Vol. 27, No. 1
November 2025
Players, Gear & Sound — The Inside
Every note, every component, and every circuit begins with a decision—each one shaping how tone responds beneath the hands. Bill Nash shares the evolution of his Nautilus Neck, where geometry and feel converge to refine playability and resonance. Valco explores the delicate balance of voltage, bias, and current that transforms an amplifier from mechanical to musical. Nostalgic Guitars’ Taylor Speers reveals how precision in pots, caps, and harness design influences every nuance of touch and response. And Jon Butcher brings it all home, reminding us that tone, at its most authentic, is revealed through discipline, intention, and soul.
PLAYERS, GEAR & SOUND
The Inside
The Nash Equation
By Scott Ulrichs. Bill Nash's patent-pending Nautilus Neck applies the Rule of 18 to fretboard radius, creating a conical taper that delivers consistent action and playability from the 1st fret to the 12th.
NASHGUITARS NAUTILUS NECK REVIEW
Mission Accomplished
By Scott Ulrichs. ToneQuest puts the Nash T-63 through its paces and finds a Telecaster that can twang, rock, and do it all without choking out on big bends.
VALCO ON VOLTAGES AND VACUUM TUBES
Exploration in Setting Bias
By Scott Ulrichs. Terry Dobbs — aka Mr. Valco — sits down for a deep conversation on the art and science of setting bias in tube amplifiers, covering current draw, plate voltage, tube substitution, and how wall voltage affects everything.
INTERVIEW WITH TAYLOR FROM NOSTALGIC GUITARS
Deep Dive On Potentiometers And Capacitors
By Scott Ulrichs. An in-depth conversation with Taylor of Nostalgic Guitars explores how vintage Centralab and Sprague pots and caps shaped the tone of late-'50s and 1960 Les Paul Standards — and how to get as close as possible in 2025.
NOSTALGIC GUITARS HARNESS REVIEW
The Proof Is In The Playing. Just Try It.
By Scott Ulrichs. The editors share their own hands-on findings swapping harnesses, cap values, and taper types in pursuit of maximum clarity.
JON BUTCHER FEATURE ARTIST
The Axis Of Soul
By Tom Guerra. Grammy-nominated guitarist Jon Butcher discusses his new soul-infused album Nuthin' but SOUL, sharing the gear, influences, and inspirations behind one of his most personal recordings to date.
If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams, and you will always look lovely.
— Roald Dahl
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