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GALLERY: Experience Music Project Guitar Collection

From Hendrix’s Woodstock Strat to Kurt Cobain’s Jaguar, the EMP Museum houses some of the most iconic and rare vintage guitars in the world.

Eddie Van Halen's 1984 Kramer
This guitar was custom-made by Kramer for the legendary Eddie Van Halen and was subsequently used on the 1984 tour.

Darkglass Electronics unveils ANAGRAM, a flagship bass platform designed to redefine tone, flexibility, and performance. The pedal’s extraordinarily deep feature set includes multiple effects and modeling, an on-board looper and tuner.

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This story’s author played this Belltone B-Classic 3 and found its neck instantly appealing, the tremolo capable of taking abuse and staying in tune, and the Filter’Tron pickups possessed of hi-fi clarity. Also, the sky burst metallic finish is pure eye candy.

Custom designing an instrument and its appointments from a menu of options makes ordering a new axe easy. Four manufacturers share their process.

It’s never been easier for any player to get a guitar made to their liking, and without being an expert, or even an educated amateur in wood, wiring, and other aspects of lutherie. Sure, you can find a builder who will spec out a guitar for you from tree to neck radius to electronics, but for most of us, we’re looking for something easier, less costly, and, often, more familiar.

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Well-designed pickups. Extremely comfortable contours. Smooth, playable neck.

Middle position could use a bit more mids. Price could scare off some.

$2,999

Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay II

music-man.com

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A surprise 6-string collaboration with Cory Wong moves effortlessly between ’70s George Benson and Blink-182 tones.


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The Melvins' Buzz Osborne joins the party to talk about how he helped Kurt Cobain find the right sounds.

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