September 2021

Brian Setzer’s new album revisits the rockabilly themes that have spurred him for decades, but also meets his personal challenge to keep it fresh – and laden with great guitar tones. We sit wit him to learn how it came together. We also talk to Alligator Records founder Bruce Iglauer about the great guitarists who’ve helped make the label a blues stalwart.

No matter your taste, you’ll dig the variety of artitsts discussing their latest work, from Nancy Wilson and Jerry Douglas to Guthrie Govan, Greg Koch and Sunny War to Mike Zito and Dave Wyndorf. Also, GA-20 helps us dive into their new album, a tribute to Hound Dog Taylor.

Speaking of great blues guitarists (and their guitars), this month’s “Classics” feature tells the bittersweet tale of Fenton Robinson’s ES-225. Dave Hunter reveals the spacey history of the Gibson GA-8 Discoverer, and Michael Wright details how Modulus employed futuristic materials in making the Graphite Flight 6.

Wolf Marshall reminds us of the brilliance of Walter Becker in “Fretprints,” while “Pop ’N Hiss” tells why Uriah Heep’s Demons and Wizards is watershed prog-metal.

As always, you’re interested in hearing the best new guitar music, and our expert review staff tells why the latest from Tedeschi Trucks Band, Billy F Gibbons, Mike Zito, Mick Fleetwood & Friends, Frank Zappa, Guy King, Night Ranger, John McLaughlin, Motörhead, and others is worth lending an ear.

If you’re also into making great music, read out “Approved Gear” reviews to learn about usable, high-quality new equipment. This month, our staff strums tests the Cicognani SexyBoost2, McGregor Crunch/Crunch Plus, MXR Eric Gales EG74 Raw Dawg, Orangewood Echo 12 Live, Supro Delta King 10, Universal Audio Astra Modulation Machine, Eastman SB55, and the Eastwood Bob Weir Artist.

It’s all in the September issue of Vintage Guitar!