No. 270, June 2015
How to Get a Free Gibson J-45
Sage advice from a Texas “outlaw” singer-songwriter
Keeping It Simple
Caitlin Canty finds songs in a 1930s flattop
In the Afterglow
Singer-songwriter José González goes it alone on his hit album Vestiges & Claws
Parlor Pickin’
Small-body guitars have come a long way from their Victorian-era roots
Roadside Americana III
Check out our special guide to US guitar-factory tours
High on Bluegrass
A flashback to Jerry Garcia’s collaborations with David Grisman
Dead Unplugged
How the kings of psychedelia found their acoustic groove
Jerry’s Way
Master Jerry Garcia’s influential acoustic style
News
The Beat
A new album and book look at Woody Guthrie’s LA years; Mandolin Orange’s serene Americana; Steve Earle’s music camp
News Spotlight
Hollywood Anderson’s amazing American Idol journey
PLAY
The Basics
Learn the fundamentals of Brazilian bossa nova
Weekly Workout
Discover the myriad possibilities of open-D fingerpicking
AG Trade
Shop Talk
Alister Atkin re-creates Buddy Holly’s Gibson J-45; independence for Takamine; new Martin Ed Sheeran model
Makers & Shakers
Archivist Dick Boak is Martin’s history detective
Review: Gibson Bob Dylan SJ-200 Player’s Edition
This vintage-inspired model boasts an outstanding voice
Review: Bedell Blackbird Vegan
A parlor guitar that will appeal to troubadours and blues players
Review: Mitchell ME1 & ME2CEC
Affordable series has much to offer entry-level players
Pickin’
Larrivée jumps back into the ukulele game with the UB-40 baritone
Great Acoustics
Revisiting the circa-1900 Washburn White Rose parlor guitar
MIXED MEDIA
Playlist
Tom Brosseau’s strange and evocative Perfect Abandon; also, A Wanderer I’ll Stay by Pharis & Jason Romero, Sufjan Stevens’ Carrie & Lowell, Charlie Parr’s Stumpjumper, and six essential bluegrass tracks
Stage: Rock Bottom Remainders
Literary rockers reunite at Tucson book fair
Moonlight Drive, The Doors
Stone Blind Horses, Ray Wylie Hubbard
Shady Grove, Jerry Garcia / David Grisman
