharp-Shooter Special

April 9, 2019 · George Gruhn

The iconic “singing cowboy” was created by Hollywood actors like Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Tex Ritter, and others. Many used…

Gizmotron

Most Bizarre Guitar Effect of All Time?

March 18, 2015 · Michael Dregni

Led Zeppelin’s final studio album, 1979’s In Through The Out Door, opens with an eerie, otherworldly drone that weaves and…

Five Classic Amps

Five Classic Amps

A Tone-Spotter’s Arsenal To Cover It All

March 31, 2016 · Dave Hunter

When it comes to classic guitar tones – whether it’s blues through a Dumble, country through a Fender, rock through…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

Maestro Ranger Overdrive and Invader Distortion

Evil Twins

August 10, 2023 · Michael Dregni

Maestro’s new all-analog overdrive and distortion pedals are like evil twins – two black-sheep siblings that differ in concept but…

Keeley Noble Screamerb

Ultimate Mash-Up

August 27, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Just when guitarists thought the golden age of gear couldn’t get better, Robert Keeley has combined two great pedals that…

Home Feature Image

PureSalem Bette

Unfiltered Garage Rock

June 10, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

If you’ve ever worked in the music retail field, you know that not everybody shares your excellent taste in guitars.…

The Universal Audio Astra Modulation Machine

Stately Shimmer

May 10, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

Famous for well-regarded interfaces, plug-ins, and vintage-gear emulations, Universal Audio has entered the pedal business with the Astra Modulation Machine,…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Mike Zito

Reemerging with Resurrection

May 9, 2022 · Willie G. Moseley

It’s obvious why guitarist Mike Zito’s 2020 album was titled Quarantine Blues, but he’s compelled to clarify the reasoning behind…

The Bad Cat Era 30

Retro-Great

December 5, 2025 · Dave Hunter

So often has the phrase “Mark Sampson era” been applied to pre-2000 Matchless amps or early examples of the Bad…

Dan’s Guitar RX: Adding Master Volume to a Les Paul

Plus One

November 16, 2023 · Dan Erlewine

My friend Alex Aguilar recently asked me to do something most guitarists would consider sacrilegious – add a Master Volume…

Greg Martin

Elder Statesman

March 14, 2019 · John Heidt

Albums by Kentucky Headhunters have a history of making guitar players shake their collective heads at the great sounds made…

Maestro GA-45T

AMP-O-RAMA

June 30, 2020 · Dave Hunter

Until just a couple years ago, Fender really was the only major name in collectible vintage American-made tube guitar amplifiers.…

Shakti

This Moment

April 19, 2024 · Pete Prown

Now a half-century since their earliest adventures, Shakti is back with age-defying guitarist John McLaughlin (who’s now 81) and tabla…

Joe Satriani

December 8, 2025 · Oscar Jordan

The hardest-working guitarist in show business, Joe Satriani recently wrapped up a successful Van Halen tour, a G3 Reunion tour,…

Bryan Beller: Aristocratic Riffs

April 23, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Time-Signature Shifts on “Aristoclub Bryan Beller and his Lull Custom BBMF5 demonstrate what it takes to keep up with Guthrie…

Weymann Model 848

Mail-Order Rara Avis

October 8, 2019 · George Gruhn

From 1864 through the 1940s, H.A. Weymann and Son, Inc. made, imported, and sold marching band, orchestral, percussion, and other…

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:…

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…

Dewa Budjana

Dewa Budjana

Fusion/Progressive/World Music from Indonesia

January 24, 2015 · Willie G. Moseley

Back home in Bali, Indonesia, guitarist Dewa Budjana is noted for his work with the pop band Gigi, but recently,…

Christmas 1968

Vintage Guitar magazine Presents Greg Martin's Head Shop

December 24, 2016 · Greg Martin

This is a regular series of exclusive Vintage Guitar online articles where The Kentucky Headhunters’ Greg Martin looks back on…

Heart

August 30, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Heart is beating hard again. It’s been four years since Ann and Nancy Wilson’s last release, but the sisters are…

Hall of Fame – Innovators

February 9, 2017 · Vintage Guitar

From 1991 to the present — read about each Readers' Choice Awards Innovators.

Have Guitar Will Travel 090 – Happy Fits and Greensky Bluegrass

October 12, 2023 · James Patrick Regan

In Ep 90 of “Have Guitar Will Travel,” host James Patrick Regan speaks with band members from Happy Fits and…

Rich Robinson Re-Launches

Solo Again

March 6, 2017 · Ward Meeker

Ah, glorious cohesion. For guitarist Rich Robinson – who today records and tours solo after serving as co-founder and musical…

Positive Grid’s Bias Head

Tone-Tweaker’s Dream

May 21, 2019 · Pete Prown

Designed to be a dream machine for players who just love to “experiment” with tone, the Positive Grid Bias Head…

Little Feat

Sailin’ Shoes Deluxe Edition & Dixie Chicken Deluxe Edition

August 12, 2024 · Pete Prown

One of the most influential outfits of the ’70s, Little Feat was a powerhouse with guitarists Lowell George and Paul…

Harley Benton Double Vision

Mod Duo

March 22, 2024 · Pete Prown

In this era of combination pedals, it makes sense to house similar effects together, as in the Harley Benton Double…

Mark Knopfler

Straitforward

September 12, 2014 · Ward Meeker

Very early in life, Mark Knopfler had a connection with music. His mother cared for the family while BBC programs…

Duke Levine, solo guitar on a ’70s country stalwart!

September 28, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

Classic licks on a ’60s Teisco and blackface Princeton Reverb” Boston native Duke Levine’s impressive career has included stints with…

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 Micro Mustang

May 10, 2022 · Dennis Pernu

Fender’s Micro Mustang is a pocket-sized contraption offering 12 amplifier models including classic Fender, “British,” and “American,” along with 12…

Carl Filipiak

Knack for Jimi

November 14, 2020 · John Heidt

After 20 years of play-ing and recording his blistering fusion of jazz and rock, Carl Filipiak’s latest record, I Got…

Guild’s S-200 T-Bird

Cult-Fave Phoenix

July 9, 2018 · Bob Cianci

Sometimes admired, often maligned, the cult classic Guild S-200 T-Bird has enjoyed a rebirth in the hands of Black Keys…

John Monteleone

The Chisels Are Calling

December 25, 2023 · Rich Kienzle

Captured in this documentary, John Monteleone’s hand-crafted fretted instruments draw inspiration from the past. His chief inspirations are legendary guitar…

Steve Morse

Blazing Ahead with Deep Purple

April 22, 2016 · Pete Prown

While many classic British bands have hung up their spurs, Deep Purple is not only fully active after 45 years,…

Wampler Pedals’ Bravado

Tone Tweaker’s Delight

April 24, 2019 · Chip Wilson

What’s a pedal platform? Nope, it’s not a carbon-fiber Pinarello mountain bike with Shimano shifters and derailleurs. It’s another term…