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New
2019 Issue 02 February
$2.50Premier Guitar February 2019: Our cover story this month takes a look at the fascinating journey of Ergon Guitars’ luthier Adriano Sergio from being a kid obsessed with woodworking to being an in-demand bassist, then a Navy SEAL, then touring road tech for metal giants, and, finally, to luthier of exquisite handmade instruments. Artist interviews this month include Muse’s Matt Bellamy, Richard Lloyd, John Butler, and Jack Pearson. Meanwhile, our gear-reviews section is packed with in-depth looks at the Electro-Harmonix Triangle Big Muff, Asher’s Hawaiian Junior Lap Steel, SoloDallas’ TSR4 Schaffer Replica Classic, the Zorg Small Basstar, Caparison’s Horus-M3 CC Courtney Cox signature model, BC Audio’s Bel Air 40, the Korora Audio Spira, ESP’s LTD GB-4 bass, Death By Audio’s Total Sonic Annihilation 2, the Breedlove Pursuit Concertina E, Dusky’s Hypatia, the Zeppelin Design Labs Quaverato, and Free the Tone’s Black Vehicle BV-1V. In the print issue (only), we also have tablature transcriptions of three tunes: Queen’s “Keep Yourself Alive (Live),” Lenny Breau’s arrangement of “Cannonball Rag,” and Coheed and Cambria’s “Here We Are Juggernaut.”
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2019 Issue 01 January
$2.50Premier GuitarJanuary 2019: Our cover story this issue is an interview with Adam “Nergal” Darski, frontman for influential extreme-metal outfit Behemoth, whose new albumI Loved You at Your Darkestis making waves for building on the band’s legacy of brutal music while also bucking trends held perhaps a bit too dear by the genre’s more hardcore adherents. In addition, we’ve also got in-depth talks with heavy-hitters such as Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power), MC5 legend Wayne Kramer, Slash and Myles Kennedy, and Larkin Poe’s Megan and Rebecca Lovell. On the gear front, we’ve got an in-depth look at the history of the mighty Tone Bender fuzz, as well as 13 guitar and bass reviews: Seymour Duncan’s Fooz Analog Fuzz Synth, MXR’s 5150 Chorus, the Carr Telstar, the Squier Contemporary Jazz HH, Ananashead’s Meteorite, Sadowsky’s MetroExpress, the Boss TU-03, Hotone’s Binary Eko, the Dophix Nettuno, Eastman’s V64 semi-hollowbody, Dunable’s SplatterBlaster, the Tone King Sky King, and the Mattoverse Electronics Inflection Point. In the print edition (only), we’ve also got full transcriptions of The Sword’s “Winter’s Wolves,” Joe Bonamassa’s “Love Is a Gamble,” Tommy Emmanuel’s rendition of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
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2018 Issue 12 December
$2.50Premier Guitar December 2018: Heralding the end of another killer year in gear, this month we recap the 78 guitar and bass products that blew our minds in 2018—from instruments and amps to stompboxes, rack gear, pickups, accessories, and more. We’ve also got feature interviews with heavyweights like former Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello, garage-rock icons Mark Arm and Steve Turner from Mudhoney, Sleep and High on Fire frontman Matt Pike, and Reeves Gabrels talking about the late great David Bowie’s request for Gabrels to re-record the 1987 Bowie album, Never Let Me Down. We also talk to bass virtuoso MonoNeon about the string of sessions fueling his rising star—including his work with Prince before the legendary bandleader’s untimely 2016 death. New guitar and bass gear reviews this month include a look at the 2019 Gibson Les Paul Standard, the Fractal Audio Systems Axe-Fx III, Vox’s Mini Superbeetle, Acoustic’s B100C bass combo, the Chase Bliss Audio Thermae, the Paradox Effects Terran, Fano’s JM4 Standard bass, Cusack Music’s Resound Reverb, the Fishman Matrix Infinity Blend, Mackie’s FreePlay Live, the String Theory EFX KE/64, and more. In the print edition (only), we’ve also got tablature transcriptions of Avenged Sevenfold’s “Roman Sky,” Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” and Buddy Guy’s “Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues.”
