AUSTIN POWER

From chunk to chicha, Beto Martinez is the new king of Latin rock guitar.

A Good Year For The Rosewood

As Fender releases the George Harrison Rosewood Telecaster, we retrace the fascinating story of this iconic model with Fender historian Martin Kelly and a gorgeous 1969 original from its first, all-too-brief run.

Lone Star State of Mind

Spoon's Britt Daniel reveals how ZZ Top and their native Austin, Texas inspired the group's 10th long-player, Lucifer on the Sofa.

American Beauty

Armed with a vintage Martin, jamjazz cat Scott Metzger steps out with Too Close to Reason, an intimate solo debut that highlights the acoustic's unique charms.

Necks & Religion

Between a pair of shoulder surgeries, Steve Vai delivers Inviolate. An album of artistic purity, armed with a gretsch and the Triple-necked Hydra.

SOUL LOVE

HOW RICK TEDESCO FOUND AND LOST HIS DREAM GUITAR: MICK RONSON’S Z IGGY STARDUST–ERA 1968 GIBSON LES PAUL CUSTOM.

HARBINGER MLS1000 Portable

Line Array PA System

GIBSON

Generation Collection

PRS

S2 Custom 24-08

THE MAD AXE OF KING GEORGE

Finding Fretless author Paul Brett reveals how his relentless sleuthing uncovered the mysterious history of a most unusual Beatles guitar: George Harrison’s “mad” Bartell fretless.

Strymon

Iridium Amp and IR Cab Pedal

SLIDING INTO AFRICA

Kenny Greenberg goes back to the roots of the blues for his first solo record.

How I Wrote...

Pat Travers spills out the tale behind his classic 1980 cut.

JOE'S BIG ADVENTURE

ON THE ELEPHANTS OF MARS, JOE SATRIANI GOES IN SEARCH OF NEW THEMES AND TEXTURES. THE RESULT? MORE JOE THAN EVER BEFORE.

TWO of a KIND

ERIC JOHNSON DIGS INTO HIS VAULT AND COMES UP WITH A WINNING PAIR: THE BOOK OF MAKING AND YESTERDAY MEETS TODAY.

With a Lot of Help

Uke superstar Jake Shimabukuro teams up with Warren Haynes, Sonny Landreth, Willie Nelson, Jack Johnson, Vince Gill, Billy Strings and others on Jake & Friends.

Sweet Little Rock & Rollers

The sound of rock and roll began in the hands of Charles Edward Anderson Berry. Here are some of the guitars that helped him make history.

Strymon

Compadre Dual-Voice Compressor and Boost

ORIGIN EFFECTS

RevivalDRIVE Compact and MAGMA57

EASTMAN T64/v and T184MX

BOASTING A REPUTATION that grows year upon year, the Eastman String Company has long defied any “budget-brand” preconceptions normally heaped upon Chinese-made guitars, delivering instruments that punch well above their weight for build quality, tone and playability (see the “Meet Your Maker” interview with two of the company’s prime movers.

FENDER Mustang Micro

MINIATURIZATION IS THE story of the modern age, as devices keep getting smaller and more powerful. Case in point, the Mustang Micro, a very, very small guitar amplifier and effect modeling system that features a selection of tones from the Mustang series modeling amps. You can plug it directly into your guitar’s input jack, connect stereo headphones to its 1/8-inch jack, choose various amp and effect settings, and play for hours. The unit lets you jam along with tunes from your music library or streaming service through Bluetooth audio from your mobile device, tablet or computer. You can also record your guitar tones with or without a Bluetooth audio stream to your preferred recording system by using Mustang Micro’s USB-C output.

California Dreamin'

The new Matchless Laurel Canyon and Coldwater Canyon amps capture classic West Coast splendor.

Catch Me if You Can

Chuck Berry brought poetry to pop and broke race barriers to become rock and roll's first guitar-playing frontman. As he recalled, it all began with some "hillbilly stuff' he revved into a rocker: "Maybellene."

Beat the Odds

Luther Dickinson reveals his technique for fingerpicking with groups of five and seven.

John Frusciante

He saved the red hot chili peppers. But first he had to save himself.

Alternative Notion

"AVA puts an elegant spin on carbon-fiber luthiery with its One First Edition electric guitars."

Fire Down Below

"Armed with just his phone and extensive network of musical cohorts, Tom Morello takes the electric guitar into uncharted territory on The Atlas Underground Fire."

Time Is on Her Side

Stripping away the heavy rock guitars of her previous albums, Courtney Barnett makes a fresh start with Things Take Time, Take Time.

How I Wrote... "I Love Rock 'N' Roll"

The late Alan Merrill recalled how his flop became Joan Jett's runaway hit.

EARTHQUAKER DEVICES

Hizumitas Fuzz Sustainer