CATEGORIES

VICTORY - V1 the Duchess and the Jack Overdrive

BRITISH GEAR MAKER Victory is primarily known for its well-built tube amps, but the amp-in-a-pedal sector is a growing and popular one, so it makes total sense for this company to join the likes of Bogner, Friedman and countless stompbox makers in this arena.

PRS - Horsemeat Transparent Overdrive, Mary Cries Optical Compressor and Wind Through the Trees Dual Analog Flanger

AFTER INITIALLY ESTABLISHING his reputation with electric guitars, and following with acoustic guitars and amplifiers, it seemed an inevitability that Paul Reed Smith would fill the missing link in the signal chain -pedals.

EPIPHONE

Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335

Peter Rowan – 'Panama Red'

Peter Rowan reveals the origin of his signature song - and explains how to play it.

Fast Track

From inside his home studio, Kurt Vile reveals his working methods. Writing songs, playing guitar - it's all about capturing a "perfect moment."

How I Wrote... "Vincent"

Recorded in 30 takes with his Martin 00-21, Don McLean's 1972 hit has delivered mixed blessings.

BLACKSTAR St. James 6L6 Combo

IT'S A SAFE bet that tube-powered guitar amps won't go out of style with guitar players anytime soon, but if there's one thing that drives players to find acceptable alternatives to tube technology, it's the weight.

ERNIE BALL MUSIC MAN Cutlass HT TESTED

BORN OUT OF the California bolt-neck electric guitar tradition, Ernie Ball Music Man has nevertheless continued to strive for originality and innovation.

Acoustic Tips for Electric Players

How to maximize that big hollow box.

HOT COUNTRY

101 Learn the nuts and bolts of high-tech country lead guitar.

GLIDE PATHS

Learn five useful slide-playing techniques to help you become a bottleneck virtuoso with these Derek Trucks-inspired licks.

All That Glitters

It's not gold, but the finish on this 1967 Tele-Star guitar sparkles from its headstock all the way to its electronics cavity.

Soul Salvation

In a world of noise, Marvin Gaye's What's Going On is balm for the ears.

Royal Relic

Once the crown jewel of Teisco Del Ray's budget lineup, this circa 1966 ET-460 commands a comparative king's ransom on the vintage market.

MY CAREER IN FIVE SONGS

With 22 Grammys, 20 studio albums and more than 40 charting singles, Vince Gill has had one hell of a career. Here are five songs he credits for its success.

IN THE FLOW

As the visionary behind Lava Music, Lu Zitian is bringing innovative smart guitars to the masses.

TIP SHEET

Eric Johnson reveals his five guidelines to improve practice, technique and music knowledge.

VOLCANO GIRLS

Brooklyn, N.Y. indie rockers Momma bring back molten-hot Big Muff fuzz on Household Name.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER

Part Firebird, part SG and a full partner to Romeo, Juliet is Eastman's first original solidbody design.

All Night Long

Hill country blues was created for the juke joints. Here's how the new generation is evolving the sound.

TAYLOR: 724ce Koa Grand Auditorium

SOME PEOPLE ARE obsessed with power; some are obsessed with fame. Taylor chief guitar designer, president and CEO Andy Powers is obsessed with koa, and that's the name of the game for the new additions to the 700 series: the 722ce Grand Concert and 724ce Grand Auditorium, the latter of which is on review here. It's a totally different take on the lovely Hawaiian hardwood from a manufacturer who is passionate about koa.

WALRUS AUDIO: Mira optical compressor

WALRUS AUDIO BROUGHT studiograde compression to guitar effects with Deep Six, a pedal inspired by Universal Audio's industry-standard rackmount 1176 FET compressor. Now the Oklahoma City-based company has introduced Mira, an analog optical compressor that offers smooth, transparent compression in a pedal that boasts studio-quality features, specs and headroom.

KEELEY ELECTRONICS - Halo Andy Timmons Dual Echo

LONGTIME ANDY TIMMONS fans surely: remember an era when the Texas guitar hero gigged with two vintage Electro-Harmonix Memory Man analog delay pedals at his feet.

FENDER: Hammertone effects pedals

FENDER'S NEW LINE of Hammertone effects pedals features nine models, all in the same grey-finished 4.375 x 2.375 x 1.375-inch aluminum enclosure, with differently colored "F" logo "witch-hat" knobs derived from Fender's semi-hollow Starcaster guitar of the mid to late '70s.

A LEGEND COMES HOME

After a 46-year search, Randy Bachman is reunited with his long-lost 1957 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins.

MOONLIGHT SERENADE

Jack Johnson dives deep into his percussive strumming style and enchanting new album, Meet the Moonlight.

CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE COMES HOME

One of the most revered blues harp players, Musselwhite finds his way back to the guitar on Mississippi Son.

MOON SHOT

Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi reveal the guitar secrets behind I Am the Moon, their ambitious (and massive) quadruple album project.

Southern Charm

With fuzz guitars and lap steel, Rebecca and Megan Lovell cast a spell on Blood Harmony, Larkin Poe's new album of blues-infused rock and roll.

VALCO

KGB DIST distortion pedal