Avett Brothers
The North Carolina siblings on their influences, songwriting collaborations, and how switching instruments can make a song blossom. By Derk Richardson.

Equipment Picks: The Guitars and Gear of the Avett Brothers

Goodall Guitars Profile
Four decades into building his unique custom guitars, James Goodall is making his most refined instruments ever. By Teja Gerken.

How to Buy a Custom Guitar
Everything you need to know to order your dream guitar. By Doug Young.

DEPARTMENTS

ACOUSTIC CLASSIC
Horse with No Name. Words and music by Dewey Bunnell. By Andrew DuBrock.
Ain't No Sunshine. Words and music by Bill Withers. By Dan Apczynski.

PRIVATE LESSON
Evan Hirschelman Lesson. The classical guitarist explains how he integrates slurs, arpeggios, and large interval leaps into his compositions. With video. By Scott Nygaard.
Equipment Picks: The Guitars and Gear of Evan Hirschelman

NEW GEAR 1
Huss and Dalton DS-12 Custom Review. Acoustic Guitar checks out a versatile 12-fret dreadnought. With video. By Paul Kotapish.

NEW GEAR 2
Luna Vicki Genfan Signature Model. Acoustic Guitar reviews a stylish solid-top, cutaway, acoustic-electric orchestra model. With video. By Adam Perlmutter.

IN THE STORES
In the Stores.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Giving Tree Band. Rootsy, timeless acoustic music from an eight-piece ensemble with a focus on sustainable living. By Celine Keating.
Equipment Picks: The Guitars and Gear of the Giving Tree Band

HERE'S HOW
Record on an iPhone. Improve the recording quality of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch with these dedicated recording apps and mics. By Jason Borisoff.

THE BASICS
Play Leads with Arpeggios. Open up your lead playing by integrating arpeggios into the mix, just like the guitarists in the Allman Brothers and Dire Straits did on their solos and melodies. With video and tab. Excerpted from the full Acoustic Rock Basics instructional guide “Play Leads with Arpeggios.” By Andrew DuBrock.

SHOPTALK
How a Guitar Can be Re-Topped. Replacing a top for repair or tonal alteration. By Alan Perlman.

WOODSHED
Must-Know Bluegrass Vocabulary. A guide to practical licks every flatpicker should know. With video and tab. By Tyler Grant.

SONGBOOK
Sweet Sunny South. An alternating-bass arrangement of a traditional folk classic, set in dropped-D tuning. With video and tab. By Andrew DuBrock.

GREAT ACOUSTICS
Edward Klein Ellipse Steel-String. By Adam Perlmutter