Review: Taylor’s Flagship 814ce Builder’s Edition Sees New Boutique-Approved Variations
With its perfectly dressed frets, spot-on neck relief, excellent action, and smooth joints and edges, the build quality on the 814ce is simply unimpeachable.
James Rotondi
James Rotondi is a guitarist, journalist, and critic.
Review: Martin’s Super D and D-18 StreetLegend—Two Bold New Takes on Classic Dreadnoughts
Two new guitars that stretch the parameters of the models they take after without abandoning their core sonic or build qualities.
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Guitar Talk: Jimmy Buffett on His Evolving Collection of Golden-Era Instruments
Jimmy Buffett passed away September 1, 2023 at 76. Today, we're revisiting this conversation with the "Margaritaville" singer-songwriter about his collection of rarified golden-era guitars.
Review: Gibson’s J-45 50s Faded and Keb’ Mo’ “3.0” 12-Fret J-45 Are Two New Takes on the Classic Workhorse
Both models stick to the strengths and depart from the script in terms of our preconceived ideas about the J-45 shape.
How Guitar Duo Rodrigo y Gabriela Is Informed by Eastern Spiritual Practices—and Thrash-Metal
On their latest release, In Between Thoughts... A New World, the spiritually inclined pair have invested their pan-genre musical values with some of their own more metaphysical ones.
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Review: Taylor American Dream AD27e Flametop Exudes a Relaxed Class
It’s no accident that Taylor calls its recent line of more affordable guitars—including the AD27 reviewed here—the American Dream series. All of the instruments are built at Taylor’s Southern California factory. With prices ranging from roughly $1,500 to $2,200, the series hopes to be the budget bridge that allows Taylor aspirants to grab the brass ring without falling into the abyss of debt.
Review: Martin’s Modern Deluxe D-45 and 012-28 Are Majestic Flattops with Vintage-Inspired Designs and Modern Features
With the top-shelf Martin Modern Deluxe D-45 and 012-28 acoustic guitars, there’s no arguing with the overwhelming quality and class of the materials and craftmanship—and depth of sound.
Amp Review: VHT True Acoustic 60 Is a Versatile Combo with Clean Sounds
The VHT True Acoustic 60 guitar amp displays relatively little harmonic distortion, even at high-volume settings. Read more in this review!
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Review: Gibson’s New Generation Collection Is an Affordable Line of Soundport-Equipped Acoustics
Gibson has released a new line of acoustic guitars with soundports, the Generation Collection. HEre's our review of the Gibson G-45 and the Gibson G-200.
Amythyst Kiah Gives Old-Timey Music a New-Timey Sound
It's the stuff you can’t teach that makes Amythyst Kiah's music so impactful: a wicked right-hand fingerpicking and pick stroke, plus a voice full of power and authority.
Review: iZotope Spire Studio Allows Pro-Quality Audio Recording on the Fly
The new Izotope Spire Studio is packed with professional features that make it a proper recording and tracking device for acoustic guitarists.
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Jakob Dylan Uses His Trusty Gibson J-45 to Bring His Movie-like Songs to Life on the Wallflowers’ ‘Exit Wounds’
Jakob Dylan's new album with the Wallflowers, Exit Wounds, was written the help of his longest-serving songwriting partner, a mid-1960s Gibson J-45 acoustic guitar.
Guitar Review: Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Hummingbird
The street price on Epiphone’s "Inspired By Gibson" Hummingbird acoustic guitar? Just $799—and you get much of the vibe of its costlier Gibson counterparts.
Does Nashville Have the Best Guitar Shops in the Country?
Here's a look inside Music City’s "Temples of Spruce" to find out if Nashville really does have the best guitar shops in the country.
Meet 5 Maverick Guitarists Playing Their Way into Nashville’s New Frontier
Each of these singular six-string devotees has made the acoustic guitar their key partner in writing the next chapter of Nashville’s story.
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Guitar Review: PRS’ Punchy Tonare Parlor SE P20E Evokes a Bygone Era at a Budget Price
The PRS Tonare Parlor SE P20E guitar evokes the spirit, sound & form factor of a classic parlor while bearing the imprint of PRS’ signature aesthetics and playability.
Amp Review: Boss Acoustic Singer Live LT Is a Compact and Versatile Creative Tool
The Boss Acoustic Singer Live LT lets you tap into a certain live electricity at apartment volumes, in kitchen-sized spaces, and at motel room locales. That's creative gold right there. It's true that the amp won’t supply the audience for you, but on second thought, the version of you that passes through its circuit board may well help you find one.
Al Di Meola Takes Classic Beatles Tunes to New Places
After nearly 50 years exploring the most remote destinations on the musical map, Al Di Meola’s homecoming to formative influences The Beatles was always going to involve new languages and fresh perspectives. The travelogue that preceded it, after all, carried…
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Guitar Review: Martin’s Radical New Acoustic-Electric SC-13E Uses Innovative Construction for Playability and Tone
Martin's affordable new SC-13E acoustic guitar boasts a fresh, out-of-the-box redesign—even flying in the face of Martin’s usual traditional glued dovetail joint!
Guitar Review: Gibson G-45 Studio
Gibson's G-45 Studio acoustic guitar is a more affordable cousin of its beloved namesake, the J-45 acoustic guitar. See how it stacks up on our review.
Guitar Talk: Keb’ Mo’ on His Evolution as an Acoustic Player
Multiple Grammy Award-winning American blues artist Keb’ Mo’ counts collaborations with Taj Mahal, Jackson Browne, and Bonnie Raitt among his many golden moments.
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Gear Review: Taylor Grand Pacific 717 and 517e Builder’s Editions
Both guitars will surprise longtime Taylor players, who’ll certainly recognize the premium build quality, firm intonation, and note integrity on the Grand Pacific.
Guitar Mash Nashville: Songs Shared, Bridges Built
It goes without saying that bluegrass dobro titan Jerry Douglas is no stranger to the bandstand. Still, even Douglas had to admit that co-hosting a “Guitar Mash” at Nashville’s City Winery on April 7, 2018, alongside longtime Paul Simon musical…