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VINTAGE GIBSONS: How a pioneering American guitar company cut a twisting path to success. By Richard Johnston
Modern relatives
Read the story online.

IN THE MOMENT: Kelly Joe Phelps, guitar improviser extraordinaire, finds a new world of song. By Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers
Words and music to "Beggar’s Oil"

CLASSIC JAZZ: Gene Bertoncini, Ken Hatfield, and Olaf Tarenskeen combine a love of nylon-string guitar with a jazz sensibility. By Ron Forbes-Roberts
Music to Bertoncini’s arrangement of "Edelweiss"

DEPARTMENTS

JUMP STREET E-town radio turns ten, blues guitarist Otis Taylor, Vicki Genfan’s tap-happy style, Happenings, and more.

REVIEWS New music from Gillian Welch, Newport reissues, and Hit List CDs.

A.G. LETTER Jamie Anderson checks in from the National Women’s Music Festival.

SONG CRAFT What Lies Beneath: The secret history underlying Freedy Johnston’s seemingly simple pop. By Drew Pearce
Words and music to "Arriving on a Train"

GEARBOX 16 electronic tuners reviewed, equipment picks from Kelly Joe Phellps, Gene Bertoncini, Vicki Genfan, Otis Taylor, and others, plus new gear.

DEAR A.G. Answers to your questions about using a metronome, guitar names and sizes, and more.

PRIVATE LESSONS

Basics: Single-String Slide Melodies. By David Hamburger
Music to "Cucina Blues"

Flatpicking Techniques: Celtic Jigs. By David Surette
Music to "Coleraine" and "Monferrine"

MARKETPLACE Browse the classified ads with live links to advertiser Web sites.

GREAT ACOUSTICS 1965 Gibson Dove. By Richard Johnston

Cover: Gibson Nick Lucas, 1935 Advanced Jumbo, and 1934 L-4 Special. Photos by Tom Erlewine and Dave Matchette/Elderly Instruments.