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2018 Issue 11 November
$2.50Premier Guitar November 2018: In our cover story this month, Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger from hard-rock sensation Halestorm talk about their favorite gear and the process of writing for and recording their latest album, Vicious. Other artist interviews include a chat with punk legend James Williamson (formerly of the Stooges), rising classic-rock revivalists Sam and Jake Kiszka from Greta Van Fleet, and Cedric Burnside, son of blues god R.L. Burnside. Gear coverage this issue includes a comprehensive historical feature on vintage modulation effects by British gear guru Tony Miln, as well as 13 guitar and bass reviews, including the Mesa/Boogie Fillmore 50, Electro-Harmonix’s OpAmp Big Muff, the Marshall Origin 50C, SviSound’s RetroZoid Germanium Fuzz, the Fender Rumble Studio 40, ValveTrain’s PowerTrain Studio 20, the Nutter Guitars Astro Captain, Alexander Pedals’ Colour Theory, Greer Amps’ Tomahawk Deluxe, the ZT Lee Ranaldo Club, Malekko Heavy Industry’s Thicken, the Orange Terror Bass and OBC112, and the Marco N1 4-string. In the print magazine, we’ve also got 6-string transcriptions of three tunes: Deep Purple’s “Space Truckin’,” Guns N Roses’ “Mr. Brownstone,” and Cam’s “Burning House.”
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2018 Issue 08 August
$2.50Premier Guitar August 2018: Our annual Amp Issue is stacked to the chassis with killer amplifier info for everyone from beginners to expert players, including a comprehensive explanation of how tube-amp gain stages work and how cabinet components and construction affect tone, in addition to reviews of four hot new amps. Artist features this month include interviews with former Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus, Captain Sensible and Paul Gray from legendary punk band the Damned, and Nigerian Tuareg guitarist Almeida from Tal National. We also find out about the very first guitars played by 12 pros—including Nita Strauss, Marissa Paternoster, Mark Arm, Al Di Meola, Joey Landreth, Paul Gilbert, and more. Meanwhile, this issue’s gear-reviews section takes a hard listen to the EVH 5150III 6L6, Paul Reed Smith’s Mark Tremonti MT15, the Sound City SC30, Blackstar’s Unity 500, the Pigtronix Octava Micro, the Jext Telez Jonathan’s Wilson Canyon Climber, Music Man’s 2018 StingRay 4-string, Spaceman’s Mercury IV, the Dwarfcraft Devices Grazer Sample Slice Repeater, Lounsberry’s Amp Rescue, Elite Guitar’s Cling On acoustic pickup, and the TC Electronic AEON sustainer.
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2018 Issue 07 July
$2.50Premier Guitar July 2018: This year’s Acoustic Issue features an in-depth introduction to the world of resonator guitars, a look at the stunning work of four stellar American luthiers, and six acoustic-oriented gear reviews. We’ve also got interviews with Meshell Ndegeocello and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Peter Hayes and Robert Levon Been, as well as a look at the “big beast” guitar synths behind 1970s prog-rock pioneers. Gear reviews this month include a look at Fender’s Eric Johnson Signature Stratocaster Thinline, Taylor’s Builder’s Edition K14ce, L.R. Baggs’ Align Series Reverb, the Klōs Travel Guitar, Fishman’s Loudbox Mini Charge, Paul Reed Smith’s SE A40E acoustic, EarthQuaker Devices’ Pyramids, the MXR Classic 108 Fuzz (Mini), the Swope Dakota 4-string, Dogmatek’s Arctic Wolf, Hartke’s HD500, the Framus Television Teambuilt Pro, the Blackbird Savoy, and Two-Rock’s Bloomfield Drive. In the print edition, there are also full tablature transcriptions of Anthrax’s “Indians,” Sheryl Crow’s “Strong Enough,” and Jane’s Addiction’s “Mountain Song.
