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Top 10 Big 5 Interviews of 2022

This year’s quick-hit interviews revealed that Phil Collen sees a connection between your vibrato and ego, how a short-scale Strat is rocking Neal Schon’s world, Halestorm hates “Instagram guitar” faces, and Steve Vai’s secret weapon.


10. Lzzy Hale & Joe Hottinger

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Plus, which Halestorm guitarist’s custom Explorer is coolest—her baritone or his brand-new Mod Collection buy?

9. Band of Horses' Ben Bridwell

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Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell admonishes us (and himself) on how to “get your shit together” and stop annoying bandmates.

8. Dropkick Murphys' James Lynch

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Dropkick Murphys’ James Lynch on the cleverly hidden 1/4" jack on his go-to guitar. Plus, the sage advice from his dad that formed the foundation of his success.

7. Kirk Fletcher

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Bluesman Kirk Fletcher on his favorite Gibson ES-345 mods, and why we all need to push the soul “button” more.

6. Queensrÿche’s Michael Wilton

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Plus, why the platinum-selling progger has stuck with the same guitar brand for 30+ years.

5. Orianthi

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Plus, how her childhood Hendrix T-shirt figured into her latest signature PRS guitar.

4. Steve Cropper

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Plus, the Booker T. & the MG’s legend shares the toughest part of working with other musicians in the studio.

3. Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher

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Plus, how he minimizes stress during the riff-writing process.

2. Journey's Neal Schon

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Plus! The Journey legend talks about the short-scale Custom Shop Strat currently rocking his world.

1. Steve Vai

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Plus, what the shred shaman looks for in a guitar, and the surprising solo artist whose catalog he always has on hand.

In recent years, Samantha Fish’s most often-used guitar was this alpine white Gibson SG, but it ran into some issues last summer—“I ended up having to reglue the neck”—and it is now on hiatus.

Photo by Douglas Mason

The rising blues-rock star has made a dozen records, topped roots-music charts, played 150 dates a year, and opened for the Rolling Stones. Now her new album, Paper Doll, finds her at a hard-playing creative pinnacle.

Samantha Fish is moving in new circles these days—circles occupied by the kind of people you see a lot on classic-rock radio playlists. First there was the invitation from Eric Clapton to play at his 2023 Crossroads Guitar Festival in L.A. Then there was the summer ’24 slot on Slash’s S.E.R.P.E.N.T. tour, followed by the Experience Hendrix tour, on which she dug into Jimi classics in the company of Eric Johnson, Dweezil Zappa, and other luminaries. And, oh yeah, she opened for the Stones in Ridgedale, Missouri, on the final date of their Hackney Diamonds jaunt. That’s right, the Rolling Stones.

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Small spring, big splash—a pedal reverb that oozes surfy ambience and authenticity.

A vintage-cool sonic alternative to bigger tube-driven tanks and digital springs that emulate them.

Susceptible to vibration.

$199

Danelectro Spring King Junior
danelectro.com

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Few pedal effects were transformed, enhanced, and reimagined by fast digital processors quite like reverb. This humble effect—readily available in your local parking garage or empty basketball gymnasium for free—evolved from organic sound phenomena to a very unnatural one. But while digital processing yields excellent reverb sounds of every type and style, I’d argue that the humble spring reverb still rules in its mechanical form.

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Featuring studio-grade Class A circuit and versatile resonance switch, this pedal is designed to deliver the perfect boost and multiple tonal options.

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After eight years, New Orleans artist Benjamin Booker returns with a new album and a redefined relationship to the guitar.

Photo by Trenity Thomas

It’s been eight years since the New Orleans-based artist released his last album. He’s back with a record that redefines his relationship to the guitar.

It is January 24, and Benjamin Booker’s third full-length album, LOWER, has just been released to the world. It’s been nearly eight years since his last record, 2017’s Witness, but Booker is unmoved by the new milestone. “I don’t really feel anything, I guess,” he says. “Maybe I’m in shock.”

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