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2014 Issue 07 July
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Premier Guitar July 2014: This month we take you back in time to check out 10 bizarre vintage-guitar oddities from the ’60s and ’70s—instruments from Avalon, Eko, Guyatone, Teisco, Wurlitzer, and more. In our interviews section, we talk to blues legend Johnny Winter, the War on Drugs’ Adam Granduciel, the String Cheese Incident, and Mastery Bridges’ John Woodland. We also deep-dive with the Minnesota State College “Red Wing” luthiery school, and go aboard the Yes prog-rock cruise. And our latest Forgotten Heroes piece looks at the life of folk-rock legend Bruce “Mr. Tambourine Man” Langhorne. Gear reviews this month include the Mooer LoFi Machine, Hotone Opto Tremolo, MXR Echoplex Preamp, Fender Custom Shop 60th Anniversary 1954 Heavy Relic Strat, Keeley Seafoam Chorus, Zon Mosaic Mojo, Cordoba Acero D9-CE, ZVEX Fuzzolo, GJ2 Shredder, Electroplex Rocket 42, EBS Classic 500 and ClassicLine 210, and Hermida Dover Drive.
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2014 Issue 06 June
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Premier Guitar June 2014: As usual, we’ve got a huge range of artist and gear coverage in store this month. Our feature interviews include chats with shred legend Joe Satriani about his new 15-CD box set, alt-folk acoustic badass Sean Watkins from Nickel Creek, Linkin Park’s Brad Delson, bluegrass virtuoso Bryan Sutton, and nylon-string shredders Rodrigo y Gabriela. Just in time for sunny-day strumming in the park, we’ve got a roundup of four 12-string acoustics—from Breedlove, Godin, Martin, and Fender—that cost less than $650. We also take a fascinating look at the prewar Martin D-45 flattop, possibly the most coveted acoustic guitar on the planet. This month we also talk to influential acoustic and electric luthier Joe Veillette about his contributions to instrument design. Our gear reviews this month include the Fender Coronado, Peavey ValveKing 20, Positive Grid’s BIAS amp-modeling app, the Musicvox MI-5 bass, Electro-Harmonix’s Soul Food, MTD’s Kingston Rubicon 6-22, the Orange Crush CR60C, Seymour Duncan’s Dirty Deeds Distortion, and Daring Audio’s Laser Cannon HD bass DI box.
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2014 Issue 05 May
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Premier Guitar May 2014: Whether you’re into heavy music, indie rock, or something with serious hooks, we’ve got a barnburner for you this month: In our artist-feature section, we have a roundtable discussion on the state of metal and hardcore with guitarists from six of the heaviest bands on the planet—the Dillinger Escape Plan, Baroness, Funeral for a Friend, Deafheaven, Propagandhi, and Gorguts. We also talk to the guys from chart-topping neo-New Wavers Neon Trees, ska-metal vet Tim Mahoney from 311, and the dual-guitar team in Manchester Orchestra. Gear-wise, we’ve got the latest, greatest guitars, amps, and stompboxes from the Musikmesse trade show, as well as a recap of our greatest Rig Rundowns with headbanging bands. Our reviews include the new PRS Archon amp, Aristides 070 7-string, Jack White’s Third Man Bumble Buzz fuzz, Warwick RockBass Star Bass, TC Electronic Ditto X2 looper, DiPinto Melody Mach IV, Black Cat OD-Boost, Breedlove Premier Auditorium Rosewood, Dr. J Sparrow bass DI, and Origin Effects Cali76 Limiting Amplifier. We also get stories, tips, and tricks from a posse of guitarists on ways to get—and keep—a gig supporting singer-songwriters with big ambitions. As always, we’ve got an incredible set of columns from industry experts on everything from recording to budget eBay finds, vintage gems, bass advice, and home guitar projects.
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2014 Issue 04 April
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Premier Guitar April 2014: Gear connoisseurs rejoice—we just got back from the Winter 2014 NAMM show in Anaheim, California, and here we’ve got the top 28 guitars, basses, amps, and stomps to covet in 2014. We also get to talk to John Frusciante about his long-awaited solo album, be a fly on the wall as bass legends Will Lee and Nathan East interview each other, and hear the latest from roots-rocker Jimbo Mathus and classical virtuoso Jason Vieaux. Meanwhile, luthier/pickup maker Tom Jones (TV Jones) writes about the history of the baritone guitar. Our gear reviews this month include the Line 6 POD HD Pro X, Eastwood Airline Map Baritone, Vox Night Train G2 NT15C1, Carvin PB4, MXR Phase 99, Lowden 32 SE, Synaptic Groove Snapperhead, Markbass Bass Multiamp, Solid Gold FX Zeta, and Fender Kingman Pro Custom.
