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BUCK OWENS AND HIS BUCKAROOS
A Bunch of Twangy Guitars
Buck Owens’ track to stardom had an unorthodox start – one that didn’t depend on his unique voice. Rather, it was launched when another singer needed a lead guitarist on short notice. By Rich Kienzle

THE MURPH 12-STRING
Tugging at Your Heart Strings
Whether you appreciate its “Holy Grail” factor, the underdog/“Rocky” element, or the Hollywood blockbuster-like plot, the story of Murphy Music Industries has all those things and more. By Teisco Del Rey

AMP-O-RAMA
The Matchless DC30
Matchless was formed in 1989, and its flagship amp used a design that was based on co-founder Rick Perrotta’s desire to “build an AC30 that wouldn’t break.” But it’s much more than just a Vox copy. By Dave Hunter

GIBSON TOP TENSION BANJOS
Though most bluegrass banjo players consider Gibson’s Mastertones to be the ultimate, with their one-piece flange and flat-head tone ring, the final step came in 1937 with the Styles 7, 12, and 18, better known as the “top tension” models. By George Gruhn and Walter Carter

THE GUILD FACTORY 2007
Since the passing of founder Alfred Dronge in 1972, Guild has had several owners. But until 1995, when it was purchased by Fender, none had a cohesive plan. It has undergone a rebuilding and today makes guitars much like it did in the 1950s and ’60s. By Steven Stone

THE GRETSCH ASTRO-JET
For all its spage-age-wannabe weirdness, Gretsch’s shot at the Gibson SG was actually a very nice guitar, with a solid mahogany body, set mahogany neck, and bound ebony fingerboard with neoclassical “thumbprint” inlay. By Michael Wright

BASS SPACE
The Mid-’50s Fender Precision
In 1954, Fender’s original electric bass underwent significant change, owing a tip of the headstock to Fender’s newer solidbody guitar, the double-cut Stratocaster. By Willie G. Moseley

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