CATEGORIES

THE CROSSROADS Tomo Fujita

For this month’s Crossroads, John Wheatcroft explores the fantastic Tomo Fujita and shows you how you can integrate some of Tomo’s ‘Guitar Wisdom’ into your own playing.

GUTHRIE GOVAN

In our great erotic cake off, our star baker is the aristocratic Guthrie Govan. Here you’ll discover five finger licking licks from the UK master.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

IN THE FLOW

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

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.

All Night Long

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

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.

TIP SHEET

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

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.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER

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

VOLCANO GIRLS

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

GLIDE PATHS

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

HOT COUNTRY

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

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.

Acoustic Tips for Electric Players

How to maximize that big hollow box.

How I Wrote... "Vincent"

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

MOONLIGHT SERENADE

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

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.

Any question answered Pierre Bouvier simple plan

Pierre walks us through a life in music that started very early, and is still as passionate as ever.

Auteur To Author

Luke Haines writes the shuk out of rock’n’roll Cold War games

Fire Starter

A prominent figure on the 60s London scene, Brian Auger is one of the great missing links. A highly skilled musician, band leader and songwriter, he is, perhaps, best known for his hit version of Dylan's This Wheel's On Fire. But he was also an early pioneer of jazz-rock fusion, later hailed the 'godfather of Acid Jazz'. Now 82, he is entertainingly forthright, with tales of Hendrix, Rod Stewart and the tower of pianos that threatened to put "a huge hole in rock'n'roll". Life of Brian: Garth Cartwright

Ex-Monkees Business

Even Monkees fans might not know of a mid-70s reunion involving Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones. With hit songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, they formed pop supergroup, Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart. Two tours brought their music to enthusiastic audiences, but a studio album (and a live record) failed to sell, and the 14-month adventure was soon lost to time. Bill Kopp spoke to Hart, band leader Keith Allison (who died last autumn) and tour manager Christian de Walden.