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2014 Issue 03 March
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This month we take a look at pedalboards of the pros by showing you 10 stomp stations from recent Rig Rundowns with Joe Bonamassa, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dweezil Zappa, Lamb of God, J Mascis, Queens of the Stone Age, the Cult, Minus the Bear, Living Colour, and Keller Williams. (We’ve also got a gallery of rad reader pedalboards that give the pros’ boards a run for their money!) Our excerpt from the new Rolling Stones Gear book includes exclusive photos of Keith Richards’ and Brian Jones’ guitars, while a companion online interview features insights from author Andy Babiuk. We also recap our recent Rig Rundown with Keith Urban, take a look at Germany’s most storied instrument-making region, and talk to acoustic virtuoso Preston Reed, Mogwai’s Stuart Braithwaite and John Cummings, and Bill Finnegan—elusive builder of the famous Klon Centaur pedal. Reviews this month include the Magnatone Super Fifty-Nine, the Boss ME-80 multi-effector, Taylor’s 814ce, Ampeg’s V-4B bass head and SVT-212AV cab, the Rainger FX Air Traffic Controller, Silvertone’s Model 1423, the Source Audio Soundblox 2 OFD Guitar microModeler, G&L’s LB-100 bass, the Fender Custom ’68 Princeton Reverb, and the Analog Alien Rumble Seat.
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2014 Issue 02 February
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Premier Guitar February 2014: If you’re looking for cool new projects for your favorite axe, this issue is bound to have something enticing for you: For pickup swappers, we’ve got the exclusive scoop on Fishman’s innovative new Fluence pickups, as well as a roundup of humbucker-sized P-90s from DiMarzio, Lindy Fralin, Seymour Duncan, Harmonic Design, GFS, and Lollar. We also chronicle the resurrection of an old 1974 Epiphone Crestwood, including adding new Duncan Seth Lover humbuckers, tuners, switches, and a Vibramate-mounted Bigsby. We even have a gallery of reader-submitted hot-rod project guitars. And for the really adventurous, our cover story walks you step-by-step through the process of installing a MIDI controller pad in the top of your solidbody, à la Muse’s Matt Bellamy. Interviews this month include chats with Reverend Horton Heat, Boston’s Tom Scholz, and Arthur Channel’s Jon Greene, Lyle Workman, and Alain Johannes. We also take a look back at the life of Free’s Paul Kossoff. Our gear reviews this month include an exclusive look at Moog’s five new Minifooger pedals, the ToneVille Beale Street, Epiphone’s G-400 Pro, the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang bass, CMandell’s Dutch Kazoo fuzz, Larrivée’s D-40R dreadnought, the Spaceman Sputnik, PureSalem’s Electric End, Ashdown’s MiBass 2.0 head and Mi 12 cab, and the Strymon Big Sky.
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2014 Issue 01 January
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Premier Guitar January 2014: Our cover story this month takes you back in time to explore the history behind Marshall Amplification’s development of the world’s first 100-watt amp—which would forever change rock ’n’ roll by powering legendary acts such as the Who, Hendrix, Zeppelin, and more. We also talk to a variety of artists about their new releases this month, including Jonny Lang, A Perfect Circle’s Billy Howerdel and James Iha, and Jim Campilongo. Our builder profile this month is Born Custom Guitars from Broomfield, Colorado. And our 12 guitar and bass gear reviews this month include an exclusive new look at Blackstar’s new LT stompboxes, and in-depth tests of Fishman’s TriplePlay MIDI pickup system, ESP’s LTD EC-1000M Deluxe, the Zoom A3 acoustic processor, Reverend’s Pete Anderson PA-1 RT, the Andrews Amplification Spectraverb 40, Skreddy’s Little Miss Sunshine, the Matchless Thunderman bass head, and TWA’s Great Divide 2.0 pedal.
