“Those Fender Jazz basses sounded fantastic, but they scared the hell out of me”: Why bassist Paul Samwell-Smith chose a short-scale Epiphone for his “rave-ups” with the Yardbirds
The blues-rock opener from the band’s 1966 debut album showcases a standout example of Samwell-Smith’s fluid, freewheeling bass work
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“Fender execs were miffed that the brand was being represented by such a worn-out Strat. They gave Rory a new one to replace the ’61. It saw little use”: The story of Rory Gallagher’s ’61 Stratocaster, one of the most iconic guitars of all time
The late bluesman’s most famous guitar is a true relic in the original religious sense of the term: it was a part of Rory himself, a receptacle for his musical mojo and a dear friend that spent more time with him than most people
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“He was one of a kind”: Alabama guitar legend Wayne Perkins – who played with the Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, and Joni Mitchell – dies at 74
Perkins made his name as a Muscle Shoals session ace and would go on to have a storied career playing with the greats
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“I look down, I see the empty pit, and I see a bass guitar against the wall. I said, ‘Right, I’m gonna show you guys what I’ve got’”: When a teenage Suzi Quatro laid down a marker by jamming with Jeff Beck and Cozy Powell
The bassist was determined to prove her worth, and the impromptu jam was the perfect platform to do it