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Gear of the Year 2017

Another year, another dazzling parade of pedals, guitars, amps, modelers, and accessories that made our noggins spin.

B.A. Ferguson Classic Class Shirley

The Classic Class Shirley is about as nice a compromise between the worlds of Gibson and Fender as you are likely to find. Light, compact, and with a sweet blend of humbucker sonorities and 25 1/2”-scale zing, the Shirley’s plentitude of sounds makes the $1,500 price tag look like a bargain.

$1,499 street
bafergusonguitars.com

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This year’s Premier Gear Award winners are, as usual, an eclectic set—full of old-school vintage homage, leading-edge digital developments, and imaginative meetings of those worlds. Dig in and dig it as we revisit the gear that fired the enthusiasm and wonder of our editors and contributors in 2017.

An ode, and historical snapshot, to the tone-bar played, many-stringed thing in the room, and its place in the national musical firmament.

Blues, jazz, rock, country, bluegrass, rap.… When it comes to inventing musical genres, the U.S. totally nailed it. But how about inventing instruments?

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The author dials in one of his 20-watt Sonzera amps, with an extension cabinet.

Photo courtesy of PRS

Knowing how guitar amplifiers were developed and have evolved is important to understanding why they sound the way they do when you’re plugged in.

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Lenny Kravitz’s lead-guitar maestro shares how his scorching hit solo came together.

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Tobias bass guitars, beloved by bass players for nearly half a century, are back with the all-new Tobias Original Collection.

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