GAME ON

Chris Scruggs and Craig Smith explore the licks that make Game Changer a winner.

THE EVOLUTION OF JIM LAUDERDALE

His main goal has always been to write great songs. As he drops his 35th album, Game Changer, the Americana stalwart is learning to be a better guitarist.

THE LORDS OF LO-FI

GA-20's stripped-down, lo-fi approach has propelled them to the top of the blues charts. As they release their latest album, Crackdown, guitarists Matt Stubbs and Pat Faherty show us the gear that fuels their authentic blues-rock tone.

GOING HORIZONTAL

Want to give the lap steel a go? Here are Megan Lovell's four tips to help you get started.

RIFFING ON CLASSICS

Rebecca and Megan Lovell reveal the secrets behind Larkin Poe's alchemical magic for turning classic blues riffs into modern fuzzed-out blues-rock hooks.

TAKE FIVE

Kingfish delivers his top guitar tips.

SOMETHING IN THE WATER

Hailing from Clarksdale, Mississippi, Christone \"Kingfish\" Ingram is a born and bred blues guitarist. Just don't call him a purist.

SIX OF ONE

Marcus delivers a half-dozen tips to help you become a singular guitarist.

LEARNING TO BREATHE

Eight years into his career, Marcus King has shown he has what it takes to go the distance. With Young Blood, his latest solo excursion, he does it with all six strings blazing.

PLAYING by the RULES

Known his work as a guitarist, writer and producer with artists like Kacey Musgraves and Brett Eldredge, Daniel Tashian follows three guidelines on his newest solo set. The result is an album's worth of gems.

Raw Power

The Beatles' 1970 swan song finds its groove in this 2003 redux.

You Dirty Rat

Introduced in 1979, the ProCo Rat Distortion Pedal is the OG overdrive.

MY CAREER IN FIVE SONGS

With more than five decades of road behind him, George Thorogood picks a handful of tunes that brought smiles to the miles.

TIP SHEET

Slide virtuoso Sonny Landreth delivers 10 pointers for everyone from beginners to pros.

CARDINAL VIRTUE

As he puts his old band back together for their debut album, blues guitarist Chris Buck emphasizes playing for the song.

RED ALERT

Salvaged old-growth redwood finds new life in Grez Guitars models like this Mendocino DC.

EARTHQUAKER DEVICES

Special Cranker

BOSS - Dual Cube LX

ROLAND LAUNCHED THE Cube in 1978, and since then, the compact amp has been offered in more than 50 different models that deliver great sound and features in durable enclosures.

VICTORY - V1 the Duchess and the Jack Overdrive

BRITISH GEAR MAKER Victory is primarily known for its well-built tube amps, but the amp-in-a-pedal sector is a growing and popular one, so it makes total sense for this company to join the likes of Bogner, Friedman and countless stompbox makers in this arena.

PRS - Horsemeat Transparent Overdrive, Mary Cries Optical Compressor and Wind Through the Trees Dual Analog Flanger

AFTER INITIALLY ESTABLISHING his reputation with electric guitars, and following with acoustic guitars and amplifiers, it seemed an inevitability that Paul Reed Smith would fill the missing link in the signal chain -pedals.

EPIPHONE

Joe Bonamassa 1962 ES-335

Peter Rowan – 'Panama Red'

Peter Rowan reveals the origin of his signature song - and explains how to play it.

Fast Track

From inside his home studio, Kurt Vile reveals his working methods. Writing songs, playing guitar - it's all about capturing a "perfect moment."

How I Wrote... "Vincent"

Recorded in 30 takes with his Martin 00-21, Don McLean's 1972 hit has delivered mixed blessings.

BLACKSTAR St. James 6L6 Combo

IT'S A SAFE bet that tube-powered guitar amps won't go out of style with guitar players anytime soon, but if there's one thing that drives players to find acceptable alternatives to tube technology, it's the weight.

ERNIE BALL MUSIC MAN Cutlass HT TESTED

BORN OUT OF the California bolt-neck electric guitar tradition, Ernie Ball Music Man has nevertheless continued to strive for originality and innovation.

Acoustic Tips for Electric Players

How to maximize that big hollow box.

HOT COUNTRY

101 Learn the nuts and bolts of high-tech country lead guitar.

GLIDE PATHS

Learn five useful slide-playing techniques to help you become a bottleneck virtuoso with these Derek Trucks-inspired licks.

All That Glitters

It's not gold, but the finish on this 1967 Tele-Star guitar sparkles from its headstock all the way to its electronics cavity.