She's already earned Mandolin Player of the Year six times. She's been nominated for five Grammys (including four praising her 2025 album A Tip Toe High Wire). And now she's earned a pair of fantastic F-style Gibson mandolins. What else could be on the horizon?
Well, in this performance and interview filmed at the Gibson Garage Nashville, host John Bohlinger goes back to Sierra's East Tennessee roots, getting to know the bonafide badass bluegrasser through her musical upbringing (performing and learning in circles, not classrooms. Then they explore her connection to a special 2009 Gibson Master Model mandolin that's logged thousands of hours and was the inspiration for her signature mandos. Finally, the positive, upbeat, inspiring musician concludes with gratitude for her independent success and overwhelming acceptance into the bluegrass community before encouraging fans (new and old) to join along for the ride.
She's already earned Mandolin Player of the Year six times. She's been nominated for five Grammys (including four praising her 2025 album A Tip Toe High Wire). And now she's earned a pair of fantastic F-style Gibson mandolins. What else could be on the horizon?
Well, in this performance and interview filmed at the Gibson Garage Nashville, host John Bohlinger goes back to Sierra's East Tennessee roots, getting to know the bonafide badass bluegrasser through her musical upbringing (performing and learning in circles, not classrooms. Then they explore her connection to a special 2009 Gibson Master Model mandolin that's logged thousands of hours and was the inspiration for her signature mandos. Finally, the positive, upbeat, inspiring musician concludes with gratitude for her independent success and overwhelming acceptance into the bluegrass community before encouraging fans (new and old) to join along for the ride.
Winzz Guitars proudly announces the launch of the WGS150 Gravity PRO, the flagship model in the company’s new Gravity Series of electric guitars. The WGS150 stands as Winzz’s statement of purpose — combining refined design, precision craftsmanship, and professional-level performance at an unbelievable player-friendly price point. Built for musicians who demand more from their instruments, the WGS150 bridges traditional craftsmanship and modern innovation to inspire guitarists around the world.
The WGS150 features a flame maple top paired with either a selected North American alder body (offered in Maldives Blue and Cherry Red) or African mahogany (available in Jungle Green and Midnight Purple). Its contoured offset body merges comfort and style, while a curved arm cut and ergonomic asymmetric heel joint allow effortless access to the highest frets. The 25 ½-inch scale, five-bolt roasted Canadian maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard deliver both strength and silky playability. Winzz’s signature “glider neck” C+D profile blends speed with comfort for a feel that adapts to any style. Medium stainless-steel frets improve sustain and accuracy, while white ring inlays and Luminlay side dots ensure precision even on dimly lit stages.
At its core, the WGS150 is powered by a custom Alnico V SSH pickup configuration, combining a medium-high-output humbucker with vintage-voiced single coils for a wide tonal palette. A push-pull tone control engages series-parallel switching, delivering everything from crisp single-coil shimmer to full-bodied humbucker punch. The carefully tuned internal circuitry and durable anti-oxidation components provide consistent, noise-free performance for both stage and studio environments.
Every detail of the WGS150 is designed for reliability and expression. A premium two-point tremolo bridge with block saddles enhances tuning precision and sustain, while a synthetic bone nut, locking tuners, and 4+2 headstock layout maintain stable string tension and balance. Each instrument ships fully set up and ready to perform right out of the box.
Born from a partnership between passionate guitar builders from Germany’s village of Winz and Aileen Music in China, Winzz Guitars blends German precision with Chinese industriousness — a union that celebrates both artistry and innovation. Guided by the belief that music should be accessible to everyone, Winzz creates instruments that invite players to “find their voice and make every stage their own.” The WGS150 embodies that mission, offering a professional instrument that welcomes beginners, creators, and seasoned musicians alike.
For more information on the WGS150 Gravity PRO and other Winzz Guitars instruments, please visit www.winzzguitars.com
Guitarist Doug Gillard breaks down his iconic black Les Paul, his tone secrets, early Cleveland punk roots, composed solos, and the gear behind “I Am a Tree.”
Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices, Nada Surf) joins the Axe Lords to dissect his signature sound , explain why why he’s one of the few “indie rock guys” running a Mesa Dual Rectifier and—bonus!-gives the A-Lords a guided tour of his battle-worn ’76 Les Paul Custom.
Doug — who also played bass in Dave’s Band Valley Lodge — breaks down his approach to composed solos, the harmony and capo tricks behind “I Am a Tree,” and how Cleveland punk, college radio, glam, and right-hand tapping shaped his style. Along the way: how annoying Tom is to work with in the studio, early guitars from Sears and Gibson, Cleveland-scene lore, surviving GBV’s marathon shows, and the most intense comedy monologue since Andy Kaufman shuffled off this mortal coil.
Axe Lords is presented in partnership with Premier Guitar. Hosted by Dave Hill, Cindy Hulej and Tom Beaujour. Produced by Studio Kairos. Executive Producer is Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas at Revoice Media. Engineered by Patrick Samaha. Recorded at Kensaltown East. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Theme music by Valley Lodge.
The Wilco frontman’s ’90s pawn shop raids are paying off decades later.
Back in September, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy released his fifth solo album, Twilight Override. The triple album, recorded at the band’s Chicago studio, the Loft, features 30 tracks total. Tweedy set out across the U.S. this fall to celebrate the monumental release.
On October 29, he performed at the Caverns in Grundy County, Tennessee, and welcomed PG’s Nashville correspondent John Bohlinger to the bat cave to check out a ripping collection of pawn-shop specials.
Tweedy has had this heavily modded Jaguar for a very long time—he bought it at a pawn shop when they were still cheap. He guesses it’s a 1964, and it’s been modded to run only on its Seymour Duncan Antiquity bridge humbucker.
Root of All Evil
Tweedy got this Fender Jazzmaster at a pawn shop in Chicago for around $500. With its Mastery bridge, he tunes it with bass strings for some of Wilco’s heavier, lower-tuned material like “Dawned On Me.”
Half Moon Fun
Ric Ocasek is one of the few other well-known guitarists to play one of these Kawai MoonSaults, a Japan-made guitar from the 1980s with a scorching-hot preamp wired into it. Tweedy has a soft spot for them, and has collected six or seven of the oddities. He strings this one with flatwounds.
Everyman’s SG
Tweedy didn’t like the feeling of being handed his $20,000 Gibson SG onstage. He wanted to model some more reasonably priced instruments to his fans, so he started bringing out this early-’80s-built Greco SG copy. It features PAF-style Maxon Dry Z pickups.
Tele: Fully Loaded
Fender didn’t make many of these Telecasters with top-loaded strings, and Tweedy loves the sound of this one’s snarl into his Fender Deluxe. It was purchased at New York’s RetroFret Vintage Guitars and lives in open-G tuning.
Tweedy’s Tweed
Tweedy bought this 1954 Fender Deluxe in 1994 for just a couple hundred bucks. This wide-panel, 10-watt 5D3 model still has its original speaker and transformer.
Jeff Tweedy’s Pedalboards
One of Tweedy’s boards is dedicated almost entirely to pedals by Fairfield Circuitry, based in Hull, Quebec. In addition to a TC Electronic Polytune 3 Noir, Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail, and Black Mountain volume pedal, there are seven Fairfield units: the Accountant compressor, Barbershop overdrive, ~900 fuzz, Randy’s Revenge ring modulator, Shallow Water k-field modulator, and two Meet Maude analog delays.
On a second board for his acoustics, Tweedy runs another Holy Grail, Polytune 3 Noir, and three more Black Mountain volume pedals, plus a Radial Shotgun splitter and buffer and three Rupert Neve RNDI-M direct interface boxes.
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