Chris Vinnicombe

Chris Vinnicombe worked with us here on the MusicRadar team from the site's initial launch way back in 2007, and also contributed to Guitarist magazine as Features Editor until 2014, as well as Total Guitar magazine, amongst others. These days he can be found at Gibson Guitars, where he is editor-in-chief.

Latest articles by Chris Vinnicombe

"I learned five chords; I thought I knew it all."

Dave Davies talks guitars, self expression and You Really Got Me

By Chris Vinnicombe published

The legendary Kinks guitarist recalls the formative musical experiences he shared with his brother Ray in late 1950s London

Guitarists
This is about as far away from the generic black box school of backline design as is possible without paying boutique money

Fender Pawn Shop Special Vaporizer

By Chris Vinnicombe published

We test the impact of this bombshell from Fender's retro rocket surgeons

Guitar Amps
The original Starcaster was an oddball and yet, there's something strangely attractive about it…

Fender Modern Player Starcaster

By Chris Vinnicombe published

The US giant's opinion-divider returns - will it finally find success in its modern form?

Electric Guitars
Despite the Gibson-style bridge, the basic feel is very familiar and Fender-like

Fender Modern Player Coronado

By Chris Vinnicombe published

The Coronado might not have broken sales records or captured a slice of the ES-335 market the first time around, but it's a vintage favourite nonetheless

Electric Guitars
This is a 1960s-inspired Tele with a third pickup and S-1 switching

Fender Vintage Hot Rod '60s Telecaster

By Chris Vinnicombe published

An new suped-up take on the old favourite from Fender

Electric Guitars
Tying in with the Hot Rod ethos, this model features electronic additions that expand upon the Tele's tonal palette

Fender Vintage Hot Rod '50s Telecaster

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Fender updates its Vintage Hot Rod range with new-old blends for the serious amateur or working pro

Electric Guitars
10 years in the game for Stephen Stern and his team

NAMM 2014: Gretsch Custom Shop celebrates 10th anniversary with new models

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Glorious Custom Shop machines in pictures

Guitars
The Squier Bass VI resurrects the individual on/off pickup slider switches and low cut 'strangle' switch

Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI

By Chris Vinnicombe published

A bass that guitarists will love? Step right down...

Guitars
The fit and finish is excellent, roadworthy and undeniably cool

Orange Crush Pro Series CR120H

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Transistor bliss or solid-state illogical? Borehamwood's finest valve amp maker has something new for thrifty guitarists, and there's nary a vacuum tube in sight...

Guitar Amps
Unboxing the CR60 reveals a reassuringly beefy combo that feels as robust as its more expensive valve-powered stablemates

Orange Crush Pro Series CR60C

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Transistor bliss or solid-state illogical? Borehamwood's finest valve amp maker has something new for thrifty guitarists, and there's nary a vacuum tube in sight...

Guitar Amps
The Starfire IV feels like a 'proper' guitar with a personality and has been attractively finished

Guild Starfire IV

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Alfred Dronge's Guild Guitar Company planted a significant marker in the musical landscape of the 1960s. Can this new-old electric restore its reputation?

Acoustic Guitars
Straight out of the box, it's a handsome beast, but tough to keep in tune

Guild X-175 Manhattan

By Chris Vinnicombe published

How do the New Jersey company's first production electrics in a decade fare today?

Electric Guitars
If it's possible to refer to any Gretsch as 'utilitarian', then this is it - or at least as close to it as you'll get

Gretsch G6137TCB Panther Center-Block

By Chris Vinnicombe published

The bridge between hollowbody luxury and workhorse stability?

Acoustic Guitars
There's something charming about the crude simplicity of a sand-cast Bigsby B6 in this age of technological acceleration

Gretsch G6139T-CBDC Falcon Center-Block Double Cutaway

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Has Gretsch nailed the playability vs idiosyncrasy balance?

Acoustic Guitars
As you might expect from any Gretsch Falcon, there's bling here in excelsis

Gretsch G6139CB Falcon Center-Block Single Cutaway

By Chris Vinnicombe published

A Gretsch with classic looks and modern performance enhancements

Acoustic Guitars
The general retro vibe was partly inspired by vintage wristwatch designs

Music Man Armada

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Music Man's first ever through-neck guitar lands on UK shores... but will it invade our affections?

Electric Guitars
The Vintage Sunburst hue, witch-hat knobs and Dirty Fingers pickups all ooze '70s vibes

Gibson SG '70s Tribute

By Chris Vinnicombe published

A satin finished '70s self-tuner

Electric Guitars
The 2013 Les Paul Studio has coil-splittable 490R neck and 498T bridge pickups

Gibson 2013 Les Paul Studio

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Leading an affordable boatload of new versions of the guitars that originally carried Les Paul's name: the 2013 Les Paul Studio

Electric Guitars
This '60s Tribute in Heritage Cherry and satin nitro finish looks magnificent

Gibson SG '60s Tribute

By Chris Vinnicombe published

The '60s run of the second most iconic Gibson model is reborn in the striking SG '60s Tribute

Electric Guitars
Gibson's Vintage Gloss nitro finish gives the '50s Tribute an immediate 'play me' appeal

Gibson Les Paul '50s Tribute

By Chris Vinnicombe published

A self-tuning guitars that you will actually want to buy? We say yes, with a completely straight face. Read on to find out why...

Electric Guitars
It won't win any beauty contests, but the LPJ is still finished with genuine nitrocellulose lacquer

Gibson LPJ

By Chris Vinnicombe published

A stripped-down street brawler of a Les Paul with Hollywood sounds on a Holyhead budget

Electric Guitars
It's impossible not to be drawn to this guitar; the Classic White finish is simply gorgeous

Gibson Firebird V 2010

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Unlike Gibson's other iconic 'shape' guitars, the Firebird doesn't holler 'hard rock' from the rooftops

Electric Guitars
The OR100H is an amp for the big stage - using it in a pub gig would be like taking a Formula One car on the school run

Orange OR100H

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Small amps might be all the rage, but sometimes size still matters. Here's a beast from Borehamwood that's packing heat...

Guitars
There may be no LED indicator on this pedal, but you sure as hell know when it's switched on

Rotosound RFB1 1960s Fuzz Pedal Reissue

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Hand-wired in the UK, germanium transistors... they must be making 'em like they used to

Guitar Pedals
The 2x12 ID:260TVP looks traditional enough, but closer inspection reveals plenty of action on the front panel

Blackstar ID:260TVP

By Chris Vinnicombe published

Valve sounds from a solid-state amp?

Guitar Amps
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