• 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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Fixing Tuner Holes in a Rare Gibson

Replacement Plague

October 14, 2021 · Dan Erlewine

I’ve worked on plenty of old Gibsons, but guitars like this 1939 J-55 are rare. It’s only the second one…

Paul Nelson

Main Man to the Blues Man

May 27, 2014 · Tom Guerra

Paul Nelson is not only Johnny Winter’s second guitarist, but the blues icon’s musical director, producer, songwriter, and – many…

Mark Tremonti

Three-Band Man

August 10, 2022 · Greg Prato

The odds of any guitarist being in a highly successful rock band are long. Chances of being in two are…

Eric Johnson

July 25, 2014 · Oscar Jordan

When Eric Johnson came to prominence, he sounded like nothing anyone had ever heard before. He made a Strat sound…

So-Cal Steel

Asher Guitars & Lap Steels Ben Harper Signature Model

December 27, 2017 · Chip Wilson

If Nashville is the pedal-steel capital, surely Southern California is a lap steel hotspot. David Lindley and Ben Harper, along…

Beat Portraits: Burns Volume 9

Late ’60s: Baldwin And Decline

February 21, 2018 · Peter Stuart Kohman

In early 2009, VG columnist Peter Stuart Kohman turned his focus on Burns, the pioneering British guitar builder. We’ve compiled…

  • 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

Vinnie Moore’s Pandemic Musical Inspiration

February 24, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Instrumental Whiz Adds Vocalists Neoclassical/metal guitarist Vinnie Moore’s latest music features vocals for the first time. Here, though, he sticks…

Mick Jones

Foreigner at 40

May 29, 2019 · Bret Adams

Somewhere in the world right now, a Foreigner song is playing on the radio. Literally. Thanks to nearly 20 mega-hit…

Micki Free

Feel and Tone

November 3, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

  He was the real-life team member on the infamous Charlie Murphy/Prince basketball game parodied on “Chappelle’s Show,” but Grammy…

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

MORLEYWAH-HOME-MAIN-BIG

The Morley Rotating Wah

Chromed Tone

February 3, 2014 · Michael Dregni

There was a time in the mythic ’70s when guitarists were real men and lugged around 15-pound Morley Rotating Wah…

Wolf Strat

A Legend’s Guitar, Discovered

December 28, 2017 · Pete Prown

After possessing it for several years, curiosity finally got the best of the owner of this 1963 Stratocaster. He had…

Guyatone LG-160T

The Secret's Out!

May 24, 2006 · Michael Wright

Like plants, Japanese guitars have an almost secret life of which few people outside are aware. While many Americans in…

Dave Gant’s Amp Collection

Key Collection: Nashville pro Dave Gant fosters an impressive gathering of amps

May 7, 2024 · Ward Meeker

Dave Gant grew up in Ada, Oklahoma, and while the city of 17,000 will never be confused with Memphis or…


NEWSWIRE

APPROVED GEAR

The PRS Studio

Bird Watcher

April 1, 2022 · Pete Prown

The new Studio model is the culmination of many decades of work from the design minds at PRS, as they…

Guild Bluesbird

Flyin’ High Again

April 24, 2019 · Bob Cianci

The Guild Bluesbird has a long history that began in the 1950s with Guild’s answer to the Gibson Les Paul…

Musicvox Space Cadet USB 30″ Custom

Short-Scale Slugger

March 2, 2017 · Pete Prown

Don’t be confused by the USB in this four-string’s name – there’s no computer-cable hookup. Instead, USB stands for “ultimate…

Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 FR E HSS

Ultimate Hod Rod

May 13, 2024 · Oscar Jordan

Designed more than 30 years ago, the latest incarnation of Charvel’s Pro-Mod So-Cal keeps the “super” in superstrat. An eye-catching,…

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Crazy Tube Circuits SPT

Greece Is The Word

January 8, 2018 · Chip Wilson

The modal mellowness of Apollo’s lyre or the perky chirp of the bouzouki might come to mind when one thinks…

Reilander’s Muckbucker Pickups

Fat, But Not Tubby

May 10, 2014 · Zac Childs

Reilander’s Muckbucker Pickups Price: $199 (set) Info: www.reilandercustomguitar.com In the 1970s, great guitar-pickup winders began wrapping extra wire on humbuckers,…

Ray Cummins

Pal of Chet, Friend of Les

March 29, 2017 · Jim Carlton

Chester and Lester were enamored of his talent. Moreover, they called Ray Cummins a friend, and his journey includes turning…

Arlen Roth & Jerry Jemmott

Super Soul Session

February 9, 2024 · Dan Forte

Roth is well-known for his “Hot Licks” instructional videos and method books. But his career is far from academic, having…

Pop ’N Hiss: Lynyrd Skynyrd’s (Pronounced ‘Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd’)

Down-South Guitar Assault

March 31, 2023 · Willie G. Moseley

By early 1973, “Southern Rock” had come into its own, spearheaded by Capricorn Records and its keystone act, the Allman…

Penco A-15-JD

July 29, 2023 · Michael Wright

The 1970s is often called “the Copy Era” for the dominating presence and spectacular success of Japanese “copies” of popular…

