Legendary Rock Icon and Traffic Co-Founder Dave Mason Passes Away at Age 79
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On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dave Mason.
Photo credit: Chris Jensen
On Sunday, April 19, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, celebrated songwriter, musician, singer, and author passed away peacefully at his home in Gardnerville, NV. He is survived by his beloved wife and partner, Winifred Wilson, his daughter Danielle, nephew John (Trish) Leonard and niece Michelle Leonard, as well as his brothers in law Sloan (Claudia) Wilson and Walton (Barbara Sims) Wilson. He was preceded in death by his son, True and his sister, Valerie Leonard.
Dave Mason lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and the people he loved.
John Page Guitars Introduces Baritone AJ and DL Models
John Page Guitars Introduces Baritone AJ and DL Models
John Page Guitars has launched the Baritone AJ and Baritone DL, extending John Page’s signature designs into a thoughtfully engineered 27” scale baritone platform created for modern players.
Designed by legendary guitar builder John Page and hand-built in Delaware, Ohio by Master-Builder Chase Gullett, the Baritone AJ and DL models are based on an ingenious modular design in which the guitar body remains identical between standard and baritone models, with only the neck changing. This approach preserves the balance, ergonomics, and resonance of the original AJ and DL designs while allowing players to move seamlessly between standard and baritone configurations.
The baritone necks feature a 27” scale length and 23 frets, offering increased string tension, improved note definition, and enhanced clarity for lower tunings, all while maintaining the familiar feel and playability that define John Page Guitars.
Standard specifications for the Baritone AJ and DL include:
27” scale length baritone neck with 23 frets
Identical AJ and DL bodies shared with standard-scale models
Ash or alder bodies, selected for balance, resonance, and tonal character
Maple necks with maple or rosewood fretboards
Standard AJ or DL pickup configurations, identical to those found on the standard models
3-way pickup selector with master volume and tone controls on the AJ, 5-way on the DL
Premium hardware and electronics selected by John Page for reliability and consistency
In addition to standard configurations, custom woods, finishes, and appointments are available allowing players to tailor their baritone instruments to personal aesthetic and tonal preferences.
“These guitars were designed to feel instantly familiar,” said John Page. “By keeping the body exactly the same and focusing the engineering on the neck, we were able to create a baritone that feels balanced, comfortable, and musical, not oversized or unwieldy.”
The Baritone AJ and DL are equally at home in modern rock, alternative, cinematic, and experimental settings, offering players a refined baritone experience rooted in traditional craftsmanship rather than genre clichés.
See The Baritone Collection Launch Video, featuring Chris McQueen (Snarky Puppy) and Matt Muehling (Kill Tony): https://youtu.be/OX5E0JaO7OA
The Baritone AJ and DL models carry a suggested retail price of $4,495 USD, consistent with standard AJ and DL models. For more information, visit johnpageguitars.com/baritone
Introduced in 1951, the FenderTelecaster changed the course of music with a design that was bold in its simplicity. Unlike anything that came before it, the Telecaster was built from the ground up around the needs of working musicians — Leo Fender famously sought direct feedback from the players themselves, shaping every detail of the instrument around what artists actually wanted. The result was a guitar built with everything a player needed, unlocking a new level of expression. Its cutting tone, unmistakable silhouette, and workhorse reliability quickly made it the instrument of choice for artists across genres.
75th Anniversary American Ultra II Telecaster - The pinnacle of Telecaster evolution featuring a stunning Liquid Gold finish, ebony compound radius fingerboard, and advanced pickup system with dual S-1 switches. Combines 75th Anniversary Noiseless Single-Coil and Fastlane humbucker for unprecedented tonal versatility without hum.
ADG is happy to announce the release of AC MASTER from Tsakalis Audioworks. Paying homage to the British cranked amps of the 60s, AC MASTER carries a retro flavour with its VOX-style overdrive and Range Master inspired boost circuit.
AC MASTER is available for shipping from ADG late April 2026
Designed for players who love the sound of classic 60s British amplifiers pushed to their limits, the AC MASTER from Tsakalis Audioworks combines two classic British circuits in a single pedal, a VOX-style overdrive and a Range Master inspired booster. AC MASTER offers immediate access to the iconic tones associated with players like Brian May and Rory Gallagher, while also covering a wide range of modern drive and boost applications.
Used independently or stacked together, the two sections provide everything from sparkling edge-of-breakup, sweet-singing overdrive tones to aggressive classic rock saturation.
Main Features:
British style Overdrive and Booster effects pedal
Two independent circuits with flexible routing options
AC section – Vox style overdrive
Master section – Range Master booster
Dedicated input and output jacks for each section
FX Loop between the two circuits for flexible pedalboard routing
AC section comes with two blendable channels and an output section
Top Boost: bright, chimey overdrive with controls for Volume, Bass and Treble
Normal: warm, thick and slightly fuzzy overdrive with Volume control only
Output section with controls for Tone Cut and Master Volume
Master Booster Section with controls for Boost, Range and Volume
Handmade in Athens, Greece
Powered by (opt.) 9 V DC PSU
(centre -, 2.1mm, ~ 36 mA current draw, not included)
Nashville guitarist Jack Ruch has made a name for himself on YouTube and Instagram, where he shares lessons and instructional videos that help guitarists take their playing to the next level. But he can be found performing all the time on stages around Music City, too, and back in March, he appeared at 3rd and Lindsley. That’s where PG’s John Bohlinger caught up with him for this Rig Rundown, which covers Ruch’s tasteful, tone-ful live rig. We’ve summarized the highlights below, but tune in to the video for all the details and sound samples.
Ruch depends on this trio out on the road. The 1963 Gibson ES-335 is his favorite, and his main instrument. It features original nylon saddles, which he says help mellow the brightness of the neck pickup (where he spends most of his playing time).
To its left is a Danocaster T-Style, built by Dan Strain in West Nashville specifically to look like Robben Ford’s Telecaster. It’s used for “Tele things,” and features ThroBak pickups, providing a neutral, versatile sound. Again, the neck pickup is Ruch’s home turf.
On the right is Ruch’s Historic Makeovers Les Paul, which he acquired earlier this year at Historic Makeovers, just north of Orlando, Florida. This LP was modified with a Brazilian rosewood fretboard and a reshaped neck. Ruch ordered it online without playing it, and so far, he couldn’t be happier with the decision.
All of Ruch’s guitars have D’Addario NYXL strings (.010–.046).
Dynamic Duo
Ruch runs a classic combination of a Fender Princeton Reverb (circa 1966, Ruch believes) and a boutique clone of a Fender tweed Deluxe, built by Lazy J in England. The Princeton has an old 10" Eminence speaker, and the Lazy J has a Celestion Blue. Both are set for clean rhythm tones.
Jack Ruch’s Pedalboard
Ruch’s tidy board was assembled by the gurus at Nashville’s XAct Tone Solutions. It includes a TC Electronic PolyTune 2 Noir, Analog Man King of Tone, Vemuram Budi-G, Analog Man Boss TR-2, Strymon Brigadier, and Catalinbread Topanga.
