November 2024
A century after his birth in the Smoky Mountains of rural eastern Tennessee, and 23 years after his death, Chet Akins’ legacy endures in a multitude of ways. And while it was rejected by the rising-star endorser, the Gretsch 6120 still became a classic. We examine the complicated Chet Atkins influence on Gretsch guitars.
While other amp builders used contemporary designs to recapture the sound of classic circuits, Mark Bartel’s circuits brought a new concept to golden-age tube sounds. Dave Hunter profiles the Tone King Imperial.
We talk new music with Jim Lauderdale, Andy Wood, Jeff Kollman, LA LA Land’s Zac Sokolow, and Mojo Thunder’s Bryson Willoughby. Dave Mason talks about his new biography, and we memorialize Happy Traum.
Two weeks after Jefferson Airplane played for hundreds of thousands at Woodstock, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady set up at a small club in Berkeley to record their acoustic country-blues offshoot, Hot Tuna. “Pop ’N Hiss” tells why it wasn’t the contradiction it may seem.
Alongside fellow seminal thrashers Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer, Metallica represented the zenith of the form’s evolution, In “Fretprints,” Wolf Marshall details why Master of Puppets pushed them to preeminence.
Dan Forte’s “Check This Action” examines new guitar jazz worth a listen, including albums by Yotam Silberstein, Kiki Valera, and Woody Jackson.
In “Dan’s Guitar Rx,” Dan Erlewine works on a custom doubleneck he built in 1977. In its nearly 50 years, it had be modded and refinished. With blessing from the owner’s family, Dan is returning its original glory.
Informed and honest, our “Approved Gear” reviews are here for you! This month, we take a look at the Gibson Theodore, Knaggs Chena A, Crazy Tube Circuits White Whale V2, Weller El Dorado, and Epiphone’s Inspired by Gibson '63 Firebird V.
Here, as always, to help freshen your playlists – our “Hit List” review staff tell you why you should take a listen to the latest from Nick Lowe, Bill Wyman, J.D. Simo & Luther Dickinson, Frank Zappa, Mike Stern, Canned Heat, and more.
It’s all in the November issue of Vintage Guitar!