The Collins Kids

Mostly-Moseley Memories

January 8, 2024 · Willie G. Moseley

Siblings Lorrie and Larry Collins sprang into the public eye in the mid 1950s – dawn of the television era…

Railhammer Hyper Vintage Humbucker

Poles Apart

August 6, 2015 · Lisa Sharken

Railhammer Hyper Vintage Humbucker Price: $139 list/ $89 direct Info: www.railhammer.com Developed by Joe Naylor of Reverend Guitars, Railhammers are…

Alembic Essence Zebrawood 4

July 3, 2019 · Pete Prown

Alembic basses are the stuff of low-end legend, famed for magical tones in the hands of Stanley Clarke, Jack Casady,…

Hangin’ with Kid and Lisa “Little Baby” Andersen

September 5, 2024 · Vintage Guitar

Smooth, Funky Blues With Soul Kid Andersen worked with Charlie Musselwhite and Elvin Bishop before scoring his current gig with…

Steve Dawson and his Tricone, “Singin’ the Blues”

September 6, 2023 · Vintage Guitar

Roots Artists Expands the Genren The wildly talented Steve Dawson uses a modern National Tricone for this take on “Singin’…

Luther Dickinson

Smooth Sailing

December 2, 2022 · Oscar Jordan

The North Mississippi Allstars have always moved forward. With an expanded lineup and fresh songwriting, guitarist Luther Dickinson is in…

Kenny Vaughn

Have Guitar Will Travel – 017 Featuring Kenny Vaughn

October 30, 2019 · James Patrick Regan

In the new episode of “Have Guitar Will Travel,” host James Patrick Regan speaks to session ace and all-star backing…

Vinnie Moore

Heavy Melodic Shred

March 18, 2016 · Lisa Sharken

Vinnie Moore emerged in the mid ’80s, garnering praise for his work as a solo instrumentalist and for his contributions…

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…

The Fender “High-Powered” Twin

May 15, 2024 · Dave Hunter

1958-’59 Fender Twin Preamp tubes: one 12AY7, two 12AX7 Output tubes: four 5881 (6L6 equivalents), fixed bias Rectifier: GZ34 (5AR4)…

Adrian Legg

Adrian Legg

The Wizard of Strings

January 22, 2016 · Pete Prown

Aside from witty asides on social issues, natural disasters, and Renaissance history, Adrian Legg’s formidable fingerstyle and deep musicality remain…

Fender’s ’68 Custom Deluxe Reverb

Fender’s ’68 Custom Deluxe Reverb

Improving on a Good Thing

April 19, 2016 · Phil Feser

Fender’s ’68 Custom Deluxe Reverb Price: $999.99 list Contact: www.fender.com In 1968, Fender gave its amp line what collectors today…

Steve Kimock

May 16, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

There comes a time in a musician’s life when he confronts the inevitable question, “Who am I? Am I a…

National Style O

National Style O

February 11, 2010 · George Gruhn

Although it has never been the favorite guitar of Hawaiian players, National’s Style O, with its shining metal body and…

EVH Stripe Series Star

Romeo Delight

March 1, 2017 · Oscar Jordan

There was time when guitarists waited for new Van Halen records like ferrets on crack. After all, in the early…

Tinsley Ellis

Naked Truth

January 9, 2025 · Sean McDevitt

It’s hard to believe that Tinsley Ellis, one of contemporary blues’ most-prominent artists since the late ’80s, is only now…

The Prestige Classic TBK

Hidden Treasure

October 15, 2021 · Bob Cianci

One of the best-kept guitar secrets, Prestige is a small Vancouver-based operation that has flown under the radar for 18…

EarthQuaker Devices’ Space Spiral Modulated Delay

Will You Repeat That?

March 13, 2019 · Chip Wilson

One particularly well-worn joke about playing a bad note advises you to play it twice so folks will think you…

Greg Howe

Greg Howe

Best Of Both Worlds

April 15, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Greg Howe enjoyed a somewhat overwhelming reception when he appeared in the Carvin booth at the January NAMM show. One…

Fishman Broken Record

Acoustic Looper

May 13, 2024 · Pete Prown

Part of Fishman’s line of AFX Mini Acoustic pedals, the Broken Record is a looper/sampler for players who like to…

Andrew Watt

Andrew Watt

On Being With Hughes & Bonham

January 19, 2016 · Oscar Jordan

Andrew Watt’s star was rising on the New York club scene when bassist Glenn Hughes took his career up a…

Randy Napoleon’s Rust Belt Roots

May 24, 2022 · Vintage Guitar

 Jazz prof brings spirit and feel Randy Napoleon plays the 2007 prototype for Benedetto’s Bravo Deluxe while doing this…

Maxon Fuzz Elements Pedals

Maxon Fuzz Elements Pedals

Elemental Fuzz

April 28, 2016 · Michael Dregni

Maxon Fuzz Elements Pedals Price: $189 to $199 Contact: www.maxonfx.com Classic fuzz pedals are some of the fine wines of…