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2013 Issue 12 December
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Premier Guitar December 2013: To finish off the year in gear, we bring you our top picks—39 guitars, basses, amps, effects, and accessories that won our esteemed Premier Gear award. Our interviews this month include conversations with Trivium’s Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu, Kings of Leon’s Matthew Followill, Pierre Bensusan, the Melvins’ Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover, Deap Vally’s Lindsey Troy, and studio legend Andrew Scheps. We’ve also got an excerpt from Lisa S. Johnson’s beautiful coffee-table book, 108 Rock Star Guitars, and we show you 23 of the gorgeous and rare guitars in Chicago bluesman Daniel Ivankovich’s collection. Our 10 new gear reviews this month include the Eventide H9, Squier Vintage Modified Cabronita Telecaster with Bigsby, Knaggs Severn Trembuck 3, T-Rex Magnus, Little Walter Twin 50/22, PRS Grainger bass, Worland Prairie flattop, and more.
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2013 Issue 11 November
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This month we chronicle the titans of the tremolo bar, from the brilliant minds who concocted its mechanics – like Paul Bigsby, Floyd Rose, and Ned Steinberger – to the players who hooked us on its intoxicating effects. And what about the other tremolo – the pulsating electrical effect from amps and pedals? Yeah, we delve into that, too. We also interview Dream Theater’s John Petrucci and North Mississippi Allstars’ Luther Dickinson, plus explore the life and legacy of legendary jazz instructor Ted Greene. For bassists, we visit Warwick’s annual Bass Camp to bring you advice and insights from players such as Victor Wooten, Jonas Hellborg, and TM Stevens. Our guitar and bass gear reviews this month include the PRS S2 Custom 24, TC Electronic PolyTune 2, Guild Starfire hollowbody bass, the Hayden Mini Mofo, BearFoot Model G, NS Design CR5 Radius bass, and more.
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2011 Issue 03 March
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Premier Guitar March 2011: Dying to find out what new gear will be available at your favorite guitar shop in the next few months? Our mammoth Winter NAMM 2011 wrap-up takes you to the country’s biggest gear show with pics of the scenery and write-ups on 68 guitar and bass products that caught our eyes and ears. We also debut our new monthly lesson from jazz giant Pat Martino and talk to bass god Billy Sheehan and shredmeister Paul Gilbert on the new Mr. Big album, Bryce and Aaron Dessner on the National’s acclaimed High Violet LP, and Sam Beam about his folk experimentalism on Iron and Wine’s new release. Our reviews this month include gear from Fano, Knaggs, JET, Fretted Americana, Martin, Schroeder Amplification, Stone Deaf, Tone God, Gig-Fx, and MTD.
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2011 Issue 02 February
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We’ve got you covered on the gear and artist fronts, with a gorgeous gallery of custom “pinkburst” guitars and amps from the Pinkburst Project-a benefit to raise money and awareness for a rare eye disease that often leads to blindness-as well as features on Paul McCartney sideman Brian Ray, punk veterans Social Distortion, fingerstyle guru Pierre Bensusan, and the five most influential funk guitarists of all time. We also review the Line 6 DT50 amp, Guild D-50 Standard dreadnought, Manson E Bass John Paul Jones Signature model, Boomerang III Phrase Sampler, Teye Guitars La Pirata Custom Plus, Way Huge Green Rhino Overdrive MkII, Eastwood Warren Ellis Tenor Guitar, DLS Effects Versa Vibe, Nolatone Ampworks Rotten Johnny, Stadler Goldtop, and DDyna Bass 10.
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2010 Issue 11 November – Collector Cover 3
$2.50Our annual “Pedal Issue” is one for the record books-literally: At 272 pages, it has been verified by Inquiry Management Systems, an independent publishing research firm, as the largest single issue of a US guitar magazine ever. It’s also the first PG ever to have four randomly distributed covers, each featuring a fully functional custom pedal with the issue’s cover lines printed directly on its face. (The pedals are a JAM Pedals RetroVibe, a DigiTech Whammy, a Diamond Pedals Halo Chorus, and an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi, and you can enter to win them at premierguitar.com Oct. 19 through Nov. 16.) Inside, the issue is packed with 30+ stompbox reviews, three features-on Rolling Stone Ron Wood, Iron Maiden, and Zakk Wylde-a profile on “5 Boutique Stompbox Builders You Should Know,” a profile on Electro-Harmonix founder Mike Matthews, a wrap-up of Experience PRS 2010, and reviews of three guitars and two amps.