David Rawlings Lesson
An exclusive lesson with Gillian Welch's lead guitarist and songwriting partner, who recently released his first album as a front man, Friend of a Friend. By Scott Nygaard.

All About Top Woods
A guitar's top is in no small part responsible for its tone. Acoustic Guitar explains the differences between the most common types. By Richard Johnston.

Multi-Talented Luthiers
Bernie Lehmann, Alan Perlman, Allan Beardsell, Stephen Marchione, and Aaron Andrews build a huge variety of instruments, which helps them perfect their building techniques, and in some cases, invent radical designs. By Andy Volk.

DEPARTMENTS

ACOUSTIC CLASSIC
Hickory Wind. Words and music by Gram Parsons and Bob Buchanan. By Andrew DuBrock.

CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC
Wagon Wheel. Words and Music by Bob Dylan and Jay Secor. By Dan Apczynski.

PRIVATE LESSON
Roland Dyens. The French guitarist/composer talks about arranging Brazilian choros, tone production, and picking-hand techniques. By Teja Gerken.

NEW GEAR 1
Santa Cruz 00 1929. Acoustic Guitar reviews an all-mahogany 12-fret 00 with classic style and lush, balanced tones. By Scott Nygaard.

NEW GEAR 2
Sierra Sunrise SAS40CE Review. Acoustic Guitar reviews a beautifully designed cedar-top auditorium-size acoustic-electric that is built for comfort. By Adam Perlmutter.

NEW GEAR 3
MiniFlex 2Mic, Model 1 Review. Acoustic Guitar reviews a clever internally mounted two-microphone system that provides natural onstage sound with less risk of feedback. By Doug Young.

IN THE STORES
IN THE STORES.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Poppin' Guitars. A who's who of fingerstyle guitarists take on classic songs by the Sherman Brothers. By Doug Young.

THE BASICS
The Fundamentals of Time. Learn how to focus your practice on time and rhythm, and why these concepts are so important for musicians. By Ruth Parry.

LUTHIER'S WORKBENCH
Dana Bourgeois’s Victoria Guitar. Celebrating 35 years as a guitar maker, Dana Bourgeois built a Victorian-size gem for his 5,000th instrument. By Teja Gerken.

GUITAR PRO
Talking Inlay with the Duke of Pearl. How Chuck Erikson—aka the Duke of Pearl—supplies guitar makers with materials for creating spectacular instrument inlays. By Charles Saufley.

PLAYLIST
Devendra Banhart, What Will We Be. By Derk Richardson.
Lyle Lovett, Natural Forces. By Celine Keating.

WOODSHED
Blues Turnarounds Lesson. Make your blues sing with these tasty turnaround ideas. By Orville Johnson.

SONGBOOK
I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song). Words and music by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, arranged by Mike Dowling. By Mike Dowling.

GREAT ACOUSTICS
2006 Collings C10. By Derek See.