Shawn Hammond

Latest articles by Shawn Hammond

A photo of the Catalinbread Crooner pedal
We review the Catalinbread Crooner preamp pedal

By Shawn Hammond Published

Inspired by vintage RCA studio preamps, this unique gain device can get plenty nasty. But the real magic is in subtleties that are rarely offered in guitar-pedal form

Pedals & Pedalboards
Buddy Guy performs during 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at Fair Grounds Race Course on May 04, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Buddy Guy on the endorsement that helped him more than any record company

By Christopher Scapelliti Published

As his 90th-birthday tour approaches its finale, the blues legend reflects on learning from Muddy Waters and B.B. King, influencing generations of guitarists, and why he never felt the need to change his sound

Guitarists
A photo of the Silvertone 1446 VBK (for Bigsby Vibrato)
We review the Silvertone 1446 semihollow and find a mid-priced steal that’s more than a handsome rocker

By Shawn Hammond Published

With a set neck, center block and Wilkinson-designed mini-humbuckers, RBI Music’s $999 reissue puts a decidedly muscular spin on the vintage Silvertone design

Electric Guitars
A photo of the three Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr pedals: (from left) Dirty Boy Overdrive, Fuzz and Booster
We review the Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr. Overdrive, Fuzz and Booster effects pedals

By Shawn Hammond Published

Warm Audio shrinks Alex Saraceno’s larger Dirty Boy circuits into more compact, affordable pedals, bringing the sounds of the originals to a new generation of guitarists

Pedals & Pedalboards
Doyle Bramhall II
5 of Doyle Bramhall II’s Greatest Guitar Playing Insights

By Rod Brakes, Shawn Hammond Published

The maestro talks songwriting, soloing and more in these inspiring interview snippets from the GP archive.

Guitarists