Vol. 27, No. 5
March 2026
Players, Gear & Sound — The Inside
From electric innovation to acoustic refinement, we consider the deeper philosophy of sound. Jay Jay French’s candid, in-depth exchange with longtime friend Oz Noy reveals how blues and bebop merge into a singular voice shaped by touch and a relentless pursuit of tone. A Fender Custom Shop Hotshot reshapes classic design by blending Strat comfort with Tele character. We look at how today’s jazz masters approach tone across generations, revisit Larry Cragg’s elegantly simple acoustic upgrade, and hear his firsthand perspective on wiring choices that influence feel and response. At its core, this issue is about refinement—showing players how thoughtful choices in touch, gear, and musical intention lead to greater clarity, control, and authority over a lifetime of music.
PLAYERS, GEAR & SOUND
The Inside
The Wizardry Of Oz Noy: Bending Time, Tone And Harmony
By Jay Jay French. Guitarist Oz Noy has spent decades dissolving the boundaries between jazz, blues, and rock, forging a style instantly identifiable and unquestionably original. In this musician-to-musician conversation with Jay Jay French, Oz traces his journey from a classical guitar in Israel to the stages of New York City, exploring the gear, tone obsessions, and musical influences that shaped his singular voice.
FENDER CUSTOM SHOP LIMITED EDITION HOTSHOT STRATOCASTER
Burnt Copper Journeyman Relic
By Scott Ulrichs. Fender's Custom Shop Limited Edition Hotshot blends Stratocaster and Telecaster DNA into one eyecatching hard-tail hybrid, with hand-wound Bricenda Pineda pickups, a brass-saddle Tele-style bridge, and a burnt copper journeyman relic finish that makes a compelling case for players who love both platforms.
STRAIGHT, NO CHASER
Exploring Jazz Guitar Tone
By Pete Prown. From archtops and flatwounds to fusion solidbodies and finger-style technique, TQR surveys the gear and philosophy behind jazz guitar tone through conversations with John Scofield, John McLaughlin, Matteo Mancuso, and more.
LARRY CRAGG’S HYBRID ACOUSTIC GUITAR PIN SET
Harmonically Round And Rich
By Scott Ulrichs. Larry Cragg's Hybrid Bridge Pins — combining Ebony for the bass strings and Water Buffalo Horn for the trebles — offer an affordable and immediately audible upgrade to acoustic guitar tone, improving balance, sustain, and projection.
FEEDBACK LOOP
What Would Larry Cragg Say?
By Larry Cragg. Legendary guitar tech Larry Cragg responds to ToneQuest's question about Neil Young's '53 Les Paul "Old Black," detailing its wiring history and sharing his preferred treble bleed circuit.
Oz is very special and unique, with a fresh take, both sonically and style-wise. Plus, I love him as a person. He's a fresh voice in all this modern guitar madness... Go see him ASAP!
— Steve Lukather
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