Gear History
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Wizard of Odd: The Enigmatic ’60s Lux
November 7, 2018
How I almost passed on a rare Italian beauty—and why I didn’t.
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Vintage Vault: 1964 Gibson Dove
November 5, 2018
A 6-string rare bird with a bright, distinctive chirp.
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Wizard of Odd: Surf’s Up! The Story Behind Late-’60s 700-Series Kents
October 21, 2018
What do you get when ’60s California car and beach culture collide with a young Japanese guitar designer?
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Vintage Vault: 1962 Fender Telecaster Fiesta Red
October 10, 2018
A candy-colored and road-worn Tele with a few rare turns, including an ash body.
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Wizard of Odd: Late-’60s TeleStar Doubleneck
September 21, 2018
Here’s another beautiful weirdo from the Kawai Enshu factory.
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Modulation Nation: Chorus, Phasing, and Flanging
September 20, 2018
Explore the history and mystery of three classic effects.
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Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Simple Times, Simple Gear
September 11, 2018
Today’s vast array of amps, guitars, and effects is a good thing, but so is learning to play without a net.
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Trash or Treasure: Danelectro Centurion
September 2, 2018
A groovy dorm-room amp from the early ’60s finds its way back to its owner—ready for rock, and a little repair.
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Acoustic Soundboard: The Retronym March
August 27, 2018
If it looks like a guitar and sounds like a guitar, then it’s just a “guitar,” right? Kind of.
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Axes & Artifacts: Rick Turner Model 1 Lindsey Buckingham Prototype
August 21, 2018
John Bohlinger plugs in the one-of-a-kind signature guitar custom-built for the Fleetwood Mac icon.
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Vintage Vault: 1977 Travis Bean TB1000A Artist
August 17, 2018
An aluminum-through-necked beauty that’s enjoying a renaissance in the world of heavy music.
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Wizard of Odd: ’60s Tombo 6-String Ukulet
July 25, 2018
What do you get when you cross a ukulele with a transistor radio?
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Vintage Vault: 1960s Kay Swingmaster K763
July 20, 2018
A semi-hollow player’s workhorse ready for a second life.
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All the World’s a Gain Stage
July 16, 2018
A beginner’s guide to what makes tube amps growl, bark, and purr—from preamp tubes to output transformers and every cathode in between.
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Trash or Treasure: Epiphone PR7E
July 15, 2018
A reader’s curious preschooler finds an old guitar in a spare room. The reader smartly inquiries about its value before handing it over to a 4-year-old.
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Anatomy of an Amp Cab
July 13, 2018
It may not be the sexiest part of your rig, but the speaker enclosure plays a crucial role in the signal chain. Here’s what’s going on inside.
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Wizard of Odd: Ripe for Slide—Mid-’60s Kawai SD Electrics
July 6, 2018
What do you get when a piano manufacturer turns to making electric guitars? Perhaps something resembling a serious piece of furniture.
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Vintage Vault: 1955 Gibson L-5 CES
July 5, 2018
Marvel at this post-World War II hollowbody, worn by play but still intact and all original.
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Jol Dantzig's Esoterica Electrica: Cover Bands and Clone Guitars
July 2, 2018
If imitation is the highest form of flattery but innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower, balancing the line is an art form.
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Axes & Artifacts: Albert King's Tom Holmes THC Flying V
June 11, 2018
John Bohlinger shreds on one of the late blues god's most unique instruments while Gruhn Guitars' Greg Voros reveals the fascinating backstory.
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