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2018 Issue 06 June
$2.50Premier Guitar June 2018: For our cover story this month, we tapped U.K. studio guru and vintage-gear dealer Tony Miln to scour the outlands of outboard gear to examine 20 unusual spring reverbs that promise ultimate ambient power. In our artist-interview section, we talk to Blur’s Britpop legend Graham Coxon, slide master Ry Cooder, Stone Temple Pilots’ Dean and Robert DeLeo, Kittie’s Morgan Lander and Tara McLeod, and Nashville twanger Guthrie Trapp. We also serve up a Forgotten Heroes piece on krautrock icons CAN. In gear reviews, we’ve got a roundup of short-scale basses—Fender’s JMJ Road Worn Mustang, Spector’s Bantam 4, and Supro’s Huntington II—in addition to outings with the Orange Brent Hinds Terror, the PRS Silver Sky, Source Audio’s Ventris reverb, Blackstar’s HT Club MkII, the Cort GB75JH 5-string, Fender’s the Bends compressor, Dusky’s Mandorla, the Lovell Shakey tremolo, Land Devices’ HP-2, the Meris Polymoon, Hü Tonelabs’ Psychlone Jr., and Ampeg’s Opto Comp. In the print edition, we’ve also got full transcriptions of three tunes: Jeff Beck’s “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers,” Django Reinhardt’s “Honeysuckle Rose,” and Imagine Dragons’ “I’m So Sorry.”
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2018 Issue 05 May
$2.50Premier Guitar May 2018: Our annual DIY issue serves up a massive feature detailing our recommended mods for four famously affordable instruments—three 6-strings and a bass—that serve as excellent platforms for getting a “custom” axe at a price way lower than a luthier-built alternative. Meanwhile, our interview lineup sees us chatting with Aerosmith legend Joe Perry, Bones guitarist (and Jeff Beck collaborator) Carmen Vandenberg, avant-jazz vet Bill Frisell, Corrosion of Conformity’s Pepper Keenan and Woody Weatherman, and acoustic trooper John Prine. Gear reviews this month include comprehensive looks at Dr. Z’s Z-PLUS combo, Tech 21’s GED-2112 Geddy Lee SansAmp, the Pigtronix Mothership 2, Universal Audio’s OX, the Modulus Graphite Funk Unlimited RevOLite 4, Magnetic Effects’ Midphoria, Darkglass Electronics’ Alpha•Omicron, the Koll Super Cub, Massive Effects’ G.O.A.F., Schuyler Dean’s Jazzmaster Gold Foil pickups, the Gamechanger Audio Plus pedal, Subdecay’s Vector, and the Fender CN-60S nylon-string.
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2018 Issue 04 April
$2.50Premier Guitar April 2018: This month we take you inside the Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California—the year’s biggest gear show—to recap the 27 products that wowed us most, from acoustic, electric, and bass guitars to amps and effects. In our artist interviews, we talk to Umphrey’s McGee’s Jake Cinninger and Brendan Bayliss, the Darkness’ Justin and Dan Hawkins, Khruangbin’s Laura Lee and Mark Speer, Converge’s Kurt Ballou, Johnny Hiland, and Jim Campilongo. Meanwhile, our gear reviews include in-depth looks at the Mesa/Boogie Rosette 300 Two:Eight acoustic combo, PureSalem’s Mendiola solidbody, the Yellowcake Lida Machine, Sire’s Marcus Miller P7 bass, Miura Guitars’ M2 compressor/limiter, the Cusack Tap-A-Delay, the Neunaber Iconoclast, Red Hawk Effects’ Raven germanium/silicon Fuzz Face clone, the Mythos Pedals Chupacabra, Todd Sharp’s JOAT 20, the Matthews Effects Chemist, Sublime Guitars’ Chieftain Deluxe, and the Peterson StroboClip HD tuner. We’ve also got tablature transcriptions of three killer tunes (print only): Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “I Know a Little,” James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain,” and Umphrey’s McGee’s “Looks.”
