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Vintage Vault: Identifying a Rare Japan-Made Four-Pickup Baritone
January 26, 2020
The Demian VN-4 shares DNA with Teisco, Guyatone, and Kawai relatives.
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Jol Dantzig’s Esoterica Electrica: What’s the Tonewood Equivalent of Gold?
January 17, 2020
Easy to work with, beautiful, stable, and much more, the marvel of mahogany isn’t lost on luthiers. But the price is a different story.
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Everyone Knows Guitars Can’t Spell
January 6, 2020
But as the Wizard of Odd shows, this early made-in-Japan Teisco J5 “guiter” speaks the right language.
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Last Call: How Signature Guitars Are Like Handwriting
January 3, 2020
An instrument that feels like home? That’s what it’s all about.
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When Gibson Put the ES-350 on a Diet
December 22, 2019
Eyeball a shining star from Kalamazoo’s original thinline series.
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Can You Name This Magical Mystery Bass?
December 20, 2019
This incredibly ornate bass is packed with enough electronics to make ’70s-era IBM blush, but it’s origin has our columnist stumped. Thoughts?
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Wizard of Odd: Molto Bene Mustang!
December 9, 2019
It may not be your dad’s ’Stang from the 1960s—unless he’s from Italy—but this axe has a unique look and flavor that’s begging for surf rock.
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The World’s Weirdest Guitar Mods and Builds
December 5, 2019
Feast your eyes and ears on these 6-string mutants, monsters, and mooncalves—approved by Dr. Frankenstein, but ready to make great music.
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Vintage Vault: Reassessing a Rare Semi-Hollow ’73 Les Paul Signature Model
November 25, 2019
After Norlin acquired Gibson, the historic musician lent his name to a new series of guitars, including this goldtop.
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Wizard of Odd: Doina Seranada
November 14, 2019
This Romania-built, communist-era axe takes some obvious cues from Italian and Japanese guitars of the ’60s, but has a look all its own.
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Vintage Vault: 1937 Gibson L-10
October 29, 2019
A classic archtop acoustic that helped define country music resurfaces at the right moment.
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Axes & Artifacts: 1958 Gibson Flying V
October 28, 2019
Walter Carter talks about the iconic instrument made famous by Albert King and Lonnie Mack, while John Bohlinger lays down some mean slide to hear how it barks.
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Wizard of Odd: Apollo Red Baron
October 25, 2019
Like flying ace Manfred von Richthofen, this guitar from 1960s Japan was bold, non-traditional, and favored red.
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Will Ray's Bottom Feeder: Cozart “Rickencopy”
October 24, 2019
As they say, “Ain’t nothing like the real thing, baby,” but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with a cheeky poseur.
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Acoustic Soundboard: The Round-Shouldered Dreadnought Revival
October 14, 2019
This body shape didn’t go extinct, but it came darn close.
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Vintage Vault: 1956 Gibson Les Paul
October 3, 2019
Do you dream of ’50s goldtops? You’re not alone.
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Wizard of Odd: Maxitone 481
September 24, 2019
A unique-looking bass from the back pages of a familiar family biz.
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Silver and Black: Simple Tube Tricks for Beginners
September 2, 2019
Need more headroom or gain? Spin the bottles.
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Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Why Wood?
August 28, 2019
When a plastic guitar falls in the woods …
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Gibson Factory Tour [2019]
August 27, 2019
Go behind the scenes and see new Les Pauls, SGs, Explorers, and more at the famed guitar outfit’s newly consolidated Nashville facility.
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