Vintage Guitar Magazine

2 weeks ago | vintageguitar.com | Ward Meeker

Essentially unchanged today, the Strat remains one of the most-popular guitars in the world (see sidebar), and early models are among the most collectible. Unlikely as it seems in 2024, every so often, one emerges in near-pristine condition. This ’54 was bought used two years later at Henry’s Music and Jewelry, in Akron, Ohio, so 15-year-old Jackie Diethrich could use it while taking lessons.

2 weeks ago | vintageguitar.com | Ward Meeker

One of those uncles, David Kiely, tasted pop stardom as a member of The Marauders, a Merseybeat band that played The Caravan Club, had a hit in 1963 with “That’s What I Want,” and rubbed elbows with Gene Vincent, the Beatles, Stones, and Roy Orbison. Scoring a hit spurred Kiely, who used the stage name Danny Davis, to splurge on a new Gibson Hummingbird. One of four shipped to the U.K. in ’63 (David told the family Mick Jagger also got one) it became part of the band’s sound and image.

2 weeks ago | vintageguitar.com | Dave Hunter

Manufactured in Chicago but given a name evocative of a Pacific-island paradise, the 415k also encapsulates a large portion of early electric-guitar history in one square, two-tone box. Wrap up the very influential Hawaiian-guitar craze of the early 19th century and its dramatic impact on popular music in the United States along with the efforts of several major innovators in the quest to properly amplify the guitar in general, and that’s what we’re looking at in the form of this unassuming amp.

2 weeks ago | vintageguitar.com | Oscar Jordan

The left side (labeled “Circuit #O”) is inspired by Marshall’s Bluesbreaker. The knobs control gain (Honey), tone (Taste), and Volume. A toggle adjusts Mid Boost, Flat, and Low-End Boost. On the right side, “Circuit #1” is based on the Klon Centaur and gets the same control markings but with the addition of a (“Circuit Flavors”) toggle that switches between No Clean Blend, Medium Clean Blend, and Full Clean Blend.

2 weeks ago | vintageguitar.com | Pete Prown

Out of the case, it feels like a pricey acoustic, but its price tag says differently. Its top is solid, torrefied Sitka spruce with layered Indian rosewood back (two piece) and sides. The neck is mahogany with a scale of 25.5″, while the unbound fretboard is West African ebony fitted with 20 frets and faux-pearl 50th-anniversary inlay diamonds. Also look for a black peghead face, gold tuners, NuBone Nut, and a micarta saddle.