Time...and a Word

PROG-ROCK BLEW MY young mind in 1971, and it was largely thanks to Yes and a magnum opus called “Roundabout.” I’d been amazed by the Beatles’ dreamlike “A Day in the Life,” thrilled to the Tilt-a-Whirl ride of King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man” and been dazed by the surreal centerpiece of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” Each of those was a mini symphony, with the various movements added on like musical boxcars

OPENING NOTES

The Hard Stuff I’ve been a subscriber to

Bevels With a Cause

Damian Probett’s SG-Teor irons out the kinks in a classic design and adds bonus features, with stunning results

Raw Talent

He’s gigged with Mick Jagger, Jack Bruce, Television and more. But it’s with his own band that Jimmy Rip really gets cooking

My Life in Five Riffs

Lindsay Ell reveals the songs that shaped her fierce blues shred

My Career in Five Songs

From “Breezin’ ” to “On Broadway” — George Benson reveals the stories behind his most significant tracks

Come Again?

The little-known Klemt Echolette S NG51 tape echo makes a worthy comeback on the vintage market

The Wisdom of Her Years

Billie Holiday’s Last Recording is an honest and instructive close to her career

Low Rider

As a baritone guitar, this DIY Franken-Bari can take your tone to places that a real Vox Teardrop guitar never will

Epiphone CRESTWOOD CUSTOM

SPECIFICATIONS Crestwood Custom CONTACT epiphone.com PRICE $549 street

THE PROGRESSIVE ROCK EXPERIMENT

In 1971, Yes put prog to the test with a song called “Roundabout.” Rock and roll would never be the same

NO WAY TO SLOW DOWN

“IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT ALBUM TO MAKE. THERE WERE A LOT OF PROBLEMS”

25 ESSENTIAL PROG ROCK GUITARISTS

For more than five decades, prog rock has been the cradle from which guitar virtuosity has crawled forth. Here, in their own words, 25 pioneering prog-rock guitarists deliver insights into their craft

10 FUTURE PROG LEGENDS

Meet 10 players who are shaping prog today… and tomorrow

TRICKS OF THE TRADE

Steve Hackett details the techniques behind his dramatic nylon-string showcase, Under a Mediterranean Sky, and revisits classic six-and 12-string Genesis tracks

2021 NEW GEAR PREVIEW

Check out some of the coolest guitars, amps, effects, accessories and more from the virtual winter NAMM 2021

Pentatonic Substitutions, Part 2

The conclusion of our presentation of some musically useful and colorful applications of a familiar scale

Acoustic Prog

Unleash your inner minstrel

Ernie Ball Music Man

JASON RICHARDSON SIGNATURE CUTLASS HH

Carr SUPER BEE

Guitar Player Editors’ Pick THE NAME SUPER

Dr. Z CAZ-45

SPECIFICATIONS CAZ-45 CONTACT drzamps.com PRICE $2,499 street CHANNELS

“La Grange”

Billy Gibbons reveals how a warm-up jam became ZZ Top’s breakthrough hit