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2018 Issue 03 March
$2.50Premier Guitar March 2018: Our annual Pro Pedalboards issue features an up-close and personal look at 10 boards from a range of players including the Fall of Troy’s Thomas Erak, Warpaint’s Emily Kokal and Theresa Wayman, Eric Gales, Nikki Monninger from Silversun Pickups, Mr. Big’s Billy Sheehan and Paul Gilbert, Larry LaLonde of Primus, and Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis. But that’s not all—we also take a look at a killer lineup of stomp stations from PG fans! On the interview front, this issue we chat with rockabilly legend Duane Eddy, blues-rock ripper Hannah Wicklund, and bass legend Lee Sklar. Gear-wise, we’ve got a cool DIY feature on simple guitar hacks that cost less than 12 bucks, and reviews of 13 guitar and bass gadgets, including Hagstrom’s new Fantomen 6-string, the Epiphone Embassy PRO bass, Electro-Harmonix’s Green Russian Big Muff, the Orange Fur Coat, Guild’s Jumbo Junior bass, the Fender Ed O’Brien Stratocaster, Nanolog Audio’s the WaveFunction, the Chellee Compy, Nolatone’s Club Master, the Lehle Mono Volume 90, Dunlop’s Geezer Butler Cry Baby wah, Seafoam Pedals’ Lighthouse, and Cloud Microphones’ Cloudlifter Zi DI. Lastly, we’ve also got transcriptions of three rad tunes (print edition only): Eric Johnson’s “Cliffs of Dover,” Deftones’ “My Own Summer (Shove It),” and jazz-great Jim Hall’s take on the classic Sonny Rollins tune “St. Thomas.”
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2018 Issue 01 January
$2.50Premier Guitar January 2018: Our cover story this month is a true treat for longtime fans of Radiohead: After decades of avoiding guitar interviews, Ed O’Brien steps out of the shadows to gratefully ruminate with PG about his journey in one of modern rock’s most celebrated—and confounding—bands. We also talk to funk bassist extraordinaire Bootsy Collins, blues badass Samantha Fish, Bloodclot’s Todd Youth (formerly of Danzig) and Nick Oliveri (previously of Queens of the Stone Age), and—in a double-whammy treasure—avant-garde guitarist Elliott Sharp interviews storied producer Peter K. Siegel about his work recording with Doc Watson and Roy Buchanan. On the gear front, this issue we have a feature all about the ins and outs of guitar necks—materials, construction, profile shapes, etc.—as well as 13 guitar and bass reviews, including the Gretsch Players Edition Broadkaster, Wooly Coats’ Spanky MkII, the Mayones Hydra, Baroni Lab’s Mini Amp 50, Traveler’s LTD EC-1, the Grez Mendocino, KHDK’s Abyss, Old Blood Noise Endeavors’ Fault, the Serek Midwestern 2, Mid-Fi Electronics’ Magick i, the RainSong CH-WS, and Rocket Surgeon’s Boris. In our print edition (only), we also have transcriptions of Van Halen’s “Mean Street,” Doc Watson’s “Blackberry Blossom,” and King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man.”
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2017 Issue 12 December
$2.50Premier Guitar December 2017: Longtime readers know that at the end of each year we highlight the gear that blew our minds over the last 12 months—stuff that wowed us so much in terms of tone, flexibility, build/design, and value that it earned a minimum of 18 out of 20 possible “picks” in our ratings categories. This issue is no different, with our cover story celebrating the tonal ecstasies of 72 guitars, basses, amps, effects, and accessories. On the artist front, this issue we talk to Tetrarch shredder Diamond Rowe, Death from Above bassist Jesse Keeler, Thee Oh Sees’ John Dwyer, and slide genius Jerry Douglas. We also have tablature song transcriptions (print only) for Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Dark Necessities,” Iron Maiden’s “Wasted Years,” and the Black Crowes’ “Twice as Hard.” Our gear reviews this month include Fender’s ’64 Custom Deluxe Reverb, the Hughes & Kettner Era 1, Radial Engineering’s Texas Pro, the SviSound Techno-FA phaser, Hahn’s 112 solidbody, the Vertex Steel String, Yamaha’s BBP34, Stomp Under Foot’s Alabaster, Jackson Audio’s Prism, the Island Anzol, the Boss GT-1B, and Walrus Audio’s ARP-87.